The Press.
London, England, 1853-10-01 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SKETCHES OF RADICALS

••=. THE RADICAL PLATFORM CONTINUED.

THE Pyscho-Gymnasium (Cow-lane), Ponderer- s, &e., are occasionally
honoured by the presence of some of the real lights of Radicalism.
Not only he "whom I am proud to call my friend "—I mean Mr.
Hampden Blugg—(" Hear, hear," from the whole audience follows this
common compliment to the admired H. B.)--but Clontarf aßlather,
Mr. Lecturer Spittles, Professor Peaceonerth sometimes condescend to
witness the exercises of the speakers there. These gentlemen are all
co-operators in the Movement iu one way or another. Clontarf
having cut a great figure in the north some years ago, disappeared
into a provincial gaol in consequence, and associated there with Blubber,
the author of the " Vindicatory of Homicides " (in twenty-two cantos) ;
who, I observe, is still lecturing on everything, from the Eleusinian
Mysteries to the Potato Disease. The Professor (Peacconerth) is
somewhat different from the O'B. and Spittles, who are both warlike
and denunciatory ; the Professor is a tranquil and paternal Radical.
That disposition prompted him to start, many years ago, the
Moral-Uairerse•Regenerator (twopence a number ; but only five shil-
lings a hundred, if you took a hundred—which you didn't). The
project here was to establish fratenntl societies (OMNIFRATER•ERIUMS
they were called), the members of which lived on a plot of land. in a
huge lodging-house. had a garden in common, and each did a bit of
work to maintain the whole. On Sundays a discourse was delivered
on the Dignity of Labour; after which, in the afternoon, the brothers
danced together in yellow breeches. A great point was !mule of the
yellow breeches—for yellow was considered a symbolic colour. All
this was very beautiful, and the Professor (whose hair in those days was
parted in the middle and fell down in ringlets behind) was very happy—
but the head OMNIFRATER-ERIUM blew up one fine "ling; the Regent-
rator died next day ; and away went the brothers and yellow breeches.
The truth was, that residence there was an unmitigated bore. When you
had called Hobb your " brother," you did not make him cease to be a
nuisance. You yawned about the grounds, atter doing your bit of
work, tormented by ennui ; and when Brother Hol► . got too tiietelly
with—but don't let us rake up old stories. Here is the Professor
smoking his pipe and listening to Spittle's' speech. He has bang
given up any practical effort to regenerate the universe. and has sub
sided into a powered private man .anti au excellent tradesman.
Clontarf OIL, as you tied out, is of opinion that the "people are
not true to their leaders," anti Spittles thinks that they have believed
lhr too much in OR How is it that all these fellows are at daggers
drawn? Three years ago I heard, at a public meeting, a Radical
leader denounced as a traitor by a Radical tailor's apprentice, whom
he had seduced from the shop himself.
All this discussing and debating brushes up our friends, and.
accordingly. the Olt., Spittle's. &c., are all very tolerable speakers.
The English are a speaking people : or how is it that every agitation
produces its chairman and its resolutions ? If the eel pie-men strike,
and an eel-pie-man takes the chair, you will be surprised to flied bow
well be holds forth. Much more, them do these practised hinderers,
&c., do so. 1 often wonder what becomes of the clever Men of rzonne
classes. For instance, there was in the last century a baker who used
to beat Enme-No Bum; Eat a debating chili. We know what became of
Enm um) Mast:, but I beg to ask what became of the baker?

Ilowever, if you ask Die my 4spinfint ab4att these people, generally,
answer that 1 should expect little from them in any ease. For the
most part, when you open un iuglnrirnts Milton," you don't find a
pearl in it ; it is all every-day oyster—and sometime:, of the flabbiest !
There wasyour,l4ds it-street onvent ion, for instance! They brought
together their picked men—their Parliennenition: and great exeitement
there was at the " Psycho-Gyinnasinnt " when a delegate came down
and harangued them. But, bless pin! where were their llolsespierres
and Atlantis? Was there a nom if them " utaappreeintell," (or fretting
under persecution, an destitute
of his " Outlive Which of them
has written half at 41oxen of gOllll Sell Se. ill pointed language,
which the world has neglected" Not a num. We know them all. and
a short tether tiny hake. Ite to ('a'ft /1' wheal I easufess st weak-
floss !) we give the paint 1.4 a• pathlie spirit and perstwerance, yet
CerrEy will not pretend that he has more brains or more knowledge
than his fellows ! Nut one of them would hold his own fir it month
On a morning newspaper or a good review ; and to hove set ptm at
them would have been like setting the dog Billy at his hundred rats'
No, no ! Waving all questions about " abuses," I maintain thstt you van
improve no Liovernment exeept by bringing better men into it. .‘nd
I ask the Mechanics Institutes. the Psycho-I;ymnasiunt, and the ra.st
them, where are their men? Where :WV your unappreciated heroes"
Most " inglorious Minot's.: you may depend. don't remain inglorious.
or, at all events, " mute,' in suet' positions ! Not they ; they are
brought up by the rail, and sold at sixpenve at dozen,—forthwith!

FINIS CORONIT OPUS.

Of Gla..gow and of Perth made free
Have PALMERSTON 1111(1 RESPELL heal
Then Scotland ! hither turn an
And let the work completed be—
Make u 4 all free of Aberdeen !