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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd September 1854, Edition Town of 2, Page 892

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      Untitled Article

      DEAR BREAD ! The crusade against the bakers goes on . They yield only to pressure ; but that continues to be applied : — " In Somersetshire , it appears , that , notwithstanding the recent agitation , the price of bread at Bridgwater is considerably higher than in any other town in the county . So great , indeed , has been the pressure of the bakers' monopoly on the labouring classes , that the sanitary board in the borough of Bridgwater have felt it within their province to inquire into tbe matter ; and the result has brought to light the existence of a combination among the bakers and millers , which , by the statute 2 nd and 3 rd of Edward VI ., is declared illegal , and subjected to certain penalties . The Bridgwater bakers , it appears , have entered into a compact not to undersell each other , and a forfeit of 51 . 5 s the penalty agreed to among themselves for any breach of the combination rules I At Bath the 41 b . loaf lias been reduced to 5 Jd ., while at Wells , the same as in Bridgwater , the price is 7 d . for * seconds , and 74 d . for fine !" There has been & partial abatement of price in Devonshire : —

      " The contracts for bread for the various unions just entered into show a great diminution over the last quarter , but generally speaking the public have not yet participated in the downward currencies of the com trade . In the Totnes district the average price of the 41 b . loaf for the 30 parishes in the union , for the quarter ending Michaelmas , is 7 | d . ; and for the ensuing quarter , from Michaelmas to Christmas , the contract price is 5 £ d . Flour also shows a similar reduction in price in the same periods—viz ., from 57 s . 6 d . to 37 s . per sack .. At Plymouth and Devonport , last week , the bakers reduced the price of bread from Is . 3 d . to Is . Id . the 81 b . loaf v but the public are yet anxious for a further instalment ; of their rights , and it is thought the bakers must yield . The citizens of Exeter are now charged 6 | d . and 7 d . 43 bloafbut this rate hardl

      per . , , can y be maintained in the face of an organised opposition . A public meeting was held a few days ago , when it -was resolved to form a bread company for Exeter and the South of Devon , and . communications wexernade from similar societies established elsewhere . The working classes appear determined to hare the power 5 n their owjn hands to assimilate the price of bread and floor with the price of wheat , and a number of friendly societies have promised to subscribe the necessary funds to commence the undertaking . To prevent a recurrence of what is termed ' rigging the market' by a few of the wealthy millers , the town council have issued notices that they intend in future to authorise the opening of the Exeter corn-maiket at eleven o ' clock on Fridays , and that it Trill be closed two hours earlier than heretofore . "

      A Bristol paper says : — " The bakers of Bristol have lowered the quartern loaf another halfpenny last week ; this makes a reduction of one penny since the great fall in the price of wheat , but we believe the public are entitled to demand one halfpenny more off , three-halfpence on the quartern being the proportion to the fall in the price of the wheat per quarter . We suppose , however , we are to be thankful for -what we have got already , until such time as the bakers condescend to let us have the benefit , the whole benefit , and nothing but the benefit , of the bounteous harvest with which we have been blessed . " There is a popular demonstration for cheap bread in Dorsetshire : —

      " The walls were placarded , and the bakers and millers denounced as vile monopolists , and movements made for establishing bread consumers' societies , before the purveyors would give way . A bakers ' and millers ' society has existed in Sherborne many years , and at their weekly meetings the rise and fall of prices are deliberated on and decided . It is the practice for the bakers to adopt one price , the millers , on the other hand , bind themselves not to supply flour to any baker who does not belong to the local club ; and by these means competition is evaded . A baker from a distance recently began selling bread at a low remunerating profit , amd

      the society , backed by the millers , tried to ruin lum by soiling their commodities below the actual cost ; this ultimately brought the new comer into connexion with tlio society , and the rule of monopoly was maintained 1 A few weeks since , however , another cheap bread-shop was opened , and this circumstance , at once brought down " the price of bread in Sliorborno i ' rom 8 £ d . and 9 d . per loaf to 7 jd . and G £ d . The cheap bread sellors now offor bread at Gd- per 41 b . lonf , weighed on delivery . " In connection with this question arises that of the ¦ wages of agricultural labourers .

      It has been predicted that one of the consequences of the abundant harvest will be a cry next winter ot " agricultural distress . " The farmers axe preparing against the ovil day , by the simple process of cutting off a shilling or two per week from the wages of their labourers . A Berkshire paper states : — " That in consequence of the groat fall in the prico of wheat most of the agriculturists « ro reducing their labourers ' wages . In many instances tlio reduction will commence immediately , nnd iu this neighbourhood it will bo to tho extent of 2 a . per week—viz ,, from lla , to 9 s . "

      Untitled Article

      THE AUSTRIAN TROOPS AT BUCHAREST . A correspondent of the Daily News at Bucharest gives an amusing account of the the " personnel" of the Austrian troops on their entry into the town . He says : — - '' When the Austrians "were said to be two leagues from the town , I rode out , in company with a Sardinian officer , to have a look at them on the march . We proceeded ten miles under a hot sun before we saw any traces of them ; but at last caught sight of a piclcet of cavalry hulans , resting themselves in a small grove close to a village , the horses fastened to the trees , and the men engaged In knocking down pears from the branches with stones . Notwithstanding they had been two months on march , both one and the other looked remarkably well .. A few . yards further on we met the officer , a fine tall strapping fellow , brilliant and neat as if he liad

      just issued irom a bandbox , but evidently by no means inclined to underrate his own importance . " The Austrian flag was waving over one or two houses in the village , and half a mile in advance we came upon a battalion in si field by the road side , where they had been resting themselves , and were just putting on their knapsacks , for tbe purpose of resuming their inarch . They were all Hungarians , and wore the tight-fitting pataloons which form part of their national dress , and were making a great uproar in good , strong , guttural , jaw-breaking , unmistakable Magyar . Soldiers wore leading officers' horses about , and doctors were walking up and down in cocked hats and blue coats , looking as melancholy as possible . I was unwilling to approach to near or remain too long , lest I should either be insulted , or arrested as a spy , according to a long-established custom amongst the

      Austrians , lor , like the Irish boy , ' God help ' , they ' re aleared of iviry body . It is always dangerous for a civilian , or any one classed as a civilian , to approach an Austrian oilicer ; tho chances are ton to ono he falls foul of Jiim , and conducts him before his general , who makes afe > v polite inquiries as to his privuto nnd personal attains , tho object of his journey , and tho manner in which ho gets his living , which an Englishman is always loth to answer . Wo according ! v ? moved on , ' passed another battalion a little higher up tliu hill , a band with a dog drawing the big drum in a neat link cart , nnd toiling right willingly at his task , notwithstanding tho great heat . Tho largo drums of all the Austrian bunds are convoyed in this manner—placed endways in tho cmi ; tho drummer walks behind , and tsips away . The dogs Re - ceive regular rations , besides odd morsels bestowed on them

      by tho men , are in capital condition , nnd I liuvo no doubt lead a happy , and I think I may add , « i useful lilo . A " W / illachian peasant , who wns acting as our guide , was so tickled by this spectacle that lie screnmod with laughter , placed his two hands oh his ribe , nnd rolled about in convulsions , T ) i « musicians seemed to think his mirth cxticim . lv ill-timed , if one might judge by their surly looks , and 1 wiis at ono inomont afraid they were going to lay violent Umiids on him . At other points wo saw Iwo battalions moro , ono buttery of artillery , but no cavalry . Tho road all tho way into Uuclui ^ rest was covered with eurts containing tlio Imggugo and innmunition , and tlio nick , of wl om , however , thorn were r . o grout number ; but the fuw that wore to bo soen muni liuvo

      boon Bulk-ring < I rend Cully from tho lieut and dubt . No precaution sccim-d to huve been taken for their protection from either . M y object in going out so i ' av was to hco them in working trim , knowing woji nmt { j lOy Wolu , i brush themsol vow up on tho day ( >| their outry into ]}« ohiiro » l ., and that ono could consequently not form on that occasion a correct ulea of their nppouranoo nnd equipment . I must , Riiy that tlio result of tho luittly inspection I ' m- surpassed my ( wqwclnlion . Everything on mid about tho soUllcra was eloun ui . il neat , !" U" they wore juut issuing from gainiaon iiistund of boin tf nt , tho close of a two iruuitlm' iimrcii . Their white twits with Htaiiik-HH , their slinkou uppnroiitly not in the lentil tho woreu of tho wear , thoir amis , belts , mid nceouLruiLOiils brilliant '"* on ii ficld-dny ut VUiiiun , tlio artillery Iiorucs wcro JVihlilooking and bloolr , mid tho bngmigo-waggons nnd lmrncwi in ported order . "

      Untitled Article

      most formidable scourges which can afflict a nation have been reduced , with the exception of losses to he for « ver regretted , to the limits of passing difficulties . The epidemic is being extinguished ; the famine has been succeeded by an abundant narvest ; the war , commenced under happy auspices , inspires no more alarm than tbe ambition which created it . Within a short time the nations , faithful to their appointment , will re-assemble at Paris to take part in the pacific struggles between industry and the arts . " What an immense change has taken place in opinion as well as in position ! At the same time that France resumed in Europe the eminent rank which belonged to her , she witnessed the disappearance of that distrust of which the recollection of the past rendered her the object . 'Phut nation , against which every other country thought it had the Tight to cherish jealousy , has become by an unexpected change the most solid support of European order- It is no longer towards the north that weak or menaced States turn their

      attention ; and , what is still more astonishing , the fears which France inspired have ceased by the accession of him whose glorious name seemed calculated to awaken them . What has just taken place at Boulogne forms an indication more expressive than any words . To that shore , wlience Napoleon fifty years ago menaced England , and whence he rushed to the conquest of Germany , have come the Prince , the husband of the Queen of England , generals from all the States of Germany , and also the King of the Belgians , and tbe King of Portugal , to visit the heir of Napoleon . They were present as allies , as friends , at the manoeuvres of an army which bv its discipline and its bravery , still more than by the spot where it was encamped , recalled to recollection the Gi-and Army of the first empu-e . . "• The fact is , that every one is now aware that those valiant soldiers only threaten the enemy of the peace of the

      world ; that the memorable words at Bordeaux , which at first appeared irreconcilable with the reality , have become an incontestable truth to all ; that no one doubts that , with the causes of division which still exist in Europe , with the weakness of certain States and the hesitation of others , if France had not been satisfied with the re-establishment of its national Government , if her strength had not been concentrated in a firm and skilful hand , the question now to be decided in the East would have' . become the signal for one universal conflagration . It is because every one is convinced that a prompt and energetic war -was the only way to re-establish peace upon a solid basis ; and , in short , that this vrar , entered upon not in the spirit of conquest , but made imperative for the honour and safety of all , was only undertaken after Europe , represented by a sort of grand liad

      FRANCE UNDER THE EMPIRE , This it io has boon an Imperial manifesto on tho state of things in Franco . The object i » to show -what advantages have been derived from the Government of Louis Napoleon , tho English alliance among them . The JHfonitcur apoaks : — " Franca is now enjoying tli « fruits of tlio honourable and firm polioy inaugurated by the Emperor . In hplto of famine , onldomlo , and war , tho national uotivity has not been dhnimulied and tho public credit lino not boon shaken . Tlmnltn to the . wi » o resolution of tho Government , ho well Boaondod by tlio aouriiKo nnd oonlldonco of tho countrv . three of tho

      jury , pronounced -with unanimity against the guilty aggressor a sentence which it -would have been dishonourable not to execute . France and England could not shrink before that consequence . United in action as -they had been in opinion , the two great maritime Powers share the glory of the vigorous resolution which forms the security of tie present and the guarantee of the future . " Assuredly , the relations of good neighbourhood between England and France do not date from yesterday . Long years of tranquillity , the progress of enlightened views , and more frequent relations between the two people , had weakened national antipathies ; but this happy change was more rapidly effected among the superior classes than in the mass of the people , and there was a long step from such a state of things to the fraternal relations which now so closely unite the two nations .

      " Ihe transport of our troops to the Baltic in the English fleet , and the enthusiasm which the visit of the Emperor on the occasion excited , hnd already proved to Europe the intimacy of our alliance . The visit of Prince Albert to the camp of Boulogne , and the cordial reception he experienced from our population and our soldiers , formed , as it were , a final and solemn consecration of that alliance . The records of history added still moro to the significance of this great event . Upon those very localities which had been tlie scene of our former struggles tho union of tho two people seems to have been effected by a closer tie , and the forgctfulness of the past was rendered more complete . "Wo must do tho English Government the justice of saying that it spared nothing to hasten such a desirable union . From the lirst announcement of the re-establishment of the Empire , when others were undecided as to tbe course

      they should adopt , England did not hesitate . On Ms part , tho Emperor , mudo wiso by history , and faithful to tho idea of his uncle , who so eloquently doplorcd tlio evils which England and Franco had oreatcd by their divisions , while thoir iinion would have boon so profitable to their interests and to tho cause of humanity , was desirous to free tho second half of the century from tho calamities which had desolated tho commencement of it . " Thanks to the good faith which has characterised tlio relations between tho two States , tho policy which wisdom dictated to them hus triumphed , without either having sacrificed its interests , its independence , or its dignity . Old antipathies have suddenly gwn place to reciprocal friendship nnd esteem . nv > attacks of public journals have been turned into united gratitude nnd admiration . The alliance formed not only between tho Governments , but between tlio people , iH now cemented by tho blood which thoir soldiers und sailors shed together for tho triumph of the most noblu

      cause . <¦ ' Tho cnuHca which led to Uio adoption of this uU ' miieo gunrantoo tho duration of it ,, and tlio results which it linu nlroady produced indicate witli sufikk-nt elciinicsa tho con-ROfiuoncoa which may bo expected from it "

      Untitled Article

      Great indignation was felt in newspaper circles at this recreant act , and the Sieck did not spare the sinning editor . It is novr announced that M . de la Guerroniere has been , in consequence of his conduct , dismissed from the editorship of the Conslitutionnel . It is said that this act is universally applauded among the press people as one of proper spirit on the part of the proprietors . " By way of consolation to M . de la Guerroniere for his dismissal from the editorial chair , government has conferred upon him the office of Councillor of State . Cest nn etat comme un autre . M . Cucheval Clarigny is the new editor of the Constitutionnel , bub it is understood that he has only accepted the appointment upon condition that a certain eminent theatrical critic shall no longer be connected with the journal , unless he can satisfactorily refute some very notorious of ancient well

      charges , as as recent date , affecting his professional character . Unless the gentleman iu question be very much maligned , he has long been in the habit of exacting fees from the authors and actors whose writings or performances ho criticises . Indeed it is said that in private , ' owns and justifies' the charge , using an argument analogous to the celebrated one advanced by Lord Bacon when convicted of taking bribes—that he had sold ' justice , ' it was true , but never ' injustice ! ' So this critic protests that he would scorn to take money for an opinion against his conscience , but that he sees no harm in receiving a gratuity for taking the trouble to give a conscientious opinion . M . Cucheval Clarigny distinctly refuses to be a party to the recognition of this principle as applied to the duties of a writer for the public press' . ' The Ujiioii says that M . de la Guerroniere is appointed political director of the liloniteur . There are rumoiirs to this effect , but it has not been ascertained whether the appointment has been actually made . "

      FRENCH JOURNALISM . Sombs littlo time ngo tlio Comtiiutiomiel received a warning from tho French government on account of a particular airticlo which nppenreO in it . The editor , Viscount do la Guerroniorc , shortly uttorwnrda published a letter repudiating tho responsibility « f tho article , in question , und suggesting that it would not have appeared but for his having been m tho country nt tho time .

      Untitled Article

      892 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 23, 1854, page 892, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2057/page/4/