HISTORY OF THE WEEK.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 440, 10 August 1850, Page 93

HISTORY OF THE WEEK.

[Prom the Atlas, March g.] Political.

Excepting the debates in Parliament, nothing of political importance has occurred in this country within the week. The Protectionists seem to be adopting the principle of the menders of old china, who give the cement time to harden before they use the dish. Whether their fresh union with Messrs. Gladstone and Co. will turn out a good piece of work, when it comes to be used, we have yet tp see ; at any rate they have had discretion not to use it too soon, on the principle aforesaid. Without a Protectionist debate in the House, or a Protectionist meeting out of it, the agriculturists will have the opportunity of repairing their lungs for the next bellow.

The fruitless debate on the Vote by Ballot, brought out neither new facts nor new argument; but the division was significative. The Tories and Radicals in England are playing the same game with the Legitimists and Socialists in France— running the moderate party close by turns, and staking their own principles and fortunes as a party— on the chance of winning on the move.

Last night, Mr. Cobden brought forward his annual motion for reduction of the expenditure. He was answered in an argumentative speech by Mr. Labouchere, and a powerful one from Lord John Russell. The Ministry claimed credit for the reductions already made and still in progress, and obtained a it by a considerable majority.

Abroad, as usual, we have to turn to France for disquieting indications. The French papers of the week have been full of reports of Socialist meetings, wherein many things which would scarcely have disgraced the year 1 of the Republic, " one and indivisable," have been said by members of the Assembly. One of the orators told the meeting that the first thing they had to do was to demolish the " infamous capital." This is what Paris gets for having produced three revolutions. Another declared that the. Republic never would be safe till men had renounced the "idolatry of the State, Church, a.nd Government." A third declared that if France possessed a hundred men like himself — the speaker — all the thrones of Europe would crumble into dust. At one time the meetings are told that the country contains but two classes of men— brigands and Socialists ; at another, that none exist but Socialists and Jesuits ; then, that the opposite party to their own form a triloge of hangmen, assassins, and cut-throats. And one man, amidst thunders of applause, declared that the time was come to abolish carriages and vehicles of every description, except for the use of the sick, and to prohibit all articles of silver in domestic use ; people, he said, could eat very well with wooden forks. _ The pacqe man, excited by the applause he received, then declared that signal vengeance should be taken on those who had destroyed the pure citizens of the 9th Thermidor— of the terror, (hat is. But the most brilliant speech was that of the deputy, M. Michel, of Bourges. f Terror," exclaimed this fervent orator, "is in the hearts of the enemies of the people — the people alone form the nation— truth is in their hearts — in that of all others nothing but a lie." " I Bee/* he continued, " the time approaching ; I see a diadem descending on the heads of every you — yes, your reign is at handin which you will have to reckon with the bourgeoisie and with royalty.'' This poor bourgeoisie, "the vnmpires and leeches of the country," as some one called them, is subject to more furious tirades than even the aristocracy — its main object is at present, according to these gentle* men, to assassinate the people. M. Michel will be summoned before the tribunal for some of his orations — he denies certain of his expressions,' and .softens others ; but he wijl find it difficult to clear himself. ' Such is a sample, and a very moderate one, of the tone hfeld by the lower orders of France. If these meetings were confined to the capital, it : would b£ easy to check them ; but they are spread all over the country. With us, too, speecbificatioas of this kind serve as a safetyvalve, .and speakers go home and consider that (jhey have done, something and may rest awhile. It is very different on the other side of the .channel, when every sentence is a blister which never allows rest till it has done its work. ' Ateneof these meetings, a curious circum* •tance occurred. According to law, a Commissary of Police was present— at whom, in hit opening speech, the president hurled the Mual vituperation. Presently the meeting became stormy — the president himself was insulted, and obliged to call in the aid of this .very Commissary^ " *

Prussia, who seemed willing to take rather alarming steps in the Neufchatel affair— has quieted down — in deference, she states, to the present position of Europe. In fact, do state, except France, ib on a more precarious position than herself, or has more to fear from war.

Both Prussia and Austria have protested against that farce in embryo— the Erfurt Parliament. The blockade of the Piraeus has been raised, by the mediation of France.

Social.

Parliament had under its consideration on Tuesday, one of those motions which fall by their own immensity. Mr. Slaney took in all the miseries of the people at a single gulp. This was too much for the House to swallow in the present state of its throat, which is by no means of enlarged dimensions just now. To provide for the crime, idleness, improvidence, and poverty of the people, by a single commission was too great an undertaking 1 . Nevertheless, the Legislature has a doty from which we do not hesitate to say it shrinks at present. In avoiding the motion, the House showed great disposition to avoid the question. The bill introduced by Lord Granville for tho audit of railway accounts is one of which no one can complain. None interfere but tho shareholders. These, it is proposed, are to nominate a delegate for their own railway, each delegate to have one or more votes according to the capital of the company he represent*. These delegates select a board and appoint a chairman. This is a fairer plan than to permit the Government to select their own boards from the delegates, which was once suggested. If the railway directors mußt submit to an audit board, they could scarcely have one chosen more favourably for themselves and their interests. ft The bill for legalising the marriage with a sister or brother-in-law has at length passed the Commons. Mr. Roebuck opposed it, because, he said, he wished to strengthen tho bonds of fraternal affection! The law as it stood, was a libel on our national character — an immense injury and injustice to the poor — a stumbling-block in the way of the future comfort of the bereaved children— and a distinct denial of the claims of social convenience. Against it was an uncertain interpretation of the words of the Bible, in the face of marriages of much closer kin recorded in holy writ; and a theoretical danger to morality. As if, practically, persons disinclined to crimes so gross would be induced to commit them, because on the contingent death of another person, reparation by marriage would be possible. It requires but small knowledge of human nature to understand that temptation rarely looks so far forward.

The retirement of Lord Denman from the bench has been accompanied with all' the demonstrations of respect to one of the best Judges that ever adorned it. To the sincere praises of the world are added those of his actual successor, and of two others who had each a fair chance of being his actual successors —Sir J. Parke and the Attorney- General. It is but rarely that a judicial career has been so nobly sustained — especially of one whose appointment at the outset was stigmatized as a job, an abuse, and a scandal.

Reports respecting the discovery of Sir J. Franklin have again been rife. It is melancholy to dash hopes of this kind; but the rumour has been traced to quarters so near to that from which a similar report arose some months ago, that we fear its origin is the same. In fact, a true report is scarcely likely to precede the actual arrival of the party, as the re* port must come from some one who has been in contact with them ; and if the reporter can escape, they can get free themselves. To be sure, it is just possible that, both being free, the reporter may hit on the quickest route. '$". A very lamentable case was tried at Wijfrv . Chester. A poor woman, in the laat stage off/ V illness, tottered for relief to the Southampton *'" workhouse— she was provided with a medical certificate, yet she was thrust into the trarnphpuse, without fire or bedding, in the severe weather of last December, and she died in three days in the most horrible state. : The relieving officer erred from not understanding .the case, aqd the jury acquitted him; but the acquittal of the man 'is the condemnation of the system. It appeared, too, that the cause of the woman's extreme misery arose from the reduction of a trifling allowance she had, .in consequence of an anonymous letter addressed to the board of guardians. This is perfectly infamous. '

The Limerick and Clare Examiner ,Bt&tfis, that during the last three weeks ninety persons wed in the vjorkhome at Kilrush. Their .correspondent says, " You could tee loads of jtyraan bodies carted from the ' workhouse, at the rate of from teven to ten per Stem, piled up on common carta - like packing cues. Another store has been taken wherein the out-door starvelings may spend the last hours of existence." Tap* Cockade. — Courage in suffering for m good cause is well ; but if courage be not tempered with meekness, if our resentments burn in our breasts, and boil orer in projects of rerenge, opprobrious language, or any sort of indecent bitterness, neither we nor our came are like to gain by it^~ Stanhope, .\^.-

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