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Leader (1850-1860), 18th November 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1094, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      1094 THE LEADER . ^^ [ Saturday ,

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      the suicide-murderer-. The tale is so easily made up , that it is evidence against itself until we have more trustworthy and positive evidence . Xet us have an enquiry .

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      INSURANCE TOR THE WORKING CLASSES . Once more an endeavour is made to bring the 'benefits of Life Assurance within the reach of the industrial classes , and this time , we believe , with a certainty of success . Assurance is the best of all forms of saving for an j particular contingency , and it is , therefore , most especially desirable for those classes wliich most need to make provision for the contingencies of life , and which have the most limited

      means to spare for saving . The provision which , a man can make for his -wife and family by laying up cash in a savings' bank is paltry compared to that which he can secure by the same saving invested in a life policy . The difficulty with the working classes is to make the payment in th « usual way , by lumps of money half-yearly or quarterly . This difficulty is met in the new office exactly in the proper modeby granting policies on premiums payable in small sums weekly .

      Heretofore endeavours to establish life offices for the working classes have failed , for want either of capital , commercial experience , or of time to attend to the business . Only this week an insurance office , addressing itself to those classes , has been brought before a police court for failing to make good a policy of insurance . The men who are trustees and directors of the new- office are guarantees for its stability and efficiency ; aniong them are Lord Groderich , Henry E . Gurney , of the "banking firm * Richard Gobden , John Bright , John Biggs , of Leicester , J . S . Lindsey , of the shipping firm , George Wilson , of Manchester ; one of the auditors is Joseph Burnley

      Hume , son of the Hume ; one of the medical officers is John Simon ; the deputy-chairman is Joseph Mallaby , the chairman is Sir Joshua Walmsley . The rate is a trifle higher in this office than in some of the newest , for the same reason that it is called " The Safety "—not only the character , but the fortune of these men is pledged to make good all its engagements . These reduce its security and efficiency to absolute certainty ; and we congratulate the working classes that these , their recognised political " friends , " are applying commercial knowledge in a commercial undertaking to promoting the social welfare of men who , unhappily , are not very able to do "without directing assistance .

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      There is tlo learned man . but will confess he hath much profited by readiup ; controversies , hi 3 senses awakened , and hia judgnaotU sharpeaed . If , then , it be profitable for Mm to Tead , why should it not , at least , be toLerable for his adversary ' to write . —Mijcton .

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      BABEL . { From a various Correspondence . ") — " Never mind the head , if tho heart is in tho right place , " is a . common saying , and a very foolish one ; as most common sayings are when they are not kept under propeT restraint . " fL L . Powys , Major , 60 th Rifles , Honorary Secretary , " we tako to bo a good-hearted man , and a . man of active framoj but his brain lvns proved unequal cither to heart or limbs . He has had tho energy to got up a " Central

      Association in Aid of tho Wives and Children , Widows and Orphans of Soldiers ordered to the East ; " but when ho has got it up and amassed tho funds , tho poor man cannot administer thorn . Ho fails , evidently not for wnnt of good intent , but sheer lack of insight . A certain mun of the niune of Brightwell enlisted in a , regiment " ordered to tho East j " ho ia a man of bad character , and ho porjurod liirneolf when taking the oath , in declaring that he was einglo , and in giving a wrong name ; ho loft behind him a woll-bo mvod . and industrious wife . Several

      people have tmusenbou to tho fund out of pity to the dependants of soldiers who are left behind . Many would not give their money to worthless ¦ women , but Powys has eoneuivod tho kloa time ho must withhold from worthy women if tho man bo worthless . Tho siibscrilxire intend tho rdief , not for tho wives of meritorious husbanda , but for tho meritorious wives of ubnont husbandtt ; and tho Rov .

      Henry Newland , vicar of Westbourne , in whose parish Mrs . Brightwell lives , recals the " honorary secretary" to bis duty towards the woman . " Honorary secretary" retorts that the vicar is " encouraging perjury and falsehood . " He has the money in his hand to relieve deserving poverty , and he feels bound not to give it up because reprobate improvidence has been inflicting an injury upon deserving poverty . It seems to us that he is an excellent man to get up an association , but nearl y the worst man that could have been selected to administer the funds .

      ! For all the fogginess of his understanding , however , Powys has detected an alarming plot ; it is no less than a combination between " a clergyman of the Church of England "—Henry Newland to wit" and the editor of the most disreputable newspaper in . the kingdom , " for " the encouragement of perjury and falsehood . " The " most disreputable paper" is the Times ; but if that journal were never convicted of anything more discreditable than its vindication of claims like those of Martha Brightwell or Ellen M'Connell , it might laugh at the thunderings even of a Powys .

      — Mr . William Hazlitt has been appointed to the Registrarship of the Court of Bankruptcy , in consideration of the eminent literary services of his father . The post is worth about 1000 ? . a year . The gift is creditable to Government . Mr . Hazlitt has proved himself a man thoroughly up to the mark in intelligence and industry ; has been made acquainted as a journalist with public affairs ; has employed his pen in fitting many standard works for modern readers or more extended classes ; is in middle life ; and has yet a good deal of work in him . He will be a useful and creditable public servant . But there is a peculiar credit in . the very reasons of the appointment . The Hazlitt was no time-seTver or

      flatterer , even among Liberals . With a peculiarly clear understanding for any subjects that he chose to take up , he was jealous , suspicious , cross-grained , and inclined to show his independence by severe , back-handed blows upon his friends . He was most esteemed by those who knew him "best ; political friends often regarded him as a political foe . He never meant to be unfair , for he preferred truth to friend , fame , or fortune ; and it is this sterling quality , combined with the wonderful vigour and clearness of his intellect , that stamped such an

      extraordinary lucidity and force upon his style , and made him so highly valued , even , by those who most severely felt his personal faults . It is handsome and " plucky" therefore of the Whig Ministers to give his son a post worth 1 , 000 / . a-year , out of consideration for the father whose hard hand they had so often felt . There is one reason , indeed , why the present appointmentj with reference to Huzlitt ' s services is peculiarly suitable . Amid all his political doubts , he had an unswerving , unquestioning , unmeasured admiration of the first Napoleon , uncle to our present ally .

      — When the Russians made their sortie of the 26 th , and were repulsed with such gallantry on our side and so much loss on theirs , there was one striking peculiarity in the vigorous assistanc e afforded to the attack on the enemy by the picketsthose parties who are advanced to some distance for the purpose of keeping watch , and , if possible , of delaying the enemy ' s approach . It is not usual , however , to reckon upon obstructions by this means , and nothing but the highest personal daring can render it effectual . Four men greatly distinguished themselves—they were three captains and a sergeant—all of whom received honorable mention in the public despatch of Sir Do Lacy Evans ,

      Lieutenant-General . Lord Raglan recapitulates this affair in a despatch to the Duke of Nowcastle , and duly mentions the three captains and not a word of the sergeant . What can be the reason for tho omission ? Was there something wrong in Sir Do Lucy Evnns ' first despatch ? Did Lord Raglan suspect that tho Lioutenant-General had some improper motive ? Has Sullivan a vote for Westminster , or does the General communding-in-chief ignore sergeants ? Tho Duke of Wellington used to say that non-com , missioned officers could not have commissions

      because thoiv tin trained heads would not stand tho intoxicating liquors necessarily consumed at mess . Docs Lord Raglan apply this rule to tho intoxication of jiraiso ? Does ho pluy the Ganymede- with that delightful stimulant to captains while he insists on temperance for Rergoants , nay , on teetotulisin ? Assuredly the public will not agree with Raglan . If sergeants behave , themselves like bravo cavaliers , us they can , wo liko to hoar their praise , ami liko to sou thorn mentioned by gonorala cornmnncling-inchiof .

      — How does it happen that young ladies and young gentlemen resort to odlcus liko the Matrimonial Institution to bo brought together ? Thoy evidently have some money , if they can pay respectively 25 / . and 10 / . for i \ n interview . Is it that futhora and mothers are too particular and give no desirable- opportunities , or do they choose fur themselves rather than for thoir children ? Thoro *« uo run ! mwinl intercourse ia thia country among tho middle class j

      and thus , it may be , the young ladies , as they cannot be made happy at home , determine to try their fortunes , so to speak , " in the streets . " No doubt the institution may be the means of making occasionally happy marriages , as far as the immediate parties are concerned , but the young peoples' only chance of a happy family is to make one for themselves . — Lord Palmerston has really gone to Paris . The Paris correspondent of the Observateur Beige states that he has good grounds for knowing that a portion of the British Cabinet , particularly Lord Aberdeen , is opposed to the projected visit of Lord Palmerston to St . Cloud .

      When a great actor of the old school dies , we are apt to hear it said , that he -was the last of tho Romans . Charles Kemble was the last of a great school and a great tradition , but it would be unjust to the living to deny that actors as good survive . Charles Kemble had a fine presence , and a certain nobleness of air and dignity of manner peculiar to the old school . He will be missed by a host of friends , and deserves to be regretted and to be remembered with respect and gratitude by all . — The Record ( ' " The Record has few ideas , and half of those are nasty . " —Leader , on the Nude Statue question ) is very angry -with the Leader for its recent compliments to royalty on the Sundayplaying of the Guides at Windsor ; and the Nasal organ warns her Majesty of the J ' acilis desce ? isus dangers :-

      —" The downward , path in morals is always slippery , and never more than in the case of those who are surrounded by the temptations of royalty . The laws of God are supreme alike over princes and positive philosophers . We have no doubt that the music of the French Guides is far superior to the cornet , flute , liarp , sackbut , and dulcimer , which were listened to by the king aud his prime ministers on the plains of Dura ; but counterpoints , mezzo-forte , and mezzo-piano , will do little , we fear , to justify an open breach of the commandment of God , or to make listening to opera-musie on the Lord ' sday a fitting employment for our rulers , when a world is rushing to arms , and every post is bringing us the solemn tidings of bloodshed and death . The positive philosophers may have invented a new history of the world to suit their views of human progress . But we still believe that Exeter-hall , whatever its faults or

      virtues , is not tlie birthplace of the Fourth Commandment ; and that other sounds than either nasal ihoanings or boisterous spoutings were heard , when ' Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy , ' was uttered amidst the thick 'darkness , the thunder , the lightning , and the sound of the trumpet waxing louder and louder , by the lips of the Almighty King of earth and heaven . Nero fiddled whilst Rome was burning . We rejoice to think of the inverse contrasts between our Queen and Prince , and the Roman parricide . And we are pained all the more at this solitary resemblance , that after a public Fastday in the spring , and a Thanksgiving-day in the autumn , they should be attending an opera in the opea air , on the day which God has commanded them to keep holy , at tho time when the roar of a thousand cannon , charged with death , may be heard wafted to us hourly from the Crimea , and the destinies of miguty empires are trembling in tho balances of heaven . "

      This is cool : but it is a , pity severe piety should lead to impertinent disloyalty . But these intense Protestants are strange creatures . Does the editor of the Record know anything of this advertisement ? which is taken from the Times : —

      TO ANTI-ROMANISTS . —The editor of a weekly periodical , which lias been of more elucioiit scrvico iu resisting tlio aggressions of ltomoand in nerving tha interests of truo religion than any Protestant contemporary , is for tho momont in urgent WANT of MM ., at . 5 per cent ., to enable him to carry on tho war with vigour , H . o will satisfy any capitalist who feels an adequate interoHt in tho holy struggle , now at tho hottest , of bin thorough responsibility , andean prove that the investment would bo as safe as if tho security wore real ami not porsonnl . No monoy-londer , bill discounter , or bill asonfc nood apply . Address , Beta ., RustoU ' s , 21 , Ebary-sliroot , Obostur-squuvc Going tho Pope , for 400 J . 1 Auti-Romanism and impertinence to the Queen , weekly , for 400 / . I It ' d very cheap .

      — How is it that Mr . fLleutonant ) Perry has not answered the indignant intimation of tho Mayor of Windsor ? Should not tho subscribers of the fund , dubious ns to tho reality of their martyr , insist on having their money back , with a view to hand it over to tho patriotic collection ? — What is tho moaning of tlio rumoured rocnl of Sir Henry Bulwer from Tuscany ( tho Marquis ot Normanby to give tho authoritative dinner parties

      in Florence , in his place )? And when such men us Uulwor uvul Seymour ure unattached , what is thej moaning of sending out an Hon . C . Murray , whom no one uvor huiird of , least of all tho tSlmh , to take tho post of British Minister at , Tchornn'f Tho very ablortt man that could bo gut , hold of ought to bo sent ; to flh'lit Kussia out there . No doubt , it ia , in routine , a third-rate- post , with a third-rato salary , but , at Htuih a crisis us this , our Government should , in all directions , get out of its routine .

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      C » N TIH 3 DISPARTUIBNT , A 3 'AM- OrWJONS , TIOWEVKK EXTREMIS , A . RK A . | , 1 . 0 WUI ) A . M HXlMtBsaiOM . T 1 CI 5 HDITOIS NK 0 KS 3 AUIl . Tr JIOLDS IUtl-3 KI . U- RttSPONSIIlL . lt FOR NONIi . ]

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 18, 1854, page 1094, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2065/page/14/