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Northern Star (1837-1852), 25th September 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 14

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      Death-Beds Of Thomas Paine And Voltaire....

      ANECDOTE OP PAINE . A ludicrous , but authentic anecdote is related by his friend Riekman showing what ridiculous attempts were made to disturb the sick man ' s peace . A real old lady—a second Mrs . Toddles— ' in a large scarlet cloak' —such a cloak' as old ladies were wont to wear , dear reader , when thou and I were children one sunshiny afternoon , knocked at the residence of Thomas Paine . Mr . Paine was , according to his custom , comfortably havino * ' a short nap . ' He never liked to be disturbed when doing so . Mr . Jarvis , his landlord and servant , knew this ,

      therefore he told the lady that Paine ' v / as asleep . ' She was * very sorry for that , she wanted ' to see him very particularly . ' Jarvis having a little of that rare article termed ' milk of human kindness , ' did not like to give the poor old lady the trouble to call again , ' so he ushered her into Paine ' s apartment . Paine being aroused , he rose upon one elbow , and with an expression of eye that staggered the old woman , asked What do you want ? ' The lady inquired , 'Is your name Paine ? ' ' Yes , was the reply . ' Well , then , —piously

      ejaculated the venerable dame— ' I come from Almighty God to ted you , that if you do not repent of your sins , and believe in our blessed Saviour , Jesus Christ , you will be damned ! ' ' Poll , poh , it is not true . You were not sent with any such impertinent message . Jarvis , make her go away . Pshaw ! he would not send such a foolish , ugly old woman about with his messages . Go away—go back—shut the door '—Paine rapidly said . I he lady was astonished , and retired . vowaiiie ' s " recantation . "

      Sir T . C . Morgan , anxious to have a correct statement from Voltaire ' s friends , as to whether the mighty mind repented , wrote to D'Alembert and Voltaire ' s physician for the particulars . Thev were readily given . Each gentleman sent a decisive letter to Morgan , denying that the benefactor of mankind recanted when dying . Those who desire to have all the information they can upon the subject , should read the letters , for they are an unanswerable refutation of the many lies that are circulated by priests respecting Voltaire ' s death . Voices fopv Freedom , and other Poems . By Thomas Forster Ker . London : Houlston and Stoneman . . -i -i . . , i i . 1 ii . I ' ll m l » . 1 , j . that the author of these miht

      Though believing " Poems " g have better aided the cause of progress by using his pen in a more practical department , we cannot withhold the approbation due to those pieces , which are infinately superior to the mass of jingling nonsense that yearly issues from the press . The writer of " Voices for Progress '' is evidently capable of something better . We trust Mr . Ker will not confine himself to the worship of the Muses , but will give a wider scope to his talents by employing them in the more substantial department of democratic literature . We choose for extract the following piece , for the sentiments it breathes .

      THE SPIRIT OP PROGRESS . Pro « rression ' s Spirit through the land , is journeying far and wide , Crying aloud , as on she goes , with Wisdom by her side" Hoi corn-age take , ve iratt of heart , why droop ye in despair V Bold action , wholly void of fear , doth triumph everywhere ! With honest fitness choose the place or station ye would fill , And ye will truly gain , at last , the object of your will ; If ye with perseverance strive , with all your strength and might , Best sure , deserving souls , you'll be the conquerors in the fight . But ever know , and hear in mind , that the present is the time To straggle hard to free j ^ ourselves from Ignorance and Crime ;

      And as ye onward pass through life , let your actions ever show That Humanity within your breasts does ever truly glow . And when reports untrue are raised , of your deeds of frailty , Keep free from ire , and you'll unfold profound philosophy ; For Malice has a thousand tongues to blast a goodly name , And ever tries to bring to naught a worthy virtuous fame . Yet never fear her clam'rous noise , 'twill only last a while , Then die , as every action docs , that is possessed with guile .

      : Sor let the feelings of your hearts for bygone sorrows grieve , But ever let the rays of Hope , your sadden'd thoughts relieve ; For the heart was never made to mourn , to murmur , or complain While there is comfort upon earth for manlciiid to obtain . He who made the world has said— " At life let none repine , "Fis / who gives the life to all , and everything is mine ; Whatever good on earth is done , is done at my command , And they who struggle to acquire , must not my will withstand . " Then listen , ye despairing ones , oh \ listen and rejoice ,

      Possess your souls with all his laws , and obey his cheering voice ; And rest assured , as ye fulfil his mandates every one , An eternal goal of sunshine will most gloriously he won ! Oh ! let your minds expand and learn , and ever wiser grow , As along the track of fleeting time ye inevitably go . Each one , indeed , has got the power , and chance to work and win , If ye but seize the present time , and earnestly begin . Then let Improvement be your theme , look up , and never fear , The prospect may seem gloomy now , but the Future ' s bright and cleai For , with knowledge there does ever come prosperity and peace ,

      And the longer after it you run , the more your joys increase !" Thus does Progression ' s Spirit cry aloud to all on earth , That man may gather wisdom from the words she giveth birth That love aud truth within the heart of every man may dwell , And conquer every crime that's wrought by Folly ' s evil spell , That man may triumph over wrong , and curb all worldly pride , And cast aside each hateful vice to which he is allied . Then ye who drag existence through dark Error ' s slothful way , Arouse , and be no more to her a meek and servile prey ; But plant Affection in your hearts , and endeavour to o ' crthrow The hateful deeds which Ignorance doth profanely ever show .

      Il0 The Stab Of Fkekdom. September 25, ^

      il 0 THE STAB OF FKEKDOM . September 25 , ^

      Stoke-Upon-Tkext Monthly Narrative Of Cu...

      Stoke-upon-Tkext Monthly Narrative of Current Events . We have now before us No . 8 of the above , an unstamped monthly newspaper , published at one penny . We hail with satisfaction all such attempts to burst those last fetters by which the press in this country is still bound , aud we . trust it will be supported as it deserves by the men of the Potteries . The news is well selected , and the articles , which are of the right sort , are well writl . cn .

      Hooks On Null Tahul L'Histoire De La Rov...

      HOOKS ON null TAHUL L'Histoire de la RovoliiHwi Vnm' jbM :. I ' nv J . < mi « l \\ n \ w . ' ! ionics . Counsel to Inventors of lui'irovMucute . Catherine Sinclair . The Family Medical Adviser . A Brief Inquiry into the Natural ttiglita of Mm * . Mackenzie ' s School Geography . ¦ —¦—i

      ¦ ¦--—-«« R» How To Kill Ax Alligator—Th...

      ¦ -- — - «« r » How to Kill ax Alligator—The Boston Post gives an account oi' the way an officer in the British Army of India killed an alligator , and thinks it may have suggested the voltaic battery in the capture of a whale . The alligator had established himself close to a ford , to the disgust and' terror of the neighbouring population . The officer sowed up six pounds of gunpowder in the stomach of a nice fresh kid , with which he went trolling for the creature , as a fisherman would for pike . Having bolted it greedily , the brute sunk to the bottom to enjoy its digestion at leisure . His scientific enemy then applied a voltaic battery to copper wire running through his fishing line , and there was a violent tumultuous boiling of the water , large torn pieces floating hither and thither in the eddy . The alligator ' s life and his dinner were finished together .

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      The Theatres. Princess's. This Theatre W...

      THE theatres . PRINCESS'S . This theatre was opened for the season on Saturday with a new petite comedy , by Dion Bourcicault , entitled the Prima Donna , which proved , and deservedly so , most successful . The principal heroine the " Prima Donna" Stella ( Miss Heath ) is a foundling adopted by a poor Swiss Doctor , named Hol bein ( Mr . Addison ) . Possessing a good voice , she seeks to mitigate the poverty of her benefactor by going upon the stage , where , by her talents , she rises to the dignity of Prima Donna . Her beauty and talents bring her many lovers , but

      the fav ured one is Count Erie Von Mansfeldt , a young officer in the Austrian army , and son of the prime minister . The s ene opens with a stolen visit to her Swiss home , where she learns that the Doctor Holbein s only daughter Margaret ( Miss Robertson ) is dying ; but the nature of her disease the father is altogether unable to ascerta Margaret , however , reveals to Stella the cause of her illness ; that cause is unrequited love . Margaret had been saved from a burning hotel in the Lake of Como , by a young officer . This officer Margaret saw but for an instant ,

      yet she treasured up his image in her heart—love for him , as she herself expressed it ; it grew and grew until it filled her whole existence ; and this secret and hopeless passion was fast bearing her to the grave . While Margaret thus reveals her secret to Stella , Erie rushes in , in search of his beloved , Pri Donna , Margaret instantly recognises him as her deliverer , and faints away . Stella , to lave the life of her sister , implores Eric to feign love for Margaret ; he reluctantly consents , and Stell departs to fulfil her engagements on thii stage . Margaret ' s health returns with the object of her affections , and in time the love of Eric , at first transferred n appearance , becomes transferred in reality from Stella to

      the beautiful and impassioned Margaret . When Stella discovered this , she makes one more sacrifice , and bids Eric be happy with her sister . While the « e events are occurring Stellak pestered with the attentions of a wealthy Milanese banker , named Rouble ( Mr . Walter Lacy ) , who is not to be shaken off , but who , in spite of all she says , continues to write love letters to her , and challenges to her admirers , under the businesslike signature of " Rouble and Co . " When her union with Eric becomes impossible , Stella remembers the ficelity and devotion of her wealthy Milanese lover , who had risked his life to defend her fair name , and had bequeathed to her his fortune in case of his death . She consents to become the wife

      of Rouble , and we are compelled to withhold our pity by the consideration that she has not come off so badly after all . A daily contemporary is fearfully scandalized by the picture of a loving and devoted banker , presented in the character of Rouble , which it calls " conventional , French , and unnatural . " The origin of the Prima Donna is undoubtedly French , anit is no loss true that the character of Rouble is somewhat ex

      aggerated ; but , instead of agreeing with the sneering unbelief in love and virtue contained in our contemporary ' s allusion to the " absurdity" and " improbability" of the characters , we believe the Primma Donna presents a far more pleasing and elevating picture than it would have done had Margaret been a calculating husband catcher , Stella a fortune-hunting adventurer , and Rouble a flinty-hearted moneygrubber—characters the critic alluded to seems to think so natural and unconventional . So much for the piece itself . Of the acting it may be sufficient to say , that it was every way

      worthy of the piece . The character of Stella , which is a noble one having some of the traits of Consuelo , and some of Corinne , but with more of the feelings and failings of womankind , as we find them now , than either of these imaginary characters , was well personified by Miss Heath , who , from her successful debut , gives promise of acquiring an eminent position - among the dramatists of England . As Margaret , Miss Robertson was excellent , and was much applauded . Her representation of the passionate love that prayed upon her heart , and the subsequent happy playfulness of the Swiss girl is worthy of every praise . Mr . Walter Lacy ' s Rouble was

      faultless ; while his representation of the character of Chateau-Renaud in the following piece , the Corsiean Brothers , is , without doubt , according to the very idea of the author of the piece , and leaves room for none to regret the former pcrsonifier of the character , Mr . Wigan . The Franchi were represented by Mr . ' Charles Kean , whose success was testified by the plaudits of the audience , k two-act farce , entitled A Roland for an Oliver , completed the evening ' s performances . In this piece Mr . Walter Lacy appeared for the third time , and as successfully as in the two former pieces . The

      crowded state of the house the night we were present seemed crowded state or the house the night we were present seemed to promise for the ensuing season a renewal of the past success of Mr . Charles Kean .

      ¦ ¦ ¦ —4^ W^— ¦ ——« Guide To The Lecture...

      ¦ ¦ ¦ —4 ^ W ^— ¦ ——« GUIDE TO THE LECTURE ROOM . Literary Institution , John Street , Fitzroy Square . Friday evenings [ S ] a Discussion . Sept . 26 th [ 7 £ } , HenryTyrrell , Dramatic Works of Lord Byron . " Hall of Science , City Road . —Sept . 2 Gth , [ 74 J , Samuel M . Kydd , < Michelet ' s "People" reviewed . ' National Hall , 242 , High Holborn . —Sept . 26 th , [ 7 * 1 P . W . Porfitt , will Lecture . South London Hall . Webber Street , Blackfriars Road . —Sept . 26 th , [ 7 * Charles Southwell will Lecture .

      Sadler ' s Well ' s Discussion Society , three doors from the Hugh Myddelton . - ^ -Sept 23 d ., [ Si-, ] , Discussion . East London Literary Institution , Befchnal Green . —Sept . 27 th , [ 8 ] , Friendly Meeting of the Members . Areopagus Coffee and Reading Room , 59 , Church Lane , Whitechapcl . — Every Sunday , Monday , and Wednesday ( 8 ) , a Lecture or Discussion . Hoxton Mutual Instruction Society , 4 , Gloucester Terrace . —Sept . 27 FS ? 1 Mr . Beeby ' , ' Co-operation . ' ' Commercial Hall , Philpot Street , Commercial Road East . —Sept . 19 th [ 11 a . m . ] , Charles Southwell will lecture . —Theological Discussions every Sunday evening [ 7 ] , Tuesday [ 8 ] , Thursday [ 8 ] , and Saturday [ Si

      White Horse , Hare Street , Bethnal Grreen .-A Lecture and Discussion every Sunday evening at 6 o clock . " Social Institution , Charles Street , Old Oarratt , Manchester .-Sept . 26 th [ 11 a . m . J , a Lecture . r Progressionist Hall , Cheapside , Leeds . —Sept 26 th (* 6 & a Lecture . Eclectic Institute , 14 , GatfWand Street , Glasgo \ v . ~ Sept , 26 th [ 6 ft A

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      A Cockneyism,—A " Fast" Young Gentleman ...

      A CocKNEYiSM , —A " fast" young gentleman , who v » i i in a pipe of Orinoco occasionally , asked the following ** question of his purveyor : — " Mr . Turbakanist , how \ ^ spell horroonoker , with a naitch or a hoe ? " ' ( ° }' ° u Heau , Hear !—The " Times " lately observed , thatther a blight in the crop of rising political talent . This see > i s ^? when we consider the promise in the way of ears ! °

      'Havnau and History . —Haynatj , not long ao > o exm . himself to the effect that he left the vindication of ' his ' ch ^ ter ; to " History . " This we submit to be a delusion of ?" General ' s . He has observed how History accords the c of u Whittington , " and thinks that he , too , will be Mir honour from his association with the " Cat ! "—Punch m "Those dear eyes of thine , " as the old gentleman said ffl he bought his wife another pair of fifty shilling spectacles lei 1 Contrast op Colours . —An exquisite young lady writ * * into a linendraper ' s , and with the most excruciating drawl l could affect , inquired if they had any " subdued monse-colouH silk . ' "No . " replied the draper , with a sudden and express ^ twirl of the yard-stick , " but we have some enraged r « at colour ^ If thou hast a loitering servant send him on thine errand m-t before his dinner . * J

      The following is a translation by Leigh Hunt , from Are ! deacon Mapes , a scholar of the medieval period : — ' ' I devise to end my days—in a tavern drinking ; — May some Christian hold for me—the glass when 1 am shrinking That the Cherubim may cry—when they see me sinking ° ' 'God be merciful to a soul—of this gentleman ' s way of thiifi * One of the New . York journals has the following cnim-m , <* from the German " : _ ° P ° aiil

      "Adam in Paradise to sleep was laid ; Then was there from his side a woman made , Poor Father Adam ! much it grievcth me That thy first sleep thy last repose should be " When the Danes invaded Scotland it was deemed unwarlike to attack an enemy in the pitchy darkness of night , instead of a pitched battle by day ; but on one occasion the invader *

      resolved to avail themselves of this stratagem , and in order to prevent their tramp being heard , they marched barefooted , They had thus neared the Scottish force unobserved when a Dane unluckily stepped upon a superbly pricked thistle , and instinctively uttered a cry of pain which discovered the assailants to the Scots , who ran to their arms and defeated the the foe , with great Slaughter . The thistle was immediately adopted as the insignia of Scotland .

      Bon mot by Archbishop Wiiately . —In the statistical section of the British Association on Thursday , the Rev . Dr . Morgan read a paper on the moral and economical condition of the working classes in Ireland , and referred particularly to the " exodus" of the people . He offered some severe stviatmes on the conduct of the Romish priests , when Archbishop Whatelv interrupted him with the good-natured remark , — "I am afraid , Doctor , you are getting out of Exodus into Leviticus ! '' The incident caused some merriment in the section . — Witness .

      biiiE Annihilatoks . —It appears not improbable that tlie gas generated by the fire annihilator machines may be applied for the ^ protection of warehouses , & c , by an apparatus to he self-acting , on the first outbreak of fire , and at the same time to throw off a quantity of the annihilator gas into the buildi

      ng , and also to raise an alarm . Experiments are now in course of being made to ascertain if the gas thus introduced into a building on fire , and left to find its own way to the seat of fire . will be as effectual as the gas discharged from the fire annihilator machines with the force which enables it to penetrate into the burning materials .

      A Fatal Potion .--A very melancholy occurrence took , place in this town within the present week . A young * man of good character , engaged at the Emus mills , named Thomas Meany , became acquainted some short time since with » u young girl of the name of Honora Keane . They freqiicntlv walked together , but a few days since the girl fancied she vat * slighted by him , and being anxious to keep him . to herself " , she consulted some woman in the neighbourhood how slice

      might accomplish her desires . The doctress , according to lien : skill , made up a draught for the girl , and on Sunday last , th parties having , as customary , taken a country excursion , slice induced him to take it , which he did after some persuasion He vary soon found himself unwell , and hastened to hii : house , when he complained he was very ill . Medical aid wans called in , and upon the young man being closely questioned !! the physician declared his belief that he had taken poisoaii

      He was immediately conveyed to the county infirmary , mulee the care of Dr . Cullinau , when everything that medical skilill could do was resorted to , but without effect , aud the yoimu !! man died yesterday evening . It apj ^ ears the love potion waai composed of Spanish flies , " spirits , and some sugar . Aninm quisition will be held to day , and a post-nwrteni czmms & oto will take place to discover the cause of death . The bottkll

      which contained the draught has been found ; and the « ircggi that remained will enable the physician to state what thin draught was con posed of . The girl is in custody . Very Mild . —Rebecca Erccman , a person of exceeding ^ mild and innocent appearance , was btoueht before Sir Fetctcc

      Laurie , charged upon suspicion of having robbed Mrs . MilUll the wife of a medical gentleman residing in Ald

      When , we arrived at the East India House she stopp * F the omnibus to get out , and I immediately discove re r " that my pocket had been picked of my purses , one of www -was within the other . A man who appeared to 1 ) C a ai quainted with her , and who sat opposite to her , go fco 0 ) before her , and some gentlemen in the omnibas sasa \ that , no doubt , she had handed my property to nuiui

      Several of the detective officers said they knew the prisons to be a most ingenious thief , who frequented omnibuse s i « the purpose of plunder ; but notwithstanding her clevernes s she had been several times summarily convicted , and she MU ' been once tried at the Old Bailey . Sir . P . Laurie . — - woman , with her mild and simple appearance and maunei ^' calculated to do a great deal of mischief in this way , «" shall remand her in the hope of getting further cv tfieneim against her .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 25, 1852, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_25091852/page/14/