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Leader (1850-1860), 31st December 1853, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1256, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      were registered in the metropolitan districts . The increase arises from two causes : the rate of mortality has been raised by the coldness of the weather ; and more than a due proportion of inquests are included in the return , such'cases having accumulated during the quarter without the coroner ' s signature , which is necessary to complete the registration . In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52 , the average number of deaths was 1124 , which , if raised in proportion to increase of population , becomes 1236 . The return of last week , therefore , exhibits an excess on the estimated amount . Last week the births of 800 boys and 745 girls , m all 1545 children , were registered in London . In the eight corresponding weeks of the years 1845-52 the average number was 1267 .

      At the Royal Observatory , Greenwich , the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29 * 748 in . The mean temperature of the week was 33-1 ° , which is 5 * 6 ° below the average of the same week in 38 years . The mean daily temperature was below the average on every day of the week , and on Sunday and Monday the decrease was 9 ° . The highest temperature was 41-0 ° , on Friday ; the lowest was 270 ° , on Monday . Tlie highest and lowest on Saturday were 36-3 * and 27-7 ° . The mean dew-point temperature was 30 * 6 ° . The -wind blew generally from the north-east .

      Untitled Article

      STRIKES AND WAGES . The struggle at Preston still continues with unabated resolution on either side . The Master ' s Association have adjourned until the 26 th January . At the same time the masters of Lancashire have taken a decided step . At a meeting in Manchester , on Wednesday , the manufacturers came to a formal resolution " to support the Preston manufacturers in the present struggle . " How , it is not stated ; but the Manchester Examiner , the organ of the masters , declares that noAV , for the first time , the contest is equal ! It will be remembered that a short time ago a

      memorial was addressed to Lord Palmerston m reference to the contest at present going on between the factory operatives of this town and their employers . . That memorial was adopted at a general meeting of weavers' delegates . On Sunday Mr . Kinder Smith , president of the O peratives' Executive Council , received the following reply from the Home-office : — " Whitehall , Dec . 24 . " Sir , —I am directed by Viscount Palmerston to acknowlecl&o the receipt of the memorial , dated the 15 tU ultimo , signed by you , on behalf of the power-loom weavers of Preston and its neighbourhood . " Lord Palmerston has delayed till now answering tliis

      memorial , in the daily hope that he might hear that an amicable arrangement of differences had been coine to between the workpeople and their employers . I am , however , to assure you that his Lordship read the memorial with much sympathy , and with deep regret . "It was impossible that he should not sympathise with the feelings of a large number of a most deserving class of the community , who have been led to think that they are suffering under acts of injustice , and it could not but excite liis deep regret to reflect upon the severe privations which the state of things to which the memorial refers must have

      inflicted upon those on whom it so hardly bears . " Lord Palmerston desires me to state that he feels bound , moreover , to do justice to the temper and moderation with which the memorial has been drawn up . His Lordship is sorry , however , to say that he lias no means of interposing to apply a remedy for the evils referred to . It would be impossible for him , without much more detailed information than he possesses , to form a just opinion as to the merits of the points in dispute between the working men and their employers , and ho could not , as a member of the Government , possess any right or power to interfere in the matter .

      " Under these circumstances , liis Loid . ship would only venture to suggest , in the most friendly npivit , some topics for the consideration of the memorialists . They must bo well aware that , labour being a commodity like any other , its money-value in the market must bo regulated by the tmno general principles which govern the prico of other commodities , and that among these governing principles the most influential are the cost of production and the relative proportions of demand and supply . The cost of production , in regard to labour , means the prico of the necossurii'B of life , and the proportion of demand and suppl y must tlt'pond very much upon the periodical fluctuations of trade 1 . It is greatly to he wished that both the working men and their employers would allow these general causes to act

      flilontly and gradually in equitably adjusting , from time to time , the proper rates of the money-reward for labour ; and it is scarcely to be doubted that , by forbearance on ltoth aides , and by mutual and reciprocal good feeling , theso arrangements might generally ho cfK : ctod vvitbout iv recourse to tmch injurious moihods an Htvikis and lock-outs . It may be said that , in times when , according to the general principles above adverted to , an increase in the rate of wages would he just , that increase might bo too long delayed , and tho working men ho thus subjected to undue privations , if the adjustment wore left to tho gradual operation of forbearance and good-will . Hut may not an appeal bo made to the result of recent events to show that even such inconvenienee would be lctts than the

      evils arising from extensive ami general strikes ? These evils are many and great . The strike of tho workmen doprivea tho strikers of their wages , and , bo far its wn ^ es uro concerned , it deprives them of the ineaim of subsistence . On the other hund . the etrikes of course atop production , and ,

      too , leads to a reflection upon the opinion which seems to have actuated the strikers , that the general prosperity of our export trade was in itdelf a proof that the rates of wages ought t «> be increased . Lord Pahnerston does _ not pretend to form any judgment as to whether that opinion was well or ill founded in tho particular instance to which it referred ; but liis Lordship has desired me to remark that our power to supply foreign markets with manufactures depends upon the cheapness at which those manufactures can be sold ; that their price must depend mainly on the cost of production ; and that the wages of labour form a material part of that ,

      unless markets happen at the moment to be much overstocked , strikes give to the foreign producer a position of advantage from which he may not afterwards be so easily dislodged ; and if strikes were to become too frequent , or of too long duration , a part of that capital winch is now applied to giving employment to labour at home , might possiblv be transferred to other conntries , to the disadvantage of British industry ; and that this is not a groundless supposition is proved by the fact"that . British manufacturing establishments ^ have been formed in Belgiumiu France , and in Mexico . This ,

      cost . " Therefore , as our exported manufactures must always be running a hard race with the similar manufactures of other countries , an apparently flourishing trade may possibly be checked by an increase of wages , which would add to the cost of production , and the gains made by the manufacturer may often consist of a very small profit upon each separate article , the aggregate amount of gain depending on the quantity exported , and that quantity depending on the

      cheapness of the commodities , which cheapness again is governed by the cost of production . "In directing me to submit these general reflections to the consideration of the memorialists , Lord Palmerston does not mean to give any opinion on the immediate subject of dispute , but his Lordship would earnestly entreat the working men to lay aside those feelings which are too apt to be engendered by a struggle , anji to endeavour , if possible , to come to some arrangement with their employers . " 1 am , Sir , your obedient servant , " H . Waddixgton . " Mr . Kinder Smith , Preston . "

      Untitled Article

      SPIRIT RAPPING TRIAL . In the state of Ohio there is a town called Cleveland . Recently there was a remarkable trial there , which the NewYork Tribune has been good enough to report . It will amuse our readers . The trial lasted several days , and took place in the Court of Common Pleas . It is called , Dr . Underhill versus Dwight Jaryis . The defendant had charged the plaintiff with being a " disturber of religious worship and a contaminator of public morals , " because , in company with a " medium , " the plaintiff ' visited St . Timothy ' s Church , Massillon , and during the sermon the well-known " spirit rappings" were heard , which occasioned a disturbance . Hence the action for libel . It was not claimed that plaintiff made or instigated the raps , nor that the medium had any voluntary agency in

      their production , but that the presence of the medium with her spiritual friends , the plaintiff among the number , was the cause of tho sounds being heard at that particular time and place . It in fact became a question for the court and jury to determine , whether " mediums , " through whom these sounds purported to be made by departed spirits , are to be allowed in orthodox assemblies , and incidental to Una tho question arises , what are " orthodox assemblies ? " It was not proved that Dr . Underbill designedly went to St . Timothy ' s Church to make a disturbance , but it was proved that incidentally while there , in company with a medium , a young lady under his charge , a disturbance did take place in consequence of " knockings " attendant on said medium . It was admitted the

      medium did not make , nor could she prevent the "knockings : " and the question seemed to turn upon a matter of duty as to whether said medium and her friends , under such circumstance ? , ought or ought not to have left the church . Mr . 1 ) . K . Tilden , one of the plaintiff ' s counsel , took tho ground that the phenomena witnessed there was " spiritual , " and that the plaintiff was not to be held responsible for what tho spirits did ; that the " disturbers " and " eontaminators of public morals " wero beings of another world , and tho defendant must change the venue , and bring his action there , if he wanted to reach the culprits in the case . He said there were many things new and marvellous in it , things he could not comprehend , ' but that was no reason for him why it should bo discarded . He said the

      orthodox faith contained historical incidents ten times more marvellous , incomprehensible , and impossible of belief , than anything as yet found in the spiritual theory . lie instanced the dialogue between IJahuun and his ass , tho physical impossibility of the liberal fulfilment of Joshua ' s command upon the mm and moon to " stand Htill , " " Jonah swallowed by the whale , " & <; ., items in the orthodox faith , wonderful if true . He claimed that this new theory hod got to combat tho prejudices of tho age , and particularly the persecutions of the church . Every newly-discovered truth Iiub had to do this , from Copernicus down to tho pre - sent time , but ho warned " fogydom" to learn wisdom rom tho past , and not carry their opposition too far . He thought ho saw a necessity for tho spiritual

      theory—the old orthodox creeds , what there was left of them , had failed to convert but a small p art of the world , and of that part nine-tenths doubted tfo ! existence of a hereafter at all . Religion , too had become so expensive that poor people could qot afford to be saved by the ordinary means of grace i & . going to church . lit would as soon think of break ing into Windsor Castle as getting into the ' K piscobal and Presbyterian churches of that city . The Hofe R . P . Spalding followed on the . sarrifc side , lie said Aristotle , the Grecian philosopher , BQ me 200 years before Christ was born , promulgated the doctrine that there was only one living and true God . jb ' or this heresy he was tried and condemned to deatli Christ afterwards , for preaching the same doctrine was crucified between two thieves . The unpopularity

      of a new theory was no evidence of its want of truth Take the Bible account of the flood ~ Noah contended against the whole antediluvian world that the deluge was at hand , " and he alone had faith to prepare for H It is true that Spiritualism is yet largely in the minority , but its adherents are multiplying with the most astonishing . rapidity ,, not only in this , but in the old country . It is the only theory that gives us any ible evidence of future state

      tang a , or indicates the condition of departed spirits in another world . The believers are , many of them , among the best minds in the country , distinguished alike for their learning and integrity . They believe because they cannot help believing when the facts and phenomena are placed before them . They have a right to believe , and to enjoy the full privileges of their belief , the same as adherents to any other faith , Mr . D K .

      Cartter closed on the part of the defence , ridiculing all claims of Spiritualism . He defended the churches in their right to worship God as they pleased , and claimed they should be unmolested by spirits , in or out of the flesh . He did not deny the right of spirits to rap , but they must do so at the proper time aad place . The jury were discharged , not being able-to agree on a verdict .

      Untitled Article

      JOURNAL OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS . Saturday . —Collision . —A goods train from Bolton to Manchester run into by a goods train from Bury at Clifton Junction . Driver and guards hurt ; pointsman , it is feared , fatally injured ; much property destroyed . Wednesday . — The Taff Vale Railway has a branch from Merthyr to Dowlais . More than a mile of this is an inclined plane , rising 400 feet in that distance . This is worked by a stationary engine . The officials neglected to attach the rope to the midday passenger train before starting it . It consequently dashed down the incline with prodigiously increasing velocity as it neared the bottom . The guard leapt off the break soon after the carnages commenced their descent , and was uninjured . None of the passengers were , however , enabled thus toescape , as they were all locked in the compartments , and their shrieks while passing along the bridges over the roads near the town were most appalling . 1 we branch joins on to tho main line at the bottom of the incline by a sharp curve . The train abandoned tike rails at this spot , leapt clear up into the air a great height , the carriages separating into shreds , tue passengers being thrown out , and , with the debris oi the train , falling like a shower into the lati river and on the adjoining cinder tips . Notwithstandin g this extraordinary violence , some of tho passenger were enabled to walk away comparatively ¦ ««• " »*•

      others arc much injured , and two women are aywb —one having her back broken , and tho other a iratture of the skull , besides which they are fngli « ui y lacerated and torn almost to pieces . Had tlio jni been worked with a proper break , it couia u . been brought to a stand , or , at all events , it 3 apt down the incline would have been bo rcduceu avoid the fearful results of the catastrophe . Thuksday . — Collision on the Lancf hiro »" Yorkshire Line-Two trains , the one follow" iff " other , lef t Manchester in the morning , one 101 » dale , the other for Olclliam . The first ^ nved ^ my at Newton Heath station ; ami having no P f " » either to take up , or put down , was going w when the Oluhain train came up at 1 j m » » ' . c and dashed into the first train . Hie last w ^ smashedtho thrown about t wi

      was , passengers was smaBUCU , no passengers » " »» fatally a young woman killed , another * T . 1 L ixwJ wounded , and eight seriously injur ed , x' t ( Uion . cause of the accident is not very clear . J . J" - ; r master , Mr . Whittaker , says lie turned *> }}~ drjVi ? r signal as soon as he saw the first train . ^ j ] Cll of the second train Bays it was not turneix 1 ( he passed tho nignal post . It is pos siblo t w ^ ^ may be right . Tho signals are 400 )?" ,, ' aio v « r station , nearer Manchester , and ore worKc ¦ yj ^ and wire at the station . Tho morning otn a ^ the station-master would notice the fir-au « . ftr f ( 1 it was within 15 or 20 yards from the Btft" < ^ was nearly at a stand-Mill ; a » cl , supppHinff »»« ] f train to have gained more thun ortUlin . ' y , » W its engine might have passed or bo passing po 8 t when tUo danger signal was tunica on .

      Untitled Article

      1256 THE LEADER . [ Satur da ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 31, 1853, page 1256, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2019/page/8/