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Leader (1850-1860), 16th April 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 370, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      whisper induced him to return , and lie stood on the doorway , as the company departed , exclaiming to each as he passed , " What a handsome fellow you are ! What a handsome fellow you are !" Dr . Tuke states that Mr . O'Connor plays at cricket and whist with considerable skill . He invariably asks Dr . Tuke to take him to town each morning , and is always satisfied with the doctor ' s promise to do so next day if he is better .

      On the return of the jury from the asylum , Dr . Tuke was examined as a matter of form , and confirmed the opinion of the other physicians . Mr . O'Connor was not usually eo excited as he had been that morning the crowd of strangers had disturbed him . He was better sometimes than others , but he had never a strictly hicid interval . The Jury then found the verdict , " That Mr . Feargus O ' Connor was of unsound mind and incapable of managing his affairs , " dating the lunacy from the 10 th of June , 1852—the day on which he was committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms .

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      OPINIONS OF THE LONDON UNION ON CHURCH MATTERS . This Union , as our readers know , holds a monthly meeting , and reports on the passing topics of the day . Prom the last report we extract the two following section 3 : first , on DIVORCE . "A question remains , and that of the gravest importance—the question of divorce . The Union is aware that a Royal commission has reported in favour of such a change of the law as -would g ive the husband a legal remedy by entire dissolution of the marriage in the case of adultery on the part of the wife . " Your committee abstains from entering into the theological question how far this change is warranted by the New Testament ; ifc will merely remark that the practice of the Church of England appears to favour the opinion that marriage once duly contracted is indissoluble , and that such , apart from the action of exceptional laws made to meet particular cases , is the state of the law at present . " But without dwelling upon topics the treatment of which the Union has disclaimed , it may be observed that it is very unlikely that a remedy once given to the husband will be long denied to the wife , and against this concession the reasons stated , by the commissioners are very cogent . It may be added , that the tribunal of three judges proposed by the commissioners cannot bring the remedy home to the poor man because of the expense , and that some other tribunal will before long be proposed , with perhaps an appeal to these three judges . It seems to stand against reason and common sense that a remedy given to the husband should not be given also to the wife , and that what is given freely to the rich should not also bo granted to the poor . It may reasonably , therefore , be expected

      that the proposal now made is not the ultimate form the measure must take , but that if we onco open the door , it will let in much more than anyone now intends . No one can adequately contemplate the evils of the measure in aggravnt ing family disagreements which would otherwise heal of themselves , in the bad example to children , the absence of care for them , and the general relaxation of morals . Your committee is strongly impressed with the opinion that , it would be better to adopt tho conclusion of nu iiblo paper of . Lord Redesdale ' s , that the sound policy is to refuse all divorce bills for the future , arid to permit nothing but separations , such as the ecclesiastical courts at present , decree . ' The second is on the new

      TCOUCATIONATj . SCHEME . "Your committee cannot conclude without an allusion to tho Government measures for the promotion of general education which have been announced in tho 'House of Commons by the ministerial leader . The Bill itself lms been so recently printed , that your committee hns hud no opportunity of considering it ; and therefore its allusion to it on tho present occasion must , be brief . Ifc congratulates the Union upon tho explicit acknowledgment which Lord John ltuHSoll makes of the utter futility of the so-eallod ' secular' ttystom of education , and upon his equally explicit

      admission that , under the aetual condition of England , the only method in which the State could reasonably bear its part in national education in by tho impartial assistance of the educational elfortH of the various religious communities , according to their respective forms of belief . Provided Kiich assistance be really impartial , and not aecorded with the view to introduce undue control , tho Church need not four < o accept it upon nucIi terms , rel ying- on the excellence of her doctrine and of her divine constitution to win her way to the affections of the people , if ulie be but truo to herself . "

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      "TWO IMCHAKDS IN THE FIELD . " Wu find the following amusing letter in the Times : — Sir , -Will you allow ine the opporl unity of stating that the " furniture" and " costly effects" advertised for wile by Mr . Rowe . liffe , at . the Sheriff's Auction Kooiiih , Watling-Htreet , to-morrow , and announced an " removed Iron * Westbourno-ternieo , and I jincoln ' s-imi , the property of

      do not live in Westbourne-terrace , but at Old Brompton ; and , though a pretty frequent visitor to Lincoln's-inn , 1 have not yet thought it worth while to establish an office there ; while the only " effects " I wish to dispose of ( and very " costly" ones they have proved to me ) , I fear would realise but little in an auction room—I mean the " effec ^ in my late Easter piece , which the public would not bid for at any price . These , and the " effects" of its failure I shall be glad to get rid of as ^ eedily as possible , and will feel much obliged to any one who will take them off my hands . I am , sir , your obedient servant , C . J . Mathews . " Lyceum , April 14 .

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      PARENTAL DEPRAVITY . Thomas Shea , a lad nine years of age , whose head scarcely rose above the dock , and who with another boy of the same age was brought up at the Thames Police Office last week for a similar offence , was charged with stealing a brass bar from the shop window of Mr . Crouch , Highstreet , Shad well . When last brought up , Mr . Yardley , who seemed shocked at seeing such a case , gave the lad , who then assumed another name , up to his parents , saying he could not think of sending mere infants to prison . The case exhibited a revolting instance of parental depravity . The bar in question appeared to be a part of the booty for which the prisoner and his young companion had been previously tried . It appears that after the boy was discharged , his father , an Irish labourer , living at 3 , Vinepassage , Rateliffe , went with him to demand a brass bar which had been stopped by a marine store-dealer , named Griffiths , and after some altercation the lad was again given into custody . Mr . Yardley asked why the father was not given into custody also ; and on being told he was in court , ordered him to be put in the dock . The fellow , with a low , whining , snuffling brogue , said he knew nothing of the affair until after his son was discharged from custody , and then he gave him a good caning , Boy : My father knew nothing of it . Mr . Yardley : You are a liar , and it is clear how you have been brought up . As to your father , I know no punishment that would be sufficiently severe for him . He is a most degraded wretch to rear up his own offspring as he has been rearing you . My observations on the former occasion were too favourable , as I considered you erred from not knowing better . Had I known what I knownow , I should have said offenders of this sort are made thieves by their parents . Father : I do my best

      to—Mr . Yardley : Be silent . I let you take him home on the promise that ' you would endeavour to reclaim him , but instead of that you seek to participate in the plunder . Had he become chargeable to the parish you would have been sent home to your own country , Ireland . Father : What I said to tho marine-store dealer was , that he should have given the boy in charge when ho first went to sell the articles . Mr . Yardley : No , you went to claim the brass or the price of it . I believe that statement . You are the meanest and most degraded of wretches , and I fear that in addressing

      you , my feelings will , in despite of me , conquer my better judgment . There is no evidence to connect you directly with the offence—I wish there had been ; but you go with your son to recover the plunder . I had hoped that the house of a father would be better for the child than a gaol , but the house of such a father—why mince the matterof such a scoundrel , is the very worst pollution . Though nothing can be lower or meaner , I must discharge you ; whilst for the boy's own good , I am compelled to sentence him to a month's imprisonment ; and if you do not take care , it will not bo long before you aro brought to this court again .

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      MISCELLANEOUS . Fortune favours the Queen . Her recovery , and that of the infant prince , has progressed so favourably , that she was declared " convalescent" on Wednesday , and the bulletins ceased . Her mother , tho Duchess of Kent , bus visited her Majesty every day ; and the culls on Monday nnd Wednesday , when the bulletins were issued , were very numerous . Prince Albert has taken horse exercise , daily , since Friday .

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      The wages movement continues among all classes . Not only tho ship-building trades , but carpenters und brickinakers , especially in Devonshire and Somersetshire , unit manfully for an advance . Again tho manufacturing operatives demand a rise . The Ipswich shipwrights have obtained their wishes , und the ironworkers in South Wales . In Manchester , the briskness of tho building trades , added to cini ^ riit ion , is expected to lend to : i general advance of wages , and most , of the plasterers succeeded , tin Thurwlny , in getting their weekly earnings raised from an average of 2 , 0 s . per week to about 28 , v . The masons contemplate seeking a ri . so from their present wages , which are 5 . v . and 5 . v . 0 */ . per day , to O . v . and upwards . The joiners lire agitating an advance alno .

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      Mr . Thomas Grcono , J ' oolite , has boon elected for Lancaster by a good majority over Mr . Armstrong , brother of the lute member . Tho Quoon lias presented to tho Duko of Brabant a magnificent silver dressing-oaso on tho occasion of Iris coming of age . Tho liinliop elect of Lincoln , Dr . Jackson , is to bo consecrated at , Lambeth on the fifth of May . Lord Carlisle presided ov « ir a public dinner in aid of the fundo of tho Wontininator , Literary , Scientific , and

      Mechanic ' s Institution , given at the Freemason ' s Tavernon Wednesday . The Institution is in debt 600 ? ., and 500 * were collected after dinner . By a curious coincidence , Mrs . Beecher Stowe , and the author of " Sam Slick , " Mr . Justice Halliburton , arrived in England by the Canada on Monday . [ The storj ot Mrs . Stowe ' s serious illness , were it not guaranteedby her husband , we could not help looking on as incorrect . ] We understand that Mr . Nathaniel Hawthorne , the American Romancist , has been appointed American Consul-General at Liverpool . We heartily hope the report is

      true . Dr . Richard Chambers was found dead last week , bjr hia servant . An inquest was held on Monday , and the jury found that his death " was caused by a diseased heart , under the influence , possibly , of prussic acid taken medicinally . " Letters for officers , seamen , and marines , serving in the Arctic ships , will be in time for H . M S . Phoenix if sent to the Admiralty before the 29 th of April . Mr . Oliver Lang , master shipwrig ht at Woolwich for twenty-seven years , died suddenly , on Tuesday morning , in the seventy-fifth year of his age . He built the Terrible and the Albert . The first to design a steam-vessel for the

      Navy , the Comet , he has lived to see steam threaten the sail . He introduced many improvements in ship building , was a great favourite with the Sailor King , and had received many presents from the Emperors of Russia and Austria , and the King of Prussia . The members of the Southampton Chess Club held a chess soire * e at the Victoria Assembl y Rooms in that town , on Tuesday . Mr . Harwitz , a distinguished professional chess player , together with gentlemen from other clubs , were present . There was also a number of ladies , some of whom played skilfully . Among the players also were several members of the Society of Friends , one of whom defeated a military officer of high rank by superior strategy in the mimic warfare .

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      Henry Dobson has been hung at York for the murder of Catherine Sheridan at "Wakefield . Ho confessed before his death . Eliza Cornish and John Cornish , by brutal treatment and starvation caused the death of Mark Cornish , a child of the latter by a former wife . The child was often seen eating offal . They were sentenced to fifteen years transportation . Three young men at Gars tang quarrelled over their drink . One professed anintention to "do" for the others . His threat was held to be a joke . He went out , and presently came back , saying he had killed two of them , and giving up a knife . His story was but too true . He had killed one and seriously wounded the other . His name is Wilding .

      Honor Gibbons , a single woman , only 21 , and Bridget Gerraty , aged forty , killed the child of the former by pouring vitriol down its throat . Honor had joined a burial club , and murdered the child for the fees ; Gerraty assisted , seemingly -without motive , as the judge said on the trial at Chester , except from a natural inclination for such cruelties . Although the evidence was most complete , the jury qualified their verdict of wilful murder with a recommendation to mercy . Mr . Justice Wightman sentenced both women to be hung .

      Mr . Cross , postmaster , parish clerk , sexton , and draper , of Whitchurch , in Shropshire , has been arrested for running off with upwards of 200 CM-, the contents of letters intrusted to him as postmaster . Tho discovery of the robbery was effected by one of the persons , who had posted a letter , calling again and desiring to add something on the envelope . The letter was missing , and the postmaster also . Cross set out for Crewe , but on the way altered the routo to Shrewsbury ; before ho could leave that town tho polico captured him .

      One Pope , the butler of Earl Jormyn , has been forging his master's name to bills of a largo amount . Ho was very artful ; but when tho bills becamo due , all was discovered . The City Hospice dies in debt ; liabilities not less than 14 ( H ) L The secretary and his brother have been before tho police-court charged with misappropriating documents nnd obstructing Mr . Charles Oocliraric . They were dismissed , however ; but it was olicited that there has bcon a quarrel as to who should pay tho debt . A novel accident occurred at tho oflice of tho Electric Telegraph Company , 448 , Strand , on Friday last , April 8 . At three in mutes before ono o ' clock there was at Greonwich a very vivid flash of lightning-, followed at an interval of

      four seconds by loud thunder . This electric disturbance of tho atmosphero produced a galvanic current in tho wire , which dropped tho ball in tho Strand three minutes before its correct time . The assistant , who hod raised the ball in tho Strand , had commenced unwinding tho chain , and Ins hand was still on tho winch when tho unexpected descent of tho ball turned tho winch violently , and struck him down , greatly alarming some strangers who wore prcaont . Tho Boston Jlorald , in announcing tho ( loath of Eldoi G . Adams , a Mormon preacher , says : — "On his second visit ( to Uoston ) tho Elder preached , baptised converts , whipped a newspaper editor , and playou a star ongagoinont at tho National Theatre . Ho was industrious , and filled up all bin time . Wo have a fund of anecdotes

      concorning this strange mortal , which wo shall bo glad to print at some other time . Wo close tin ' s article by briefly adverting to tho chastisement ho gave ) an editor for strongly criticising his performance of Hichard ill . Tho oflico of tho editor was in Washington-street , where Propeller now keens . Adams armed himself with a cowhide , and watched for his victim . Moon the unsuspecting follow oamo down tho stairs , and Adams sprang upon him , oxclaiming , ' Tho Lord has delivered theo into my hands , and I shall Sj ivo thno forty stripes save ono , Scripture measure , brother Graham , koep tally . ' So saying , lie proceeded to lay on tho punishment with hoarty good will . In tho meantime a largo crowd had gathered around tho avenging 1 > rieHt and tho delinquent . When the tally waa up Adams ot tho man go , and addressed tho crowd as follows : —¦ ' Mpn and brotkron , my namo in Elder George J . Adams ,

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      370 THE LEADER . _ [ Satubpay , _

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 16, 1853, page 370, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1982/page/10/