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& suit in Which one of his creditors was concerned . Charges of this kind had been frequently made against the judges in the local press , which , in India , is . remarkable for license and personal attacks , but they had been almost invariably disregarded . It surprised every one , therefore , when Lord Falkland took up the offensive articles in the Gazette , and called upon Messrs . Grant and Le Geyt for a public denial on oath of each of the misdemeanours imputed . In reply , both the judges admitted the fact of being in debt ; but they
had been so long before they were appointed to the bench , and their liabilit ies had been honourably incurred—Mr . Grant ' becoming answerable for the debts of a brother ; and Mr . Le Geyt ' s in assisting his father . They added , that their debts had in nowise interfered with their judicial duties , and that they were now in course of liquidation . Mr . Le Geyt emphatically denied that the transfer of his liabilities had been fictitious ; but it appeared that though the decision of the Court ha d been in favour of the native
gentleman who had been his creditor , Mr . Le Geyt s individual judgment had been recorded against him . Mr . Grant admitted that he " kept a mistress / ' ite had also occasionally , though very rarely , played for money at the club . He submitted , however , that these were " private matters" which could in nowise affect the discharge of his public duties . These answers were submitted for opinion to the Advocate-General , who stated they were not sufficient to afford grounds for the granting of " a criminal information . " On this , Lord Falkland removed both judges from the bench .
In Bombay , the matter has excited much sensation , and provoked much discussion . Some urge that " a judge with mud on his robes" cannot retain the proper respect of the people ^ and that the repeated revilings of the Gazette had stained the Court . But others point to the continual disregard by Government of all former Press attacks ; to its frequent refusals to prosecute the newspapers even for the grossest libels . If the word of the Gazette is to have weight against judges , it is argued that its attacks on the Governor himself should have equal weight .
Lord Falkland has been constantly attacked by the Gazette , and often in very plain terms ; and has , moreover , been charged by other of the local prints , and in still coarser language , with habitual inebriety . But an ugly aspect is given to this authoritative proceeding by the imputation to Lord Falkland of personal spite against the dismissed judges . One of them was the adviser and intimate friend both of Mr . Pollard Willoughby and Colonel Outram in their differences with the Governor , and it hts been frequently remarked that in the promotion to staff appointments or other advancements , Lord Falkland has uniformly passed over the friends of Colonel Outram . Meanwhile , Mr . Luard , the originator of the disturbance , has printed a
letter with his name attached , containing a most Bweeping indictment against several other judges . He promises , if the opportunity of an investigation is afforded him , " so to blacken the faces of all the judges except Mr . Hutt , who were on the Sndder bench in 1845 , and to astonish the world at the extent to which Indian infamy has been carried . " " So that if there is one atom of truth in these charges ( says the Bombay Times ) the Company ' s Supremo Court must for the past ten years have been a den of corruption . If there is not , Government retains in places of groat responsibility and emolument civil servants , whose delight it is to slander the oldest of their brethren , and do their best to bring the body to which they belong , and the masters they . serve , into contempt . "
If these incidents bo samples of the Company ' s affairs , tbo English investigation of the whole mass oi Indian society will bo almost as difficult and disagreeable as an Election . Inquest .
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THE 1 SUUMKKH WAR . Thk details of the lute movements of our Indian army clearly expose the general incompctcncy of many of the lending men , brought out tho more in relief by the upt ability of some secondary lieutenants . The Donabew disaster is now found more serious than was supposed . Tho killed , wounded , or missing , amount to one hundred . I ' uinful reports are current connected with this event ; of dissensions between the naval and military commanders ; of tho leaders' utter ignorance of the
Htrongth or position of the enemy ; of the want of a plan of operation , and the total absence of jill military precaution . Commodore Lambert , tho senior naval officer , stung by his frequent repulses by Mealoon the robl > or chief , is obstinate in refusing to retire , and has feppliud to the Governor-General for troops , which he is not likely to get , tho military authorities having' « 1-retuly refuned to ^ ivo him aid in carrying out Ins oporulioiin en revanc . tir . A thousand rupees ha \<> been <> H '« r « il for tho crafty robber ' o bead , " which , " wiy tho local cviticH , " it it could onlylnj plftcerd on the tihouldcrs
of the British Commander would be cheap at the money . " In Bassein Province Captain Fytche ( assisted by Captain Rennie and eighty blue jackets ) had cleared the province . Major Hawes refused to assist him , and now seeing the result of the operations , and fearing the censure of the Governor-General , has committed suicide to avoid a court-martial I General Steel ' s column advancing had entered Hoygyu , the handsomest Burmese town yet seen by the English . The stockades found here were very formidable , and the generally well-defended state of the country intimate that had not the revolution at Ava taken place the British force would have had to make , a tedious fight—the deficiencies of their commanders both in preparation and
action making the probable result of a campaign very doubtful . Complete intelligence of the timely change of kings at Ava had not yet arrivedat the British outposts , but an envoy from the victorious Prince Mengcloor , was expected in a few days . General Godwin still remains inactive at Prome . Much surprise is expressed that the Governor-General lias not ordered an immediate advance on Ava , now that there is no enemy in the way ; the force at Prorne being all on a marching establishment , such an advance would in nowise add to the expenses of the war , and as regards the ¦ prestige of our arms in Eastern Asia , it is considered that the enemy ' s capital is the only place to sign a treaty of peace .
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AN AMERICAN COUP D'ETAT . San Jtjan de Nicaeagita , or Greytown , is the Atlantic seaport of the Isthmus of Nicaragua . The people of the town have had the Government in their own hands , administered under the forms of a constitution , and since May , 1852 , recognised as independent by England and the United States . Not long since some energetic Americans established in the town the United States Transit Company , for conducting the traffic across the Isthmus : and obtained from the local authorities the lease of certain lands necessary for their operations . The " pushing" activity of the United
States traders soon succeeded in obtaining a practical monopoly of the carrying trade of the country : and this seems to have provoked the jealousy of the people of Greytown . At any rate , the Government of the town came lately into new hands , and " the new ruler knowing not" the Company , refused , according to the American account , to ratify certain agreements arranged between the Company and the former authorities . A dispute arose . The Government alleging that the term of the old agreement had expired , accused the Company of illegal occupancy of certain lands , and
gave a peremptory notice to quit . The Yankees , not easily awed , refused to give up what the } ' claimed as a right . The Government followed up their commands by force ; they issued a legal process , and backed it by a body of local constables , who proceeded to the works of the Transit Company , and commenced to pull down their out-buildings . The Americans resisted , and soon turned the tables . An United States sloop-of-war , the Cyane , was in the harbour ; the Company appealed to the captain , who readily despatched a body of marines to the spot . This settled the matter . The authorities desisted and retired to consult . After a brief
consultation they surrendered the government of tho city into the bands of Captain Hollins , the captain of tho Cyane , but protesting against the invasion , and formally furnishing each of the foreign consuls with a copy of the protest . Tho protest appears in the New York papers . It is made in name of the mayor , the president of the council , the chief justice of the Supreme Court , and the captain of the port . It states tho independent rights of " Greytown , or San Juan del Norte , " its recognition by England , and by the United States itself ; avers that , the ejectment of the Transit Company from lands illegally occupied was dono according to due forms of law , complains that the intervention by tbo tinned forcis from the sloop was made without notice ; and thus concludes : —
" Therefore the undersigned , in view of the condition of affairs heretofore mentioned , and boing uuablo to repel force by force , now , and by this their act , solemnly protest bed in ; tho civilized world against this unlawful occupancy of their territory iind the subversion of their lawH . Thejf therefore submit , a . s a conquered pisophv , and Hurronder to Captain ( Jeorgo N . Jl ' ollins , of tho Ifnitod States nhip of war Cyane , tho government , tbo city , and , tho otlu'es which ' they have held respectively ; and on him rents tbo responsibility for any losses or damage tho city or i ( , H inhnbitnntH may sustain in tbo absence of lawful authority for the protection of persons and property . "
A meeting 1 was afterwards held , at which thin . surrender was conlirmed by popular consent-all Illume and responsibility being placed on the shoulders of the American captain . Some citizens , liowmver , had formed themselves into a committee of vigilance and safety ; mid ( i-ays a private letter in the JVew York Tribune ) " wo may expect some Nummary punislunonfrt "— -oi whom in not stated . At tho latent dates , tho Hag of
the United States floated over the town , the Nicaraguim ensign having been hauled down ; and CaptainHollms , of the United States navy , was undisputed dictator oi Greytown ; while fast-sailing boats were cutting their way to the West Indies , conveying the news of the coup d'itat to the British Admiral of the West India squadron , stationed at Jamaica , and to Blewfields * where the British Consul-General resides . The circumstances of the case are hot completely told in the American papers . The dispute between the Company and the local Government had lasted for some time , and had been referred to the United States commercial agent . He , it is stated , finally acceded to the views of the authorities , and au ejectment was to have
been put in force on the 12 th . But the arrival of the sloop of war on the 10 th altered the situation of affairs Th § question was laid before him , and he at once proclaimed his resolution to protect the buildings and property of the Transit Company , having been so instructed by the United States Government . The affair is regarded by some but as a rough and ready display of United States naval po wer , and not any permanent interference with the independence of the town , —in short , an American edition of Lord Palmerston ' s " work on Greece , " with the difference , that the Americans are protecting their own citizens in a very legitimate commerce , while neither English patriotism nor English commerce were involved in the compensation for Don Pacifico ' s household furniture .
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INDEPENDENCE OF TURKEY . The Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne lias received the following communication in reply to the memorial adopted at a meeting held in that town , on the 29 th of March , on the Turkish question : — " To the Mayor of Newcastle-ugon-Tyne . " Sin , —I have had the honour of receiving an address , signed by you on behalf of a meeting of the inhabitants of Newcastle-upon-Tyne . " I am happy to find that this meeting concurs with rno in opinion that ' this country ought to be anxious to maintain the independence of Turkey . ' " That independence could not be subverted without a great change in the territorial circumscription of Europe , a derangement of the distribution of power sanctioned by treaties , and more especially a violation of the engagements contracted by the great powers in 1841 . " That independence could not be subverted without a danger of the aggrandizement of states already sufficiently formidable , and a disturbance of the balance of power m Europe . " That independence could not be subverted without a great diminution of British , commerce , now fostered by tho moderate tariff of the Turkish Empire . " You may -rely upon the constant vigilance of her Majesty ' s Government being employed to prevent such mis fortunes ; upon tho sense of justice and good faith which animates the principal states of Europe ; and upon tho weight of tho British Parliament , which will be ever ready to defend the rights and tho independence of her Majesty ' s allies . " I bog you to thank the inhabitants of Newcastle in my name for the distinguished honour they liave dono me , and remain , sir , with great respect , " Your obedient servant , " J . ltussiiLii . " Cheaham-ulaco , April 11 , 1853 . "
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CHANCES OF LONDON CORPORATION REFORM . The London Court of Aldermen have given an account of themselves . The occasion was the discussion or" si motion brought forward by Alderman Wilson , referring to a committee the question of reform , and advising si conference with her . Majesty ' s Ministers . The mover complained that tho Commission already announced was what might have been expected ; ho had always told them so ; but be could not get tlio Court to tut . Now , they bad to consider that some wished the Court of Aldermen to be abolished : the committee of tho Common Council who would supply evidence to tho Commission were by no means friendly fo tho Aldermen . Their only course was to supply the Commission with full information . If his advice had been taken , this would have been done long ago ; " industrious malignity" would have been disappointed , and tho independence , integrity , and blameless conduct of the body would have been established . Fired by this praise of tho body , Alderman Thompson hcciiinc independent . Why should they curry favour with any Ministry ? There was no necessity of conferring with them . Tho Court wa .-t conscious of ids rectitude . On this hint followed n chorus of congrntulutionH , every member of tho Court , praising all I . Iks rest , and a gcncml hymn of pmiso echoing-all round . Alderman Karebmthi'r pointed out a touching cirruinstanee : tho Aldermen , who discharge * I arduous duties purely for patriotic motives , were unpaid . Sir Peter Laurie , of course ignoring the newspapers , denied there vvii . s " any ejiur ^ o" against tho Court of Aldermen ; n ( jr was tbcro a ground for any charge . " Tho noiso about the coals was at nn end . " Alderman Wire exposed many of tho virtues of tho Aldermen . The former municipal inquiry had found
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368 THE LEADER . [ SifcPBP ** ^
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 16, 1853, page 368, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1982/page/8/
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