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an excuse for her degradation , and to pander to the ambition of Russia because Russia is strong " and insolent . In furtherance of this policy every effort has been made to throw discredit on the Government of the Porte , to ridicule the religion of the Turks , and to deride the notion of a Christian crusade on behalf of a- nation of infidels / To inaiiitain . the integrity of Turkey has been scouted as the dream of blind enthusiasts . T ! ie independence of Turkey is an idle theory , and the time is come for hurling back the Mahometan invaders upon their desert fastnesses in Asia . Vienna
seeks to be avenged , for she still remembers the day when the shout of the Moslem was heard around her walls ^ and Russia seizes upon an opportunity for the completion of her ambitious schemes . The extinction of the Ottoman dominion has been regarded as an accomplished fact . Prophecy has been called in to the rescue , and we are invited to the contemplation of a JN ^ eo-Greek empire erected upon the ruin of a power whose fate was sealed at its birth . A party has been organised , letters have been written , a journal established , and no exertion has been spared in the promulgation of their views .
It is full time to consider whether the Greeks are worthy of the lofty honour thus graciously accorded them by their advocates . It is worth while to inquire whether the prospects of a new Byzantine empire are so brilliant as to outweigh the stringent considerations in favour of the maintenance of Turkey . It was in December , 1833 , that the youthful son of the King of Bavaria was placed upon the throne of Greece . There is no question that the Greeks were indebted for their freedom to the necessities of a political crisis far more than to their own fitness for emancipation . It was in vain to connect the Greeks of 1833 with
the Greeks of the age of Pericles and Aspasiawith the men who sat at the feet of Socrates ; or , in days still later , were nerved by the eloquence of Demosthenes , It baffled the strongest efforts of imagination to recal in the subjects of King Otho the natural descendants of the poets , philosophers , and historians , to whom the nations of Western Europe are indebted for their earliest culture . The twenty years that have elapsed since that last crisis in their eventful history have failed to render them more worthy of our esteem . A Government supported by corruption—a State enfeebled and insolvent—a nation with whom
piracy is a trade and robbery a habit—are the component elements of the kingdom of Greece . It is needless to dwell on the familiar details of mal-administration which have marked the Government of Otho . The difficulties which beset him were gigantic , arid he has sunk beneath their weight . He has broken faith with the Powers who placed him on tho throne , and with the people whom he was sent to govern . His finances are hopelessly disordered ; his rule despotic ; his subjects oppressed , and his court a nursery of backstairs intrigues . But this is not all . The wortliiessness
and incapacity of a monarch may bo redeemed by tho character of a nation . It is possible that the Greeks may still be mindful of the glories they have inherited—may still be worthy of political emancipation , still able to establish and maintain a new empire in the East . Such hopes , however noble and enthusiastic , are utterly without foundation . You might as well seek for grapes among thistles as for men of honour , integrity , and solf-depondcnco among tho degenerate and " mongrel populations of Greece .
¦ y you travel through tho country , it is almost at the peril of your life , andyoiiAvitness or experience barbarities which are imagined to linger only among tho savago tribes of Africa . Tho quickness n-nd versatility which are tho birthright oP a Greek Jmwo been perverted to tho lowest purposes . Cun"inff , fraud , ami thieving are tho ' arts by which Iliciy llvo . Their words arc riot believed , their hono ur is hold as cheap as that Pmviv . a fides Much \\ tfn
. paaaod into a proverb . Tho roguery ° l * ' »« niercliante and traders in tho city la ex-J'ljiuigod for open robbery in . the country districts . J- » n piracy practised in tho X . ovant in undhniiiiMlicti .- Every nation in its turn suflTors from ll »« corsairs of tho Arohipologo . Daring , un"j'vupuloiiH , and never resting in tho pursuit of l » eir luorutivo occupation , they bocomo tho mas-: * - >* h of enormous wealth , and are scarcely lowered 1 J * the opinion of thoir countrymen because of tho Cleans by which it was acquired . Such am tho men whom Mr . St . John and hi » if ? p would fain regard an tho regenerators of »« liiiist . A grand historic mission ia given thorn
to fulfil . For a third time in the history of the world they are to preside over the commencement of a new era , and to complete the civilization of the world . Europe is invited to assist in this glorious enterprise , and the opportunity is now afforded by the weakness of the Turk . It is almost incredible that such delusions should be fostered in the face of such facts as we have already stated . It can only be accounted for on one supposition : the theory is put forward by Russian gold , and forms a portion of an
elaborate scheme for throwing discredit on the character of the Turk . It is easy to say that the " preservation of the Turkish empire" is an absurdity—to talk of the corruption of the Turkish Government , the condition of its finances , and the polygamy and immorality of the people . On the very lowest grounds , the Greeks are not a whit better , but rather worse in every one of these respects , and their immorality has sunk
into a systematic and unnatural profligacy . We are no blind devotees to " the faith as it is in Urquhart , " but we are ready to go the whole length with him in denouncing the visions of Mr . St . John and his friends—liberal philanthropists — as a piece of Russian intrigue , of which they are themselves , we doubt not , the most signal dupes . ISTothing would please the Czar better for the while than to see Constantinople in possession of a people quite as Weak as are the Turks , and inspired with no deadly hatred towards the Muscovite . We must once more leave this
subject ; but we hope , before long , to enter , with more abundant details , into the question of the relative merits ' of the Greek and the Turk . Mean . while , we feel sure that our readers will not suffer themselves to be deluded by the visions of enthusiastic schoolboys and flighty pedants , or the wild theories of purchased schemers .
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MUSEUMS FOE THE PEOPLE . A good museum is reading made easy for the people . In the olden time , a picture pointed out the liostelrie , and the sign was quickly known by the common people . But it is wrong to say that the ignorance of letters alone caused the custom . Its origin lay deep in the nature of man , which always loves to come near the truth of things , and which sees likeness more readily in the painted image than in the mental representation by a set alphabet . To this day , those who can ,
get pictures instead of lettered representations . The wealthy cover their walls with paintings , and buy books rich in engravings . When they lose a great man , they are not content with reading of him—they put his portrait in their gallery , or his statue in their hall . The poor cannot do these things , nor even buy books . But pictures would , above all things , suit their habits and inclinations . Pictures , or models , or specimens , teach quickly through the eye . It requires no alphabet to malte a boy know well the form of the mastodon when once he baa seen the model of it . Show
him a picture of Curtius leaping into the gulf , and the story is graven on his thought for ever . Let him learn geology from well-laid specimens of rock , and he bears it better in mind than if he read through treatises for days . The everyday habits of a man forced to toil hardl y for bread unfit him also for that . fre ? h application needful for tho mastery of literary lore ? . But take liim through a museum , and the untired eye catches at tho now object , and of itself floes the fresh task . From idle observance tho mind comes round
to curiosity , and at work ho remembers tho varied objects of the museum as a relief to his thoughts . Tho lecturers at the Museum in Jemiyn-street noticed with surprise each Monday evening , that their hearers were mostly working men , and that working men wero mainly their visitors . But they should not bo surprised . A boy of the lower classes lias boon used to observe from his very youth . " Not with blinded eyesight poring over miserable books" have his days of young activity been passed . JIo has boon out in tho thronged streets , looking on tho faces of
men with tho cunning oyo of a vagabond living by his wits , and inspecting shops and goods with tho ditttinetivo glance , of a purchaser to whom tho buying of a cheap pennyworth is a financial operation of a critical kind . Such a , man learns more in a muHcuin than tho mere scholar . Ho learns quickly , for his life has boon spent in daily observation . It in n p ity i \ m \ t Jm y _ thing should restrict his opportunities of reading the only books whoso language ho can easily understand .
gress , ey excuse their general want of proper order . Liverpool and Manchester have museums , in extent and arrangement utterly unworthy of the greatness of the towns . Iu Birmingham the names of the donors of the articles are the best shown portion of the exhibition . JN " ewcastle is distinguished for its excellent local institution ; Ipswich , York , and Belfast , have respectable museums , btit deficient in arrangements for popular attraction . On the whole , there is not a single museum throughout the country to which we could point as a model of a good school for the people . Gardens to teach botany , and glad the eye , are equally wanted .
but thhave less for . *" want of popular museums springs not from individual apathy , but from the want of organization . Mr . Lawson is not the only man willing to give private collections of instructive instruments arid materials for the use of the people . There are , almost in every town of England , men who have spent zealous lives in amassing treasures of ancient interest and modern use . Some of these men are old , and would gladly see thencuriosities in trusty hands . In more than one case the donations have been offered to Government , and refused for want of houseroom . Our local museums have the same excuse for no
pro-Good wages are now given to the worker ; he is above the want of physical comforts ; let us in time refine his thoughts and elevate his amusements . When God planted this world , he made it a museum full of beauty as of use . The man who has learned even instinctively to feel the loveliness of a landscape , will appreciate those curious beauties which likewise appeal to the eye from the cases and stands of a museum . Once win a popular liking for museums , and the people will come into them on wet evenings as naturally as they crowd the green lanes on a fine Sunday . Like those commons which adorn the face , of England more than its widest parks—for they show the living respect for olden
right of the poor , while the parks tell but of human pride—let the museums become , not the haunts of a few silent students , but tho ready rendezvous of humble people . Let the homely wonder of the worker be awakened there , and tho joyous exclamations of children at each . new marvel be an audible catalogue of its contents . And if it be at first a meeting-place for idlers , or a resting-place for women with children in their aims , let us be patient . It is good for them to be there ; and even if lovers' whispers are heard in the mediaeval court , the precincts will not be f > rofaned . By natural degrees men advance from lumanity to learning , and the man of feeling becomes the man of thought .
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THE EAGLE'S COAT AND WAISTCOAT . Mk . Sandfokd , tho American charge d ' affairo in Paris , has won great praise in his own country , for tho decision with which he has taken his place amongst the ^ diplomatists in the capital of civilization , with no armour more complete than that of a plain black stiit of oloth . es with a whito waistcoat . Tho effect of this subversive costume upon tho gorgeous appendages of the representatives of other states , appears to have been alarming . Tho charge" of Venezuela , a small man apparently , with difficulty supported tho golden
embroidery that surcharged him ; and the Swiss charge" drew comparisons between the gentleman en , boaracois representing tho greatest Power in the world , nnd tho gentleman in gold representing tho insignificant government of Venezuela . () ther ambassadors , however , were lens agreeably touched . The Duo do ( Jiuiche , who represents the . I / Vouch Government at Turin , uttered some impertinences , and Voly Pasha , the Turkish Minister , a man held in high respect , appears to have been equally displeased at the innovation , and at the state of things which made Hint innovation it practical , sarcasm ; for , ho exclaimed ,
/ Ah , what is this ; you look like n , crow in this crowd of golden birds . " The . Emperor , however , Noized an occasion , shortly afterwards to take Mr . 8 andford by the hand , to wend a friendly and private message to a mutual acquaintance- in America , and , m short , to appreciate the institutions of tho . ' Republic , by not cutting Mr . Sandford , although ho wore a white waistcoat and a black coat : Upon which , au American contemporary , tho Cincinvafti ( lazttlc , lauds . Louis Napoleon as a man of tho world , a , true statesman , who is acquainted with American institutions ; a man , therefore , understanding tho motive which dictated Mr . Marcy ' s order , —iu short ,
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October 15 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER , 997
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 15, 1853, page 997, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2008/page/13/
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