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Leader (1850-1860), 30th December 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 1232, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      a disposition shown to do away with this imperium in imperio , if possible . One plan suggested is to appoint a military governor , with a few Government troops , placed at his disposal at Salt Lake , who shall rule over this turbulent people as a sort of proconsul . And it is slyly suggested that the introduction of troops , besides giving the governor a physical support , will have a good moral effect upon the -women , by making them dissatisfied with a one-twentieth part of a man . If -the plan should be carried out , and should be successful , farewell to the Prophet Joseph . Take away polygamy and the attraction of Mormonism ceases .

      Transatlantic Mails . —The PqstmasteT-Gene-Tal ' s report recommends reducing the compensation paid to the Collins' steamers for carrying the mails between New York and Liverpool . Under the present arrangement 858 , 000 dols . a year is paid for a mail once a fortnight each way . This the Postmaster thinks too much . He also complains of the non-execution by the British Government of the 12 th article of the Postal Convention of December , 1848 , with the United States . The mails between Prance and the United States were expressly excluded from the operation of th-. t convention , and the contracting parties undertook to invite France to enter into communication with them for the purpose o making an arrangement conducive to the interests of the three countries . Such an invitation has never

      been extended , because the parties could not agree upon the terms , and consequently the Postmaster finds that the United States Post-office is made to su ffer by the high , transit rate in England , and by the difference of 3 d . in favour of the English sea carriage . He does not , however , recommend the only remedy in his power—the . abrogation of the convention of 1848 . The revenue of tlie office amounted last year to 6 , 955 , 586 dols ., and its expenditure to 8 , 577 , 424 dols . ; leaving a deficiency of 1 , 621 , 837 dols . to be provided for by the General Treasury . The amount paid for ocean steam mail service was 2 , 023 ^ 010 dols ., of which 794 , 177 dols . was for the California !! mails . .

      Untitled Article

      AMERICAN STATISTICS . It is customary for the various Public Departments o the United States to present to Congress , after the President ' s Message , reports of their several administrations . We subjoin some accounts of the War Department and tlie Naval Department : —

      " BEPORT PKOM THE WAR DEPARTMENT . " The actual strength of the army is only 10 , 745 . The whole authorised , strength is 14 , 216 . The deficiency is fast decreasing by more rapid enlistments . The entire loss in Indian actions during tlie year is 4 officers and 63 men killed , and 4 officers and 42 men wounded . The occurrences on the frontier furnish deplorable proofs of the insufficiency of our military force , and of the absolute necessity for its increase , which was \ irged by the secretary last year . The increased pay to enlisted men induced the enlistment of 1005 men in October and September last , against 309 men during the corresponding months last year . The number of recruits required for the service of the ensuing year will probably not be less than 6000 . An increased pay for officers is urged as an

      act of justice and necessity . Additional legislation is asked to place the widows and orphans of the officers and soldiers of the army on an equality with the widows and orphans of the officers and soldiers of the navy . The necessity of a revision in military' legislation is pointed out , in order to prevent conflicting claims in regard to rank and command , which now givo rise to much inconvenience and trouble . One great source of difficulty is the double rank recognised . To remedy this , it is proposed to givo effect to brevet rank only when the President may see fit , and forbid the exercise of brevet commissions in the regiment , troop , or company where officers are mustered . Elaborate suggestions for reorganisation of tho staff corps are presented , and compared with European systems .

      " KEPOItT OF THE SRORETAKY OF TUB NAVY . " Tho Secretary of the Navy recommends an additional but gradual increase of the navy , its reorganisation , and tho enactment of now regulations for tho discipline and improvement of seamen . Lieutenant Strain nnd party arc complimented for enterprise and exhibition of powers of endurance and generous devotion to duty in tho oxploration of the Daricn Ship Canal route , Tho result arrived at is , that tho proposed canal is totally impracticable ; nnd this , tho Secretary apprehends , settles tho question for over . Tho Secretary does

      not propose to increase tho number of officers , nor materially increase tho current expenses , nor have a navy of the immense size nnd extent of somo of tho navies of European Powers ; but to increase tho material of our navy bo as , at loa » t , to approximate to a stnto of readiness for emorgenoiofl , wliich wino atatoamon strive to avoid , but wiser statesmen prepare to meet . Mo \ a clearly of tho opinion , also , that tho number of men in tho service should ho increiiBod at lonat 2600 . Tho number of tho marine corps ia deemed entirely too email , and on , indefinitely-stated incrcaso 1 » carnootly

      recommended . The corps -would be improved and elevated in character by adopting some system o appointing officers of military education , and training . Professor Maury ' s achievements in developing his theory of . winds and currents , and his preparation of charts , are noticed most flatteringly . It is estimated that the saving to our commerce by the use of his charts would amount to several millions per annum . ' *

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      A correspondent of the Times has exposed in a decided manner a most ingeniously contrived abuse : — " It appears that in the original draught of the Militia Bill the contingency of half-pay officers forming the constitutional force was overlooked . The consequence is , as I am informed , that the Secretary at War is obliged to pay the two demands , and that a major of militia , who is at the same time a captain on half-pay of the line , will as long as the force is permanently embodied , actually receive in hard money 7 s . per diem more than his brother major in the army occupying the trenches before Sebastopol . This , clearly , cannot be right . There is an obvious remedy for the oversight . I assume that the Secretary at War is bound to act tip to the Militia Bill as it stands , and that under the present rules he has no legal remedy . "

      HALF-PAY OFFICERS SERTING IN THE MIOTTA .

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      , OUR CIVILISATION . Assaulting Women . —Several of these cases have occurred this week . Gibbs , a cabinetmaker , was charged at Worship-street with iassaulting a young woman with whom he had " cohabited" for some time . He went home one night in a state of savage excitement , and after sitting dovm to a comfortable supper which she had provided for him , lie commenced reviling her with the coarsest epithets for not having furnished him with better fare , and ultimately caught up a heavy dish from the table , and flung it at her head . She succeeded by a rapid eff ort in evading the missile , which , was dashed to pieces against the opposite wall , but the prisoner instantly renewed the attack upon her , and aft er pelting her

      with the chimney ornaments , he knocked her down by a violent blow in the eye , and inflicted the severe wound on her temple which she then exhibited . She entreated that he would have mercy upon her ; but , without noticing her appeal , he fell upon her as she lay on the ground , and beat her in nn unmerciful manner about her breasts and other parts of her person . The prisoner then forcibly dragged her along the floor , and declaring with an oath that "he-would pitch her out of the window and do or her at once , " he was in the act of carrying her across the room for that purpose , when the door was suddenly burst open by a policeman , who protected her from further illtreatment . The policeman , however , had to bear the « ' further ill-treatment" himself . The full term of six months was awarded to this ruffian .

      At the same court , John Brown was proved to have seriously injured his wife . He beat her about the head and face with his fist ; he broke a lookingglass into fragments upon her head , and struck lier such a violent blow that lie knocked her against the window , and her head broke four panes of glass . She Avas bleeding from the roouth . He exclaimed , " I'll murder the before I've done with her . " This wns given in evidence by a policeman . The wife said she was a " tatter-day Saint , " would not take an oath . On being further pressed , she said she did not wish her husband to be punished . He wns sentenced to three months hard labour .

      At Southwark , an " elderly female" named Martha Sullivan , stated that she had been married to Patrick Sullivan nearly twenty years , and for a long time past ho had led a dissipated life and frequently illused her . Many times he kicked her out of bed in the middle o tho night , and turned her out oT doovs with her face and body covered with bruises , but sho did not niake any complaint . On Saturday night he came homo and went up-stairs to their room where she was preparing supper . He was intoxicated and began to abuse her . Sho got out of the room to

      avoid his violence , and as she was } descending the stairs ho kicked her down to the bottom . He followed her and kicked her on the side of tho body , arms , and face . Somo of her neighbours fortunately heard her screams and fetched in a poljce-constable , who prevented him from committing further violence and took him into custody . Tlie magistrate gave him three months , and said ho wns fortunate that it wns not six months . But surely the recent act was not intended to contain a " fortunate" cluusc for convicted ruffians .

      A cortlhoaver , taking advantage of a , favourable timo fiiv brutality , when his wife had recently given birth to twins , went homo nnd knocked her down . llo then enid she should not go to bed that night . 1 < earing to arouse his violence , she sat on a stool before tho flro wrapped'in a blanket . Tho defendnnt , at / our o clock , woke her by kicking her oft " tho stool , alter which ho struck her on tlio head with tho

      fireirons , and then grasped her so tightly round the throat , that the blood streamed out of her mouth . The remiander of his waste strength he employed in beating his children . He was committed for six months , and will then have to fi nd two sureti es in 2 bl . each . The prisoner remarked that his wife had annoyed , him , and when women's tongues could be stopped , assaults would cease . A " general dear" —in violence—at Hammersmith , conducted himself in what is becoming the usual way to his wife . He was very drunk , and destroyed all the furniture . The magistrate gave him one month with hard labour , and promised six months for the next offence .

      A " Friendly" Society . — A great number of poor people complained at the Southwark Policeoffice that they could not recover sums of money which they had lodged with a society called the " Southwark Tontine . " The secretary had absconded with the money . Mr . A'Beckett facetiously asked if it was a Friendly Society , and regretted that he could ouly recommend them to employ a respectable solicitor . A Respectable Tradesman . —Mr . Nunn , jeweller , of Goswell-road , has been held to bail in a very large amount , to answer the charge of tampering with the worth of various articles , after the Hall mark had been affixed . The Hall marks in some instances were altered ; in others , they had been let into rings of inferior gold .

      Untitled Article

      HEALTH OF LONDON . Twelve hundred * and ninety-one persons , Tiz . 63 D males and 652 females , were recorded in the "London registers of deaths in the Sveek that ended last Saturday . This is nearly the same number as was returned in each of the two previous weeksi In the ten weeks corresponding to last week of the years 1844-53 tbe average number of deaths was 1249 , which , if a correction is made for increase of population , becomes 1374 . The mortality of last week is therefore less than the estimated amount ; but as the latter is in ~ creased by the influenza which prevailed iii 1847 , tbe present return is less favourable as regards the public health than the comparison appears to indicate .

      STATISTICS OF CHOLERA . The cholera in 1848-49 ( 15 months ) was fatal to 14 , 503 persons j in the last epidemic , extending from August , 1853 , to November , 1854 ( 16 months ) , 11 , 495 persons fell victims .. Allowing for increase of population , the deaths to every 10 , 000 living give an average of G 4 in the former , and 46 in the latter . By cholera and diarrhoea together the deaths were in- — 1848—49 ...... 68 , 431 81 in 10 , 000 ; 1853—54 ...... 15 , 762 63 in „ The following facts , worked out by the Registrar-General , show distinctly the inverse relation that the mortality of cholera bears to the elevation of the ground : —r

      On the lowest ground , talcing the mean of the two epidemics , 13 in 1000 of tho popidation . —on the highest ground , 1 iri 1000 of the population were destroyed by cholera . At the intermediate stages of elevation was tlie danger of dying by cholera intermediate ? To solve this important question , as regarded the epidemic of 1849 , London was first sub-divided into terraces differing 20 feet in elevation ; and , if tlie same course is pursued now , it is found that in the two epidemic years 15 , 562

      persons died of cholera on the first terrace , under 20 f eet of elevation ; 3757 on the second terrace of ground , 20 feet and under 40 f eet high , 2301 on tho third terrace , 40 and under 60 feet high ; 2279 on the fourth terrace , CO to 80 feet high ) 392 on tho fifth terrace , 80 to 100 feet ; 278 on tho higher torracos , of 100 feet up to 350 feet . The population was 850 , 000 on tho lowest terrace ; and about equal , or 400 , 000 on tho second , the third , and tho fourth terraces ; while it was 14 * 2 , 000 on the fifth , nnd 121 , 000 on the highest terrace or terraces .

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      DISTINCTION NO FAVOUR . lv appears from the following extract of t ( a Sergeant ' s" letter to tho Times , that promoting a man from corporal to sergeant is scarcely benefiting him . It sometimes practically decreases his pay . " I will , sir , with your permission , endeavour to sliow tho difference in my own income wookly as a corporal and as a sergeant . I am a married man . As a corporal 1 had In . 8 d , per < Iicm , being in possession of three

      good conduct badges , which gave mo 11 s . 8 d . per week ; my wife washed for 10 men at 4 d . each per "woolc , wliich gave f > 8 . 4 d . per week , making a total of 17 » . per week . When promoted to uorgoant 1 had lite . 5 < 1 . per week , being a loner by « ny advancement of 3 a . 7 < 1 . per week , «« , by nn order from tho Iloreo Guards , Bergoantb' wives are deprived of thu indulgence of n portion of tho men'o washing they enjoyed iih corporals' wives ; so , accordingly , although 1 yvna promoted to rank , I waa reduced iu income , "

      Untitled Article

      1232 THE LEADER . [ Sattirday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 30, 1854, page 1232, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2071/page/8/