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Leader (1850-1860), 19th November 1853, Edition Country of 2, Page 6, 1110 THE LEADER. OSaturday,

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      The City Commission. Numerous Witnesses ...

      subject it would be a reason lather for his exclusion than appointment , because the corporation wore very suspicious of others who showed any special knowledge and interest on a subject . I don't think if some of the mercantile body were united with the members of the CommonCouncil in the navigation committee , that they would work a week together ; their modes of thought and habits of business are so very ¦ different . Besides , this committee would have to report to the Common Council as a body , and they might reject any suggestions that would be offered in that report . The conservancy of the Thames is a matter of great importance to the metropolis generally , and the Common Council is an exclusively City body . I would give the entire management of the river and bridges to a

      general central committee . The money for the committees was placed in the hands of the chamberlain , and the chairman of the committees gave an order to the hall-keeper to draw it . I would suggest to the commission to call on the hall-keeper to give an account of every item for which he paid money ; also on Mr . Scott , the deputy-chamberlain , for the purpose of ascertaining the money so paid into the hands of the hall-keeper for each committee ; and also on each committee for an account of the money received and expended by them for the last ten years , otherwise it will be impossible to account for the expenditure of the corporation . I have gone over the accounts with one of the most intelligent men in the City , and we have discovered things that will , I think , startle and astonish the commission and the world . Sometimes a loose resolution was

      passed , aiid under that resolution a great deal of money was spent . There is an instance in . the case of the Smithfield Market Removal committee . Large sums of money were given , for newspapers when they contained articles favourable to Smithneld market , and these newspapers were distributed freely ; but when an article appeared against the corporation not one copy of that newspaper was purchased . When the returns to which I alluded are made , I believe you will find that large sums of money

      were expended in various ways ; some on dinners , to which members of Parliament were invited . You will find that several members attended those dinners . I have heard it said that 1000 ? . was appropriated to conducting the opposition to the Smithfield Cattle "Removal Bill . Articles have been sent to newspapers witli sums of money . These articles were to appear as paragraphs and not as advertisements . I believe that this is the case , and that I will be able to prove it , but I was not on the committee myself . Mr Lewis—Has this been done through a committee ?

      Witness—Through a committee , I hare no doubt , or its officer . The Chairman—You are aware that a statement has been made in the corporation to the effect that only 1501 . was spout on the purchase of newspapers . Do you believe that ? Witness—I believe that to be perfectly true . What I am speaking of is quite a distinct thing . I called for an account of the expenditure , but could not get it . I believe that in 99 cases out of 100 there is no disposition to

      withhold information ; but , in certain cases , you cannot get the information . This is an anomalous state of things , which requires to be altered . I havo no doubt that money has been spent in getting up petitions against the removal of Sinithhcld market ; but Mr . Aeland knows more about that than I do , as he was professionally engaged at that time in opposition to the Government , and the generally expressed views of the public on the subject . I have no knowledge on the subject myself , and you can only obtain the requisite information by the returns which I have suggested .

      Mr . Keeling and Mr . Hales showed that the excessive charges of the City for metage and porterage wore injurious to trade and a hardship to traders ; but Mr . Hales , si corn-merchant , thinks that metage for foreign corn is very beneficial . Mr . Htmkey , late Governor of the Bank of England , supported the general testimony , that the magisterial dutiey , the dinners , the pageantry , and the lifeholding of the office of alderman , operate to prevent merchants from accepting civic pouts . Mr . Hankey would " extend the corporation over the whole of the metropolis" . He contends that a Chamber of Commerce in London would bo useless .

      1110 The Leader. Osaturday,

      1110 THE LEADER . OSaturday ,

      Professor Ma I Miloe. The Following Lett...

      PROFESSOR MA I MilOE . The following letter has been addressed by Mr . Maurice to the Council of King ' s Colloge , and was laid before them at their mooting last Friday :---• ' To the ( C ouncil of Khij /' n Collide . " 21 , Qiiocn-mnmi ' o , IMoonmlmry , Nov . 7 , 1853 . "My Lords and ( Jentlemeii , I have received from ( ho secretary of King ' s College a copy of cerium resolutions respecting me , which were adopted at Mio last , meeting ol ilio Council .

      " Under ordinary oireiimsliinnv * , it would be my duty at once to rcnigu ofliccs which the legislative body of the college has declared thai . 1 ciiniiol , bold without : serious detriment ; ( . <> its usefulncsH . Hut , | ho Council it ) aware , und the public in now also aware , I hat . certain dolinjle charges havo been brought , ajjaiusl , mo by- ( lie J . ' rincipal , upon the ndronglh of which ho asked that , I should be excluded front »» . v professorship . These charges amounted l . o a declaration that . I" bad doiiiirlcd from l . he orthodox

      faith , lie alleged , as his reiin < ms for |] , in grave charge , that ' I did not accept , a moaning of (| 1 ( , w : ord ' eternal ' which ho considered ( o be dhe only right ; one , and thai , I refused to draw certain c ' oiisc (| ii < micch from that meaning , or to pronounce an opinion upon a subject , on which tho ' Articles of the Church of Kiifrbind have not , pronounced one . " Tho decision of ( he Council , us it avowedly luKci cognizance of the opinions which I expressed on dhis . subject , in my T / mo / w / irul k ' smu / s and in my correspondence widli tho i ' rineipid , can bo understood to amount to nothing

      less than a condemnation of me upon the grounds which are expressed in the Principal ' s letter . The Council must be deemed to have accepted the propositions in that letter , and to require that all its professors should accept them likewise . The Principal evidently shares in this opinion . When I wrote to inquiro whether my lectures were to be continued till thy successors were appointed , ho answered that I had better discontinue them from the day on which the resolutions of the Council were passed . He pronounced this decision though he had officially commanded me to be present at the opening of the term , and to commence my usual courses , retractility an unofficial letter in which he had recommended me to ask for leave of absence . I

      submit that a person ordinarily so courteous to the professors of the college , and so tender of the interests of the students , would not have thus summarily suspended a teacher whom , with a full knowledge of his opinions , he had invited to be a lecturer in the theological department , and who had servod the college in the other department for thirteen years—that he would not have interrupted the studies of the term , and forced me to break an implicit engagement with those who are taking part in them—if he had not believed that he was executing an ecclesiastical sentence upon a convicted heretic .

      " I cannot , my lords and gentlemen , believe that , great as are the privileges which ' the- . right reverend bench has conceded to the Principal of King ' s College , their lordships the bishops ever intended to give him an authority superior to their own , superior to that of the Articles by which they are bound ; I cannot think that they wished to constitute him and the Council arbiters of the theology of the English Church . Such a claim would be as alarming , I apprehend , to the public as to our ecclesiastical rulers . If some parents have been suspicious of the influence which I might exercise over their sons , I believe that there are few parents in England who will not complain that the college has departed from its original principle , when it { jives such a scope to the private judgment of its chief officer , or even to the judgment of-the body which manages its affairs .

      " I think it due , then , to my own character as a clergyman , to the interests of the college , and to the liberties of the English Church , that I should call upon the Council , if they pronounce a theological sentence upon meat all , to declare what Article of our faith condemns my teaching . I conjure them not to use any phrases in condemning me which they would reject as loose and vague if the property or the life of a fellow-citizen were in question . "Whether I have unsettled the faith of my pupils , by giving an interpretation of the word ' eternal' which I had maintained to be true ( and especially important for students in divinity ) before I was asked to join the theological department , the

      atter lives of those pupils must determine . But if I have violated any law of the Church , that law can be at once pointed out—the nature of the transgression can be defined , without any reference to possible tendencies and results . It is this justice , and not any personal favour , my lords and gentlemen , which I now request at your hands . —I have the honour to be , my lords and gentlemen , your obedient servant , F . JD . Matjkice . " P . S . —I have requested the secretary to lay before the Council some copies of my letter to the Principal , to which I have added some notes . I would respectfully call the attention of the Council to Koto B , pago 31 , of the pamphlet . "

      After reading this letter , the Council decided that they did not think it necessary to enter further into the subject ; and declared the two chairs held by Mr . Maurice in the college to be vacant .

      Slavery In Cuba. The Havannah Correspond...

      SLAVERY IN CUBA . The Havannah correspondent of the Daily JVetvs gives some interesting particulars relating to the future intentions of Spain with respect to the slave trade : — " The new systemof apprenticeship , or voluntary labour , which it is generally understood will bo adopted for Cuba , will bo n legalised slavery , which , once established , neither the philanthropy of England and France , nor tho combined civilization of tho world , will be able to soften or control . Tho restrictions which wero brought , to boar upon the plantera of ( he British West Indies will not he practicable or effective in Cuba . Tho violence , the fraud , tho lmirdors which now reign , will bo continued , and probably bo a thousand times multiplied : for there will certainly bo-no

      ' voluntary' emigration for the privilege of toil without hope and without , reward . Tin ; sumo offers have heretofore ! boon mndo to Asiatic emigrants . They aro to come to an Australia or California—a land ¦ of gold , ( lowing ' with milk and honey , ' and to havo cabins and land ol their own . Thoy oomo and find the fulfilment of tho promise in being sold like other chattels without any guarantee of protect / ion after tho lapse of seven years ' servitude . Tho desire to got , their ' money ' s worth' for tho limited period causes ilio master to nmko but scant provision for ( bo wants of tho labourer , whilo his task in inercaHed to the utmost extent of possible human endurance , and if not , performed , stripes and blows aro administered ad libitum . If death ensues in consequence of this treatment ' , as has boon the ease already in several instances , < ho chnrgo of mutinous conduct nmiinnt tho « load eovorn the

      sin of l , lm living murderer . Slavery as it cm . i ' m |; h hero now can bo mitigated and restricted by encrgotio Uritish act / ion nt . Madrid ¦ hut with slavery as it will be , under tho new ruuno , there will bo no power to roach and ciluwlc the abuse of the NyHlein . J , fc \ h said this woerot convention between lOnjrland , France , mid Hpain , for the , freedom of Cuban negrooH im < l other concurrent interests , is to bo approved and in operation in the month of I'Ybrunry next . Already large preparations aro making for bringing' tihUvoh from Africa . One individual bus obtained a liooimo from Madrid , which has been approved hv Franco and lOngland , to bring !«» , <)()( > ' voluntary ] nppro » l ; icon' from the count of Africa . Smaller operators for , in all , ' )» , <)()<) more , aro rid work , not , waiting for tho formal announcement of the governments . And this is but aa a drop to

      the ocean , in proportion to the anticipated action of th « speculators . Facts will speak for themselves , and iti , well now to see what has been done in slavery here since 1849 , and compare with that what is to mature in the few coming months , according to present indications and present pledges : — . . " Arrived in Cuba in Neisrrwx . tnnw . 1849 by 20 vessels , T 6575 1850 „ 7 ditto 2325 1851 „ 7 ditto 3 ( 387 1852 and 1853 to August 1 , 1853 ...... " ! . "'" . ' 14 , 500 Omitted in previous report by the brig Hanover at Sierra Morena 05 Q At Baracoa .. ^ qq At Ensenada de Brou , south side , near Trinidad , in Sept ., per brig Amante ( Spanish ) ... 030 At Enseneda de Cochinas , Oct ., per schooner Maria Jiuxna ( Spanish ) , subsequently burned .......................... .....-. " . .,- 280 At Ensonada de Carmelo ( name of vessel not ' giren ) , in October . ........ 260 At La Paloma , Oot . 15 ..... ^ . ......... 320 Total .................. 29 , 497 Add one-third more , which will not cover the number that escape British investigation' 9832 Add also for losses in pursuit , and kidnapping ; for deaths on the passage , for want of air , food , and water ..... 4200 And there will be . a . grand total of ... . 43 , 529 human beings that have been dragged from their African homes during a period somewhat less than five years . The

      number of apprentices already intended to be brought to Cuba is 65 , 000 . To this must also be added for loss of life in pursuit , capture , and transportation , an estimated number of 6966 , making in all 71 , 966 persons , and representing an aggregate of human misery , unequalled in tho history of the past , to be consummated under British and French protection ! Such are my views , justified by long and familiar acquaintance with the subject , and by association with the Spanish and Creole planters for many years . "

      An interesting correspondence has passed between Mr . Corbin , an American gentleman at Paris , and Lord Howden , our ambassador in Spain , which we subjoin :.- — " Paris , Nor . 14 . " Deak Lord Howden , —I have been ruminating upon some of the topics of our conversation yesterday evening on American afFairs , not ' chewing the cud' of any ' bitter fancy , ' for of that ingredient not a scruple ever escaped your lips during all our long and'friendly intercourse , Avhen my countrymen , or eountry and its institutions , were the theme . One of the subjects to which I allude , and with reference to which your Lordship spoko so frankly , is the suspected coquetry ( I will not say

      intrigue ) which England is said to be practising with Spain in order to control the ulterior ' destiny * of the Island of Cuba , and , meantime , to regulate its internal government , and change its social economy in . at least one pregnant sense of the latter expression . On this head some of the leading , and , from their relations to the Federal Government , most authoritative journals in tho United States , have in my belief , as erroneously as too hastily imputed to Downing-street , and to your Lordship specifically , under ^ inspirations from that far-famed locality , the design of ' Africanizing' the ' Queen of tho Antilles . ' As the most eflicient auxiliary to this end , she is not only to be allowed to import ad libitum , but to be incontinently aided in

      importing the aboriginal sons and daughters of Ham in masses ' innumerable by numbers that have a name , thereby rendering her not only , as is supposed , a dangoroua neighbour , but an unenviable possession in the paulo-poatlfuture for the ' insatiate archers' on her northern flank . Now , tho whole range and precise modus operandi oi * I ) ia portentous scheme I . pretend not to comprehend emon darkly , much less to indicate the ways and moans , open or subdolous , by which it is to be carried into effect . 1 cannot do more , therefore , to enlighten you on tho subject ., than to commend to your attention two or tln-eo articles , with tho commentaries thereon , contained in somo of tli « Washington and other papers , herewith sont , and which I just received . Amonir them are tho National In teUUfcncir wim

      and tho Union—journals of repute , and conducted Basicity ; ivnd both , it is believed , incapable ot inventing or por verting facto , upon any subject ; and , least of « " •> upon one of ao much ' pith and moment' in a national , not a party point of view . Whence tho informatioii . was derived , or bow transmitted , upon which their several speculations or provisionH aro founded , it 1 S n < . '' now important to your Lordship , any more than it ] to tho object of-this note , to inquiro . That it linn « «/" . v-A ( , lan ( , ' ic origin is next to certain , and 1 h < ; j ? tho sooner it is , in the intercut of truth , and oi lw ' countries , nullified by an authentic ; contradiction , "'' bettor . You will porceivo that tho American papers nr < discussing tho mibjwt under different points ot view , » I ) enh MiiilH Dnrto'imnui ^ i- hut : tliov noarlv all cloprct'ii r

      rm < l with notable vivacity of « 'xprosnion , the project , wim ( Nrifjlivnd is said to havo ever and anon in her ' miml h iy ^ of trying to ofl ' eot the oarly nianuiriission of tho slave ( Jiibu . To this end tho poor African is to bo rescued no his thirsty dosortH and tbo pursuit of bin inan-oat-mg <« ' ^ patriot-os , and consigned , with < vxquifiifc « humanity , Horvitudo under tfurnmno of ' probationary apprentu ^ sin 1 of ten years . At tho oxpirntion of that period , u h «>» roportodulivo , and hard-winking captains- general < r < j for t 1 u < sako of thoir pockots , extond tho term to y . his natural life , ho is to bo not iron from hw rM . ! ; V-, no morn rnimil for by them- -ilm ' world uU betoio 1 , and I'rovideneo his jruirlo . ' Now , my Lord , 1 } >« ' . jft , nocuwHary for mo to assur «» you thud «> y l « u «» 1 H l , mtowcnough toenfdit ; tluroxiatenoo , or tho pn « miaU . c 1 iu ^ plat . ion , on tho part , of your ( -Jovornmonfc ol any «»« _ and bootless oxporimo « t — prolUKwfl , because lia rtu

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 19, 1853, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19111853/page/6/