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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd December 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1209, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      THE MILITIA . The Nation gives the following warning to intending Irish volunteers : — - „ .. ' . ' ^ arli ? menfc Was summoned in a panic to pass a Mihtia Bill , and Lord Palrnerston has introduced it with a speech of more than usual plausibility . The militiaman is to be as free as air . He cannot be sent to Malta or the Colonies except with his own full consent . Though all the rest of his regiment volunteer , he will be entitled to refuse . In short , the act is to l ) e merely an enabling one ; compulsory on nobody—and , above all , not on the happy militiaman . Of course not .

      ' Perhaps our readers may suppose the Home Secretary relies exclusivel y on the force of habit and discipline for turning his militia into regulars as fast as they are needed—for have them he must and will . Habit and discipline are certainly very powerful . Take a young peasant , and put a uniform on him , carry him from Louth or Meath to Monmouthshire , shut him up with a thousand others , to lead the idle and vicious life of a barrack , and in a few months he will he fit for little else than to become a soldier for life . A return to

      honest toil , and the simple life of the country , will appear Insipid and spiritless to him ; and the chances are , he volunteers to the Crimea or elsewhere and fuiais his destiny . But they do injustice to the ingenuity and resources of the noble viscount who fancy that it is upon this moral gravitation alone he relies in leaving the militiaman so much apparent freedom . Get liim in a red coat , plant him under a drill-sergeant and an oath of obedience , and he will speedily be taught a few lessons on the liberty of the subject not contemplated in bis philosophy .

      " Old hands' tell droll stories of the volunteering from Irish militia regiments in the time of Bonaparte . The men -were as free as air , but somehow they found a visit to the Peninsula inevitable . A militia ensign or lieutenant was offered a commission in the Line if he could seduce a certain number of his regiment to accompany him . First blarney was tried—promotion , plunder , and glory were promised in any quantity by the gallant young crimp . But these baits sometimes failed , and then came the heavy drill till the men fell down in the ranks , or their feet were a mass of bruises and blood .

      By -way of variety , an intractable company were sometimes marched up to a stone wall till their noses touched it , and left there under arms and in the same position for hours in succession . Drill is the modern ' torture . ' Prisoners sometimes inflict frightful wounds and sores on themselves to evade the species of it practised in some of the stricter gaols . But that is a trifle to the military 4 rill employed as a punishment . The militiaman who could successfully withstand it , and insist upon his Act-Of-Parliament right not to leave the country , - would be worthy of immortality .

      "A mihtia raised for the bond fide purpose of home service—for the protection of a free country against invasion—is a most honourable force , and would l ) e cheerfully recruited by the best men of such a country . But the hesitation of the people—even the panic flight to America of many—show how it is regarded in Ireland . They recognise in it only a more subtle species of imp ressment ; a mere nursery of hireling soldiers , and treat it accordingly . " The ' better classes' in Dublin have evinced a nice discrimination in selecting men worthy to become our guardians at home , or to bo transformed into ' out gallant army in the East , ' our ' brave defenders , ' and so forth . At a meeting of the South Dublin Union the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — 'J ' Besolved—That the recruitinfr-serffearits of tho several regiments of the Line bo informed that there arc a nunibor of able-bodied taupehs at present in the house , and that they be requested to attend and make a selection of such as fire fit for service . '

      "' Kesolveu— That all abk-bodicd i-aupkics now employed as cooks ond otherwise in tho house , who may be selected as fit for soldiers , bo discluirffcd , for tho purpose ot being enlisted either in the Line Oil MILITIA , Jind that their work bo dono by the ablo-bodiod women in tlio house , and that the master furnish this board with a list of ' ull ablebodied mnlo paupers by this day week . ' ' The Evening Mail assures us these resolutions will be generally adopted throughout Ireland . We congratulate tho gallant militia upon their brothers in arms . Who would not take servico in so honourable s , corps Tho workhouse lias pronounced , why is tho treadmill silent ? "When the House of Hanover is sustained by tho House of Correction , who shall resist us V "

      Untitled Article

      A CHARACTEH THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LIBELLED . BiRcn , the proprietor of tho Dublin World , notorious for its easy leaning towards moneyd interests , brought an action against Mr . Fora tor , editor and proprietor of tho Examiner , for sin alleged libel . The libel consisted of denouncing tho complainant as a Jibollcr , in an article severely commenting on tlio Birch v . Somervilfa ease . Tho present caao was UisgTaceful but nmnaing , as Birch contrived to ( jot a good sprinkling of Cabinet Ministers as witnessoa , who wero com polled to desori bo their bribing transactions . Of eourso tho defonilunt obtained u verdict ; 2 > ut Lord Clarendon , one of the reluctant witnesses , suffered severely in having to remind tlio country ot liia woulc tendencies about" law and order" in Ireland in 1818 .

      Untitled Article

      ELECTION INTELLIGENCE . Marylebone . — The election took place this -week , when Lord Ebrington obtained a large majority the numbers being—For Ebrington , 6919 ; for Bell , 4166 . An attempt was made to exact from the new member a pledge to vote against the Foreigners Enlistment Bill , but he replied that pledges he neither could nor would give . He had , he said , safeguarded his independence in all his intercourse -with the borough , and the only promise he could make was to give to every subject a close and conscientious examination . Mr . Bell told the constituency that he -was disappointed but not ashamed , and should keep his poll-books and cards for another election .

      East Gioucestebshike . — Mr . It . S . Holford , of Westonbrit , has been elected without opposition . His opinions , which he sends from Genoa , are decidedly Conservative—a member of the Established Church , but for freedom of opinion and education of the people . Considers the war just and necessary . Fermanagh . —air . S . Gamble , a merchant of Enniskillen , has entered the lists with Lord Henry Loftus and the Honourable Colonel Cole . It is tolerably certain , however , that the last-named gentleman will be the successful candidate . Antrim . —Captain Pakenham , brother of the late gallant member , has issued his address to the electors . His political principles are identical with those of his lamented relative , and , notwithstanding the threats of opposition , there is but little doubt of his return , probably without a contest .

      LiaiEBiCK . ^ -The election will take place on the 26 th instant , when Mr . Stephen De Vere will be returned without opposition . Norwich . — -Mr . Peto , M . P ., of the firm of Peto and Brassey , the eminent contractors , has just issued an address to the electors of Norwich resigning his seat , in consequence of having accepted the contract for the construction of the railway from Balaklava to the trenches in front of Sebastopol .

      Untitled Article

      LIMITED LIABILITY . The writer of the City article of the Times says : — " It is understood that fresh remonstrances have been made to the Board of Trade on the obstructions offered during the past half-year to the healthy development of public enterprises , by constant refusals to grant charters of incorporation . The satisfaction obtained , however , has been only of a negative kind , since , instead of tliose applications which are allowed to be important and urgent being at once granted , the parties are obliged to content themselves -with a general intimation that a bill to amend the law of partnership will be introduced next session . Before this measure can be expected to come into operation nearly a year will most likely have passed , and another instance is thus afforded of the effects of official

      tardiness in matters where the great , interests of commerce are concerned . The lapse of a year in the introduction of specific undertakings miglit at any time make every difference in . their success or even their practicability , since men of business often abandon projects they would otherwise have warmly carried through , rather than wear their time out in combating useless delnj'S . It is at the present moment , moreover , that every encouragement which freedom can give in such matters is most needed , especially when , as in tho supply of

      materials for paper , the plans contemplated arc of a nature to give direct assistances to tho revenue . The plea for refusal is , of course , confined to the point that it would be undesirable to extend special privileges when tho time is approaching for the adoption of wider views ; but , if the proposed bill is not intended to disappoint the expectations of the country , those who are now seeking charters would be perfectly willing to accept such conditions as are contemplated to be introduced at a future period for tho general benefit . "

      Untitled Article

      OUK CIVILISATION . An Invai . ti > Lodgkh . — Frederick Robiunon , an elderly gentleman of fifty , and evidently one of " the old school , " occupied a llrst floor in Store-street , licdfordsrniuro . On ono occasion ho complained to tho servant girl that tho yard door and tho window of tho room under his apartments were not kept Hhut , nud consequently ho was exposed to > cold Tviud and cutting draughts from nil parts of tho hou . so . Tho servant , immediately closed tho yard door , and shortly afterwords Robinson loft tho house . Ho returned in a low minutes , and fleeing the door open again , ho began threatening and abusing tho servant in the most disgusting language .

      Tho landlady run up atairs to ace what was tho matter , and said Mho could not allow such language to bo used in lior holme , and desired KobinHon to quit tho lodgings n » noon i \ n ho could make it convenient to do ao . Without any other provocation whatever from bur , he raisuri h ' w foot nud gave her a violent kick in tho throat , which mint hor baekwurdtt down a flight of eight or nine hU'j > into tho atone yard below . She was Htunncd at tun moment , but fortunately sustained no other injury than nfow bruiflca and tho lacerated wound in hor nudk , umlor tho juw bone , -which ivan unused by the liick . At lU > wulrnot Hobiiittim ussurud Mr . Hall tluit thorn -wont nwiny extenuating oiroumatuncoa . He wua an invalid , nud

      cold was most fatal . Mr . Hall gallantly fined him 15 / ., which was immediately paid by a gentleman in court . Cold appears to have narrowly escaped being more fatal to the lady than to the gentleman . The Markiage Market . —A young man and a young woman are described as " rushing" into the presence of Mr . Hall , at Bow-street , to charge each other with bigamy . They had quite confused the inspector who attempted to take the charge . The young woman said that the young man was already married when she

      became his wife , and he had since married again , all the three wives being still alive . He responded to this statement b y accusing her of being a married woman when she married him ; to which she replied that this was not the fact , in a legal point of view , because hei first husband had a wife living when he married her , and consequently she was at liberty to marry again . A stormy altercation was ensuing , when Mr . Hall , stopping the wrangle , said he could not interfere in the absence of legal evidence . They could indict one another if they liked , but they must do it legally .

      Murder Committed whilst Djrunk . — -Some men were drinking together at Merriott . Homer , the deceased , bantered Lewis , the prisoner , and some altercartion ensued . However , they left the house , friendly , but drunk . Homer was playful , and knocked off the others hat twice , when Lewis stabbed him with a knife . He died immediately . Unprovoked Assaui / t . —A powerful savage , named Crawley , spoke something not fit to hear to a young needlewoman . She told him to go away , and that she

      would have nothing to [ say to him ; but he still persisted in his advances , and followed her to her door , \ vhen he forced his way in . Her landlady attempted to eject him , but he knocked her down , and , as she was going out of the doorway to fetch a constable , he struck the girl on the head and felled her to the earth . Her body was covered with bruises , inflicted while she was on the ground . The prisoner apologised , by saying that he was drunk . Two months' activity have been awarded for the purpose of sobering him .

      DisCRETioNAity Power . —J . Pound , a " relieving officer of the City of London Union , has been fined twenty shillings , for exercising his " discretion" in offering a piece of bread to a destitute woman who applied for a night ' s lodging . He paid the 20 s . " under protest , " which did not awe Sir R . W . Carden in the least . The Assault at Betjlah Spa . —The two Newtons , gentlemen , who were committed for trial for nearly killing Mr . Ker , -who simply did not wish to make their acquaintance , have been found guilty , and sentenced respectively to nine months and three months' imprisonment .

      Untitled Article

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . THE TKA DUTIES . The Chancellor of the Exchequer : I take this opportunity to give a notice which is of a somewhat unusual character , but which I feel the House will consider justifiable under all the circumstances of the case . I beg to state , without giving any other intimation , or wishing to hold out any presumption as to any other financial measures of any kind vhatcver , that it is the intention of her Majesty ' s Government , in tbe event of the continuance of the

      war , to propose to tho House , when the time for making tlio llnnnciul statement for 18 f > : > shall uriive , that the duty on tea , instead of falling progressively until it reaches Is . per pound , shall continue ntthe present rate of Is . Cxi . per pound until a peace aiall bo concluded . It is on account of the enactmeir of the House being of such a long date , and tho dhiinution of duty having been bo long loolced forward to , that the Government , thought it right to give tiis curly notice of their intention to mnltethis nlteratim in the law .

      UNSTAMPED rUULICATJtONB . Mr . Biuairr called the attention of the ChanceUir of tlio Exchequer to the enso of Thomas Ktovensoi , of Wheeler-gate , Nottingham , who had boon served with an Exchoquor writ for publishing an oceasioml broiulaido containing intelligence on tho subject » i the Avar . Mr , Stevennon complained that it wtw unfair to oxoinpfc ( he telegraphic messages sent ly the west-end clubhouses respecting parliamentary debates , and a I . tho fame time to Higgle him out far prosecution . Ho bwught the case under the notiffi of the Chancellor of the lixohoquer in tho hope tint ihis person might not bo subjected to the uunoyanc ; and expense of legal proceedings .

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      Lkaduk Office , Saturday , December 2 $ . HOUSE OF LORDS . MILITIA niLX . This bill was read a third time and passed . SAVINGS HANKS . Xord Monteagle moved for certain returns re lating to savings banks . The returns were ordered , and their lordships ad journed at hftlf-past 5 o ' clock .

      Untitled Article

      December 23 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER ; 1209

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 23, 1854, page 1209, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2070/page/9/