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March 20, 1852.] T HE LEADER. 275
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THE "SISTERS OF MERCY" AND LOWCHURCH CHI...
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PROTECTION IN THE GAZETTE. Pbotecttox is...
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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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Social Reform In The Army. It Is Commonl...
inclination to crime diminishes . Any one may satisfy himself by personal observation , either oi the rLTcruits o / of the finished soldiers of the Cavalry and Artillery , that they are drawn from tie same classes of society as furnish the men for the Infantry . The "Pragoons acquire a more polished and confident mannerfrom the ^ closer and more familiar intercourse with their oncers , arising from their daily meetings at " stably and the nature of their duties m general . Ihe Sappers and Artillerymen are held in general aa ££ m from their acquired knowledge and
accomplishments , scholastic and professional , for the attainment of which great facilities and encouragement are offered . - A man must have had some previous education before he can enter the Sappers and Miners , but many a good mathematician and draughtsman has learned all that he knows , even reading and . writing , in the Artillery schools . And the soldiers in these branches of jbhe service , although receiving the same rations as the Infantry , are able , from their slightly higher pay , to contribute more for their messing , and their
meals are therefore better both in quality and quantity . They are also clothed in a superior manner , with regard to materials and to appearance . In most stations ttieyshave an g , dyantage as to barrack accommodation , but in this respect all have much to complain of . How must the young recruit ' s dream of the honour and respectability of his profession vanish when he finds some of his married comrades and their wives occupying the same room with twenty or thirty bachelors , and merely separated from them by a curtain ! Loss of self-respect ia loss of
selfcommand . And the poor soldiers of the Line- —forming , as we said , five-sixths of the army , and w ! k > have done ninety-nine hundredths of the fightingin the last thirty-five years ; half of whose service is passed in " foreign parts , " and fully one-third in unhealthy climates , — are worse paid , worse clothed , worse fed , and less instructed Than their more fortunate brethren , who , in consequence of being two or three inches taller , have been able to enlist in the Artillery or Pragoons . The Infantry soldier has not in general very hard
work , ( and so much the worse for him , ) but his duties are monotonous , vexatious , and often frivolous , really without any object but to " keep him out of mischief . " The qualifications for promotion merely extend to reading and writing , so that there is not much inducement for him to study . And in a crowded , cheerless barrackroom , with an apology for a fire—all bustle and noise by day , and the darkness just made visible at night by a few farthing dips , —there is little possibility of carrying on such pursuits . What life can be better calculated to induce apathy or recklessness P
The artilleryman and the dragoon are clothed in a becoming and serviceable uniform ; the Guards wear coats of good , well-dyed cloth , and not disfigured with those bars of tape across the front which distinguish the men of the line . In order to keep these stripes of tape white and " clean" for parade and guard , the soldier , is obli ged to make a frequent use of pipe-clay in a liquid state , and the coatee is often worn of necessity while many parts are still wet , particularly about the chest , —a practice not very conducive to health , especially for young growing lads . 1 he wholo dress seems studiousl y invented to n the man mean and ridiculous m appearance . With Ins brickduat-colourod coat , of a fabric
much inferior in tint and texture to that worn by tho boys of the Shoo-blaok Brigade , and with {?• 8 * ake-coloured trousers , his entire figuro nllords a dingy sort of example of the proverbial chromatic discord , sky-blue and scarlet . Wo havo no affection for a standing army ; wo think that oven now wo might begin to form a national dofensive force ; wo wish to see our citizens more of soldiers . But as wo must , at least tor Indian and colonial service , have a regular army , wo wish to see our soldiers more of citizens ; wo wish to eeo their characters and capabilities unprovod and enlorgod , instead of being in many ^ "s deteriorated and lessoned , by thoir period ot military Borvice .
, It is a great step to have given up flogging mon into degradation and despair for offences involvi » K hfctlo if any moral guilt ; and wo hopo that it Will « ot bo long before that apocics of torturo is entirely abandoned , and a specimen of tho British J ™" ' -nino-tails hung up in some obscure part of tno lower as a' companion to tho thumb-sorows
barracks . Inducements to study and exertion should be created by raising the knowledge-test for promotion , and by opening still more the road to the higher ranks . And there is no reason that our soldiers should be totally unproductive ; employment might be found for them , which would at once advantage them and the state , which would exercise their bodies and minds , increase their self-respect , brighten their prospects , and confer upon their social position something even of comfort and of dignity .
and the scavengers-daughter . But a greater work is to be done . There has been too much attention paid to the punishment and too little to the prevention of crime- We know that the subject * is not now entirely neglected ; military schoolmasters are being trained and set to work , md soldiers * Hbraries are encouraged and increasing . We fully appreciate the extension of the good-conduct warrant . But we must have comfort , and decency , and a possibility of quiet in
March 20, 1852.] T He Leader. 275
March 20 , 1852 . ] T HE LEADER . 275
The "Sisters Of Mercy" And Lowchurch Chi...
THE " SISTERS OF MERCY" AND LOWCHURCH CHIVALRY . Another " Morgan" has turned up , but this time he calls himself " Spurrell "—the Reverend James Spurrell , A . M . Like his sympathetic feUow-worker , at Leamington , this gentleman is engaged as a minister Of the Gospel , in acts of mean discourtesy to ladies , but surpassing Morgan in uncharitablenejsis , he adds misrepresentation to disrespect , and an awful profanity to both .
There is an institution , near Devonport , for ladies who call themselves . " Sisters of Mercy , " whose superior is the far-famed Miss Sellon , and who , externally , are known for nothing more than their singular costumes and beneficent acts . Tbey lead lives ; devoted to the duties of their felifiion . and to succouring the poor . They have
certain distinctions among themselves , certain rules , and a certain discipline . They derive their members from a class of young women who are rich > nd well educated , and who feel themselves , or fancy themselves , " called" to lives of devotion ^ Th ey belong to ^ the Church of England , arid are under the immediate superintendence of the Bishop of the diocese . Also the charitable works of Miss Sellon and her " sisters , " include
certain schools for orphans . These works of mercy offended the nostrils of the Reverend James Spurrell—who , from his unctuous manner , we are sure must be a ' low , ' a very ' low , ' churchman ; and he , having got together , by hook or by crook , a quantity of private Fetters , and a very pretty collection of fabulous anecdotes , set about criticising—not the public acts—but the private doings of Miss Sellon ! Ho then proceeds to publish the result of his labours , ostentatiously boasting that the duty " had not
been sought hy , but sent to , him , in the clear providence of God . " And what are the results of tliis divine commission P a series of unmanly and untrue allegations against Miss Sellon . Mr . Spurrell snuffed " Romanism" in everything . He had filched hold of private letters ; he had been in communication with a recalcitrant " sister ; " he had taken as gospel truth all she told him , or all he alleges she told him ; and in a pamphlet breathing of fire and brimstone , and seasoned with that mixture of pious horror , and
deprecating calumny , which ranters do affect , lie voids his holy venom to tho world . Miss Sellon has condescended to reply , giving a clear , calm , and dignified refutation of tho gross misstatements edited by her inspired traducor , tho Eeverend James Spurrell . Her vindication is so triumphant and so uncompromising , that if he havo but a spark of manliness in his composition ho will , ore this , havo apologised to tho utmost of his powor .
J 3 ut he , and such as ho , aro incapable of an act of chivalry . Ho has boon indignantl y addressed by Captain Sellon , tho father of tho persecuted lady , and by Mr . David Chambers , a barrister of eminence , and Rocordor of Salisbury , a brother of ono of the " Sisters : " but not until tlio letters of tho latter gentleman to himsolf , which ho had diadainod to notice , had boon
published in the Morning l osty would ho respect himself sufficiently to send a roply , and tUon not to tho injured p ersons , but to tho Morning Post . And how did ho , tho solf ' -appointcd minister of Providence , moqt tho chargo of cowardice and breach of faith ? Ho reiorrod tho aggriovod father , and tho outraged brother—to tho law ! TJiis is , wo beg our roadors to bo well assured , but a fair apocimon of low-church chivalry . It
is the tone — the temper of the Morgan and Spurrell party , dissenting in doctrine and discipline , but not in prizes and benefices , from the body they disfigure and bring into contempt ; clinging to the Lion and the TJnicorn of the Establishment , whilst they deny the sacraments , and deform the services , and slur , the , liturgy of the Church ; tasteless as ihe conventicle , and tyrannical as the Holy office ; backbiters and busybodies in the parish , viliners and petty despots in the pulpit , they speak and act , as if to be " evangelical " , were to hold a patent for conduct unworthy of gentlemen , of Chnstians , of men . We have read the pamphlet in question , and we
unhesitatingly say , that it is a wretched compound of self-righteousness , unwarranted imputations , and violated faith . Honesty would compel Mr . Spurrell to join the rank * of dissent : decency would recommend him to learn manners . Is not this only another instance of the pressing necessity for Convocation , and of some sort of internal discipline by which the church may at least be able to know her own , and to separate the false from the . true ' P But we speak here in . defence of the decencies and the charities of life which humanity remembers , when " pastors and masters" forget .
Protection In The Gazette. Pbotecttox Is...
PROTECTION IN THE GAZETTE . Pbotecttox is at last officially abandoned : it is well that agriculturists should understand that fact—owners and occupiers both . Lord Derby and Mr . Disraeli , who have laboured so well in Opposition to keep alive some pulse and hope in , Protection , have entered office only to signify that they will not undertake to carry on the contest . Let there be no mistake on this point : we desire neither to exaggerate nor to underrate what Lord Derby and Mr .-Disraeli say . The Earl adheres to his old opinion against free-trade in the " abstract ; " but he now consigns corn to a place of subordinate importance : " The question of the financial and commercial concerns of the country is not & mere question as to the imposition or non-imposition of a moderate duty on the import of foreign corn . " But he explicitly says that he would not revive either the Navigation Laws or the Corn Laws .
" I recollect , at the time the great measure of the Navigation Laws was under discussion , I warned your Lordships against the adoption of it , on the ground that it involved principles which once adopted were final and irrevocable . I made that statement at the time , I repeat it now . I don't desire to go back to the law of 1846 with respect to corn . I don't desire to go back to the law of 1842 . " Nothing could be more explicit . Lord Derby only retains his objection against the " extent" to
which the ITree-trade policy has been carried , and desires in future to " mitigate" tho consequent pressure on certain classes . One plan would be , by tho moderate duty on the import of foreign corn j but Lord Derby refers that to " the country , " Mr . Disraeli implies that Ministers will not propose any specific measure , neither the 5 * . duty , nor the 7 * . duty ; but will go to the country for a general judgment on their own character ; and if , by tho direct vote of tho doctoral body , they obtain tho confidence of tho country , then , as to Protective measures—they will consider of it ! Wo quote his own words : —
" But I say frankly to tho honourable and learned gontloman [ Mr . Villiers ] , that in considering tho fiscal arrangements of this country , I do not—I will notto gain any popularity or to avoid any blustering , givo it as my opinion that a duty such aH ho describes is one which any Minister under any circumstances ought to propose . * * * * I know there is a groat desire on the part of gentlemen opposite that there should bo u proposition for a fixed duty . ( ' Hear , ' laughter , ) I regret , for their Bakes , that I cannot give q > promise to make am / proposition of the hind . What 1 intend to do , with the assistance and consent of my colleagues , in to redress tho grievances of tho agricultural interest
and wo reserve to onr . selvoa tho right of considering what may l > o tho best means by which that great object can ho attained . " It was expected that Ministers would tako their final stand upon a 5 s . or a 7 * . fixed duty ; but it now turns out tliat they dooliuo to do ovon that . If tho country should call for a return , so far , to Protection , tlioy will carry it oiit—such , if we can discover any kind of promiHO , is tho extent of their prosont pledge , wo nood not point out tho immonso oxtont of ground thus abandonod ; tho Protectionists now will not ovon , stand whoro tho Whigs did boforo PcoI ' b time .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 20, 1852, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20031852/page/15/
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