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    ¦ ffo. 420, April 10,1858. j THE LEAPEB....

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    Miscellaneous. The Court.—The Queen Has ...

    w ^ — : : I '• Henderson Fund . —It will be remembered that -we I some time since announced the death . of Mr . John Hen-I derson , a gentleman well known to the public as a I me mber of the late firm of Fox , Henderson , and Co ., I the contractors for the Great Exhibition building of I 1851 and the Crystal Palace at Sydenham . It is with I much regret that we now learn that Mr . Henderson's I wife and daughter are left totally unprovided for , as , although that gentleman was making every effort to r ecommence business , he did not live long enough to Cftirv out the plans he had projected . Under these [ " circumstances a committee has been formed with the view of raising a fund for the assistance of the widow and orphan , and an appeal on their behalf is now being made to the public . The numerous important and public works with which the late Mir . John Henderson was connected during a life of untiring energy and enterprise , cause us to regard his family as having a claim upon the support and sympathy of the world . The Wellington Monument . — " There are strange rumours afloat concerning this work : ' the thousand tongues * are noising it abroad that , notwithstanding the awards of prizes in Westminster Hall , the competition will lead to nothing , except a return to the original scheme of giving the commission to Baron Marochetti : i indeed it is added that the arrangement was ' in pro-! gress' when the competition was mooted ; and it is to be carried out now that the competitive designs are either sent home or shelved into one of the ante-rooms of the new palace at Westminster . We cannot credit a statement so utterly opposed to every principle of honour : we do not believe that any Government would dare to commit so great an outrage on common decency . We therefore abstain from more than a mere note to atate that such a rumour is in circulation . " - —Art Journal . Health of Lontdon . —The total number of deaths registered in London in the week that ended last Saturday , was 1374 . In the ten years 1848-57 the average number of deaths in the weeks corresponding with last week was 1392 ; but , as the deaths of last week occurred in an increased population , they should be compared with the average , after the latter had been raised proportionally to the increase , a correction which will make it 1531 . The deaths now returned are , therefore , less by 157 than the number which the ave- ^ rage rate of mortality would have produced . —Last'week , the births of 872 boys and 863 girls , in all 1735 children , were registered in London . In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1848-57 the average number was 1801 . —From the Registrar-Generals Weekly Return . Sanitary State of the City . —From Dr . Letheby ' s Report of the Sanitary Condition of the City of London for the quarter ending March 27 th , we learn that the mortality is a little above the average , but less than the death-rate in the same period of 1857 . The total number of deaths for the quarter is 84 . 3 ; that is to say , ¦

    439 males , and 404 females . Last year , the number of deaths in the same quarter was 852 , and the average of the last nine years is 829 . The condition of the houses occupied by the poor has improved ; but much still remains to be done . Temple Bar . —The removal of this well-known arch , the work of Sir Christop her Wren , is in contemplation , and , as it would be a pity to destroy it , a Suggestion has been made to place it at the entrance of one of the parks . Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton has been lecturing at the Mechanics' Institute , at Lincoln , on the Early History of the Eastern Nations , especially those mentioned in the Old Testament . The East India House . — A Court of Proprietors was held on Wednesday , Mr . Mangles , M . P ., in the chair . The chairman moved the granting of a pension of 1000 / . a year to the son of the late Sir Henry Lawrence ( but this was opposed by Mr . Jones , and a cnuinin ugiuumuui

    discussion ensueci , g a uuuuuuuus . . « grant the annuity . The chairman then read the report on the two India bills , both of whioh were condemned , especially Lord Derby ' s . The Directors advocate delay , conceiving that present legislation would be dangerous ; but , should either of the bills bo pushed forward , tho Directors will endeavour to divest it of its objectionable features , and to secure the establishment of " a really independent Council , " analogous to tho Court of Directors . A short discussion followed tho reading of tho report , and tho last measure was severely criticized . Tho debate was then adjourned to next Tuesday * Delhi Prophecies . —1 made tho acquaintance of Another personage at Delhi , for whom I had a very great liking and regard . This was Mirza Futtoh AUeo t neir to uirona oi

    Bbah JiiiuiKloor , no apparent mo Delhi . Ho was a very amiable and intelligent prince , And had an extraordinary thirst for knowledge . Amongst other things that ho was curious to learn Was tho history of steam power , railroads , and tho electric—tolegraphr ^ -For- * houra ~ togother—< hc— -would- > - encourage mo—nay , importuno mo—to talk with liim on thoao matters . A propos of this prince and his iamily . Whilo I was at Delhi , tho festival of tho Ecd came to pass , and thoro was an onion which waa Variously interpreted . Tho King—in other words , tho Great Mogul—sacrifices a camel . Tho king kills ( or used to kill ) the camel with his own hand , by driving a spear into tho bronst of tho animal . On tho occasion to wliivh I now refer , tho King , balng extremely old and feeble ,

    > was assisted by two attendants , and , in attempting to drive the spear , it broke in two pieces . That was the omen . The friends of Mirza Fatten Allee Shah Bahadoor interpreted it prognosticating the King ' s death , and the speedy succession of the heir apparent to the throne . Others , however , said that it prognosticated the downfal of the King and his throne for ever . Mirza died about a year ago of an attack of cholera ; and it may not be premature , perhaps , to say that the throne of tho Great Mogul will not in future be recognized . There was another curious prophecy connected with the throne of Delhi , and current for many years in the Punjab . It was implicitly believed that the Sikh soldiery would ona day or other , and before long , sack Delhi ; and in 1845 , when the Sikh army crossed our frontier , Delhi was its destination . This prophecy has , to some extent , been fulfilled . The Sikh soldiers have tasted of the plunder of Delhi . But who could ever have dreamed that their entry into the city of the Great Mogul would be in company with British soldiers ? It is as though , and quite as incredible as if , some one had predicted in 1816 that in 1855 the Queen of England , a granddaughter ot George III ., would be a guest at the Tuileries of an Emperor of the French , and a nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte ; and that such Queen would be led upon the arm of such Emperor to visit the tomb of the prisoner of St . Helena . — JJickens ' s Household Words . Mr . Meciii was on Wednesday unanimously elected an Alderman of the City of London , in the room of the late Alderman Farebrother . The Two India Bills . —The directors of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce have adopted a petition to the House of Commons against both the India Bills . They approve the principle of transferring the Government of India to the Queen , but object to the Councils proposed by both measures—especially to that in the latter . They " respectfully suggest to your Hon . House that the affairs of India in this country should be conducted by a Minister and a Secretary . for India , having seats in the House of Commons , the former to be a member of the Cabinet , and the latter not to be required to vacate his seat or office in the event of a change of Ministry ; and that , in addition , an India Board should be created , consisting of four or more permanent secretaries , with salaries of not less than 2000 / . per annum each , holding no patronage , and being disqualified for sitting in the House of Commons . Lord Normanby ' s Revival . —Under this head , the Times quotes a letter from Lord Normanby to the Constitutionnel , intimating that he has enclosed one thousand francs to the subscription for M . Lamartine , alluding to himself as one of his " oldest friends , and one who ha 3 had particular opportunities of observing all that his energy did for the great cause of order , not only in France but throughout the entire world . " We may here add that the literary and political admirers

    of M . Lamartine have been greatly pained at the position in which he is now placed with respect to the Emperor . In answer to some not very complimentary observations in the Times , Lord Normanby writes to that paper to say that his health is quite restored , and that his age is fourteen years less than that of the late Premier , and only two years more than that of Lord Derby . The Mysteries of Masonry . — When the novice is introduced into the conclave of the Freemasons , the Grand Master or his deputy looks very fierce at him , and draws his sword , making the novice look very melancholy , as he is not aware of having had time as yet for any profaneness , and fancies , therefore , that somebody must have been slandering him . Then the Grand Master or his deputy cites him to the bar , saying 1 , " What is this you have in your pocket ? " To which tho novice replies , "A guinea ! " " Anything more ?" " Another guinea . " Tl » en replies the official person , in Ut to

    a voice of thunder , " D ' ork out . " course a man coming sword in hand few persons refuse to do that . This forms the first half of tho mysteries ; tho second half , which is by much tho more interesting , consists entirely of brandy . —Da Quincey . Processor Newman and the Goveknment Proskoutions . —Tho following letter , addressed to us by a constant reader , proves that our' faithful ally' has his admirers as well as his abusors : — " Sir , —However disposed to respect the phases of Professor Newman ' s faith-religious , it is impossible not to feel deeply humiliated at the perversion of moral faith that impels him boldlv to ignore a nation ' s voice , and in morbid sympathy with factious and selfish treason , presumptuously to pronounce that nation ' s choice ' a treasonable usurper 1 " * " Interim

    scolus ( Idea ; ' and if ever an occasion existed wlioro oatns wore inoro honoured in tho broach than in tho observance , ' whoro tho broach was duty , honour , virtue , as tho observance would havo been crime , suoh undeniably was tho occasion promptly comprehended by thomastornnln'd ~ 5 f "' 15 tfropo- ;—nnd * Mith ~ lofty-enorgyho-promptly-nc--coptcd to save a world from that anarchy , outrage , and bloodahod which the perverted vioral fnlt . li of tho Professor , and unfortunntely of some other influential gooae-quillrt in England , « ro doing their utmost to reinitiate , —Yours obediently , " L . L . D . " Cavendish Club , Otb April . " * Vido tho Professor ' s Jotter to tho Assassination Dofonco Committee .

    Extraordinary Scene in a Church . —The Bev . J . Fur-nival , of Ottery , in the diocese of Exeter , recently invited the Rev . H . E . Head , rector of Fernton , to preach in his pulpit . The Rev . Mr . Head entertains evangelical views , and is the author of a work which has attained . considerable popularity , entitled ' The Ultimate and Proximate Results of Redemption , ' his belief being that Christ's sufferings will be found to issue in the complete success of the great work of redemption . Whilst occupying , in compliance with his invitation , Mr . Furnival ' s pulpit , Mr . Head preached from the text , " Father , forgive them , for they knownot what they do , " and he was propounding his views of the text when the Eev . Mr . Furnival ascended the pulpit stairs , and began to tug at the rev . preacher ' s gown , at the same time desiring him to desist , and expressing his disapproval of the views enunciated . Mr . Head has thus described the occurrence in a published letter : — " I was proceeding with my sermon on the text agreed upon , when Mr . Furnival assaulted me as I was standing in the pulpit , by pulling my gown violently and repeatedly , loudly declaring his dissent from what I was saying . I made no reply , but continued to preach till my voice was drowned by the disturbance made by Mr . Furnival , who pronounced the benediction and left the reading-desk for the purpose of causing the congregation to leave the church before my sermon was finished . " Out at Last . — A curious circumstance is related in a Lyons journal . An old gentleman of some property of that city , M . Martin by name , was wounded in the side by a musket ball at the battle of Jena , and he had to be carried off the field . He was cured in about two months , but the ball could not be extracted . It , however , caused him no serious inconvenience , though at times he felt it move . A few days ago , a large boil arose on the side , and he at last applied to it a poultice . On removing the poultice on Saturday last , the ball , to his astonishment , fell out , after having been iu his body for fifty-two years . The Easter Entertainments . —Easter is changed in all things but the East wind—and that is constant ever . At one time , it was a grand seasou for the theatres and the theatre-goers ; but now -we have very fewnovelties to record . The new burlesque by Mr . Talfourd at the Haymarket , called Pluto and JProserjrine , is a success , not , we are happy to say , on account of the slang jokes , but because of the pretty scenery , tho clever mechanical contrivances , and the good acting . — The Caliph of Bagdad , at the Adelphi , introduces some pretty singing and some pretty singers—notably , a Miss Koden , a young lady new to the stage , but giving promise of future successes . Mr . Paul Bedford brings an element of burly fun into the operetta , and the scenery and dresses are bright and _ a . . m * m ~* * % m * 11 1 the rrincesst

    . . elegant . —At s , ne airy spjenaours ana Mephistophelean grotesquerie of Faust and Marguerite entertained a large audience on Easter Monday ; and , at the Olympic , though there was no change of performance , the house was overflowing . —There is little that is noteworthy to report from the other theatres ; but we may mention that the various Dioramas and semieducational institutes were vrell attended by the more sober class of pleasure-seekers , and that , among other attractions at the Crystal Palace , there was a Morris dance by eighteen professional performers , including the most celebrated expert clowns of London and the provinces—all dressed in the quaint , bright costume of the middle-ages . Musical Celebrities . — The onco celebrated Mdlle . Clauss , now Madame Czarvady , is expected in London next month , from Paris . Herr Joachim , the precocious violinist , now concert-master at Hanover , will arrive in London in a few days , M . Winiawsky , a Polish said to be ot laieniwin

    violinist , extraordinary , oo here in May ; and tho Russian pianist , M . Rubinstein , will arrive at the end of this month . AH these celebrities aro engaged at the Musical Union . Salmon Fishing . —We learn from tho Elgin Courant that the river Spoy has been in oxcollont fishing order for tho last eight days , and anglers havo had fair sport . Frogs arc being used as an article of food by some of tho lower orders of Lancashire . RlCTURN OF LlEUTENANT-CoLONKL ALISON FKOM India . — This courageous officer , Military Secretary to Sir Colin Campbell , ia obliged to return to thia country on sick leave , owing to hia wounds having broken out n nrnin

    Shocking Case . —A boy , ten years of ago , who was committed on Saturday to tho Dumfries prison for forty days for stealing six turnips , hung hinimtlf from an iron bar in hia coll . When cut down , he was dead . From _ U » oJooso-way ~ iiuwJtfcU _ thflJlftn ^ bar and round tho neck of tho poor ohild , and the fuot that tho Btool by whioh ho had climbed up ao aa to fasten tho handkorchiof had fallen towards in place of from tho wall , it in inferred that tho boy had not intended to commit Hulcidd , but to protend doing bo , with tho objoot of being removed from hia solitary coll to ono in which ho would find a companion , and that in thia ut tempt tho atool had slipped from below hia feot und Buflocatioi ) onauQd .-r—Dum / l'iet Courier .

    ¦ Ffo. 420, April 10,1858. J The Leapeb....

    ¦ ffo . 420 , April 10 , 1858 . j THE LEAPEB . ;^____ 345

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 10, 1858, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10041858/page/9/