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    opened the veins of his body with the broken fragments of a glass bottle . On his person were seen marks of the most horrible violence . His back was lacerated by the frequent application of the lash . The-brothers of Weidig thereupon laid a charge of wilful murder against Georgi , and strove hard to bring about an inquiry on the fate of their relative . The Grand-Duke , however , hushed up the affair . Still , evidence of the strongest kind— -proofs never refuted—oozed out of the fiendish cruelties practised on the unfortunate prisoner by his judicial

    executioner . It was shown that , in order to extort from Weidig a confession of his associates and his political plans , he was constantly flogged , his feet during the operation being fettered to the prison bed . A judicial , protocol was even detected , in which Georgi , his examining judge , made a minute , bearing his own signature , that "he had had the culprit flogged until he barked like a dog" Sufferings so prolonged and extreme were more than poor humanity could bear . No wonder Weidig anticipated with his own hand—at least , so it was given out—the final scene , and put an end to a life which his brutal tormentor had rendered a

    longorganisation , to pack both in-door . and open-air meetings with"their partisans . Attendingfor no other purpose than to intercept and break up the meeting , they frequently attempted to storm the platform , and to assault the Liberals who might have collected there ; and many a turbulent melee in those days is to be traced to their violent interference . Whilst they thus worked at their dastardly vocation , the troops of the Grand-Duke lent a hand to the butcheries going on at the time in Baden .

    The course of internal reaction in Hesse-Darmstadt has been pretty well the same as in all the other German principalities . The same political promises were given with the same solemnity , and followed , as a matter of course , by the same perjuries ; the same encouragements held out to the ^ Feudalist and Catholic parties , although these latter are the most dangerous rivals of the petty monarchs themselves . Against Democrats there have been the usual persecutions . Mayence especially , the nursery of republican sentiments , has had the ranks of its champions thinned by proscription . To give a striking instance of the hatred with which the Grand-Duke , even now , looks upon Mayence , we need only refer to the recent catastrophe of the powder explosion in the fortress ^ -a catastrophe

    brought about not merely by the negligence but by the positive malice of the highest authorities . For many years past the citizens of the towns had repeatedly requested the transfer of the greater portion of the combustible materials to the magazines Outside the town . This most natural request would * even from a military point of view , have been feasible enough . But the Grand-Duke persisted in desiring his Government to refuse the request , throwing out hints that he " considered it proper to intimidate the population by keeping so formidable a cause of alarm always in their midst . " At last the catastrophe came , and with it a frightful loss of life and destruction of property . Such is the paternal government of Louis III . of Hesse-Darmstadt , commonly reputed as among the most humane of the Landesvaler of Germany ,

    drawn agony . . Of this character was the regime under which Louis III . passed the early vears of his manhood . Could it have been wondered at if he , too , had imbibed something of the modes of administration in which his father so freely indulged ? Fortunately for him , the outcry of outraged humanit y ^ raised throughout Germany against the hideous crimes of Liouis II ., was such , that it afforded a very salutary lesson to his successor not to venture on a sftnilar course , This , perhaps , more than anything else ,

    contributed to render the Governmeut of the present Grand-Duke more humane , or , at any rate , more prudent in its dealings with political antagonists . The Court of the present sovereign has consequently remained free from the more repulsive features that sullied the preceding Government . Darmstadt has returned to , at least , the semblance of civilized rule ; and only occasionally the traces of the ferocity of former days are to be observed .

    Reactionary policy , however , forms a main characteristic of the present GrancUDuke , and has done so from the first day of his stepping into power . His marriage with Mathilde , Princess of Bavaria , has rendered his ears open to the suggestions from the Catholic side . His intimate relations with the Rusr sian dynasty have exercised as well their full share of influence . Louis . III ., like nearly all his relations and the greater portion of German princes , is little better than a Russian Knes . He - * aba * ¦ . 9 « > rit » 1

    * * . not only decks his person in the regimentals of the troops of Belozersk , but is , at heart also , an admirer of the autocratic system . Since the marriage of his sister Maria—now Maria-Alexandrowna—> with the present Emperor of Russia , the Court of Darmstadt has become the rendezvous of Muscovite intriguers of both sexes . A Grecco-Catholic chapel has been erected ; and quite a colony established of visitors in vitcA and ski . During the late Crimean war , this Russian character of the Hesse-Darmstadt Court has often manifested itself in a marked

    manner . In the popular struggles of 1848 , Louis III . did not long hesitate in showing his true character , He was early in adopting some of the severest measures against the rising cause of freedom . In March of that year , when the For Parlament at Frankfort met , and vast numbers flocked thither to assist at the inauguration of the principles of liberty , this petty Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt mustered courage enough \ o plant loaded cannon at the railway stations on las frontiers , and to cau 3 C every one , going through his dominions to Irankl ' brt , who wore arms—which waa the prevailing custom at the time—to be stopped and relieved of such dangerous encumbrances . Perhaps this measure lias

    not a little contributed to wouken the force of the Democratic partj at Frankfort . Numerous bands of Democraots from South-Western Germany were thus prevented from expressing their wishes and sentiments at the meeting of the For JParlament . Nor was the reigning Grand-Duke wanting in other devices for bringing about the diminution of revolutionary power . Large bodies of paid claqueurs in the reactionary interest were despatched nt his cost from Darmstadt , in 1848 , to ply their vocation at every popular meeting held in Hcaso , Frankfort , Baden , etc ., where they appeared armed to the teeth , und exercised great terrorism . They were conveyed from place to place with the utmost rapidity ; and generally managed , by their perfect

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    Coming General Election . —We are informed that an influential requisition has been made to Mr . W . Torrens Me Cullagh ( late member for Yarmouth ) , by the voters of Finsbury , soliciting him to stand for that borough at the next election . American Purity of Ejection . — The New York correspondent of the Daily News says : — Our municipal election is going oa very quietly as I write . One of the vacancies to be filled is the Comptrollership , as I told you in my last , or city treasurership . The salary is 1000 / . a year only , but the chances' are enormous . An honest man ought to pocket nothing but his salary , but a dishonest one might very readily , by bribes and peculation , pocket 20 * 000 ? . a year over and above , without much chance of detection . The struggle is consequently fierce . The reform party has a highly respectable

    merchant in the field , who has never before meddled in politics , and the two sections into which the democratic party in this city is now divided , have each one , both local politicians , such as have too long managed our affaire . What the result will be it is hard to say ; I am afraid that the reformers are hardly as vigilant and skilful as their opponents , and that we shall have the old regime on our shoulders for a little while longer . What this means you may guess , when I tell you that a recent examination shows defalcations in the city funds to the extent of 7 , 000 , 000 or 8 , 000 , 000 dollars within the last ten years . Shocking as this state of things is , the taxpayers and property-holders find it almost impossible to make head against the weight of the non-tax-paying vote , which , of course , is polled in utter recklessness ns to its effects upon the finances of the city . "

    Secrets WkU- Kept . —At the Society of Arts meeting , on the naval defences question , the lecturer , Mr . Reede , an eminent naval architect , pointed out a remarkable idiosyncracy of Lords of the Amiralty ; they consider it their special function to deny to the British press and the British public , and to the natives of minor states from which wo have nothing to apprehend , information and facilities for gaining information which they cheerfully accord to officers of the French , Russian , and American Governments , those which can by any chance

    provo inimical to us . Mr . Scott Russell added something still more remarkable . Ho said that , by orders of the late Board of Admiralty , a report had been drawn up by a committee , as to the principles on which the future fleets of England , wore to bo constructed . The oxiston . ee of this report naturally produced great anxiety in the minds of Scott Russell and othora like him , engaged in naval architecture , to procure a copy . He tried every moans to obtain one , and failed . But at last he succeededand did got one—from the Continent I

    , A Lisbon Theatre . —I go in , one night , attracted by tlio crowds that are flowing to the doors , light eteolfllings flying to the arches of a magnet . The interior la rich , with hangings of topaz-colourod satin banded

    here and there with purple . The seats in the pit are all of cane ; there being every provision for airiness and lightness . There are , of course , some English middies and sailors in the pit ; who talk very loud , and have a defiant contemptuous manner peculiarly national . The onl y thing I can decipher but of the snuffling nasal "Jew Spanish of the stage dialogue which is called Portuguese is , that a certain Dom Jose Herriero de dos Santoswho is dressed like Lord Nelson , and -who nearly kills me every time he enters by his absurd bows and grimaces , has come in the disguise of a poor artist to a family , with whom he is about to enter into alliance . The father , a little , prosy man with a dry drollery of his own , suspects him to be a swindler ; a suspicion that

    leads to various complications ; but is legitimately removed when the Dom appears in all his lustre , and claims his bride ; at which the little diplomatic man takes snuff and rubs his hands as if he had seen through it all the time . The drollest thing- was , that , at the end of each act , every human being in the pit , rose with one accord ; without smiling , tied handkerchiefs to the back of their cane-seats , and retired to the lobby to hastily smoke a cigarette and eat stewed pears ; which , were in active sale at the buffet . I do not think there was one woman in the pit . Indeed , in some Spanish theatres , the women all sit huddled in a sort of omnibua box by themselves . Now , that the men with the yellow teeth , sallow full faces , and scorched fore-fingers , have

    untied their hankerehiefa , and are waiting for Lord Nelson in the white satin knee-breechesj with intense expectation , I look up at the boxes , beating the covert for a beautiful face . What ? Not one ? No : only fat and sensual faces , all run to nose , as if by perpetually smelling at gcea 3 y dinners ; crisp , wiry animal negro hair ; full brown red lips ; mean chins , and foreheads villanously low . Bands and ropes of black shiny hair looped up with strings of pearl , ending in a top-knot strung with gold and coral . Not one beauty ? Yes , one with fire-fly eyes and soft brown cheeks deepening to a peachy red ; who , with rounded white arms , leans forward hanging upon the lips of Lord Nelson in the court suit , tail coat , and white satin breeches , entranced . Household Words . .

    From Putney to Richmond . —Near Putney is Roehampton , where Charles the First ' s lord treasurer , Sir Richard "Weston , once kept a noble state , and had a fine mansion , where his son Jerome , afterwards Lord Weston , married the Lady Frances Stuart . A notable wedding ! for an archbishop ( Laud ) officiated , a king ( Charles ) gave away the bride , and a great poet ( Ben Jonson ) wrote the marriage song . In this same house Hobbes the philosopher resided for many years , as tutor to the son of the Countess of Devonshire . Barnes . once belonged to the canons of St . Paul , who , it may be , once possessed here a barn or spicarnum . Barn Elms , the old house , we mean , belonged to Sir Francis Walsingham , who entertained beneath its roof his mistress . Queen

    Elizabeth . It afterwards belonged to Heidegger , George H . 's Master of the Revels , and still later to Sir Richard Colt Hoare , the antiquary . Jacob Tonson lived In this neighbourhood , and frequently held at his house the meetings of the Kitcat Club , " originally named from a certain Christopher Cat , a pastrycook , who supplied mutton pies for the suppers of its members . " Cow ley , the poet , we may add , lived at the Old Barn Elms before his removal to Cherfcsey , and the New Barn Elms was the residence of the late Sir Lancelot Shadwell . Fielding and Handel were both , at different periods , inhabitants of , or rather residents in , this picturesque hamlet . In a field near Barn Elms was fought , January the 17 th , 1667-8 , the famous duel between the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Shrewsbury , the shameless Countess holding tha Duke ' s horse during the

    fatal encounter . We pass on to Mortlake ( whose etymology is somewhat affectedly offered by learned antiquarians as Martinis lacus ) , once a possession of the archbishopric of Canterbury , and noted as the residence of the magician Dr . Dee , who died here in 1608 . In the church arid churchyard are memorials of Sir Philip Francis , the first Lord Sidmouth , Partridge , the almanacfcconcoctor , and Pope ' s Sir John Barnard And bo we arrive at Richmond . —Literary Gazette . , JSast India Company . —A general court waa held on Monday to receive the report of the committeo of proprietors appointed at the general court of the 80 th of August last , " for the . purpose of consulting with the directors in reference to the measures to be taken for the future management of the Company ' s affairs ; " Colonel Sykes , M . P ., presided . Mr ; Orawshay read tho report ,

    and moved its adoption , which was unanimously cornea . Mr . Crawshay then moved a resolution claiming on the part of the Company the current and unclaimed dividends , on which a very confused and lengthened debate arose , and the court adjourned . On Tuesday the discussion on the resolutions of Mr , Crawshay as to the future management of tho Company , and acceptance of Lord Stanley ' s offer , was resumed . The debate was of a very personal and oorimoniou * character , but eventually motions wero carried with reference to the PWnent of the current dividends and the unclaimed dividenda ( counsel ' s opinion to be taken a » to the latter ); as to tho uso of the India House , and payment of salaries to the ecretoryand Court of Directors , &c , for carrying on tho business of the Company ; the wvlsion of tho byelaws , &o .

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    No . 457 , December 24 , 1858 . ] THE LEADEB . 1421

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1858, page 1421, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2274/page/21/