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Leader (1850-1860), 7th August 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 742, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      The change we announced last week in the Tuscan Government has , it seems , been revoked , or suspended , M . Bocella quitting the Ministry altogether , " with all the honours , " and M " . Bal < aggeroni re ? taining the Presidency . A lineal" ( fc fccendant '|) f Michel Angelo Buonaroti is M . Boee la ' s successor in the Ministry of Public Instruction . We shall be glad to believe that Sir Herwy Bulwer i $ beginning to be felt in Tuscany . Nothing can be much worse than even M . ' Baldasseroni ' s administration .

      Crime appears this week in many forms . At the Mansion-house , the adventurers who are called to account for preying on the ignorance of emigrants have been re-examined , and the more the case is investigated the worse it becomes in extent and turpitude . A similar swindle has been exposed at Liverpool , only it was on a smaller scale . What with trials and new cases , there is a plentiful show of unnatural murder—murder of parent by child , or of children by mothers . In all cases the crime would seem to be traceable to the

      morbid condition of the culprit , or to bewildered ig norance , or to both . The criminals might be more beneficially treated if they were brought , at an earlier stage , before a tribunal of medicine or education . The same leniency cannot be shown to the crimes committed by railway managers ; who would blush to plead ignorance , and would scarcely plead insanity . It would need both , however , to exculpate them from the charge involved in the

      parsimonous plan , of so constructing a railway that , by combination of carriage and bridge , it becomes a guillotine for the incautious passenger who looks out of window ; or that other plan , of using an ashpan so old in its fixings that it falls off , scotches the progress of a whole train , turns it off the line , and converts it into a machine for stopping another train . The sporting with

      railways as gigantic man-traps , however , hardly evinces so insane an effrontery as Mr . Laing ' s vindication of Railway Companies from liability to compensation for such accidents , which he compares to the uncontrollable " lightning from heaven . " But Mr . Laing is clearly daft : by way of reconciling that jovial doctrine to Parliament , he makes a joke of accidents to Bishops and Lord Chancellors , find claims from Parliament a law which shall

      enable railway companies to treat injured goods and damaged dignitaries " on the same principle . " Probably Mr . Laing will introduce a Bill , and get Lord Torrington , or some other railway lord , to support it in the House of Peers by the same argument ? It would have so powerful an effect in persuading Bishops and Law Lords to vote for the Bill !

      The resurrection of the Crystal Palace , to be called henceforth the " Palace of the People , " is nu event that would atone for even a larger budget of political and social sins and miseries than we have this week to record . It is an epoch . Auspicious was the Thursday : a bright , glad sun lighting ii ]) the landscape and the company ; a gentle breeze fanning the August heats , a cheerful sense of happy auguries prevailing over all . The . special train , full of celebrities—literary , political ,

      social , artistic—landed its freight in good time to allow a lingering ride or walk by the side of the wood , from the station to the Park ; a grateful relief from the dull . scenery of the line . Few but exclaimed , as the crest of the hill , tented and biiiine * ' ( l for the day , was gained , and the soft , wavy , garden-like hhujlish landscape of woody dale and hazy hill lav like a picture before the

      site of the future Palace , — " JIow much better t 1 in . iL Hyde-park 1 " And ho even upon Lords Campbell and John Manners , upon Sibthorp and Rotten-row , blessings were bestowed—the unconscious benefactors ! But it was felt that the hostility of Hyde-park hud preserved the palace iVoin public apathy " in a land where all things are forgotten . " Friends met , and exchanged personal congratulations ou what seemed to each a

      personal happiness , or examined Mr . Owen Jones s exquisite designg of the " palace expectant , while the ceremony within the central transept ( now ZT vwL t * i ^; TV marked < m | By nags of all nations ) , was accpljinusjhed , mi . Xaiij # ' 0 fficially cjmstening the fcuildigg , " The' Palaceh > jf the Pe&ple /* and enforcing xiity earn | s | ly its rj ^ ht to thai ; title . , N ' Five hundred griests found fare enough in a

      hospitable tenf , and champagne cp ^ s fired many a royal salute in the course of two hours . The after-dinner oratory was eagerly listened to by many who had not dined , and who stood outside the barriers , intent upon the recital of the history of the building and of its migration by Mr . Laing , of the moral and philosophy thereof by Mr . Scott Russell .

      Sir Charles Lyell returned thanks for the visitors agreeably , Sir Joseph Paxton for himself racily and practically , Sir Charles Fox spoke readily and smoothly , Mr . Owen Jones elegantly and feelingly . Not the least grateful sight was the gangsmen employed on the old and new building , who fared sumptuously at the common table , and who cheered the names of Fox , Henderson , and Owen Jones , with a heartiness that was contagious , for it had the accent of respect , devotedness , and affectionate gratitude—the true co-operation of hand and heart !

      A brilliant day ! the visitors streaming in wayward delight and admiration through the park , listening to the military music—gazing , by anticipation , upon the radiant palace , or on the grand fountain , with its arching rain , 250 feet high , surpassing far the Waters of Versailles , or sauntering amongst the parterres of flowers which a Paxton has created out of those mounds of earth .

      Churches and chapels will preach no better homily than this united voice of nature , art , and science . to the toiling millions who may come to seek brief refuge here from London streets !

      Untitled Article

      THE DERBY GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES . A dispute—which looks threatening , but which we are assured is not likely to bring the two countries to an open rupture—has arisen between England and the United States , out of the contested fisheries off the coast of our North American provinces . The following document , issued semi-officially by Mr . Webster , brings the matter before the public : —

      THE AMERICAN FISHERIES . BBPABTMENT OP STATE . Washington , Jtjxy 6 , 1852 . —Information of an official character has boon received at this department to the following effect — The lato Ministry of England was opposed to the granting of bounties on principle , and in consequence it steadily refused to give the necessary assent to the acts of the colonial legislature granting bounties to the fisheries . The colonies complained severally of this interference with their local affairs , and they further complain that the Government declined to onforco the provisions of the fishery convention of 1818 , and thereby permitted American fishermen to encroach upon the best fishing-grounds from which , under the legal construction of the treaty , they ought to be excluded .

      With the recent chango of Ministry in England has occurred an entire change of policy . The present Secretary of State for the Colonies , Sir John Pakington , has addressed a circular letter to the Governors of tho several North American Colonies , an extract from which is as follows : — " Downinp-Bti-eet , May 28 th , 1852 . " Among the many pressing subjects which havo engaged the attention of her Majesty ' s Ministers since thoir assumption of oflice , few havo boon moro important in thoir estimation than tho questions relating to tho protection solicited for tho fisheries of the coasts of British North America . Her Majesty ' s Govornmont havo taken into their serious consideration tho presentations upon this Miihi <> i'f . /• mi 4 niiio / 1 in A / mir rl (> Hlintclw'H Iinliul in Urn miinrin

      and have not failed to obaorvo , that whilst active measures have boon taken by certain colonies for tho purpose of encouraging their fisheries and of repelling tho intrusion of foreign VohsoIs , it haa boon a subject of complaint that impediments should have boon offered by tho policy of tho Imperial Government to tho enactment of bountios ' confmhrrod by tho local legislatures essential for tho protection of thJH trade , lior Miijosty ' s Ministers aro desirous of removing all grounds of complaint on tho part of , tho eolonion , in coriHoquoneo of encroachment of tho fishing' vessels of tho United States upon waters from which tiiey aro excluded by ( he terms of tho Convention of 1818 , and they therefore intend to despatch oa moon as poHHJfblo a Hninll ntival foroo of steamers , or other small vossolit , to enforce tho observance of that Convention . "

      Thin announcement is accompanied by tho following as to bounties : — " With regard to tho quostionof promoting tho fisheries

      r } mmNaflKSfc . — of the British cplpnjes l > y the means of bounties he Majesty ^ ' ^ pr | ffie 4 t } though desirous to sanction anv necessary dfeviiiticBt'Trom the policy which regulates th conimerce of thi ^ couiitry , are still disinclined to prevent theSe colonW fc * | iat «^ Sflsi < tion of imperial authority on , ? especially pjtodiB& $ h 6 'Sfegdfciation with the United States of America for tS }' settlement of the principles on which the c 6 irimerfte ' or | he -British North American colonies is hereafter to Be' earned on , from adopting the policy which they miy deeto m ^ St ! conducive to their ' own prosperity and'welfar& ^ w ^ " - '

      Meantime , and witjiiri the last ten days , an American fishing vessel called the Coral , belonging to Machias in Maine , has been Seized in the Bay of Fund y , near Grand Menan , by the offiger" commanding her Majesty ' s cutter Netley , already arrived in that bay , for an alleged infraction of the fishing convention , and the fishing vessel has been carried to the port of St . John , New Brunswick , where proceedings have been taken in the Admiralty Court with a view to her condemnation and absolute forfeiture . Besides the small naval force to be sent out by the Imperial Government , the colonies are bestirring themselves also for the protection of their fisheries . Canada has fitted out an armed vessel to be stationed in the gulf , and this vessel has proceeded to the fishing grounds , having on boa rd not

      only a naval commander and crew , ¦ veith power to seize vessels within limits , but also a stipendiary ma gistrate and civil police to make prisoners of all who are iound triiis . greasing the laws of Canada , in order to their being co mmitted to gaol in that colony for trial . The colony of Newfoundland has fitted out an armed vessel for the purpose of resisting the encroachments of French fishing vessels on the coast of Labrador , but when ready to sail from her port , the Governor of that colony , acting under Imperial instructions , refused to give the commander of the colonial vessel the necessary authority for making prize of French vessels found trespassing . This is _ an extraordinary circumstance , especially when taken in connexion , with the fact that the like authority to seize American , fishinie vessels

      under similar circumstances has never been refused to the cruisers of any of the North American colonies . The colony of Nova Scotia has now four armed cruisers , well manned , on its coasts , ready to pounce upon any American vessels who niay accidentally or otherwise be found fishing within the limits defined by the Crown officers of England . New Brunswick has agreed with Canada and Nova Scotia to place a cutter in the Bay of Fundy to look after Americans fishing there , and at Prince Edward ' s Island , and her Majesty ' s steam-frigate , Devastation , has been placed under the instructions of the Governor of that colony . The first

      article of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain , of the 20 th October , 1818 , is in these words : —" Whereas , differences have arisen respecting the liberty claimed by the United States for the inhabitants thereof to take , dry , and cure fish on certain coasts , bays , harbours , and creeks of his Britannic Majesty ' s dominions in America , it is agreed between the high contracting parties that the inhabitants of the said United States shall have for ever , in common with the subjects of his Britannic Majesty , the liberty to take fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of Newfoundland which extends from Cape Bay to tho Eameau Islands on the western and northern coasts

      of said Newfoundland from the said Cape Bay to Qmrpon Islands on the shores of the Magdalen Islands and also on the southern coasts , "bays , harbours and creeks from Mount Jolly on the southern coast of the Labrador , to and through the straits of Belle Isle , and thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast , withoutpreiudice , however , to any of the exclusive rights of the Hudson ' s Bay Company , and that the American fishermen shall also have liberty for ever to dry and euro fish in any of the unsettled bays , harbourtf , and creeks of the southern part of the coast of Newfoundland hereabovo described , and off the coast of Labrador , but so soon as the same or any portion thereof shall ho settled , it shall not bo lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such portion so settled without previous agreement for such purpose , with the inhabitants , proprietors , or possessors of tho ground .

      " And tho United States hereby renounce for ever any liberty enjoyed or claimed by tho inhabitants thereof to take , dry , or euro fish on or within three marine miles of any of tho coasts , bays , creeks , or harbours of his Britannic Majesty ' s dominions in America not included within the above mentioned limits . Provided , however , that tho American fishermen shall bo admitted to enter such bays or harbours for tho purpose of shelter and of repairing damages therein , and purchasing wood andobtaining water , and for no other purpose whatever . But they shall bo under such restrictions as may bo necessary to prevent thoir taking , drying , or curing fish therein , or in any other mannor whatever , abusing tho privileges hereby reserved them . " It would appear that by a strict and rigid

      construction of this article , fishing vessels of tho United States are precluded from entering into bays and harbours ot tho British provinces , except for tho purposes of shelter , repairing damages , and obtaining wood and water . A bay , as is usually understood , ia an arm or recess of th « sea entering from the ocoan between capes or headlands , and tho torin is applied equally to small and largo tracts of water thus situated . It is common to speak or Hudson Bay or tho Bay of Biscay , although they ate very largo tracts of water . Tho British authorities insist that England has a right to draw a lino from headland to headland , and to canturo all American fishermen who may folio *

      their pursuits inside of that lino . It was undoubtedly an oversight in tho Convention of 1818 , to make SO largo » concession to England , since tho United States had usually considered that those vast inletB or roces ' flos of the ocean ought to bo open to Amorican fishormon , as freely as th » sea itself , to within throo marine milos of tjio shore . A " 18 . T 1 , the Legislature of Nova Scotia proposed a oubo i " tho consideration of tho Advocate-General and Atto T $ " General of England upon tho truo construction of tttw artiolo of tho Convention . Tho opinion delivered by those oflicora of tho crown was , that by tho terms of tho Ckmvwation American * ittfo *»

      Untitled Article

      742 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 7, 1852, page 742, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1946/page/2/