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Leader (1850-1860), 29th September 1860, Edition 1 of 2, Page 833, • FOKUUCIN ¦OOHUKSPONDJSNCE.

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    • • FOKUUCIN ¦OOHUKSPONDJSNCE.
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      Untitled Article

      The very first , article in the book is a curiosity . It is the description of" a voyage in one of Pickford ' s barges , by the canal , to Birmingham , at the rate of- two miles and a half an hour , day and night . Here is a new , if limited , world disclosed . First , take the bargemen , with their usual attire—short iustain trousers , heavy boots , red plush jackets , waistcoats with pearl buttons and fustian sleeves , and gay silk handkerchiefs slung loosely round their necks . Next , the fly-beat Stotirport , commanded by captain Handle ; his crew consisting of two men and a youth , with a good allowance of straw iit the hold , and a very light cargo of goods on bonrd . _ The author and his . travelling friend Cuddy , took their places in the straw , ' whereupon they , av ere poled out of the company ' s wharf into the broad basin bv two of Captain handle ' s boatmen .

      " \ Vc must refer ' the reader for a full description of the boat and its arrangement to the essay itself . It is enough to dtscribc the early progress of the vessel , ' as the result of the poling of the two boatmen standing on the top of the tarpauling structure , teaching the Islington tunnel , another process of barge-propulsion , called "logging , " commences . On two narrow insecure platforms the two venturesome boatmen lie on their backs , holding on by grasping the - board underneath , and with their legs , up to the waist , hanging over the water . Their way is then described until they reached the ( . irand ' Junction Canal , near the

      Harrowroad at raddington : when friend Cuddy has engendered an aprpetitu for tl > . e great meat pie Avith which they had provided them-. selvcs . ' "A large watchman ' s lantern was handed down the hold ; and by its rather dim light , at exactly , two a . m ., the frugal meal began . The picture formed was of a . mixed character ; the pic , a bottle , and the grouping being suggestive of Teniers , while the lantern-light and its effects were decidedly Kembnmdtish . The picture struck the astonished gaze of a Paddington lockkeeper , who hncl . been man and boy at th . at lock for fivc-andtwe . nty years , and who had never seen anything like it in the hold of a rlyburg-e—always devoted to bales , boxes , and casks- — ( luring the whole course of his long experience . He gazed in silence , and went away while the lock was filling with water , only to return and indulge in another gaze . " ..

      This bewildered 'lock-keeper at last made a vuin attempt to stop such irregular doings . Anon , they arc launched on the inland canals , and aro practically initiated into the mystery of canal locks . The rush of tho water woke them up from a brief sleep , and startled them with its violence . Here wo stop our analysis . For other curious particulars , ' vide the original narrative . Some of the scenery they passed through was passing beautiful ; some of the places they stopped at as barren , of food as a desert shore . Having exhausted their meat pie , they sought in vain for a long time to purchase other edibles . A fowl was impossible ; at lastsome steak was procured , and they got to tho end of their canal voyage unstarved . ¦ -

      . „ . The dramatic portion of . this narrative is excellent . The narrowness of intellect' induced by tho narrow experience of tho captain and crew , Avho . se monotonous life was spent on board the barge almost entirely , gives a characteristic individuality to the small group , that must strike the reader as original . In such " odd journeys" as these , Mr . Hollhigsboad has struck upon a

      neAv . The subsequent portions of the book justify the impression made by the leading paper . Hero wo have a journey performed on the coke-tender of a wteam-engiiie , preferred to the first-class carnage interior , in conipiiny with the driver and stoker . Seated on the edgo of tho coke-Tender , with his head iibove the screen which protects the driver and stoker , tho Avritev becomes " buffeted aucl deafened , und finds it difficult to keep his seat . Tho whole country lies under a , thick veil of a dark grey mist , nnd tho black trees nnd hedges rush psist , easting a momentary shade upon ( he vision . On cither side tho white telegraph posts pass in vapid n ' ncl regimental siit'ccs . sion the whole Avuy through the journev . Ihe Hinall , frail stations seem to totter as they go by ; and wo greet thorn with nn sirlditionul nr . w , like a tiger howling- for prey . When wo rush through un arch , wo are covered for nn instant with a circjo of fire , aind wo lusivo behind us wreathes of light , white , eurlmg

      smoke . " t Such n journey yets more imd more exciting as it proceeds . 1 In * is followed bv MliU-tliiig experionceH of diving-bells . Wo lmvc then < i humorou . i " account of oyster towns , auch iws Whitstnblu , und of Ihe peculiar hnppincss of i'i'oo-dredgers . The Lambeth Shot Towov furnishes material * for nn entertaining essay ; »« do also Alclornhott Town and Canij ) . The coinniro process nt the Mint ; tho trnflic over Now London JJrulga j iirst-IUior windows , us st'en from the top of nu omnibus ; 1 lit * virtues of eiiljnien ; tho practices of Kcwgalo

      Market ; tho divi < k > iul dnyn nt . tho IJank ; tho now institutions ot house-1 (> 1 ) telegraphs ; the ' piiMsugo of at letter through tho ]«> st ; tho amusement of plensiiru trains ; tho mysteries of tho Uroul Jilnstevn ; mid Rome other equally poimlur topics , arc developed iu a suoeOHsio'h of pnpero which display singiilnr skill in artintie construction , and uncommon sivgucily in tho dcrtoript , ions and reflections they contain . Hi fvh us Mr . llolliiiu'shenil ' s reputation is . it will be much increased hy tho sterling ( jiiniity of tho various nrticlos collected in tins now volume . Fnv ;( . ' < , i ( nis an ' iil ecreatric , it is equally iiiMtructivo nnd odii . \ inir , nnd will attract roiulevH of every class .

      Untitled Article

      si ' r . fiAL . Haxovkr , Sept . 2 fi , 1800 . /~ 1 OMl * AltR 3 ) with tho stirring accounts froan Italy , Iioav stale , \ J flat , and unprofitable must tho German agitation fov votovm nud unity nrvnonr . Yot of all who now wove over tho letters of

      Italian correspondents , and peer into maps to discover where the theatre of each succeeding Ecene is situated , how many are acquainted with the-prejiminary movements of the people , of then failures , and woful sacrifices , before Mazziki , Cavotji ? , andGARibaxdi appeared ? The Germans arc as unanimous as the Italians for the unity of their country ; . but they are a long way behind the Italians in political and patriotic ardour . They have not yet shaken off their love of ease , nor found a " re galantiiomo ; " but the last Iavo years have shown a vast progress in political activity , and the numerous congresses of unionists , economists , chemists , agriculturalists , are to " t > e regarded as the preparatory education of the people in political life and action , bringing the active men of the

      different states into contact with each other , drilling them into a party , and accustoming them to act in concert , apart from local interests and prejudices . Some years must , doubtless , elapse before the object sought for Tvill . be obtained , but sooner ot later peaceful union , or a sanguinary revolution , must be the result . The grand meetings of the National-Verein is over , and the _ members and friends who attended at Coburg have returned to their homes pretty Avell satisfied with the unanimity displayed , but with great misgivings as to the propriety and policy of setting up the Regent of Prussia as " II re ftalantnomo" of Germany . His antecedents , and present elansmanhke regard for the so-called prerogatives , and the feelings of his fellow ' princes afford strong reasons for many

      unionists to resist the attempt to elevate him to the supreme rulership of entire Germany . . . Indeed , one journal after another is coining to the conclusion that it is hopeless to expect the union of Germany under ' the auspices of this Prince , and the popularity of the National Verein , Prussian intendency , suffers accordingly . It has also excited some discontent that the members of the Committee have absorbed for their expenses the sum of 2 , 260 guilders out of the year ' s income . Although , no doubt , this sum has been most legitimately applied , the fact of its having been received by the promoters of the agitation leaves the impression of interested motives . It tends to prove Iioav desirable it is in every national movement to have chiefs

      wko , by their position and wealth , - are beyond the reach of suspicion . The appropriation of this sum has given the feudalists and republicans ; a handle against the Verein v which they have seized with great eagerness . Under these circumstances the congress of political economists , just concluded at Cologne , must be considered as the most important and -popular of the demonstrations - \ for national unity , as it has also been the most fruitful in results . The attainment of self-evident , or clearly-proved practical reforms , beneficial to princes and people , is the sole aim of the . Economical Association . A thoroughly legal and argumentative agitation has lent the Economical Congresses their chief strength and usefulness . The elder and younger members and friends of these assemblies

      return to their localities from these annual meetings with the resolution to assist in a-work which offers a prospect of success'without any risk to themselves ; they establish associations , they speak in . public , they write articles in the local papers , and boldly preach reform without the slightest hindrance from the authorities . In , this Avay an active propaganda , apparently unconnected with politics , or what is generally understood on the Continent as politics , has sprung up all over the country . Two years ago , when the first congress met in Gotha—a report of ' which Avas given in the columns of the Leader- ? -freedom of trade ami of tlie handicrafts Avas hardly spoken of , much less the question of free settlement .

      But at that first mooting the plan was conceived wluch has produced the important consequences that are beginning to ensue . Since the first , congress , freedom of the handicrafts has been introduced in Austria and Nassau , while in WurTemburg , Oldenburg , Saxony , and Thuringia huvs , bused upon the principle of free labour and settlement , have been framed with every prospect of their being shortly can-led into effect . Judging by the great success which has attended the exertions of tho Economists riming those last few months , tho fall of the guild and passport system may bo confidently predicted as near at hand . It . is noAY settled that the rumoured meeting of the rulers of Austria , Russia , and Prussia -will take pluce at Warsaw in tho course of a avoo 1 < or tAVo . The Liberals aro filled Avitli anxiety , the

      Feudalists with hopo at tho reconciliation of iluesia with Austria , and the friendly footing that Prussia seems to ho upon with both of those despotic Towers . Much as Germans dread the power of France , they fear the alliance of lluesiii more , . and would rather have tho latter as an open enemy than see her reinstated , if only ia appearance , as the protector of Germany against Franco and democracy . The telugraph hns alroady convoyed to you the rumour thivt the Emperor of tho French has sought for an invitation to this meeting , and mob with a refusal ; iipon what ground is not said . In almost all Sclavonian countries , tho people aro me tor revolt and union . Croats and Hungarians have fraternised , nnd from tho Grand Duchy of Poaon we havo accounts of mooting ami inllnminatory spooohos , Tho opposition against tho use of tno roias i

      Gorman liuipunKO is curried to suoh a degree thnt me ww * o drafts , post-hills , or other documents of n pyblio mUuro , wri ton in ( Jomivn . Tho gonoml belief is that this state of affaire has led to tho Conference Si Warsaw , and this boliof is f ™^'' * ft JJ " refusal of Navoucon ' b request to bo allowed to tulco « pail i" tiie C According to the Miffdaburff ^ ' ^ . ^ "li ^^ i 3 mK ? ^ bo ^^ sus ? ti l ^ $ p ^ A ^ HM » SSI transmitted a lull statement of tho relations ousting ftttftrw ^ t own tho Pu » ih point of

      Untitled Article

      Sept . 20 , 1860 ] The Saturday Analyst and Leader , 833

      • Fokuucin ¦Oohukspondjsnce.

      • FOKUU'CIN ¦ obliUKSPONDJSNCK .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 29, 1860, page 833, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2367/page/9/