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Leader (1850-1860), 28th April 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 9

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      Mr. Layard At Liverpool. The Owners Of T...

      blessed Peninsula- ( Laughter . ') I wish it had never existed . ( Renewed laughter . ') I wish we could take a sleeping draught , and forget that there ever was a Peninsula . If I ask a question , why this or that is done , the reply is , ' Oh ! it was done in the Peninsula !' ( Laughter . ') I do not know what the poor people did before they had the Peninsula—I suppose they went to Agincourt or Cressy . ( Continued laughter . ") Why , if Mr . Mackay was to bring me on board one of those broad-bottomed Dutch-looking vessels , and say , We

      send her to Australia because vessels of this sort were used one hundred years ago , ' we should think him downright mad . ( Great laughter . ) But he does not do that ; he applies the best of modern inventions to his business , convinced of their success . And why cannot we do that with Government ? ( Loud cheers . ) You cannot carry on Government and war upon the principles of commerce , but still you can adapt such principles to both . I asked a gentleman in London , 'Why feed our troops upon salt meat when you can get fresh ? ' 'Oh , ' said he , it was so in the Peninsula ! ' " ( Laughter . )

      Mr . Layard concluded an effective speech by expressing a hope that the inhabitants of Liverpool would help him to remedy this disgraceful state of things .

      Aran, 28, 1855.] The Leadeb. 393 :

      Aran , 28 , 1855 . ] THE LEADEB . 393 :

      Departure Of The Emperor. The Emperor, T...

      DEPARTURE OF THE EMPEROR . The Emperor , the Empress , and their suite , left [ England on Saturday ; and the noise and pageantry of their reception are past , leaving upon the mind a confused sense of glare and glitter , of tumult and movement , not unlike the after effect of an Easter spectacle or a Christmas pantomime . The illuminations are extinguished ; the parti-coloured flags have vanished from the brown mediocrity of the Strand , Fleet-street , and Cheapside-, Guildhall has relapsed into sobriety , and the Mansion House become again nothing more than a police-office ; the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen are staying at home , in company with headachs , ennui , and mutton-broth ; the Opera House / has withdrawn its imperial glazed calico and gold ; -1 ind all things are as they were before . Only the memory of what was remains ; only the street boys perform " Partant ppur la Syrie" as they loiter on their errands .

      On Saturday morning , the Emperor and Empress left Buckingham Palace at twenty minutes past ten o ' clock , in an open carriage , attended by an escort of the Horse Guards . The Bricklayers' Arms station of the South Eastern Railway was gaily decorated ; and a considerable numbeirof persons lined the route , and cheered loudly . At the station , a detachment of the Coldstream Guards was drawn up . A platform , draped with pink and white , had been erected , and

      was occupied by ladies and gentlemen who had obtained tickets . The Lord Mayor , together with the Prefect of the Seine , and the other members of the municipality of Paris , were in attendance , to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress , who arrived a little after half-past ten . The Emperor , haying shakenjhands with the Lord Mayor , he and the Empress eritefea ~ tlieircatriage ~ ( in which was a time-table printed on white satin and fringed with green ) , and arrived at Dover at five minutes past

      one . At the station at Dover ( says a contemporary ) the same arrangements prevailed as upon the occasion of the arrival of their Majesties , arid the station was crowded with spectators , who were loud and enthusiastic in their cheering . On descending from the carriage , Mr . Rich , M . P ., the chairman of the company , inquired of hia-Majesty whether the arrangements made by the company had given him satisfaction . The Emperor made a reply which neatly combined a compliment with the expression of his personal feeling : " Everything has been excellent . I regret only one thing—that is , that you have conveyed me too quickly out of England . " The guard

      of honour outside the station , and around the Lord Warden , and lining the pier , was formed of the Bucks and North Leicestershire Militia ; and every available spot upon the pier and in the neighbourhood was densely crowded . Aa they were walking along the station , the Emperor observed Mr . Payne , the Mayor of Dover , who was the first Englishman to welcome his Majesty on his debarkation , and placed in his hands a small box , saying as ho did so , " I hope , Mr . Mayor , you will keep this in kind remembrance of me . " Upon opening the case , it was found to contain a very handsome and valuable jewelled snuff-box . It was of blue enamel , richly ornamented with gold , and having upon the lid the letter " N , " set in brilliants .

      The Imperial visitors then embarked in the Empress mail packet belonging to the Dover and Calais Company . Prince Albert and tho Duko of Cambridge went on board , nnd remained until tho last moment ; and then , amidst the thunder of cannon and more shouts from tho people , the pnddles revolved , and the vessel steamed oil" towards Boulogne , arriving there about four o ' clock . Wo learn from tho Court Circular that tho Emperor invested tho Duke of Cambridge with tho Grand Cordon of tho Legion of Honour while staying at Windsor . Tho Cross of tho Legion of Honour ( says tho Daily

      News ) was presented to Captain Smithett at Boulogne . Messrs . Churchward and Jenkings ( of the Dover and Calais Mail Company ) had valuable diamond rings , and the chief engineer of the Empress a large gold medal , presented to them . The Emperor insisted on paying the expenses of the voyage , when the directors reluctantly named 201 . as the price ; but his Majesty at once ordered 407 . to be paid with an additional 20 / . to be distributed in gratuities to the crew . A review of a portion of the army of the north took place at Boulogne on Sunday ; and on the evening of the same day the Emperor and Empress arrived in Paris .

      On Saturday , the Lord Mayor gave a farewell banquet at the Mansion House to the Prefect of the Seine and his companions . Several patriotic and friendly speeches were made ; the Prefect and the Lord Mayor holding each other by the hand as they proposed their respective toasts . Sir John Burgoyne ( who was one of the guests ) alluded to the state of affairs in the Crimea , from which he has just returned , and observed that Sevastopol no doubt presents to our arras an enterprise of great difficulty , but that he liked it all the better for that , and that he was sure the termination of the siege would be favourable to the Allies . The Prefect and his companions left for Paris on Sunday .

      The Lord Mayor has received from the Emperor a snuff-box set with diamonds . The Emperor , before leaving Windsor , caused to be placed in the hands of the Mayor the sum of 400 Z ., for the relief of the poor of the borough . He also gave 10 OJ . for the poor of Dover ; and , on the part of the Empress and himself , he presented the sum of 500 / . in aid of the funds of the Societe Francaise de Secours , of which the French Ambassador is president .

      More Army Scandals. A Communication From...

      MORE ARMY SCANDALS . A communication from Canterbury in the daily papers informs us that Cornets Edward Baumgarten and John Evans , of the Inniskilling Dragoons , have been charged before the magistrates at Guildhall , in that city , with an intention of fighting a duel . " The hostile meeting , which was fortunately prevented , arose out of a series of scandalous indignities to which , it is stated , the former j > fficer ( a quiet , inoffensive young man ) has been for some time subjected at the hands of his brother officers . According to reports current in the regiment , some of these 'jokes' had proceeded beyond the limits of common decency , and prohibit specific allusion . The following , however , may be mentioned : —Cornet Baumgarten ' s sword was broken to

      pieces and the plume of his helmet destroyed . Two buckets of water were thrown into his bed , and his clothes placed in the bath , while the chest containing his clean linen was filled with water . Six panes of glass in his window , and his looking-glass , were smashed . The chamber utensils were ' broken and placed in the bed , and the door and window fastened , while he was in his room . His horse ( which cost eighty guineas ) has been deprived of its tail and toppet . In , consequence of this treatment , Cornet Baumgarten sent Cornet Evans a challenge , as he imagined he was the ringleader in the affair ; and Saturday last was fixed . for carrying it into execution . The parties met at tho time appointed , accompanied by Adjutant Webster of the depot , a surgeon of the town , and other gentlemen . "

      The contemplated result , however , was prevented by the humanity and determination of Sergeant Brodie , of the 1 st Royal Dragoons . He thus narrated his own story before the magistrates : — " I was in tho Old Park , at tho rear of the Canterbury Barracks , between five and six o ' clock on Saturday morning last . Adjutant Webster , of the depot , and Cornet Baumgarten , were there , and also a little gentleman who 1 was told was Doctor Cooper , of the town . Mr . Hartopp was also present . The first three were walking together in the direction of tho sand-pit , tho doctor and Mr . Baumgarten being a little in advance . Adjutant Webster said , ' Scrgoant Brodie , what do you want here ? ' I made no reply , when tho adjutant said ,

      ' Go away home , sir . ' I replied , ' No , sir , I shall put a stop to this that is to take place . ' Tho adjutant then said , ' Go to your room , sir , and consider yourself a prisoner . ' With that , the adjutant , after saj'ing , 'Iwill go and get a file of the guard and . bring you , ' wont in tho direction of tho barracks . 1 then jumped over the stile , and ran up to Mr . Baumgarten and the doctor , and placing my handt ) out in front of them , said , ' You ahull not fight a duel , Mr . Baumgarten , in my presence ; you shall shoot mo first before you shall do it , sir . ' Mr . Baumgarten , however , got away , and I ran nfter him .

      Ho »« id , ' Leave mo alone ; I have been an injured man , Sergeant Brodio , which you know , and I will have it out now . ' Ho was making bin escape from me , nnd , as I huw I could not stop him , ho was in such a raging state , I ran forward to some men working in tho field and aaked them , for 'God \ sako , to assist , us there were two gentlemen going to kill one another . Thoy hesitated at first , but snbseque . ntly wont and caught hold of Mr . Baumgarten , who kicked , and toro , and tried to got away from them . I went to tho farm-houao to obtain further aid , and Mr . Baumgarten was taken into tho house . I

      then returned towards the barracks , when I met Adjutant Webster and Mr . Hartopp with a file of men . I said to the adjutant , ' Good morning , gentlemen ; I gite myself up as a prisoner . ' Adjutant Webster told his men to knock me down with the butt-end of their carbines if I resisted them . I replied , ' No , adjutant , I am an old soldier , and know my duty—don't hurt me , ' I was then arrested and taken to the barracks . " Mr . Austin , solicitor , said the whole affair wns a mere joie ; but the magistrates ordered the two defendants to enter into their own bonds of 100 / . each , and two sureties of 5 G £ , to keep the peace towards one another . The bail was speedily put in , and the officers left the court . The honest , manly conduct of Sergeant Brodie in this affair cannot be too highly praised . It presents a noble contrast to the beastly ruffianism of the " gentlemen" officers who persecuted their inoffensive companion . Lord Hardinge has issued a memorandum severely censuring two ensigns of the 30 th regiment for insulting Ensign Falkner of the 50 th regiment , in a manner very similar to the outrages committed upon Lieutenant Perry and Mr . Baumgarten .

      Health Of London During The Week. {From ...

      HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK . { From the Registrar-GeneraVs Report . ) The present return exhibits a decided improvement in the health of London . The deaths , which had been respectively 1226 and 1347 in the first two weeks of April , fell in the week that ended on Saturday to 1087 . The temperature of the last fortnight was little higher than it is expected to be in April ; but it was 10 degrees higher than in March ; and human life reaps the benefit of the change . In the last four weeks , the mean temperature has been S 6 ~ 5 deg ., 41 * 9 deg ., 47 * 2 deg ., and 49-1 deg . In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 , the average number of deaths registered was 1035 , which , if raised in proportion to increase of population , becomes 1138 . The number of persons who died last week is 51 less than the estimated number . Diseases of the respiratory organs , exclusive of phthisis and hooping-cough , destroyed about a fourth part of the persons who died in the first three months of this year . The deaths from that class of "diseases were reduced last week to 222 , about a fifth of the total mortality of the week . From phthisis , 139 persons died ; in the -winter-months , the mean weekly number was 105 . Smallpox was fatal in 19 cases , of which 14 occurred under 10 years of age ; scarlatina was fatal in 46 cases , hooping cough in 50 , typhus in 33 , measles only in 12 , diarrhoea in 11 . Six cases of scarlatina were fatal in Hammersmith and Fulham ; 3 cases of smallpox in St . James ' s , Bermondsey . Last week , the births of 916 boys and 872 girls , in all 1788 children , were registered in London . In the ten corresponding weeks in the years 1845-54 , the average number was 1472 .

      Naval And, Military News. The Baltic Flr...

      NAVAL AND , MILITARY NEWS . The Baltic Flret . —Eleven sail of the line , forming part ofthisfleets arrived . aTKielon the-10 th ~ inst .--T-b . ey had left the Downs on tho 9 th . The Nile , flag-ship , pro tern ., of Admiral Dundas , formed one of the detachment . Their voyage was not attended by any features of peculiar interest . A Coukt Martial was held at Portsmouth on Monday , to try Mr . William Kerr , the senior naval instructor in the fleet , serving on board the Victory , on a charge of being drunk and incapable of performing his duty . The Court declared the charge proved , and adjudged the prisoner , in consideration of his long services ( upwards of thirty-one years , we believe ) , to no further punishment than to be dismissed from the Victory , and to lose four years' rank as a naval instructor in her Majesty ' s naval service .

      Contract fok Rifl . es , & c . —The Government lias entered into an extensive contract for Miuie * nnd other rifles , rifled carbines , plain bore muskets nnd revolvers . A large number of the Minio * rifles and revolvers will be supplied by an American firm , and the remainder by Liege , London , and Birmingham manufacturers . The estimated number to be sent in weekly to tho Ordnance stores is 3000 stand . The Sick Soloikhs at Poktbmoutii . —The frienda of the soldiers who arc aide in hospital nt Portsmouth will be glad to hear that nil « rc doing very well , and arc receiving tho kindest attention from the mcdicul staff , as well as extra comfort * from Mnjor-Uencrnl Sir 1 ' redorick Smith and Lady Smith , nnd other thoughtful benefactors .

      Tiik Nouth Skas .- —The fleet still Huh at Kiel , nnd the ice continues to oppose its progress ; but letter * from St . Petersburg stato tliat warm weather and heavy puna promise an early opening of tho navigation . JOrwin luffft , according to advices of the JG'th iiwtant , it appears that tho ice in tho river had broken four days previously , and caiiHcd tho water to Hmo higher than at uny period HJnco 182 ft . Tl > o flood soon subsided , but not until it had damaged much property , and destroyed all tho roads round the town . Tiik Militia . —Tho * ap id extinction of the militia owing to Lord Punmuro ' u act of graco , scemo in eon *

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 28, 1855, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28041855/page/9/