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Leader (1850-1860), 5th July 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 626, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      TRANSATLANTIC AND EASTERN MAILS . We have three mails this week , bringing news of great and varied interest from America , East India , and the West Indies . The , prominent fact in the American news is an account of the fifth great fire at San Francisco , by which it has been nearly destroyed . A correspondent of the New York Herald writes as follows , on the 15 th of May : — " Another of those devastating calamities which have bo often attacked this city has laid in ashes all the bestbuilt , most densely inhabited , and business portions of this city , since the departure of the last steamer . On the 4 th of May , 1850 , about three o'clock in the morning , a

      fire was discovered which , before it was extinguished , destroyed a large portion of the city . Three times between that and the 3 rd of May , 1851 , did destructive fires again and again destroy the results of energy and perseverance hitherto unparalleled in the annals of the world . On the night of the 3 rd of May , at eleven o ' clock , a small shanty , about 12 feet by 20 , was discovered to be on fire . By seven o ' clock on Sunday morning , the 4 th of May , more than one half of the city lay in smoking ruins , and buildings and property were destroyed more than equalling in extent and value all that the four great fires ( besides the lesser ones ) which had occurred within a twelvemonth had consumed . To attempt to describe the appearance of the city while

      enveloped in this terrible conflagration , or the aspect of the smoking ruins when the devastation was complete , -or the feelings of those whose breasts were filled with hope the previous evening , and whose fortunes were destroyed in a few hours , would be a hopeless task . Frame buildings burned like tinder ; iron houses curled up like sheets of paper before a fire ; brick buildings , with iron shutters and doors , gave way , and crumbled into ruins . Of scores of buildings supposed to be fireproof , within the limits of the burnt district , not a dozen remain , and it seems as if they were preserved by a miracle . Such was the fierceness of the flames that they leaped across streets 100 feet wide , and ignited the buildings as

      if they were made of touchwood . And , when the fury of the flames was exhausted , they were extinguished in as improbable a manner as they had ravaged . They destroyed one end of a wooden building and went out , leaving the remainder standing . To tear down buildings was useless . They might begin a block ; but before the first building was demolished , the flames had reached them . To blow them up seemed equally unserviceablethe flames crossed the gap thus made , as if it were nothing . " The offices of all the newspapers were destroyedexcept that of the Alia California . It is expected that the town will be rebuilt in sixty days !

      After all , the North America will not sail for Galway . The New York Tribune thus accounts for the change in her destination . " For the list three weeks it has been advertized that this steamer would sail from this port direct for Galway , Ireland , on the 17 < h of June . In commemoration of the new enterprise an Irish flag was presented to her captain by a wealthy gentleman , and much gratification was expressed by our Irish citizens at the prospect of a direct steam communication with their native country . But notwithstanding these preparations , the North America did not sail as advertized , and it was announced yesterday that she had been sold . She had steam up , and fuel a > id provisions for the voyage , and her passengers were coining on board when they were informed that her

      destination had been changed . Of course there was much excitement among those who were on board and the crowd that had gathered to witness the departure of the steamer , and many threats were made against her and her owners , but we believe nothing serious occurred . It was the intention of those who controlled her to despatch her as advertized ; but at eleven yesterday they received anoflVr to purchase her from Cornelius Vanderbilt , which they concluded to accept , as they had engaged but few paasengera for the excursion to Gal way . These wore offered tickets for the Pacific , and we believe this arrangement was generally satisfactory . It is understood that the North America has been purchased for the purpose of being placed on the route from San Francisco to ltealejo , in connection with the Prometheus oil this side . She will leave for the Pacific in a few days . "

      The Southern States continue to be agitated by Secession menaces . In Georgia , it ia now clear that the important question will be regarded as the teat of the next gubernatorial election , ex-Governor M'Donald being the Secession and Mr . Cobb th « : Union candidate . At present the ehnneeH are greatly in favour of Cobb . In Alabama , the " Southern . Rights Party , " as they call themselves , have udopt . ed the following as their political platform :-- ! . The " right" to dissolve the Union at pleasure . ' 2 . The necessity of dissolving it sooner or later . , ' { . The duty to dissolve it . 4 . The obligation to assist any other state to destroy the Union whenever called upon .

      The Isthmus of Panama has been completely surveyed , and it in said the feasibility of a railroad demonstrated . It would appear that the United States i » about to depart from the policy of her early statesmen , that of keeping clear of European alliance . " . Thero is a Mtatement put foiwurd from Washington that Mr . Webster bus made a proposition Unit England , France , and . the States should enter into u joint l > roteotoiate of JIayti and Central America . Tlio Kaat India mail , which loft Bombay on May 20 , bringH an account of tbo forgeries on the Oriental JJank : — * ' Some moutliu ago it was discovered that the bank hud

      discounted forged hoondiea ( native money orders ) to some enormous extent , the amount of which was kept a perfect secret ; ' this appeared to have been managed by some of its own servants ; the discount slips upon which money was paid for these forged hoondiea must have been signed for payment by some of the officers of the bank . A few days afterwards the bank was robbed , also by its own servants , of £ 9500 worth of bank-notes . Simultaneously with these frauds forged checks to a very large , but as yet unknown amount , were discovered to have been passed at the bank . When these forged checks were discovered and first mentioned in the papers , the managers of the bank wrote to deny their existence ; but denial is now no longer possible , as some of the forgeries are at present the subject of investigation at the police-office . About £ 4900 worth of the notes has been recovered ; but

      by some negligence the stolen notes had not been registered in the bank books , and it is feared there will be , therefore , a difficulty in convicting Dorabjee , the suspected person , of having stolen them from the bank . Nothing is known concerning the . total amount of the forgeries on the bank . The single case at present the subject of inquiry , is a forged check of £ 2000 only ; but it is admitted that there are several others . The Bombay Gazette states , that there is a wide-spread belief that the amount of the forged checks passed at the Oriental

      Bank through the instrumentality of its employes , equals £ 15 , 000 , and the Telegraph and Courier estimate the amount at £ 20 , 000 at least . When the first news of the losses of the North-West Bank of India reached England , the statement was emphatically contradicted by the English agent of the bank , though such losses had been then only stated at , £ 12 , 000 . The directors themselves now admit a loss of £ 80 , 000 , and it is stated , apparently on good authority , in the overland edition of the Delhi Gazette and Calcutta Englishman , that even this is very much under the real amount of the bank ' s losses . "

      A minute has been recorded by the Governor-General of India , expressing an opinion that some of the high civil posts in the gift of Government , might with advantage be conferred upon persons not covenanted servants of the East India Company . His lordship names especially the Postmaster-General of Bengal , and the chief magistrate of police at Calcutta . This also is a new feature in Indian affairs , and is of some importance as tending to break down the exclusiveness of the two services , civil and military . A draft act for the purpose of severing the East India Company from all connection with the idolatroustemple of Juggernaut has been published in the Calcut ta Government Gazette , much to the satisfaction of numbers in India , whose duties compelled them to take part in the administration of the funds set apart for this abominable resort of superstition .

      The latest mail from the East brings some curious news of the insurrection in China . The field of battle is the province of Quang-sai . " Commissioner Lin arrived sometime ago from Pekin . The Imperialists soon after advanced to attack the rebeh . The latter allowed them to come on until sufficiently near to suit their purpose . They then cooled the courage of the Imperialists by drawing up a number of sluices , and so inundating them unexpectedly , and causing them to retreat . This , how ever , was not allowed to take place quietly , or without interruption . Whilst making their escape from the sudden influx , of waters , they were thrown into complete confusion by the explosion of a quantity of powder , which had previously been deposited for that purpose wear their expected line of retreat . Instead of following up their advantage , the rebels have seized on an island near the place of the engagement , and are there lying in supine inaction . " An edict was said to have been issued by the

      Emperor against the use of opium . Jamaica is again afflicted with a revival of the cholera . The Kingston Journal reports , that it has " made its appearance in Westmoreland , has extended from . Maylersfield to Friendship , attacking every estate on the banku of the Cabaritta river . At Mesopotamia and Friendship there have been ten deaths , and one at Blackheath . The disease also exists at the Mint and King ' s-valley , Grange-hill , and Lincoln , and one case ia reported at the Bigbridge . One fatal case had occurred in the town of Savannah-la-Mar , brought from the infected district . This occured on Saturday last . No other ense is reported in the town , but a good deal of diarrlunja exists round the place where the person died . "

      Untitled Article

      ANOTHER PAPAL AGGRESSION . Talk of invasion ! The whole Propaganda in coming at last . Don ' t you tremble ? If you do , we do not , though a veritable "Anglo-Italian Mission" be projected . Seriously , a document , bearing the imprint" Home , 18 /> 1 — at the Printing Press of the Hoyal Apoatolic Chamber , " appears in the columns of the daily press . It ia headed , * ' New Church of St . Peter ' s in London . Appeal to the Piety and Charity of the Italians . Ostensibly " those frequent and

      remarkablo conversions to Catholicism , ' which have ho alarmed us all , are put forward" an " strong reasons " for hope that England , the . " prodigal ( laughter , " will return " within the bosom of its mother , the Itoinan Church . " It is asserted that there are more than 200 , 000 Catholics in London , and only chapel room for 30 , 000 ; that the Catholics are neglecting their religious dutieu in coiiHequence ; and that especial attention is necessary , " because some of their apostate countrymen , stimulated b y Protestant gold , iir © trying every means to seduce them , and have lately opened n . Protestant tomplo lor tlio Italians ,

      which , to deceive and insnare the simple , has been called , and bears on its facade , the lying title of Italian Catholic Church . ' " The antidote to the poison comes out ^ in the shape of a proposal , " approved by authority" to build " a spacious church in the centre of London , in a fine position , in one of the most majectic streets of the City , principally for the use of the Italians , and thence of other foreigners , as well as of the natives . " Won ' t the natives be grateful ? This church is to be dedicated to * ' the prince of the Apostles , St . Peter "; and is to be in every way a magnificent affair . Open to all freely , ministers are to preach ' the idioms of all languages " from its pulpit .

      As the completion of this magnificent project will cost filthy lucre , some £ 6000 or so , an appeal is made to Italians to subscribe the sum , the Pope being hopelessly in want of cash and credit . The Propaganda , Cardinal Wiseman , and the Cardinal-Vicar , have earnestly backed up the project ; and , " finally , his Holiness himself , by his rescript to the Holy Congregation for propagating the Faith ( dated March 9 , 1851 ) , has granted an indulgence of 100 days to whomsoever shall contribute any alms to this end . " Places are then named in this astounding beggingletter ( not without its parallel , by the bye , in England ) , where subscriptions will be thankfully received .

      But you have scarcely recovered your breath , after galloping through tfie above , when you alight full upon a " Notification " from Ferdinand Minucci , a man of many titles , amongst others Archbishop of Florence . This gentleman congratulates the Italian Catholics upon the " happy success" of Catholicism , in England , which success " creates in the faithful the sweet hope that the day is not far distant when the unity of belief will be reestablished in that island which before the fatal schism was termed the * Island

      of the Saints . ' " And he then states with a charming naivete that it is not " generally known" how " many obstacles , in the English dominions , and especially in London , " are likely to frustrate his generous plan . Then we find out what Ferdinand Minucci is driving at . " Certain Italian apostates , " he says , " not long since opened for their countrymen a Protestant church , by them falsely styled Catholic , some schools which they call of Young Italy , and some rooms in which they hold nightly readings and politico-religious conferences , where the poison of heresy is given out with the most studied malice to those who come thither in good faith , and in the hope of tracing there the salutary nourishment of the true doctrine . ' '

      We refer this to Father Gavazzi—he will doubtless be able to comprehend it . The archbishop clenches his notification by reciting the particulars described in the Papal document , declares that a church in London is necessary for the Italians residing there , and winds up with the customary formalities . Now we have time to look this terrible aggression in the face , we can say , though loyal foemen of the Papacy , that the Catholics in London have as much right as any other eect to church accommodation , and , if they require it , to " church extension . " The true Protestants and something more will only have to be more earnest in their mission . As a pendant to the above , the following from tho Tuscan correspondent of the Times is appropriate : —

      " On Sunday evening last , the 23 rd ulmno , the Pope filled up several bishoprics in England in accordance with his decree of the " 29 th of September last , establishing the ltoman hierarchy in Great Britain . The fortunate holders of the great prizes in the Papal lottery are — i . Dr- Grant , of the English College , Home—a worthy and most learned priest and " own correspondent " to Dr . Wiseman—who is now Bishop of Southwark ; 2 . Dr . Errington , who is advanced to the sec of Plymouth ; 3 . Mr . Turner , promoted to that of Salforu ; 4 . Mr . J . Browne , of Sedgewitb-park , who goes to Shrewsbury ; and , ft . Mr . Burgess , named to Clifton , vice Dt- Hendrick , promoted to Nottingham .

      Untitled Article

      CHURCH MATTERS . There are two bishops , one north and one west , whose conduct , no doubt conscientious on both sides , stands out in the news this week . First , the synoJholding Henry of Exeter , who has tho courage of ton bishops , has rejected another clergyman of unsound views on prevenient grace . A letter from Plymouth , dated July 1 , saya : — "A short time since the Reverend R . Malone , th » Incumbent of Christ Church , in this town , accepted * n appointment in London . TheltoverendJ . Hatohard thereupon nominated the . Reverend L . H . Gray , of London , perpetual

      curate , and on Saturday that gentleman presented himself to the Bishop of Exeter to be licensed , when he was subjected to a close examination on the bishop ' s baptismal regeneration dogma ; and not being found up to the mark of the nynodui declaration which the bishop h >" just issued , thut prelate refused hit * admission into tlui diocese . This occurred too late on Saturday to bo communicated in time to the churchwardens of Christ Church ; so that when the people came to church on Sunday morning , no clergy man being found who could do duty , the church remained closed , and the congregation wu « obliged to di « i > c « c elsewhere . " In opposition to this wo have an extraordinary iiiHtanco of liberal feeling to record , which we cannot too highly applaud : —

      Untitled Article

      6 S 6 ®\) t % ta * C \\ [ Saturda y

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 5, 1851, page 626, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1890/page/6/