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Leader (1850-1860), 24th February 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 178, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      three'fcrtfrfrig * had already been taxed rate farthing , -or 83 pe * , oant . A tax « £ « ne p « a » y , er 138 percent ., was then added , so that by the ^ time-itwas-ready-for printing thedtas-oa -the-original cost was not-less than 466 per-oent . Ilatillast'SeaaioD , and theft in eoesequence of tibe ecQHtuns of < that -assoeiatioB , if the editor happened j&infiffnttthe world that some respectable -woman was aaxioiuMo be engaged as a « ook -where a footman was kspt ^( iiv § hter ^ r-ar that a poor widow ' s son wanted a £ it 8 « tk > n as enran&Jt > oy , every insertion of every aach iparagraph would have been laid hold of by the ^ ChaQcellor- of the Exchequer , and eighteen pence exacted . for -each of them . They eould not , howexer ,. regard it entirely as a branch of iadusfcFy .

      He- did not pretend to , advantage the interests of the ex-Hting 1 -press . If ; they derived any'benefit < he would be gladrtf it ; bn * there-were thousands of suppressed newspaper editors whom he -wished to . call from their-. failnre , their obscurity , and , perhaps , their rain . There were many . young men esrea then studying in college-endowed with brain and bearfcrfeb , kistruct and teach their countryaaen . These ie- 'Konld . call from some narrow and badly paid portion , of industry , and place-them on a high-and feroad platform , where , i men could hear and follow them , and where'no Chancellor of the Exchequer or Board of Inland . Revenue should suppress their efforts to benefit their fellow Bow- ( gaud cfteetw . ) Where was a much higher « H * eationj fthan one ot trade ? they could not look

      on a newspaper as amere matter . of trade j it exercised an enoxmouspowerfor the publie weal or harm . A very large portion of the population were in a state of gross and painful ignorauce . ( Cheere . ' ) There were sueh a numVer of Sunday and other schools , that there was no child , even of the ; humblest classes , that did not at some time or other attend some kin # of school ; but it appeared to him that the number of men and women who were able to read and write did not bear a fair proportion to the numberof boya and girls at school . How-was that to she accounted for ? Let the boy attend school till he was ten or eleven years of age ; suppose he read then even . imjW ^ ectly ; take hinj away , and put him to t he plough , or to labour in a mine or factory , for eight

      or ten hours a day ; let him come to a home-where books were scarcely to be , eeen ^ -eonsider the disadvantages of his position , and it was not wonderful that a large proportion of the children who left school almost ; entirely lost , as they-gresv up > the . art they had learned to some extent ,-at school . ( CAeera . ) They wished that this great and useful instrument of education should be turned onr to eyery house , likei the water or gas—it would be life and aliment to the souls of the working people ; things would lie different from what they were ; and it would be a greater glory for them than those present and historical ones about which they sometimes boasted . If it was proposed that every child who" went to school should pay a penny , would not every man and

      woman revolt , against such a hideous proposition ? Yet a weekly or daily paper would come in , if the penny was not ; there as a bar as complete to the gradual education of the family as a penny tax would be if imposed on the child at school . ( Cheered ) There was the Jtfiwic ^^ -4 ? a % ^ OTW ; : it ^ as-noth ^^ he sizeofthe--y * m «« yet it had to , pay-the same tax ; that was contrary to any just rule of taxation . Take even the War Fly Sheet ; that would be taxed a penny , although it was not worth a halfpenny ; it could not be sold at all if it paid the tax , as no one would give twopence for such a paper ; those wbo could affe * d that would get a better paper . The tax was moat unjust and prejudicial to the publio

      interest . An article against them had lately appeared in a paper of a high literary character , the Examiner . He wished . the writer was here , for lie spoke of Mr . Gladstone as " yielding to a limited but active agitation , jn which we do not believe that any considerable number of the intelligent working men throughout the country , or of , the educated in any class , has sympathised . Mr . Gladstone made up his mind ,, in consequence of the importunities , of Mr . Miluer Gibson , Mr . Bright , and Mr . Cobden , . to . put an , end to the unrestricted free transafcissfen through the post granted in this country to all newspapers . But this was to be done in the form of a popuJarooacessiOB—as a repeal , in short , of an existing tax , " The writerjdwells on the fact that the

      Government will , not . allow the , papers to pass free , but he conceals the fact that Government would enable the paper to reach . thousands that i $ . could not now on account of the tax . The same paper was a great advocate for the removal of the stamp some years ago , when it was fourpence instead of . a penny . In consequence of an agitation , the then - Chancellor of the Exchequer , the present Lord Monteagle , reduced it to a penny . What did the Examiner say of the penny ? " This inconsiderable remnant of the . most impolitic impost ever devised . The restriction was one against principle . " He believed the JKoeammer was still in the same hands and under the same influence aa then .

      If the measure was carried , to Mr . Gladstone would t * k >« g , the same credit as Lord Metcalfe had acquired k * the , «« tebUshment of a free- press in India . To Mr . ftlftdaton © would belong the credit . that , . at a time when tt » D « bUO ; difficulties wore thickening around , and the flftltawpifcqe was jnaking itself heard in no very horwonkwft tfl » aa » , JUe had dared jto come . forward with a W * a « Mftto mai * ihe proea of this country as free as the tmtom , « d to . admit tWpuhlio intelligence . tUo public WMO » , and tUo puUUo voko to . dictate with increased

      power to Cabinets ana-to-3 E » ajflSanvBnts . ( Eoud cheers ; . ) He begged to sewmd ^ he resolution . \ 'Mr . -George Dawson supported the resolution . He was comiected with the newspaper pres § , and wished to say a few words on its behalf .. It was very pleasant for a noble lord to be supported by a paper , then he praised the press ; bat if a paper seid the noble lord had made Mmself excessively small , then he calls it a ^ ribald press . " A successful tribune said it was a " venal press . " ; He believed it was neither venal nor ribald ; if hethqugflt it was either , he-would not support-tije agitation to increaseit . We should have newspapers « s universal as they were America . The press at ~ prese » t could keep down the big wigs in London , but they 1 wanted t down to

      the big wigs in every little village to be kep o . Till the press had spread to every corner , they could not hope to put down humdrum tapery and routine . They should educate the working classes in politics—a branch of education they could not get in the mechanics' institutions / There was nothing fogydom dreaded so much as-that the working classes should acquire a knowledge of polities . In all these institutions the rule was , ¦ " ¦ all politics are to be excluded . " Take even the rules of a Youn # Men ' s Christian Association—( uproar—great confusion ensued , and it was some time before the s-peaicer couMmake himself heard amidst-the storm of cheers and kisses)—if the reference did not please , he would withdraw- it . He hoped they would not cease until they-had made every-working-man a politician . The resolution was then put from the chair , and carried .

      Untitled Article

      THE MEDICAJ . COMMISSION FOR T&E CR . 1 MEA . Ba . SpTJtsitt . AirD ana Dr . Gavin ptoeeedon ThusS ' day next , ¥ 4 Marseiites , to .,-the East , the Soraner to superintend the sanitary arraogeflfcesrt * at . B ^ lakjfc&va , the latter at Scutari . T ^ ey will be accompanied by the third commissioner , Mr ..-Btffcert Rawlinson , civil engineer , long associated with-the late Board of Health , and * favourably kaow-n . by his elaborate reports on the hygienic condition of naapy of the principal towns in England . Mr . Rawlirtson takes with him , as secretary , Mr . Taylor , younger brother of Mr . Tom Taylor , secretary to the Board of Health .

      Untitled Article

      SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND THE BALTIC FLEET . Sib Charles Napier has addressed the following letter to a contemporary : — " I think it would have been only common justice to publish my reply to Captain Elliott ' s remarks on my saying , in my speech at the Mansion House , that ' the Baltic fleet was veiy badly manned , and worse disciplined . ' Everybody but Captain Elliott knew very well the Baltic fleet was badly manned . I never wish to see a fleet sent to sea in such a state again . When we first sailed half the men could hardly go aloft , and every sailor knows the meaning of want of discipline , which is , sin ^ ly 7 th 1 it * l £ en ^ 6 t ~ hastily ~ t 6 gether ~ cantiot * be"nT" ; a state of discipline , and every officer is npt possessed of the transcendent abilities of Captain Elliott , who can discipline his ship by simply hoisting his pennant . So much use has been made of that expression , that I beg at once to say , no reflection was intended on . the officers ; on the contrary , if there had not been the greatest exertion on the part of the captains and officers , and willing obedience on the part of the men , the fleet never could have returned to England in the state it was ; and , had that fleet had an opportunity , I will answer for it that it would have given a good account of its opponents . Pepending on the gunnery of that fleet , I had no fear of leaving Admiral Martin at Nargen with a third of the " orce of the . Russian fleet when I was at Bomarsund , nor lid I fear to lie in Baro Sound with a third of their brce , or at JNTargen -with half ; and there was nothing ; to under the Russians landing at Sweaborg , had they shosen . "

      Untitled Article

      DEATH OF JOSEPH HUME , ESQ ., MJP . The living political reformers of Great Britain have lost the oldest of their leaders—Joseph Hume is dead Mr . Hume had been visibly declining in health for a year past . During the last few weeks a disease of the heart gradually reduced his strength , and gave warning that his end was drawing- near . He expired at six o ' clock on Tuesday night at his seat , Burnley Hall , Norfolk . Mr . Hume was born in January , 1777 , at Montrose , his father being the master of a coasting vessel trading from i that town .

      After some elementary education he was Apprenticed to a surgeon , and following that profession , 'ho entered the ' East ; India Company ' s service . His good sense and sngncity enabled him to detect the faults o the system , moro particularly the neglect of study of the native languages . Turning his attention particularly to these , during 1 tho JVfohr&tta war of 1803 , he was of great use to himself and to his country as interpreter na well as surgeon . After travelling in Spain and Portugal , Mr . Hume returned to England in 1811 , and was elected for Wey-mouth , which seat , however , ho soon lost . He devoted his next few

      yearn - # i * h Beoae- etfect , * o the- ' * efo » m of the East Inataa system , and in <*» 18 , w » * gain in 'Partiatnenfr , thi 8 t » me for"Montrose , ' which he > etained tVH 183 © . ¦¦ « ¦ ,. Itnm ^ diately od « jteri 3 ff F « rlia « ient he commenced-those vigorous ^ pretests against national ex . travagance for- whieh . he has feeeerne- so celebrated . Gemmeneing-single-handed , he was-soon at the head of a real minority , whieh Btthsequently developed into an undoubted majority , and / besides that , gave a key-note to various new styles of reform . From 18 QO to' 184 » Mr . Hume represented Middlesex , after which period ' he- was again-returned , for the

      remaiader of h * s life , fo * - Montrose . His Jong , independent , and disinterested eareer ; his untiring advocacy ef the extension and improvemeat of the-education of the peeple ; his unflinching exposure of , and opposition to , official abases and extravagance of every kind ; hiapainevtaking exertions for the preservation of the rights of ' the people , as well as his « ncea * iBg ^ efforts for their moral and Latelleetual improvement and amusement , are too well known and too generally appreciated torender either precise description or comment necessary . w * Mr . Hume ' private worth , his unswerving integrity , unselfishness , gentleness , and consideration fcH * others , endeared him to a large eirele of friends .

      Untitled Article

      GREAT FIRE NEAR BJDACEFRIARS-BRIDGE . Wb gave last week some account of a great fire which was raging-when we went to press on Saturday morning . This fire was scarcely extinguished on Sunday night , and may be considered one of the most devastating- which have occurred for many years . The loss of property is computed at about 100 , 000 ? . The fire originated on the premises of Messrs . Routledge , timber merchants , whose yard extended from Holland-street almost to the water-side , the granaries of Messrs . Water and Steel , flour factors , almost abutting on them , and forming the wharf . In addition to the large timber-yard , which at the time cbntauied-many hundreds of loads of timber ^ piled in stacks to a considerable height , there were spacious steam saw-mills ^ engine arid boiler house , with workshops and other buildings . The steam-mills were le assert that when

      at work on Friday , and the workpeop they left off work at 8 o ' clock the place was apparently safe . No one appears to have had charge of the place after / the doors . were locked , _ and the keys given over to a party in the neighbourhood . Nothing happened to excite alarm until about 20 minutes after 10 o ' clock , when the wife of one of the labouring men in the employment of Messrs . Water and Steel saw a glimmering light in the timber-yard , soon after which the flames burst forth . The man then took steps to save his master ' s horses , some ten or twelve in number , in the stables adjoining the steam-mills . He had just succeeded in lashing the last horse Tip , and was returning- to wheel out a . light chaise of his master ' s , when one of ^ the blazing stacks of timber to ppled over into the gateway and shut him in . But clambering through a window , Jio . wever , he ; man » ged . _ . escape .

      ' The arrival of the brigade force and other engines was most prompt . The engineers , however , were unable to get their engines into play for ' a long time after . The plugs of the water-mains were frozen up , and even when thawed the supply of water was so scanty that not a third of % he engines present could be put into motion . The large steam floating-engine of the brigade was brought up the river , and got into immediate play , but , in the mean time , the flames had overwhelmed the whole of the property in the vicinity of the Albion Wharf including the warehouses and granaries of Messrs . Water and Steel ; those of Messrs . Kosher and Co .,

      limemerchants , and their dwelling-houses ; the warehouses of Messrs . Rickman and Co ., bottle-merchants ; of Messrs . Radley and Co . ; and the main building of the extensive engineering- works of Sir John Rennie . For hours after it raged tremendously . The brigade , who were under the personal direction of their chief officer , Mr . Uraidwood , exerted themselves zealously , It was the coldest night that probably had been experienced for years ( much resembling that oh which the Royal Exchange was destroyed ) . The frost was intense ( upwards of 16 degrees below the freezing point ) . Many of the firemen were coated in ice , with icicles hanging from their uniforms and helmets .

      The most melancholy incident was the fate of poor Mr . Thomas Jackson , the step-son of Mr . Braidwoocl . This gentleman was energetically directing the men when a blazing stack of timber fell upon him . His remains , when got out , presented a shocking spectacle , and could only be identified by the iron of his axe , a knife , and the metal work of his helmet .. AH that remained of the unfortunate mail was a portion of the trunk of his body . Ho was a young man of great promise , aged 26 , and held the office of surveyor in the Sun Fire-office . He had only been married two years , but has loft no family . A very largo number of workmen are thrown out of work by this occurrence .

      Untitled Article

      BREAD RIOTS IN LONDON . DtmiNO Wednesday and Thursday the inhabitants of the east end of London were kept in a state of continual excitement , in consequence of the alarm-

      Untitled Article

      ¦ ¦ . ¦ . . ¦ ' ¦ - ¦ ¦ . v ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ f ¦ ¦ ' STS T OS E -gi D A P 03 tRu I [ SatfPnmMyr

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 24, 1855, page 178, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2079/page/10/