The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

THE VIENNA NOTE.-A LEGAL OPINION.

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Tort Cm rrrY says that, notwithstanding the new rules, you may plead to
an action on the Vienna note " the general issue," and that "it was
made without consideration."

EPITAPH ON LORD ABERDEEN, FROM HOOD'S " BRIDGE

OF SIGHS."
Speak of him tenderly,
Gently, and humanly—
All that remains of him
Now is pure womanly.

A DISAPPOINTMENT.

WHY didn't they make HAYWARD Commissioner of Charities ? How
could they overlook faithful ABRAHAM ? We understand that he has
been heard in the Temple Gardens. to which, though no Bencher, he
has access, muttering to himself, and whistling "Cauld trail
Eras
ABERDEEN."

SUPERFLUOUS ENMITIES.
THE Times says that " attempts to sow divisions in the Ministry were
never more out of place." We ran admit this, for we are perfectly
aware that the crop is spontaneous.

ADVERTISEMENTS.
WE observed some curiosities of this kind in the Times of Friday. In
one a pamphlet on the Madrid Protestant Burying Ground is com-
mended by a quotation from the British Banner attributing to it " a •
.raeiness not to be found in any other like production." And by the
other " a prorerhially steady and unmarried youth" is invited to
undertake the duties of a magistrate's clerk. if the proverbial gen- •
tleman were to edit the British Banner, and his present substitute
were to put his raciness at the disposal of the local Themis, we would
suggest that both parties were more likely to be suited.

SEPTEMBER 10, 1853.

SKETCHES OF RADICALS
I. TILE RADICAL PLATFORM.
MT first acquaintance with a Radical orator was under circumstances
not calculated to impress me with a respect for the genus. Those
who have heard the gifted HAMPDEN Brcoo—but let me first tell you,
dear reader (whom I am about to claim as listener to these papers), how
I first happened to see Hampden Blugg.
. _ .

"bra; at the Psycho-Gymnasium. or Hall of Freedom. in London.
Know you the Psycho-Gymnasium ? There is an arched door through
which you pass to that great temple of liberty. There is a coffee-room
for subscribers, where you are informed that a cup of coffee may be
had for twopence ; and on the tables of which lie the Morning Star,
the Dawn, the Dagger, which are the political, and the Cad, which is
the comic, organ of the subscribers. And a tremendous place it is for
subscriptions—subscriptions are constantly on foot there—as you see
from papers on the wall, announcing—
" Sympathy with a distinguished friend of Liberty, Moggles pogo,
" Esq. ! Subscriptions received at. &v., &e.
" Aid to the cause of the Pasha of Snobkali, who, being in arms
"against his Sovereign, the Sultan, deserves support. Subscriptions,
" &c., &C., &c."

Noge has been convicted of sonic tasteful pleasantry on the Atha-
nasian Creed in the columns of the Cad—which is his claim to dis-
tinction. As for the Pasha, all that is known of him is through the
Times' columns, where we find that, after robbing a caravan, he has
" thrown off his allegiance." and is resisting a force sent to put him
down. This is the Pasha's claim to sympathy. Does he ever get the
subscription? Who remits it ? Who receives it at Smyrna, and sends
it on? Or does it go to the monthly tripe suppers of the Hall Com
mittee?

NVell, it chanced that in the days of my youth Ilia• the small estate
we had ever had was quite ripe for the attention of the Encumbered
Estates Commission) that I lived in London in a rather desultory and
objectless manner. I had lodgings in the suburbs, and did not know
what to do with my evenings. Of course the suburban aristocracy
was no sphere to which I could aspire ! " They be very proud, sir,
" very proud !" said my landlord, in the course of a casual conversation.
When I say that there was a little knot of rich brokers and tradesmen
there, who lived in villas, gave dinners, and were having a " search"
made fin• their " arms" ( " charge three and sixpence," said the adver-
tisement, " for a single search" ), you will understand, if you know
suburban life, that they were as proud as if they had paid the
National Debt, or quartered everything in Dugdale, from Veteraponte
to Forville.

I must confess to a weakness tbr oratory—to which, indeed, I owe
that acquaintance with Radical life which I intend to display in these
papers. I admired QrINTILIAN as much as PARR did, and I was as
familiar with the Pro Milone as BOLINGBROKE. Under these cireum-
stances, I had often had a notion that I ought to try my hand—and,
behold! advertisements presented themselves in the papers, and I
saw that at--

The Hall of Freedom, or Pgyeho-Gymnamium, Cow-lane. The
Hall of Declamation ;

The Ponderer% (established for discussion. 17s0);
easily presented themselves to anybody who wished t►► hear oratory, or
take part in it. In fact, these are the schools, where the young
Radical drills himself—whence he emerges when he is going to try
his wings in the world—and where he practises Rhetoric (and eats
Welsh rabbit) in the brisk days of youth.

The general aspect of these schools is (to speak mildly) peculiar.
You wander out of ordinary thoroughfares before you find them. You
ask the policeman where the " Hall" is, and the policeman (whose
attachment to the Constitution is notorious) somewhat slightingly
points towards it. By the way, does not the British Democrat feel
somewhat slighted when he considers his relation to that minion the
policeman? Is there a country in Europe where he dare open his
mouth as he does here in Cow-lane? And let him denounce
ments—revile potentates—threaten war; and yet the policeman never
comes near the Hall! Nobody is alarmed or disturbed, and (as long
as he pays for his liquor before leaving) not a soul meddles with him!
On entering that Hall of Declamation, you do not inevitably think
of the Rhodian schools, where CieEno declaimed as a youngster. On
the contrary, you are instantly aware that the leading feature of the
establishment is, that it is a public-house. A cry of " Chair!•" dues
not dispel the impression at once, for a waiter is hur►ying about with
" six of whisky-and-water" for the speaker who opens the debate, and
that alarming invention, a " Welsh rabbit," to the gentleman who is
going to reply. Portraits adorn the walls—Mr. Mouther (by Mugg),
Mr. Sprawl (Mugg), Mr. Torchley (Mugg). For Mr. Mugg is himself
a member, and he flings into the faces of his brothers of the Com-

445

mittee a degree of intellect which startles the observer. He pia
invention—Mugg!

" Silence, gentlemen, for Mr. Torcldey !"
Mr. Torchlcy " opens " a good, wide question, mostly such as—" Is
the British Constitution entitled to the support of the country?" Thu
advantage of a good, wide question is obvious. Everybody can choose
his subject, and expatiate on what he pleases. apropos of the British
Constitution.

I have generally found that Opposition is the forte of these
establishments. I never knew a Ministry, or any one act of any
Ministry, approved there. lam of opinion that no Ministry and no
policy, for example, would satisfy Hampden Blugg. If we had a set
of angels to administer our affairs I know that he would growl, and
that they would be not " entitled to the support of the country."
By the by, how is it that Hampden and Sidney are so much admired
by fellows like Blugg? Hampden of G►eat Hampden would no more
have admitted Blugg to lie in any possible way h►s equal than he would
have asked the hippopotamus to dinner, had that animal been in
England in his time. Sidney would he hissed if he spoke his opinions
before Blugg and his friends. But to return.
A want of variety is, perhaps, the leading characteristic of the
orators at thew. establishments. if you come back in a month, you
find the same glasses of whiskey-and-water, the same alarming Welsh
rabbits, the same cloudy fumes, the same orators, and the same
orations going forward. Still does To►ehley glance from the wall :
still an effete Church and an stints Aristocracy are playing the same
wicked games with the sinews of labour which is still gasping under
the same iron hoof of the saute oligarchy. The identical " Hear, hear,"
is cheering the same sentiments ; and still the landlord (whose views
on politics you cannot divine) occupies the same chair, and is of
opinion that " this last crisis is of a nature which gives every oppor
" tunity for the eloquence of gentlemen, &e." And, indeed, the land-
lord ,justly feels an interest in a " crisis " which increases the
demand for the " sixes " and the " Welsh rabbits."