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Leader (1850-1860), 13th March 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 243, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      BETTER BEGUIiATIOilSr OF PUBLIC-HOUSES . Xj ? association is in existence at Manchester , the object of which is to remove some of the evils proceeding from the absence of any effectual control Over beerhouses and places of amusement connected therewith . 'Jhe Bishop ^ f the diocese is the president , and Mr . Charles « T Herford the honorary secretary . Their last report is grounded on the evidence given before the Lords' committee on beerhouses , on the information placed at their disposal by the Rev . John Clay , and on the results of inquiries instituted by the association . The monster evil which is considered in the report , and

      which the association desires to remedy , is the demoralization induced by the expedients adopted by keepers of beerhouses , ( which are independent of the licensing power of the magistrates , ) to attract custom : these are of the most varied description , " ranging from music to dancing , card-playing , and gambling of all sorts , to rat-hunting , dog-fighting , and cock-fighting , and the keeping of prostitutes . " Through these attractions large numbers of young persons , even below the age of fifteen , are induced to frequent these houses , are brought into association with vicious characters , and

      form habits of drinking and gambling . The association seeks to remove these evils by purifying and elevating , not destroying , public amusements , by the exertion of moral influence upon their conductors , and , by application to the legislature , to place beerhouses and musicsaloons , by the licensing system , under the control and supervision of the local authorities . The committee of the association includes persons of all parties and of all persuasions : among them are the Bishop and the Dean of Manchester , the Rev . Dr . Vaughan , Mr . Thomas Bayley , Mr . William Entwislej , the Rev . T , G . Lee , and the Rev . William McKerrow .

      Untitled Article

      SOCIETY OF THE " FRIENDS OF ITALY . *' The Society of the " Friends of Italy" convened a meeting of the inhabitants of Lambeth at the British School-room , George-street , on Monday evening , " to consider the threatening aspect of foreign powers , and the position and duty of England in the present state of the continent / ' Mr . F . Doulton presided , and observed that hitherto foreign politics had excited little interest in England , but , owing in a great measure to the teaching of Kossuth , Mazzini , and other illustrious

      exiles , we were beginning to find that even in a mere selfish point of view , it was essential that on these subjects there should bo an enlightened public opinion . Not only was it our duty to watch the movements of European despotism , but our security demanded it . Lonis Napoleon was looking towards Belgium , and if he succeeded there , he must find something more for the army to do , for he only ruled by the pleasure of the army .

      Mr . D . Masson moved—" That this meeting views with deep concern the triumph of despotic and lawless power abroad as confirmed by the suppression of French liberty by Louis Napoleon . That these advances of despotism abroad are fraught with danger to the liberties and tho interests of Great Britain ; that , therefore , on grounds as well of self-defence , as of just regard for other peoples , it is incumbent on this country to have and to maintain a decided course of foreign policy ; and that no set of men are fit to conduct the government of this country at tho present time who have not , among other things , a bold and liberal apprehension

      of England ' s place and duty in Europe . " He observed that there prevailed over tho continent a system of despotic and oven of lawless rule , or misrule . Some thought despotic rule , where it was mild and according to law , better than a wrangling parliament ; but those persons should remember thnt unless speech and the press woro free , there would bo no real national progress in accordance with tho ideas of tho pcoplo . ( Cheers . ) If a despot , of tho best intentions and the largest brain in tho world , arrested free speech , ho destroyed tho nation ' s progress . This kind of governinont now prevailed all over tho continent . In Russia tnoy had not yot ovon learned to ask for frco speech . l ho Germans , thnt grent nation , who gavo us tho

      printing press ( cheers ) , woro groaning under dospotjNin . Austria was a moro diplomatic fiction . Destroy tlio government , and thoro would bo nothing left of AtiBtnn . Recently this Austrian tyranny had tram-Pica out the liberties of Hungary , a groat nation , and a wW ( h y brother to England in tho European family , queers . ) Iu Italy , whoso people woro tho most intolxoctuia rllCp of Europe , immense foreign armies held in Jimildoin tho whole nation . ( Hear , hoar . ) It had > eon said that a nation deserved not to bb frco unloBs Uioy dcsirocl it . What Btrongor proof of thoir desire ! , "torfcy could huvo been uilbrded than was given by fj ° "" Hihitimts of Romo when they barricaded their uiy , iimd dofendod it for a month against tho treachor-» h i < ranch—tho picked soldiers of Europe ? ( Cheers . ) - l > roc ° su of time the deepotiom of tho continent would

      swallow up those little states where freedom yet existed ; and then England would stand alone . Already the despotism of the continent had come home to this country ; witness the insolence of diplomatic intercourse on the part of some powers—an insolence which would never have been stood by Pitt even , though lie was on the wrong side . ( Hear , hear . ) ' And what would our new ministry da ? ( Laughter . ) Lord Derby , in his speech on the 27 th ult ; , was evidently truckling to the despotic powers ; he . ¦ talked of the duty of informing foreign governments of any plots that might be

      discovered ? ( Hear , hear . ) How were , plots to be discovered ? By letter-opening , or by dogging refugees with the police ? Was that an English proceeding ? ( Hear , hear . ) The great means for checking despotism was a large and liberal measure of parliamentary reform . ( Cheers . ) Whatever . government would deal rightly with respect to the continent ought to put this country in a state of self-defence , by the organization of a citizen force , independently of the standing army . Mr . James Stanfield seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously .

      Mr . Shaen moved , and Mr . T . Webber seconded the resolution , ¦ " That the Society of the Friends of Italy , already existing , affords an excellent means for testifying these sentiments legally and constitutionally , and especially for expressing sympathy with the oppressed people of Italy , and that the present meeting is prepared to support this society in its operations and aims . " A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings .

      Untitled Article

      REPRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT OF PAUPERS . On Tuesday evening a large and influential public meeting was held in the St . Matthew ' s School , Liverpool Road , Manchester , to consider the propriety of petitioning parliament in favour of such a change in the law as will enable , or if necessary , compel the guardians to substitute throughout the different Unions reproductive for non-produdjve employnaent of the destitute . The Rev . S . R . Bentley , M . A ., the laborious and popular incumbent of ~ St . Matthew ' s , was in the chair , and Tie was supported by a strong muster of clergymen , aldermen , town-councillors , churchwardens , &c .

      The Chairman made some appropriate observations on the moral features of the question , and introduced , with some complimentary observations , Mr . Archibald G . Stark , Secretary to the Poor Law Association , who spoke at great length in favour of the objects of that body . By reference to parliamentary returns , it appeared that , although the Poor Law Amendment Act had been passed to reduce pauperism , and relieve property from the burden of supporting it , nevertheless , during sixteen years that followed its enactment in 1834 , the sum of 80 , 000 , 000 ? . had been levied for the support of pauperism in England and Wales alono . This made the average annual expenditure five millions , and to this would have to be added two millions more in Ireland and Scotland . This was

      not tho only loss to tho country , as to the seven millions sterling should bo added at least three-and-a-half millions more for the loss of tho wealth which might be created by the able-bodied in-door and out-door poor , who are now kept in idleness , doing nothing in return for the relief afforded to them . Mr . Stark strongly commented upon the fact of cm enlightened country losing annually ten-and-a-half millions of money , one-fifth of its entire revenue , in this irrational manner . He referred to tho practicability of the reproductive system , as illustrated by tho cases of tho Cork , Waterford , Thurles , and other unions , where the rates had been reduced , nnd thousands of persons instructed to support themselves outside of tho workhouses ; and to tho prisons of Spain and America , where tho criminals , by thoir labour , paid for their subsistence . He rebutted various objections

      thnt had been advanced by selfishness or ignorance , or , what was as bad , self-sufficient learning and so-termed political economy , and mot tho well-known " bugbear " that tho reproductive employment of tho paupers would interfere with independent industry out of doors , by thofollowingrenaoning : — "Tho pauper , before- " ho entered tho workhouse , unless ho chanced to have been a man of fortune , munt have lived by one of three means , viz . ; by industry ( in which case , if there woro any truth in tho objection , ho must havo interfered with tho industry

      of liis follows ) , by begging , or by robbery , which involved « still moro ruinous interference with tho resources nnd industry of tho community . Quoro—Does tho " pnupor inoro inj uriously interfere with the industry of tho community by labouring to reduce tho rates , and so save a cortnin sum to bo upon ! in tho homo market ; , than if he assisted in diminishing tho outside demand for labour , or by aluiH-seoking , or by fraud or fbrco licliw himself to tho goods of Ins neighbour P "

      The Rev . Mr . Huntington , in moving the first resolution , made an excellent speech , in which he exposed the evils that had come under his own observation as a Christian minister , and daily visitor of the habitations of the lower classes , of the external money relief system , under which wives and . children wore reduced often , to starvation , while the earnings of the rate-payers ' , were being spent in the beer-houses by profligate fathers . The other speakers were Alderman Pilling , Councillors Bowker , Ashmore , Brougham , &c . All the resolutions and petitions founded on them were carried unanimously , after unlimited discussion of them had been granted and exercised .

      Untitled Article

      EQUALIZATION OF THE POOR-RATE . A deputation from the various parishes in the City of London , which are suffering from the existing laws of settlement and rating for the relief of the poor , was received by Mr . Secretary Walpole on Thursday . The deputation consisted of Alderman Sir James Duke , M . P ., Alderman Sidney , M . P ., the High Bailiff of Southwark , Mr . R . B . Whiteside , Mr . Pilcher , Mr . Eyke , Mr . Phillips , Mr . Warwick , and 16 guardians and other officers connected with parishes in the City of London . They were introduced by Sir James Duke and Mr . Alderman Sidney addressed Mr . Walpole at some length on the subject . Mr . Walpole said , that upon so large a question they could not expect him at once to give an opinion . Ifc was one , however , that ought to be considered at the earliest opportunity , but with what result must of course be lef fc to the deliberation and consideration of the government . He certainly would give the very fullest consideration to the subject as soon as he could undertake it .

      Untitled Article

      NATIONAL DEFENCES . The practice with the Minie rifle by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Guards and the Line at Woolwich , under the command of Major Brownrigg , of the Grenadier Guards , has been very satisfactory . On Saturday last , they made good shooting at five hundred yards , and put in one ball out of five at a range of eight hundred yards ; but it must be remarked that all this firing was from a fixed rifle-stand or nest . On Monday they practised " file-firing" without a rest ,

      at two hundred yards , at a target six feet square , and a hundred and sixteen balls out of a hundred and eighty fired liit tho target . A deputation from the Hanover Park Rifle corps witnessed the firing , and intend adopting the same weapon for their own use . This corps , established under government authority , in connexion with the Scottish Society , and the Surrey County Volunteer Regiment , is continuing to enrol recruits . Their club-house and practice-ground are at Hanover Park , Peckham .

      A riflo club is in the course of formation in the University of Oxford , which has received the approbation of the Vice-Chancellor . A largo number of members are enrolled , and the club promises to be both popular and effective . The Metropolitan Rifle Club ( 455 , Strand , opposite Northumberland House ) is in communication with several gun-makers , who are making experiments to decide upon the best weapon . The members of tho club who nro unprovided with rifles aro waiting for tho results of these experiments .

      Tho late Secretary of State for the Home Department issued instructions to all the lord-lieutenants to call out tho Yeomanry Cavalry corps for inspection by a field officer of tho Queen ' s forces , in the course of tho summer . Orders havo consequently been given by the Lord-Lioutenant of Kent to tho commanding officers of tho East and West Kent regiments , who have ordered all tho respective troops to bo recruited up to thoir full complement , and to commonco thoir drills , with sword exorcise and ball practice , at targets , dismounted .

      Untitled Article

      STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH INDIA AND AUSTRALIA . Tim Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company received , on Saturday last , ofiiuial intimation of tho acceptanco on tho part of tho Lords of tho Admiralty of their proposals for establishing additional and greatly accelerated atoum communication between this country , tho Mediterranean ,-Egypt , India , and China , oinbrauing , like ^ wise , n continuation of the mail service from . Singapore to various pprt » iiv Australia . ' . Tho service in arranged in livo distinct linos , a , « follows :-I'irwt Lino . — From England to Alexandria nnd back , monthly , calling at Gibraltar and Malta—branch from Marseilles to Malta . ( Second Lino . —From England to Alexandria and back , monthly , calling at Gibraltar and Malta—branch from Marseilles to Malta . Third Lino . —From Such to Calcutta nnd Hongkong and back , monthly , calling at Adou and Poinl-do-GaUo , whonco a steamer is to proceed by Madras to Calcutta , and another by Ponang to Singapore and , Hongkong .

      Untitled Article

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 13, 1852, page 243, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1926/page/7/