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Leader (1850-1860), 28th October 1854, Edition Country of 2, Page 4, SIR JOHN PRANKLTN'S PARTY. Tiiw last Arc...

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      The Patriotic Fund. Whike Everyone Is An...

      lay with Captain Lefroy by a deputation from the cornnittee for managing this fund , I , as acting chairman , beg leave to address you on the subject then adverted ; o . . " This fund—the existence of which is presumed to have been unknown to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle —emanated from Lloyd ' s at the outbreak of hostilities in 1803 , hy a grant of 20 , 000 / . Consols , voted as an example to other public bodies , and the appeal made to the mercantile world and the public in general on its behalf was so nobly responded to , as to enable the committee

      fully to carry out the original intentions of the subscr ibers during the long and arduous contest up to its termination in 1815 , the fund remaining open for the reception of claims up to 1825 , -when it -was closed so far as regards the sufferers in that war ; and the resolution passed in May of that year left the balance remaining of the fund as a nucleus for any subscription likely to be raised in the event of a' future war . That resolution , with a statement of the subsequent purposes to which the fund has been applied up to May , 1844 , are stated in the accompanying printed circular . l

      * In consequence of the late declaration of war with Russia , and in order to carry out the resolution of 1825 , the committee -were specially summoned in May last , but active measures were deferred until some naval or military operations of Importance occurred , and upon which an appeal to the public to aid us in carrying out the objects of this institution could be founded . The battle of the Alma afforded thia opportunity , but irt the interval which elapsed before the meeting of the committee yesterday the Royal Commission for collecting a Patriotic Fund was issued . The committee , consequently , thought it would be better , and at the same time be more courteous to the commissioners , before coming to any resolution , to communicate with you , for the information of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle , as to the most advisable way in which we should make our appeal , so as to go hand in hand with you in furtherance of the great objects in view . .

      " You will please understand -that there are annuities remaining on our fund to be paid , and we have other duties ^ wbich make it incumbent on us to beep our institution distinct and separate from any other association . Our unappropriated balance has grown to be considerable . Our funds now are 77 , 500 ? . Keduced and 3500 Z . long Annuities , but the duration of the latter is only for a fewyears , and -we shall then have to rely solely on the irtrterest of the Reduced , and the present charge on the fund is about 1600 Z . a year ; and therefore , if our funds are to be extended to the sufferers in the present war , an appeal for additional support from the public would be necessary , and to make an appeal now on behalf of Lloyd ' s Patriotic Fund might seem to be something like opposition to the Royal Commission .

      "It will be observed that "by our regulations the "widows , orphans , and dependent relatives of both officers and men in the army and navy whose circumstances require assistance are entitled to relief , as also are those disabled from wounds , which latter class does not appear to come within the scope of the Royal Commission . " I may further add , that there has been distributed ¦ b y our committee a sum amounting to nearly 600 , 000 ? ., from the commencement up to the present time . " We have constantly in Greenwich Hospital schools between fifty and sixty boys—a privilege obtained by a grant in 1806 of 40 , OOOZ . to the Royal N " aval Asylumand we have also provided for twelve boys in perpetuity in the Royal Naval School , boarded and educated gratuitously , and admitted on our nomination in virtue of a grant of 8000 ? . in 1844 = to that establishment , and secured by an Act of Parliament , paid for out of the funds of this institution .

      Allow mo , in conclusion , to state that , if any explanation or further information bo required by hia Grace the Duko of Newcastle , or yourselves , I shall bo happy to wait upon you at any time you may please to appoint . This letter is to he submitted to the Royal Commissioners nt their ¦ first meeting . In the meantime the question of the new fund has boon takers up in tlie best spirit all over the country . Meetings are being held everywhere—to mention places would only bo a catalogue of nnines of nhnoafc every town , district , and

      corporate body in tho country . The Corporation of London 1 ms voted 2 , 000 / . ; the first subscription list hns been published , hauled by tho Queen > vithu donation of 1 , 000 / . j the Crystal Palace gives si , t ' ute this day , at winch will bo assembled fifteen military bands ; its own band , and last , but by no means least , tho bund of tlie Guides has been sent over , for tlie express purpose of aiding tho fund , by ths Emperor of the French . There seems to be no reason why there should not be n fund of half a million before Christmas ; and lot ua trust that that will bo too much .

      1012 The Leader. [Saturday,

      1012 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

      Lord John Russell In Motion, Tub Preside...

      LORD JOHN RUSSELL IN MOTION , Tub President of the Council is testing Iiis personal popularity . Ho has roturnod from his minor starring in the Worth , and on his wny to Bristol broko ground at Woburn , at a aoirde of tho Literary and Scientific Institution . Ho moved a resolution and nmdo a long

      speech , in which he argued the value of such institutions to those who are occupied in the business of life , although he did not say that lectures were absolutely necessary for the purpose of study and writing , for John Bunyan had composed his great work in an adjacent prison . This illustration afforded an opportunity for contrasting the freedom of thought and liberty enjoyed now with the fetters imposed on Bunyan and his like . He then argued that England

      was not liable to decline and fall , and objected to Macaulay's New Zealander on a broken arch of London-bridge . Other states had fallen through luxury ; but we were more luxurious than any ancieat ever was , and yet look at the officers of the Guards how they bore the transition from Pall-mall to the Crimea . Nor was England likely to fall like states which despotism , religious persecution jj . nd bigotry , or financial difficulty , or the institution of slavery , had brought to decay . He thus concluded : —

      " As to other sources of danger , our means of political defence will tend to ward them off . There are events in progress the results of which we cannot conceive . No one can claim foresight in a nation ' s history ; events may arise which we little anticipate ; but upon this subject you and your successors have a duty to perform as well as liberty to enjoy . It devolves upon you to maintain your liberties and your religious privileges , and not merely to hand them down unimpaired but strengthened ; and by your researches in science , and promotion of literature , and cultivation of arts , you may do much to ensure this . The more your young men proceed in this study the more you will discover that a steadfast adherence to the institutions of your country is likely to

      conduce to the enjoyment of your liberties and to your temporal and eternal safety . With regard to your political liberties , you enjoy a constitution which , while it gives no scope to the noisy demagogue , neither does it to the military dictator . With regard to your religious institutions , they , leave entire freedom , of conscience ; and it is only by perfect freedom of conscience that a belief can be engendered to which man can steadfastly adhere . I met a gentleman only a short time ago , who , when in Portugal , happened to give expression to opinions thought to be objectionable , when in the night he had a visit from guards , who had his house searched , and in the morning he found himself in prison ; he discovered that it was his uncle , who was at dinner with him , who had Mm confined merely as a warning to Mm not to indulge in such free expressions of opinion

      in future . It is that" spirit from which we are free . Nothing but the most complete freedom , is sufficient to guard against the decline of national prosperity . It is not enough to say ' this opinion is so very mischievous ; ' the only rule is complete freedom . It is only when men act contrary to the state or the claims of morality that the ministers of justice can lay their hands upon any one in this great and free country . While it is mere thought , mere expression , and mere language , depend upon it no danger will arise even to opinions the most erroneous . And such is the force of truth that it will triumph in the end . I have pleasure in moving the following resolution :- — 1 That literary and scientific mechanics' institutions have greatly tended to the benefit of the people in this country ) by cultivating their minds , refining their tastes , and improving their social habits . ' "

      Sir Hamilton Seymour also spoke , regretting that he was " so poor a specimen of diplomacy to be produced before the assembly . " He talked of John Howard as connected with Bedford , and whose name was also associated with that Crimea , which was in every one ' s mind just now . Referring to the present state of European iiffairs , he said : — " It is totally impossible that , by any concurrence of events , tho state of affairs on the Continent can be restored to the position in which they woro a few months ago . Ho thought that already great results had been effected : ho was not referring to tho capture of that fortress which waa intended to have been a most Btrong one , nor to what had lately transpired , Ho would take

      the case of that grosit man tho Kmporor of Russia , who had been weighed in tho balance and found wanting . That man had had wrested from him a power which no power on earth can restoro him . Ho yras no longer tho important personage ho was a few months ago in every liuroponn Court . That was one grant thing to have obtained . Ah an immediate result , tho Courts « f Germany would bo free from thoso chains with which they had beon so long confined ; and that ho took to bo a mnt tor of tho gravest moment . Ho wished to observe that bin idotts woro not worth much , for he was n jrentlomnn out of nluea' Ho did not winh it to he

      understood that those woro tho viown of tho Government ; but they woro bin own . Well , what , did they think of the union between England and France ? Tho battle of Waterloo wan called gloriousj but on the part of tho French it wna a foHtoving wound . Tho triumph of England o ver franco would only liuvo made matters worse -, and tho triumph of liYanco ovor Knglmwl was ho unpleasant an ovontuality that ho could not entertain it . 1 'ho advantage of tho union of tho two nulioiiH was a aontunont in which nil concurred . Thoro was another mattor to which ho might refer . Wo had now onjoyed peace for forty years j wo had all tho tiino thought oursolvca very flno follows ; ho did not know what reason

      we had for coming to such , a conclusion , but now there was no doubt of it . Perhaps the sons and brothers of some in that room had lately displayed their military prowess ; and it was a matter of high gratification that the mantle which fell from the shoulders of Wellington had fallen upon such a successor . There -were some people who found fault with the expedition , and inquired — ' Atg you not helping the infidel ? ' Yes , we are , " said Sir Hamilton ; " and God forbid that we should not help every infidel when he is so cruelly oppressed as this one . But for this no second opinion could be tolerated . Let the pr inciple he applied to individuals which was applied to nations . A person is charged before a city magistrate with stealing a watch—what would be thought of the individual who would say to the justice : ' There ' s no doubt that the offence has been committed , but the gentleman who lost the watch is a Jew and the other is a Protestant . ' "

      Referring to religious persecution on the continent he said : " They must surely thank God that they lived in a gloriously free country . During tbe thirty-six years he had resided abroad wonderful changes had iaken place in England . The poor were better housed , tlie churches -were better served , and amongst other things , to show the advance of the nation , he might refer to -the meeting of to-night , to attend which afforded him the very grea-test ^ gratification . " . -

      On Thursday Lord John Went To Bristol To...

      On Thursday Lord John went to Bristol to attend the opening of the Athenaeum in that city . In company with the local magistrates he went over the building , and had his health drunk at a dejeuner . In the evening the inaugural ceremony took place , and Lord John delivered an address . It was not long , and remarkable principally for an attack on David Hume as a writer of history ( a subject of study which Lord John strongly recommended to 3 ns audience ) , whom he declared to be unfitted for such a work , because he was deficient in the elements whirh should go to make up a historian , literature , liberty , and religion . Lord John ' s principal topic was the void in the history of our country , which he declares has still to be written by an author possessed of the attributes , in -which he declared all our previous historians to be deficient . Beyond this his address was confined to generalities .

      Sir Robert Peel , who was present , delivered a good speech . He made a point worthy of reproduction . He said- — " I am glad to find , as one important feature of your institution , that your reading room is well provided -with the current literature of the day , as represented by the newspapers . I once asked that veteran friend of education , Mr . Joseph Hume , what-he thought of the introduction of newspapers into-institutions of this kind , and he told mo that he , for one , would never support any institution which did not admit newspapers . I know that some people talk of excluding politics from mechanics ' institutions . Why , good God ! political knowledge is that which we all feel to be of the utmost importance to

      this country ; and I for one would impress upon all the artisans and mechanics of England , that they ought to inquire into the nature of our institutions , and , as the noble lord has said , into the history of . ovir liberties , so that they may be fitted to take their part in the working of those institutions which are gradually and rapidly developing , so as to be extended to them . It is only in this way that those classes can gain that knowledge without which popular power has more than once degenerated into an instrument of oppression . And I would further suggest , that by reading tho works of great and good men many prejudices would bo removed which have hitherto operated most bitterly to tho prejudice of tho working classes . I have

      been given to understand that this institution was established in 1845 , in order to afford rational occupation to thoso young persons who « re now released from thoir hours of work at an earlier period than they used to be , through the generous efforts of ( mother association- —tho Early Closing Association . Now , in connexion with thia subject , there is one question that has struck mo , which would be of vast advantage to us all to advocate . It is a question which in equally interesting to tlio inrlustriouH labourer , to the employer , and to tho public at largo—tho question of having public holidays at eortain

      Ilxod pcriodt ) . I think that this question is ono of great public importance 1 find that it is reoomvnondad in tho report of a committee that ant lately on tho subject of tho Post-ouiuo , ho that you neo it coinos recommended "by groat , authority . If you jrivo a relaxation to tho labourer—of couroo without diminution of his wngofl —• oh , of course without diminution of his wageH or salary —that must always bo uiulonttood—I nm Hiiro it will iwld much to tho friendly fueling between muster « nd man ; and , instead of cnorvntSng tho labourers of thin country , 1 nin mu'o it will invitforiito U » om . "

      Sir John Prankltn's Party. Tiiw Last Arc...

      SIR JOHN PRANKLTN'S PARTY . Tiiw last Arctic expeditions have neurcoly returned homo without tidings of Sir John Itainklin ' ships and crews , when evidence hh nearly conclusive as possible of the melancholy fate of tlmt unfortunate party lins beon supplied by a privato individual . I ) r . ltflo , u well-known Arctic ; traveller , wis surveying

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 28, 1854, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_28101854/page/4/