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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd June 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 598

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      be lowered , may lower each otter , or lower themselvesand the fact of ' this means of rescue being always in the bedroom , -and ready for instantaneous use . Moreover , in the event of fire breaking out suddenly , people provided with this escape would not have to be dependent , perhaps at a very late hour in the night , on the chance of getting any passer-by to run for assistance , even should he know where to obtain it . Nor would they be dependent on the still more doubtful contingency of aid arriving in time to save them from the most terrible of deaths . The weight of these little escapes is only 2 libs . ; and they are enclosed in perfectly plain boxes , or fitted up as dressing seats or ottomans .

      The Commissioners of Patents have presented a complete collection of their valuable series of copies of specifications of patents , with descriptive plates , indexes of patents , and all other works printed by them , embracing a period from 1617 to the present time , to the Marylebone Free Library , 27 , Gloucester-place , New-road , on condition that they should be available for gratuitous consultation , and the taking of notes or sketches every day in the week from ten in the morning till ten at night . The series relating to Tire-Arms is exceedingly interesting at the present time . commissioners

      The Encumbered Estates Act . —The appointed to inquire into the working of the Encumbered Estates Court have presented their report to the Queen . They recommend that a Parliamentary title should be given to purchasers upon the transfer of land in Ireland under judicial sales , whether the estates be encumbered or unencumbered ; that this jurisdiction should be vested in the Court of Chancery in Ireland , the Encumbered Estates Court thereupon ceasing to exist , and its powers being transferred to the Court of Chancery ; that the office of Master of the Court of Chancery be abolished , and that the Court should consist of the Chancellor , the Master of the Rolls , and the two Vice-Chancellors ; that a court of appeal be

      constituted , consisting of the Lord Chancellor and an additional judge ; that each j udge and officer of the Court of Chancery should annually make returns of the state and despatch of business before him to the Lord Chancellor ; that it should be the duty of the judge , when the proceedings in any case or matter are not conducted with due despatch , to call upon the parties to explain the cause of the delay , the judge being invested with compulsory powers to expedite the cause or matter ; and that stamps and fees upon all proceedings in Chancery should be abolished , or reduced as much as not to interfere with the despatch of business , or the publicity of the proceedings . These general recommendations are accompanied by others of a more technical character , relating to details .

      A Desolated Hamlet . —A tragedy of singularlyextended action has occurred in the north of Scotland . A fishing-boat was overturned off Mabray Head , and the thirteen occupants went down in deep water , and were lost . They were all youths ; and , as the village to which they belonged numbers not more than sixteen or twenty scattered houses , there was scarcely a family which was not darkened by the sudden presence of death . A person who passed through the village reports that the lamentations of the stricken people could be heard on the road . This terrible fact seems to realise , on a small scale , the awful devastations of the Angel of Death , of which we read in the Bible and other Eastern writings .

      An Heroic Woman . —A Javanese paper contains the folio whig matrimonial announcement : — " Married , Theodore Poland , pensioned titular colonel , knight of the two orders of the Netherlands , to the mother of his children , the Javanese woman Fien . This marriage ho has contracted in gratitude and as a reward for the heroism she exhibited in his behalf in 1833 , on his return from the fortress of Amerongen , when she rescued him , already severely wounded , from certain death , by carrying him , with the assistance of a servant , a distanco

      of three furlongs , wrapped in a sheet and suspended to a bamboo , while pursued by an unmerciful enemy , and by subsequently bringing him safely through the lines of tho enemy , while she herself was in an advanced state of pregnancy . —Poerworondjo , 21 st March , 1856 . " Considering that this act of devotion and courage was performed two-and-twenty years ago , it must bo admitted that Theodore Poland , pensioned titular colonel , &c , has beon a long timo making up his mind whether ho shall gratefully sacrifice himself on tho Hymeneal altar

      or not . Refusal op the Governor of Canada to Sanction this Maine Liquor Law .. —The home Government has received advices from tho Government of tho province of Canada , announcing that tho Governor-Genoral has refused to sanction tho Maino Law Liquor Bill , brought up from tho Logidativo Assembly . II is instructions being " to reaorvo , ibr tho signification of ( ho Qucen ' a pleasure , ovory bill of an extraordinary or unusual character , " ho has availed himself of his privilege , and transferred tha bill to tho authorities in Downingetreet .

      Combinations ok Masters . — action which avkh tried at tho Court of Queen ' s Bench on W * cdnendny determines tho right of masters to combine ugainut their ¦ workpooplo for tho purpose of arrunging amount of wages , periods of engagement , hours of work , &o . Tho defendant had ontorod into a bond with tho plaintiff nnd several others , with a view to ofl ' octing those objoota ;

      but he now alleged that there was no consideration for the execution of the said bond , and that by reason of the premises , as being a bond in restraint of trade , it was illegal and void . To this plea , the plaintiff demurred . The case having been stated , and Mr . Justice Crompton having read his judgment in favour of the defendant , Mr . Justice Erie spoke in favour of the plaintiff , contending that the object of the bond was not the restraint but the protection of trade , which would otherwise be ruined by the combinations of workmen . He cited various legal reasons in support of his view . Lord Campbell ' judgment , however , was in favour of the defendant ; liis lordship being of opinion that the effect of the bond would be mischievous , and that it might " establish a principle on which the fantastic and mischievous notion of a Labour Parliament might be realised , for regulating the wages and the hours of labour . " Judgment was accordingly given for the

      defendant . The Aristocratical Sunday . —The working men of London are invited to visit the right bank of the Serpentine in a body to-morrow ( Sunday ) , and to take their wives and families with them , in order that they may see how the nobility spend their Sabbath . It may be satisfactory to many interested in the controversy to hear that an authenticated fac-simile of the letter signed "W . S ., " on the authority of which the romance of Moredun is alleged to be by Sir Walter Scott , has been deposited in the Crystal Palac Free Library , and tliat it is now exhibited in the readingroom . The certificate accompanying the fac-simile states , that there aTe but three copies extant , one of which is deposited in the British Museum , one at the Crystal Palace , and one is retained by the proprietor .

      Liteuary FirND . —A general meeting of the members of this Society was held in Willis ' s Rooms , King-street , St . James ' s , on Saturday , to take into consideration the Report of the Special Committee . This Report recommended the granting of revocable annuities to distressed men of letters and scientific writers ; the granting of relief by way of loan ; the holding of evening meetings and conversazioni ; and the establishment of a library for purposes of reference ; it being contemplated that the two latter suggestions , if successful , should at some future period be developed into " a hall or college for the honour of literature and the service of literary men . " —

      Mr . Dickens , the Chairman of the Special Committee , m presenting this Report , moved that it should be adopted . The motion having been seconded by Mr . John Foster , Mr . Monckton Milnes proposed an amendment to the effect that the meeting , while acknowledging the value of some of these suggestions , was " not prepared to recommend the application for a new charter to carry them into effect . " The adoption of the Report was urged by Mr . Dilke and Sir E . Bulwe ' r Lytton , and was opposed by Mr . Pollock , Lord Stanley , Sir John Forbes , and the Bishop of Oxford . Finally , the amendment was carried .

      Signor and Madame Ronconi . —Madame Ronconi , the wife of the celebrated singer , was on Friday week placed at the bar of tho Tribunal of Correctional Police at Paris , charged by her husband with committing adultery with Vincent Cattabeni . The charge was admitted , both by Madame Ronconi and Cattabeni ; but they pleaded that Ronconi was himself living in adultery with a Spanish courtesan , and that he had agreed with his wife that they should part , and that each should be free to live according to inclination . Madame Ronconi further accused her husband of not fulfilling an agreement which he had made , to allow her a certain yearly sum for support , and of leaving her in ! . the most abject poverty . Portions of a letter from Signor Ronconi to

      Carmen , tho Spanish courtesan , of whom he was enamoured , were read . The following extract with its passionate , southern intensity , audits theatrical " points , ' ' we can almost imagine being wailed forth by the writer , to appropriate music , on the boards of tho Italian stage : — " I find , Carmen of my heart , that I cannot live away from you Come to my urms—listen to my love ! Lcuvo Madrid on tho very day on which you receive this letter ! It is the letter of a man in despair — -of a man who is lost without you—of a man who prefers death to living in such a way . Carmen of my heart ; , have pity on your poor Goorgo ! Coino to my arms , and I will render you more happy than you over wore ! Yen , I promise that , and I will keep my word I Coino ! And , if you wish it , I will , after a time paused together , dio with you ! I have in my po . HHCH . sion a

      terrible poison , which will cause tho quickest death that can bo imagined . We miiHt fulfil our destiny ! Do not uuppono that 1 can be tranquil away from you- —no ! If you do not eoino to me , I will go to Madrid , hoo 3 'ou onco again , and then dio beneath your balcony I I am quite decided—death if you will not bo inino 1 My lifo and my happiness arc in your hands . In tho nauio of God and tho Holy Virgin , listen to my prayer * . . • • I am becoming mad I .... Iloart of my heart , light of my life , my divine love — listen to my prayero , and como to console mo ! Coino anil toll your poor Goorgo that you will bo always Iuh . Tears "suflbeato mo . Como and console . your sincoro lovor ! " Tho Court postponed judgmont , on Maritime Ronconi and li « r accomplice , but at tho sarno timo decided that the complaint of tho former against her husband should bo received .

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      HOUSE OF COMMONS . VOTE OF CENSURE ON THE LATE OOVEKN 5 IENT . Mr . Roebuck gave notice that he should , on the 3 rd of July , move the following resolution : — "That this House , deeply lamenting the sufferings of our array during the winter campaign in the Crimea , and coinciding with the resolution of its Coinmittee , that the conduct of the Administration was the chief cause of the calamities which befel that army , visits with its severest reprehension every member of the Cabinet whose counsels led to such disastrous results . "

      THE PRACTICAL JOKING AT CANTERBURY . el In answer to Mr . W . O . Stanley , Mr . F . Pkel said that a further inquiry had been made into alleged misconduct of certain interior officers in connexion ¦ with the military practical joking at Canterbury , but nothing had been elicited to implicate them .

      THE MASSACRE AT HANGO . Colonel Harcourt interrogated the Admiralty as to whether any information had been received jvith regard to the officers of the Cossack attacked by the Russians at Hango . He wished to know whether there was any truth in the report that they were only wounded and prisoners ; or if they had been killed , whether any demand had been made lor their bodies . Admiral Berkeley said no further official information had reached the Admiralty than that contained in Admiral Dundas ' s despatches ; and as to any demand for the bodies , he did not think it likely any other boat would be sent into Hango .

      BUSINESS OF THE SESSION . Mr . Disraeli pointed out that there were now seventy-nine orders on the paper , and asked whether at this period of the session some arrangement should not be made with regard to which of them were to be proceeded with . Lord Palmerston said there were some hills which the Government would pass ; but with regard to many of those on the paper , they knew nothing about them , and were very indifferent about their fate . He would make a statement on the subject on Monday . THE ARTILLERY OFFICERS IN THE CIU 3 IKA .

      Sir De L-acv Evans alluded to some expressions of Mr . Layard in the debate last week , which it was supposed reilected on the conduct of ISrigadier-General Dacres , commanding the Artillery in the Crimea , which were , he was sure , not intended . He had taken occasion on three several occasions to report General Dncres for distinguished conduct while he was in the Crimea , and when he returned to England lie had stated to tho Commander-in-Chief at homo that General Dncres was the most alile , most competent , and most energetic olllcer ot artillery in the army of the East .

      Mr . Layard said ho wanted to cast no imputation on General JJncres , General Strangwnys , or Colonel Luke , with reference to guns of the Second Division not being got up at the timo they were wanted M lnkernmn . Tho fact was that the artillery ot Uinx division had lost almost all its horses , and it whs impossible to get up tho guns . NATIONAL EDUCATION . . , Sir J . Pakinqton urged the early resump tioni oi the settle

      tho Debate on National Education , and - ment of the question . , , Lord John Kushioll hoped an early dny avo \ iI << m . fixed for the purpose , but ho thought it would "t BiilHciont then to get tho sanction of the IIouho to int principle of tho bills now before tho House . A 1 UCNAHS OF PAY TO WOUNOKU ANI > SICIC 80 M > lH " FROM THE OH 1 MHA . . , Mr . Stafford having complained that Uio « ' ^ nnd wounded soldiers who hud returned iroin im Crimea had beon unable to obtain tho arrears ol ui "

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      Leader Office , Saturday , Jane 23 HOUSE OF LORDS . Several , bills were forwarded a stage , the only one of any interest being a bill for the purpose of enabling assizes and sessions to be held more frequently so as to prevent prisoners waiting for their trials being detained for a long time in prison before they were tried .

      PLAN TOR ATTACKING THE FORTRESSES IK TIIE BALTIC . The Marquis of Clanricarde asked whether the Baltic fleet had been provided with the apparatus necessary to attack maritime fortresses in the manner recommended last year to the Admiralty and Board of Ordnance by Colonel Bethune . Lord Panmure replied that the plan had been submitted to Sir Charles Napier last year , who thought it impracticable ; and afterwards it had been referred by the Ordnance to some scientific persons Avho also reported that it was quite impracticable . The House adjourned at seven o ' clock .

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      598 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 23, 1855, page 598, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2096/page/10/