The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-25 00:00:00

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Our lonDon Corrtsponbtnt.

[We deem It right lo state that we do not at all times
identity ourselves Warr our Correspoudent's opinions.]

The speech of the Rev. Norman M'Leod relative to
her Majesty, will have been read with deep interest.
The Doctor speaks from personal knowledge, while his
high character and his peculiar opportunities of knowing
the facts of which he speaks, give additional weight
to his renArks. It is highly satisfactory, therefore, to
find hit-a saying, "I have never seen her better in
spirits or better in health, or stronger in mind, than
she is at the present moment ; " but he adds, " at the
same time, I am far from saying that she has recovered
her strength so as to be able to do more than she is
doing; for I make bold to say that none of us have the
slightest conception of the unceasing demand that is
made upon a person in her high position of attending
to innumerable details, and carrying burdens upon her
mind, without the possiblity of one moment's rest."
This evidently reliable statement regarding her
Majesty's prvsent state of health will give pleasure in
proportion to the pain with which we have all heard
of the serious illness from which the Queen has hap-
pily recovered, and heartily will she be welcomed on
her return to her ancestral castle of Windsor.

The way in which active political labours tell upon
the health of our public men has been illustrated,
among other instances, in the long and serious illness
which severally affected Mr. John Bright and Mr.
Childers. All politics apart, that übiquitous individual
the general reader will be glad to learn that in both
eases health has been completely restored, and by the
some means— recreation and total abstinence from
official or political labours. We shall all look forward
with pleasure to the return of these gentlemen to poli-
tical activity; and with respect to Mr. Bright, we
may or may not agree with his politics, but we do not
like him to be conspicuous by his absence from the par-
liamentary arena, for the House of Commons does not
seem itself without him. I should think we may fairly
look for a good speech from him when the Ballot Bill is
passing through the House. If he do not speak on
that subject it will be rather a strange abstention.
No one can be surprised that the court-martial on
the captain and officers of the -IkArra have arrived
at the conclusion which has been announced. Indeed,
it would have been strange had any other judgment
been delivered. A very long and elaborate trial has
only served to produce facts which were tolerably well
known before, and the verdict of the court is simply
the verdict previously arrived at by the nation. But
with all the greater interest will the proceedings of
the royal commission on the same subject be watched.
If this commission faithfully does its duty, which we
have a right to expect, we may look for some awkward
revelations.

There is no doubt that Government have decided to
put Greenwhich Hospital to some use, which will
"revive and renew the associations which have always
been connected with it." So said Mr. Gladstone on a
memorable occasion—l quote from memory; and now
it is stated that Mr. Goschen, First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, has paid a visit to the hospital, with a view to
consider its fitness for the proposed naval univorsit 3
It is rumoured, however, that it is to become the Sc
of a university for technical science. I have no faith
in this rumour, because it would not hear out
the Premier's doubtless carefully studied announce-
ment. Another scheme which iroithl tally with this
announcement is also rumoured —the convention of
Greenwich Hospital into a Seaman's Hospital for all
nations—just what the old Drcadsoimlit used to be.
At any rate it is satisfactory to know that Govern-
meat intend to pat this noble pile of buildings to some
congenial purpose.

What is tg be the result of the Tichborne case is a
question that is no doubt discussed with considerable
animation by many a fireside during these long
evenings. I shall not bore the reader with
my opinion, though I hold a very strong
one never mind what it is. But another
question is also very puzzling—when will the trial
terminate 1 Some little help towards elucidating the
difficulty may be found in the fact that proceedings in
the Bankruptcy Court, in the case of the claimant to
to the Tichborne estate, have just been adjourned,
owing to the trial in the Common Pleas, till the 12th
of January. So that the latter trial is not expected
to terminate before this date, and it may be much
further prolonged! We shall most of us perhaps get
heartily tired of the whole case before it is decided.
Mr. Spurgeon, by the time these lines are read, will
have left London to spend a few weeks in the south of
Trance. The natural conclusion may be that he is not
in good health. This, however, is not the case, but the
numerous friends of the popular preacher will be sorry
to hear that his wife has been seriously ill, whilst they
will be glad to hear that she is now somewhat butter.
It may be of Interest to solil that Arr. Spurgeon
preaches with as much vigour, earnestness, and
felicity of illustration as ever, and that his numerous
congregation exhibit no signs of diminution.

There is comparatively little agitation in London
Tot the nine hours' movement, but the early closing
movement in retail shops is making considerable pro-
gress. The latter movement commenced many years
ago with the drapery trade, but, in many parts of the
metropolis, this trade appears to be about the last to
profit by it. By mutual arrangement, however, many
libilps in this trade, as well as milliners, tailors, &c.,
are now agreeing to close earlier than hitherto. This
will be a boon to the assistants, and will be no loss to
the employers or the public.
The account of the flogging of prisoners in Newgate
cannot be read without a shudder, but the punishment
seems to be a very wholesome one in such cases. For
my own part, I would have every "man flogged for
crimes of personal violence, or at allevents, for assaults
on women and children. I believe that the lash would
be a greater deterrent than mere imprisonment, and
then there is another important consideration—the cat-
o'-nine tails would be cheaper!
Even Homer sometimes nods, and even The Times is
sometimes in error. A funny mistake is that which it
thus acknowledges as having occurred in one of its
leadm "A sovereign is described as a bit f gold
rather more than three-quarters of an ounce in weight.
It should have been, rather more than a quarter ..f an
ounce." I should like to have a pile of sove-
reigns of the former weight. By the way, as so much
is said about coinage just now, let me warn my readers
that they should look out for bad florins. They are
very plentiful, and are so cleverly made to imitate the
good coins in weight, appearance, and touch, that it
must be a comparatively easy task for the coiners to
pass them. There are no doubt, at this moment,
numbers of ba.l florins in circulation that have been
scarcely suspected.

The man that snakes two blades of grass grow
where, &c.—yon know the rest; and I suptx,se much
the same thing may be said of oysters, but disappoint.
assent has waited on hope in this respect. Notwith-
standing all the talk and writing, and all the labour
and expense devoted to the artificial cultivation of
oysters by our scientific enthusiasts, they—the oysters,
In the enthusiasts remain as dear and as scarce as
ever. But I see that an Anglo-American company
promises to bring us oysters and other shell-fish from
across the Atlantic at a wonderfully cheap rate. I
Imps. they will not hold the word of promise to the ear
and break it to the hope.
I observe that a library edition of Mr. R. 11.
Home's epic poem of "Orion "is announced. In one
respect this is certainly the most wonderful poem in
the language. It is a work of considerable length, and
was first issued, some twenty-five years ago, in ordi.
nary book-form, "price one farthing," whereas the usual
price of such a book would have been ss. or is. 6d. It
was actually sold for 'the smallest coin of the realm,"
to use the phrase in which barristers on certain occa-
sions so much delight. This absurd price was intended
no a satire on the public want of appreciation of
poetry, for the work is one of undoubted merit.