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Leader (1850-1860), 5th September 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 846, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      proceeding oaa of the sluteaboldas said be . protested . " Veiy well , " said Mr , Beaison , ¦ " protest if you like . " j The adjcwnnaent having ibeen -oarmd , liiia scene « rf personalities came to an . eai .

      Untitled Article

      SOW THE WRITER WAS DESPATCHBOXED , ' ( From Household Words . } J > xmmoc -tlie late war I wjib -despatched to -the East , together with tMrty-nme other persons , on a sort of irregular service . We were on pay for about fifteen months ; and we cost the teountry , in that "time , samething l&e forty thousand pounds . There were oertetin phenomena <* f our brief corporate existence that some of « s attributed 4 o jobbery , and even the most indulgent of us to neglect . For eight months -we were not employed , * 8 nd should herf e been Tecalled . Oar nominal head spent

      1 ihe -liberal etiipend'of his office in Saint James ' s ; and occupied himself with some reforms in the management of 'Ms "dub . Our Storekeeper < : ould not produce his original invoices ^ vu& property to a large ain-ount was left to be wasted without cheek or responsibility . The official arrangements for our rations , out pay , our transport from place to place , were characterised by recklessness , "wastefulness , confusion , and mismanagement , such as we have never seen paralleled . But we felt our own insig-¦ nificance ; T ? e knew what great affairs required the ^ attention of ihe executive ; and we could scarcely won'der at the scant notice we received .

      So , when some numbers of a certain book reached a certain town in Asia Minor , and were there discussed , ¦ we agreed that the Circumlocution Office was hardly sued . We bore united witness to tlie personal courtesy with which v « had been treated in the neighbourhood of Whitehall . But still : —

      Penny related how three young gentlemen of prepossessing-personal appearance had been hopelessly unable to spell the classical name of the steamer in which he voyaged . They consulted together , made various ( guesses , tried , the look of several phonetic readings tipon scraps of paper ; and at last applied to him , before they < could accomplish '" Bacchante . " Twopenny mentioned' that- he -was ordered to join a -certain steasner at Deptford on a certain day . The vessel " was detained in the river for fully a week afterwards ; -Jind the authorities on shore would not condescend to ¦ % x plain the cause of th-e detention to the captain . They

      ttold him he was waiting for orders—for their orders , that " Was to say ; and intimated that . bis inquiries were improper . A _ t length he mollified a clerk by the gift of a superlatively good cigar ; and the following dialogue took place : — " Why is it that you keep me here ?" '" Captain , if you miist know , we are keeping you to receive a small lot of medicine stores for Malta . " " Indeed I How many packages ?" ^ Six . " •" Where from ?" *« GTeon and Watson ^ . "

      '" Indeed ? replied the captain , dryly ; " they were 'the first gcods I shipped , and they have been in the hold "these threne weeks . " The clerk upset a stool , and rrtshed into the office of Ilia superior . The captain thought he heard mention of the name of Lindsay . At all events , the clerk returned quickly -urith an order to get up steam and to bo off ¦ wi th all speed . Tire anchor was weighed in an hour , * md Twopenny narrowly escaped being left behind .

      Groat Bttid that ¦ when his transport anchored in the Golden Horn , they were 'hailed bj' a sister ship , and aaltcd what cargo they brought ? " Beef and pork" was the an 3 wer . The 3 ister ship had been four months in the transport service ¦; busy , during the first two months , 5 n conveying beef nnd pork from Constantinople to 'Bolakla-va ; busy , during the "last two months , in conveying "beef and porik , in tho Bamo casks , back from 3 BalaWa . Vft -to Constantinople .

      Shortly after-the talk related above , the little party in Asia was broken up by the peace , and I foun-tl myself Once more in England . My pay ceased on my arrival , Bo I had orders to -report myself-immediately ; as I had ¦ patted with my money freely on tho way liome , I wns by no means indifferent to tho speedy payment of a con-Biaerablo balance &-uc to mo . Following my instructions , I turnea into 'WhitdiaH-place , and inquired for 'Mr . A . A messenger sbo'wed me into a room occupied by a most courteous anil gentlemnnly man , with wham I had transacted "business -prico- to -my departure . Mr . A . tcjnemt > ored me , congratulated lire on my safe Teturn , and then addressed lirmself to hw oflreial duties . Ho ¦ asked for my ordw to return to England , for my order Tor a passage , for my last pay certificate ; when nil Iheao had Ireen handed to him and inspected , lie said , •*" vVho tdl&yoxi to come to me 9 "

      1 mentioned the name of noy tmmediitto superior . "X am not by suiy-means sure that he wtis Tight , " tojific'l Mr . A . He ^ spoke very slowly and gently , taking off h" 3 s spectacles the while , wnd deliberate / ly . folding thorn . '' Intact , I nm -neacriy sure'that be ^ wbb wrong . , 1 thrak yam ufftrir 'belongs -to Mr . B . wt fho -Horso ¦ G uards . Yes , certainly , if you will take tfh < v trouble to , ao aoroBs tto W * . 15 ., you will find that lie h « J ^> reoedentq , » sx \ knwwa mcucfly < whnt to do for yon . 'SliouM he too

      in « ny -diffioBlty , it will save m * ; a . letter if yoo will tell j him to ¦ write to me for instructions . " I gathered up my papers , walked quickly across the . street , pushed open the heavy door under the dark , old archway , and said briskly to the first messenger , " I want Mr . 8 .- " " Certainly , sir ^ which Mr . B . ?" Now , although . B . ( with its complement ) is among the commonest of names , I was totally unprepared for , and totally taken aback by , this siniple worded question . My positive air , as of a man intent upon transacting business , was plainly unsuited to the atmosphere of the place . I explained my wants to the messenger , and consulted him with regard . to the department by which they qould be supplied . ! After considering with knitted brow , le advised a . n application to Mr . FJ . B ., and ushered me into the room over which that gentleman presided .

      Mr . R . B . listened , with polite attention . jto Tny statement , asked for and inspected the several papers , which Mr . A . had already passed under review , and said : " I think it is scarcely possible that I can be the Mr . B . to v / hom Mr . A . intended to refer you . The matter is really quite foreign to my department . Perhaps Mr . W . B . might help you ; but , for my own part , I should think Mr . C . the right person io apply to . I mention only my private impression . " " I left the room with a certain hopefulness , arising ottt of the fact that th « two last-named gentlemen were in some slight degree acquainted with me , and that I expected more from personal friendliness than from official courtesy . Returning to my old ally , the messenger , I asked for Mr . W . R .

      Inquire again on the first floor . The first floor was guarded by another messenger , who answered my inquiry bv saying slightlv : "Mr . W . B . is out . of the ' ivn-v . "

      Out of the -way , is he ? When will he be back ? " . If I had levelled a revolver at the man ' s head , he could scarcely have exhibited more consternation . "When will be be back ? I am sure I don ' t know when he will be back . When will he be back ! " this last feeing ail obstructed and sotto voce repetition of my innocent sentence , in a style like an imitation of the Siddons whisper . " " Well , ' . then , " 1 reioined impatiently , " 1 want Mr . C . " " He is at the department in Pnll Mall . " The ignorance displayed in asldng for him at the Horse Guards apparently 'Convinced the messenger that I was one to whom be need 'pay no more attention . So he sauntered behind s . screen , mitrniuring in an absent manner , " When will he be back ?"

      At the department in Pall Mall , I found Mr . C , n cordial and good- ] iumoured person , who knew nothing whatever about my business , but who advised me not to waste time in pursuing other initial letters . l Gro home , " said he ; " get the largest sheet of paper and the biggest envelope you . can , report your arrival and state your claim in writing , address the letter to the Eight Honourable her Majesty ' s Secretary of State for War ; and , in about five weeks , you will be likely to get an answer , containing instructions for your . further conduct . "

      So it befel . Al > out six weeks elapsed before my letter was officially acknowledged , and ninny more before claims were settled nbout which there was not the Btaallest dispute or question , except that , as a . matter of form , they wore to be certified by somebody who waa daily expected frolin Scotland , or who had just started for Constantinople . When these matters were finally adjusted , my experience of government offices ceased , with one-trilling , tliough notuble exception . In the mouth of August , eighteen hundred and fiftysix , I was desirous to obtain , immediately , a certain piece of information , which I knew any clerk iu a particular department in Downing-street coaild furnish , and which , as one of the public , 1 thought I had a right to aek . Mindful -of past adventures with Messrs . A ., . B ., and C ., and believing thut tho live weeks' arrear o €

      coi-r « Bpondence had been an exceptional circumstaace , ' arising out of tho war , I put my inquiry in writing , and despatched it . lieceiving iio answer , 1 applied myself i » private soarcea , ascertained what I wanted to know , acted wpon the knowledge , and forgot tlie circumstance . In March , eighteen hundred and fifty-sev « n , 1 received a very large letter , with a large intimation on the cover "that it came on hkii Majestv ' s servicic , in which a gentleman declared that he was ¦ directed by one of her 5 fajosty ' 6 Secretaries of State Jto inform me , &c . &c ., giving , in short , a polite , distinct , and straightforward answer to my question . Ab if I were to write to-day to the publishers of the . Edinburgh , Jtevicw , asking for advertising space in the ncnt number of that journal , and were to receive in March , eighteen hundred and ilDtyniao , an RBsuxauoe that tlie 'required space 3 hould be reserved 1 I may mention that I xohiraed frou * the East with a jc Jatra against a gigantic 'commercial afitablishment , na I well as agwttgfc : * government deptirUacot . The ' former wna invesUga ^ cd , wofcnowiodgod , >« i « i paid , iu Jfnwer cninutMB tfakix Mr . A . contmracd in tivi&diing hia apeclu-« Ae » , « Rd inuflliing mo to wsk somebody uise ( across the « troet ) to 'write to . him tt » r iostcuotiona .

      Untitled Article

      IRELAND . Thux 3 > jeksxob 3 I . —A very violent thunderstorm bur :-over Omagh and its vicinity about a fortnight t ago , when no less tlian seven meu and wouicu weris killed hi various localities , jxad several others wore struck dowji wad injured . A great many domestic animals were also killed . XJioviciiNaiENT In-quiiiy . —IL is announced by the Belfast journals , that the Lord-Lieutenant had decided that an inquiry conducted by the Government bhall take l ^ lace into the ci rcumstances connected with the outrages at Belfast on the 12 th of July and seven subsequent days . Several gun-clubs have been formed in thnt city , and there Lave been large purchases of rifles by members both of the Grceu and the Orange faction .

      Lizgajl Ar ^ oisxauESTS . — -Mr . Mauvicu Kcatmge , sou of Judije Keatinge , and Di \ Wiley arc to be the joint registrars of the jicw Court of Probate , at a salary of 1000 / . a year ouch . Mr . Anthony Hawkins , the present registrar , retirea on his full salary . A « itAitiAjs OuruAtiii . —A . party of armed men , numbering some forty individuals , went last Sunday night to tho house of a man named Matthew Jjarrell , about three miles from Longford , and . smashed iu the iloor . JB \ arrell and his son , who wero in bed , rose , armed themselves with pitchforks , and resisted as long as they

      could , but were surrounded , and liretl into . A fearful volley of shot aad sluga was directed at them , and they wore otherwise ill-used . Tlie villains then retired , leaving both tho Earrells , more especially the elder , seriously wounded . The police havo Leeii unable to arra . it the ruffians . Their only provocation was the fact that some riersons had been evicted from . ^ groiuul occupied by Jb ' urrell . ITicse outrages have been fraiuent of late in tlw uistrict . On tho previous . Sunday , an armed , party udininiatorcd an oath tc njveral pewoiis , binding them not to hold iiitereour . se with unpopular individuals .

      Untitled Article

      . AMISUICA . TiiiiHH is not much political news from the United States . General Walker iu collecting a fund to enable him to form . auotaer « xj > cdition to JMiejuaguu . 'I ' oteam-ship r i ' u « ineaa « o Jjoa jirriviMl at U « w York witli < twtf liujid « xi « md ^ ixljy ^ laserXora fraui Walker's army . . Tiifl liooj . - m « m hjhj iu . a nu »» i vfioUsliud f light ami me aulAaiHti ^ g uu juublLc , cluu : ity . They luivo iiublialied a aiiMuiCest <> , intputii ^ ibloodtkiraty Jtyrauny , iue » i > acity , . prcjUi a ^ c ^' , uud , kii » Viory to ' NV . uliuic

      Untitled Article

      ^^ T * IB M 1 DER , ! tJto . g 89 . SxnncBBa « , 1 SS 7 .

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      ACCIDENTS A . KTO SUDDEN DEATHS . 4 L Sr l- xr Ser f nafcure occ « red about haif-p ^ ¦ in-ne o dock on Monday mornrng to Lfeutenatrt Krmlr of the aoyal Horse -Guards . A detachment of that rel giment were gomg off duty from the Horse < hxards , and were proceeding thro ^ h the park , when Lieutenant lirrner ' slorao took fright , ran a short distance Swn Constitu ion-h . ll , and came in contact with the Green Park r « ik , throwing the rider , who was impaled on the spikes . He was at least three minutes in that -painful position before he could be extricated . He was then taken away in a cab to the barracks . ^ AnotlKsr icase of impalement occurred on Tuesday morning . in Kent-street , iBorouga . A boy was endeavouring to scale a wall , when he slipped , and fell a con'siderable depth on some iron spikes . He was pulled oiF and conveyed to Guy ' s Hospital in a dangerous state . '

      Mr . John Emmerson , father of Dr . Emtnerson , of North Shields , went down to . tlie sea last Saturday to bathe ; but , being in feeble health , he was knocked down by the surf , and carried out with the tide . Three young men , hearing his cries , swam to his assistance . One of them got him upon his shoulders , and the other two attempted , to tow them in tosliore ; but Mr . limmerson clung desperately to the man who had got hold of him till the latter was obliged to let go , and the three youn <^ men-were so exhausted that other persons found it ne ^ cessary to go to th « ir help . The drowning man then floated farther out to sea , and another person went to the rescue , and seized hold of'him ; but the current kept drawing them out , and at length , in self-pieservation , the rescuer , like those who had preceded him , was compelled to abandon the other to his fate . Very shortly afterwards , Sir . liinmerson sank .

      The inquest on the bodies of John James , Henry Giles , and George Williams , who were killed by a collision on the West Somerset Kail way last Saturday week , was concluded on Tuesday evening . The jury , after deliberating about an hour , returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against John Jaine 3 " in the cases of George Williams and Henry Giles ; and that " the death of the said Jolui James was caused by his own culpable carelessness , iu persisting that the lioadwater engine sh . oul < I . proceed -when the other engine to his knowledge was expected up from Watckt't . " Appended to the verdict were tiis following remarks : — " The jury cannot separate without expressing their -earnest desire that in futuiii more care may be exercised on the part of the enginedrivers ; that so many persons should not ~ be permitted to ride , on the engines ; and that greater caution should be use-d by the authorities in reference to the safety of the public at crossings and other places on the line . "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 5, 1857, page 846, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2208/page/6/