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Leader (1850-1860), 16th April 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 369, Untitled Article

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      thetn pure , and left them so ; their City magistrates had been complimented by the Judges of the land ; ttrefr election for life was , like the permanence of the said Judges , an advantage to the community ; and many of them ' ( " he was far from saying he was himself one" ) were rich men . " Of what did their enemies complain P "Was it of the administration of justice by the civic bench P What did her Majesty ' s judges say of the City magistrates ? Those dig nitaries of the law invariably spoke of their conduct in terms of the warmest approbation . "Was it with the iftAhagement of the funds over which they had control that fault was found ? The aldermen never touched the funds except for magisterial or charitable purposes . "Was objection taken to the intellectual character of . the court ? " Why , he would not hesitate to say that they would not fail

      in the comparison with any twenty-six men who were to be seen issuing at the same time through the doorway of the House of Commons . Was it argued that they did not represent the wealth of the City ? That , too , was founded in error . It was well known that several members , of whottt he was far from saying he was himself one , could bear comparison as to opulence with a similar number in any large assembly . He had heard it stated as a fault that the City magistrates were , as all other magistrates were and ought to be , elected for life . It was considered the distinguishing act of Greorge III . 's reign that the judges became by law independent , and surely there could be no excuse for abandoning a principle which had received the sanction of the Legislature , and which had so long operated to the advantage of the community . ( Cheers . )"

      After this list of virtues the Alderman , mid great applause , detailed several city improvements . And , finally , expressed his belief that the Ministers meant , by the new inquiry , good , and not evil , towards the corporation . But , despite their assent to the spirited speech of their brother dignitary , the Court decided that they would not confer with her Majesty's Ministers . The Court of Common Council met , on Thursday , and unanimously adopted the following resolution : —

      " That the Lord Mayor or Recorder be requested to state to her Majesty ' s Government , that the corporation of London , in the event of the appointment by her Majesty of a commission of inquiry respecting the corporation of London , will afford every facility , and all the information in their power upon the subject . ( Cheers . )"

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      HAPPIER HOMES FOR THE POOR . " The back slums of Westminster , " figured as taunting illustrations in some of the polemical publications of the Papal Aggression period . Means are being taken to remove this obvious occasion of reproach . A new model lodging-house has been built in New-street , Broad-street , Golden-square . Wretched hovels , once occupied by thieves , abandoned characters , cows , and p igs , have been cleared away ; the cattle and swine have been eent to more suitable quarters , —where the human occupants have gone is unrecorded . On the site of the old hovels a large , plain , substantial building is to be erected . It will be divided into sixty-eight compartments , each being a complete little residenco in itself , consisting of three rooms , with closets and other conveniences attached . The rooms can be let at more moderate rents than are now paid by the poor for most miserable and unwholesome accommodation . The General Society for Improving the Dwellings of the Working Classes are the undertakers of the work . The foundation stone of the building was laid on Tuesday , and the opportunity was taken of an agreeablo demonstration of mutual interest in the work , both by the poor in the neig hbourhood and by some of the

      worthiest of the aristocracy connected with the Court . The Duke of Cambridge , the Duchess of Sutherland , Lady Blantyre , Lord Tnlbot , Lord Ingcstre , and otherH were present ; and were welcomed by crowds of working people who had assembled . The Royal Duke went through the customary form of "laying the stone . " Lord Ingestre read an address on behalf of the society , whose general progress was thus described : — " In tho place of dilapidated hovela , highly rented , buildings are fast rising where tho working man will obtain three rooms at the rate which is now paid for one wretched

      apartment , and that , too , at a rent which will compensate for tho outlay . " After some cordial expressions of interest from the duke , tho proceedings of tho morning ended . In the evening the inevitable " dinner" took place . Tho Duke of Argyll , Lords Tnlbot , Jermyn , Dufforin , Nelson , Grosvenor , Ingcstre , Dynevor , Sheffield , Hervcy , Evelyn , and Anncnley , were present representing the peerage ; of the Commons there appeared Sir John Pokington , Sir J . Shelley , Right lion . W . Cowper , and others . Lord R . Grosvenor and Mr . DiHraoli had accepted invitations but were unable to bo present . Tho Duke of Argyll presided .

      In proponing " The Army and Navy , ' ho hinted that "tho i > luu of their inodel lodging-houso had originated in tho barraokB lit Knightsbridga . " Sir John Pukington proposed "Tho Patrons of tho Society , " and warmly lauded tho Duko of Cambridge and Mb " y&ung ftriond

      Lord Ingestre . " The Rev . F . Byng returned thanks for the patrons , and stated that the site of the new building had been one of the worst localities in the metropolis . Mr . Denison , speaking for the House of Commons , hoped that each day the rich would still more investigate the condition of the poor . The Duke of Argyll , in proposing " Success to the Society , " referred to the general condition of the progress of this country . The question was , what was to be done with the great cities ?

      "No nation , except , perhaps , the United States , Jiad made such rapid progress of late years as the United Kingdom , but it was remarkable that nearly all this pro gress was in the cities , while the rural districts stood still , and , in some instances , retrograded . Glasgow , since the commencement of the century , had increased in population from 50 , 000 to 320 , 000 , and so it was all over the empire . Villages had become towns , towns had become cities , and cities had swelled beyond all bounds of anticipated probability . Can we say that we are overtaking this vast increase with a proportionate amount of moral and religious instruction ? In an ingenious atlas lately constructed , that part of the world blessed by Christianity was marled

      by a peculiar colour . It was melancholy to see what a small proportion it bore to the whole : but it is still more melancholy to reflect that a map similarly constructed would show fearful voids even in our own great cities . The state of a great proportion of our population was more deplorable than the heathendom of Africa . Our cities demand more of the missionary spirit than might be required under the palms of India . But still there is a bright side to the picture . A lady of his acquaintance had told him that xn her young days the condition of the poor never formed a topic of conversation with the higher classes , but that was no longer the case , as not only did they seriously consider the condition of the poor , but also made strenuous

      exertions in their behalf . Such exertions had never such prospect of success as at present , because we bad got hold of the right principle , and had ascertained the inseparable connexion there existed between the physical and moral condition of the ' people . We had discovered it first in our treatment of the insane , in which we had learned much from the continent of Europe , and it was now , he was happy to say , the principle upon which we aefcedin all our exertions to ameliorate the condition of the poor . " Having read from the prospectus the rules of the society , the Duke proceeded to say that their plan contemplated partl y the erection of new , and partly the adaptation of old buildings , and thatin the parent society presided over by Prince Albert cent

      that plan had produced a profit of from 4 >\ to 5 per . This advantage had been secured in addition to an enormous saving in the rentals of the poor ; and therefore he truste d that such societies would spread , and be taken up by speculators solely on commercial principles . It was a great economic law that nothing could be permanently successful that was not self-supporting , but once prove that a fair return for outlay might be expected , and all other diihculties in the way of a project would rapidly disappear . Their society was founded on this principle , but if it should turn out successful , it would achieve the great moral result of giving to all classes the blessing of a decent Christian home . ( Cheers . )"

      In returning thanks for his own health being drank , Lord Ingestro attributed the first idea of these buildings to Lord Shaftesbury , and said , " It is of no use for the clergy to preach or build churches until the people have first decent and Christian homes to live in . " Some gratifying facts connected with the Society came out in the course of the evening . The solicitor , the architect , and the secretaries of the Society give their time and work . gratuitounly . The money collected at the dinner amounted to 800 Z . Tho new building will cost 10 , 0002 . and be ready in September .

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      MR . FEARGUS O'CONNOR . The state of mind of Mr . Fenrgiis O'Connor has been investigated . On Tuesday , Mr . Barlow , a Commissioner of Lunacy , and a jury of Middlesex freeholders , held tho inquiry at Chiaivick . Mr . O'Connor is Htuying at present at Dr . Tuke's luimtic asylum , Manor-house , Turnlmm-green . The remnant of Mr . O'Connor ' s property amounts to 1300 / . or 14 CKM ., and tins , husbanded with care , mig ht bo ho disposed as to provide ; him with necessary comforts for the remainder of bin days . With this object the inquiry was instituted .

      The first witness was Mr . Ernest Jones , who had been for some time one of Mr . O'Connor's political associates , and had ulno known him intimately as n private friend . Mr . Jones first noticed signs of inaanity in Mr . O'Connor ' s writings in 1848 ; previous to that be considered bin mind to be of " tho most vigorous character , " but at that period ho noticod mi inconsistency in Iuh political writings . Tim witness scorned to biy HtroHH on thin as a token of the mind giving way .

      " One week bo" ( Mr . O'Connor ) " would recommend a particular coui-ko of action on Homo political question , and tho" next weok , writing on tho same subject , ho would lay down totally different mica for tho guidance of bis reuders . " In ' 49 , still more marked signs of insanity appeared in Mr . O'Connor ' s personal demeanour . Ilo hud been on visiting terms with Mr . Joiiob'h family , and his manner and conversation in their pYeseneo wore always decent , and appropriate . Hut in the beginning of ' 49 his conduct in society became freo and indelicate , to such extent that neither Mrs , Jones nor the children

      could stay in , the room , and on Mr . O'Connor ' s continued visits , they were obliged to remain in privacy . About this time , he was also in the habit of interpolating his political speeches with indelicate anecdotes . At Halifax he spoke of the Queen in a manner proving him to be insane ; and he frequently diverged from political topics to make a violent personal harangue , recounting to the public audience 'the number , of honourable members whom he had knocked down in the House of Commons . ' In his private interviews with Mr . Jones he would sometimes burst into a fit of tears , without the smallest perceptible reason ; talk unconnectedly of the ingratitude he had experienced ; put his hand to his head , crying , ' Oh ! my head ! ' and again , « roar like a wild animal for an hour at a stretch . '"

      Mr . Dougal M'Gowan , who for many years had business dealings with Mr . O'Connor , spoke to the failure of his memory in 1851 , and the extravagance of his conduct before the Master in Chancery , when he threatened at least twenty times to throw books at the head of the Master . He had seen Mr . O'Connor on Sunday , and found him an a perfectly idiotic state . Mr . Jacob Bell , late M . P . for St . Albans , was examined . On Mr . Bell ' s entrance to the House , Mr . O'Connor ' s manner to him was excessively free and familiar , but Mr . Bell passed over this , thinking it an Irish singularity , and believing Mr . O'Connor to be " a good sort of fellow . " His general conduct in the House , however , was too strange to be thus

      accounted for . On entering the House he would shake hands with every member who would allow him , from the bar to the Treasury bench , calling each a "jolly good fellow , " and generally seating himself among the leaders of the Opposition , facing the Prime Minister . On one particular occasion , when the House was in a state of intense excitement , awaiting the explanation of Lord Palmerston as to the grounds on which he had left the Ministry , the noble viscount rising to speak , Mr . O'Connor , who was sitting behind him , rose also , and patted him on the back in a manner which had the most ludicrous effect on the House . His usual manner of addressing Mr . Bell was— "You are a capital fellow , Bell . I love you . "

      Dr . Tweedie testified that Mr . O'Connor was of unsound mind , suffering under what was termed " moral insanity . " Dr . Connolly confirmed this testimony . At an early part of the inquiry the Commissioner inquired whether Mr . O'Connor could , with safety to himself and the jury , be present at the inquiry . Dr . Tuke , the phy sician in charge of the asylum , said he feared not . It was , therefore , agreed upon , that the Commissioner and the jury should visit the patient at the asylum . After hearing the above evidence they proceeded to the Manor House . The

      morning was fine and the interview took place in the garden , where the Jury assembled on a green sward at the back of the asylum . Presently a shrill voice in joyous tones echoed through the passage , and Mr . O'Connor appeared . He looked at the group , and then fixing his eyes on Mr . Ernest Jones , he advanced to him , and , grasping his hand warmly , said , " Here ' s Jones , I love him ! I idolise him ! I deify him ! I adore him ! " The next moment , observing his former solicitor , Mr . Turner , he grasped his hand and called out loudly , " And here's Turner ! I idolise him ! He is the best Holieitor that ever lived . ' He is a capital fellow , is

      that Turner I" Mr . Hell was next noticed . 1 lie moment Mr . O'Connor caught sight of him he exclaimed , " And here's lioll I I lovo liim . ' I idolise him . ' I deify him ! What a handsome fellow ho is ! What beautiful eyes he has ! beautiful nose ! beautiful mouth ! beautiful lips ! beautiful teeth ! beautiful ears ! beautiful arms ! beautiful legs ' . beautiful feet ! " and so on , with a rapidity of utterance painfully mindless and incoherent . Mr . Pownull endeavoured to attract his mind to a rational subject , asking him of what his

      property consisted ; all he could obtain in reply was , that lie bad two newspapers . The conversation having ceased for a moment , Mr . O'Connor , drew himself up , and , striking both hands upon his thighs to mark the metro of his verso , recited with groat rapidity some verses once popular among his followers . Tho following lines were part of tho chant : — " Tho lion of freedom i « cornfl from hifl don ; We'll rally around him a ^ ain and again ; Wo'H crown him with laurel our champion to bo—O'Connor , Uio patriot for sweet liberty .

      " Who strovo for tho patriot—was up night fcnd day ? Who huvM them from falling to tyrantu u proy ? 'Twos Foargua O'Connor was diligon * then ; We'll rally around him again and again . " In reciting these lines Mr . O'Connor became excitetl , using violent gesticulation ^ reminding one of his former vehemence in addressing the mob . A word from Dr . Take , however , quieted him instantly , and he replied , " I won't Kay another word , Doctor . " As tho learned Coinmifluionnr andjury passed out , Mr . O'Connor appoared anxious to accompany thom , but another

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      ¦ w A * fc ! L 16 , 1853 . ] T H E L E ADER . ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 16, 1853, page 369, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1982/page/9/