On this page
-
Text (3)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Untitled Article
and pretend to be playing at cards , —perpetual ' commerce' probably , —in order to allow the visitors to offer their congratulations to the bride ani bridegroom in an easy and agreeable way . Then comes supper ; which beiag a- reality , speedily puts to flight th « card party ,, ¦ which- is only a steam . Immediatel y after the soup , tke health of the bride is giyen by the king , and then the court goes and saps- expeditiottsly , though solidly , after the German fashion . Then- comes a polonaise , or torch dance , performed by twelve Ministers of Stats , with
• wax tapeTS m their hands , which we are- disposed to 1 accept as an amende honorable for their manifold delinquencies > and their example is followed by the bride , the king , and all the princes , the bridegroom , the queen , and all the princesses . Then the crown is sent back to the treasury under the like escort as it came , and tha bride's garter is cut tip and distributed for eiifica * ioa to the pages aa-d cavaliers : A solemn procession to the church on the next day concludes this ponderous ceremony , and dismisses everybody , we should suppose , right weary of a festival so pompous , ' so meaningless ,, and so-tedious . "
Untitled Article
We extract , in illustration of the foregoing , and to show that even present Prussian barbarism-lias been much modified , from the letters of Baron Bielfield , Ssccei&ry of Legation , an account of a German , uiarliage during the reign of the Great JTrederick : — " Presently after came the queen , dressed in . a robe of green velvet , -which- wa 3 covered , to the very train , with bunches of brilliants . And all these ornaments were so happily disposed , that it was manifest the Graces themselves had attended on-her toilet . The brilliants in her
hair ^ rere above all illustrious .: the small Sancy , the third diamond of that sort in Europe , shone among the rest , like the sun among the stars . Four ladies of the court bore her majesty ' s trains Next came tha queenmother , in a robe of black velvet , trimmed ' with ermine , and adorned with a prodigious quantity of diamonds , pearls , and . la « e ; which gave this great and veneralile princess a most majestic appearance . Sh « was accorapani&d by her two daughters , the Princesses- Ulrica and Amelia , Who had forgot nothing that could add to the lustre of their charms .
" Afc last appeared the illustrious pair , whose happy imioEt gave birth to these sumptuous festivals . His royal highness led in his august bride . They -were ' both dreaaed in brocade of -wldte and silver . The folds of the princess ' s robe wore ornamented with gold point d ' Espagrte , and all the vacant spaces blazed with diamonds . The hair of both princes-was dressed with a luxurious elegance . The princess ' s' train was borne by four of the queen ' s ladies of honour ; and they were followed by all those -who compose their court . " "When the whole company had . formed itsolf into a half circle , the prince and princess immediately approached ) the altar , accompanied by the lung , the queens , and . ! all the princes and princesses , and tUore received
the solemn consecration of their nuptials from , the hands o £ M . Sack , his mojesty ' s first elm-plain , who made on this- occasion a short , but very pathetic exhortation . The moment their hands wore joined we heard tho thunder of tiie cannon tliafc were placed in tho ga-rtlen of the palace , Wihaili were answered by a triple discharge of all the camion on tlie ramparts , proclaiming to the inhabitants o £ Berlin the completion of this happy event , After the prinue and his princess had received the compliments of the king , tho queens , andi tho chief persons of the company , tho " whole court -was entertained at live great tables in diiFurent rooms . At the iirat tablo sat the lung , tho queens , the new . married pair , and all the other princes and princesses ; as -well thoau wh . 9 aro not , as those who-ore , of the blood .
" The Count of Podowil * did the honours ab tbo second table , at which were seabed all the foreign nunistors . At the other tables the rest of the company placed themselves without distinction . They were all , in a word , royally aorvud , and the entertainment lasted for « long time . " As noon as their majesties row from table tho whole company returned into tho white hall , from whence the ultur was removed , and tho room -was . illuminated with fresh wax lights . Tho musicians wore pin coil on a stage of solid tulvcr . Six Uoutouant-gonorula , und tux mmfotors of stato stood , each with a whito wax torch in his hand , ready to bo lighted , in conformity to n eoremoiiy
ucwd in the German <; ourtH on theso occasions , avul which ia called ' Tho Danoo of Torches , ' in allusion to tho torch of Hymen-. This dawco wna opunod by tho now-mnrriod prince and princess , who made tho tour of tho hall , saluting tho khijf nnd tho company . Uoforo thorn went tUo > ministers and tho gonoraln , tm » and fwo , with thoir UgWtiod torches . Tho priucOMH thon guve hor lmml to tho King , nnd tho prince to tho quoou ; tho king gave bin hand to thi > quonn ' n mofchor , and tho rolfrning quoon to Pflnoo Henry ; und in thia nuinnor ivll tlm princcn and j > rlnoBHHO , 4 that wove prosunt , <> no uftor tho otlwr , and awttording t . *» thoir rank , led up tho ilimcn , milking tho tour of llxo hall , almost iu tlio stop of tho Polojruoau .
" Tho novelty <> f thin porfornumeu , und tbo Hubhiuo quality of tho porformarct , mado it iu mmiu dogruo «; - ? rooablo . Ofcliorwiso tho oxt ' -rcme gravity of tho ilumio itinill ' , with Ilut continual round and formal pneo i > f tho dnnown , Miu froqumU yoiny out of tho fcorolmt , anil tho cliuigmu
of the trumpe , that rent the ear : all these , I say , made it too much resemble the dance of the Sarmates , those ancient inhabitants of the prodigious woods of this country . " When the last prince had finished Iris tour , the music and the dance- ceased . The queen-mother withdrew . The king accompanied the prince , aaid the queen the prUwess , to- thsh- chambers , where thia illustrious bride and bridegroom prepared themselves , by a very rich and elegant night dress t to complete their nuptials . " As- soon as they were ready , tfce > door « f tbeir bedehanaber was thrown open , and we followed each other
in , -where we found the princess 1 on a bad of crimson velvet , highly ornamented with the richest pearls . The prince stood at the hjead of the bed 5 n a night gown , and a cap bordtered ' with lace . The tasteless jesters , who gave the reins to their fancy , kicommoded hia highness with their freedoms not a ^ little ; he disengaged himself , however , in w pl « asant and handsome manner , and taking off the : princess ' s garter , cut it into a number of pieces and distributed it among the company , and then ended the ceremony by embracing the Icing , dismissing the company , and bolting his door , henceforward to be guarded by the God of Wedlock , tc » whom Love had delivered up his torch .
" After their majesties aad the princes and princesses weTe retired to their chambers , we . -went all together into the dining chamber , where we found a midnight collation , and excellent -wine , ia more than one full glass of which we each drank success to the mutual endeavours of the new-married pair . About three the next morning I got home to r ay lodging ; . ¦ ; " The following evening ,, about six , tibe whole court was assembled in the great gallery : their majesties , the new man and wife ,, the princes and princesses , in short the whole court appeared Ia doininos , but -without masks . I alone was pompously dressed , and for wdiich I was not a little admired .
_ " The company danced and played till nine , when the king ordered me to prepare for my oration . I went immediately into the first ante-chamber , where I fouad everything ready for the ceremony . Twelve young knights- went before me , with each a . lighted wax taper in his hand : the Baron of Mordach , a very amiable Silesian nobleman , immediately preceded . rne , bearing in a gold dish the crown of flowers , which was very . curiously-wrought , and adorned with small figures of children in wax . I was followed by an endless number of spectators , and was doubtless a good deal coafused ; for my fears appeared so plain in my countenance , that aa I passed the door of the hall , the Baron von Plotho cried out to me , ' Courage ! my friend ! you look as pale ae the dead . '
" The whole court formed itself into a half circle , the centre of which was the new married pair , and on each side of them stood the ting , the queens , and two-andtwenty princes and princesses . The twelve young knights began the ceremony by searahing with their lighted tapers for what was silently supposed to be lost the last night . But you will easily believe , madam , that it was impossible to discover that , by the brightest light , which never existed but in tho imagination . Bo that , howover , as it may , when this pantomime was over , I began my speech . But there Aras such a horrid noise that I could not hear ray own voice , so that I was obliged to desire his majesty to command silence ; which , when I had obtained , 1 immediately recovered from my confusion , and delivered my oration as well as I could have -wished .
"As soon as the orntaon was finished , Baron Hfordach entered the circle , and placed the crown on the head of the princess ; which her highness -was not ambitious long to wear , but tossed it into the hands of tho prince hoi consort . I marched out -with tho same ceremony that I had entered , and having dismissed my Imights , returned into tho hall unattended , where tho whole court was entertained at five tables , as on the preceding ovoning . " I horo send you , madam , the French translation , that has been made of my speech , though perhaps you hnvo seen it in Gorman , aa there have bedn nlroady two editions of it , for it goes ofl" Hko nc \ y broad : not certainly on account of its own merit , bat as malting part of tho entertainments of these illustrious festivals .
" After table thoro wag played , off in tho groat place , which they call the lung ' s garden , a very beautiful firework , which tho court saw from the windows of tho pnlaco ; but tho oxtramo cold hud extinguished many of the lamps with which tho pyramids and other onuimonta woro illuminated . After this the co \ iTt went to dancing , and the ball lasted till very luto in tho night . " Tho third day tho prince nnd princess wont to tho palace of tho princo royal , which is to bo thoir future phico of residence , ami which tho king has completely fimiirihad for Ins brother . Thoro was tho same ovoning nn opera and open tublo at court .
" Tho fourth day t . ho JL ' rinuo of PriiHtuii did mo tho honour to Iin'ito mo to diuo with him ; jiikI boforo iv « Hat down , hid royal hlghuoas was ploaaod to thank ino vory graciously lor my Hpoooh , and for tho mniuiur in which it wan delivorort ; proHOufcing irao « t tho Hitinti tiino with a vory vulaftltlo gold watch , and doHiring that Jl would pruuorvo it , in r « in « inbrnn « o or those days , anil nn a tokon of thai , ri'giird whioh ho horo mo . "In thin manuur , uuuluin , euducl nil thoao citlurtaininunti . "
NASMYTHS v . DUKES OF NEWCASTLE . Mr . Nasjmytii , tiie celebrated engineer of Patricroft , writes thus-taa ecmtemporary : — November 24 , 1 ' 854 . If we investigate in a common-sense spirit the cause of the all but entire failure of our great naval expedition to the Baltic , as also the cause o £ the protracted . and , as yet , unsuccessful operations before Sebautopol , involving , as they have already done , so fearful a sacrifice of our bravest men , it appears to me we shall find that the want of ordnance of power adequate to the emergency lies at the root of all these disappttinting and sadi results .
Had we armed ourselves , as we might have done , and might yet do , with such guns as would be capable of throwing shot and shells of 2 cwt . to 3 ' cwt . each , and t 3 iat from distances sufficiently great to keep us out of tie reach of the missiles of the enemy , we shoolcf thus be able to knock Ms strongest forts to rains . The reason why we have not t > een able to db so simply rests with the fact , that we contintie- to employ for our great ordnance a material ( cast iron ) which , on account of its inherent unfitness to withstand violent shocks and strains , has , in every other case , been discarded from use .
Were we to revert to the emplojnuent of wrought iron , possessed as that material is of every quality requisite , and aided as we now arc by the ample and energetic means which my steam hammer has > given . us for forging ordnance of yet unheard-of power , we should thus be enabled to arm ourselves with guns the tremendous powers of which would ouly be equalled by their perfection of performance ; as , admitting of the introduction of the Minie rifle principle , in union with those capabilities of throwing shot and shell of vast weight , we should soon , by such powerful agents , bring this great war to a most glorious termination .
When I inforai you that the strength of forged iron is to that of cast iron as six is to one , you will at once see how important such an accession of explosion resisting capability bears on the matter in question , as it is simply tha strength or tenacity of tke material of a gun which limits the capabilities of it as to the distance and weight of missile it is capable of discharging . It requires no lengthy reasoning to prove or show what mighty results ^ rould issue from the employment of great ordnance formed of a material at least six times stronger than what we at present employ .
In order to place the matter , perhaps ,, in a stronger light , what would be thought of the judgment of a . man who should propose to employ cast iron for an anchor or railway axle ? How infinitely more absurd , then , is it to employ cast iron , for our great ordnance ,, as it is well known to practical men that , besides the vast inferiority in strength in the case of cast-iron , its tenacity decreases in ; a rapid ratio with the increase in the inasaiveness of the object it is employed to form . Why , then , do we continue to use cast iron for our great ordnance , which are naturally subjected to vastly more spvere shocks andi strains than anchors or railway
axles , and , in so doing , limit our destructive power to its very limited capabilities , to accommodate which we are obliged to come to such close quarters and discharge such comparative ineffective shot , that we sacrifice in cousequenco thousands of lives of our brayest mcu , and spend millions of money in our endeavour to accomplish , by throwing a vast number of small pieces of iron , that which we might to a certainty accomplish by massive shot and shell discharged from our wrought iron ordnajico at distances quite out of reach of the enemy ; for nothing but such massive missiles ns I refer to : —namely , shot of two and three hundred-weight , will ever effectually destroy the tremendous forts in question ?
Having spent the best part of my Hfo in most intimate connexion with tho working of wrought iron on tho groatost scale , and where that admirable material has to resist shouks and strains of tho utmost violence , and having besides had the liupjiinoss to give to the world the moot ) energetic agunt mauldud has over possessed for tho forging of givnt massen of wrought iron , I trust I may be pucmittud . to uponk on this subject with some degree of conudoncu , nt » it is one that has a most vital and important bearing on tho Hpoedy and successful issue of this terrible war . Waid I but tho opportunity given mo to bring all tho experience I possess on thit * wiibjeet to boar , I should go heart and sotil into it , nnd hooii show what my fltoam-hammorf ) enn do toward * helping uh to hoIvo tho foarfnl problem that , if wo- vnluu out potntion an afreoancl powerful nation , wo muHt , nnd that soon , accomplish .
I niny state in conclusion that , although I hnva huIv inittcd moat comploto plans und dwigns lor mich groin wrought iron ordnance , with tho raiuno for api > n > priat < Minio' riflo sholl » und shot , nhould I not be intrniHtei with tho carrying out of my own dotiigHH , f fthull not l >< tho less KQtiioun hi « fl <> nlii > g tho inont honrty nnBitttum : to whomsoever mny l > u soluctud to give proof of whn wrought iron can do for uh in our prenont great omer gonoy . 1 uin , Mir , yours most respectfully , Jamkh Nahwvj'ii . Bridgowtttcr Foundry , l ' ntricroft , near Manohcator .
Untitled Article
Mr , NubiHyth Iiuh ninuu ptihUahed tho foUowin IotLor , dutad JX-cmubor 4 ;—
Untitled Article
JDEO 33 HB ^^ 5 i . ] T HE LEADER . 1159
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 9, 1854, page 1159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2068/page/7/
-