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j0SB5il852.] THE LEAD 531
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THE OUTRAGE UPON MB. MATHER. The holiday...
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"To thr Rigiit Hon. thh Eaut, ov MAiiMRs...
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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.
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Continental Notes. Cicktaibr Dynastic Ar...
. -jfjof the « ivil' -and military provincial departments . Su « dav ^ as observed as a gene ral holiday . The buildin g £ fi been called a Crystal Palace , but its roof is of slate . T size it is about one-thirtieth that now iii process of de->> lition in Hyde Park . "The Emperor of Russia has returned to Warsaw ; the Empress is at | chlangenbad . ^ The Grand ^ u ^ s are on rtrir way from Italy to rejoin the Czar in the North . The jneeting of - * fche conservative electors and inhabitants of the canton of Friburg took place , as announced , n the 24 th inst ., at Posieux . Between 15 , 000 and T 6 000 persons were , it is calculated , present ; and they were divided into groups , according to their respective districts with flags . Having , arranged themselves round a Tmstings M- Charles , a political prisoner still in gaol , was uiuerel
elected honorary president , ana jml . w , an advocate , was voted to the chair . He said that the meeting knew that it was assembled to protest against the policy of the Government ( Radical ) , and to obtain a redress of grievr »«/? as and he hoped that the gather ing of such a multitude , representing all opinions , all creeds , and all interests , would have the desired effect . He called on the meeting to prove that the Friburg people were worthy of libert y and independence by maintaining calm and tranquillity . A c ommittee was then nominated . A series of resolutions were afterwards read—the first was to the effect that" the Friburg p eople declare that they are assembled to declare hv ves or no whether they place confidence in . the
Government ; " but it was replaced by another , declaring that " the Friburg people disapprove of the political system followed by the Government , because it is incompatible with the material and intellectual progress of the country . " This was adopted unanimously , and the other resolutions , conce ived in the same spirit , were also adopted without opposition . On the proposition of an elector , the committee was charged to endeavour , by all means in its power , to obtain the release of M . Charles , and other political prisoners . The President then , on demand of the prefect , called on the people to return quietl y to their homes , and immediately the vast gathering broke up , each manjoiniac the flaff of his district ^ and marching away quietly .
The Government of the canton took every precaution to prevent a violent outbreak , or an attack On the town . Troops and artillery were placed in the principal squares , and the shops were clpsed ^_ _ There was , however , no occasion for the service of the armed force , though several fwips passed through the town on leaving the meeting , everthelessj some arrests were made . On the 26 th , all the political prisoners at Friburg were released by the advice of the Jrederal authorities . ~ The Spener Gazette of Berlin exults in the entrance of Great Britain into the league of the despotic sovereigns of Europe , through the merits of the tory cabinet . The
Spener says : — "We are able to state that the claims of Prussia on the canton of JN " eufchatel have been acknowledged . But those are deceived who imagine that this recognition will lead to grave complications ; it is certain that diplomatic means alone will be employed . It is worthy of remark that the attitude of Great Britain has completely changed on this question . Under the Palmerston policy Switzerland could count on the support of British diplomacy . Now , on the contrary , under the ministry of Lord Malniesbury , it is not to be doubted that England will join with the other powers in condemning the revolutionary state of things in the canton of Neufchatel . "
In the appendix to the budget of the Minister of Marine is given a list of all the Ships of war , frigates , steamers , Ac ., in the possession of the French Government , with a statement of the present position of the ships building . IVom this return it appears that the total number of vessols of all kinds and sizes in the French war navy amounts to 334 , of which 24- are ships of the line , 38 frigates , 28 co rvettes , 42 brigs of war , 6 cannonieres—brigs , 85 light vessels , and 35 transports varying from 800 to 350 tons , 1 steam ship of war ( 960-horse powor ) , 20 steam frigates of from 650 to 450-horso power , 29 steam corvottcs , and 70 steam avisos . Four ships of war on the mixed system ( sails and steam ) , 1 frigate , 2 corvettes , and 1 aviso . Besides this thoro are 67 ships of different kinds on tho stocks—namely , 22 ships of war , 18 frigates , 2 corvettes , <» bngs , 2 steam men of war 2 stoam frigates 5 stoam
cor-, , vottcs , and 3 steamers of smaller size . a no patri otic press of Belgium resents warmly tho gross attacks of M . Granier de Cassognac , the lackey of tho JWy « co , upon the Government . The article in tho Constit mionnel , intondod to influence the coming elections and jM « the triumph of the clerical party now in opposition , by n » pmn (» tho constituencies with apprehensions for tho atoty ot the material interests of Belgium in tho eventuality of a triu mph of liberal princip les , is producing a ron otion most unfavourable to tho ultra-ohurchmon , who „ P lftcod in tho position of allies of tho most formidable « no my of tho country . nn « I ^ ftnders every pulpit rosounds with priestly eiijn ° againsfc tho'prosont liberal Government of Bolor
tllf , ° . ^ 8 from Madrid of tho 24 th ult . oxproas a belief rf " Government had abandoned nil idoa of n coup ilotn - \ sIl 0 Uld oircumstancoa roquiro it , Ministers woro thft r ' i ^ lmvo ^ course to tho following measures : 1 , ova- ' utlon of tho Chamber of Doputiofl , which , howtliA 1 S not to tako Place before tho month of August ; 2 , accnr ?" VOcAtion ** ft now Chamber of Deputies , elected invoHt i , tll ° 0 xi 8 t « nff ln-w ; 8 , tho doputiofl aro to bo tho fVi l spaoial powers , authorizing them to roforrn rofi . m " n ( ulfcl " JftW 8 > should tho Government doom that (! t " <> Pportuno . HioriiS ^ J ' flpncQ that an Austrian loan of 2 , 250 , 000 ? . lias hn n c ° n « ludod in London at 00 per cent , tion tk S ? lv ° l 1 in Vienna with extraordinary Batisiaotho vn i- ° \ * remo finds nothing wonderful in tho fact that
« ioi 1 , a- \ T ° K 1 V 0 1 ° W . forthoir ownThroonor Oonts ., puraiaL ° % Austrian Fives . Tho Lloyd , howovor , ealo h *» £ l , ntftining that it is a very groat point that a " * " oeen found at all in England for Austrian paper .
A change is spoken of in the diplomatic representation of Austria at Paris . * M . Hubner , it is said , will bo succeeded by Count Maurice EsterMzy . . The Jpresse states that the Emperor , no longer able to permit his representative at Washington to hold communication with a Secretary of State who has spoken so lightly of Austria as Mr . "Webster has done , has commanded theCheyalier Hulsemann to return to Europe , leaving his government diplomaticall y unrepresented in the United States . The ,-J 3 mperor , ifc is added , would toot have laidmuch stress upon the liberty allowed , to Kossuth , but Mr . Webster ' s speeches touch his honour and dignity . According to a return lately published , the proportional number of the confessors of various religious creeds in Austr ia is as follows :- ^ -In every 10 , 000 of the population there are 7039 Roman catholics 987 members of the
United Greek , and 844 non-united Greek , churches ; 577 of the Helvetic , and 543 & £ the Augsburg Protestant confessions : 195 Jews , and ukif Unitarians . The remaining unit represents the proportion of the non classified Christian sects . ,, The Vienna correspondent of the Times writes , " Every possible means is adopted to conceal the real state of feeling in the different provinces from the knowledge of the inhabitants of the capital , Hut , in spite of preventive measures , the truth sooner or Ifcter finds its way to us . Thus a transient gleam of light broke in upon me yesterday and from what was said it was impossible to doubt that there is a general and deeply rooted sentiment of discontent , from which even the tried and faithful Tyrolese are by no means exempt * , Edward Murray arrived at Ancona , May 16 . The British Consul's application to see him in prison , was refused .
The French fleet left Naples for Palermo on the 20 th . The Emperor of Austria left Vienna on the 29 th ult . for Prague .. M . Berryer arrived at Frohsdorff on the 25 th , and had a conference of several hours' duration with the Count dc Chambord ; it was attended by several Legitimist notabilities . Madame Laffarge is reported to have been remitted the remainder of her imprisonment . Mr . Green , juni , made a balloon ascent from Frankfort on the 28 th ult . ; After rising a considerable height , and
remaining some time over the town , he saw a storm approaching , and resolved to descend in a field . When the cords which her threw out reached the earth a number of peasants seized them , and pulled at them violently . They then seized the hoops and jower part of the balloon . This rendered it impossible for Mr . Green to open the valves , and the consequence ^ wag ^ that the balloon burst with a loud explosion . The peasants immediately tore the balloon to pieces , and divided the pieces amongst themselves . Five of the peasants were arrested , but Mr . Green demands an indemnity of 7 , 000 florins ( about 17 , 000 f . )
J0sb5il852.] The Lead 531
j 0 SB 5 il 852 . ] THE LEAD 531
The Outrage Upon Mb. Mather. The Holiday...
THE OUTRAGE UPON MB . MATHER . The holidays afford us an opportunity of printing entire the letter of Mr . Mather , which we mentioned last week . It is cut out of the Times . 5 , Barton-street , Westminster , May 27 . Sib , —As negotiations in reference to my son ' s case have been declared by the Foreign Secretary to be concluded , and as I understand certain explanations have taken place to-night in the House of Peers on the subject , may I beg the favour of your inserting the enclosed two concluding notes upon it in the Times of tomorrow morning ? I am , Sir , your most obedient servant , James Mather . " Foreign Office , May 24 . " Sib , —I havo tho satisfaction of informing you , by tho direction of tho Earl of Malmcsbury , that , after long and vexatious negotiations with the Tuscan Government , Mr . Scarlett has succeeded in obtaining for your son a practical atonement for tho unmerited and brutal treatment ho received at Florence , b y the payment by that Government of the sum of 1000 Francosconi . " Although Her Majesty ' s Government do not consider that this sum is equivalent to tho injury which Mr . Mather suffered , or to that which an English Court would havo awarded him as damages for his sufferings , and although it is loss than Mr . Scarlett was instructod to domand , Her Majesty ' s Government have reason to boliovo that Mr . Scarlott acted to tho best of his judgment in thus
concluding tho controversy . There is no doubt that tho anxiety ho has gone through in consoquonco of this and othor disputes with tho Tuscan Government has brought upon him a most dangerous illness . " Prince Schwarzonborg , before his death , had addrosaod a noto to her Majesty ' s Government , expressing his groat rogrotat the occ urrence , and at the act of tho Austrian offioors , which ho assured Her Majesty ' Government waa not diotatod by any fooling of hostility to our countrymen in gonoral , or of pqrsonal malice to Mr . Mather himself . " Tho patriotio manner in which you havo repeatedly oxprossodyoureolf in this unfortunatp affair induces tho Earl of Malmosbury to boliovo thatyou will now consider 6 ur international laws as sufficiently vindicated . " I lam , Sir , vour most obedient humblo eorvant , J H . U . Addington . " To James Mather , Esq ., tho Orovo , Woatoo , ' South Shields . " ' "
"To Thr Rigiit Hon. Thh Eaut, Ov Maiimrs...
"To thr Rigiit Hon . thh Eaut , ov MAiiMRsntTity , Hun Majhbty ' b Smohmtahy vou Fobhion Apb-aikb , & o . " 6 , Barton-Btroot , Westminster , May 27 . " My Lord , —Tho communication of your Lordship of tho 24 th inst ., by Mr . Addington , reached mo hero to-day . " Tho feelings with which I porusod such a document I will not attempt to exprooa to your Lordohip .
" Now , my Lord , you willdo me the favour to remember that a British subject , my son , was attacked in Florence by two armed Austrian officers , receiving the most ' unmerited and brutal treatment , ' your lordsnip has expressed it ; that he was cut down by one of them , left in his own bipod , his life in danger for a length of time , and his health perhaps for ever injured : and all this without any provocation , any offence , as it ^ lias been proved by evidence , not : to be controverted , of the most respectable witnesses , —people the subjects of the State whose officers had so " acted . " Yetjfor all this , no real redress has been obtained ; that officer is still at large , and remains unpunished . "Upon iny return fromj > rosecuting the inquiry at Florence , you demanded to know what redress and reparation I deemed sufficient for such an outrage ; to that demand in my memorandum of tho 6 th of March I
replied" * 1 . That some marked punishment for an act , proved by the sworn evidence of impartial witnesses , to have been gross and unprovoked , should be inflicted upon the offender , such as i s fitting for an act of that description , committed upon a British subject by an officer of another country at amity with Britain . What that should be it is for Lord ^ Malmesbury , who represents British interests and British honour , and officially secures protection for British subjects abroad , to decide . ' " Whatever personal reparation you might deem proper to demand , which I conceded with regret to your lordship ' s ^ express commands , as I foresaw a probable misapplication of such concession , was , as you know , to give place to the public honour . " You now inform me that Prince Schwarzenberg , the
late Prime Minister of Austria , previous to his death , ' had addressed a note to her Majesty ' s Government , expressing his great regret at the occurrence , and at the act of the Austrian officers . ' The extent of such regret may be estimated by this- —the Austrian officer , who stained the honour of the Austrian army by his bloodthirsty and cowardly act , has been allowed to go free and unpunished , and his conduct has been approved , at least defended , by Prince Schwarzenberg ' s lieutenant , the Austrian Commander-in-Chief in Tuscany , Prince Lichtenstein . " This man I frequently saw in all the pride of military array and overbearing insolence in the streets of Florence , a public example to Ms brother officers and the world of the impunity with which British subjects may be treated , and the triumphant evidence of the Tow estimation of his superiors for British honour and British power .
" This , all the while that British statesmen and diplomatists were making urgent demands for redress , your lordship ^ ajnong the number . " Has anything been done since to impress them with the contrary ? " Your lordship continued 4 o demand redress at Florence , notwithstanding Prince Schwarzonberg's note , as I understood ^ bu . Has it been obtained ? " The offer made by the Tuscan Government , as named in your communication , is too absurd to be deemed so , and it is submitted to me as if it were felt to be most humiliating . " It would require of itself no notice from me , but that it J 3 an indication of the expected impunity -with which an
Austrian officer may outrage a British subject , and a precedent and encouragement to any one disposed to repeat such an offence ; in that ifc is a matter of some concern . "' The patriotic manner in which I have repeatedly expressed myself in this unfortunate affair , ' as you aro pleased to observe , has originated in feelings that induce mo now to express the pain whicli I feel that this crime is sought to be compromised , and tho indignation , as far as I am concerned , with which I reject the offer of the Tuscan Government , and any participation in such proceedings . " I will not pretend to bo a judge of what is duo to tho honour of England , but I know what is duo to my own . "My son , who is still abroad , will , I ' am sure , participate in these sentiments .
" I have the honour to remain , my Lord , " Your Lordship ' s most obedient and humblo servant , " James Matheb . " Mr . James Mather , senior , has written another lettor to Lord Malmeebury , in which ho distinctly proves that the lettor published in the Times of Friday week , was delivered at Lord Malmosbury ' s private residence , and placed on his lordship ' s table on the previous Thursday evening ; thus convicting his lordship of something very like a direct falsehood ; for it will bo remembered that Lord Malmesbury stated , in his place , that tho letter had not been sent to him , and afterwards he wrote that his servants could not flnd it .
Independently of this , Mr . Mather brings some serious charges against British diplomacy , especially for attempting , by advising tho young Mathers to carry thoir coso before tho Tuscan (!) civil tribunal , to make that a personal , which Mr . Mather rightly contends was a public question—in fact , a question of British honour . Whon Mr . Mather presented himself nt tho Foreign Oflico , Lord Malmesbury wished to know at how much ho valued tho injury to his . son ; and whon Mr .-Mather
demurred to making it a private question , and urged redress on public grounds , he was tauntingly asked " whether ho wished Lord Malmesbury to go to war for it ? " Mr . Mather repeatedly urged , that tho privato question should bo kept out of sight , but Lord Malmosbury us repeatedly thrust it in . Mr . Mather was prepared to forego his cluim for damages , and to insist on satisfaction for outraged honour ; Lord Malmesbury was more than ready to forego the honour , and insist on the damages . What a humiliating position for the Minister of England !
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 5, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05061852/page/7/
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