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1240 THE LEADER. [No. 301, Saturday;
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THE KING OF SARDINIA AND THE SCOTCH PROT...
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THE TUNFEL QUESTION AND THE TURNIP TEST....
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PUBLIC MEETING. THE LORD ADVOCATE OF LEI...
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PiiOFnaaon Owim, KIt.S. — Thin < liHtli ...
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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.
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Ktatk Ok Russia. Kuiitiuiit Particular, ...
amons themselves about indifferent subjects , fashions , or the character of their absent friends . But not the slightest allusion to the war is heard , and the young inen though burning with tlie desire to speak or get information , dare not open their lips for praise or blame . In spite of the powers of dissimulation attributed to these people , it is easy to see that they are not at their ease . " Add to this , that the Finlanders are repining at the total stoppage of their trade , at the war levies made among them , and at the heaviness of the war imposts , and that the Mussulman populations of the Tauiida and Astrakhan have shown symptoms of malcontent , and it will be seen that the position of Russia is fraught with peril to herself .
Another American view of the position of Rnssiaas regards the war appears in the New York Herald , which pubUsh the opinions and statements of Colonel Tal . P- Shaffner , an American who has been travelling over a large part of Russia ( where we are told he was received with ' the utmost enthusiasm ) , and who now undertakes to enlighten the world as to the results of the war . His views are , of course , like most of Americans , in favour of the Czar ; and everything , therefore , is placed in the most rose-coloured light . We append a few extracts : —
" It has been reported that the nobility are becoming tired of the war on account of the levies Avhich are rnade upon them for men ; and that they are beginning to display their opposition to the Government already , though in what way we have not been informed . So far , however , from this being the case , they are among its most strenuous and ready supporters , and have signified their willingness again and again to sacrifice all their wealth before they will consent to yield an inch . Thei-e is only one sentiment
among them , and that is a determination to carry on the war so long as there is a rouble in the treasury , or a man to shoulder a musket . The meiina of transportation , contrary to the statement of the allies , have not been cut off , nor have they suffered any interruption from the capture of Kertch and the destruction of the ' immense' quantities of grain in the Sea of Azof . The grain , it now appears , instead of belonging to Russia , was the property of Greek merchants , who had offered it for sale to the Russian Government at such an exorbitant price
that" bhey refused to puschase it While travelling' through the wheat-producing districts , Colonel Shaffner saw crops which , he said , were as extensive as any that had been reaped for many years before ; and so slight has been the draught on the agricultural population by the raising of new levies , that it will not in the least diminish the next year ' s produce : The bombardment of Sweaborg , of which so much has been said by the English press , cost the allies 25 , 000 , 000 dollars , while the loss to the Russians did not exceed 150 , 000 dollars . In fact , from what Colonel Shaffner tells us , we think it has been rather more profitable than otherwise , so far as the Russians
are concerned With the oxception of the small loan which has been made since the commencement of the war , the whole expenses have been defrayed from the revenues of the country . There is no lack of means ; and , as a proof of this , it is only necessary to state that the public works which were commenced last year are earned on with uuabatod vigour , and on the same extensive scalo on which they were begun . The effects of the war are scarcely perceptible , and so little dread is entertained of the Allies , that the Government is making preparations for a ten years' war . The means of the Imperial family alone would be sufficient to carry it on at its present rate for several years , without calling
upon the nobles to make tho sacrifice of what they have half promised We were also informed that the reports which have been circulated as to a feeling of jealousy and dislike existing between the members of the Imperial family are entirely without foundation , and that they are bound to onoli other by the closest ties of affection . " Wo are also told that " the yield of the silver , gold , and platiua mines this year has exceeded that of any former year by 3 , 000 , 000 dollars . In addition to this , tho Government have forbid the exportation of tho i > rocious motals ; the Mint is kept in constant
operation night and day , and the paper rouble passes us curront now as ever . " Tho plains are better tilled than ovor ; and manufactures , ospeoially of iron , <\ re in a mont nourishing condition . Tho Government is expend ing millions on statoly ecclesiastical edifices , tho liko of which , for splondour of gold and jowels , wore novor yet bohold ; nnd tho war outlay , being nil spout within tlio empire , i » not lost to the state . An evacuation of South Sobaatopol had been long oontemplatod by tho Russian ?); thoy prepared throo bi'lclges , not ono , ns generally stated ; nnd they passed to and fro ovor nnd ovor again , carrying away all their
wounded . An American lady has contributed some Sobastopol gossip , in which tho only bit worth repeating is tho assertion that " there is a groat deal of ill-feeling between tho soldiers of tho English and Fronoh army , ixndj though tho English permit the French to > pans
through their part of Seba 3 topol , they will not return the compliment . "
1240 The Leader. [No. 301, Saturday;
1240 THE LEADER . [ No . 301 , Saturday ;
The King Of Sardinia And The Scotch Prot...
THE KING OF SARDINIA AND THE SCOTCH PROTESTANTS . An act of gross impropriety on the part' of about three or four hundred persons in Edinburgh , assuming to represent the Protestant interest , has drawn forth a calm but severe rebuke from the King of Sardinia , with respect to whom the impropriety was committed . A thinly-attended meeting at Edinburgh of some rabidly fanatical '' Anti Papists "—a meeting over which the Lord Provost
had the ill taste to preside—adopted , during the recent visit of Victor-Emmanuel , an address to that monarch , congratulating him upon his efforts in favour of civil and religious liberty . So far , so good ; but the address went on by showering the strongest expressions of contempt and indignation against the present Pope and Papacy in general—expressions which may be perfectly justifiable in themselves , but which were singularly indecent when transmitted to a Roman Catholic monarch . To
this document , the King has transmitted , through the Marquis d'Azeglio , the following reply : — " I cannot conceal from you that it is with , extreme regret that his Majesty has been informed of the expressions of contempt ( expressions de mejyris ) by which your addi-esa stigmatises the Court of Rome . The King , as well as his predecessors , has considered it a duty to maintain the civil power in his hands intact . He may have deplored profoundly the line of conduct which the Holy See has thought it its duty
to adopt towards him of late years . But , descended as he is from a long line of Catholic prince 3 , and sovereign of subjects almost entirely Roman Catholics , he cannot admit of words of reprobation thus severe , and , above all , injurious toward the head of that Church on earth . He cannot share in these contemptuoiia thoughts , which , not only could not enter into his heart , but , above all , could never find place in a reply such as I have the honour to address to you . that
" Your address further expresses the hope hi 3 Majesty may extend to his subjects of all creeds the same privileges which have been conceded to the Vaudois . I am happy in being able to inform you that your wishes are already accomplished . King Charle 3 Albert , in emancipating the Vaudois , desired to extend this measure not only to the Protestants of all denominations , but even to the Israelites , who in his states enjoy in common tho same rights , civil and religious . " In thus indicating the well-known sentiments of the King , I have no doubt that I have secui'ed for him au additional title to your esteeni ; for , as a Roman Catholic sovereign , he has i > roved that , in his eyes , religion is the symbol of tolerance , of union , and of liberty , and that one of the principles which form the basis of his government is liberty of
con-. " Accept , gentlemen , the assurance of my high consideration , . , " Marquis V . E . D'Azeglio . " We are happy to add that the majority of th citizens of Edinburgh protested at the time against the ill-felt address which has called forth this reply . The unchecked repetitions of such sectarian antics could have no other effect than to bring the good cause of genuine Protestantism into opprobrium and contempt .
The Tunfel Question And The Turnip Test....
THE TUNFEL QUESTION AND THE TURNIP TEST . Mb . F . O . Ward ' s turnip still swims gallantly on tho troubled waters of controversy ; and his engineering antagonists seem considerably dismayed at a teat by which tho public at large can try the value of their algebraic arcana . Mr . Burnell , an hydraulic engineer , Iiub been put forward to polt tho turnip ; which ho does , to do him justice , with considerable adroitness . Mr . Ward points out , however , in a reply & b brilliant in composition as it is cogent in reasoning ( an analysis of which we shall give next week ) , an admission which seems fatal to Mr . Burnell'e case—viz ., that tho turnip will Ftwim down tho Fleet at tho rate of ten miloH an hour assigned by Mr . ^ Vard . If so , what booomoB of tho formula , which assigned as tho truo speed of the Fleet less than two miles an hour 'I Unless Mr . Burnoll can explain this discrepancy , ho virtually admits that StephonBon ' s colossal tunnels havo boon designed on an undor-ostimate of discharging power ; and that the tunnels of Mr . Ward and bin friend , " plain John Roe , " will answer all tho purpose at loss than half tho coat . Wo shall look out with interest for tho reply of "Messrs . Stephenson , Cubitt , Hey * w , and Bassalgetto ; " who are at present , liko Shadraoh , Mesoheoh , and Abednego , in tho burning fiery furnace—with loss chance , wo fear , of escaping unscathed from tho ordeal . Tho rejection by tho Metropolitan Board of Worku
of Mr . Jebb ' s candidature for the chairmanship , and their election of Mr . Thwaites in his stead , is a significant fact . For Mr . Jebb , it is well known , backed the eminent engineers , " while Mr . Thwaitea , siding with jiq parties whatever , supported Mr . Ward in demanding fair play for all . Mr . Ward concludes hi 3 letter , with a song of triumph on " Richard Jebb ' s fall , " and " John Thwaites' accession to power . " Mr . Ward ' s s . upporterX will no doubt heartily chorus , this pcaan , of which his enemies will possibly question the taste . No one , Lowevei , will deny that Mr . Ward has
fought for his principles gallantly , and settled , during his short term of office , a series of important questions ; such as tubular drainage , Combined works , & c . The tunnel campaign , iu which he is now engaged , opened with a numerical defeat in the Court of Sewers ; a defeat which he has retrieved by transporting the battle ground to the columns of the press , and there beating his adversaries at every point . The late chairman ' s exclusion from office in the new metropolitan assembly is a practical ratification of Mr . Ward ' s success ; and brings his brief Commissionership to a brilliant conclusion .
Public Meeting. The Lord Advocate Of Lei...
PUBLIC MEETING . THE LORD ADVOCATE OF LEITH ON POLITICS AND THE WAR . A soiree took place in the Assembly Rooms , Leith , in the course of last week , when the Lord Advocate ( after prayer had been offered by the Rev . Dr . Stevenson ) delivered a very long and rather discursive oration on various matters of public interest . His more direct theme was , " the responsibility of the £$ ritish Parliament ; " and , referring to the composition and character of our Legislative Assembly , he observed : —
"I have now been four years in Parliament , and I can assure you that it is a very remarkable and peculiar assemblage . It has many singular and curious characteristics which , I believe , no body of men that ever met have possessed in an equal degree . There is that one singular placid kind of atmosphere which pervades the whole place , before which meanness and hypocrisy cannot stand . There ia a sense , there is an instinct , of honour in that place which withers at once anything like an attempt at double-dealing or falsehood . If there is a touchstone , one cannot say where it is , but as sure as the false metal rings , as surely id the response heard at once in that House . ( Hear , hear . ) It is a place where pretension ,, hollowness , and the attempt to seem what you are not , or the
pretension not to seem what you are , is more rapidly detected than in any other place . It ia a place where comparatively ability is second to honesty ; and where a man who is honest and earnest in his purpose , and who has taken the trouble to make himself master of the subject with which he deals , and who has a right to deal with the subject , is always certain of a hearing when your more flashy , more able , possibly more clever man , who intrudes himself into matter * with which he is either superficially acquainted , or has nothing to do , let him speak with a tongue of untold eloquence , will not command an audience for a quarter of an hour . ( Cheers . ) And therein lies a great deal of the wonderful influence of thivfc assembly , or rather it is the true reflex—the true reflection and
reverberation of the principles of frco government m the country . It shows how truly there percolates through the constituencies a true and genuine ore of free constitutional government , and as long a i that temperament belongs to that Houbo , we may lluotuatu in men of talent—we may have an ngo of Pitt and Fox for one generation—we may have a comparative lull of ability for another—but as long as thero in that truo , honest , hearty interest in the representation of the people , so long , you may depend upon it , free institutions and free government will flourish in thin land . "
The Lord Advocate animadverted on the impropriety of ti member of Parliament lying under continual fear of small sections of his constituency i but admitted that a regard should he had for tin ' wishes of the total constituency ) and that n fear ol public opinion was at least a fault on tho right ai < h ' - bcing much better than , a total disregard of it . With respect to the war , he dwelt on its justice and necessity , adding , however , that he hud noulbelieved
will to the Russian people , whom lie susceptible of liberty . lie them diverged into an attack on the press , " more especially on the 1 /'" ^ While acknowledging that the freedom ol tin ; press is the life-blood of tho nation , and while disavowing nil desire to circumscribe that freedom , ' ' charged tho press with great fluctuations of opinion with regard to the management of the war , with libelling many great and good men .
Piiofnaaon Owim, Kit.S. — Thin < Lihtli ...
PiiOFnaaon Owim , KIt . S . — Thin < liHtli " « '' !' , ' , naturalist has just roceivod tho dooorntion ol ' French Legion of Honour , in whiVi order he mom tho rank of Chevalior .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 29, 1855, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29121855/page/4/
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