Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 14th March 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 254, Untitled Article

Page 254
Page 14
14 of 24

On this page

  • Text (6)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      House of Commons will be asked , in appointing its own President , to forget everything "but tie man "who -will remain for a brief day longer at the Lead of the Treasury Bench-Bo that unless a sturdy House be returned , we may expect it to be insulted with the request that it shall appoint as its own . master the tool of the Cabinet .

      Untitled Article

      CAMBRIDGE POLITICS . The "University of Cambridge , as we learn from the gazetteers , is situated in the town of that name on the river Cam . The town itself has returned two members to Parliament since the dim year 1295 . CsoM : irEi , L , Chbistopher WBiiiir , Soame Jbttshs-s , have represented it at various times ; Spring Rice ,

      Sttgden , Mantsebs Sutton-, Eitzeot Kelly , and Shatto Adaib have also been among its lights of other days . In 1853 , its burgesses were so basely bribed that the election was declared null and void . As to the University , it is not imputed to the doctors and masters of arts that with , itching palms they sell and mart their offices for gold ; their archives are studded with historic names

      of men who hare represented them in the Commons House : IPbancis Bacon , HroHABD Cbomwelx , the rusty weathercock GtEobqe Mois-k , starry Newton , Chables Yoeke , "WzLXIAM PlTE , IiAtfSDOWITE , MANSFIELD , PAXMEESOCOlSr , XiTNDHTJBST , and TlNDAI * . In 1847 , they rejected Mr . Shaw IiBPEVBE . And now they -wish to add the name of Mir . Arthttb Helps to their representative roll ; Ibut Mr . Helps begs to decline . He thinks many excellent Cambridge University voters

      are bigots , and very gently he tells them bo . They have a morbid tension of ideas on the subject of the Maynooth Grant ; they consider the Sabbath their peculiar pleasureground , and can abide no Crystal Palace or Art Gallery rivalries , sweetening and softening the day , after religious severities have made it holy . But his main objection is that " the interests , the welfare , the amusements , and the education of what to call the lower elaasea , are Bteadily neglected , " and that unless he

      would promise to continue steady in that neglect lie could not hope to be acceptable to the University of Cambridge . He dislikes fixity of opinion not formed from thought ; lie cannot stultify himself , and he will not represent the doctors and masters of arts . Better not go into Parliament at all , we say , but adhere to historical studies than personify all the prejudice bred under the cap , or all the cant concealed by the gown , But such a representative as Mr . Helps is not to be spared from Parliament .

      Untitled Article

      THE LITERARY FUND MEETING . It is impossible to resist the statement made on behalf of the reform party of the Literary Fund Association in the Atliencewn last week . Here is an association established with one object only—the relief of distressed literary men—and every act of relief costs on an average XOl . That is to say , fifty-three applicants , in 1855 , were relieved at a cost of 547 ? ., the grants ranging from- 251 . to 501 . —larger

      much disappointed if , next year , the reformers do not find their phalanx consider " ably enlarged ; it is the duty of literary men to join and assist those who represent their independence , and who have ably and steadih ? asserted it . The points in dispute are whether it is necessary to have an expensive house for the convenience of nineteen , gentle , men , composing the committee , who meet nine times a year ? whether a secretary is required , with a salary of 200 / . a year , to cooperate with nineteen , gentlemen in meeting the necessities of an average of a hundred and fifty applicants ? whether the Idterarv

      h und has not been perverted from its original object ? whether its range of usefulness should not be considerably enlarged ? and upon these questions we trust to the judgment of the reformers , who are literary men , or closely connected with them , rather than to that of the miscellaneous notabilities who compose the council . Be it observed , we do not disparage the services of the members of the council ; they act up to their own views

      they are gentlemen of high honour and of generous tendencies ; but , under the system of management which they uphold , the fund is practically sacrificed . An expenditure of 500 L a year incurred in the administration of 15002 . a yearxis an unparalleled and intolerable extravagance . We do hope that the general body of literary men will join the association that they may act with the reformers , and enable them , to develop the real objects of the Literary Fund .

      amounts being seldom or never voted by the Council . Now , we conceive that the case presented by Mr . Dilke oh "Wednesday afternoon was unanswerable , except upon the assumption that a literary man in distress cannot be assisted upon the same conditions as an artist in distress . Por , as was clearly shown by Mr . Dilke , the Artists' General Benevolent 3 ? und relieved sixty-eight applicants in 1855 , at a cost of 8 51 . The conservative members of the association insist that there

      is a difference ; but what is it r Is not inquiry as essential in one case as in another ? Aro not exponses incurred by both associations for salaries , rooms for meeting of committee and subscribers , poundage , advertisements , postage , printing , and stationery ? But why in the case of au authors' fund should theso expenses amount to more than 500 ? . sterling , while in tho case of an artists' fund rolicving a larger number of applicants they amount to less than 100 Z . P Theso wero the

      questions put to tho meeting by Mr . Diokjjns and Mr . Eokstek . as well as by Mr . Dilke ; tho majority howovor , woro not thoro to arguo , but to voto . Tho amendment was opposed by sixty-nine , imd supported by cloven . Why only cloven ? We Bhall bo

      Untitled Article

      THE CRIMEAN GOMMISSIONEKS . The House of Commons , for once , has done its duty . The Government was pursuing an improper course and the House of Commons coerced the Government . That , perhaps , is a gain ¥ 9 owe to the proximate general election . The Grown—Lord Palmerstou " , that is to say—has been prayed to award some conspicuous honour to Sir John M'Neill aud Colonel Tulloch . There will be nothing to restrain those gentlemen from accepting it . It is the gift , not of a Minister , but of a Parliament .

      Untitled Article

      DIRECT TELEGRAPH TO INDIA . Tiiebe is now a near prospect of a direct telcfxap liic communication being established with our ndian possessions . The East Indian Submarine Telegraph Company having obtained tlie necessary concessions , lias laid down tlie ronte by tho Red Sea , the great line of commercial communication . From Alexandria across Egypt , as the printed statement shows , the Turkish and Egyptian Governments nave arranged that the wires may be suspended on the posts of the Egyptian telegraph already erected between Alexandria and Suez , or along the railway . 3 ? rom thence to Kossier ( a military station ) it may be laid in the lied Sea , and

      thence , in short lengths , from station to station . The Ottoman and Egyptian Governments undertake to protect it throughout . Tho stations below tins , on the Red Sea are Jiddah and Camaran Island , both belonging to the Sublime Porte . At the former a Turkish garrison is always quartered ; J . nc latter is jui island with few inhabitants . ^ [ Next comes Aden , a British possession ; the Koona-Moovia Islands are a British possession ; llas-cl-Had is in the territory of our close ally the Imnnm of Muscat , from whence the line will be connected with the Indian system at Kurrachee , To Aden alone telegraphic communication would bo m °

      important . Tho advantages of such a line , in comparison with one traversing a wilderness distracted by perpetual war , such as the Euphrates Valley , arc obvious . All the soundings having been taken , M > 1 lung remains but , to manufacture the cable and to sink it . As nn example of the rapidity with which this may be effected , wo may noto that the Atlantic cubic , only commenced last Novomber , is to bo laid » cxt July .

      Untitled Article

      during a long Christmas relaxation from operas and late hours , will not follow the spring into Bond-street , and barter the gold of Ballarat for the silks of Samarcand or the tissues of Paisley . EtrPHBrsoNE must not be missed from the county when the younger brother of a peer is hesitating how to inform the freeholders that this is the proudest day ; of his life , or when the foxlike IFb 1 . il- is lowering the price of public confidence , or when W . Bebesfoed , the beadle of his party , articulates uneasy

      impertmenceto thenon-electors . Lives there a heart so sordid that the proposition of IFbail does not satisfy , or is it in the British constituent nature to be deaf to the gross benedictions of Bbuhsfoed ? that heart and tliat nature EuPHBOSYN ' E quells by a look from the landau , or a kiss bestowed upon some destined driver of pigs not yet known at the village school . A poet of our days has said , " Grive me another kiss , and I will scatter kingdoms

      like halfpence ! " Give kisses to those dirty boys and those half-distinguishable girls , and their owners will tumble the franchise upon the Tory floor ; and the political influence of Euphrosthe will be duly appreciated ! But good G-reat Britons , observe how the lady laughs at her own condescension . Her brother is a knight of the shire ; her father haa a right to wear golden strawberry leaves on his head ; she calls you . " common people , " and her pure purple mantle is not soiled during her electoral travels .

      THE HTJINED SEASON " . The groans of a great interest have tieen heard against the Coalition ; the pastrycooks liave withdrawn their confidence from Mr . Gladstone ; the milliners no longer sympathize -with Mr . Diseaeli . John" Thomas responds to the lamentations of Her Majesty ' s Purveyor ; mercers who dwell in

      palaces of plate-glass and gold cannot understand the policy of a Parliamentary dissolution ; they who deal in shawls are not satisfied of the necessity of an appeal to the country . In otlier words , the General Election is said to havo spoilt the prospects of tho London Beasoii . It cannot be questioned but that an injurious check has been eivon to thohVM trado

      ^ ol the metropolis 5 the series of fashionable festivities has been interrupted j aocioty is for the time disorganized ; tho freo and independent wiU open their hands to meet the golden efflux that would have fallen with iovinspinng chink into Wcst-ond tills . Our free-hearted Euphbosimb , who had caught the flush , that in summer belongs to tho rose

      Meanwhile , little pastry is ordered in London ; marriages are postponed ; invitations are revoked ; JJe Follet is neglected ; dancing teas stand indefinitely : adjourned ; and soon no one will l ) e left in London except the Commissioners of . Bankruptcy and Insolvency , the metropolitan candidates , the police and servants on board wages , and the general London public not belonging to that class , bred , according to one of its own members , " by no means to be very wise or wifcty , but to sit up while others are in bed , aud look down on the universe In pity . "

      Untitled Article

      2 &k THE LEIDER , [ No . 364 , Sajtokda *

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 14, 1857, page 254, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2184/page/14/