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December 9, 1854.] THE LEADEE. 1161
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THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS. There have been s...
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THE WAR AND AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE. The writ...
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BRITISH-BUILT W ATI-STEAMERS FOR PARAGUA...
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SALMON BREEDING. The interesting experim...
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WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN PERSIA. Some impor...
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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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.
Spain. Tim New Government Has Had A Cris...
speech , and added , that the Throne had lost none of its prestige by the att acks of its enemies . Corradi Escosura , Garcia Lopez ( one of the minority with ' Orense ) , Lujan ( Minister of Public Works ) spoke at greater or less length ; and Orense spoke again denouncing the celebrated apolegetic manifesto which the Queen signed during San Miguel ' s brief Provisional Ministry , and declaring that it was a mortal blow to the throne of Isabella II ., stripping it of all prestige .
_ ' The eternal phrase of Kings , " said Senor Orense , " is , 'They have deceived me . ' That is what Donna Isabella II . said in her manifesto of the 26 th of July' They have deceived me during 11 years ; I have not known what passed in the country . ' I care little for persons , Senors , "be they kings or not ; but nevertheless I vrill say that you have given its death-wound to the throne of Donna Isabella II . It is impossible she should have prestige to reign , and there will probably happen to her what happened to her father and her grandfather . "
December 9, 1854.] The Leadee. 1161
December 9 , 1854 . ] THE LEADEE . 1161
The Prussian Chambers. There Have Been S...
THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS . There have been severe contests in the Second Chamber . The liberal Count Sehwerin has been elected President of the Chamber , "by a majority of 58 , in a house of 256 members . M . Bethmann-Hollweg , leader of the constitutional conservative opposition and anti-Russian party , has obtained the second vice-presidency , defeating the feudalist candidate , M . Geyr , "by 12 votes . The first vice-presidency was ^ btained by M . Arnim , a member of the Hight . His opponent was a member of the catholic Xeffc .
The War And Australian Postage. The Writ...
THE WAR AND AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE . The writer of the City article in the Times says the following , apropos of a letter , respecting the arrangement between Government and the Peninsular and Oriental Company : — " The subjoined letter expresses opinions regarding the intended cessation of the overland communication with Australia , which are believed to be generally entertained by commercial persons connected with that country . Upon the plea that a number of ships taken from them by the Government renders it necessary to recal the comparatively unimportant ones used as the link between Singapore and Sydney , the Peninsular and Oriental Company have been allowed to discontinue a service which , although only performed every alternate
month , constituted the last remaining means of rapid communication upon which the merchants and manufacturers on this side and the importers in the colony could absolutely rely . The trade to and from Australia amounts annually to nearly 80 , 000 , 0007 . sterling , and , by the contemplated step , this is to be thrown into suspense , and , as regards individual interests , constantly into jeopardy , for the sake of calling into other uses a couple of moderate-sized and not particularly fast steamers . The Government have deprived the mercantile community of the results of the bounty system in this case , at the only moment , perhaps , when all persons would agree that benefit was to be derived from it . In ordinary times every movement towards its discontinuance would be hailed as a gain to the cause of private enterprise . "
British-Built W Ati-Steamers For Paragua...
BRITISH-BUILT W ATI-STEAMERS FOR PARAGUAY . Experience hag recently removed many an erroneous notion as to the supposed attributes and capacity of certain nations ; but probably in no instance has fact more strikingly corrected the fallacy of a received opinion than in the case of Paraguay . Hermetically sealed for nearly half a century from intercourse with the external world by the 'domestic policy of Francia , and subsequently isolated from surrounding stntcs through the aggressive designs of Rosas ; peopled by a native race whoso docility had rendered them plastic to a proverb under the agents of Loyola ; ruled by the descendants of Spaniards in
whom the indolence ot the original Iberian character was supposed to be aggravated by an enervating climate and luxurious soil ; impelled to enterprise by no necessity for imported luxury , and no desire for territorial aggrandisement ; prosperous , peaceable , and contented , enjoying a strong government administered under popular forma , Paraguay might reasonably be looked upon as tlio p « i ratline of Uiiiuwz fahc . It was in such belief that so mnnv at this side of tho world regarded tho treaty effected by Sir C . Hotham and tho Chuvaliur St . Georges , for
opening up tho great South American rivers , iib curtain to bo a virtual dead letter . Yet two years hitvo not elapsod since tho ratification of time treaty , when wo find Bi'igadior-Geiieml Soluno Ijopcz , son of the President of Paraguay , and Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain and France , returning to his country in sv lino atoiuner expressly built for him in tho Thames , to bo followed by several others . The command of moans to muku purchuacH necessarily so costly exhibits pcauniury roaouruu-d to which tho treasury of Paraguay waasupposed to be inadequate , while its executive was behoved to bo incupublo ot
employing theui in a manner so enlightened but so little in keeping with its antecedents . Sanguine expectation may indeed be formed of < a country whose admission into the community of nations is signalised by so promising and unlooked-for a demonstration . It is not yet known if the whole of the intended steam fleet—some six or eight in allare to be fitted in the manner of the pioneer vessel which is already on its way to Asuncion , the capital of Paraguay , on the river of the same name ; but it is believed that some of them , at least , will he more adapted to strictly commercial purposes than the one in question , namely , the Tacuari , which has been constructed by Messrs . J . and A . Blyth , the eminent marine engineers of Limehouse .
Considering the difficulty of obtaining hands in these stirring times , it is worthy of note that the Taeuari should be provided with a picked crew of Englishmen , engineers , stokers , and officers , in the same ratio as on board of a British man-of-war steamer of corresponding size and armament .
Salmon Breeding. The Interesting Experim...
SALMON BREEDING . The interesting experiment made by the proprietors of the Tay salmoa fishings upon the ova of that fish is reported to be proceeding : most favourably . At a meeting of the proprietors , held a few days ago , it was stated that on the 22 ud of December the breeding-boxes contained about 400 , 000 ova ; these , having been carefully protected , gave birth , in . March and April , to swarms of par , which have been nourished with great care and attention , and are how beginning to reach the size and assume the silvery appearance of the salmon sniolt ; nex season they will probably be allowed to go down to the sea with their brethren , born in the freer and less carefully tended breeding-places selected by the parent fish themselves ; and then the success of the experiment will be tested by . observing whether the increase in the number of grilses and salmon corresponds with the increased supply of sniolt turned into the river . At the same meeting , the proprietors resolved to close the fishing season in the Tay by the 26 th of August , in place of the 14 th . of September , th « present statutory period . It is sincerely to be hoped that all these various devices will have the desired effect of restoring the salmon , fishings to something like their former success and value .
What Is To Be Done In Persia. Some Impor...
WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN PERSIA . Some importance , whether deserved or not remains to be seen , has been given to the question of the position of Persia in the quarrel between England and Russia ; and how the game is to be played on our Indian frontier—who is to pull the strings of the Persian puppet—is not yet decided , but it appears from good authority that Great ; Britain has still the best chance . It is said : — " The appointment of a man of talent to be the British representative at Teheran will no doubt be followed by the fall of Russian influence in that weak and wavering monarchy . The advantages which the Czar possesses in the contiguity of his empire , the vigilance of his past policy , and the belief of his irresistible strength , are so great , that it is wonderful that Persia should have refrained from hostilities against Turkey for so long a time . That delusive expedient , ' a glance at the map , ' might lead one to imagine that the fear of England ought to be greater at the court of Teheran tlian the fear of Russia . A few days would be sufficient to send a large force from Bombay to Bushiro , furnished with every aid to eastern warfare , whilst the coasts of tho gulf would bo at tho meroy of our steamers , and all communication with Europe cut oil" by our supremacy in tho Black Sea . The forces of Russia , on tlio contrary , nro hardly sufficient to guard tho Asiatic provinces which filic has already won . In spite of tho profligacy and imbecility of tho Turkish commanders , the forces of
the . Czar havo not boon able to march from Gumri to ICnrs , solely because ) their communications were in danger , and because thoy wore weak and wasted , with a thousand miles between thorn and thtiir country , and implacable- mountain tribes behind . But a Persian Shah cannot be expected , to havo extended political knowlodge , and even less barbarous pwraonago . s are chloily affected by what is brought more immediately near tlusm . The dominant class in Persia , to which tho Shah and his principal advisors belong , have their origin in the northern provinces . Tho Itoyul race of the Kadjas aro from Azorbijiin , a frontier province always oxpudod to tho inronrls of tho Russians , and containing a population accustomed to look upon tho Czar tut something
little lo »» than a god , while their Menu of any other European country aru oxtromcly vnguu . Ou tho other hand , tho southern provinces , on winch Kn ^ liyh power nan principally act , are poopled by a kind of subject raoo , and their interest anil inlluciico arc but of slight importance- to tho aristocracy of tlio north . Tho esuonoo and strength of Puma aro therefore in tho Itusuiaiused country wliioh lion on tho Ivur and tlio Cu . spiun , and wo shall hivvo to brouk . through the prejudice : * and terrors of many yonrH before tho Persian State cr * u be brought into n Ionian against it . n powerful protector and enemy . Thcro is a good deal of Ottoman obntinaoy in this dominant rauu , who aro of kin to tho Turks , and whoso xmino ia tronorally » polt Toork for tho aako of uiatlnction .
They are the most enterprising people of the empire , and carry on the greater part of the little trade . The fine-looking men in high pointed cap 3 who are met with in the Levantine towns are generally of Toork race , and speak Turkish among themselves . Yet they are fanatical Sheahs , and have been taught to hate the Osmanli more than the Infidel . Tabriz is their principal seat , a town fast rising to great prosperity , and they fancy that the Russians are all-powerful for good or harm as far as they are concerned ; of the empire at large they have little notion .
" The Russians have a great hold over Uasreddin Shah by having in their custody Bahman Mirza , uncle to the reigning sovereign and pretender to the throne . This prince was taken after an unsuccessful intrigue , and detained in Georgia , where he is said to be still . The Shah has always felt great terror at the idea of his liberation , and the threat will , no doubt , be held out as a means of keeping him firm ia his allegiance . " The Shah , who is about twenty-three years of age , is like Shahs in general ; but the Grand Vizier is said to be a sensible man , and inclined to the Turkish alliance . For the negative success already obtained in restraining Persia from an open alliance with the enemy , much , credit is due to Achmet Effendi , the most able of the
younger Turks , and by many considered as the future saviour of his country . For some months he has laboured at Teheran to bring about an alliance with Turkey against the enemy -which both had to dread . The great difficulty was the inveterate sectarian hatred , between Sunni and Sheah , exasperated by the late occurrences at the Persian holy places . The tombs of Ali and his son , the unhappy Hussein , are dear to every Sheah . They are situate in the Pashalic of Bagdad , farbeyond the frontier of Persia , and for ages have been visited by the devout from the Euphrates to the Indian Archipelago . A sort of independent jurisdiction was granted them or acquired by prescription , and , as in the case of European sanctuaries , the independence was
much abused . Kerbelah became in course of time a refuge for outlaws of every kind , and from the holy precincts they carried on their ravages until the surrounding country became almost impassable . The Pasha of Bagdad at Iaat determined to crush the nuisance . He advanced with , a large force and took Kerbelat by storm . The tomb of Hussein was violated , and the anger of the Persians flamed high . All the old disputes broke out again , and the boundary question afforded a pretext for incessant border hostilities . The boundary commission was afterwards appointed , and seems to have done its
woTk well . As to the holy place , it seems allowed that the Persians are entitled to some compensation , which will probably no longer be refused . But the rancour of the rival sects made the task of Achmet Effendi extremely difficult . He might cajole or terrify the Court , but he could hardly expect to rouse the people against the Russians and to create an enthusiasm similar to that with which the Turks have fought . He , however , determined boldly to throw himself on those very religious feelings of the Persian people from which so much hostility was to be dreaded .
" He went among the priests , represented the common danger of Ialamism , urged that their minor differences should be forgotten for the present , promised concessions in the matter of the Sheah holy places , and even certain privileges at the still more holy shrines of Mecca and Medina . The success of the plan is said to be beyond all hope . A strong feeling has been raised against the Muscovite- infidels , which has been increased by the example of tho still more remote Maliomedans of Afghanistan and India , whom tho Persians have heard to be enthusiastic in the Sultan's cauno . Whether tho reconciliation will survive tlio danger which has caused it is impossible to be predicted ; but it is not unlikely that tho union and consolidation of the Mahomcdan
world , which have been proceeding for tho last twenty years , will be still further advanced by tho suppression of theso old animosities . At any rate it in a great thing even to excite , a temporary enthusiasm , for without it Eastern soldiers aro worthless , and with it thoy can do a great deal . Whoro military discipline and skilfulnoaa of command , cannot bo looked for , the only hope of success i . s in such a fanaticism as causod tlio Albanians and Egyptian Fellahs to rush hand to hnnd upon tho Russian regiments at Arab Tabia . Though tho Persians have never shown thomsolvBs equal in ohstinato valour to tho Turks , yot on some oecnuionH they havo fo \ ight well under tho iufluonca of strong excitement . In tho Into war , tho defeat of tho RufiHiunH by Abbas Mirza , a princo of groat popularity ami religious influence , ia
a proof that tho I ' urftlftn rucc . i are not ho degenerate an tho Horvility of tho Government and tho utter collapse of empire would load tho politician to believe . " On tho whole Persia has not behaved budly ; on tho contrary , lier conduct has Iieon fur bettor than could havo boon expected . That tho ( . » overnmont must bo thoroughly frightened , and lnndn to understand that its safety lies in siding with uh , i » quite cliiar . Th « fall of Sobastopol will have a groat effect on this Eastern State , as well as on a moro civilised but congenial kingdom in Europe It would l » o an well , hoM-ovor , totthntnlnfroim throats and violenco , for tho J '« r « i « n » aro dfapo . iod slowly to como over to our allianco , iiiul by next Hpring , when tholr sorvioos may bo r « u . uirod , 'will no doubt bo wholly converted to tho vlcnvn of Turkey and tho Western Powers , livery day " weakens lCusahi , » ud adds to tho strength of
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 9, 1854, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09121854/page/9/
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