Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 28th October 1854, Edition Town of 2, Page 1021, Untitled Article

Page 1021
Page 13
13 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • v *i CPfttl CnUHXtL —
  • Text (11)
  • 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 United Kingdom , when . England does not propose it , and it would not matter if she did . The true statement of the case is this—The island of Hayti is divided into two parts , the French and the Spanish . A part of French Hayti is under the dominion , of his Majesty the Emperor Faustinus the First , once plain M . Soulouque . The farthermost part is in ^ habited by the descendants of the Spaniards who originally obtained possession of the

      island , —a very mixed race , who enjoy a republic independent of the French inhabitants , of the Emperor Faustinus , or diplomatic relations , we believe , with any state in the world . At the extreme portion of this island is a convenient harbour for a coal-station , and this harbour the American Government holds on a tenure very similar to that with which , for several years , it held the island of Minorca from the Spanish G-overnment . That is the whole story .

      The San Domingo subject is quite distinct from the subject of the Mosquito embroglio —a very ridiculous affair , in which we regret to see the American G-overmnent persevering , even for purposes of form . ¥ e trust that it is only form . "We have been assured that the war-ships sent out to Grreytown are not intended to put any constraint upon the British , but only to salute the flag of the Nicaraguan Republic , as rightful sovereign of the Mosquito territory . On the subject of right , we do not differ from our American friends . The King of the mongrel Mosquito people has about as much " right" to the

      land he squats upon , as a King of the Gipsies would have a right to any neglected corner of Romney Marsh on which , he might happen to have settled . But no new definition of Nicaraguan rights over a preposterous swamp and the mongrel " humans" wretched enough to live there , could justify the American Government , in policy or in a wise regard for the interests of humanity at large , if it were to provoke a breach of peace with the English war-ships . It would be to purchase at a shocking price a pedantic correctness on a point that is no matter at all . In the San Dominsro business the

      American Government appears to us likely to sustain some misconstruction , if not some inconvenience , for having neglected a manifest duty in time past . San Domingo ds an independent republic de facto , by all the rights that constitute tlie republics of the United States themselves ; and in fidelity to her own claims , America was bound to recognise that Republic . The duty has been neglected , we fear , to this very day .

      IJefc us , while we are on that subject , point out another duty neglected by the same liepublic . Liberia has not yet been recognised . J ) e facto , it is perceived , and it haa been honoured with the solicitude of ono of the greatest statesmen of the Union , Henry Clay . It offers , if it were encouraged to develop itself , a means of escaping from the difficulties that beset America on the- subject of slavery—difficulties that also involve Groat Britain . If the AVhifco emigration to the West wore to have a set-off' in a Black

      emigration to tho East , and if the Negro race could , at whatever cost , bo nursed and educated into something Tiko Belt-government and independence on tho African continent , ono of tho greatest problems of tho present ago would bo Bettlod . A race , humbler perchance than our own , but endowed by

      God with tho gifts of" speech and thought , would bo placed upon a political equality with those folio w-creatu res on thia earth ; and tho Anglo-Saxon Governments would bo absolved from the painful responsibilities which thoy havo undertaken . Ono of tho first stops to thoao results would bo tho recognition of Xiiboria by the Unitod Statoa .

      Untitled Article

      There is no learned . ' man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then it be-prontable for him to read , why should it not at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write —Hilton

      Untitled Article

      BABEL . ( From a various Correspondence . } — I -was not aware until last Sunday that a burlesque on church service is being played weekly within the precincts of St . James ' s Palace , to which the public are admitted gratis , as the attendance appears to be of the scantiest- I am sure that the fact is unknown , and that I shall do good service by making the public aware of it -through your columns . Having a German friend in London , lately arrived , I was induced to accompany him to the Konigliche Deutsche HofJtapelle . We found a fine chapel , crimson and gold hangings , gilded carved vroik , lofty and well cushioned pews , and an agreeable temperature .

      The Hof-prediger mounted the rostrum at a quarter to twelve , and commenced the performance . It might be quite as well confin ed to pantomime , as during the hour and a half that -the service lasted I caught about twelve words ; evidently these were thrown out in moments of inattention to his part . My German friend like wise informed me " he had no word understood ! " There were six people in the church at the commencement , and about tvrelve at the end , and these appeared to be strangers . These sat In their separate pews during service and sermon , apparently much , relieved when an occasional burst on the organ relieved the enigmatical mutterings of the pulpit .

      I have serious doubts whether this weekly " Divine Comedy" played within the boundary of an English palace is likely to raise the English court or people in the estimation of foreigners . I am sure you will agree with me , Mr . Leader , that if there are German individuals about court requiring a German church , service should be peiformed ¦ with due solemnity and decorum . Is the present incumbent too old for the work ? Or if the vocal organs have become clogged and inarticulate with much fat , " solve scnescentem pinguescentem" xaA let a worthy representa tive of Luther be appointed .

      Untitled Article

      — On Saturday last Dr . Phillips was buried at Sydenham church . The funeral was attended by about fifty personal friends , most of whom are well known in the world of journalism and letters . Douglas Jerrold , J . Delane , Mowbra }* Morris , and John Murray , may be named . After the ceremony , a meeting was held in thq vtatxy to consider the best means of honouring his memory , and it was agreed that a public subscription should bo opened among the personal friends of the deceased , to the extent of 10 O / . ( no individual subscription exceeding a guinea ) , for the purpose of erecting an ornamental medallion in Sydenham church . By far the greater part of the money was forthcoming on the spot . A most noticeable fact is , that Dr . Phillips , though dying under 50 , and never having had any resources beyond his pen , has left ten thousand pounds for his widow and children .

      Untitled Article

      - — Will Sergeant Adams take a hint ? Contempt of court is punishable in a layman . Why not in a barristor ? Neither tho public nor tlio respectable members of the bar would quarrel with so just a retribution , and it would at any rate impart a spice of adventure into the now stale sport of judge-baiting .

      Untitled Article

      - — The Baby Show at Springfield , Ohio , has suddenly attained to tlie dignity of a respectable institution j while thoBO shrieking assemblages of Bony Prlestessea , known by th © name of " Rights of Women Conventions , " have fallen almost beyond tho reach of a joke . Tho baby movement is preeminently unseetnrian and democratic , as well aa sanitary nn < l national . In these almost edible lumps of pulpy and squeezable Immunity , neither creed nor opinion permits exclusion ; those tiny sinners havo no acquired and artificial rights of class whereby to

      claim distinction : supposing them to > havo a aort of vested interest in sin , thoy are guiltless of all ologica and isms , and anterior to all heresies and doxies . Like tho immortals , thoy nil speak the same language , extending from a wheeze to a sq , u « U , and arc not polyglot like completed men . There may , perhaps , bo a certain matesrinliat tendency in thua awarding prizes to little bodies whoso aoula ore " waiting to join "—thero may , perhaps , be a certain levelling tendency in refusing to recognise tho aristoernoy of gout in tho infantine constitution , but tho result , wo

      are persuaded , is beneficial to the nation and In harmony with the age . Moreover , it gives to the women of the State a certain hold on public life which the so-called High ts of Women could never give ; while it consecrates the motherly instincts and the womanly duties of the home . It opens a career for the fine jealousy of mothers , disabusing them at once of the flatteTy of friends who And every baby a " perfect love " and " heavenly pet , " and avenging the cruel inattention of fathers who are slow to perceive how the little darling " begins to take notice . " Yet if an exposition of babies , why not of fouryear-olds , of tcQ-year-olds , of young ladies , and of young men ? A baby show is an admission of the importance of phj r sical education ; and though it is good to begin at the beginning , it is not good to stop there .

      Untitled Article

      — " The known advantages gained by the Baltic fleet this year , " writes the Berlin correspondent of the Times , " wetfe the attainment of a thorough knowledge of those waters , and a correct insight into the nature of the craft necessary for their navigation ; a just appreciation of the enemy ' s talents in fighting shy , and the proof that Russian granite is susceptible to pressure from without . The unknown advantages may , perhaps , be summed up in the injury done to the Itussian finances by the blockades . " Is at possible to sum up with a more merciless naivete the operations of a campaign ? " A thorough knowledge of tkose waters . " One might suppose that the Baltic was as unknown to pur pilots as -the coasts of Britain to the earliest Phoenician traders .

      " A correct insight-into the nature of the craft" is , it seems , obtained by sending the heaviest and deepest ships afloat into the shallowest seas , and when , the season is more than half over , building and fitting out a batch of long-legged yachts , drawing half as much -water as the line-of-battle ships , rolling their masts away , and unable to fire their guns , which , even in fine weather , carry wild , or burst . " A j ust appreciation of the ene my ' s talents in fighting shy , " &c , is obtained by playing long balls at forts , and exercising great guns off the enemy ' s towns .

      The unknown , advantages , on the principle of omen ignoturn pro magnifico , might be supposed to be immense : they are limited , we are informed , to the injury done to the Russian finances by the blockade , which has enabled Russia to continue flourishingly her exports of hemp , tallow , and timber , and to import lead . In a word ) the advantage of this wonderful campaign is that by ignorance in design and inefficiency in execution , we have found out what admirals and what ship 3 ought not to be employed next year .

      Untitled Article

      — The LoTd-Lieutenant of Herefordshire , brought to book at an agricultural dinner by the tenantfarmers lie had deceived and oppressed , tries to laugh it ofif with a sneer , but reduced to a sense of his impropriety by tho sturdy indignation of the guests , stuttors out an equivocal apology , and at last , after a succession of broadsides from tho Parson , fairly cries like a naughty boy . Here is a lesson for our Irish friends-: let them create a force of opinion liko that which pinned this blubbering nobleman to the sellette , and the cause of Tenant-right will be won . — According to M . le Comto de Fiequelmont , the chief injury we have inflicted on the liussian navy in the Baltic this year , is that we havo deprived them of their customary six weeks of sea-bathing , which is found necessary to refresh the timbers of tho ships debilitated by the fresh water of the Nova .

      Untitled Article

      — " Charley" has never shown , at the beat of times , moi'o than good seamanship and consummate gallantry . Seamanship is mostly necessary in the Captain—not so much in the Admiral . Charley never showed himself a naval strategist , either in Syria or in the Portuguese service . His utter loss of norvo is easily explained . Chads was a very gallant olTlccr , nnd no doubt is a very able artilleristbut lie is , ^^ questionably , ton oldTor active command at sea . Depend on it tho opinion which formed for himself from personal service under Nelson , Duncan , UrEdport , Kuith , ColHngwood , Sir Alexander Hood and Sir John Warren , i \ t sea during war , wis a sound one . "An Admiral Ut command a fleet in war

      should he from 4 ft yeurs to 55 years old . " Tho flrafc date was tho ono he utjcd to montion whoa ho spoko of the time of life . Does not naval history confirm this ? Exceptions thero aro , no doubt , whoro older men havodono right well ; but ia not thiH tho rule / mod to point to tho 1 st of June a » tho oonflrmution of hi » saying . Ho was intimate with rnuny able offlcorw who served in tliftt «; ro « t victory ; and ho said ho had no doubt whatever that splendid at » llowo ' fl victory wus , it would havo been more . complete if exhaustion <>< body bad not overcome tno line old inu . it nftor tli « nctioa was over . Another dictum of will perhaps prove true— " Ueuna Jhmdus in w > sailor . " JUn revanche , ho ia an admirable Chairman of iv Board , » ud an unexceptionable Whiff .

      V *I Cpfttl Cnuhxtl —

      ( Dpett CntmriL

      Untitled Article

      [ IN . THIS DEPARTMENT , A 3 ALL OPINIONS , HOWEVER EXTREME JLRV AULOWBD AX KXPRESSIOK , THE EDITOR NECESSARILY S H ^ SELF BESPOSSIBLE FOB NOSEJ o = » mw AUUllBIH

      Untitled Article

      October 28 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1021

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 28, 1854, page 1021, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2062/page/13/