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Leader (1850-1860), 8th July 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 633, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      " I repeat , . without any hesitation , what I told you before , that there is a deep and a growing unhappiness m domestic relations , and chiefl y among the wealthier classes . In a word , woman , here , is unhappy . u I need not tell you that no narrow prejudices of country blind or pervert nyy judgment . I have too often uttered my feelings of exulting satisfaction with the immense social progress attained here , far exceeding the most sanguine hopes that animated me before I came to this truly fortunate land , to permit of your attributing any of my impressions to our Anti-American prejudice . No American boy ever feasted with , more exultation and delight over the story of Bunker ' s Hill than did your correspondent , from his first reading days upwards . Born in England , I always had a far more American heart than an English ; because I drank in

      republicanism with my mother 8 milk , I signed my ' declaration of intention , ; ' -within a fortnight of my landing on these shores , with emotions such as those of a foundling recovering a long-lost -parent . * ' But so far from making unfavourable comparisons with eitier my prior expectations , or with the state of society in general in England , I ' re-assert what I have so often said to you , that if the real state of things here were fairly set before the masses of Englishmen , ten would emigrate , if they could , for one who now actually comes hither . All the advantages of emigration to t ! ie Australian colonies are obtainable here , and many . more besides . But to secure all those advantages we need a regular system ; such as I could fain hope to see one day Introduced in aid of , if not in substitution for , the strike system . The masters -could be forced , when , really in the wrong , Into submission by such a systematic emigration , and for this reason , among others , ' that it would be not only self-supporting , but profitable . *

      " I would wish to say in regard to the masses of the people here ^ that so far from there being any unfavourable comparison to be drawn between , their domestic condition find that , of | he- masses in England , there is an immense contrast in just the other direction . " Throughout Europe home , life is very much denied to the masses by virtue of the material wretchedness of their situation ; throughout the United States the poorest man may ' have a tome—a real home—where wife and little ones may dwell secure , neither the one nor the others being forced into the fields to do labour unfitting their age or sex , nor crowded into unwholesome factories where health and virtue -are alike sacrificed . Without taking this great feature of American life into consideration it is , indeed , impossible to . arrive at a clear ¦

      understanding of social matters here in general . At one end of the social scale there is a profound unhinging ; at the other an immense , continuous amelioration . Here abolitionism , Hartford Bible conventions , woman ' s rights , and spiritual manifestations indicate the ever-growing chaos ; and here , on the pther hand , the initiation of vast masses of population , hitherto groaning under the tyranny of material wretchedness , into a social position beiiting the age in which we live . " Their appreciation , of the happiness of their situation has been recmtly illustrated by the overwhelming majority by which the " Whigs , with their tariff , were rejected at the last presidential doctrine . For -what mean the tariff and the rest of the Whig doctrines ; but the importation of the Manchester manufacturing system , with its ' suonlv and demand

      gospel , ' and the rest—from which the popular good sense defend us ever more ! So long as the ' Factory System ' means the slavery of little children , and the violation of the bomes of the people , so long will we grow corn , aye and cotton , and leave the English to manufacture it in spite oi M ' Crowdy and all his dismal sciences . 11 The condition of the wealthier classes here lias no public index such as that of the popular elections . Shorn , of all collective political representation—deprived , indeed , of all collective politioal existence—they can manifest themselves only iudirectly . Doubtless this exclusion from political fields of action tends to stimulate still further the intensity of industrial strife , which , under any political circumstances , would have beun keener than any whore else within the pale of civiliation . And , no doubt , an ambition not wholly j ^ noblo has its sh are in producing the entire devotion to

      material successes characterising tlio Americans . But still tlio universal , unmitigated preponderance , the mercenary spirit , especially when it begins to include woman also , is of ' itself no small demoralisation . " No doubt these same classes are , above nil people in the world a " proper" people . What Mrs . Grundy thinks is of moro importance to a well-to-do American than to anybody filao in Christendom . Hence the ludicrous susceptibility to Aho most friendly of criticisms . Partly , that is ; but the ¦ want of n distinct consciousness of the real nature of the superiority wliich every true American must feel to belong to his noble and gloriously hopeful country , helps also to produce or increase hia toaly nervousness . Indistinctly conscious that ho is somewhere , after all , open to rebuke ; justly resenting tho criticisms of superficial travelling bookmakers , and ftt the samo time not Knowing where his true strength lies nor where his real weakness ; the true-hearted Amonoun naturally dreads every kind of criticism , and , nflbcting to despise it , secretly writhes under it .

      Iho fact is , our niuteriiil progress hero has blinded us . Industrially , materially , wo nro ra pidly rising in modern civilinution . Men now in their prime may rrusonabl y hope to livo nnd see Now York Hurpuna London itself , both m mzo Mid wealth . With a population of twonty-tivo millions , in their effuctivo capacity equal—upon their own soil—to forty millions of the avorago people of modern civilisation ( the producing powor of tho avorngo of Anierieuna being to that of tho avomgo of tho English u » It ) to 1 " 2 ) , miJ with an established ratio of inoroauo unparalleled in tlio history of humanity , how can un Aniwiioaii hulp fuelin g duy . / . lod by tho glowing prospects of hia country ? la it any wmuU-r that tho reverse of the picture uhould attract littlo notice , or that wo should bo loath to bcliavu in it ? And yot it Is true , novorthok'tts , that our material prosperity haa liiiriod ua away , has tnado im altogether forgot tho atill » upuiior importance ol « real , nnd Hoinowlmt proportional , moral progroats . " Very niucorcly yourn , "llMNit y Eduich . "

      Untitled Article

      The Riff is an ugly section of the coast of Morocco , with an ill name , and with inhabitants worse than its rocks or its name . Pirates swarm on the Riff coast , and steal down on unhappy merchantmen , -who are at the mercy of the waves , or deserted by the winds . The latter was the fate of the Cuthbert Young , a Newcastle barque , commanded by John George Marshall . She was becalmed , and the current carried her within ten miles from the Riff coast . The lynx-eyed pirates saw her situation , and came down in boats ac night , firing as they advanced . But they do not appear to have been very confident of success , for they were slow ; and first the Cuthbert Young ' s stern boat got away with only six men in her — so fearful were the crew of the armed

      PIRATES OF THE RIFF

      pirates ; and twenty minutes afterwards the rest of the crew got into the skiff , and dashed away as fast as they could . For three hours two of the pirate boats gave chase , keeping up a fire ; but the stamina of tlie British rowers proved their safety , and they left the Riffiles behind . They were out seventeen hoars without food , when the Austrian barque Vincenzo picked them up , and carried them to Gibraltar , on the 26 th June . The other boat's crew has not been heard of . On the report made by Captain Marshall , the governor instantly ordered the warsteamer Prometheus to search for the missing seamen , recover the ship if possible , and chastise the pirates . The Spaniards also have a quarrel with these gentry , who show no mercy , and deserye none .

      Untitled Article

      FRENCH versus ROLT . —ANOTHER « EXCEP

      TIONAL CASE . " In tlie Court of Common Pleas , on Wednesday , an action was tried of a peculiar character—one of the exceptional cases , like those of Keginbal and Leroy . Miss Ellen Freuch sued Peter Bett Bolt , the son of a gentleman of fortune , for 145 OJ . for boarding and lodging him , at the rate of & 0 l . a month . Kolt pleaded that he was never indebted . The sole « vidence on the occasion was that of the " lady , " Ellen French . Gathered from her evidence her story is this : — Some thirteen years ago she came np to London from Bath , and lived with , a person for a year or so , and subsequently with other persons . One of these was a Mr . French ; and another a " nobleman . " In 1847 she lived in Chapel-street , Park-lane , under the protection of that nobleman ;• and in the Hay of that year Mr . Kolt made her acquaintance in the Park . Mr . Rolt constantly visited her for two years while she lived in Chapel-street , under protection . la 1849 , Bolt sent anonymous letters to the " nobleman , " which caused him to give her 1000 / . and to send her away . The letters were as follows : —

      " Ask your woman who she slept with at the Albion last nigbt . Being an inmate that night of the hotel , I actually slept in the next room , and being an old pal of yours , I made up my mind to tell you . I asked the waiter who that lady was , and he said , ' Mrs . Rolt , ' which being an untruth I knew , and I was determined to write to you . On further inquiry they tell me lie sleeps at 19 , Chapel-place , every night , and has done so for this long time , I will swear . Ask Stafford , opposite ; he must have seen what a vile woman she is . " Yours truly , "Northamptonshire . " " Welling borouqu . " Your woman , Ellen French , has been guilty in communication with her maid and the waiter at the Albion Hotel , Brighton , of stealing a letter therefrom . As there will be a terrible row , it is only proper you should -know it . Got your miniature or you may be ruined . Wishing you well , I say , fail not . ' ' " A Fkikkd . "

      When she left she took a house in Lowndes-torrace , at the request of Rolt , for three years , at 180 J . a year . Kolt , she alleges , agreed to pay tho rent , to live with her , and to pay her 501 . a month for board and lodging , to pay the wages of the men , and tho keep of the carriage and horses . But ho did not pay abovo three months ; and during the two years and a half ho lived with licr , ho only paid 7001 . or 800 / . But he paid some bills : 33 / . for a bouquet-holder ; 1601 . for jewels ; 200 / . to her dressmaker : and so on . She denied ever having had as much as 4000 / . from Rolt . Thofurnituro of tho house wus her own ; and when ahe wanted money , she pledged her plate , jewels , and furniture , fur IQQQl . Mr . Rolt left lior in August , 1862 , and she sold the furniture . To the Chief Justice Jervis—She had made a bargain with other gentlemen to pay her bo much a . month .

      Witness continued—She had not broken tho looking-glass , nor stabbed Mr . Holt with a knife , so that tho doctor was called in . She was drinking a glass of water , and ho said something exceedingly rudo , and she threw tho water at him , and tho gla » a slipped from her hand , nnd part of it cut his leg . Sho had not induced tho triulenmon to huo Mr . Kolt , but sho had aont them to Mr . Rolt ' s father , at rlydo-purkgardons . There was then 200 / . odd duo to tradosmen , and sho had not paid nny of that . Tho Chiof Justice , in summing up . said that this action was defended by tho father of Mr . Kolt , ami tho defence was that thoro was no auch contract uh that declared upon . It I 1 :

      wns » suggoatod that tho contract having boon to koon tho pl « intill , as a kopt woman , ami tlntt Ijoing an illegal contract , which couhl not bo sued upon , it had boon said n « un iifter-thought Unit tho contract waa to rmy [> 0 l . a month for his own board and lodging . Tho only wIiiiohh to prove tho contract was Ellen lrcm-li , anil hIic Htated tlmt » ho took the honso in Lowndun . utruut of tii-nural Brothorton , nnd the dofondant mado n bargain to gtvo her 50 / . a month for Mm board . They had heard it Muled tlmt tl » o defendant w « s now abroad , and ho could not bo called ; and if hia father did lii » duty towards him , he would leave him there , that lie might uufi ' ur for hit ) conduct . Ho did not recollect whether tlio phtintifPti countiol had bi » IJ anytiling about si lummur flower or not , but if ho hud uoou . 1 1

      her beforehand , he might have described her as a " fallblown flower ; " for thirteen years ago she had come from Bath , and had since been living with various men , and supporting herself by her prostitution . She has been living with a noble lord , and afterwards with Mr . French , the son of a chronometer maker , and then she had returned to her noble friend , and whilst living with him she , in the year 1847 , met Mr . Kolt in the park , and from that time she had been intimate with Mr . Rolt for two years ; but during tLat time she was still living under the protection of her noble friend . After that she left him in consequence of two anonymous letters which had been written by Mr . Rolt , and the noble lord gave her 1000 / . to pay her debts , and out of which she had 400 / . left . How she could , now

      look that " venerable nobleman in the face he did not know . With that iOOl . she began to live with the defendant at the rate of 120 OI a year , and in addition to the expenses of the house , of course she wanted expensive dresses and articles of bijouterie , which the chief justice ' s wife , or the wives of the jury , never thought of , because they could not afford it . They had heard that the defendant had paid various sums of money , but if they were satisfied that the contract as declared upon was proved , they could not take those payments into consideration , for there was no plea of payment . If they were of opinion that the defendant had himself kept the house , or that the plaintiff and defendant had jointly kept it , their verdict must be for the defendant ; but if the contract was proved to their sat isfaction the verdict must then be for the plaintiff for 1450 / -, the amount claimed . The jury considered the matter for a few minute 3 and then gave a verdict for the defendant .

      Untitled Article

      ABDUCTION IN TIPPERARY . Formerly abduction was an offence very common in Ireland ; but it has disappeared of late years . An instance of the barbarous and indefensible practice , attempted by a magistrate , occurred on Sunday , in Tipperary ., and is thus told by the Free Press of that county : — " For some time past Miss Arbuthnot , daughter of the late Mr . George Arbuthnot , of Elderslie , Surrey , has been on a visit with , her sister , who is married to the Hon . George S . Gough , the son and heir of the hero of Sobraon , and who resided at Bathronan-house , distant about two miles from Clonmel . This young lady , who is reported to be the possessor of a large fortune , has had several admirers in this part of the- country , to none of whom , rumour says , has she given any countenance . Among them was Mr . John Carden ,

      Justice of the Peace , and Deputy-Lieutenant of Barname , Templemorc , a gentleman of considerable property , and held in general esteem throughout the locality where he resided , and he , too , is said to have shared a similar fate—a fact that seems corroborated by the singular and extraordinary proceedings with which he subsequently became connected . " On Sunday last Mr . Cardeu was on a visit in this neighbourhood , having breakfasted at Hearn ' s Hotel in this town 5 he proceeded to Rothronan Church , where he attended service , at which Miss Arburthnot and lier sister , the Hon Mrs . Gough , were present . From the demeanour of Mr . Carden during the performance of the ceremony no clue could be bad to his intentions , as we have heard he was most attentive and collected during its continuance . While the congregation were in church , a groom was observed

      leading a vory handsome pair of horses along the road—a carriage , too , was stationed a short distance off , to which a pair of thoroughbreds were harnessed , ' and six strange men , were noticed as loitering about , having apparently no particular business in the neighbourhood . Miss Arbuthnot and her sister had driven to church on an outside car , and to the fact of a shower of rain having fallen , and to the care of her coachman , who returned to Uathronan-house for a covered car , may slie attribute her escape from being borne away by her disappointed admirer . " When church service was at an end Mr . Carden was observed to walk towards tlio horses , and to carefully . examine their housings , &c , looking to the tightness or the girths and tho freedom of the reins . At the same time the strange men were observed to draw near to the churchyard gate , and in a short time Mrs . Gough ' s car mado its appearance . In it there wore but the two sisters—tho Hon . Caplain Gough being at present in Dublin . Most fortunately for Miss Arbuthnot she sat furthest in tlie car , which , when passing Mr . Cardon , was stopped by one of his mon , and lie nimsulf rushed to tho door and attempted to seize tho lady . She scroarncd loudly , and struggled hard against him , and her cries immediately brought to her assistants Beveral of the congregation , including symc of the retainers at Kuthronan , who sturdily battled for tho sister of their lady . A determined and serious conflict then ensued . Mr . Carden and his inon were all armed with pistols and ' skull-crackers * —tho d « nJiTdt ! rs ~ wtrlisTiclcri , stones , nnd such other Available weapons as chance threw in thoir way ; most fortunately no shot was iired in tho encounter , and some sovcro bruises are tlioouly mishaps resulting from tho affray . VVhilo Mr . Carden hold Miss Arbutlinot in his anus , he was struck

      down by a blow ot n stone liuhctcu by n young man named M'Gratu , and then seeing they were becoming overpowered by numbers , wliich wore every moment increasing , Mr . Ourden ' s men covered his rotrout to tho carri « co COaptain Gough'H cur with its fair ininntosi , who wero half duad with i terror , having in tho moiintiino driven oil" to Hnthronan ") , which ho ttntcriid , ami two uu-n having mounted tho sad-! dlu-lu > rnea tho patty eot ulK . it . a njuioiI ilml acoinod to defy pursuit , loaving tho dofoiuU-M lo woiulur at . tho daring which m-omptoil thuitttciiipt , "ml tlio / iyMuuuto escape of tlio young lady , who . ™ liuurty waa lima threatened . " Mcuauiva went noiv lakon U > aecuro tho fugitives , and doB |> iitrlivn woro at once aunt oil' to tliia town and to CuhIioI ; Mr . ( J . . / . UooltJ , KM , Mr . W . Foabory , S . I , 1111 U u party of police , prociH ' tloti hi all haste to Uathronan . Ami Mr . KoabiM-y . wall lit * acuuBtuiued activity , departed with eoino mounted conauibloa in pursuit . Tho utoward nt Ktithronan had givou 1 / i / wrinntion to tlio Cnwhol poliuo . and Sub-Inapootor M'CulJngli had given ohuao buforo Mr . roabery ftxrivod in

      Untitled Article

      July 8 , 1854 . J T ft E L E ADER . " - . ... . , ~ -.- -J , ^ - - .-- -.- - - - r . 1 -w ~ --. - ¦ - - ¦ ¦ , ; - . , f . _ ¦ . . , ¦ „ . ¦ . ¦ .. . ^ . __ -

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 8, 1854, page 633, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2046/page/9/