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There is no learned , man but will confess lie hath , much profited by ; reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sh . arpen . ea . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to "write ?~ -Milton .
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conclusion , ought to have been granted . Technically , indeed , these reports may not form Substantive portions of the depositions which the prisoner has a right to be furnished with ; but on the grounds we have stated , we cannot butfeel that it is amatterfor just regret that the means of repeating the experiments and
testing the reasoning of Dr . Taylok are withheld . The objection raised is that all this is matter for cross-examination at the trial . This is , in fact , to leave a question which requires careful examination and deliberate research to the chance information of the witnesses summoned and the skill of the barristers employed . Such a course is not the most conducive to the
discovery of truth ; it is scant justice to the prisoner . " In these representations we entirely concur . Our readers well know that we have no morbid sympathy with poisoners or genteel criminals . But WiLiitAM Palm : ek is a British citizen , accused of murder . If convicted , he must die on the scaffold . He says that he cannot defend himself without being furnished with a copy oi the medical evidence adduced against him . "What is medical jealousy , or forensic etiquette , compared with Justice ?
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her to see two or three young girls like themselves . Tliey , thinking , no harm , consented ; and the girl , whose story has now been made public , was finally induced , not it seems without many misgivings , to accept a good situation which was promised her in . Hamburg . She was taken , with two other girlB to whom she had "been introduced , on board a steamer which lay near St . Katharine ' s Wharf . The vessel , however , had not proceeded far before hex diffident and modest demeanour , contrasting with the bold address of her companions , caught the notice of one of the engineers , who called her aside and expressed his regret to see a girl of her respectable appearance in such company . A passenger on board , and the captain of the vessel , also gave her a similar caution , and told her , plainly and earnestly , the purpose she was taken for .
They all bear witness that she was both shocked and terrified at what she liad heard , aiid had evidently no idea , of the peril to which she was exposed . The woman who had brought her out , tried hard to persuade her not to listen to , or lbelieve them ; "but she refused to have any further conversation with her , and made up her nrind not to stir from the skip until she returned to England . In the meantime , lipwever , her father had discovered where she had been taken , and immediately applied to Sir it . W . Carden to assist him in recovering her . Tlie magistrate at once sent two officers to ruake such arrangements as would be necessary to
be freely admitted that , but for her own folly atid indiscretion in suffering herself to be persuaded and guided by a stranger , she would probably never have got there—and what does it prove ? That she thereby forfeited all claim to the sympathy and protection of her country ? Is there an Englishman so secure in his own wisdom and wariness that he could wish such measure meted to himself ? Let us honestly recollect the struggles pqor girls now have to get a living at all : and if we cannot , or will not , even attempt to help them by a wiser and safer guidance , let us at least , not taunt them for following , in their helplessness and inexperience , such guidance as they can foolish though it may sometimes be . '
But now let us pass from , this individual case , and consider that it forms but one instance in the workin g of an extensive and skilfully organised traffic . Let ua call to mind the diabolical dexterity , the multifarious deceptions , the snares , and plausible induce" ments which are so tracherously and cunningly employed by these worse tlan pirales , to inveigle innocent , unhappy girls to their ruin . And it will suffice to add , that it is precisely the most innocent , the most inexperienced aaid guileless , which form the most coveted merchandise in their infernal and most detestable markets . No purity of heart can secure any Englishman ' s daughter from falling the next victim of this fearful' trade
Let her only become destitute ; be left without protection , and without any experience of the depth and foulness of human treachery ; and the more beautiful her character in all female excellences , so much the more threatening will be her misei-able destruction . Let these poor . girls' infamous betrayers only succeed in decoying their victims into Hamburg ; and we are , to our , utter amazement , informed ' they can forthwith reckon on the vigilant and zealous co-operation of the Hamburg police , for the completion of tneir work . Well would it be for the honour of England if this were all that could be said . But it is not all : it is not even the first thing for England to consider .
The officer who was sent over , succeeded , as I said , in saving one poor girl , He then " waited upon Colonel Hodges , "the British Consul , " to apprise him of the facts he had discovered ; evidently expecting that he would be giving Colonel Hodges startling information which he could make some official use of , but lie was mistaken ; "he soon learned that the Consul was perfectly aware that the atrocious traffic liad been carried on for some time , and constantly lamented , &c , &c , &c . We are also told , " the Vice-Consul added his testimony to that of his inferior , and mentioned several
heartrending cases , presenting new features of the horrors of the prostitution thus apparently sanctioned . " So that , taking them at their own confession , there seems to be no possibility of doubting that these two gentlemen , Government Officers , Cons \ xl ; and Vice-Qonsul , appointed to watch over the intei-ests of British subjects in Hamburg , were perfectly familiar with the atrocities which were daily and systematically practised upon these poor , snared , defenceless girls , aucl yet could stand tamely looking on , " constantly lamenting . " We have of late heard much of official incapacity ; but has anything yet been exposed © qvtal to this ?
Noiv , suppose that instead of thus trafficking iu the souls and bodies of innocent English gii-ls , execrable smugglers had been carrying on a flourishing trade in any other contraband English exports—would the English consul still have considered that t he alpha and omega of his duties consisted in " constantly lamenting ? " The humble officor already alluded to evidently took a different view of the case , and urged " that the authorities in London , by whom lio had been sent , were anxiously expecting the interposition of the English consul" in a matter no gravely affecting tne honour of England , and tho well-boiuy of English Bubjocts in Hamburg . Whoroupon tho lOnglish consul blandly replied that " nothing would yivo
him higher gratification than the power of chocking so monstrous an evil , but that tho inunoiliiito inter , forenco of Lord Clurendon . would , in hia opinion , bo necessary before much good could bo ofFoutotl in tho way of counteraction ; and that it would bo udvifuiblo to present a monxorial to that minister for— " for what ? an instant and peremptory suppression of tho intolerable , unutterable ) iniquity 'I AIum , no ; nimply for— " an inquiry into tho ctxso I" Can any tiling bo imagined moro utterly and auduoioimly imliocilo ? How is it that the British Consul had not himaolf communicated with Lord Clarendon < m tlio mibjoct ?
And , if ho had so communicated , how in il < ( hat wo now diHoovor , with luna / . omont and horror , thut young innocent girls aro at this very limo being nhmnofnlly and helplessly Bold in tho tthivmblofl oi' Hamburg ; while tho English Consul lm « no <> l . hor duty than to luok tamely on with official Horoiiity , ami " countnutty lament their deplorable condition ? " . 11 us Kngln « d any honour loft worth fighting for , while miuh UI 1 ' speakablo degradation is oonuivotl at , or confessedly permitted by hoi' own Goverumont ' < 27 th March , 1860 . I nui , Sir , yourw , & « -, II . L .
{ To the Editor of the Leader ) . PERMITTED TRAFFIC IK ENGLISH GIRLS . Sib , — -Ifc is not long since England was started out of a dream of complacent imbecility by discovering the horrors and degradation which her Sons were encountering in the distant East . She has now a yet more humiliating lesson to read , in the far deeper horrors and fouler degradation which her Daughters are daily exposed to nearer \ kome . Is it necessary that she shotild have to drink yet deeper of the cup of itifatriy before what moral life there still is in her will
be roused into resolute and effective activity ? Let us be well assured , that just so much infamy as is needful for such purpose will be poured out to her with stern and judicial accuracy . Or has she no such moral life still circulating in her veins ? no heartfelt reverence for domestic jnmty ? no honour worth defending but what can be noisily vaunted in the battleneld ? By the prompt energy of Sir R . W . Carden , a statement of facts has beon elicited and laid before the public , by which it appears that tnero is now existing —not some unprecedented and solitary horror , which once done cannot be undone , but—a skilfully organised System of horrors , pursued steadily , continually , and with porfect immunity ; a kind of social Institution of Infamy ; a methodical and efficient'
confederacy of foulest villaijy , with its " rights of capital , " its " vested interests ,, " its precedents of trade , its official sanctions and support ; and having for its avowed purpose neither moro nor loss than a merciless and exbonsivo fcraffio in the soula and bodies of innocent English girls . The gonaral bearings of this subject have boon pretty faithfully commentocl on by the press of "this oouatryj and I am encouraged by the tonour of tho remarks in the Zeadei' of laafc week , to hope that a few further comments which
Beam to bo called fur naay not bo unacceptable . The faots of tho on-so which has beon tho occasion of calling public attention to this subject ) , nro briefly these ; ' A young girl , sixteen yoars of age , of good character , the daughter of rewpeotoble industrious PWente , was on her way to Hackney to inquire , aftor a tatuatiolx to which she had been recommended . She tte , B accompanied by a female acquaintance , who , aho , *« b going % > her regular occupation . At the corner OfeFenqhwohrstroet they wore met by a Belgian XJ ^^^ i ? ^ . ^**? . knpwn to her companion ; and who asked flvena in a Mondly manner to go with
meet the case , and to telegraph to Hamburgh , in order- that the vessel might be searched on its arrival , and the poor ^ girl protected . Accordingly when the Tessel arrived , the police , who were on the look out , immediately came oa board and took all the parties concerned into their own custody . But for what purpose ? To rescue the poor victim ? to help the helpless ? to defend the innocent girl from her foul seducers ? It was for do such
purpose that the Hamburg police took "the affair into their own hands . The telegraphic message only served to apprise them that a fresh cargo of English female flesh and blood was arriving for their insjiection ; and they at once took official possession of their consignment , which they straightway conveyed to their own dep 6 t , with a shrewd eye to the profit to be realised by the transaction . Further than this , " there seemed to be no notice taken of the telegraphic despatch ordered by Sir R . W . Carden . " One of the officers whom that magistrate had instructed to
act in the matter , and who seems to have acted throughout with a most praiseworthy intelligence and promptitude , followed in the next vessel . When he got to Hamburg , he proceeded with ail speed to the police-station . He was received there " iu a very formal nianner by the prefects or inspectors , " who seemingly were not at all gratified at having their trade interfered with , by what they probably looked at as a London opposition concern . " They refused to hear anything but what concerned the particular parties who had just arrived . " They told him that the procuress , with whom they were clearly on tho most friendly and confidential terms , had " explained to their
satiafacfaotion " that the girls had engaged themsel ves to her expressly to follow " a course of prostitution ; " they evidently considered their only duty to be , to see that the hell-hag had her rights , and to take care that the wretched girls were prostitut ed accordingly . For this purpose , they were evidently ready , to render every assirftanoe . But when he assured them that the girl in question had been deooyed over by false representations and deceitful promises , and that she had had no notion of the'dreadful fate that was in store for her—to all such protestations of her innocence and » implioity » they replied with an incredulous smile and a continental shrug . They even referred to their friend , the proouress , in support of a
got-up oharge of theft , which she had malignantly preferred against her struggling victim , ia order to warrant their xising force to subduo her . In every way thoao Hamburg police aided and abottorl tho infamous procui'esH , and used their official authority and power to accomplish the foul destruction of tho innocent girl she had suarod into their hands . And , of course , in every case , the more innocent tho poor girl , thus left helpless to them , tho moro is it worth their brutal while to take a little extra trouble with hev . The polioe-am-g ^ on himself is tho accredited agent and active assistant of theso brothel-keopei-H , who inspects their wares , and pronounces them fit or
unfit for their market . " Tho rovonuo of tho oity ia greatly assisted by prostitution . " And "tho criminal doctor , as well aa tho oflioors of tho police , soem to bo on a very good understanding with tho characters who tmvol behvoon Hamburg and London upon business of the kind , " Owing to tho resolute resistanoo of the poor girl in question , our ofilaor got thore , happily , in time to roBouo hor from their perfidious care , wluoh ho at last Buciooodod perfectly in doing . But suppose those Hamburg polioo had time got hor in tlioir power , aud no one had appeared with authority to demand hor back . Can there be any sauo question , that by oue foul moans or another , her destruction ' would have boon accomplished ? Lob it
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„ 2 fo& T m B LEAjD ff B < y [ No . 314 , Saturday
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( JUT THIS ; DEPARTMENT ^ AS U . 1 OPINIQ 1 T > HOWEVEB EXTRE 5 CE , ABE AttO-nrED A 2 T EXPBKSSIO 2 J-, THE EDITOR JtEqESSAKIX . \ : HOLDS HIMSEIiP EESPOirsrBI , E SOB JfOITE . " ]
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 29, 1856, page 302, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2134/page/14/
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