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Leader (1850-1860), 31st January 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 101, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      jetthem abolish the red stamps the emblem of absolute gO h ? fo&ng extracts from a speech made by Louis ' s £ S £$ * % *« York , show the opinion entertained ^ Tri ?? Btate of the British press by a man who is dis . 3 rif Hungary than for the discrimination which he has showS in his estimate of all that is most valuable in those of our own country : *— . _ '¦¦ " While , eighty years ago , immortal Franklin s own nrcss was almoBt the only one in the colonies , now there g * L er 3000 newspapers in the United States , having " circulation of five pillions of « oPie ? . and amounting

      _ n their yearlv circulation to the prodigious number of " eMlv four hundred millions and a half ; every grown man in the Union reads on the average two newspapers sTweek and one hundred and five copies a year ; nearly Piffhfeen copies fall , in the proportion to the population , to every human being in the Union , man , "woman ^ and Ihild I am told that the journals of New York State alone ' exceed in number those of all the rest of the world tUvond vour great Union , and the circulation of the newspapers of this city alone nearly exceeds those of the whole empire of Great Britain . "

      And again :- — "It is chiefly , almost only , Great Britain in Europe which boasts to have a free press ; and to be sure during mv brief stay in England I joyfully saw ^ that really there is a freedom to print—almost an unlimited one , so far tbat I saw printed advertisements , signed by the publishers , stating that Queen Victoria is no lawful queen—that she ought to be sent to the Tower , and all those who rule ought to be hanged . Men laughed , and nobody cared about the foolish extravaeancy . And yet I dare say , and I hope the generous people of Great Britain will not feel offended at my stating the fact , that there is no practical freedom of the press . The freedom of the press , to be a practical one , roust be a common benefit to all—else it is no freedom , hut a Drivileee . It is Wanting two ingredients—freedom

      of printing and freedom of reading . Now , there is no freedom of reading there , because there is no possibility for the people at large to do so . Because the circulation of newspapers , the indispensable moral food of human intellect , is , by a heavy taxation , checked . The press is a sourceof public revenue , and , by the incumbrance of stamp and paper duties , made almost inaccessible to the poor . " In conclusion , we urge all reformers to renewed struggles in favour of the Palladium of British liberty , so often praised but never yet fully obtained . Let all who value the right of freedom of speech and of conscience , all who love that social order which is free from bloodguiltiness , all who wish to see England continue in the path of peaceful progression , adding every year to the legalized rights of the People , demand with a firm voice and with an untiring energy the entire abolition of the Taxes on Knowledge .

      Signed by order of the Committee , and on their behalf Richakb Moore , Chairman . C . Dobson Collet , Secretary . 20 , Great Coram-street , Brunswick-square , January 7 , 1852 .

      Untitled Article

      A MAN OF GENIUS . ( From the Norfolk News . ) We announced last week the death of Johnson Jex , the learned blacksmith of Letheringsett . He was the son of William Jex , a blacksmith , and was born at Billingford , in this county , in or about the year 1778 . In his boyhood he was sent to a day school ; but he has often been heard to say , that , although he was sent off to school for years , he never went three months in his life . He frequently walked to Foulshum instead , to look in at the shop window of Mr . Mayes , a watchmaker , who resided there . He did not learn to read or write at school , but taught Himself afterwards . His mechanical talent manifested itself at a very early age . With regard to Jex ' s

      first experiment , in clock-work , the following anecdote is related : —When about twelve or thirteen years of age , a watchmaker went . to his mother's house to clean her clock . Jex watched him while he took it in pieces , cleaned the works , and put them together again . No Booner had he left than the boy determined to try whether ho could not do the same . He at once went to work , and completed his task with all the skill and exactitude of an experienced hand . From that time he began to turn his attention to watch and clock making , and eventually attained groat excellence in the art . When about thirteen years old he became acquainted with Mr . Mayes , of whom mention has already been

      made . Mr . Maye ' s attention was first attracted towards Jex by frequently observing him look in at the window . He at length asked him what ho wanted . Jex replied ho " wished to see that thing "—pointing to a newly invented instrument for either clock-or watch making , Mr . Mayes showed it to him , but did not allow him to touch it . Jex declared ho could make pne like it , and he accordingly did so in about a month . Mr . Mayes waa delighted with the talent and ingenuity displayed by the boy , and from that time took great pleasure in showing him anything connected with his business . At his death he left Jex a legacy of £ 60 , as a proof of the high esteem he entertained for him .

      In early life Jex was by no means robust in health , and he afterwards declared his belief that working at the bout-hammer , at the blacksmith ' s anvil , had been the means of strengthening his constitution and saving his life . Some particulars of Jex'B early history are given in Young's Qeneral View of the Agriculture of the County of Norfolk . We subjoin the following extract , written about the year 1802 . " Under the head implements , I must not conclude without mentioning a person of most

      extraordinary mechanical talents . Mr * Jex , a young blacksmith at Billingford , at Sixteen years of age , having heard that there was such a machine as a waymeausurer , he reflected by what machinery the result could be produced , and set to work to contrive one ; the whole was his own invention . It was done , as might be expected , in a round-about way—a motion too accelerated , corrected by additional wheelsbut throughout the complicity such accurate calculations were the basis of his work , that when finished and tried it was perfectly correct without alteration . His inventive talents are unquestionable . He has made a machine for cutting watch pinions , a denthenincr tool , a machine for cutting and finishing

      watch-wheel teeth , of his own invention , a clock t > arrel and fusee engine , made without ever seeing anything of the kind . He made a clock , the teeth of the wheels cut with a hack saw , and the balance with a half-round file . He has made an electric machine , and a powerful horseshoe magnet . Upon being shown , by Mr . Munnings , a common barrel-drill , the delivery by a notched cylinder , he invented and wrought an absolutely new delivery ; a brass cylinder , with holes , having moveable plugs governed by springs which clear the holes or cups , throwing but the seeds of any size with great accuracy ; and not liking the application of the springs on the outside of the cylinder , reversed the whole ; and in a second , now making , placed them most ingeniously within it . "

      Shortly after Young's notice of him was written , Jex returned to Letheringsett , near Holt , where he worked as a common blacksmith till within the last thirty years . Since that time he has employed workmen in the practical part of his business , but he continued till his decease to live in the house adjoining the blacksmith ' s shop . The first watch ever constructed by Jex was made after he had settled at Letheringsett , for his friend , the Reverend T . Munnings , of Gorget , near Dereham . Every part of this watch , including the silver face , and every tool employed in its construction , were of Jex ' s own making . One of the greatest efforts of Jex ' s inventive powers was the construction of a gold chronometer , with what is technically termed a " detached escapement" and which made before he

      compensating balance , was long ever saw or heard of the " detached escapement "the principle of which has since been so successfully applied by Arnold and Ernshaw . Jex turned the jewels himself , made the cases , the chain , the mainspring , and , indeed , every part of the watch , except the dial . The very instruments with which he executed this wonderful piece Of mechanismT were of his own workmanship . It is only by watchmakers themselves that this triumph of skill can be adequately appreciated . They know that no single man is ever employed to make a complete chronometer , but that different parts of the mechanism are entrusted to different hands , and that many are employed upon a single watch . This watch is now in the possession of Mr . Blakeley , of Norwich .

      Such was Jex ' s thirst for information , and such waa his resolution to clear away every obstacle which impeded his progress , that , wishing to read some French works on Horology , he mastered , unassisted , the French langUage , when about sixty years of age ! He then read the books in question , but found that they contained nothing which was new to him , he having become thoroughly acquainted with the subject by previous study of English authors . Another of Jex ' s inventions was a lathe of extraordinary power and ingenuity , which remained in his possession until his death . By means of this lathe he was enabled to cut the teeth of wheels mathematically correct into any number , even or odd , up to 2000 , by means of a dividing plate . He also constructed a lathe on a minute scale for turning diamonds , which is very complicated in its structure . He invented an airtight furnace-door for would

      his greenhouse , so constructed that the nre keep lighted from Saturday night till Monday morning , thus obviating the necessity of attending to it on Sunday . About ten years ago he invented a method of opening greenhouse windows to any required width , and so fastened that the wind had no power over them . Jex was also an iron and brass founder , a glassblower , a maker of mathematical instruments , barometers , thermometers , gun-barrels , air-guns , &c . He understood electricity , galvanism , eleotro-magnetism , &c , and had a thorough knowledge of chemistry , as far as the metals are concerned . Amongst other sciences , Jex understood astronomy , and could calculate the time by the fixed stars . In taking astronomical observations he was accustomed to make use of hia own door-posts and a chimney opposite . He made telescopes and metallio reflectors , which are universally acknowledged to be extremely difficult of construction .

      He was naturally a timid man , and excessively afraid of contagion ; yet he lived in a state of filth , which was almost sufficient of itself to generate disease . He never allowed a woman to enter his house for the sake of cleaning it , and his rooms consequently contained the accumulated dust of years . His disposition was shy and retiring ; but whenever he met with any one whoso tastes were similar , to his own , he would converse for hours with the greatest delight on any subject connected with the arts and scienocs . He was a man of the strictest integrity , and of unimpeachable veraand

      city . He was entirely de , 8 titujte of the love of money , sought out truth for ita own sake , and with no view to any personal gain . Such an example is rare indeed in this grasping and selfish age . He was kind in his manner to the poor , and rarely sent a mendicant away without relief , In 1846 Jex had a Btroke of paralysis , from the effeots of which ho never entirely recovered . His intellect gradually loat much of its original power , and , the last year or two especially , a very marked alteration waa perceptible . He was again attacked with paralysis In November last , and his death took place on the oth of this month . His remains are interred in Letheringsett ohurohyard .

      •' TIMOTHY LYNCH , YOTPVE A BAD BARGAIN OV A WIFE . " An elderly Irish couple , whose faces were quite familiar to the bench , presented themselves before Mr . Bingham at Marlborough-street , on Monday , to have their matrimonial differences settled according to law for the sixth time . On the present occasion , Timothy Lynch , the husband , was the complainant . , Here I am again , Wid one four pair of bones , yer honner ( said Timothy , with a nod of recognition to the magistrate ) , the same honest , hardworking man that two year ago yer honner looked at an said , " Timothy Lynch , you ' ve a bad bargain or a wife . " Mr . Bingham : Well , what have you to say against her now ?

      Timothy Lynch : That she dhnnks wurst than iver . She ' s got her lips all day long at the jug or bottle , except when she ' s scoulding and blaggarding me . " It ' s only yesterday she swore a big oath she'd cut out me backbone and pawn me last pair of breeches if I didn ' t fork out some more dhrink money . Mrs . Lynch : That to me , Timothy ? An you coming an axing me only just now in court to be frinds again , and come home an be comfortable , for I was the best wife in all England ? ( Laughter . ) Mr . Bingham : Tell me why you threatened him as he says ?

      Mrs . Lynch ; Here s all about the row , yer wertship . Last Sunday I got him a beautiful hot dinner , pig cheek and baked taturs , all out of me own honest airnings . •' Come away , Tim , " ses I , " and ate your dinner . " " Divil a bit of dinner I'll ate wid ye for fifty-two Sundays , " says he . " If you say that , " ses I , " you ought to want a dinner every day ov yer life . " " Hear to me , yer wertship , " said Timothy , jumping hastily into the witness-box , and pulling out a greasy bundle of papers , " hear me rade the history ov me thrubbleV and her karakter , " reading from the MS ., of which the following is a verbatim copy : —

      " Usal epitats to me , Timothy Lynch : ' You infarnle Ipocrat . ' ' You cussed ould retch . ' ' You grey-wiskerd lire . ' 'You crule willing . ' And then , when the drink's dying out , ' But Tim , dear , I know I have been too bad to you ; so let me have some money . " Conversation wid Mrs . L— . " Mr . Bingham : From what novel are you reading thdse extracts ? ¦ ¦ _ Timothy Lynch : Novel ! Why it's the discoorse of Molly Lynch and myself in black and white . " Wednesday ' s Conversation . —Well , really , drunk again . This is ~ the fifth time this wake , though you know if you only kept sober three days how happy and

      comfortable we might live . To blazes wid the likes on ye , says Molly . _ I say , Molly , Father Hearne tells me to give you every chance to be a good woman , and to bring you to chapel . Father Hearne may go hang himself , says Molly , an' as for you , Tim , I'll make your bones rattle for that . Molly , sis I , what the Church don ' t do the State will do for me . Our grashious Lady her Majesty the Queen , and her honerable magistrates ( looking hard at the bench ) , who er worthy of her confidanse , will not let me suffer from your vile conduck . The magistrates be . Hush , Molly , says I , don't spake a word agin them good gentlemen , who'll see me me righted when I get you afore ' em . " Mr . Bingham : Well , I think that's enough .

      Timothy Lynch : I'll just rade her doings the next day . " Put away me bed and locked me wife out—went for me supper beer , and when I came back found the door smashed , and the plates and crockery smashed , and me breeches gone . " Mr . Bingham : Well , Mrs . Lynch , what have you to say to all this ? Mrs . Lynch : Say ? Why , that there's not above a quarter of it true . Mr . Bingham : Well , and for that quarter I think the best course to take is to call upon you to find surety to keep the peace towards your husband .

      Untitled Article

      MARRIAGES , BIRTHS , AND DEATHS . ( From the Quarterly Eeturn of the Registrar-General . ) This return comprises the births and deaths registered by 2190 registrars in all the districts of England during the autumn quarter , ending December 31 , 1861 ; and the marriages in more than 12 , 000 churches or chapels , about 3228 registered places of worship unconnected with the Established Church , and 623 Buperintendent registrars' offices , in the quarter that ended September 30 ,

      1861 . The return of marriages is not complete , but the defects are inconsiderable , and approximate numbers have been supplied from the records of previous years . The marriages and the births exceed the average numbers ; and the deaths are also slightly above the average of the corresponding quarters . For the whole of the year 1851 the births have greatly excecedod the number in any previous year , and the mortality has been lower than it was in any of the ten years 1841-50 , except 1843 , 1845 , and 1850 . The births , deaths , and marriages show a balance of births over deaths , and an increase of families , which are only observed in a state of prosperity . The tendency at the end of the year to decline towards the average state of things will no doubt attract attention to the great interests and to the public health of the country .

      MAiutlAaES . —t 74 , 310 persons were married in the three months ending September 30 . Tho rapid increase of the marriages in England from 29 , 221 in the September quarter of 1840 to 37 , 155 in 1851 is partly due to the increase of tho population , and partly to the increased disposition to murriage . In tho Septomber quarter of 1841 and 1851 out of 100 , 000 peruons 305 and 409 married ; consequently out of tho sumo number of persons , 8 married in 1841 , and 9 in 1851 . The number of marriages is loss than it was in the previous June quarter , which is usually the case , and slightly lees also than it was in the corresponding quarter

      Untitled Article

      ¦ fctf , 31 , 1852 . ] gEftg JUaftgH 101

      Untitled Article

      • Daily Newt , Dooember 80 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 31, 1852, page 101, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1920/page/9/