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Leader (1850-1860), 31st December 1853, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1250, Untitled Article

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      only preparation of which we are aware is , 'that the minds of our officials have at last been quite prepared for the exigency which can no longer be avoided . ' If : we . su * e not mistaken , while- orders have been sent out to blockade every port in the Black Sea , to drive every Uussian ship into those ports , and , if necessary , to bombard Sebastopol itsel , military precautions '' at-home have been carried to the largest extent : every regiment in Ireland , except one —the Thirty-third—is under

      orders for foreign service ; the English regiments are under orders to increase their strength ; and the fear o the people of Glasgow , that a Russian fleet may indulge a pic-nic excursion up the Clyde , natural as it is , may be set at rest . Under these circumstances it is not surprising if an impressment should prevail that Baron Brunow , the Kussian ambassador , will terminate his protracted residence in the British capital , probably within three weeks time .

      But little is now said respecting the influences ¦ wh ich have beset the Court and sought to incline it towards un-English objects . No explanation has been given . We have observed in the columns of our contemporaries a most extraordinary uniformity in stating that Court intrigues existed , in declaring popular horror of such proceedings , and in warning the distinguished personage , who was supposed to have taken part , that the very suspicions of such a course involved danger if not " wickedness . " Our journals agree on few points ; some of them do not agree even with themselves ; and when they are unanimous , especiall y when they are outspoken , as they have been in this

      case , the feeling must be one widely and deeply set in the English heart . "We are inclined to put a very positive interpretation upon the silence which has followed these general denouncements . We interpret it thus—that the warning has had its effect ; that those who are best informed feel assured that the suspected operations have at least been relinquished ; and that , whatever may have been the case last week , there is no longer any necessity to urge that warning . We trust it is so . But the occasion is of so grave a kind , that it is not desirable to relinquish the popular vigilance until we see the Crown engaged , by its responsible Ministers , in a decisive course on behalf of England and of justice .

      We do not pay much attention to the last reports from India , about a Russo-Persian approach towards our territories ; partly because the Daily JSFews seems to us to prove that these reports are only the Indian branch of an old report which had already reached us , and which must have anticipated the hostile proceedings of Persia . These innumerable rumours percolating through the Himalehs , are so very remote from the facta in which they originated , as to be little more than shadows . Much more interesting are the

      occurrences that "bear upou the actual state of India ; and however they may relate in some cases to the very painful incidents of social economy , they are prospectively of the most cheerful kind . We do not modify that expression even in regard to the wholesale infanticide in the Punjuub . The crime is one which we habitually associate with some institutions , not only of India , but of other countries . It is more nakedly a superstition than some crimes which prevail in more civilised countries ; but we suspect that in the amount of depravity and misery , it may be more than paralleled

      in that country which wo are apt to reckon the most civilised in the world . However that may be , it is a trouble which belongs to India ; and we derive our encouragement from the course which the Indian Government has thought it wine to adopt ; it is , to assemble the chic / Is of the accused district , to make a declaration of . English feeling in regard to the crime , to invite from those chiefs a declaration in the same sense , and to suggest new regulations for marriage ; for

      the crime itself originates , first , in the desiro to escape the necessity for a dowry , which custom has established in the district ; mid , secondly , amongst those who are under no such necessity , in the desire to imitate the practice of rank and wealth . . But . the course taken' by our Government proves how considerable must be the reliance which well-informed oflicijil . H have on the eilectof public opinion amongst the natives , and the capacity of thoso natives for adopting moreenlightened views . Certainly Mr . Kaike ! s , and those who accept his . suggestions , expect , from the Hindoos a capacity of prompt , reform , which the English people do not find even in the English Cabinet . The detection of " khufcput" in Bombay

      no novelty—Government knew it ; but the detection is cheering ; especially coming , as it does , at the time when the public opinion of England and India unites in the desire to sweep away these ' . corruptions , and to establish a system of purer government . The Bombay Association is admirably carrying on its work of collecting facts and representations to he laid before the English public ; and is thus proving that the natives who can think so well , and can push discussion with so . much zeal and discretion , are certainly capable of sharing the conduct of their own affairs .

      we regard as being amongst the cheering circumstances . Khutput means official corruption , and the recent instance consists in the interception of a packet which was actually passing through the Post-office , and which contained -a report to Government discreditable to the Gwieowar of Baroda . For asserting the existence of such practices Colonel Outram , the Resident at Baroda , was superseded ; he has scarcely been replaced , and has not yet arrived at his old post , ere this new proof bursts forth . Now the corruption is

      To pass at once from the extreme east to the extreme west , let us notice the report of the conquest of Lower California by a band of adventurers from . San Francisco . It is a flibustero expedition , at which , of course , the Government in Washington must frown , and at which English routine politicians are scandalised . But in truth the transfer of a province , even to a Committee in Safety of Yankee blood , from the laggard and disorderly Government of Mexico , is actual

      promotion . It is very generally supposed that Lord Palmerston ' s return to office is accompanied by arrangements agreeable to himself , on the subject of the difference with his colleagues . In the first place , it is understood that , although Government had already determined upon a more energetic course in the East , that energy is at once facilitated and guaranteed by his resumption . In the second place , he is understood to have objected generally , to certain distributions of the members disengaged by the disfranchisement of several boroughs , and especially to the disfranchisement of the particular borough for which he sits—Tiverton . Lord Palmerston has been noted

      for a certain fidelity to those who assist him—it is a quality for which his subordinates adore him ; and if he carries out this faith in regard to his constituency , it is probable that no candidate would be able to oust him at a future election for Tiverton . It is remarkable that the same objection which induced Lord Palmerston to fly ofl ^ precluded Sir George Grey from coming on ; for it is understood that Sir George made a difficulty of sitting in a Cabinet

      which proposes disfranchisement of the very borough for which he sits—Alnwick . ISTow the most flattering account of the Reform Bill as it was likel y to pass the Cabinet did not lead to any high popular expectations ; and of this we are sure , that a vigorous and national course abroad will be regarded by every class of the English public as much more important than the introduction and carrying of the anticipated Ministerial Bill . A lasting ; warfare abroad in not a favourable- season

      for heated discussions amongst ourselves ; and for our part we should be content to see every object of internal discussion set aside for the moment . Under the circumstances of the country it appears to us that there is but one reform bill which could be advanced with good taste or policy , but that would be a very short enactment—namely , to declare that every Englishman that can give an authenticated name and address is entitled to vote for his representative in Parliament .

      The operative council at Preston addressed a memorial to Lord Palmcrston , inviting intervention between the working people on strike mid their masters , who arc locking out . lie has replied with much good sense and with comparatively little information , us he candidly avows to the memorialists ; and in a separate paper we have made free to urge upon them the expediency of collecting Ihe information which he seeks .

      1 he Lancashire , strike , however , has ontcrod on a portentous phase—the masters ) of the whole cotton district , assembled in conclave itt ¦ Manchester , have resolved to support Ihe masters of I reston . We cannot but regret this step . A contemporary says that the conflict will now be " equal , ' ami ventures to hope thai ; the ringleaders among the delegates will \ m » punished . " It is winter , nipping frosts prevail , and « now deadens alike the tramp of Uw locked-out hands and the roar of the carringe-wheels of the

      capitalists of . Lancashire . ' Will not the feelings of ti men be doubly embittered , now that capital has f midably combined ? May not the peace be brokS Lord Palmerston , who cannot interfere now even " give that sagacious advice expected , mav X that he will have to interfere unpleasantly \ v have great trust in the patience and fortitude f the working classes ; but there are limits t endurance , especially under a winter sky and ™ exasperating treatment . Surely Lord Palmerston might have told the manufacturers what is th fact—that they have neglected , and do still ' neglect , to supply their operatives and the tmhlV

      , . with sound information and wide data on the sub ject of the cost of production and the state of trade ? The Home Secretary might have in . formed the lords of cotton that a few manufacturing statistics would be ' 'as useful as agr icultural statistics . With sound information we should neither have the Preston revolt nor the Manchester Holy Alliance .

      Untitled Article

      DECIMAL COINAGE . 'Liverpool is taking the lead in reviving public attention to this question . A communication on the decimal coinage question has just been addressed by Mr . William Brown , of Liverpool ( the mover of the late House of Commons' Committee on the subject ) to the President of the Liverpool Chamber of Gommerce , urging that every step should betaken to familiarise the public with a knowledge of the advantages of the system , so as to convince the Government that in their friendly feelings towards it they may rely upon the support of the country . With that view , Mr . Brown concisely recapitulates , in the following manner , the nature of the evidence obtained on all sides as to the desirableness of the

      change , and exhorts the various representatives of our commercial interests to assist in the duty of making it known as widely as possible : — " The report of the House of Commons' Committee was unanimous in favour of a decimal coinage , and in urging the Government to its adoption ; indeed , there was not a single division during their frequent sittings . "AH our present gold and silver coinage can be madeavailable . The sovereign taken as the unit , and divided into 1 . 000 mils ; the half-sovereign , 500 mils ; the crown ,

      250-mils ; the half-crown , 125 mils ; the florin , 100 mils ; the shilling , 50 mils ; and the sixpence , 25 mils . The copper i& the only coin that must necessarily be altered , and 1 , 2 , and 5 mil pieces are recommended . The half-crown , the threepenny , and the fourpenny pieces were recommended to be withdrawn , and 10 and 20 mil pieces , and any other coins that convenience may require , from time to time issued . The nomenclature is of very little importance—if persons choose to use the name ' farthings' iu place of ' mils , ' they

      may . " It has been said that if the pound sterling is adopted as the unit , we shall require an entire new silver coinage . That is quite a mistake . If the mils are marked on all new silver coinage as issued , as the committee recommends , and pass for exactly the same amount as that now in circulation , none of the present silver coinage need be withdrawn until worn out—its remaining in circulation would at [ onco show the least intelligent person that there was no difference in value between the old and the new .

      " There was but one opinion in tho minds of the witnesses or of the committee , that great advantages would arise from our adopting a decimal coinage , and only one witness suggested any other unit than tho pound sterling , although at the same time a decided advocate of tho decimal principle . He thought that wo might adopt the penny ; but , when it was considered that tho pound sterling is known to all tho world in our exchanges , that our national debt , dividends , and all large contracts , rents , &c , are associated in our minds with pounds sterling , and that the penny is most generally used for tho small payments of tho day , for which a substitute can easily bo found in a now copper coinage , as peloro committee

      stated , tho penny found no favour with tlio . "Tho system of buying and selling bullion , wliicli lias hitherto been customary , has lately been abandoned t » y " Bank of England , which now buys and soils it decimalry Tho Master of the Mint , Sir John Horschol , informed us Jio

      meant to follow its example , ^ _ , _ ,, " JLicutonunt-General Sir C . W . Pasley and Mr . Jicnry Taylor guvo us some very striking examp les oftllD d f , ^ number of figures that would bo necessary , and tl » o consequent saving of labour that would arise from our adopti „ a decimal system of bookkeeping and calculations over now in use . ., . t i "Professor Airy , Koyal Astronomer , stated time poorait dealers of nil referred everything to tho 8 '"™'"" u u pound sterling , and that to disturb it as tho unit wuu lead to grout confusion . . -, ; ma i " Professor Do Morgan considered that adopting ft « ouh system of arithmetic would uavo one-luilf or lour-l"w « tho tiino in teaching it , and leavo that saving lor « ' ° P ° ft of other studied ; ho frequently finds it necessary , i mutter of convonionco , to turn £ . s . d . into decimais , out liia calculations in thorn , and reconvert tlio utui

      into £ . H . ( 1 . vfnnMVfi "Air . Lindsay and Mr . Kirkham , who liftvo oxwuJ dealings with tho poor , and tako as much as 1 WU » " «!¦• ^ each per week , guvo u very decided opinion , tliat , , |)( , ; r explained to tho poor that they could got 2 ft imis n » ^ . sixpenco in pkco of 24 farthings , tlicro wouW l > o i cully in their mooting tho change , but Mr . Kirkliam i" « ^ (|| . ( hoy they would prefer tho name of farthing to iim . ^ evidoneo clearly stilted that , tho quantity of nny ' }> ,, tJlC to tho poor would readily bo adjusted to tho valuo w coin received .

      Untitled Article

      1250 THE LEADER . [ Satu rday . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦¦¦!¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ i ¦ ' in . ¦ i ^ >¦¦ . <¦¦¦ - -- ^ -j ^^ vw ^ MmrTMMffifMBMWW ^ TTInlTnfflrBlilffW ^^^ T ^ ^*^ ^ " ^^—'~*—^**^ 'f HiigmKSaEi ^^^ MBMjMMMB ^ MOB ^ BMMBtt » 3 Mn ^ fyin- ^ Jlfc » jLLJLiiMf ^^ J _ ^ y *^*^ ff | M ^¦¦! ¦ iim ^ i . " i '

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 31, 1853, page 1250, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2019/page/2/