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Leader (1850-1860), 14th May 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 465

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      ings , stand forth and say what they feel on the subject . Some had said that Uncle Tom ' s Cabin was now forgotten ; but it should be mentioned that 60 , 000 copies of the Key to Uncle Tom ' s Cabin were sold in three days . In such conversation some hours were spent , much to the pleasure , apparently , of the fashionable people present ; and , at about five o'clock , the party separated . The Duchess of Sutherland accompanied Mrs . Stowe to the entrance hall , and there cordially wished her " Good-bye . "

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      ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY FROM MR . GLADSTONE . Ms . William Ewabt Gladstone appeared in the Marlborough Police-court on Wednesday , to prefer a charge against William Wilson , 24 , Belvedere-road , Lambeth , commercial traveller , " of following and annoying him through Princes-street , St . James ' , and also attempting to extort money by threatening to charge him with immoral conduct in the parish of St . James ' . " Mr . Gladstone stated his own case from the magisterial side of the court .

      " Sir , the defendant , seeing me in conversation with a young woman who was walking by my side just below Coventry-street and Oxendon-street , last night about 20 minutes before 12 o ' clock , came up and began to use words which I could not well understand , upon which the girl expressed alarm , took hold of my left arm , and I told her she need not be afraid , as nothing would occur to her . The girl told me where she lived , and I advised her to go home . I walked by her side towards her house , and the prisoner then addressed me by name , and said he would expose me . I proceeded onward , he following , the young woman still expressing great alarm , until we came to a door , which the young woman said was the door of her house . I believe

      this was in lung-street , Soho . The young woman then ran in , and I desired the prisoner to leave me , which ho refused to do . I walked on , and turned first one way and then another , to get free of him , but he kept close to me , and went on talking , statin ? that he admired my public character much , had long observed me , but that he must now expose me , and he would do this in the Morning JBCerald of this day , and thus annoy the whole of the Conservative party . With these threats he mingled statements that he did not Wish to do me any harm ; that if I Would make it right with him , or give him a Government appointment in Somerset-house or elsewhere , his lips should be closed . In answer to this , being , I fear , angry , I charged

      him with being a liar , and I uaed more than once the expression that he should not have from me either a sixpence or a situation , and that if he did not leave me I must appeal to the police for protection . He stated that be would not leave me , and that he would give me in charge to the police . He then said he would be contented if I would allow him to write me a letter ; to which I answered , ' Sir , do exactly as you please , ' repeating my former words , that I would neither give him a sixpence nor a situation . All this , with more of similar matter , was repeated again and again for some time while I was walking on in the hope constable until

      of seeing a police-constable . I saw no , on having tried Eegent-etreet , I came into Sackville-street , where I saw police-constable C 187 , to whom I stated my desire to be rid of the prisoner . The constable advised me to go to tho station with tho prisoner . I adopted the advice , and on tho way to the station tho prisoner said , ' I had better accede to what he had ofFored , for my own sake . ' I told him that any act of mino I had no wish to conceal , and that ho was not justified in imputing to mo tho intention on which ho had founded his claim—an intention which , if you will allow mo to state , being upon my oath , I solemnly deny . "

      Mr . Bingham asked tho prisoner if ho had any questions to put to Mr . Gladstone . Tho prisoner replied in the negative . Inspector Parko , C division , said—About a quartor to one o ' clock this morning Mr . Gladstone , the complainant , and tho prisoner canio to tho Vino-street station , accompanied by Joy , C 187 . The constable stated , in the hearing of both parties , that tho prisoner wanted to givo tho complainant into custody for enticing a female acquaintance of his away . The constable also ¦ tated that tho complainant wished him to remove tho prisoner from him . Tho complainant told mo in substance what ho has now stated , and I took the charge The prisoner made a statement to me , which I took down in writing , and which I now produce

      " Statement of William Wilson—About half-past twolvo lent night I saw Mr . Gladstone addressing a lady of my acquaintance in Fanton-stroot . Thoy immediatel y turnod down Pan ton-street , and walked about fifty yards down tho first turning in that utroot . They then made their way across Covontry-stroot into Princfls-streot , whoro I charged Mr . Gladstone with being in tho company of tho lady alluded to . I then , said iliad mo desiro to mako an exposure of one I so much admired , and whoso public character was known to bo eo puro and unspotted ; and that ho might humblo

      tako it as a moral reproof from one ho as I was . I further said , if Mr . Gladstone would proouro mo a situation I would not expoflo him , and if not L would communicato his conduct ) to tho Morning ttorald nowspapor . I also Charged Mr . Gladstone with being with tho lady in quostion , arm-in-arm , upon which Mr . CHad-tono retorted , and called me a liar . Ultimately Mr . Olariatono granted mo permission to write him a letter recocting a situation . " Inspector Parke continued—Tho prisoner added that he did not mind what tho result might Im , if it was ven tnuwportatton , bo long an his namo wan aBBOcmted

      with that of a person so great as Mr . Gladstone , who was one of the greatest men of the day . Mr . Bingham—I suppose this is the conclusion of the case , unless the defendant has any questions to ask of the inspector . Prisoner—I have no desire to put any questions . The only desire I have is to endorse the paper read by the inspector . Mr . Bingham—Is the prisoner known to the police ; and has the address he gave been ascertained to be correct ? Inspector Parke—He is not known to the police . The address I have been to , and it is correct , but I could not ascertain his character as his landlady was not at home .

      Prisoner—My character will bear the strictest investigation . I have been a clerk , but am unfortunately at present out of a situation . I have only to re-state what has been read to me . I was very much excited at the time , and am very sorry I should have been so rash . Inspector Parke—After the charge was taken the prisoner cried , and hoped Mr . Gladstone would not press it . Mr . Bingham—I think some further time ought to be allowed to inquire into the prisoner ' s character , and I shall therefore remand him until next Friday . [ Wilson has been further remanded . ] Mr . Gladstone then left the

      court-Wilson , wrote on Thursday from jail to Mr . Gladstone asking pardon . Mr . Gladstone , who signed the depositions on yesterday , gave the latter to the Magistrate , stating that on public grounds he could not feel justified in passing over the affair , though he had no personal wish to prosecute ; that Wilson did not at all know the female who was walking with Mr . Gladstone . The prosecution is to take place under a clause of the Libel Act , making an o ffence punishable with hard labour to attempt to extort money , or any appointment to an office , by a threat of publishing a libel .

      [ We are authorized to state that , as Mr . Gladstone waa returning home from the Opera at Covent-garden , on Tuesday night , he was addressed by an unfortunate woman , who earnestly begged his attention to her story . While Mr . Gladstone , as he walked on , was listening , with his accustomed benevolence , to this appeal , the woman suddenly perceived some person approaching , of whom she seemed to entertain great apprehension , and clung to Mr . Gladstone apparently for protection . The scene then ensued which is described above . —Times . ] With reference to this incident , a writer in the Times , who has guaranteed the truth of his tale , reveals a characteristic and honourable trait in Mr . Gladstone ' s character . The story is as follows : —

      " The scene opens in May of last year . Two young women are passing by the top of the Haymarket about 11 o ' clock in tho evening . They are annoyed by an elderly man , who persists in following them . They desiro him to leave them , but without effect . The slight altercation that arises attracts tho attention of a gentleman passing . Ho asks the cause , and is told . He threatens to call the police , and tho man then takes himself off . This incident leads to a conversation with ono of the girls . Ho is attracted by her rospectable appearance and manners , and asks her some questions . The answers she gives excites his curiosity , and increases tho interest ho at first felt in hor . Upon his wishing her to leave tho Haymarket

      and go home , sho says she durst not unless she takes somo money with her . Ho gives her tho sum named , puts hor into a cab , and sends hor homo . Ho next day makes inquirios respecting hor , and finds that everything she had told him was true , and which further inquirios only served to confirm . From that time ho has boon a kind and , moreovor , a disinterested friend to that girl , and has loft no means untried for tho purpose of reclaiming hor . As will bo anticipated , tho gentleman of whom 1 am now speaking was Mr . Gladstone . Tho discovery of his namo was made by moro chanco , for all this was done without lo account

      tho least parade or ostentation on his part , for tho interest ho took in her , I must refer to the girl's story . Her father keeps an inn on tho scacoaat in tho county of Sussex . A widowed lady of title , though not in affluent circumstances , with three children , went there to lodgo about six yoars ago . This girl was then about fourteen yours of ago . Sho attracted tho notice of this lady , who proposed to her parents to tako hor with her to London . This offer was accepted , and tho lady took her into hor servico as maid and companion to herself , at tho sumo tirno paying considerable- attention to hor oducation . 8 ho remained with this lady about four years . Towards at whoso

      tho closo of this time , a nephew of a clergyman , hoiiso Bho was visiting in tho suburbs of London , a houtonant in the navy , canio homo from soa , and romained in his unolo ' s house for somo time ; whilo there , ho gamed tho affections of tho lady ' s companion , then under oiirhtoon yoars of ago , and seduced her . Ho returned to Boa whore ho still remains . Ah for tho poor girl , she proved pregnant , had to loavo hor situation , and became , the mother of a child , for whose support she has to pay 7 s . what leulor ^

      por week . After this , was , ner u > » or .. o could not return to her former situation , and sho had no chanco of obtaining another . Her own mother was d yad , and hor father had married again—therefore that door was cloned . Need it excite surprise , then , that who took what soomed to her to bo the only course to nave hermit from starvation ? Sho took it , and there three month * afterwards Mr . Gladstone found hor . Ah I have saul before , his ' efforts to reclaim hor havo boon unceasing , though he has not met with tho ouccobs which ho dooervoB .

      Em great difficulty has been with the girl herself . She dreads the world ' s opinion , and , when he has offered to place her in some way of obtaining a respectable livelihood , she has always objected on the ground of the scorn and reproaches to which she would be certain to be subjected ; and it is to bo feared that there is much sad truth in this . " .

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      CARDINAL WISEMAN'S DISCOURSE ON ART . " While Art was still Religion , " the connexion of the priest and the artist was natural ; but recent controversies and a late English agitation give piquante novelty to the fact , that in the metropolis of our manufactures Cardinal Wiseman has , with eloquence and force , expressed to a popular audience popular views on the arts of Design and Production . The lecture delivered on Thursday fortnight , in the Manchester Corn Exchange , was given in aid of the funds of a local educational institution for poor Catholic children .

      The Cardinal ' s address was imaginative , ingenious in method , and directly practical . He first assented in detail to the utility of the popular modes of improving the art of production , the teaching of mathematics , drawing , chemistry , &c , to the artisan , and tho constant supply of beautiful designs by clever artists . But something more was required . In illustrating the requirement he sketched out the plan of a Museum of Antiquities . He pictured a hall at least as large as that in which he stood , but of a more elegant and perfect architecture . He supposed it formed on classical models . " Around it should be ranged , not merely copies—he would not give them . inals nottherefore

      copies , for he would give them orig ; , , plaster casts , but real marble statues and busts , collected from antiquity ; and he would arrange them round the room , so that each could be enjoyed at leisure by the student , and there should be room for the draughtsman to take a copy from , any side . In the centre of the room he would place a beautiful mosaic—such as we found in the museums , for instance , of Home—of pavement in rich colours , representing some beautiful scene , which should be most carefully railed off , that it might not be worn or soiled by the profane tread of modern men . There should be cabinets , most carefully enclosed in glass , so that there should be no danger of accidents , of the finest specimens of the old Etruscan vases , of every size , of every shape , of every colour , enriched with those beautiful drawings upon them , which gave them such character , and , at the same

      ^ time , such grace ; and on another side he would have collected for them some specimens of the choicest produce of the excavations of Herculaneum . There should be various vessels , of most elegant form and most superb carving , and there should be all sorts of fine household utensils , such aa were found there , of most beautiful shape and exquisite fashion . On the walls he would have some of those paintings which had yet remained almost unharmed , and that , being buried for so many hundreds of years , still retained their freshness , and would g low upon the walls and clothe them with beauty , and , at the same time , with instruction . And then he would have a most choice cabinet , containing medals in gold , and silver , and bronze , of as great extent as possible , but chiefly selected for the beauty of their workmanship , and some engraved gems likewise , every ono of which should , if possible , bo a treasure . "

      Such a curious and costly museum in any city in England is , indeed , a " stretch of imagination ; " but the Cardinal untiringly followed out the fancy . He asked tho audience " to fly with him to a still more imaginary idea . " He then imngincd such a collection reclaimed by the original owner of the various articles —some old Roman , supj > o . se , in tho first days of Christianity , hears of such a museum in England , and demands bnck his property . What woul . i lie do with them when ho got them back ? With Pliny , he would value the statues not as works of art , but as memorials of his forefathers .

      " Tho busts would bo to him but pieces of household furniture ; ho would put them back into tho niches whenco thoy were taken , and perhaps where thoy worn in a very bad light . His statues , if they did not represent his ancoHtors , —instoud of having a beautiful ball prepared for thorn , it was exceedingly probable , would be sent into his garden , to stand in the open air , and receive ) all the rain of Heaven upon them . Tho mosaic which wo had valued no much , ana as no wonderful a piece of work , he would most probably put into the porch of his hou . se , to bo trodden under foot by every slavo who went in and out . And then he looked about him at that wonderful collection of beautiful Ktruscan vuhos , and recognised tlioin at once . ' Tako that to tho kitchen . ' he Haid , ' that io to hold oil ; and that to the scullery- that is for water . Take tlieso plates and drinking-cups to the pantry , wo shall want those smallerbeautiful vohhoIh

      thorn for dinner . And , — which yet retained the very scent of the rich odours that wore kept in thorn— ' tako ( hem to the dnwsing-room ; thoHo aro what wo want for our toilet ; this in the washing-basin I havo ham accustomed to use . What can thoy havo beon making of all theso tilings , to put thorn under gltiHH , and treat them as wonderful works of nrt P' And so all those wonderful bronze vessels belonged , noine to tho kitchon and some to other apartments , but overy ono was a piece of household furniture . Then ho looked into that beautiful cabinet , and he sent those oxnuimto gems into his room , to bo worn by himself and his family as ordinary rings ; and the golden medals , and silver medals , and . bronze medals , ho quietly put . into his purse , for to him they were , only common money . Here , then , they had a collection of magnificent products of tho arts of dosign ; thoy had treated them as tho result and creation of art , and they wore in reality the fruits of tho artu of production ,

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      May 14 , 1853 . ] THE L E A D E R . J ^ 465

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 14, 1853, page 465, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1986/page/9/