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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.
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STATISTICS OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES . A bepoet has been prepared by Mr . Finlaison , the actuary , under the direction of the Treasury , -which contains much valuable information , and very elaborate tables , showing the just rates -which should be paid in order to receive allowances in sickness , and old age , and at death : — " For the ordinary purposes of his calculations , Mr . Finlaison divides the population likely to avail themselves of these societies into those engaged in general labour , in light labour , and in heavy labour ; but lie observes that nine oat of every ten established friendly societies are framed upon the principle of paying to the fund one uniform sum—every
man alike , and that any advice for the adoption of a contrary method in . the way of a graduated scale is generally received with impatience and treated with neglect . He observes that the half century of time which is comprised between the 16 th and 06 th years of age appears to be precisely the interval of life during -which man is destined to labour ; and that on the general average the sickness foi the first 25 years is 182 days , and for the ensuing 25 years 362 days , or about one week per annum in the first case , and two weeks per annum in the second . The majority of clubs close their doors against new members at the age of 45 , and many admi-Bone above 40 ; but up to these ages , as we have before stated , all who are eligible contribute the same amount . Our able actuary , however , ascertains that between the ages of 15 and 65 a man employed in light labour undergoes but 467 days' sickness , while one employed in heavy labour is
visited with 581 days ' sickness ; and hence he argues that where the former should pay for allowances in sickness during the working period 17 . per annum , the latter ought to pay U . 4 s . 104 d ., or nearly 25 per cent . more . Practically therefore where the ¦ . common rate of weekly contribution for allowances in sickness is 6 d . for the man engaged in light labour , bis comrade engaged in heavy labour ought to pay one-fourth more , or 7 jd- This being apparent , Mr . Finlaison . recommends that societies should as much , as possible limit the members to persons of one or other class of occupation , or , where that cannot be done , that the safe plan would be to adopt for all the rates derived from the experience of those employed in heavy labour , ' because , ' he cautiously and characteristically observes , ' those scales which are adapted to the greater risk will always comprehend the less . So much for sickness . Tie next portion of the report relates to mortality . "
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PRINCE CZAKTORYSKI AND THE POLES . Pbince Czartoryski , always conspicuous for caution , and therefore so reliable a leader in a supposed hopeless cause , has written a letter to his Polish countrymen , the text of which is , as usual , that they are to keep quiet . He says , among other things : " All the Polish nation in the vast provinces which form our country is , above all , unanimously desirQus of national independence . All Poles , whatever opinions they hold , agree in acknowledging that if , according to the designs of Providence , they are called upon to take a part in the contest , an energetic and , so to say , a military Government , will be necessary ns long as that contest shall last . " This sovereign and unanimous decision , the fundamental proof of our national vitality and the bond of our common union , excludes from admission any party who would disturb our unanimity by the premature discussion of the form
ot government winch that party would urge upon the country for acceptance . " Independence once conquered , the nation alone would have the right to decide on the form of her government , and would spontaneously feel the propriety of taking into account the advice of friendly Powers . * ' Preserve in every part of our country your now prudent and calm attitude ; wait for events ; it -3 a the advice given you by all the sincere friends of Polnnd . The patient tranquillity which at prese » t reigns in Poland proceeds not from inanition , or from death ; it is , on the contrary , a proof of wisdom and prudence , the sign of life and of the iriward strength of the nation that knows how to- restrain herself , to ahow gjreater energy when the moment shall come to develop her might . Follow , my countrymen , that lino of Conduct which will preserve you from the greatest of misfortunes , that of intcstino divisions , or which a ' t loast , whatever fate God destines to you , will shelter you ncuinst increased calamities . "
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THE BISHOP OF OXFORD AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE HARVEST . A clergyman , of his diocese has asked the Bishop of Oxford to appoint a day of thanksgiving for th e harvest . His reply is characteristic . He states : — ' * I have no authority by which I can lawfully appoint a day of thanksgiving for my diocese . Nor can I appoint special lessons for any service I trust we may see the day whea we may have such an authorised form as you now desire , and our brethren in North America possess . But , as it is , all that 1 can say is this—J agree entirely with you in thinking that God ' s great mercy to us as a nation in granting us this abundant harvest ought to be acknowledged by us with general thanksgiving , and I advise you and the other parish priests of my diocese to move your people to the glad fulfilment of this duty . Further , I would suggest the following mode of accomplishing it : — -That notice be given that on Sunday , the , a sermon will be preached upon the subject , the Holy Eucharist specially administered , and
the thanksgiving offerings , both of communicants and others , gathered . These alms ought to bo given for some non-local object ; and I would leave their special assignment to tho previous agreement of the clergyman and churchwardens of the parish . Many objects might he named , general and diocesan , to which they might be given—e . jr ., the church ' s missionary operations among our own colonists , or tfcie heathen ; our own Church-building Society j the Cuddesdon Theolof ical Institution , &c . To this Sunday ' s observance might e added , where it was felt to be desirable , an afternoon service in church on a . subsequent week day . -with such provision for innocent rejoicings among the population of the pariah as might cheer and gladden tho labouring mun ' a heart , and over which the church might spread her sanctifying influence , "I take this opportunity of saying that I trust yon are now using tho appointed prayer for times of any common sickness . "lam ever , my dear Sir , very truly yours , " S . OXON . "
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THE MORMONS . —A CONGREGATION DISTURBED . At the Middlesex Sessions , a case was tried which resulted in an exposition of the doctrines of Mormonism as held in this country . Andrew Hepburn , 39 , described as well educated , was indicted for a misdemeanour , in having wilfully and maliciously disturbed a certain number of persons , who had assembled for the purpose of religious worship in a place duly registered according to tho statute . The evidence and comments of counsel arc curious : James Marsdun stated : I am a preaoher and teacher of tho Church of Joaus Christ of Latter Day Saints . There ia ( i Book of Mormon . We have a licensed room , 41 , Globoroud , Stepney . It is licensed in tho name of Mr . Harrison . 1 know tho defendant ; lie is a lecturer . There was public worship in tlie church on tho 26 th of August . Tho service consisted of prayers and a sermon . Wo beliovo in tho sacrednese of the Scriptures nnd tho divinity of Christ , but wo draw certain inferences which are drawn by no othor sect .
Whilo I wan nrenclnng on tho 26 th of August tho defendant entered , nnd in a loud voice said , " What is the text ? " Ho was requested to bo quiet by Mr . Harrison , an eldt r , but Jio would not , and again called out , " What in tho passage ? Whnt is tho Scripture ? " The defendant was standing , tlo cnino in alone , and had a book in his hand . Wlicn tho police ) interposed , and wero « bout to remove him , eovcral praons interfered in hia bohsilf . I nskod tho deacon to call tho police , ns I could not proceed with tho discourse . Wo p « y two guineas u quurtor for tho use of tho room . Mr . Parry ( reading from tho Hook of Mormon ) : "_ W o > oliovo that governments wore instituted of God « or two benefit of innn , nnd that lio hoUh uiou accountable tor tliojr aota in relation to them , cither in inukJng Inwa or « dminiatoring them for tho good and Hiifut > of sooioty . 2 . Wo boliovo that no Govornmont can oxiat in poaco , escopt auoli lawa nro framed and hold inviolate ns will occurs to onoh individual tho free exorcise of conacimco , tho rigrit and control of property . « nd tho protection of Ufa" ( To tho witness , )—Are thcao two cardinal points of your religion as to government .
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theatre orchestra , but that last year he promised the town a splendid Italian opera , and that , at an expense of £ 1 , 500 , ho kept his word ; that such spirit , producing such an opera , claimed support ; that Liverpool , the greatest commercial town in the world , ought to have crowded the theatre ; that taste and fashion should have united to render the whole thing not only splendid , but profitable ; that -the result , however , did not correspond to the expectation ; that , although all ladies are necessarily ' musical , their attendance was not sufficiently numerous ; that although every gentleman is , of course , a judge of singing , _ the gentlemen were not gallant enough to show their admiration of the ladies by their presence ; that more than one-third of those every night in the boxes were foreigners , and that Mr . Copeland has not made a fortune by the speculation ; that the price
of admission , however , was hardly more than half that proposed for admission to St . George ' Hall , and that , therefore , the opening committee should reconsider their plan , for that it is obvious either people -want musical taste , or have not money to spare . 41 The general talk was , that there is a strange misapprehension in the public mind respecting opera ; that it never did pay in London , and never will in Liverpool ; that the reason is obvious if people only reflected ; that the rarest thing in the world is a good singer ; that vocalists come like angels' visits , few and far between ; in a commercial sense the article is scarce , is in demand , and , therefore , commands a good price ; that mediocrity is superabundant , but that excellence , like nuggets , turns up only now and then ; that the competition for it is not local , national , but European ; that singers obtain fabulous salaries , and that managers , to meet the outlay , must charge high prices for admission to the opera ; that , although fashionable in every capital , jt ruins every manager , for that the number of people who can
afford to pay is comparatively small ; that in London are congregated in . the season all the landed and moneyed aristocracy of the country ; that they riiust have ' . their boxes , but that they alone are not sufficient to support the lyric drama ; that * the middle classes can afford to visit the theatre but seldom , and that , except when the attraction is extraordinary , the season is a losing one ; thafc in Liverpool we have , properly speaking , no aristocracy , and that , consequently , -we can have nothing like an opera ; that , even for this week , at the moderate prices charged , the sum is a consideration even to respectable people ; . , that , for a lady and gentleman for the five nights , tickets , dreas apd coach-hire , the sum of 10 / . is implied ; if an average family is added , the outlay would be 40 J . ; that the theatre , to pay , should have yielded 2000 ? .- —and that that sum was too much to expect in one week ; that good music is necessarily expensive , and it is because of the cost that frequent oppor- ^ tunity for acquir ing a scientific taste for it Is partially deniea to provincial towns . "
A MERCANTILE VIEW OF OPERA . The " Talk on Change " in tho Liverpool Journal analyses the causes of the complete failure of a great Opera speculation in that rich community : "At tho Theatre-Royal , tho Royal Italian Company have , been performing every night ainco Monday night ; tliwt tiua company embracoa nearly all the grout singers of l ^ uropo ; * hat Oruvelli ia rocogniaed , since Grisi ' o departure , aa tno prima donna of grand opera ; that aljo hus no rivnl Ma-l ! *^ " ? ° f . i ei thnt Tmnberlifc has competed with ffiMS hu !> S > t « m « to successor ; that their comatca Sorl ^^ r n ° Walka , | l "e he 8 t P lnce 8 5 1 Hld Ul » ttll ° iS ™ J £ \ ?? " ? u Z **^ ° Pora > tho ' band Uw finest in S&DuEIh * ' WftB la < l £ yI $ ' enodi « tanilMollon ; that % & wSnr » in Cqmpany wna < ivor flcon » n Liverpool before , aHSn ?* Ji " °° P ? ™> 4 could have mndo arrange . that 1 , « 3 $ U > O 8 P . mttdo ^ * Manchester manager ; that ho coutt We put up witU w lt ) Cal 0 , £
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the acceptance of which conld have put an end to the war . However , it finds , after an impartial examination , in the reply of Russia , two points which appear to it very important in a political and military point of view for Prussia and Austria , as well as for all the other German states : —1 st , the reiterated assurance of the complete evacuation of the Principalities ; and 2 ndly , the promise of Russia to remain henceforward on the defensive . It comes to tie conclusion —1 st , that Austria has nothing to fear from any attack on the part of Russia ; and 2 ndly , that Russia has abandoned the theory according to which she pretended to a right to occupy the Principalities as a pledge , whilst at present she represents their prolonged occupations as a military postion , which she renounces ior strategetical reasons . As to the question of knowing whether , in admitting the evacuation of the Principalities , the mere refusal of Russia to accede to
the four conditions , authorises , m the point of view of right , the German States to declare war on her . the Prussian Government thinks it necessary to reply negatively , and cannot admit , after the evacuation of the Principalities , a casus belli , and particularly as at the commencement the Western Powers themselves did not regard the occupation of the Principalities as immediately implying a casus belli . In consequence , Prussia is of opinion that , by the late concessions of Russia , full satisfaction has been given to the additional article of the convention of April 20 th , and she does not admit any formal obligation on the German States , in consequence of that treaty , to proceed to military measures . As to the question of knowing whether independently of the cases forseen in the additional article , German interests , really menaced , require a particular protection , Prussia believes that according to Art . 2 of the convention that
question ought to be decided at a common deliberation of all the contracting parties . In addition , the circular discusses the question of ascertaining if the four conditions are so com - pletely in conformity with German interests that the German States are obliged to make them also the indispensable basis of future negotiations . Prussia , although she rias supported these conditions at St . Petersburg , in-the hope of contributing to the festablishment of peace , does not consider them as indispensable in the point of view of German interests . Shu finds great difficulties in realising the project of a common protectorate over the Principalities , and believes that that protectorate might even leadto a state of things but little in conformity with German interests . Although the occupation of the Principalities by Austrian troops offers a guarantee , yet seeing that the Turks have likewise entered them , and that perhaps also the Anglo-French , troops will enter , and that these various elements will be established there for some time , Prussia , independently of the military complications which these circumstances may lead to , beholds in them a
state of things hut little favourable to German interests . She cannot , therefore , recommend to her German allies to accede to the four conditions in a manner which might have for consequence that they should take on themselves charges and obligations which are not commanded by the spirit and object of the convention . The King will maintain it without variation as a guarantee of an independent development of the German power ; but , on that account , lie considers it his duty to remove from it all that docs not emanate fftm German ; interests , well understood . He hopes that tlie Emperor of Austria will appreciate , in following the inspirations of his mind and of his heart , tlmt manner . of seeing the matter , and that he will adhere to it as a German prince . He hopes , besides , that the Emperor of Austria , admitting that his states are now guaranteed against every attack on tho part of Russia , will abstain on her side from every aggr essive act against Kussia , and will avoid all the cornplicati ons whicli would not be necessitated by the protection of Ge rman interests , and to which consequently Art . 2 of the co nvention would not be applicable .
THE PRUSSIAN CIRCULAR NOTE . A new Prussian circular note to tho Gorman rowers hna just heon published , and apeaka out rather more than the Government of Berlin has heon accustomed to do of lute . Tho circular refora to that of August 5 , and mentions that the Eastern question had been Hubmittcdl to the discussion of tho Diet a littlo before tho adjournment ofita sittings , nnd that no resolution lind boon coino to on that question because the representatives of tho different atntcs had not yot received tho necessary instructions , and because after the re-opening of tho eittings tho united committees wilj hnvo ngaiu . to examine tho mutter . Tlio Prussian Government thinks fit to give explnnationa as . to tho princi ples which it has ndoptcd in tho matter , alter having rocojved a copy of tho cfoapatch of Count do Nonsolrodo to Prince Gorlschukoff of August 26 , ¦ with a letter of introduction in reply to tho Prussian note of August 18 . It ojsprca « ea its great regret tlmt Russia hua rojected tho four conditions .
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September 16 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 873 .
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 16, 1854, page 873, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2056/page/9/
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