Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 26th March 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 293, Untitled Article

Page 293
Page 5
5 of 24

On this page

  • Text (4)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      India , and placing that government directly under the Crown , and making it directly responsible to Parliament , I humbly submit that it is their duty to pass a continuance bill for two years , or three at the outside—say two years from the 30 th of April next year , which would bring it to the 30 th of April , 1856—and then during that time to allow public opinion to grow as it is no « v rapidly growing through the country , to allow the question to be fairly sifted by the press , thoroughly investigated by committees or commissions , and at the end of that period to establish not a government for ten years or twenty years , with an act of Parliament terminating at a given period , but a permanent government that shall be rightly constructed , as a principal machine , at home ; and then you may rely upon it that a Government like that , acting through wisely appointed agents in India , will very speedily , or as speedily as possible , carry out the various admirable recommenda * tions contained in this petition .

      Mr . Bright then stated what had been done to oppose Government , and the prospects of any measure of permanent legislation : —• You may have observed that I brought this subject before the House of Commons the other evening , in putting a question to Lord J . Hussell . The result of that discussion has been , that the question has been much discussed privately among members of the House of Commons ; and I believe firmly that a large majority of the House are altogether differing from the opinion Lord J . Russell

      expressed on that question . And another result has been the formation of a committee or society in London to promote Indian reform , to which I believe more than thirty members of the House of Commons had given in their adhesion before I lef t town on Saturday last , and I have no doubt the number will greatly increase . I believe it is quite impossible for any majority of the House of CommottB this session to pass any measure that proposes permanently —I mean longer than two or three years—to continue the present government of India . The meeting then broke up .

      Untitled Article

      THE " UNCLE TOM" ADDRESS . About forty ladies met at Stafford House , on Saturday , being some of those who had assembled at the same pla . ee on the 26 th of November , 1852 , to promote an address from women of Great Britain and Ireland to the women of the United States on the subject of Slavery , also several other . ladies ^ members of the Society of Friends . A report was read to the meeting by the Duchess of Sutherland , of which the following paragraphs combine the pith : — " The General Committee for obtaining signatures to the address of the women of Great Britain and Ireland to the women of America , on the subject of Slavery , has been assembled here this day for the purpose of receiving the report of the Sub-Committee , and of giving directions for the transmission of the address , which is now ready , to the United States . " The number of signatures amounts to 562 , 848 , and it may safely bo asserted that there is Scarcely a single district of Her Majesty's European dominions which is not represented ; great zeal and sympathy universally prevailed , and nothing but the short space of time allowed to tho work prevented a very large multiplication of the numbers .

      ' It is proposed to send tho address to the care of Mrs . Beccher Stowe , who has undertaken to make such arrangements as shall give it tho greatest publicity . Every one will feel that this lady's co-operation is of real value . " The Address , with 26 large folio volumes of signatures , was brought forward for inspection . A copy of the Address itself , as illuminated on vellum , will probably appear in the number of the Illustrated News for the present week , and the volumes , contained in a strong oaken case , may be seen on this day week , at a room in the Caledonian Hotel , Adolphi . The Duchess of Sutherland then rend a letter received from Mrs . Beecher Stowe , in which she expressed her readiness to make arrangements for tho reception of the Address , and for giving the utmost publicity to it in America , " mentioning at the same time that a new work from

      her pen was about to bo immediately published . " [" Fine Yankee touch that ! ] Before the meeting hcparnted , the first copy of the work referred to , called A . Key to Uncle Toin * s Calrin , having been procured by a special ellbrf ; from the London publisher only mi hour previously , whs presented by the committee to the Duchess of Sutherland .

      Untitled Article

      FACTS FOR STAFFORD HOUKK . Dktaii . kp statements arc now frequently brought before the police magistrates , showing the horrible mode of lifts of the lowest , Ii-ihIi oIiinhus . The- constables employed to carry out tho . Lodging H ' ohhc Act , visit these abodes ol lillih and indecency , but . too common in London . They writer tho rooms at nil houm of the-night , and thiui discover tho exact number of inmates in a given room . For in-Nturicc , in Wyld ' n Court , Drury Lane , they find thin Htate

      of tilings . James Donovan linn been repeatedly informed of the regulations of the act , limiting the number ol lodgers , and he has not complied with them . In the room he occupied there were two bods . In one Donovan slept with three daughter of the ago of fifteen , sixteen , and seventeen , and a hoy aged eight . In another , were a man and bin wife . In a room let by CurUiy were two bods , in one of which slept Oarthy , his wife , a girl of h ' ixteon , two boys of ten and fifteen ; in the other a man and Mis wife , u girl of thirteen , and two boya of tlurtoou . < md

      fifteen . In Sullivan s room were five beds . The first bed contained the defendant , his wife , a boy of sixteen , and a g irl of fourteen , with another boy of ten , and an infant . In the second bed there were a Woman , a girl , and a child ; in the third bed a man , his wife , a girl of sixteen , and two boys ( twelve and seven ) > in the fourth bed a woman and two boys ; and in the fifth a man . There wqre no partitions of any kind to separate the sexes . The total number of persons in the room was twenty , but seven only were allowed . Another Donovan occupied a room in which only one person would be allowed ; but there were two beds , one of them containing the defendant , his wife , his two daughters , aged eighteen and ten , and a servant girl out of place aged fourteen .

      In all these abodes the filth was shameful and the stench sickening . The men were fined various sums , and in default sent to prison for terms varying from , one to two months . The question , of course , arises where are these miserable wretches to live ? They pay very small sums for their shelter ; and their poverty is notorious . It is well worth serious attention . It is quite clear the remedy does not lie in . merely hunting the people out of their dens .

      Untitled Article

      PROGRESS OF THE SUNDAY REFORM MOVEMENT . A public meeting was held on Wednesday night at the London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street , in favour of the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays . The chair was taken by Robert le Blond , Esq . A letter was read from Mr . Dillon , of Store-street , apologising for his inability to be present to take tbe chair , but approving of the object of the meeting . The large room was quite full . The Chairman at some length addressed tbe meeting , and said , tbe general feeling of the country was exemplified by the fact that so many as- 200 letters had been received from the working classes in various parts of the country in favour of tbe opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays . ( Hear . ) Mr . Newton then came forward to move the first esolution , and in doing so reiterated the opinions upon this subject which he has already expressed at various public meetings . He addressed himself , first , to the religious part of the question , and quoted tbe opinions of several eminent clergymen and others , for the purpose of shoVing that th « opening of such a place as the Crystal Palace on Sundays for instruction and recreation was not a violation of the Sabbath . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not , however , mean to throw any blame on the clergy and religious people of this country in tbe view of the case he was taking , as he considered the institution of the Sabbath was tbe greatest blessing to the

      working man , and that they owed to tbe religious class of the community the preservation of tbe Sabbath . ( Cheers . ) But these people were now attaching to the keeping of tlie Sabbath conditions to which the community could not assent . ( Hear , hear . ) The great argument in this movement was the fact , that the working man had no day left to him for recreation but the Sabbath , and that was the only day he had an opportunity of visiting the Crystal Palace . Let them mark the fact , that there were more persons employed in attending to the comforts of the dignitaries of the Church on Sundays than would be required to give

      accommodation to the hundreds of thousands who would visit the Crystal Palace . ( Loud cheers . ) Let them , indeed , open the parks , the museums , and the Crystal Palace on Sundays , and they would find that men would not work on Sundays , as hail beon argued , in consequence , but thnt , on the contrary , they would flock to these places for rational enjoyment and improvement . ( Loud cheers . ) He contended that the Sabbath was a social institution formed for the advantage of the working classes , and he called upon thorn to breakdown that priestcraft and bigotry which oppressed them , and which prevented society enjoying those

      advantages to which every ono was entitled . ( Loud cheers . ) He concluded by moving a resolution to the effect— - " That in the opinion of this meeting the opening of tho Crystal Pahtco on Sundays would 1 m ; a religious , a moral , and a social advantage to the country . " Mr . C . F . Nichols Hoconded the resolution , and contended that the Christian Sunday was not tbe Sabbath referred to in tho fourth commandment . The Christian Church thought proper , for its own reasons , to change the Sabbath from the seventh to tho first day of the week : and whatever blame there- wan in the mutter

      rested with the Church . Christendom hnrl sanctioned the change , and we could not be wrong if Christendom wn » right . Let him ask , was it contended that the tea-gardens , and other places of recreation in and about London being opened , wore less obnoxious than would be the opening of tho Crystal Palace on Sundays ? ( Hear hear . ) The Itegent ' n Park had been opened for yearn on Sundays for the Accommodation and the advuntuge of tlie aristocracy . How was it that the saints had not discovered this violation of the Sihbuth , and appealed against it ? How was if , there whh no agitation till it bocuuio a workLug-oluHB uuomUoh P Aro not

      the souls of the aristocracy as precious in the eyes of the Lord as those of working men ? ( Cheers . ) A gentleman belonging to the house of Hitchcock had appeared on that platform last Wednesday , and bad said that he represented the feelings of the drapers ' assistants in oppositiou to this movement . But did that gentleman mean to say that be represented the opinions of the 40 , 000 young men who composed the drapers' assistants in London . Now , what was the fact , as was well known , that on the Sunday mornings the question put by these young men one to the other , was , not what church or chapel , or conventicle they

      should go to ; but the question asked was , " Lads , where are you off to ? " ( Cheers and laughter . ) In conclusion , he would say , that this was a question for all classes—for men and women of all opinions . The gloomy fanaticism of above 200 years ago still casts its shadow over England . It is time it was dispelled for ever by the joy and freedom of a wiser periodby a freer and nobler life than Englishmen had yet led . The Crystal Palace , stored with the productions of science , art , and commerce , is at Sydenham . Truth , knowledge , and refinement are within its crystal dome . Its doors are closed . The church , the chapel , and the

      brewery , frantically endeavour to keep them closed . The beer-shop and meeting-house pile up their cant and their petitions , and block up the entrance . The conventicle and kirk impiously appeal to Heaven for aid to coerce those they cannot persuade . Bigotry stalks abroad , and good men are afraid . Our legislators dare not speak , and still less dare to vote . Every little Ebenezer and Bethel has its eye on them , and sends its warning note . Our legislators cannot afford to despise bigotry , "but the people can . The question is in the hands of the people . The people must answer it . Men of all

      creeds and all opinions , it is time you were awake and doing . Church and chapel , conventicle and kirk , brewery and meeting-house , marshal their gloomy recruits . The strongholds of Sabbatarian cant and fanaticism will not be yielded without a struggle . To yon , the men of London , the battle of right belongs . You must fight it out or no one will . Shall the " miserable sinners" who groan over their degradation instead of attempting to elevate humanity , triumph over knowledge , refinement , and progress , and beat down our Protestant right of individual judgment ? It is for you to say yes or no , by negativing or affirming the resolution I have the honour of seconding .

      The Chairman here stated they wanted discussion , and he invited any one who was opposed to them to come forward and move an amendment . Several persons then made their way to the platform . Mr . Pennel said , he was ready to acknowledge the truth of much that had been said in favour of this movement , but he contended that their deductions were not correct , for he denied that the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays would empty the teagardens and public-houses in and about London . But supposing it did , it would only lead to the filling of

      such houses on the way to Sydenham—houses which would soon bo erected a . s being a profitable speculation . ( Cheers , and loud cries of " No , no . ") Tho beast of burden which now worked for the six days would have to carry a party to the Crystal Palace on Sunday . ( A voice— " What does the Bishop of London do ?"Laughter . ) The speaker was proceeding , amid a good deal of interruption , hut speedily concluded by moving an amendment to the effect— -That in the opinion of this meeting the ' opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays would be a direct contradiction to the law of God , and highly injurious to tlie working classes .

      Mr . Bonn ( lately a draper ' s assistant ) seconded tho amendment . He maintained that he was a friend to the working classes , and he would , if he could , save them from the curse which awaited them from tbe opening of the Crystal Palace on Sundays . ( Shouts of laughter . ) It would be much easier , in his opinion , to have got up a movement , for curtailing the hours of labour— - ( hear , hear)—and the working men ou ^ ht to have time to be devoted to mental pursuits . ( Hear , hear . ) lie belonged to Manchester , and he contended that the men who had signed the petition from that town in support of this movement wen ; men who neglected their families and attended alehouses . ( Cheers and laughter . )

      Mr . Peter Taylor then spoko in favour ol the original resolution . In answer to some of the objections which had been urged , lie would express a hope that the people would coino to visit the Crystal Palace from thirty , from fifty , aye , from 100 miles distant , and . that they would olrtiun the refreshment , they needed on their way ; and , should they not be uhle to obtain it , lio trusted speculators would arise to supply it . ( Cheers . ) lie would , however , suggest u coinpromiue with those who opposed thoni , « uul b , o would propose that , if their

      Untitled Article

      March 26 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 293

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 26, 1853, page 293, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1979/page/5/