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Leader (1850-1860), 6th August 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 752, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      original intention of its ¦ founder * . To stem such abuses , William of Wykeham , Bishop of Winchester , came forward and put forth his claim to the patronage and visitation of the Hospital . He was opposed , in every way , by William de Sfcowell , the then master of the so-called charity , and upon his death by Sir Boger de Cloud , his successor ; when the dispute was referred to the Pope , who condemned Sir Roger in costs , and decided in favour of William of Wykeham , a good and learned prelate , to whom the country is indebted , not only for this , but for many other great and good actions . In 1561 a transaction took place , which goes far to

      prove that the trusts of this charity were at that period fully comprehended and known . A suit having been commenced to make the hospital contribute , under the statute of Henry VIII ., its first fruits and tenths , it was pleaded against such statute that the funds of the charity were appropriated to charitable purposes and to the use of the poor ; whereupon the Court directed the bishop to examine the archives of the hospital ; and the bishop , having done so , reported that the funds were so applied ; and the Court decreed the charity to be exempt on these grounds . By a statute also , passed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth , after

      reciting that the hospital was founded for charitable purposes and for the relief of the poor , and that certain leases had been granted by Dr . Reynolds , one of the masters , it was enacted that all such leases should be void , and that no future master should have power to grant the same , and that the funds of the charity should thenceforth be applied for the sustentation of the poor . Yet , since that time , for a period of 200 years , the masters of the hospital have continually succeeded in diverting the revenues of the charity to their own use . In 1696 a most extraordinary and nefarious deed was passed ; ( this deed is what is known as the "

      Consuetudinartum : ) It commenced by stating that , after diligent search , no deeds or documents had been discovered for the government of the charity . And yet , at this very time , and in the face of such assertion , the master and brethren were in possession of the original deed of the charity , a copy of the bull ofjjhe Pope , a copy of the proceeding under the statute of Henry VIII ., the statute itself of Queen Elizabeth , and the document of the House of Noble Poverty , all of which clearly proved the trusts of the charity . The Gonsuetudinariwm then proceeded with the same effrontery to state that the

      charity had been governed from time immemorial by custom , and that such custom , unless finally settled , might create confusion and dissension , and , in conclusion , proceeded to ask the bishop to countenance the arrangement proposed , which the bishop did under certain conditions and qualifications , although the proof of such custom , stated as existing , depended solely upon the evidence of a steward attached to the hospital for a period of thirty years . A more barefaced and shameful deed was never framed , and a more wicked and wilful perversion of a charity carried out . Under this glaring and discreditable deed the charity has since been carried

      on . But , lately , the wrong was brought into Chancery , and redress was sought . That redress has been promptly given . An injunction has been granted to restrain the granting of any leases or fines of the pro - perty of the charity , and an inquiry will be directed as to the leases now existing , and as to the present state of the institution and the appropriation of its funds . The master , ( Lord Guildford , ) tho chief perverter of the funds , will bo called up ' . n to account for all tho rents received by him , and for the expenses of keeping tho buildings in repair .

      Untitled Article

      WAGES AND WORKMEN . Tim demands of workmen for advances of wages have taken placo in many parlH of tho country—in some cases accompanied by reprehensible ) violonco . Tho present wages of tho carpenters and joiners of TiC . cds ran go from 20 . * . to 20 s . a-week , and their hours of work extend to fivo o ' clock on Saturday . They have roiiHonnbly asked Is . a-wcok advance and an hour ' s leisure on Saturday , " to go on tho moor to hear the band play . " The masters hnvo given a joint refusal , but several have separately made tho concession . Tho general strike in Wales is very formidable : sixteen furnaces at DowIiuh have been blown out , and thousands of men are meeting on tho hills . Tinny demand an advance of 7 £ per cent . A partial and exorbitant demand for 20 per cent , advance ( following on a lato advance of l . 'J per cont . ) , mado by some mill bands in Manchester ., lias been cheeked by tho general body of ( ho operatives . This shows sound judgment . Hut the Manchester dyers have behaved like ruffians ; they have assaulted tho men willing to work and tho wasters who refuse the required concession . Tho oxtra labourers at tho Jjondon . Dooks , at present paid Ids . a-week , " ask for more , " and are out on strike . The metropolitan compositors continue their protracted and apparently reasonable resistance to the reductions attempted by the Sun newspaper . Tho cabmen of Edinburgh demand from their masters Vis , instead of ]()/ ,-. a-wook . Tho garden labourers at Jhilham ank 10 « . instead of 14 a . per week : they are rather disorderly in their conduct . Tho carpet weavers of Kiddomnineter aro otill at variance with their muaicvo ,

      although an attempt at compromise , kindly offered by the masters , was near putting an end to the strike . The obstinacy of some of t he men , however , stopped the reconciliation . The Tyne seamen make two demands—one , that the ships be well stored—a proper demand ; tho _ other , that the number of apprentices to each ship be limited—a highly improper claim . The engineers and stokers of Asjiton are organizing a short-time movement ; and the mill hands of the same place have sent a well-worded address to their masters , respectfully a 6 king for Boards of Arbitration . _ .

      The successes are few , but one' is extensive , In Stockport , the operatives have gained a great victory . The masters have granted the ten per cent , advance to the epinnera , and the men have readily returned to their work . The weavers , offered five per cent , advance , as yet hold out , but a general settlement is expected . The stonemasons of Marj / lebone , lately paid 4 * . Gd . a day , have now got their wages advanced to Gd . an hour , and their labourers have obtained 3 d . per hour . The general well being of the craftsmen is indicated to us by various facts . From Ireland it is reported that " wages keep up to the recent advance , and that employment is abundant in all parts of the country . " The Eegister-general reports , through his deputy , from Cheshire classes all well

      and Lancashire , that " the operative are employed , and although the prices of various kinds of provisions are on the advance , there appears a general disposition to increase wages in proportion . " Some "local charities" in Manchester have been stopped , the people ' s prosperity doing away with their necessity . And in many parts of the Metropolis , debating societies , formed of working men , are taking the place of the old card playing societies . We may also note here , as a development of industry and trade , the opening of a new Ex change at Nottingham . On Wednesday the inauguration was celebrated by a festival in the town , and Mr . Walter , proprietor of the Times , congratulated the company on the convivial custom , forgetting , doubtless , how his editors satirise charity dinners and public feasts .

      Untitled Article

      GOOD SENSE IN BAD ENGLISH . The following letter from a foreigner , more clear in his ideas than in his English , has some good suggestions on the cab question : —

      "To the Editor of'the Times . " Sib , — -The Cabman question has been spoken in Your journal , and the condemnation of a Cabman , having asked 6 sh . for a short fare ; which hasTnitch Ifontributed to ~ the Cab-owner ' s public offence and crime on Wednesday , is not so alone standing , as great number of people is believing . " For the Stranger 'tis a fortune that the robbery of these ' Wegelagarer' has become and end . The undersigned German , inthe first time of his being in London ,

      not knowing the laws for cabman , has regularly been robberd of this men , then he has must pay for a fare of 2 miles 4 sh . ^ -for a fare of 3 miles 6 sh . —in the manner , that seldom he haa hnd a fare under 3 sh . Ho ' co ' n't good speak english , and for not would have scandal in tho street he must pay as much as these rubbers were asking . When he was saying , ' having heard , that the fare were only 3 sh . ' —tho cabman responding , that were true , but ' ho must enough become the back fare to his station . '

      " It would bo good for the great number of strangers visiting London , that in every carriage for public use were published tho laws and conditions under which the carriage-owner was authorized for public service , and by tho great number of strangers , who can not understand english , it should be , that this publication were also in french and German language . " But these rubberies aro not alone standing ; a number of taverns aro no better—at example , tho great Tavern at the entrance of Regents park , tho York and Albanytavern . Tho undersigned , coming from the zoological gardens in Regents park during raining weather , and having cold , maked give himself 10—12 drops (^ littlo glas ) of rhum and a cup of cofFo without milk . Tho rhum was bad and tho coffo not good ! But tho wrongest was tho prize of them .

      " ' ( 5 penco for tho coffo '—paid ! ' Tho Waiter , Sir 'paid Id . ' 6 penco tho rhum , Sir ! ' This I would not pay , meaning that tho rhum were paid with tho eofi ' e . But I must , would I not have scandal . " This , Sir , arc only two facts of my experiences , and such facts aro not phasing tho stranger , which is coming to IKngland in tho meaning that tho free people of England also would bo a honest people ! Tho last givo much to wish ! " If I publish these facts , 'tis not on account of mo—no , 'tis only for do the service , that such things may become an end , and for lovo to the people of England , lor what I wish , that it should be great in every manner . " I have tho honour , Sir , to remain , "A J ' OMTIOATj FlHUTIVK IMtOM UjiRMAKY . " London , 20 July . 1853 . "

      Tho suggestion to affix to each cab the farca and regulations in French and ficrniiin in a very proper hint . To mako our city agreeable to strangers would bo good policy . ns well nfl good taste .

      Untitled Article

      THK CARMAN'S I { IOTIJRN \ Tun lato aet left unregulated the time litre after tho first hour . A new elauso provided that sixpence for each quarter of an hour shall be the fare after the first hour . It i « iiIno lived that tho circle of four miles' radius shall have its centre nt Tomplo-bar , and not at Charing-cross . Before the polico-courtn tho nibmon are resuming their custom of conquest . It has been decided that a cabman can refuHO im intoxicated fare , and that if the said fare insists upon being driven to tho police station , tho cabman must bo paid for tho drive . Soveral cabmen have been summoned for not giving tickets to tlio hirers , but nojie have been convicted . Nut a single charge of incivility haa been made against a cabman during tho

      week ; and in several cases of ; dispute the civility of the cabmen was evidenced by the riders . . Facility in finding out the proper fare of a cabman is afforded by a new map , published opportunely by Messrs . Smith , booksellers , Strand . It is divided into half-mile squares , diagonally placed , and it is very easy to ascertain any given distance . In _ addition the new cab -re gulations are printed on the margin , and altogether the raap is a neat and serviceable pocket-companion . : : > :.

      Untitled Article

      A GAUGE OF PROSPERITY . The social statistics supplied by the Registrar-General daguerreotype , in a bare and uncoloured style , the changes in English homes . The facts of the two first quarters of this year are suggestive . The marriages are on the increase— -35 , 014 marriages were celebrated in the first quarter of the year , or 2081 more than were celebrated in the corresponding quarter of 1852 . The increase in the marriages is most conspicuous in London , in the seaports , and in the manufacturing towns ; in Northamptonshire ,

      Devonshire , Cornwall , Gloucestershire , Shropshire , Staffordshire , Worcestershire , Leicestershire , Nottinghamshire , Cheshire , Lancashire , the West Riding of Yorkshire , Westmoreland , and Monmouthshire ; in Portsmouth , Plymouth , Southampton , Bristol ; in Northampton , Bath , Stroud , Wolverhampton , Dudley , Birmingham , Nottingham , Chester , Manchester , Leeds , Sheffield , Merthyr Tydfil . In all the most prosperous districts of the country the marriages increased . In Dover , in Brighton , in St . George , Hanover-square , in several other districts , and in the eastern counties , the

      marriages declined . The births , instead of the increase that might bo expected from the gradual increase of marriages , show a slight decline . They were 159 , 138 in J 51 ; 159 , 136 in ' 52 : and 158 , 718 in 1853 . The deaths show an increased mortality . In the first quarter of this year they were 118 , 241 , compared with 106 , 682 and 105 , 446 in the corresponding quarters of the two preceding years . During the quarter ended June of this year , they were less than in the spring quarter , but still 8000 more thanin . the corresponding quarter of 1851 . Some of the increase in mortality

      may be attributed to the dearness of provisions . The price of provisions during the quarter was considerably higher than the ruling prices in the corresponding months of the year 1852 ; wheat was sold on an average at 445 . 6 d . a quarter ; beef , by the carcase , in London , at 4 | d . per pound ; mutton 6 % d . per pound ; potatoes ( York regents ) at 127 s . Gd . per ton . Tho price of wheat was 10 per cent ., beef 22 per cent ., mutton 31 per cent ., potatoes 31 per cent , higher in April , May , June , 1853 , than in the corresponding months of 1852 . Still it is a startling fact , that the number that died during those months in 1853 is the

      highest that has ever been registered before in the corresponding season , and exceeds by 7048 the deaths in the spring quarter of 1852 . The rate of mortality in England is highest in the winter , lowest in the summer quarter ; while the mortality of the spring quarter holds an intermediate rank , near the average of tho year . This average is exceeded by the present return , which shows a mortality at the rate of 2 * 383 per cent , per annum ; higher than the rate in the corresponding quarter of every year 1843-52 , except tho spring quarter of 1847 , when the population was infected by scurvy , and its attendant disease after the great failure of tho

      potato crop in 1846 . Tho rate of mortality was then 2 * 606 ; in the autumn influenza broko out , and cholera followed on its footsteps in 1848 and 1849 . The mortality of the quarter was above tho average both in the town and in the country districts ; tho annual rate of mortality was 2606 in 117 districts , comprising tho chief towns , and 2-196 per cent , in 508 districts , extending over tho rest of tho kingdom . Tine population of England is , there ia reason to believe , collectively healthier than any equal amount of population in any other kingdom ; but tho rapid increase in tho proportion of the town population—in which the mortality is 27 per cent , higher than it is in tho country , and tho HickncMs , tho suffering , the debility , tho physical degeneracy of race , uro in an equal excess—makes

      this question of tho health of towns and tho fertilization of tho surrounding fields one of pressing importance ; . Tho deaths to every thousand , porsonfi living in town is 258 in the your , while but 203 out of every thousand , purHous living in tho country die in the same time . Tho lives destroyed by tho " matters which aro poisons in houses , streets , and st reams , but aro fertilizing manures in fields , " aro 55 in tho yenr In London tho mortality has considerably exceeded tho average , and it is chiefly due to diseases of tho respiratory organs , typhus , hooping-cough , diurrhonn , nnd violonco of various kinds . Twelve deaths were referred to privation , 5 J (> to poison , 88 to burns and ¦ calds , 86 to hanging and suffocation , 81 to drowning , 171 to mechanical injuries of various kinds , 38 to wound *; nnd in nearly all those ca » o » tho number * ex-

      Untitled Article

      752 THE LEADER . [ Sattopay ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1853, page 752, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1998/page/8/