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Leader (1850-1860), 29th July 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 704, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      COMMERCIAL MORALITY—A HUDSON ERA IN NEW YORK . The Times City article says : — " The commercial accounts from New York describe a partial recovery from the intense panic caused by the defalcations of Mr . Schuylei , but the stock-market was still in a state of great agitation ., and the general distrust rendered it almost impossible to obtain advances on any description of security . Heavy additional failures are announced . The chief subject of discussion on all sides was as to tbe legal liability of the New Haven Company for the 400 , 0001 stock

      over issued by Mr . Scbuyler , it being evident that the directors intend to dispute it . Little doubt was entertained that , if the fact of the certificates having been signed by the proper officers can be established , the claim will be sustained , battle treasurer has already attempted to represent that his signature was necessary to their validity , and that this was never affixed . The probability seems lo be that the bonds ¦ were sufficiently regular to involve the company , but- that , under any circumstances , the holders , to escape the necessity of protracted litigation , will be induced to accept a compromise . "

      The New York , correspondent of the Morning Chronicle says : — "The astounding stock frauds of the past week , extending , so far as known , to at least three millions of dollars , have not only shaken public confidence and credit to a degree unprecedented for many years , but they have pro . duced . deep and anxious inquiry as to the latent but rapidly growing causes of such deplorable evils , as well as solemn , and it is to be hoped not unprofitable , reflections upon the alarming fashions and signs of the times , especially in this city of New York . Whither has flown the republican simplicity of bygone years-, accompanied as it was by pure sincerity and simple truth ? Alas ! it is known no more .

      But , in its stead , vre have extravagance , luxury , pride , pomp , and an aping of aristocracy . Nay , start not . Believe me -when I say that aristocracy exists in a republic ( I mean social aristocracy ) , especially in the larger cities . Why , here in New York , as well as in other cities I could name , many merchants , brokers , and particularly contractors and speculators , who reside in palaces decorated with the thickest and richest Turkey carpets , sofas , and chaises-tongues , Tvorth hundreds of dollars each—lakes of mirror in gorgeous frames adorning the -walls—chandeliers in gold and crystal , ¦ with their thousand lights—painting * by the old masters , statuary , marble and rosewood centre tables , brilliant with buhl and ormolu—bedsteads worth from one to two

      thousand dollars each—cellars stocked with the rarest old wines —one or two carriages , and the entire family establishment conducted on a similar scale of splendon-. And then , for the dresses of ladies ' . No wonder such glorious houses as 'those of Stuart and Co ., and Bowen and fll'Namee fhurish . in New York . The public journals every now and then chronicle the gay doings of private patties and balls , whero some of the dresses of tlie ladies cost more than a thousand dollars each . Now , all this is very well , where the givers of such parties are really men of wealth , for , if they live within their incomes , their

      lavish expenditure encourages many branches of industry , and spreads money and the means of support amongst the industrious classes . But , alas ! such is by no means the case , for , in many instances , the most dazzling livers are citizens who mainly depend for their revenues on wild and chance speculations , bubble companies , and stock-gambling . Such an artificial condition of things and of society , such a iotbed of extravagance , while it produces intense and incredible rivalry among its pnffl-d-up , vain , and deluded votaries , but too frequently leads to the commission of such gigantic frauds as the one or more that have recently discredited the stock transactions of New York . However

      great the loss and ruin that may arise from the New York and Newhaven , and the Haarlem swindles , and however numerous the losors , still the results will , in the long run , be increased caution and a severer scrutiny into railroad and other company affai rs . Already people begin to inquire how Mr . S ., Mr . P ., and Mr . O ., can possibly continue to live in a Btjle of magnificence almost vying with regal splendour , ween his real resources are not patent to the public , but only inferential from supposed stock and bubblo enterprises . Hereafter , it will bo more difficult to throw dust in the eyes of stockholders ami directors ; it will no longer be easy to build up gorgeous structures of gilt gingerbread instead of gold , to dazzle , allure , and swindle the public—no lonerer

      possible to make imaginary fortunes look real , as if by the magic of Aladdin ' s lamp—no longer feasible to got immensely into debt by artificial and deceptive means , and thus to live , at the expense of creditors , in a stylo equully luxurious with that of Itucnllus , " Mr . Robert Schuylor , the Napoleon of the great' do' in Wall-stroet , is a prominent member of tho upper ten ' f upper ten thousand ) as tho Now York moneyed aristocracy is vulgarly styled in contradistinction from the oi polloi The utmost confidence was reposed in him , nnd in the railway world ho was regarded na a little prince . " TUo pulpits of New York have been busy in denouncing this state of things . It is a " panic ''—such as followed our own " railway mania . "

      Untitled Article

      HOW TO DEAL WITH NECESSARY EVILS . Tim Leader h < ia done good work in tlio press—in teaching journalists that the most" dolicnto subjects can bo so handled na not to o ( Fcnd proper delicacy wliilo doing publlo service . Tho Morning Chronicle tfravelB , of late , boldly into the field we opened j and wo recommend to tho attention of tho orthodox , who may suppose that we are revolutionists , tho following remarks of a conservative journal on the question of prostitution : — 11 Painful as ar « tho details lately rovoulod , wo must uao tliwn to bring out one aapoct of tho question . It is an aotuul

      fact that the white slave of this sort purchased at 8 L produces an annual return of one thousand pounds a-year . In the instance to which we have referred , the hire of the girl E roduced , in one week , 23 / .: and if wo estimate the outlay on er clothing and board at the enormous amount of one-fourth of her miserable earnings—i . e . at 250 / . a year—she produced to her keeper , who never gave her a single farthing , at least a clear annual profit of 750 / . Ought we , or ought we not , to interfere with his traffic ? We say nothing now of the crime of procuring and buying young girls . On this point the Bishop of Oxford ' s Act is a step in the right direction , for it makes such transactions penal ; but we have not attempted to deal with the relations between the brothel-keeper and his inmates . They can be dealt with , however . We find from Behreml , the great German authority on this subject , that this very matter of the tariff for lodging , board , and clothes , as between procurers and prostitutes , is accurately and successfully provided for in the Berlin regulations . Such a

      case as that of Marraaysee' 3 would be impossible in Germany . And let nobodj turn in disgust from the consideration of these matters . Our affected prudery has borne no good fruits . In England , there are , after all—relatively to the jiopulation—more prostitutes than in France ; and our illegitimate births per thousand are , to those in France , as seventy-one to sixty-four . As to other social consequences of the present state of things , until we hare mastered the great work of Parent- Duchatelet , and studied the records of the Congres General d'Hygifene , which met some years ago at Brussels , we are not justified in forming , still Less in expressing a judgment on one of the most important problems of the day . We will only remark that , in ages-when there was more real , though less affected , zeal for public morals than in our own , such subjects received —as they do now in almost all countries except Englandthe earnest and practical attention ojf the authorities both in Church and State . "

      Untitled Article

      MOVEMENT TO " PRESERVE" SUNDAY IN SCOTLAND . The Glasgow Sentinel in . an able article says : — " For the last month , or two certain so-called ' religious ' and •' temperance' journals have been exulting over our Scottish Public-house Act . They have affected a great de .-ire to make the people sober , and have ostensibly snpported the measure on that ground ; though we have averred that its chief recommendation in the quarters -referred to was its Sabbatarian provisions . It is fortunate that the report of the Parliamentary committee comes early to expose these pretended champions of temperance . Already one of the Glasgow supporters of the new Act has denounced the report —tho Scottish Gu < trdlan —anA we expect daily to read of othei's ; while so far none of the journals that took t-lie side of the measure has offered a word of approval of the report ,

      though in regard to the English public-houses it proceeds to a considerable extent in precisely the same direction ; this shows how far cant and hypocrisy , and not a real regard for sobriety , have been the actuating motives of the Forbes M'ICcnzie partisans . Meanwhilo we hope that Parliament will Lave the courage to take up the report of the committee and legislate in the spirit it directs , despite the noise and clamour that will bo raised about' Sabbath desecration . ' In doing so it will be sustained by the real intelligence and independent spirit of the country , rapidly r ising superior to the tyranny and intimidation of ecclesiastical coteries and cabals , and prepared to do its duty to the people whenever tliose in power earnestly desire to work out a necessary and important reform , and the public interests require it . For ourselves , as far as Olasgow is concerned , we shall not rest satisfied until at least our public Museum and the Botanic Gardens are opened to the inhabitants on the afternoon of every Sunday . "

      Untitled Article

      THE SPITALFIELDS SILK TRADE . A meeting of the operative silk weavers in the velvet branch was held on Friday week , to hear the report of the committee appointed to present the uniform list of prices to the manufacturers . Tho report was that all tho manufacturers , with the exception of three , had agreed to " confer" with the workmen as to tho list proposed . A speaker at the meeting recommended that tho workmen ( should lca \ o tho employment of tho manufacturers who refused to " confer j" but the idea , though cheered , was not carried out . Mr . Archer , " a young master " present , gave it as his opinion , that tho masters could afford a hotter price than they gave . Mr . Walsingham , an operative , spoke at considerable length , confirming tho statements of hia colleagues .

      " Tho committee ] md wnitod upon Mr . Edmunds , of Steward-street , who was about to commence in the velvet branoh ; and ouch was tho favourable impression they made on that gentleman ' s mind , that ho told thorn thnt wlion tho Hat was adopted , ho would conform to it , but , should ho commonco boibro it wsis adopted , lio would consult the committee respecting his prices . ( Urout chcoring /) Tlio comrnitteo hud waited on another manufacturer in opital-squnro , who would not allow his nnmo to bo mentioned , but the contlornan lived

      next door to the linn of Stono nnd Kemp . ( Shouts of laughter . ) Ho had promised not to mention Ilia uumo . ( ContiuMuu laughter . ) Thnt gentleman said ho nlwuy » dealt fairly by hia hands , and ho liked a bold man , who would tipcnlc hia mind tit tho scale , aa that was tho proper place to do so ; but whon ho found a man discontented ho discharged him . ( Itourn of laugh tor , nnd a Voioo : ' What countryman is ho ? ' ) Tho committee could not prevail upon the gentleman to any whether he would attend tlio incut 11114 or not . " ( Laughter )

      Untitled Article

      MR , URQUHART ON OMER PACHA . Mr . Uuquhart , in one of Ms interesting , but not important , letters to one of the evening journals whom he inspires , says ;—"t know no name which it would be more prudent to keep in reserve at present than that of Omer Pacha . I have no respect for renegades or for Franks . Omer Pacha is both ; He is an Austrian by birth , a Frank by education , and a renegade by choice . In the Turkish army , from the period of liis entrance into it down to the commencement of the last autumn , his conduct has been distinguished , and , I may even say , pre-emincut . By offering his resignation in the

      first period of the Montenegrin affair , he seemed to Iiave established his sincerity 5 but when lie lent himself to crossing the Danube at Kalafat , and not crossing it from Matciiin , he placed himself in a position wholly novel , and which I will not venture to characterise , leaving it for history to determine whether ho was no soldier or no patriot . This monstrous case does not stand alone . Suistria , yousay , was endangered . Well , 5 f it was so , how did Onier Pacha sit quietly at Shumltt , with 88 , 000 disposable men under his immediate orders , during the two months of that siege ? and how did he proceed thither only on the morning he received the courier announcing the departure of the Russians ?"

      Yet , knowing that Omer Pacha was generalissimo , Mr .- Urquhart prayed Parliament not to let French or English go to the assistance of the Sultan !

      Untitled Article

      COU 31 T AND " FASHION . " The Court is still at Osborne- Her Majesty and the Prince take yacht-voyages in the Solent . The fashion of the week has been down , at Goodwood . A " sporting reporter , " dating Tuesday , says : — The magnificent meeting at Goodwood was inaugurated to-day under tho most favourable auspices . The attendance of aristocratic and other visitors certainly showed no diminution from that of former years , although the absence of several distinguished persons was noted . "An attack of the gout , we rogret to state , confined tho Duke of Richmoii-d to the house during the early part oi tho afternoon , but just before the race for the Stewards ' Cup ho arrived on the course in a pony-chaise . The principal members of his family ? assisted , ' usual , at the meeting , " The yellow jacket and crimson cap—tho colours of tho noble proprietor of Goodwood-park— -were nob displayed during the day , and their total disappearance from the turf was the only cause of regret which tho spectators exporienced . "

      Untitled Article

      OUR FEMALE' TIIOOPS IN THE EAST . There is a laAy-camp at Therapia : tlio wives of tlio officers , French and English , who have " moved on . " A correspondent says i" Madamo Youaouf ^ d'AHonville , Dundas , Gliabnnnca , and several others wssdo . in tho village , as also Madame de St . Aiftaud , who , by tho way , slilnoa above the rest , as an old soldier and ablo tactitiao , and more especially as romirda sieges operations , having ensconced herself arid suite in tho Irnporiiil Kiosk , and earned a position , na fur aa I um aware , hitherto impregnable to frienu or foo . "

      Another , writing to tho Daily News , says that tho Turks cannot understand tills camp ! " For thus runs tho Turkish adage i— « Woman's heart is soft , her hair lone , and intollcota short . ' Thoro ja still , » 11 admit , one splendid exception to tho rule- —the young nnd charming Countess of 1 'Jrroll , wlioat every station , it appears , luia been nn olijoct of universal attraction , lloro t * ho wns encamped at Haydcr I ' asIiu , within an enclosure of the HastuOmnd , and anuuiy a lingoror had ut timca a reverential poop na thia pjcntlo spirit tripped ncrosu thq award , with all tlio world boioro lior , ua if homo , oountry , frionda . and utt ' ections wore- all centred on thatujaot . May Providence guido hor uninjured alon ^ . ' She »« now , report nays , with her own riiloa . foremost In tho flqld . " Tho wives ptf tl \ o soldiers—and tho fenoale ennip followers generally ;—are Tory differently treated . Tlio Government gave tliem . ft passage out—and tliore leaves thorn } and , wflntlttg allowances , accommodation , a ltd food , thoy aire suffering severely iu tlio at , range- land .

      Untitled Article

      704 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , . - - ¦ - . - ¦ * f ..... , _ j .

      Untitled Article

      ONE OF THE GOVERNING CLASS . A Correspondent of the Morning Advertiser is enumerating the * ' good things" enjoyed by yarious prominent lordly men , and their connexions . He speaks thus of Lord Stanley of Alderley—an astute statesman , who has always been " in" but never " forward" in calling attention to bis innings : — " Now fur a summary of what the public has done for this gentleman ( he alone can say what he has done for tho public ) : —One biaho > pric ( for liis uncle ) for 12 years at 500 O / . a year ( besides patronage ) , is 60 , 000 / . ; two baronies ,

      Stanley and Eddisbury ; Home-office , six months , 1000 / . ; Treasury , six years and a quarter , 12 , 5002 . ; PayrnasterV office , one quarter 500 £ 5 Foreiga-office , five years and a half , 11 , 000 / . ; Boar < l of Trade uj the present time , aboivt 250 OZ ., making a total of 87 , 500 ? ., exclusive of patronage to an enormous extent , and appointments of his connexions , especially that of his son , a mere lad , whe has been placed over the heads of many older and more meritorious men in his profession ( the diplomatic service ) as a further guarantee and a future assurance to John Bull that the family of Stanley of Alderley shall not be forgotten . This is the way the Government is carried on . "

      The writer ( li « signs A Tax Payer ) seems to think that he has made a discovery as to our political system !

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 29, 1854, page 704, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2049/page/8/