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Leader (1850-1860), 8th May 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 434, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      so . Books wete advertized at a certain price . When a copy was ordered , the retailer could get no discount . How , then , was he to live ? Mr . Sotheron , another retailer , took a similar view . Amendments were moved , ' and withdrawn ; and the original resolution carried . Opposition having proved ineffectual , the , second resolution was moved by Mr . Charles Knight , seconded by Mr . Tom Taylor , and supported by Mr . IJush . Association

      " That the principles of the Booksellers' are not only opposed to those of Free-trade , but are extremely tyrannical and vexatious in their application , and result in keeping the prices of books much higher than they otherwise would be , thus restricting their sale , to the injury df authors , the public , and all connected with , literature . " The third resolution was moved by Professor Newman , and seconded by Professor Ansted . " That this meeting considers the peculiarity of the book-trade , viz ., that the publisher fixes and advertizes the retail pr ice of his publications , no valid argument for the maintenance of the present restrictive system , and that the less the office of promoting the retail sale is centralised in the publisher , and the more it devolves on the local booksellers , * . the better for the commerce of literature . "

      Professor Owen moved , and Dr . Lankester seconded , the fourth resolution . " That the trade restrictions , falling as they do with peculiar severity upon books of a comparatively limited circulation , greatly retard the spread of the higher branches of science and philosophy , by rendering 1 it unprofitable , and indeed dangerous , to publish "works devoted to them . " Mr . F . O . Ward and Mr . John Chapman moved and seconded the fifth resolution ,-which was supported by Mr . George Oruikshanlc , and ineffectually opposed by Mr . Saunders .

      Mr . Ward moved , " That experience having repeatedlyshown , that trades with artificially hi g h profits and a small market , gain by being forced into the natural system of low profits and a large market , this meeting is of opinion , that the abolition of the present restrictions , so far from injuring the bookselling business , -will greatly benefit it . " These resolutions were all carried , and after some discussion it was resolved that they should be fairly copied and transmitted ; to Lord Campbell , together with a letter from Mr . Charles Dickens , stating the reasons why they declined appointing a deputation to wait upon him , as they could not consent to defer to his arbitration or abandon the position they had assumed .

      ¦ Letters appeared in the Morning JSerald of the same day , which had passed between Mr . Seeley and Mr . John Chapman . Mr . Seeley wished to be allowed to attend the meeting , and Mr . Chapman declined to invite him . Mr . Seeley then charged Mr . Chapman with declining to attend the meeting at Stratheden House , and refiising to admit him as spokesman of the booksellers a £ the meeting above described . The explanation of this seeming impropriety of conduct is very simple .

      Mr . Chapman was informed of the meeting at Lord Campbell ' s too late to afford him time to consult with his colleagues , and he refused to act without them . As to refusing to invite Mr . Seeley , Mr . Chapman stated that the meeting of Wednesday at his house was called for a special purpose ; and that if Mr . Seeley were invited , other prominent members of the Booksellers ' Association ought to be invited nlso , and he should not have room for them .

      Untitled Article

      BRITISH ANTI-STATE CHUECH ASSOCIATION . The report of this body , read at the annual meeting , on Wednesday , states that they had , during the year , sent deputations to nearly one hundred towns , from Aberdeen in the north to the other extremity of the kingdom . The public meetings had been large and animated , and though discussion had sometimes taken place , in no case had they failed to adopt the society's principle . A monthly meeting had also been hold during the winter , in London , at which addresses on given topics had been delivered in the hearing of a considerable number who had not ^ attendod previous meetings . The committee had issued several new popular

      tracts , and had commenced a series intended to give a complete exposition of the state-church system . The literary schoino for inculcating the society ' s principles by means of general literature bad been suceetiHfully launched j several thousand volumes of the " Library for the Thnos" having been circulated . The ngitation for the repeal of the Maynooth Endowment Act hnd led the committee to give their support to the movement against all stato-patronage of roligion . The agitation , it was predicted , would greatly accolornto the solution of a wider question , as it would bo incroiwingly felt that grants to Roman Catholics in Irelandcoukl not justly bo withdrawn , and at the same time the Irish church and tho presbytorian regium donum maintained .

      The most important resolution agreed to was itdopfced on the motion of Mr . Edward Miall , editor of the Nonconformist . It recominondort " that , in tho prospect of a general , election , tbo meeting earnestly

      oxhorted the opponents of state connexion with religion to avail themselves of the facilities it afforded for the furtherance of their views by supporting anti-state church candidates . "

      Untitled Article

      ELECTION MATTERS . Sie Fitzkot Keely wooed the brawny , electors of East Suffolk on Saturday , at Ipswich . He was severely taxed by several electors , notably by Mr . Haward , a tenant farmer , Who seemed particularly well acquainted with all the ins and outs , the . windings and vagaries of the coquet of so maliy constituencies . Sir Fitzroy met with great opposition' , but brass stood him in the stead of a clean conscience , and he parried the home-thrusts of the usual impromptu commentators

      in the crowd with more or \ less . success . One thing however , was but too manifest . He had been a Freetrader , and voted for Free-trade j he now professed the creed of Protection , and his readiness to vote for it . There was a strong party who , if they were not Freetraders , were decidedly against Lord Derby . Mr . John Hbughton was proposed by the section who , vehemently rejecting Kelly , rejected alike Derby and Russell . As Mr . Houghton declined to go to the poll , the Solicitor-General was declared duly elected .

      Mr . Layard , [ of Nineveh ] late Under-Secretary for Foreign Affaii-Sj has been addressing the electors of Aylesbury . Mr . Lindsay , the well-known ship-owner , is put up for Dartmouth . He met the electors last week , and , in replying to an attack upon him by a Tory elector , gave the following interesting account of his fortunes : " He should be the last to mention a word about himself had he not been taunted with falsehood . He was told he was a mere commonplace shipbroker . God knew he was commonplace enough once . He was the architect of his own fame , and he hoped , no one would despise him on that account . ( Cheers . ) He was but a young man now , and

      at the age of fourteen he was left an orphan boy to push his way in the world . He left Glasgow to find Ms way to Liverpool with 4 s . 6 d . only in his pocket , and so poor was he that the captain of a steamer had pity on him , and told him that he would give him his passage if he would trim the coals in the coalhole of the steamer . He did so , and thus worked his passage . He remembered that the fireman gave him a part ot his homely dinner , and never had lie ate a dinner with such relish , for he felt that he had wrought for it and earned it ; and he wished the young to listen to this statement—he had derived a lesson from that voyage which he had never forgot . ( Cheers . ) At Liverpool he remained for seven weeks before he could get

      employment ; he abode in sheds , and 4 * . brf . maintained him , until at last he found shelter in a West Indiaman ; he entered as x a boy , and before he was nineteen he had r isen to the command of an Indiatnan . At 23 , he retired from the sea , his friends , who when he wanted assistance had given him none , having left him that which they could no longer keep . Ho settled on shore ; his career had been rapid ; he had acquired prosperity by close industry , by constant work , and by keeping ever in view that great principle o * doing to others as you would bo done dv . ( Cheers . ) And now , instead of being a commonplace shipbrpker , he would toll them that at 35—for he was no older—what was the amount of business which tho firm which ho had established , and was at tho head of and tho acting partner in , transacted . During tho last year alone then * charters executed amounted to upwards of 700 ,

      and this year it bade fair to bo larger . The amount of their insurances was 3 , 000 , 000 Z . sterling ; they had shipped , as contractors , upwards of 100 , 000 tons of coal , and upwards of 150 , 000 tons of iron . They had imported in tho famine year , as brokers , 1 , 600 , 000 quarters of corn . ( Hoar , hear . ) Thon , as to the next charge , that ho was no shipowner , and did not , own a ton of shipping . In consequence of this statement ho had been induced to copy out a list of tho ships in which ho owned a proportionate rate , and was managing owner of all , a largo and high class of British built ships . Ho thon read a list of 18 vessels , besides steamers and others , ranging from 860 to 310 tons burden , tho total tonnage being 21 , 002—tho largest portion of which ho owned himself , and was manager for the whole . " ( Loud choors . )

      Lord Godorich lias addressed tho electors of Hull . He declares against tho reimposition of a duty on corn , but advocates " the readjustment of those taxes which press so heavily upon the shipping interests of tho country . " Ho also advocates tho extension of tho suffrage , tho shortening of the duration of Parliaments , and " a careful reconsideration of tho presont Attribution of members /' Ah tho General Election approaches , tho activity of tho Irish Catholics increases . A documont was isnucd at the end of last week , to tho Catholic electors of Ireland , by tho Defence Association , signed by tho now notorious numo of Wilborforco . It has been called forth by tho effort made to pledge Members of Parliament against tho Maynooth grant , which it calls " an . instalment of justice to Ireland . "

      John of Tuam has declared m favour of Saxon candidates , like Mr . Sheriff Swift , for Irish constituencies . Tliifi is an important accossion . What now becomes of tho cry of nationality raised by Young Ireland , nnd formerly supported by St . Jarlath ? Considerable activity is visible in tho Tower Hamlets , which leads to tho conclusion tlnit tho contest there

      will be a sharp one . Mr . Ayrton , Mr . Georgei ThoihDson , and ! M ^ r . William Newton , have met the elector . " during the week , to explain their views . Mr . A yrton is a sound radical , and at a meetings on Wednesdav held at Bethnal-greeni it was resolved that he and Mv Thompson were entitled to the support of the electors * A similar meeting was held at Hackney , on itttondaV when , although considerable opposition was manifested to Mr . George Thompson , a resolution , approving of both candidates , was agreed to .

      Mr . Leeman , who was considered safe , ' and Mr Milner , have withdrawn their pretensions at Yori ! This leaves Henry Vincent in a more favourable position . Mr . Isaac Butt , Q . C ., who rivals Mr . Freshfield in his adventures , woouigs , and rebuffs with constit uencies , at home and abroad , has offered himself for Harwich . What a splendid instance of high ambition r

      Untitled Article

      PROFESSOR NEWMAN'S LECTURE ON ENGLAND'S PLACE AND DUTY IN EUROPE . * ( Concluded . ) 1 . "We oughtu-OT to vacillate . " Inconsistent effort destroys itself . Whig , Tory , and Radical , will agree , that England becornea contemptible if she does not know her own mind—if she holds different language in successive years—if she undoes . torday what she did yesterday . There dan be no party among us who seriously approve of keeping tip fleets and embassies for patronage to the Ministry , and for notning : else . But vacillationis far worse than nothing : it involves treachery and baseness . States and peoples ( like the * noble and unfortunate Sicilians ) - trust our strongly expressed sympathies , act on the expectation ; of our support , arid find themselves -cruelly abandoned . What allies , then , in future shall we get ? What influence can we have if we" change from year to year ? All know in what direction Russia and Austria will act : these ' powers are at least consistent , and hence their success . But

      asfor England , one needs to be a very deep statesman to know what she is aiming at . [ I can remember thatvMr , Cannings as . PrimeMinister , jsent a fleet into the Levant , which fought th& battle of Navarino ; and that the Duke of Wellingtori , as Prime Minister , apologized for the battle as a mistake . We supported constitutionalists in Spain arid Portugal . up to a certain date , and then , in 1847 > we crushed the constitutionalists of Portugal .. We would fight against Naples in a quarrel abjout sulphur , but . not to save the hereditary liberties of . the Sicilians , of whom , ( when it was convenient ) . we had assumed the protectorate . While constitutional Hungary was triumphant , and was not yet embittered against all monarch y * we would not risk a war with Russia to hinder an intervention which we deplored ; yet , when Hungary has fallen , we risk a watwith Russia , to save a few Hungarian refugees . Because we have offended Russia in the

      Dardanelles , we gratify her in Holstein , so far as to brmg Austrian armies into Hambxirg , and give a stab to freedom and Protestantism in North Germany . Our envoy in Italy encourages Italian liberty in 1848 , —cautiously , yet so as fully to nw * niiest English sympathies . Soon af ter , Borne , righteously and legally free , is unjustly crushed by France : her unhappy refugees are treated with rude irihospitality by our Maltese Governor , and our Prime Minister defends him by gratuitous , slander on the exiles ! Who would have suspected that antipapal England would dread an unpapal Borne f ] In fact , to what results in Europe can we point as won by our vast exertions and sacrifices P Which of all the nations isi grateful to us ? Which of all can be conscious that it would be , tho worse off if England for the last 150 years had lain under the waves P Or how are we ourselves better-off than if wo hod .

      been strictly neutral the last seventy years P All will allow tlufcintolerable evils of vacillation ; but tew seem duly to take tPhearfc that it is the besetting sin of every free and mixed government . We have no fixed and secret senate ' like that of old Rome , conducting all foreign affairs coherently * ordering armies , finances , commissaries , treaties , embassies-As the Sovereign cannot overrule the Ministry , there is absolutely no organ whatever to secure consistency in our aotion . On a change of Ministry , all foreign powers count tfiat there * will be a change in our foreign policy . Thus England stultifies ; herself . If this is inevitable , ought not Tories , Whigs , ana every other order of statesmen , to agree that it is far bettor io . withdraw our fleets and embassies P If a domestio occurrence ,, such as a change of Ministry , is to deceive our alhes or friends , what else do we become but a snare and a nuisance to Jiuropo r in ouf

      We entice , and almost compel , foreign states to intrigue internal affairs . . . j 2 . But , again . " Noilought our ambassadors to counteract one another . " This now is to be calculated on , except warn they aU chime in with despotism . For the despotic c ? ^ ji £ alternate flattering and bullying , count that they can aft last gee a supple ambassador . Through tho Hungarian war > it was Notorious that the policy nnd tone of Lord Ponsonby and . « ' but Stratford Canning were strikingly at variance . The »« # «» ° is to abandoned embassies , which belong to a past ago , ana in Europe , as a system , aro now useloss or misohievouB . a " *\ embassy in an aggressive despotic oourt is liable to we i ruptedW t " atmosphere , and undoes tho influenoe of oonstii tional England . Those who live in daily courtesy with grewcriminalsjearn to look gently or approvingly on gigantio ounw .. A fixed ombossv should not bo the rule , but the e xception .

      3 . " Nob ought our ministry to leave darkness ? vor ourp »» oiples and purposes . " Secret diplomacy oxcrts no 1 P . Iu ^ ° Tw bad men , xoopt as a direot threat of war . It ; is woighed , novvy truthandri K lAeousnes 8 , butbycannon-balls . No secret letter cm make a tyrant blush , nor Btir a nation into « n ^^* " * £ tho secret system gives a most miaohiovous im P ° , "f , V ( . " iu ) . hints and mild phrases j and ( so to say ) to tho winks , and 1 to w personality , of an ambassador : hence it is a J > Bngoroun veili ° i of deception , and unsuitable to an honourable power '"» Vj . . good cause , At preBont neither foreign nations , nor « 10 * "L public , know tho motive of our foreign proceedings , < ov < *"" the ft ^ ts are public : honco our paat is no guide to our w » Of our recent European wars , that of Syria , in 1840 , »>»?"« '

      have hoard throe reasons j but know notwhiohto ^^ Wl joVwith . who of us could havo . ffuesflod that our ministry wouldi j » ° ^ , Louis Bonaparto to roatoi-o tho Popo by ft » M T ° - tll ™ Kinff « f Italian can assuredly assert why we di < V so H n w » q , u ^| Naples woro now to run away , and tho NoapolitftuB an « a wer « to ostabH «» a jrovornmont , as ordorly , and wWO . w ^ Hont tyranny iB hornblo , tho onnrepBod people is un » uw ' h boo , or to know , probably , whether wo ahould- J «* " » * R ? ^ jnot in crushing their freedom , or reaolutoly B " Bl ( l i" , " policy iiggroBBioii . Wl « vt inoro severe can ba B « ld of »«^ B J o i' tho winch protonda to moral influence P And this flows ou ^ Hoorot Bystom . It would bo easy to akow the sftmfl wuu lose inpoaoo all that wo have hardly carnod m war » __^ ^ —

      Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      * YUXo Zwder , No , U 0 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 8, 1852, page 434, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1934/page/6/