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Leader (1850-1860), 7th June 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 534, Untitled Article

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      country , in Asia , and in Europe , as also in placing the whole subject before the people , your committee presume that he has well considered the cost chances of success . The public will certainly risk nothing , and are sure to be laige and immense gainers if he succeed . Your committee think he will succeed . " And they add , still more emphatically : — " Your committee think it would be very difficult and enormously expensive , if not impossible , to construct such a road through a now entire wilderness , on any plan

      of means , unless settlement can keeppace with the work ; and that this plan , as it connects sale and settlement of the lands with the woxk itself , is not only the only sure plan of means , but by it the work will advance as rapidly , or more so , than on any other plan . Besides , these lands , with this great highway through their centre , could not , in the opinion of the committee , fail to command any amount of money for the progress of the work , as their daily increasing value would render them the most safe and profitable investment for money . "

      The Times , in its City article of Friday week , is also distinctly of opinion that the plan is feasible . The writer says : — ' Not only would each prolongation of the road naturally render more certain the completion of the remainder , but it would provide a fund [ by the sale of the reserved land , if necessary ] which would place that result beyond all doubt . " If we add to these decisions of practical men the experience of New Brunswick , of Mr . Cunard in

      Prince Edward Island , and of the results consequent upon the construction of the Erie canal , we cannot for one moment doubt that the project is not only feasible , but would prove highly remunerative to the projector . That difficulty removed , we have only to consider the physical obstacles to the scheme . There are none . In fact the route laid down is the only one practicable , passing the chain of mountains running down the eastern shore of the Pacific at the South Pass , through which , as Mr . "Whitney observed , ' you may drive a carriage and four . "

      As a stimulant to emigration , and as providing a new home for the emigrants , the advantages are too obvious to need comment . Two extracts , however , from Mr . Whitney ' s letters to the Times of April 17 , and the Morning Chronicle of Friday last , will clench the conviction in the reader ' s mind . " America is not alone interested in this work or in its grand results . It is a work in the vast benefits of which the whole human family would participate , and no part of that great family would share more directly and largely , or have a deeper interest in it , than England . Look at the surplus population which is yearly leaving England , Ireland , and Scotland , for America ; where , when they arrive , they often remain in the large cities

      poor and destitute , their labour in no way producing a return to aid in the support of those still remaining at home , or to make any exchanges for the different products of your various branches of industry . But the building of the proposed road could not fail to augment the agricultural population of America very rapidly , to attract immigrants to their proper vocation , and to stimulate the demand for the manufactures of Europe . This population , moreover , being beyond the benefit of , and naturally opposed to a prohibitory or protective policy for the benefit of minor interests , would soon compel the enactment of such laws as would tend most directly to controul and secure , by competition , the markets of the world . Their position , with their immense territory , would seem to force such a policy upon them . "

      And in the Morninp Chronicle , after stating two of the points in his plan ( namely , first , its providing the only means , by constructing the line or making the wilderness available for settlement ; and , second , making a . great commercial highway between Europe and Asia , and changing the present routes ) , he writes : — " The third is , by this change of route to change the position and condition of the surplus population of both Europe and Asia , and place each where , with the cheap and rapid means of transportation and communication which this road would give to them , they may each and all receive a just and full reward for labour in the products from the soil , with comforts and plenty , and a surplus to exchange with each other , as well also as with nil the other partis , products and brandies of industry of the habitable globe ; and the design i « , that the result would bring all the great piirta of the world together by cheap and frequent intercourse , and make a free exchange of the products and commodities of the different partw of , all the earth—to till up the great . American wild < nieN « with the surplus of all Europe , give to them , aH a reward for their toil , n surplus beyond their own wants , to supply Europe with cheap food and staples in exchange for clothing and other products of mechanical labour ; and , on the otliernide , by means of frequent commercial intercourse , to cause the cannibal and the pirate to give up the islands in the i ' acifio and Indian Oceans to the surpluses of China , and thus bring into use and occupation , with the cheapest means of transportation , the \ vildernenB earth , the most extensive and important , habitable , and c . ultivatealile parts thereof , now u . selcss to mankind , and must , . so remain for ages to come , unless this proposed highway is constructed . " Hut the ( Mtiigrationiil advantages are not the greatest , advantages offered by thin plan . It would be a . small thing , comparatively , to locate ; n body of nettle ™ in th <; wilderness , and place them in ease and independence . Mr . Whitney looks beyond this , and perceives that , the greatest ( fleet which his railway would produce would be the mighty change it would

      operate in the routes of commerce ; and thus place the emigrants on the great highway of civilization . ^ Mr . Whitney has drawn a map upon Mercator s projection . In this map he places America as the great central Continent between Asia and Europe . One glance at this map shows that the proposed route is nearly a straight line from Liverpool to Puget Sound ; and the sailing distance from Puget Sound to any important point in the commercial countries of Asia is less than by any other route . This is a demonstrable fact .

      Mr . Whitney took a piece of string and measured the distances on a globe for our satisfaction . Of course the actual sailing distances would be much greater than those obtained by string measurement , but the proportions would remain , at least , the same , and decidedly in favour of the route by Puget Sound . The important question of cost of transit has been considered by the committee , whose report we have before quoted , and they declare that " the expense

      of transport between Asia and their Atlantic ports by this proposed road would be less than on the present route in ships . " Thus , facility for employment , cheapness of construction , absence of speculation , directness of route , cheapness of cost of transit , and provision for the surplus population of Europe , combine to make the plan proposed by Mr . Whitney not only superior to all other plans for international communication in comprehensiveness and grasp , but in

      practicability also . The present position of the plan is attended by only one embarrassing circumstance . In Europe the Times has spoken highly of it , and declared that offers of any assistance he might require have been made to Mr . Whitney . The Morning Chronicle has opened its columns to his explanatory letters—which henceforth become public documents . Public attention , in fact , once directed to the project , clearly perceives , and will still more clearly perceive , that it is eminently practicable and desirable . In the United States twenty-one legislatures have decided in its favour . The press and public opinion have supported and approved of it . A bill introduced into Congress ,

      and referred to the Roads Committee , has received a favourable report . Large majorities in both Houses are ready to pass it ; but , unfortunately , party questions during the last session of Congress impeded its progress ; and Mr . Whitney is awaiting only the decision of that body to commence the work . But the best lands at the point where the line must commence are in course of being rapidly settled ; and , as it is upon these lands the success of the scheme depends , while Congress is neglecting to pass the bill granting the lands , the whole project runs the risk of being rendered impossible . Should Congress delay too long , negotiations , it is said , will be opened between Mr . Whitney and the British Government to construct the line on British territory .

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      ASCOT RACES . The prospects of this year ' s meeting , in respect of sport , were barely up to the mark , and in particular the attractions of the third and last days were materially lessened by the withdrawal of the Flying Dutchman and Voltigeur from the Emperor ' s Plate , and the discontinuance of the Great Western Railway Handicap . The races began on Tuesday , most favourably as regarded weather , and garnished with the presence of Majesty . The Royal Party reached the course a few minutes before the time fixed for the

      first race . It consisted of nine carriages and four , preceded as usual by the Master of the Buckhounds and the Itoyal Huntsman , and was attended by the usuul retinue of mounted servants . The grand stand waa well filled , and in point of company Ascot was up to the mark . The sport was very capital . The racing began as soon as the Queen arrived . The following horses were the victory of the day : —The Trial Stakes of 6 sovs . each , and . 50 added , wore won by Mr . Death's The Moor , ( i yr . s ., !) st . 31 b . ( W . Abdalu ) . The Gold Vase given by her Majesty , added to a sweepstakes of 20 soys , each , by Mr . ( jreville's Cariboo , 4 yrs ., 1

      'Jst . . ( Ihitman ) 1 , and Lord Exeter's Little Jack , \ yrs ., 9 nt . ( Robinson ) 2 . In this race Breda fell in crossing the road and threw her rider , and killed a coachman who had strayed on to the course . The Produce Stakes wen ; won by Sir J . Ilawley ' s Merry Peal ( J . Mar . son ) ; tin * Ascot Stukes by Sir John Hawley ' n Vatican ( Flatinan ) ; the Ascot Triennial . Stakes , by the Duke of Rielnnond'H Red Hind ( Kitchener ) ; the Ascot Derby Stakes , by Lord Kxot . er ' s Phlcgctlum ( Marlow ); the Second Ascot Triennial Stakes , by Lord J . Scott ' s Miserrima ( Whitehou . se ) ; the Welcome Stake . ' , by Mr . Powney ' s liainai tine ( A . Day ); and tin-Sweepstakes , by Lord Dorchester ' s The- Chase ( A .. I ) uy ) .

      It . randy occurs that the second day at Ascot rise . beyond tin- " respectable" in point of attendance , and Wednesday wits no exception , lor although there was a very fair show of fashion in the stand , in number it it'll rather below the average than otherwise . The fiiHt race disposed of was the Fernhill Stakes , which were carried off by Mr . MagenisVs Forlorn Hope ( Bartholomew' ) . The next race , the event of

      the day , was the Royal Hunt Cup . For this prize there were twenty-two competitors , Mr . H . Robinson ' s Sir Charles ( H . Goater ) winning by threeparts of a length ; and Lord Clifden ' s Strongbow coming in second . The Coronation Stakes were won by Mr . Grevile ' s Barcelona ( Flatman ) ; the Queen ' * Plate , by Mr . Arnold ' s Pitsford ( A . Day ) ; and the Windsor Town Plate , by Lord Exeter ' s Preslaw ( Norman ) , who ran away with it .

      Thursday was the great day . The weather was doubtful in the morning , and , though fine up to about four o ' clock , miserably wet after . The Queen arrived on the course in time for the first race . The throng of spectators was immense , though not so great as on previous cup days . The interest of the race lay in the New Stakes , on account of the running of two leading favourites for next year ' s Derby ; Brother to Elthiron , and Colonel Peel ' s colt out of Queen Anne . The Emperor ' s Plate was run for

      bysecond-rate animals . Six horses started for the Visitors' Plate , which was won in a canter by Mr . Stephenson ' s Minus ( Flatman ) . The next race was the Emperor's Plate . The scratching of Russborough at the last moment caused immense dissatisfaction . There were only four brought to the post . Little Jack went off with a clear lead , followed by Woolwich , Trouncer well up with the latter , and Windischgratz , who had nothing to do with the race , last . There was not the slightest change in this order until they were inside the distance , Woolwich then joining Little Jack , heading him opposite the Stand , and winning cleverly by a length ; the same between Little Jack and Trouncer . The winner was ridden by J . Marson . Run in 5 min . 50 sec .

      The New Stakes excited much more interest than the preceding race . Twelve started . Buckthorn went to the front at starting , and , with close attendants in the two favourites and Grey Tommy , made strong play to the distance ; Brother to Elthiron , the favourite , then took the lead , requiring a little shaking , however , to get him away from the horses , and won , rather cleverly , by a length ; Benita and Buckthorn went next . Whitehouse rode the winner . Run in 1 inin . 18 sec . Three more races , after the first of which the rain came down in earnest , and the Queen departing , finished the day's sport . The £ 70 Handicap was won by Mr . Drinkald ' s Flare-up ( Rodney ); the £ 50 Sweepstakes by Lord Exeter ' s Phlegethon ( Norman ); and the Stand Plate , by Lord Exeter ' s Preslaw ( Norman ) .

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      CRIMES AND ACCIDENTS . Mrs . Lydia Moggeridge , of Old Hoxton , had a lodger named Mr . Dibdin Pitt , a dramatic author . On Saturday morning he vanished with two pillows , two blankets , and other articles of bedroom furniture . On his reappearance Mrs . Moggeridge charged him with having stolen them , and he did not deny the fact , but begged for time to replace them . His prayer was refused ; and he wag delivered over to a policeman , taken before Mr . Hammill , at Worship-street , and remanded for a week . Mr . Pitt was extremely nervous and low spirited , and well he might be , for he said he had not tasted food for throe days . Starvation alone induced him to take the goods . After he was remanded , he begged for a bottle of laudanum , taken from him by the police , which , he said , he used to lessen the pain of an internal complaint . This request was refused by Mr . Hammill , who said that the medical authorities of the House of Detention would pay him every attention . A solicitor , named Thomas Frederick Cole , was killed by the mob during the late election at the Isle of Wight . He was hunted , his hat knocked off , his hair pulled , he was pelted with rotten eggs , and beaten . When it waa thought he had escaped , by rushing into a private house , he suddenly fell down and died . His external wounds were mere scratches . The verdict returned was " Manslaughter . " Mrs . Mary ltebccca Pratt , a very handsome woman , rose on Friday morning and wrote the two following letters : —

      • ' Kingston , Friday . —James , —For the last time I address you . May God forgive you as I do for the wicked accusations you have brought against me . When I took an oath to you last night it was quite true , and all I said afterwards a lie prompted by the fear of being murdered . May every wife do her duty as well as I have done , even though she has a drunken husband . Good bye , I never expect to meet you ayain . —Your broken-hearted wife , Mahy It . Pratt . " Mydear Mr . and Mrs . Nutt , —I have left my husband under the moat dreadful circumstances ; lie has accused me of being seduced by my father , when 1 was only seventeen years old , and also allowing Mr . Nutt the sum *! improper intercourse . Last night he seized me by

      the hair , drew my head back , and held hm razor to my throat , lie then jumped on me , and tried to Htrangle ne with his hands ' . 1 still persisted in my innocence of buch dreadful crimes ; but , feeling certain he would murder me , I owned to it , although every word I spok « wus a lie , that all was quite true . I hope God will forgive me for being so wicked , and saying what 1 knew wai not right of my dear father and Mr . Nutt . 1 felt so helplcHS I did not know vvliut to do . Indeed , I am almost out of my mind , and what I shall do with myself 1 do not know . Accept , my love mid thunks for the very great kiiidin'HH 1 received from you . 1 ^ of . awity from home whilst he wus at . market . He left me in bed , and 1 promised I would remain there , but I could not . I am at

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      534 ffitl « &ea& * tf * [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 7, 1851, page 534, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1886/page/10/