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Leader (1850-1860), 21st April 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 11, J0 ¦ Ap^ct 21,1855. ^ T, Efo^! liEAIfcWB...

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      State Of Trade, Labour, And The Poor. Th...

      merest shade higher than the cost of production . Foreign orders continue scarce , and the home . trade is also Ian ,- ; gmd . Those of the , masters who . can ,. afford , ta * stand still are contracting their operations , as the difference between the cost of material and lahour and ; the selling price is so nicely ; balanced as to become , a Iqss at the slightest further decline ,. ' A very large , number of / miners are on strike , owing to the reduction of their-wages , and ; in the neighbourhood of Wigan , to the demand on the part of the mas- ;

      ters that they shpuld work the mines , eight days a fortnight instead of twelve , thus causing a still further diminution in their receipts . The "masters say that pigiron has become almost a drug in the market . At Brierly Hill , near Dudley , little short of three thousand colliers are on strike ; and a considerable body of the county constabulary has been called forth- in anticipation of disturbances . At Wigan , nearly two thousand colliers and drawers are in a state of voluntary idleness ; but no disturbances have taken place .

      The condition of the Hebrides and West Highlands still remains very bad . The poor people are almost starving ; for the insecurity in the tenure- of land , and the want of capital are such that between the exhaustion of- one crop and the inr-gathering of another—generally from June till September—there is a positive absence of the barest necessaries of existence . Mr . Charles Forbes , a gentleman who is connected with a society for the relief of Highland destitution , has written on this subject to the morning papers . He says : — " Owing to a more complete failure of the potato crop last autumn than in any previous year , and a wet arid bad harvest of their scanty patches of oats or barley , aggravated by the deamess of provisions , destitution in a most alarming form oppresses the people of the remote islands of the west ; and the society has been urged to extend

      industrial employment in knitting of hose , the wea v ing of cloth , towelling , & c , -which it organised in 1851 , as a means of ' helping the poor to help themselves . ' As regards this plan of feeding the hungry , without pauperising them in spirit , the most gratifying testimonies have been received . From the Islarid of Harris , where the society had previously afforded valuable assistance , in a letter now before me , dated the 3 rd of April , addressed to our secretary , from the schoolmaster of Scalpay , asking for renewed aid ( since granted to a small'extent ) to that remote island , he says : — ' The-poor creatures are in a famished state , without food or clothes ; neither have they a particle of seed to crop their lands with . Unless some seed be sent them they will next year be worse off than they are this one .- I never saw such severe destitution . I fear

      many of the poor creatures have already starved for want of- food . I hope your committee will take their sad position into consideration by sending them immediate relief . ' These poor people in the Hebrides , the kindred of those brave Highlanders who have performed prodigies of valour on behalf of their Queen and country , are not entitled to relief while able-bodied . When disabled , they may have miles to travel to find a poor-law inspector ; they have no workhouses in which they can take refuge ; they cannot wander forth and invade , like hungry wolves , our southorn towns , for rugged mountains or stormy seas KBhT'lh * ~ iff , ~ wiiirnotKing "'' blit '" th ' e " skics ~ above-and-the barren muir around them , to derive succour from , unless benevolence and Christian charity respond to our advertised appeal for largely-extended help . "

      J0 ¦ Ap^Ct 21,1855. ^ T, Efo^! Lieaifcwb...

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      Continental Notes. A Circular Forwarded ...

      CONTINENTAL NOTES . A circular forwarded to the governors of provinces by M . de Decker , the new Belgian Minister of the Interior , states that " the idea which presided over the formation of the cabinot is openly avowed—a compromise among all moderate opinions . " Mdlle Doudet has appealed to the Imperial Court against the judgment of the Tribunal of Correctional Police . In answer to interrogations by the President , she protested her innocence ; nml asserted that some of the witnesses had been gained over to speak against her , and that others had deposed to matters of Avhich they

      were ignorant . The further hearing' of the case was postponed to the 24 th of April . M . Henry Collioz , a barrister , has written a pamphlet in favour of the accused . Tliis Mdmoire , M . Borryer ( Mdllc . Doudet ' s counsel ) says , ho intends to use for the defence ; and the ground upon which the court consented to postpone the trifll was that tho whole impression was not yet ilni . shcd On tho other hand , it is reported that tho Advoentc-Gcnernl will take advantage of the appeal to demand tlint the sentence of two years' imprisonment pronounced against Mdlle . Doudet may bo augmented to live .

      In consequenco ( nays ( lalir / natii ) of a duel which recently took place at Madrid between two newspaper writers , the journalists of that city have dooided that , in order to prevent such affairs in future , a tribunal of honour , constating of llvo members , shall be nominated every month , to decide on , and arrange , all 1 ' icrsonul disputes which may ariao between gentlemen of tho presa in that city . The Popo lias had a nurrrow oncap ' o of hi » life . On tho 12 th imt ., his "Holiness" gave a dinner to a great many distinguished personages in tho convent of St . Agnes , several of the students of which were admitted , after dinner , ' to tho extreme felicity of 'kitming the holy too . Howovor , it sccmo there is many a nlip ' twixt tho

      toe and the lip ; envious Fate interjposing at the very moment of beatification , and causing the floor to sink ; through ,-carrying the * '' H © ly > F * tberi" and se-veral others ¦ along with-itt- The- Pope-escaped ; unhurt ( by special jfaveur ) ; but' Cardinal :-' Antonelliv : General Montreal , jcommandflnt off the French 'division ^ and some , of the pupils , ofi the convent ) , received slight contusions . His " Holiness" must have ^ thought he was about to fulfil the Fate-like- command" ¦ ofi : MazBinii—* - "You are a Lie-: Descend' ! ' '" Mr . Lionel : GiBborne has settled the conditions on which an English- company- wdffinmdertak-e the construction of 3 a- submarine- telegraph from- Constantinople to Alexandria . The-scheme * of Mr ; Gfeborne is

      independent- of-the .-Belgrade'linej-but is dependent on it for success . He- purposes to- carry wires' under the Sea of Marmora and the Dardanelles , thence under the Archipelago to Rhodes , and- from- Rhodes to strike boldly across the Mediterranean to Alexandria . This last part of the enterprise- is the- boldest idea yet conceived with respect to submarine telegraphing ; but I am . informed that no difficulty will present itself which' may not be overcome in the present state of- science . The pecuniary arrangements are now finally settled . The Turks are to pay 5000 / . a-yeaifor 21 years , in return . for which , all- government messages will be sent gratis between the Ottoman and Egyptian capitals —Times Constantinople Correspondent .

      A letter from Shumla states that the telegraph which was commenced in February was completed from Varna to Skumla on the 18 th , and that that from Shumla to Rustohuk would be open by the end of- the first week in ApriL If this be the case , the communication between Varna and Vienna may be expected to be completed before many days are over . —Idem . A letter from Athens , doted the 31 st ult ., saya : — " The new Emperor of Russia , promises , it is saidj to extend at the close of the war the limits of the kingdom of- Greece to the frontier of Macedonia . Promises of money have also been made ; and it is currently rumoured that the Court will not desist from promoting the intrigues of Russia . Fortunately , the majority of the

      Greek people understand now their real position , and do not seem disposed to act in favour of the policy of Russia ; and there is reason to hope that the energy of General Kalergi % -ill baffle any attempts that may be made to disturb tranquillity . To the secret agents of Russia are attributed the acts of brigandage which have recently taken place , such as the robbery of a large sum of money belonging to the government between Corinth and Athens in the open day , and similar acts in Eubcea on the person of an English resident . The Greeks generally are convinced that the more Russia shall be humbled , the more certainly will the solemn engagements of the "West in favour of the Christians of the East be realized . "

      Count Creszkowski has delivered a speech in tho Second Chamber at Berlin , explaining the reasons why the Polish deputies abstained from voting on the Prussian loan . He said they had done so on a similar occasion last year , and now did so again , because they did not wish , by voting against the loan , to embarrass the government , and yet could not vote in its favour , since-no assurance was . given , _ o . f T a .. 8 ound __ . and _ ad . yan .-tageous policy . The subject of the French Emperor ' s journey to the Crimea is revived . It is now said that he will start on the 10 th of May , and that the Empress will accompany him even to the seat of war itself . But these rumours may turn out as baseless as the former .

      A great misunderstanding has arisen between the Jesuits and the King of Naples , and it is thought the former will be compelled to leave tho kingdom . Strange to say , they are too liberal for tho King . The Madrid journals of the 10 th contain details of the attempted insurrection in that city on tho previous ovening . Groups , it appears , collected in the vicinity of tho Cortes and the Puerta del Sol , and raised cries of " Death to Espartero ! " " Death to O'Donnell ! " and " Death to Santa Cruz ! " There were also some cries of " Long Live Espartero ! " Tho civil governor of the capital , M . Snga-sti , at the head of two companies of the national guard , succeeded in dispersing the groups without bloodshed . Several persons who were acting na

      loaders of tho movement were arrested , and amongst them wns tho brother of an ultra-liberal deputy . The Government did not think it udvisable to employ tho regular troop * ; but they were assembled in their barracks ready to act at a moment ' s notice . It was considered certain that tho agitation had been got up by a distribution of money supplied by the absolutist party . This party is in fact , it is stated , endeavouring to make use of the republicans to overthrow tho Government . Tlio civil governor had published a lrnmlo forbidding the assemblage of trroups of more than <; itrht persona in the

      Mv Ducos , MinjsteK . oS , th ^ , M £ png ,, dfed-ftt . Pan * Oft Tuesday , night ,. ThQ , Eppoa oft the , l . Qtfe cfcatajnf ^ tbgifpltow » ng- »« ff * T ' graph , jn answer .: to . ^ , a ^ l ^ . rag ^ inft ^ Lord ; Hpwi | 4 ^ n : -r r " We-can . a ^\» : Q th ^ JS ^ st 9 f o ^^ . . i ^ i ^ ^ p ^ d «» . i 3 . Si > Roman , Catholic . He , decia . r 6 d , hjias ^ i f ; , ^ be . so qeu t % . occasion of a recent- mapriage , of f twp persons- of the , diplomatic ' body . BesLdeft -which ,, we ... undewtand ^ ^ a ^ as ,, an , Irish peer , the ., English , representative .-. ha $ , always , professed that faith , "

      The generals of . thq freligious orders still existing ; Piedmont have addressed a letter , dated , Rome , 33 , st ujj ( j ., to the : archbishops and . bishops , of tlj # t kingdom , congratulatingthem ; on the . resistance , they have mads to the Convents Suppression . Bill , no ; w-before the Senate at Turin , and thanking them , for the . p £ OJt . ecitKHj .., th . ey have thus granted to the establishments , menace ^ vfiifch destrucr tion . This document is signed by nineteen generals , including the Bishop of Porphyra , general of the Augustitt monks .

      A letter from Arta ( Lower Albania ) , dated April 5 , states that some Greek soldiers having deserted and advanced into the Turkish territory , Achmet Pacha had marched against them with a battalion of infantry and two pieces of mountain cannon . The Sentinelk . du Jura of the loth says : — "We are now arrived at the middle of April , and the sowing has not . yet commenced in the high grounds of this department . Snowfalls almost every day , and . never in the memory of man has it . lain so deep as at present ; it varies from one metre- to six metres according to the locality . Many houses axe buried up to the roofs , and the inhabitants , in order to obtain egress , are frequently obliged to cut a passage through the snow . Nearer Mount Jura it is still worse ; to the west of Reculot , one house is so . completely buried that not a part of it is visible . "

      vicinity of the Cortes . It was tho determination of tlio Govtifiintout to support order ut every cost . In the event of a new attempt at disturbance , it intended not only to proclaim the state of siege , but also tho law of tho 21 st of April , for tlio immediate punishment of conspirator * . It considered itnelf certain to bo Hupportcd by the regular troops , ami by the majority of the national guard . A sort of proclamation purporting to einanuto from the ixitloijal guard , and containing violent threats against tho de |> utit * H in tho event of tho adoption of tho bill on tho national guard by the Cortes , waa in circulation .

      Naval And Military News. Admiral Dtnsuas...

      NAVAL AND MILITARY NEWS . Admiral DtnsuAs ' s Fr . AG « smp , the Duke of Wellington , has completed the repairs rendered necessary by her collision with the American emigrant-ship . The Loss of the Tiger . —The court-martial appointed to inquire-into this affair terminated on ; Saturday last , in-the followingfinding : — " The Court is of opinion that the ship Tiger was run on shore in consequence of her having been rashly conducted as she approached the coast of Odessa , and that , after the ship had been run on shore , the measures resorted to to get her afloat were injudicious : but , in respect to the surrender of the Tiger to the enemy , that , as the ship was aground without any hope being entertained of floating her off , and as she was exposed to the enemy ' s guns , which had set her on fire , and upon which the guns of the ship could not be brought to bear , no blame can be imputed in consequence of sucli surrender . The Court is further of opinion that no blame is imputable to the said--Lieutenant Alfred Royer , since he acted under the immediate directions of his captain , and the Court doth adjudge him to be acquitted . The Court is further of opinion that Mr . Francis-Edington is blainable for the want of caution that was exhibited by him in approaching the shore near Odessa ; but , in consideration of his previous good character and long services } doth adjudge -him , to _ boonly . severely reprimanded ; and the said Lieutenant Alfred lioyer is hereby acquitted , and the said Mr . Francis Edington is hereby severely reprimanded accordingly . "

      The Militia . —The greater number of tho regiments in this force continue to dwindle under the influence of Lord Panmure ' s act of grace . The Duke of Lancaster ' s artillery , which , but a short time ago , mustered one thousand strong , can now show only about half that number . The Third West York Regiment , now stationed at Dublin , is reduced almost to a skeleton . Tho men were offered a month ' s furlough , in addition to the supplementary bounty , of 1 / ., if they would remain , and were exhorted as Englishmen not to desert their colours ; but to very little effect . Only 121 volunteered to remain on duty , while 829 left . The Anglesey regiment has melted down from upwards of 300 to 20 or 30 . Tho

      Armagh regiment , however , has volunteered , without one dissentient , to go abroad ; the great majority of the Dublin regiment , and nearly COO non-commissioned ' ofiicers and privates of the Second West York Light ' Infantry , have also been attested for foreign service . Tho Antrim Militia has givon upwards of 75 volunteers to the line ; the Monuglinn Militia , 02 ; and tho Gnlwuv Militia , officers and men , have volunteered m a body for tho Crimea . In fact , tlio lri » h regiments seem almost to invnopollso ilia « pint nml pluck which we iniK lit expect to hoc generaly dillused . The ' West York it ' ifkH , 1 H . W 0 V .. T , are in a high « tato of efficiency , with very Hliglifly diminished number *; and ' J 7 /> of tho Duke of Lancaster ' * Militia have joined the

      " AmavAi . s ok Sick and Wounded * uom tub CiU ! tfr / v—17 f > rank and Mo of vurimiH regiments , to--gcther with Home officers nnd their wIvoh , arrived at Plymouth on Tuesday . Five deaths occurred on the voyage during which tho wentlifsr was very stormy , and . ' riuinu of tlio liurtlM in the troop dock wire broken . . Launch or two'Floating JJattbiuks . —Ort'Tuetjday afternoon , two large floating bnU < 'riea ( conHtructcdfdr . ( he ( lovonnn / mt ) wore launched from thoyurdofMcHsraj " C J Marc nnd Co ., at lUnckwull . The » ceno was an '

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 21, 1855, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21041855/page/11/