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906 THE LEADER. [No. 489- Aug. 6, 1859.
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V . V ,T rn ttapv jnavaIj ainu jyu.-LiJ.±A±
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VOLUNTEER CORPS. We are sorry to have li...
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THE STRIKES. Two most important combinat...
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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Transcript
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Imperial, Parliament. Monday, August 1. ...
the expenses of erecting the new Foreign-office , which was expaihed to be for the purpose of preparing the ground by concrete for the foundation of the building , the Chanceixok of the Exchequer stated that a responsible builder was ready to undertake the construction upon Mr . Scott ' s plan for 232 , 0007 . ; but there were contingencies which would augment the charge to 310 , 000 ? ., and , the cost of the site being 120 , O 0 OZ ., the total sum would be 430 , 000 ? . —The discussion—a long and interesting one—of the vote embraced a great variety of topics connected with the proposed building , including the question whether it should comprise a residence for the Foreign Minister and reception rooms , and the
was ordered to appear in his place the following day . supply . The House then went into a Committee of Supply , and resumed the discussion of the remaining estimates . In moving the vote of . £ 10 , 000 for the expense of a new copper ( or substitute for copper ) coinage , the Chancei / I-or of the Exchequer explained the constituents of the compound metal , a species of bronze , ol which the substituted currency would be made . On the vote of . £ 50 , 000 for civil contingencies , the Chancellor of the Exchequer adverted to the item of . £ 2 , 200 charged as expenses for his late mission to the Ionian Islands . He acknowledged the forbearance manifested towards himself both by the last and the present Parliament in relation to this affair , and stated that he looked with impatience for the time when all the papers relating to that mission could be published , which as he believed , would fully justify the confidence which the House had been pleased to bestow upon him . For the present , the Commissioner of the Ionian Islands considered any promulgation of the despatches inexpedient and premature . The vote was of Course agreed to , as were also the remaining votes , the business of granting supplies being brought to a conclusion for the present session . ' The House adjourned at two o ' clock .
question of the architect , involving that of the style of architecture—whether Italian or Gothic . — Lord Elcho defended Mr . Scott ' s design . He maintained that the objections to this Resign on the ground of light and air , and as to its incongruity with other buildings , would not hold water ; that a severe congruity was sometimes a deformity . He quoted testimonies in favour of this design . —Mr . Tite was of opinion that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had omitted items in his calculation to the amount of loOjOOO / ., and that , including the Indiaoffice , the House , by adopting Mr . Scott ' s design , would , be committed to an outlay of nearly 1 , 000 , 000 / . He thought that , though the Gothic style might be
suited for ecclesiastical edifices , the Italian style , moderately used , was better : adapted for public offices . —Lord Palmerstojt f aid nothing would be done towards fixing upon a plan until Parliament inet again . He retained the opinion he had expressed , that the Gothic style was utterly unsuitable to a public official building , and he avowed the declaration he had made to a deputation , that , as far as his opinion had weight , he should do all he could to prevent that style being adopted ; that it was admirably suited to a monastery or a College of Jesuits , hut riot , externally or internally , to the purpose for
which the building was intended . —Lord J . Manxees vindicated himself from the charge—that he had committed the country by incurring an expense in this matter upon his own responsibility—made by Lord Palmerston , upon whom he retorted somewhat sharply . —Sir J , Paxton said he had examined Mr . Scott ' s plan in detail , and was of opinion that it was a beautiful building ; that his system of ventilation was as perfect as in any building he had ever seen , and , as to light , that he had rather overdone it than otherwise . This vote , with other votes , was agreed to . BODBmr ELECTION PETITION . In the evening . Mr . Roebuck drew the attention of the House to a matter which , he said , concerned its privileges . A petition presented against the return of one of the members for Bodmin on the grounds of bribery and treating had been withdrawn ; and it had come to his knowledge that the member for Bodmin , being charged with bribery and corruption , had agreed to a compromise , and would retire from , the representation by accepting the Cbiltem Hundreds . He ( Mr . Roebuck ) considered this to be a corrupt compromise , which materially affected the character as well as the privileges of the House ; and he moved a resolution that any
minister would be guilty of a breach of the privileges of the House who should advise the Crown to confer the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds , or a similar office , upon any person charged with corrupt practices at elections , for the purpose of enabling him to evade the jurisdiction of that House by entering into an agreement to vacate his seat . —Lord PALfiBitSTON agreed in the principle of the motion ; but with regard to its application it did not appear , he observed , that Mr . Roebuck had sufficient ground for his general resolution , which ' would cause the Government much embarrassment , He suggested that the member for Bodniin should be required to appear in his place , and asked whether he admitted or denied the charge . —Mr . Disraeli agreed that it became the House to adopt sortie resolution of this kind . —The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the privilege of conferring the Chiltern Hundreds was the
only patronage in his hands , and , in conformity with a precedent in 1842 , it would bo his duty in the case pf any corrupt compromise of the kind mentioned brought to his knowledge tp refuse the grant . Mr . Roebuck said the member referred to , Dr . Michell , had been charged with bribery , corruption , nnd treating | the petition ngainst his return had been withdrawn in consequence , ho had reason to believe , of a corrupt compromise between him and the petitioner . If application was made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Chiltern Hundreds , the nail would bo driven home . Ought not the House to interpose an obstacle in tho way of such a compromise ?—Sir H . Cairns observed that the three facts—tho petition against tho return of the member , tho withdrawal of tho petition , and tho application for the ChHtern Hundreds' --would make a Bumctent primA facie choc . —After a further dis * - ousu ^ on the debate was adjourned , nnd Dr . Mloholl
906 The Leader. [No. 489- Aug. 6, 1859.
906 THE LEADER . [ No . 489- Aug . 6 , 1859 .
V . V ,T Rn Ttapv Jnavaij Ainu Jyu.-Lij.±A±
NAVAL AND MILITARY . Anew and improved description of tent for military purposes , the invention of Major Rhodes , late of the 94 th Regiment , having been brought under the authorities at the Horse Guards , the Duke of Cambridge has given directions for two of the tents to be pitched at Chatham garrison , in order to put to a practical test the superiority of the invention over the ordinary military tents now in use by the array when encamped at Aldershott , the Curragh , Chatham , and other military stations . Two of the tents have accordingly just been erected on the grounds adjoining the Garrison Hospital at Chatham , under the personal superintendence of Major Rhodes , and during ? the storm and hurricane which
the cricket-ground at the Crystal Palace , Sydenham . On Thursday morning a trial of Captain Grant ' s ambulatory and other kitchens was made in Hydepark , a very successful experiment having been tried at Dartford on the preceding day . Tents were pitched , and by means of the apparatus dinner was provided for officers and men with the utmost facility , and with the same readiness as if the men were comfortably located in barracks . A large number of people were present to witness the ceremony , and appeared to be particularly interested in the testing of the rafts on the Serpentine .
Notwithstanding the pacific declarations of the French Government , warlike preparations are carried on with a degree of activity which it would be well for us to imitate * . At Cherbourg and Brest coals and ammunition are being stored to an extent that denotes a -wish to be prepared against any emergency , and at the former place the forts are being armed with rifled guns . An English squadron , composed of five vessels of the line , one frigate , and one sloop of war , arrived on the 23 rd ult . at Alexandria , where it will be stationed for some time . It is reported that another English division is expected .
The " Inscription" gives France a corps of upwards of 90 , 000 seamen , to draw upon in time of need . If we could rely upon a supply of 20 , 000 , or even of 15 , 000 , trained men of this class , in addition to those we are now in the habit of obtaining , it would form the surest bulwark that could be raised against the possibility of aggression from any foreign power . Our present force comprises 34 , 400 seamen ( exclusive of the coast-guard ruen on shore ) , 6 , 100 boys , 15 , 000 marines— -altogether a total of 55 , 000 men . In the opinion of competent naval authorities they should be increased by the addition of at least 7 , 000 seamen and 10 , 000 marines . Had we , in addition , 25 , 000 or 30 , 000 seamen in reserve , there is no doubt that our position would be healthier and sounder in every way . On Saturday last the Bacchante , 51 , was launched at Portsmouth , and the Mutine , 17 , at Deptford .
swept over Chatham on Wednesday night the 20 th instant , they were found in every respect superior to the ordinary tents erected near the same spot . The largest of Major Rhodes ' s tents _ is about 30 feet in length , 15 feet wide , and 10 in height , and is of a kind of oval and vaulted construction , so that no part of the jexterior presents a lodgment for moisture . Instoflft of the ordinary ^ tent-pole , which is found to take up so much room in a tent , the interior is entirely free from this obstruction , thus allowing tables and seats , as in the soldiers' barrack rooms , to be placed in the tents-r-an arrangement impossible hi the present military tents . The covering of the tent is supported on light and
ingeniously contrived bowed ribs , which fit into sockets , and can be moved and stowed away with the greatest ease and celerity . The system of ventilation is most efficient , the " roof" of the tent being provided with ventilating holes , which can bo opened and closed at pleasure . Major Rhodes has named" large tent " the hospital tent . " After the tent had been fixed on " Wednesday afternoon , ten of the portable bedsteadsfrom the hospital were moved into it , and as many patients directed to take possession of them . Notwithstanding tho tremendous storm which raged early yesterday morning , not the slightest inconvenience was experienced by the inmates , who slept as dry as in an ordinary room ,
while many of the other tents admitted the water , which poured in as through a solve . Major Rhodes ' s hospital tent can be pitched by eight men in twelve minutes ; and , whereas , in tho present tents there are 184 pegs , and eighty ropes to each , the new invention has only about forty pegs and eighteen ropes to secure it , there being no necessity for tho men to turn out in the rain during the nigh $ to " slack " the ropes , as is the case with the present tents—a serious matter when that duty has to be performed by sick patients . Major Rhodos ' s hospital tont weighs about 1121 b . less than tho hospital marquee , and its whole cost is about £ 3 under the contract price .
Thp " field tent" for troops , one of which has also been erected close to the hospital tent , is of bell shape , and 13 feet in diameter . The support in this tent also is in ribs , which form a kind of vaulted framo or dome , over which tho covering is placed . Tho middle area is not diminished by a pole , and the men can stand upright with case . This tent vrill accommodate ten to fourteen men , and is supplied with short ropos , which may bo used , as arm-raolcs , and also ropes on which each soldier can hang his accoutrements , besides a ground-sheet On which tho soldiers can deposit their knapsacks , & c , free from the dampness of tho ground . To thoroughly appreciate Major Rhodos ' s tents , thoy should be inspected , as one of his hospital tents Is pitched at
Volunteer Corps. We Are Sorry To Have Li...
VOLUNTEER CORPS . We are sorry to have little to report of the progress of the movement this week . The number of volunteer rifle corps actually formed is only eight ; of artillery one . Besides these , formal offers have been received by the Minister at War from three counties to . form artillery corps , and from fifteen to form rifle corps . A general meeting of the Inns of Court was held on Satnrday for the purpose of agreeing to the rules and regulations of the Volunteer Rifle Corps , formed of members of the legal profession . The corps , it appears , has selected a practice ground at Walhamgreen . The chairman admitted that the number of members was , as yet , very small , but expressed his opinion that many were holding back until the rules were adopted .
The Strikes. Two Most Important Combinat...
THE STRIKES . Two most important combinations of workmen have been developed this week , —a strike among the London gas-workers and also among the men employed in the building-trade . The . public have had a narrow escape from having their' gas cut off during the past week . The stokers and firemen demanded an increase of wages and a diminution of the hops of labour . As their demands were not complied with , they suddenly " struck , " and as the strike extended to nearly all the metropolitan gas companies , there was , at one time , great danger of London being immersed in total darkness . Happily , however , the directors of the companies displayed an activity equal to the emergency , and the danger
was mot by bringing up large numbers of men irom tlie provinces , and also by the employment of a number of German sugar bakers , who , as wen accustomed to intense heat , could be made available . On Saturday the old hnnda were taken on at their own terms , and naturally thought they had gained the day . The directors , however , had been taking measures to obtain from railway companies ana other large establishments as many men as were required . The result has been thp submission ot most of tho men on strike , who have signed an agreement to revert to their original terms , ana pledging themselves that " they are not now nnci
will not be members of , or in any way belong to , any trade union or association . " The builders' workmen demand ten hours' pay for nine hours' work , and that tho houra of labour should bo reduced to the latter Hmlt . Tlio threatened strike becomes more serious every hour , ino determination of tho masters to shut their establishments ngainst those who act in combination has boon followed by a Hyde-park meeting ; , at wnwu somo thousands of workmen were present . Attnifl meeting speeches were mailo of an unqompromis ng character , and . a resolution was adopted wnicu
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 6, 1859, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06081859/page/6/
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