The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-19 00:00:00

THE VELOCIPEDE MANIA.

There is no new thing under the sun. The veloci-
pede mania which is now at its height in France was
very violent in England fifty years ago. A coloured
engraving-published by Ackermann in February, 1819,
shows the " Pedestrian Hobbyhorse, now exhibiting
at 377, Strand, Mr. Johnson, patentee, 75, Long-acre."
It is identical with the two-wheeled velocipede now to
be seen all over Paris, except that it was worked not .
by treadles attached to one of the wheels, but by put-
ting the feet to the ground on each side, just as the
present French velocipede has to be started. The de-
cription given on the engraving says:
This machine Is of the most simple kind, supported by two
light wheels twining on the same line ; the front wheel
turning on a pivot, which, by means of a short lever, gives
the direction in turning to one side or the other, the hind
wheel always running in one direction. The rider mounts it
and seats himself in a saddle conveniently fixed on the back
of the horse if allowed to be called so awl placed in the
middle between the wheels ; the feet are placed flat on the
ground, so that in the first step to give the inachine motion,
the heel should be the part of the foot to touch the ground,
mid so on with the other foot alternately, as if walking on
, the heels, observing always to begin the movement very
gently. In the front, before the rider, is placed a cusl ' to
I rest the arms on while the hands hold the lever which gives
, direction to the machine, as als, to balance if It inclining
to either side when the opposite arm Is pressed on the
cushion.
As WAS the custom of the day, a cloud of coloured
caricatures at once appeared, the legend beneath ode
of which, published by Tegg, representing a race be-
tween a horse and the velocipede, carries the origin of
the machine farther back. "This famous hobbyhorse
WM bred in Germany; after winning everything there,
was shipped for Long-acre. Another, published by
Jun. Hudson, of Cheapside, is a fierce veteran
, mounted on a velocipede which is called "The Dandy
Charger." (inc of Tegg's shows Richard 111. offering
, his kingdom for a horse, and Sir William Catesby,
I instead of replying, "Withdraw, my Lord, I'll help
you to a horse,' says, "My liege, here's a swift hobby
will convey you from the field as fast as: your legs will
I permit you." The following weak lines appear on
k another of Tegg's engravings:—
Yost have heard of al Pegasus flying, no doubt,
But our Hobbies inns :d him, good lack,
For when you are tired of riding about,
You may carry your horse on your back.
Curiously enough, these rhymes have almost an exact
counterpart in " Le Petit Poucet," where the actor
who enters on the velocipede makes his exit carrying
NARRATIVE OF THE WRECK OF THE it over his shoulder.

SALE OF THE DUKE OF NORFOLK'S
CHURCH LIVINGS.
On Tuesday afternoon a good many clergymen, speculators,
and others. were attracted to the Auction Mart, in Token-
house-yard, Lotion, by an announcement that several of the
ecclesiastical benefices which are in the gift of the Duke of
Norfolk would be publicly sold by Messrs k'arebrother and
Clark, of lalecaster-place.
the' mind Mons" stated that the sales were made under
a power of sale and exeltunge contained in a family settle-
merit of the Duke of Norfolk's estates, dated the 31st of
May, 1831. The settled e,tates were formerly subject to
several mortgage charges, all if which, so far as the ad-
vowsons were affected, were, by indenture dated the
10th day of February, 1850, released or otherwise dis-
charged. The advowsons ;with one exception) were
mentioned in the settlement of 1039, but it could he shown
that the presentations had been made by the dukes for the
time being, or persons claiming under them. Inasmuch as
, some of the dukes had been Roman Catholics, the presenta-
tions had been at times made by other persons, tine of the
advowsone was not the property of the Norfolk family until
1791, when it was purchaeed from Sir John lloneywood
and his trustees by Chucks Duke of Norfolk. The pur-
chaser, if he pleased, might see the original of the deeds.
he auctioneer, in opening the proceedings, said that it
bad often been urged that Church livings ought not to be
maile,matters of trade, and particularly that they ought not
to be submitted to public auction, bet as long as the law
remained as it was 11, dal not see. how patrons could be de-
barred id their le ,a 1
A gentleman in the rwen inquired what it was that was
about to be sold, as there seemed to be a good deal of diffi-
culty extant concerning Chu, eh proper ty at present—it
might be confiscated altogether or a short time.
The auctioneer said he was about to sell the fee of certain
ativowsons, and he did not believe that the Legislature of a
great nation would ever cetilbeate the property of the
Church of England. Whatever might take place, the rights
I .1 parties would certainly lie reserved. This assurance did
not seem to e.mvince the per,ons present, who shook their
doubtingly .",says the .Ifuraiej Star, front whom we are
quoting . •
The tint lot submitted was the advowson and right of
perpetual presentation to the rectory of llandsworth, tout
miles and a half from Sheffield, in a highly pieturesque part
of the country, Ind two miles from the Womlhouse station
of the Midland Railway, subjeut to the tile of the incumhent
who was baptized on the 25th of December, 1801. "The
rectory house," salt the auiriencer, "it pleasantly situated
near the church, en• C0111:11aafIS dl, nsive, waled, and unin-
terrupted views over the surrim dine cottntry. it contain en-
trance and inner halls, library, drawing and dining rooms with
domestic offices and on the upper floor, a beinleir, seven
Ott.) rooms, dressme.rooin, and water closet The out-build-
Mem comprise a COaell house, I ,ose-leix, three-stall stelae,
with corns and loft over, limn Ire. piggery, and cart-shed.
The grounds are tasteful y diseieed in lawn, raised terrace,
a! .d other walks, extensive kitchen garden, ite. At (needless,
which is in the parish of Ilaedsworth, and where there
Is a chapel of ease. there Is a modern budt curate's resi-
dence, tovether with 85 acres or thereabouts of valuable
glebe land, together with the tithe rent charge extending
over about 3,500 acres. The estimated value of the living is
£893 35. 24., less outgoings, which amounted to £3 is. 3d.
Viola shout forty acres f the ghetto land there had been
toned to he valut`le beds of coal yet unworked " The
auctioneer concluded his description by saying he supposed
the lit lug was worth 8,000 or 900.) guineas. There was
o bidding, however, of any kiud, aud the lot was with-
drawn.
The next lot was the wlvowson and next presentation to
the vicarage of Reclestield, live miles from Sheffield, sit
from Masliorough, and nine from lambsley, nu the old north
road from Leeds to London. The church, the anctioneer
'all, was one of the most beautiful he had ever seen, with
some very One carving in the interior. The fling was
, worth ida lee. 2d. ; the outgoings being £.51145. ; present in-

" HIBERNIA."
The following account of the wreck of the ill-fated steamer,
the Hibernia, has been given by Miss Adamson, the
stewardess
:
I was with the Hibernia in her last outward voyage,
during which severe weather was encountered. I can-
not speak particularly as to the weather which pre-
vailed in the outset of the homeward passage, as in
duties prevented me getting on deck except for a breath
of fresh air occasionally ; but for some Ilays before the
accident to the shaft the weather was very rough. It
became worse. until at length a fearful gale raged
around us. The night, I think, before the small boats
were lowered—a night of perfect tempest—one gentle-
man spoke to Captain Munro about taking to the
boats; hut the captainreplied that to do so then would be
instant death. He said we were safer in the Hihernia
at that time than, with such a storm, we could be in
any tiny craft. After the shaft broke—about two
o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 24th—it was
found that the ves,el was leaking, and the ship's
engine, the donkey engine, and the bilge pumps were
stet going. But the water continued to gain opon us,
and orders were given to throw the cargo overboard.
Between eight and nine o'clock on the Tuesday
morning—some six hours after the accident to the
shaft—Mr. Bethel, one of the passengers, went to his
wife, and I heard him say, " Get up ; I fear the vessel
is sinking fast." That morning neither the captain
nor any of the officers appeared at table. Things were
too serious. I myself went to a 'tidy who was ill,
and, wishing her to be in readiness for any emergency,
lint not desiring to alarm her, said, "Yin would be
better to get up and dress." In a little I went to her
again and said, "You had better get up; 1 think we
will all have to look to ourselves sbostly." She took '
the alarm, and hurried on her clothes. An immease
sea continued to run; and it became evident that all
efforts to save the ship were miavailing.
About four o'clock on the Wednesday morning
Captain Munro, who was throughout wonderf oily
collected and in whom all had the sttnost contidenm,
gave orders to lower the life boats. For some little
time before csbin passengers bad gathered together in
the saloon ; and I could see, front tbe position of
several, that they were engaged in prayer. To let
down the boats with Ruch a high sea running was a
work of difficulty ; but it was accomplished. The
passengers and crew were divided into sections. and
1,, e toll section a boat was allotted. The boats were
supplied with provisions, nod with oil to keep down
the waves to some extent. Mrs. (7,1,1,0,
alt
invalid, and some of the sailors, were livered
in the first, which was afterwards C 1 0111111.111.101
by the captain, and which, when being pulled to the
ship, was struck by a wave, and bumped against the
the vessel's side. Getting out of the Hibernia into the
little craft was a proceeding atten.led with eistsilera-
blo danger. I got upon a rope ladder, descended from
the steamer; but every now and then the boat would
be lurched away by the tremendous waves, and I hid
to keep hanging on for life to my insecure iscation.
When the sailors cried to me " let gu," I abandoned
my clutch of the ropes, and was caught by them and
Idd io the bottom of the boat. A, others were comint
down as test as possible, I crawled along on my ham 's
and feet until I got a seat at the stem. I heard mine
(MO cry "she will be over ;" but I was clinging on
with all my might.

-ciimbenthornoo thelSth of April, 1013. Thevlcarage of &cies. f
field has the right of appointing to the perpetual curacy of the
ehapelry of Bradfield, animal value about £200; age of
present curate, 01. A gentleman present offered £2,500,
upon which the auctioneer said he would take the
bidding, but it was not at all likely that it could be
accepted. The question of confiscation was again raised,
ard a gentleman inquired who would bear tile loss if the
property were attacked as that of the C mrch of Ireland
was. The auctioneer said, of course the owner would have
to bear it. If he heel a son in the Church, he sho.tld not
hesitate to buy such a living for him, A gentleman present
said he had a son in the Church, and it was likely that he
would very soon return to this country a beggar. Some
biddings followed, the last of which was £3,550, but it was
announced that the living was not sold.
The next lot was the atiowson and next presentation to the ,
rectory of Bressingham, Norfolk, with rectory house built in I
1442, lathe Gothic style approached by carriage drive, with
I iwn, garden, and greenhothe, and park-like enclosure of
about six acres burn.. dug it, and glebe land, together
about 35 acres, subject t.l the life of the incumbent, who
was baptised on the 12th of February, 1817. The estimated
annual income is £723 es. ild., subject to the outgoings of
£29 a year. There was no bidding for this lot. The auc-
tioneer said it must not be supposed, because these livings
Were withdrawn that there were no offers for them ; indeed
they had been inundated with letters proposing to deal for
! them by private contract, but the Duke of Norfolk would
! come of age on the 27th instant, and the trustees thought it
would be desirable to submit them to public competition.
The next lot was the advow son and next presentation to
the vicarage of St. Margaret's, Ilketsliall, near Butigay,
worth £2Ol 10a. a-year, subject to the life of the inctiml tent,
who was baptised on the 24th of August, 1020. A gentleman
present said, " I will give you £lOO for it." laughter.
There was no other bidding, and the lot was withdrawn.
The next and last lot was the adowson and next presenta-
tion to the vicarage of Steyning, on the Steyning and Horsham
line of Railway, five ntiles north of Shoreham. It was stated
that the estimated income is £5135 a year, and that the church
is a large structure of thy No' man period, the interior richly
decorated, having a stained glass window, the vicarage
standing on the site of an ancient priory. Ilse first bidding
was for £2,500 which was gradually inereved to £3,610, at
o hich it was knocked down, this tieing the only benefice if
the five which was sold. There w-as evidently much doubt
in the minds of all present as to the desirableness of invest-
ing in Chundi property, and hence the hesitation which
sharaeterib d the biddings.
It appeal a from the "Clergy List" that the other livings
in the gift of the Duke of Norfolk—and to which, icing a
Roman Cathol c, he cannot present—are, the vicarage of
Dorking, worth £4OO a-year ; the recbtry of Ilorrington,
worth £605 a-year ; the rectory of Thakeham, worth £585
wyear ; the vicarage of Egmanton. worth £l4B a-year ; tbe
rectory of Ashington. worth S:200 5-y. ar. Ob. Rectory if
South Stoke, worth £2ll a year ; the vieara,ge of Torlington,
worth £l5B a-year ; the vicarage of Warminghurat, wort h
£2OO a-year ; the rectory of Fernley fir one turn and the
Bishop of Chichester for two tub, worth £O5" a-year : and
the rectory of Redenhall-with-Harleston, woi th £1,005 &-
year, on the nomination of the Bishop of Norwich.