Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 22nd June 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 296, Untitled Article

Page 296
Page 8
8 of 24

On this page

  • Text (7)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      with his presence . It is quite unnecessary to attempt to describe that which has so often been detailed , the appearance of the table , in its principal features , b ^ ng precisely the same as noticed on previous occasions . Ihe magnificent Portuguese plateau , with its hundred trophies , filled the centre of the table ; at each end , vis a vis the two most remarkable objects were the statuettes of . Napoleon and Wellington , by Count D'Orsay . Two beautiful dwarf vines , over-burdened with the juicy fruit , were conspicuous amongst the ornaments , and two immense vases , the gift of a continental sovereign , overflowing with flowers , were also admirable . All the dessert service was of gold , and the ornamental plate displayed on the table was of the same precious metal . At the north end of the gallery was the beaufet loaded with some of his Flaxmanincom

      the most valuable gifts to Grace— ' s - parable shield , the vase from the titled classes , the costly and elaborate candelabra from the opulent citizens of London , &c , and occupying a prominent place in the collection . In the vacancies between the windows looking in Hyde-park were large vases containing flowers , which gave great effect to the ensemble . As the Duke , accompanied by Prince Albert , and followed by his guests , passed from the north drawing-room to the gallery , the band played the familiar air of "The Roast Beef of Old England . " The Duke , having taken his position at the table , was supported on the right by Prince Albert and Field-Marshal the Marquis of Anglesey , and on the left by his Excellency Prince Castelcicala and Sir W . Gomm . Covers . were laid for eighty guests .

      Untitled Article

      THE FACTORY BILL . A numerous meeting of factory delegates was held in Manchester , on Monday , convened by the central committee , " to take into consideration the present critical state of the Ten Hours question . " Mr . Grant , who had been appointed to watch over the progress of the bill , gave an account of his proceedings while in London , and complained much of the want of cordiality evinced by the delegates in London representing the Lancashire who refused to unite with him

      and Yorkshire committee , and his friends in their support to carry Lord Ashley ' s clause . " If they could only have been united in their efforts , he had no donbt but that , instead of having a majority of one against them on that point , they would have had a large majority in their favour . He thought it would be useless to press Lord John Manners ' s amendment in the House of Lords , because , even if they carried it there , it would again be rejected in the House of Commons , and in the scramble the bill would be lost for

      the session . Resolutions were agreed to , imploring the Government and the Legislature to secure the two limitations of ten hours per day and fifty eight hours per week , without shifts and relays ; stigmatizing the refusal of the House of Commons to include children in the limitation of the factory-day as evidence of an intention to continue the relay system by the aid of children of very tender years ; declaring that the House of Commons had broken faith with the factory operative ; pledging the meeting to petition the House of Peers to adopt the amendments proposed by Lord John Manners and Lord Ashley ; and deputing Mr . Grant to proceed to London to make-the necessary arrangements with Lord Feversham with reference to the passage of the bill through the upper

      House . Another resolution was carried , disowning the application for pecuniary assistance made to the National Association for the Protection of Native Industry , " by some parties representing themselves as delegates from the factory workers . " The pretended delegates , as our readers will remember , obtained £ 80 from Mr . George Frederick Young , out of the funds contributed by the impoverished farmers . Another time he will be a liltle more cautious before ho gives away the funds entrusted to hisThanagement in so simple a manner .

      Untitled Article

      WRECK OF A SCOTCH STKAMER—LOSS OF 100 LIVES . For the first time in the history of steam navigation between Liverpool and Glasgow a case of shipwreck , attended with a large loss of life , has occurred on the Scottish coast . The vessel was the Orion steam-ship , which sailed from Liverpool on Monday evening , and in passing Fort-Patrick , between one and two o ' clock on Tuesday morning , struck on a sunken rock , and almost immediately went down , with nearly all on board . On th ' p first alarm the life-boat was hoisted out as fast as

      possible , and was instantly so crowded that it heeled over and noiuly all worn drowned . A second boat was then launched , into which a number of ladies were put , and they reached the shore in safety . In the meantime the vessel gradually filled with water , and the crew and passengers were left floating on the surface of the calm ¦ whirrs , As noon as the accident was discovered from the shore a number of boats put off , and picked up all wlio could be seen floating on the loose portions of the wreck , or swimming towards the shore .

      The number of passengers on board the ill-fated vessel is iimv e : iU : »\ i ; itrd to Ir . ivp been from MO to lf > 0 , of whom only 1 ") were steerage . The hitter would have the best chance of being saved , ns they were on ihr deck at the lime , of Ibe catastrophe . It , is nsccrtained that every cabin , berth had been taken , as well as every sofa ; and the vessel was consequently crowded with cabin passcngeis . The number saved by clinging to the wreck anil otherwise is variously estimate ! nt ;">() to GO persons , but in consequence of the list , of those who took their places on board being lost in the vessel , it is impossible to Hay with any degree ot certainty what may be the nctiuil number . The Fenella steam-ship from Flcetwood naught sight of tho Orion about , five o * clock on Tuesday morning , and went into Port-Patrick , staying there a considerable time and tuking oil" the passengers saved from the unfortunate vessel—to whom the utmost

      kindness was shown by Captain Wheeler and his crew—who very liberally took the passengers to Troon free of charge , whence they were despatched to Glasgow by a special train , arriving at half-past one o ' clock . Among those saved were the captain and most of the crew of the Orion . Almost all the survivors were in a state of seminudity , and they were unable to procure the requisite clothing to enable them to proceed by the Fenella , although the captain gave all the clothes he could spare to cover them .

      To attempt to account for the loss of this noble vessel on a fine night , within a short distance of the land , where every stone should be familiarly known to those in charge , is at present impossible ; but we have no doubt the most searching investigation will be made by the owners into a casualty which has caused such an awful sacrifice of human life . The rock on which the Orion struck is some distance from the shore , and passed through the vessel principally in her midship compartment , breaking the engines to pieces ; within less than ten minutes from the time she struc k the Orion was at the bottom .

      The Orion was originally fitted up with water-tight bulkheads , and thereby divided into four or five compartments ; and it has therefore been a matter of surprise that there should not have been the means of keeping the vessel afloat . The probability , however , is , that she struck so severely that the central compartments which gave the greatest buoyancy were all completely stove in . A number of the unfortunate passengers were youths returning home from the English schools to spend the vacation . One little fellow , about ten years of age , we have heard of , who , when clinging to a box , was offered

      assistance by his tutor , but refused it , and told him to try and help the ladies . He was saved . Mr . Fleming , one of the survivors , stated that he was aroused from his sleep by the shock of the concussion , and his first impression was that a collision had taken place . As soon as he tumbled out of bed he found the mate rushing into the cabin ; and before he had time to dress , beyond drawing on his trousers , the water was up to his knee . He immediately rushed upon deck , and soon found himself afloat amidst a crowd of passengers . He fortunately clung to the rigging of one of the topmasts , and was thus providentially saved .

      Among other names mentioned as amongst the drowned is Dr . Burns , Professor of Surgery in the University , brother of the Messrs . Burns , thetowners of the vessel . His body had been washed ashore before the survivors left the scene of the castastrophe .

      Untitled Article

      FIRES AND LOSS OF LIFE . One of the tall houses in Phoenix-street , St . Giles ' s , was discovered to be on fire , on Monday morning , about three o ' clock . The alarm was immediately given ; some six or seven persons ran down stairs in their nightdresses , and happily escaped into the street , when all of a sudden a huge sheet of flame shot from the bad ; parlour up the staircase , and cut off all means of * scape for those remaining above . A man named Kemble , at the peril of losing his own life , rushed through the fire and succeeded in pulling his wife out . He returned three times , and brought his three children through the flames . When he reached the street with the last one , he was nearly suffocated with smoke . A Mr . Noland , who lived on the second floor , managed most

      miraculously to save himself and two of his daughters ; but one of his children , a girl about fourteen years of age , was burnt to death . Having gained the middle of the stairs , the fire rushed upon them , and ignited the night-clothes of one of tho daughters ; he , however , impressed upon them the necessity of fighting their way through the flames , to avoid being burnt to death . One of his children , on seeing her sister enveloped in flames , rushed to the top of the house , hoping by that means to escape , but she fell amidst the fire , and when discovered one of her legs was burnt off , and the whole of her body reduced to a blackened and shrivelled mass , so that it was impossible to identify her . Mr . Noland and his two other daughters at length reached the street , but one of tho latter was frightfully burned .

      A Mrs . Harding , who lived on the upper floor , upon being aroused , made an attempt to come down stairs , when a body of sparks and volumes of hot smoke compelled her to retreat back again , In so doing her nightclothes caught fire , when she rushed to the back window and jumped out . She fell flat upon her back , and was so much injured that she died in an hour or two . Her son , who lived on the same floor , in making his escape was also terribly burned , and was removed to the hospital . A man residing at the corner of the street was awoke by hearing violent screams proceeding from the back of his house . He looked out and saw a woman and two children in the next yard ; tho flames at the same time were bursting from the windows so furiously , as to threaten them momentarily with destruction . By a desperate effort he mannged to pull the mother and her two children over his yard-wall , and thcrebj saved their lives .

      The fire was extinguished about half-past four , but not till the premises and the furniture were totally consumed .

      Untitled Article

      rOST-OFFlCE NOTICE REGARDING SUNDAY LETTERS . The following notice relating to the bitter observance of tho Sabbath has been issued by the Post-ofTico au-•• Gcuvr . il rost-oflico , June , 18 . '> 0 . " On and after the 23 rd inst ., there will be no delivery of letters throughout tho United Kingdom on Sunday , nor will there be any collection of letter * , whether by messengers , letter-carriers , receivers , &c , on that day . " A collection , however , by means of boxes , will still be

      permitted on Sunday , as at present , at the receivingoffices , whether in town or in the country , and at the chief offices , in towns , &c , it being clearly understood that letters deposited in the receiving-boxes shall remain unsorted and untouched until the Monday ; and that there shall be no attendance of postmasters or their clerks at the window of the Post-office on Sunday . " The present practice of detaining letters addressed to

      the metropolis itself when posted on Saturday , until the despatch of Sunday , will not be disturbed , with the exception that the bags containing such letters must be closed on Saturday night ; and , as the mails will be transmitted on Sunday in the usual manner , it will be necessary that some person shall attend to despatch the bags alluded to , as well as to receive or forward those bags that have arrived from other offices .

      • ' Postmasters taking upon themselves to deliver letters to any parties whatsoever in contravention of these orders will be most severely punished . "

      Untitled Article

      The following notice has also just been issued : — " On and from the 1 st of July next the following regulations will come into effect : — " 1 . All letters posted at any rural receiving office for places within the United Kingdom must either be prepaid by stamps , or be sent unpaid , as money prepayment for inland letters posted at such offices will be abolished . " 2 . The postage of foreign and colonial letters may be paid in money at all rural receiving offices , including those where no money prepayment has hitherto been allowed . " 3 . The letter-boxes at the rural receiving-houses will in no case be closed until within ten minutes of the time fixed for the despatch of the mail . "

      A meeting of Newspaper proprietors was held at Peele ' s Coffee-house , on Thursday evening , to consider what measures they ought to adopt in consequence of the above announcement . Some severe remarks were made on the conduct of Ministers in giving way to a small minority of the House in the way they had done , and the following resolutions were passed almost unanimously : — " That this meeting conceives that , by the conduct of the Ministry in stopping the use of the post to the weekly newspapers , in an achlress voted by only ninety-three members of the House of Commons , it has shrunk from its duty us a Government . " That the stamp on newspapers is supposed to ensure their transmission by post in due time for circulation , and that to stop the transmission on any particular day is a gross injustice to the parties concerned .

      " That a committee be formed to take into consideration the general interests of the press , and especially as to all efforts to interfere with its circulation by Sunday bills or otherwise . "

      Untitled Article

      MISCELLANEOUS . The Queen , Prince Albert , with the rest of the Royal Family , returned from Osborne-house on Tuesday . They arrived at Buckingham Palace at six o ' clock , having performed the journey in about four hours . Ou Wednesday evening her Majesty and Prince Albert went to St . James ' s Theatre to witness the French plays . The Nepaulese Minister , Jung Bahadoor , was also there . He and his suite occupied a large box opposite her Majesty , and attracted much attention . The Queen of the Belgians and Prince Augustus of Saxe Cobourg Gotha took leave of the Queen and Pi ince Albert on Wednesday morning , and quitted Buckingham Palace soon after eleven o ' clock . At the Bricklayers '

      Arms station a special train , with the usual preparations for royalty , was in readiness to convey the royal party to Dover . The train called at Ited-hili , where her Majesty was met by the Comtesse de Neuilly and the Princess Clementine , who accompanied her to Dover , whence she sailed for Osrend in the steamer Vivid . The Queen held a Court and Privy Council , on Wednesday afternoon , at Buckingham Palace , on which occasion Lord Cotton ham resigned the Lord Chancellorship , and Lord Langdale , the Vice-Chancellor of England , and Baron Rolfe , were sworn in as keepers of the commissions commis

      Great Seal , and received their as - sioners for its custody . The Great Seal was delivered by the Queen to Lord Langdale , as First Commissioner . After the Privy Council the Nepaulese Ambassador , accompanied by bis two brothers , Colonel Juggut Shumshere Jung , and Colonel Dhere Shumshere Jung , was presented to the Queen by Sir John llobhousc . His Excellency delivered a letter to the Queen from the Sovereign of Nepaul , and also the valuable and interesting presents sent by that Prince . in St

      The Queen held a drawing-room , . James s Palace , on Thursday , which is described as " one of the most brilliant Courts ever held by her Majesty . " The suite of state saloons , and also the ante-rooms , were a'l filled with nobility and gentry soon after the time ( two o clock ) appointed for holding the Court . Being the anniversary of her Majesty ' s accession to the throne , the principal knights of the different orders of knighthood wore their collars ; the Lord Chief Justice of England and the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer wore their gold collars of S . S ., with the portcullis ; the Equity Judges and the Rolfe their gold robesthe

      Honourable Baron wore ; Envoy from the Sovereign of Nepaul , and also the officers of the mission , appeared in magnificent Eastern costumes , nearly covered with the richest gold embroidery , the costume of the Envoy being of green velvet . Ihe turban of his Excellency , and also those of his two brothers , were adorned with a profusion of diamonds , pearls , and emeralds , and the Envoy also wore a collar of erneraids of large size . Tne Queen and Prince Albert returned to Buckingham Palace after the drawing-room . The youngest member of the Royal Family , Arthur Patrick , will be baptized this evening ( Saturday ) . The ceremony will be performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury , in the presence of the Queen of the Belgians , the

      Untitled Article

      296 ® ft t % t a JT t tf ? [ SATURDAY ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 22, 1850, page 296, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1843/page/8/