Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 18th February 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 153

Page 153
Page 9
9 of 24

On this page

  • Text (6)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      The combined fleets were in Beieos Bay , about ten miles from the month of the Bosphorus , at the latest advices . Admirals Sir Ednrund Lyons and Barbier de Tenan had orders to convoy a number of Turkish steamers and transports conveying 10 , 000 troops , gunpowder , and other warlike sforea to Batons ) , and to cruise with six steamers in the Black Sea , reporting themselves from time to time to the Atknirals-in-Chief . The English merchants at Trebizond had solicited the protection of the British fleet . A . steam-boat bearing English colours , and called the Hat / dee , is said to have got ashore near Sebastopol , and to hare been seized by the Russians , haying Turkish troops on board . This wants confirmation .

      Untitled Article

      CITY MATTERS . Tu 15 stute of the gas in the City hns long occupied attention . At a meeting of the Hewers' Commission , on Wednesday , the subject was introduced by a

      report from the Committee on General Purposes , to whom was referred a statement made by Dr . Letheby , that he had found 21 grains of oil of vitriol in 100 cubic feet of gas . The committee recommended that Dr ; Letheby should be allowed to proceed with certain experiments , with a view to test the quality of the gas supplied to the city of ILondon by the various gas companies , and also to promote its purification . This suggestion of theffcommittee was adopted . A report was then read from Dr . Letheby respecting the power and quality of the gas supplied to the city by the Great Central Company . This report stated , that during the last three months , the poorer of the

      gas had been nearly . 22 per cent , greater than was required by act of Parliament , and that the result of various experiments was highly satisfactory . The report then congratulated the court upon having directed public attention to the purification of gas , as one of the most important sanitary and commercial questions of the day . Nearly 4 , 000 , 000 , 000 cubic feet of gas were now annually consumed , of which about 500 , 000 , 000 were supplied to the city of London . The consumption of gas in London was nearly trebled since 1837 , but hitherto nothing had been done to control the companies engaged in its manufacture . Coal-gas was liable to be

      contaminated with four impurities calculated to injure the atmosphere ; but , as science could furnish a remedy , and render the gas pure , the report suggested that those in authority should pay attention to the subject , as the use of coal-gas " might become either the greatest curse or the greatest boon of the 19 th century . " - A . deputation of farmers and graziers of the neighbourhood of Peterborough waited upon the Lord -Mayor , with a memorial signed by the Marquis of Hun ' tley , the Earl of Fitzwilliamy and * many owners and occupiers of land in that vicinity , who were desirous that tKe market-day , for the sale of cattle *

      should be altered from Monday -to Tuesday . The Lord ^ Mayor said he had received similar memorials from the . ^ city of Peterborough , signed by the ! bishop of the diocese , and also from Northampton Lincolnshire , and . Yorkshire ; and in Oxfordshire , another memorial , having the same object , had received the signatures of the Duke of Marlborougli , Lord Blandford , the Earls of Abingdon , Jersey , and Macclesfield , and of all the large landed proprietors around Oxford . He promised the deputation that he would present the memorial to the Court of Common Council , and give his earnest support to the wishes of the members .

      Untitled Article

      POOR-LAW BEFORM . A public , meeting was held on Wednesday , at the London Tavern , convened by the Association for the Equalisation of Poor-rates , for the purpose of . aiding in carrying out that measure and the abolition of the laws of settlement and poor removal . The Lord Mayor took the chair at two o ' clock , and , immediately on doing so , Mr . 'D . Iffanger , of Marylehpne , and other , representatives , of . the large metropolitan parishes , and members of the Anti-Centralisation

      Union , protested against the unfairness which had been exercised in only permitting the opponents of the Equalisation Bill two tickets for the platform . Considerable confusion and crys of " Fair play " were the result , and the requisition convening the meeting was read amid shouts of derision and great uproar , although the room was at no period of the meeting more than half-filled . The Lord Mayor explained the object for wliich the meeting had been convened , and dwelt upon the hardships which the law of settlement and poor removal inflicted on the

      pauper poor . Lord Berners moved " That the existing laws of settlement and removal are cruel and oppressive to the poor , by subjecting them , in the time of affliction and distress , to be removed to the place of their legal settlement . That the said laws are unnecessarily expensive to the rate-payer , and totally inapplicable to the present time , and ought to be abolished . Mr . Wise , M . I ., seconded the resolution . Sir -James Duke , M . P ., while he agreed in the observations which had been made , nevertheless , warned the gentlemen who had promoted this meeting that they might be taking a step which would lead to the principles of centralisation . ( Cheers ) .

      and ultimately Mr . Smith , under a protest that he had not been permitted to address a meeting of Englishmen by a partial chairman , moved the following as an amendment : — " That , whatever tends to lessen the opportunity and obligation of local action and responsibility , or to withdraw the inducement to taking part in local affairs , is injurious to the common welfare and highest interests of the nation . " Mr . W . Billett , churchwarden of St . I ? ancras , amid tremendous cheering and uproar , seconded the amendment . He said it was a pity the pmnoters

      of the meeting could not . find an inhabitant 1 of the metropolis , but must go to the landowners to move their resolutions . * ( Cheers and uproar . ) They were ashamed of John Day ' s equalisation of poor-rate scheme ; but , as all the . poor-law officers . who had signed the requisition for . the meeting were to be themselves provided for for . the term of their natural lives , they had no doubt a great . interest in the matter . ( Cheers , laughter , and uproar . ) The Lord Mayor called the speaker to order , and threatened to call the police , amid general confusion and groaning . . . ' \ . ' - Mr . Geesi ' a ( late churchwarden of St . James's ,

      Westminster)— - " I rise , my Iofcd , to order . " r The Lord Mayor— - "I shall immediately order you into custody . —Send for the police . " ( Groans , hisses , and . great uproar ; amid which several TOlicemen appeared at the back of the platform . } \ - ^ e Iiovi Mayor said he could not receive the amendment--( uproar )—aB an amendment , hut as he was sure they all agreed with it , he ^ w ^ ld put it * as asubstantive motion . . ( Loud cries ' - df ^^ o , ' no , " from the suppotters of the amendment , mingled wilE cheers and renewed confusion . ) : • . < ** wZ- •'{ ' . iMr . T . SmithVlfo ^ mett , Messrs . Fuller anaElt , of I slington , and other gentlemen , protested against in

      the amendment being put _» a any ¦ other form ^ thaas an amendment . The Lord May ^ r , jtioveyerj ^ persisted ; and having taken a show-ofjhandsr for and against the original resolution , he declared ittb be carried , and , amid further protests , " he : then , put the amendment as a substantive motion , "arid declared , amid shouts of derision and uproar , that alSc ^ to be carried . ' " . , ' ' . ' ' ' _ ¦ " ' \ , . There were still fire other resolutions to he adopted ; but the cries of " Adjourn" and * Dia * solve" were bo great , that the Lord Mayor quitted the chair , and declared the meeting adjourned , and those assembled separated amid great confusion .

      Mr . Toulmin Smith rose to move an amendment , and was received with applause and uproar . He alao proceeded to show , amid loud interruption , chiefly from the platform , that the result of the proposals of the persons who had got up tlie meeting was likely to lead to centralisation , and ho complained , not only of the treatment the opponents of that principle had received at the hands of the Lord Mayor and those who had got up the meeting , but that they had paraded the meeting as being called at the instigation of the metropolitan parishioners . All the large and important metropolitan parishes repudiated it . lie was proceeding to establish his position , when ho was interrupted by cries of " Question , " and tlie Lord Muyor , amid great confusion , called on the speaker to sit down . Several appeals ¦ w ore made for fuir play and order by the chairman ,

      Untitled Article

      THE MANCHESTER AND SALFORD BILL , Opinion in Manchester is still alive on the education question . There was another contest in theicity council on Wednesday , respecting the ; Manchester and Salford Education Bill : Last year the initiative of opposition was taken bjr the voluntaries "; this year the secular party stood forward . ' In a somewhat thin house , scarcely mpre thau a quorum , Alderman Hejr * wood proposed the followingresolutions : — ' ' / ' * , ' ¦ „ " That this council fully recognises the necessity of legislation for the purpose of . providing free schools for , ana of securing the attendance therein pf the poorest , most destitute , and dependent classes of children , in this country , in order to lessen the -many ' , . social evils and- diminish tha amount of crime resulting from the want of education , which at present unfortunately exists . . That in the opinion of this

      council any legislation on the subject of education onght to be of general , and not local and special character , and ought to be proposed for the consideration of the House , of Commons by and upon the responsibility of her Majesty ' s Government . . £ That whilst unprepared to apprpvo of the principle , and strongly' objecting to many of the details ] of the Manchester and Salford Education Bill , this council protests against its introduction as a private bill into the House of Commons , and resolves that tlie necessary steps bo taken for opposing its progress on behalf of the corporation . That it be an instruction to the committee for general purposes to carry out this resolution ; and that under the direction ot such committee a petition against such bill be prepared , and the common seal of the corporation affixed thereto , and tlio same presented to the House of Commons . "

      CouncillorThompson seconded the motion , after a long pause , and an animated discussion ensued , and was maintained for a lengthened period . Ultimately , upon the suggestion of Councillor Medcalf ( who , it should be stated , has hitherto boon the chief supporter of the bill in the council ) , the following words , " That without giving an opinion on the principles or details , " were substituted for those we have put in brackets , and the resolutions then passed unanimously .

      Untitled Article

      HEALTH OF LONDON " . { From the Registrar-General ! Return . ) The total number of deaths registered in London in the week that ended on Saturday , was 1178 . It exhibits a decrease on that of the preceding week , and is exactly the same as the number returned in the last week of January . The mortality in the last four weeks lias varied little , and the mean weekly temperature of the same times ( about 42 deg . ) has been singularly uniform . In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1844-53 , the average number was 1093 , which , corrected for increase of population , becomes 1202 . Last week ' s return is less than the estimated amount by only 24 .

      Untitled Article

      February 18 , 1854 . ] THE LEAD ER . I 53 ^ — —— -- -- ' ¦¦ ¦¦¦* ' ¦ »^ ¦¦ ¦

      Untitled Article

      AMERICAN NOTES . The Washington correspondent of the Nev > York Herald says , " There is now reason to believe the President will not submit the Gadsden treaty to the Senate , but direct negotiations to be resumed with tlie Mexican Government . The reasons assigned for this course are , that the Gadsden treaty does not adjust any way the Tehuantepec question , and that , as that question has been made the subject of diplomatic action by the Government of the United States for more than two years , i t would sti ll leave open a serious matter of dispute between the two Governments were the Gadsden treaty to be ratified in its present shape ; and , secondly , that the clause inserted in the Gadsden treaty , providing that , the United States are to give up to Mexico all American citizens and others within our limits who may be charged with Filibustering against Mexico , is entirely opposed not only to the policy and feeling of the people of the United States , tout would be derogatory to cur character as a nation . " ' f ^ . ; "With respect to the foreign policy g ^ the Union , the NewYork Herald h&s the following paragraph in an article on the departure of Mr . Carroll Spence , Minister to Constantinople : — . * ¦ _ ** Our foreign policy is non-intervention in European affairs , and non-intervention from Europeans in the affairs of onr American neighbours . But the European republican elements among our people , and our native progressive democracy , expect something more than masterly inactivity upon this eastern question . If peace is not soon attained our Government ronst interfere to effect a settl < jment j and failing , it must prepare for the practical contingencies of intervention in the war . Our relations and pur -policy are peace with all parties , but our passive neutrality must give way to action when the quiet of the world is at stake . . .

      . "In any event this country , having become sufficiently powerful among the nations to speak , even in European affairs , when the generalpeace is involved , may be expected ly the parties in this Eastern controversy , if they do not soon come to terms , to claim a hearing in the matter both at Constantinople and St . Petersburg .: A definitive and positive attitude on our part among the courts of Europe can no longer be . delayed in any question which , threatens our peaceful reciprocities with the European nations . Impregnable against any foreign assault at home , this republic has At ready command the materials for a powerful armament on

      the sea , notwithstanding the smallness of our regular navy . Our vast commercial'marine , to a great extent , is susceptible of ready conversion for active naval service . We have also the sinews of war beyond the reach of any other power . We alone , of all nations , have a surplus revenue so large , and atill accumulating , that we are puzzled what to do with it . Only a small part of it will be required to set Santa Anna firmly upon his wooden leg in his new empire . The bulk of this surplus will be available for other purposes . Thus , while impregnable at home against the world in arms , we have the sinews of war , and the means in every form , for a Jecisive hand in the European struggle , if forced into it . "

      lieutenant St . John , R . E ., Mr . JTorde , C . E ., and others of the party connected with the Darien Canal survey , recently arrived frona England , were at Panama on the 17 th January , intending shortly to proceed to the Elver Savannah , emptying into the Gulf of San Miguel , and at once enter upon the discharge of the important duties devolving upon them . Tlie Government of Bogota had manifested its desire to facilitate and protect the surveying parties as much as possible , by appointing Colonel Codazzi with 200 soldiers and a corps of fifty Sappers and Miners to act in concert with them . Prom the Panama Star of

      the 17 th of January we learn that a portion of the force under Captain Prevost , of her Majesty ' s steam sloop Virago , who left Panama with the intention of exploring the Gulf of San Miguel , and making a tour across to tlie Atlantic , had been cut off , and massacred . On the 26 th January a large meeting was held at the Broadway Tabernacle , New York , when it was resolved to call the attention of the American

      Government to the duty of securing protection to its citizens residing or travelling in foreign lands witll respeot to the rights of conscience and religious worship . One resolution declared that it is timo the basis of the international law should be enlarged so as to include religious liberty for all men , to whatever nation they may belong , and that England and the United States ought to tiilce the lead in bringing about this great change .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 18, 1854, page 153, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2026/page/9/