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Leader (1850-1860), 13th September 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 865

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      Untitled Article

      —T ^ The usual pO 8 t Fort Hare , consisting of the m&a £ W $ g SiKs in Fort Beaufort , and who , having been Some days in town on business , were returning to Jhrir homes , wives , and families . They were both wtive young men , from twenty-three to twenty . five years Sale who had been married and settled within the last til or three years . The party reached Fort Brown in safety , but between Fort Brown and Leeuwe Fontein , while rising the hill from the Konap , and while totally unsuspicious of danger , they were fired » P ° . J * . , « f party of Hottentots , who were ambushed by the side of the road . Mr . Impey , Mr . Curley , and three of the escort , were shot dead on the spot , not having the op-01 meir

      Dortunity of even returning me are cowarcuy assailants . Other three of the escort were wounded , one of whom sec reted himself in the bush ; the man in charge of the bags , who was the only unhurt person in the party , and two of the wounded men , made their way to Leeuwe Fontein , where they reported what had taken place . 1 he enemy were stated to be at least 200 in number , ail Hottentots , with the exception of two Kafirs , and they extended along the line of road for a distance of 200 yards . Lieutenant Thackeray , and about twenty-five men , went to search for the bodies the same night . They found Mr . Impey and two of the escort on the road , perfectly stripped of their clothing , and took them back to Leeuwe Fontein . The nMr . Hav in eominff forward to Graham ' s Town they

      disaovered a little further down the road Mr . Curley and the other man , and they also found the wounded man who had secreted himself . These they brought on to Fort Brown . There they further ascertained that a similar catastrophe had befallen a patrol sent out to look after some stolen cattle . Six of the men , by some chance , had been separated from the rest , when they were suddenly attacked , four of them killed on the spot , one wounded and supposed to have been also killed , and the sixth man still missing . " General Somerset instantly sent out a patrol of 200 men , with orders to remain at the bush , until they had destroyed or dispersed the Kafir party . A correspondent of the Times , writing from the Cape on August 1 , respecting matters political , g ays : —

      " Much excitement and speculation were occasioned by the character and tenour of the despatches received from England , as notified in the supplements to the several Cape Town papers . Some people are so sanguine as to believe that the Governor will immediately act upon them , and that the C ouncil , as now constituted by authority , will be forthwith summoned to meet , and that the first meeting will be held in Graham ' s Town . Of course there is a diversity of op inion on the subject ; but we believe the general feeling in this place is in favour of such a measure being adopted . It is evident that something is requisite to be done , in order that the whole public business of the colony may not thus remain for an indefinite period in abeyance . The Zuid Afrikaan , however , does not so coolly speculate upon the aspect of public affairs : —

      " It is , indeed , awful to reflect upon the consequences which must result from an obstinate adherence to the present injudicious policy . The Colonists are quiet , they are peaceful , they are patient ; yea , we know it , that even without our advice no single act of violence will disgrace their proceedings ; but it is as well to bear in mind what was wrought by their passive resistance in a former struggle with the home authorities , when tyranny attempted to force and crush them . " And in the same journal , Jul y , we find the following estimate of the state of the eastern districts : —

      " Never yet have the lives and property of the inhabitants of the Eastern districts been overhung by such a cloud as at present , but never yet were they bo entirely abandoned to their fate . For a space of seven months has the war been carried on , and yet every day shows that , bo far from being either checked or dispirited , the enemy becomes more daring and successful , and is now effectually sweeping the country between Uitenhage and Graaf-Ileinet of all cattle , and laying every hotneBtead he passes in ashes . "

      It is clear that Sir Harry Smith simply holds his position , and that no way has been made towurda finishing the war . As to the native chiefs , Kreli is still pacific , but doubtful ; Sandili is said to be dejected ; Pato remains faithful ; and the rumour runs that Seyolo replied to a question from tho Fingoes , that since he had lost his country and his cattle he did not desire peace . Things could not be more alarming .

      Untitled Article

      AN OVATION TO DR . NEWMAN . Birmingham is assuredly bearing uwuy the bell for Catholic activity . Dr . Ullathorne and Dr . Newman are not disposed to allow the public mind to slumber . A small ovation took place on Friday week in honour of Father Newman , whoso Corn-exchange Lectures have commanded so much attention . Dr . TJlluthorno head < d hia faithful retainers , and tho Cutholic flock mustered in considerable numbers at the Corn-exchange , the scene of Dr . Newman ' s oratorio displays . There are three interesting points in this meeting , which throw some li ^ ht on the state of Catholic opinion and Catholic tactics . First , of course , is the vote of thanks , worded as follows : — " That the thanks of the Catholic clergy and laity of Birmingham are due , ami me hereby tendered , to tho V « ry Reverend . Dr . Newman , for hi » recent course of

      lectures on the present position of Catholicism in England ; and with the expression of their admiration of the lectures , they wished to join their sense of the honour conferred upon them in his having selected Birmingham as their place of delivery . " Dr . Weedall proposed this resolution , and , en passant , expressed his regret and astonishment that " in the late excitement men threw overboard and endeavoured to destroy , that Church which , although external to them , might act as a great breakwater to stay the raging billows of infidelity , immorality , Socialism , and unblushing licentiousness . ( Cheers . ) ' Mr . Hardman seconded the resolution , which was parried amid " enthusiastic applause . "

      Dr . Newman presented himself . It is in his speech we find the second interesting point . The state of dry decay in which the Church of England at present barely exists as a Church , is finely indicated : — " It was a curious thing for him to say , though he was now of mature age , and had been very busy in many ways , yet this was the first time in his life that he had ever received any praise . He had been in other places , and done works elsewhere , before being a Catholic , but there was no response , no sympathy ; it was not the fault of the people , for they could not respond . Some instruments could only make beautiful music , and some from their very nature could only make a noise . So it was with such a body as that to which he once belonged—they could only make a noise—no echo , no response , no beautiful music . But it was quite different when a person went into the Catholic Church . "

      Dr . TTUathorne , on rising to acknowledge the vote of thanks , carried on the motion of Mr . Wilberforce , was greeted with " Three cheers for the Bishop of Birmingham , " and he accepted the cheers in that capacity . " He was , alas ! a proscribed outlaw—a rejected person . ( Cries of ' Never . ' ) He was one dead , positively dead to the law—by the laws of this country . ( Cries of ' Shame ! ' ) Nevertheless he lived , and they recognized his existence . " He described the results of the agitation in Ireland and England , using expressions that deserve attentive consideration : —¦

      " In England the result had been that to the knowledge of every man had been brought a fact which otherwise might have been concealed—that there was in this country rising and being developed a power which could not be overcome—the power of that ancient Church of which they had heard and read so much , and of which they saw the great works all around them . That had been the natural result of the agitation . It had also aroused drowsy Catholics and those who felt no zeal for their faith—it had awakened in them a zeal and earnestness which they had not before—it had thrown Catholics more prominently together , and it had united the Catholics of England and Ireland , clergy and laity , in a more intimate manner than was ever before known . "

      But this was not the chief topic . There is an unpleasant amou nt of sarcasm , though perfectly just as regards his opponents , in his description of what he calls " the special ingratitude" of Protestantism in the Aggression agitation : — " For , " he said , " whatever vitality , as it was called , whatever signs of life , whatever disposition there was to do religious works in this country , whatever zeal was manifested for building churches , establishing schools , institutions for visiting the poor , or in any manner attending to the supply of what were called the religious wants of the people , was almost exclusively owing to the

      contact of Protestants with the Catholic Church . What would the Protestant Church have been at that moment but for the presence of the Catholic Church to keep in it something like life , energy , and animation ? ( Cheers . ) How could it go on protesting unless it had its enemy against which to protest ? How could there be such places as Exeter-hall , and so many religious societies , and so many motives for collecting money , if they had not Catholicity and Catholics of the land continually to contend against ? As , therefore , they were the salt of the Protestant life , as they were necessary to its existence , he thought it exceedingly ungrateful to treat them in the manner they did . "

      The Roman Catholic bishops , it would seem , do not want " territorial titles . " The announcement of the fact is curious and instructive : — " What the Church of Rome wanted was not territorial titles ; it was not to be called ' Lord , Lord , ' for which they contended . It was not that which they desired or eought after . ' Your Grace ' and * My Lord , ' were the titles which the Government readily gave to the Catholic binhops of Ireland and the Colonies , but they were not the titles they contended for in this country ; in this country a Catholic bishop was not a baron , nor

      did he hold in any sense of the constitution of England a territorial title , for a title territorial was one that emanated from the Sovereign , but Catholic titles which , more correctly speaking , were , designations , were titles derived from spiritual authority , they related to office , not to territory ; for instance , there was no Catholic Lord Bishop of Shrewsbury , but there was a Catholic Bitihop of the souls of Shrewsbury . Their bishops were hiuhons of certain dioceses , not speaking of the ground or houses over the mirface of the country , but bishops over the Catholic souls which were to bo found in the territory . " After the bishop ' s speech , the meeting terminated .

      Untitled Article

      INQUIRIES INTO T 1 IK " VON IJKCK " MYSTERY . We have a great number of letters on tho " Woronem von Beck" affair , urging " « to Henrcli H to uw bottom , in order that the party ot the 1 ooplo . whatsoever country , may know tho truth . We have not neglected that duty , « t tho « amo time that wo desire to givo all « " opportunity for a frank explanation . Many circumetanccs of great importance have

      Untitled Article

      Skw . 13 , 1851 . ] g »» »*«»»* 866

      Untitled Article

      CUBA AND THE UNTIED STATES . Cuban affairs still occupy public attention . Tho communications which reached us by the Africa on

      ^ Saturday and the Caltic on Tuesday add but little to the information already before the public , respecting the fate of Lopez . The intelligence groups itself naturally under two heads ; the insurrectionary war , and the agitation in the States consequent upon the Havannah massacre . With respect to the former the rumour that Lopez had beaten Enna is confirmed by a long note signed Xavier de Isturitz ( Spanish Minister in London ) , published in the Times . Isturitz admits the fact , but assumes that by this time the invading force is routed

      and Lopez made prisoner . He also justifies the massacre of the Americans , and warmly praises the Spanish troops . Reports coming from the Americans represent Lopez as making head successfully against General Enna , as being joined daily by volunteers from the people and by deserters jrom the troops . The assumption of Isturitz is , of course , conformable to the accounts from the Spanish side , which are to the effect that General Enna had captured nearly the whole of the invading force including Lopez . With these contradictory narrations before us we must suspend judgment .

      _ . . .. . „ But the facts are positive as to the influence of the massacre on the people of New Orleans and other Southern cities . The Empire City brought the remains of Colonel Clendenin and Captain Victor Ker , who were so inhumanly murdered by the Spanish Government at Havannah , to New Orleans , on the 21 st ultimo . A deep feeling of awe pervaded the whole community . Thousands of persons endeavoured to get a sight of the coffins containing the dead bodies . Minute guns were fired after sunrise in honour of the murdered liberators .

      Consequently business was nearly suspended for two or three days before the departure of the mail on August 23 . Hundreds of men were pouring in , ready to take part in the patriot cause . Two steamers with reinforcements left the port on the 21 st . Daily the excitement increased , rising at length to an ungovernable height . On the 21 st ultimo a large body of the Cuban Liberators , composed mostly of western men , having become exasperated by the tone of the Spanish paper Union , attacked the office , broke the windows and doors , and rushed into the office . They threw the press , nnc < -in ^ I- * tirnaa ar \ A fllfni tliTO ITltn t . Vl (* Kt . TPP . t . S- The of typesand furniture into the streets , ihe

      cases , mob totally destroyed everything belonging to the office . The crowd outside was so dense , and the excitement so great , that the police could not interfere to check the riot . After the office was demolished , the Liberators marshalled their legions , and proceeded to the cigar store ( kept by a Spaniard , who had made himself obnoxious to the patriots ) , at the corner of St . Chaples and Gravier-streets , broke the doors and windows , and destroyed all the stock and furniture , which were very valuable . By this time the crowd had swelled to an immense number , and the cry was raised , " Let ' s pay a visit to the Spanish Consul . " This was responded to by

      a tremendous shout . The crowd then moved on to the office of the Spanish Consul , and a scene of the wildest disorder ensued . The men appeared to have run mad with excitement . They fiercely attacked the house , threw the desks , papers , and furniture of all kinds into the streets . They tore down his sign , and marched in triumph with it to the meeting in Lafayette-square . " The attack on the office of the Spanish Consul , " says a writer from New Orleans , " was caused by a report ( which is undoubtedly true ) , that he had received by the Empire City , letters from some of the murdered Americans , and refused to give them up when demanded by their friends . "

      The next day the excitement had not subsided ; but the Liberators rioted all day , making un attack on the City Prison , in which the Spanish Consul had taken refuge . The cigar shops kept by Spaniards were nerly all destroyed during the night of the 22 nd . So profound was the impression produced all over the States by the intelligence from Cuba , that the President , accompanied by his Home Secretary , returned ubruptly to Washington from u pleasure tour in Virginia . Instantly the steam-ship Saranu was ordered to Havannah to institute inquiries into the massacre , " and the searching of the Falcon . The latest letters inform uh that the mail

      steamships plying between New York and llavunnah and Chagre . s are being armed . The Cherokee , which Hailed last from New York for Chagres , vid Havannah , went well armed , having on board ten line guns , hix of which were for the Falcon . Thin haw arisen out of the mistake committed by the Spanish whips ot war firing across the bows of the Falcon , which gave great offence to the Americans . It will be no longer safe for Spanish war-steamers to fire at American mail-steamers !

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 13, 1851, page 865, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1900/page/5/