The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

CHRISTIAN LIBERALITY IN SPAIN.

As a compensation for our failures at Constan-
tinol►le--where, according to a Government
organ, we are hated as hypocrites and des•
pised as imbeciles British diplomacy has
achieved a triumph at Madrid. The conces-
sion of the Spanish Cabinet may partly be
due to genial recollections of past times—for
we really did something to save Spain from
French rapacity, when she was little able to
help herself—and partly, perhaps, to the
knowledge that our people have advanced
some millions of hard-earned money to Spa-
nish Governments, which they have appro-
priated to their own use in the very spirit of
SHERIDAN'S retort to a troublesome creditor—
" It's not my interest to pay you your prin-
" eipal, nor my principle to pay you your in.
" Wrest." But, to whatever cause it may be
owing, we have, after half a century of hard
diplomatic fighting, so far gained a victory
over national prejudice and priestly bigotry
as to be allowed the privilege of burying the
bodies of British subjects who may die at
Madrid in a piece of ground to bo set apart
fin• the purpose. Lest we should presume too
much on this concession, it is carefully fenced
round by restrictions :
No church, dispel, nor any other sign of a temple, or
of public or private worship, will be allowed to be built in
the aforesaid cemetery.
All acts which can give a►y indication of the pe►form-
ance of a►y divine service what►oever are prohibited.
In the conveyance of the dead bodies to the burial-
gnat's' any sort of pomp or publicity shall be avoided.
The plain meaning of all this is that our
dead bodies must be smuggled out at night
from what was their home to their last rest-
ing-place ; as if the very ease containing them
was so hateful to sight, and such a kind of
moral contagion was imparted to it from its
contact with heretic flesh, that infinite mis-
chief must result to the faithful from the mere
view of it. Further, that when the burial-
ground has been thus stealthily reached, the
bodies are to be thrown into the ground with.
out one word spoken over them indicative of
joyful resurrection—without one whisper of
those Divine promises which take from. the

SATURDAY,

grave its sting and from death its victory,
and which raise humanity above the condition
of the brutes that perish. Such sepulture as
we allow to cat or dog—such hygienic rules as
are needful to preserve carrion flesh from
stinking above ground, burying it in the earth
to preserve the atmosphere from infection—
the most Christian Government of Spain will
allow to the subjects of England, and no more.
There are pangs in the last parting from
friend or relative, child or parent, wife
or husband, brother or sister, Heaven knows,
hard enough to bear. One, and one only,
consolation the bereaved can know ; and
that consolation the rulers of Spain, with
a refinement of barbarous cruelty which
shames the tortures of the Inquisition itself,
decree shall not be spoken over the grave ere
it finally closes over the loved and lamented
form of humanity.
Now, we will not quarrel with Spain for not
regarding us as Christians,—we may deserve
that for persisting in reading and distributing
the bible ; but we think we have some right to
complain that she will not regard us as human
beings. Good Catholics, in her acceptation,
we may not be ; but surely we are not dogs.
We walk on two legs, and are not feathered.
We have feelings of affection, and we are not
insensible to insult and wrong. We doubt
whether it is worth while to accept this con-
cession, flung at us as a stone is flung at a
barking cur. Lord HOWDEN, with manly in-
dignation, gives vent to the anger which such
degrading and contumelious conditions must
excite in every honest English heart. But
will our Government dare to back him, and
tell Spain, as ho does, that there are limits to
endurance which it is not safe to transgress ?
What, then, would the little knot of Irish
unionists, Messrs. SADLEIR, MONSELL, and
KEoOU, say, and how would our good ABER-
DEEN again be able to soothe their jealous sus-
ceptibility?
In connection with this subject we notice a
couple of paragraphs which furnish a further
commentary on the Lion of St. Jarlath's war
against English bigotry and oppression, and
on Cardinal WISEMAN'S lectures on the superior

liberality of Romish principles :
" It is stated that Lord Londeshorough has completed
the purchase of the Selby estate for 270,(1(X)I. front the
Hon. Mrs. Petre, widow of the Hon. E. Petre, of Selby.
Mrs. l'etre, who was left sole executor to her husband,
with the whole property at her own dispt sal, has taken the veil
in France ; and the whole of her property will, of course, go
to the fonds of the nunnery which she has entered."—Don-
caster Chronicle.
"On Sunday last her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton
assisted at mass in the Hamilton Catholic church, which
was fitted up in magnificent style by means of gifts fur-
nished by her grace on the preceding evening. The Rev.
M. Condon acknowledges with gratitude the following
princely presents from her grace, viz., a statue Madonna
and child ; one set of altar charts ; six vases with flowers ;
one magnificent altar cup, of solid silver; six large candle.
sticks, ditto ; two cruet-stands and cruets, also of silver;
one silver bell ; a silver ciborium, thurible, monstrance,
and incense-boat anti spoon, ke. Her grace was met at
the church-door by the Rev. M. Condon, and conducted to
her pew in front of the altar, and, after mass, the choir,
with organ, poured forth a Te Drum of thanks for the con-
version of this princely benefactress of the Hamilton mis-
sion."—Glavou, Free Press (Roman Catholic paper).
What fools must we be thought in Spain for
tolerating such proceedings. Our liberality
must be ascribed to weakness, and inspire
contempt for our understanding rather than
respect for our principles.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1853.

In 1847.8 the maximum number of
indoor and outdoor paupers re-
lieved in Ireland was
In 1848-9
In 1849-50
In 1850-51
In 1851-52
In 1852-53
Nor should it be supposed that the mini-
mum of pauperism has yet been reached.
The fearful depopulation of 1817, though in
other respects its traces are well-nigh effaeed,
has left ono mark of its effects in the multi-
tude of children, who, rescued from death by
private or public charity, are now maintained
in their orphanage at the cost of the State.
Of these children, both male and female, the
number is at present about 60,000. Many have
emigrated—many find employment at home,
and in a few years the whole will have ceased
to be a charge on the local revenues.
One remarkable fact is, the change which may
be observed in the time of year when destitu-
tion most prevails. In every year from '47 to
01, this was either the end of June or the be-
ginning of July. It is now February, and the
season of greatest prosperity is, conversely, the
month of October. The cause of this change
is worth notice. Hitherto the difficulty has
been to obtain employment in summer pre-
vious to the commencement of harvest. Hence
distress and consequent pauperism. Now the
demand for employment is full as great as the
supply ; and of able-bodied paupers the num-
ber is proportionably diminished. But the
unions have assumed a new character :
" 7. The fact that the greatest amount of pauperism and
the greatest degree of sickness now occur at the same
season of the year is one of several indications which
show that, as the proportion of the able-bodied and youth-
ful inmates declines, the workhouses of Ireland are assum-
ing, especially in large towns, the character of hospitals
for the reception of destitute siok persons, whether stiftlw-
ing from sudden or acute sickness, chronic infirmity, oi•
contagious disease ; and the connection now established
between the Board of Guardians and the execution of the
Medical Charities Act is certainly favourable to the deve-
lopment of this peculiar characteristic of the Irish
poor-law."
So far has the extension of this principle
been carried that applications for admission
are frequent in the case of persons not desti-
tute, or having relatives capable of supporting
them. Some doubt arises as to the legality of
such procedure—that doubt being intimated,
but net solved, in the Commissioners Report.
The decrease of expenditure is considerable.
In '52 it amounted to 883,000/. ; in '5l to above
1,140,0001., showing a diminution much ex-
ceeding one-fifth. But this is not all ; for we
have an estimate drawn up which includes all
expenses of relief for the six months ending
March 31, 1853, those months, namely, in
which pauperism is usually at its height.
This estimate gives a total of 399,0001., while
the corresponding expenditure during the
same period of 1858-52 exceeded 441,0001.
We have, therefore, double proof that Irish
pauperism is really, steadily, and rapidly
diminishing
One of the results of this depletion of the
workhouses has been unfavourable to the
labourer and favourable to the employer, who,
however, halving borne the whole burden of
poor relief, is well entitled to enjoy any advan-
tage which may indirectly accrue to him there-
from. Wages have not risen in proportion to
the demand for work, that demand being sup-
plied by the inmates of the unions, without
any pressure of competition among free
labourers. It is, nevertheless, certain that
the condition of the peasantry is improved ;
and it need hardly be remarked, that greater
continuity of employment, even without any
rise in wages, is sufficient to account for such
improvement.
Of the 70,000 children still dependent on
eleemosynary support, 22,000 are orphans, and
26,000 have lost one parent. Nearly 4,500 are
illegitimate—an enorma—ts proportion. Every
care is taken to educa.e these youths, and, if
possible, to launch them early into the world, a
step on which their whole prospects of future
success often depend. The boy of twelve
easily accommodates himself to the necessities
of a new position ; the young man of eighteen,
whose life has been spent in the monotonous
labour, and more monotonous seclusion, of a
workhouse, is helpless as a child when first

THE PRESS.

thrown, at nearly mature years, on his own
unaided resources.
Among the provinces of Ireland it is strange
that Connaught—the least advanced, and,
formerly, the most disturbed of any—has
made the most rapid progress. Since April.
'sl—a period of two years—the paupers of
Connaught have decreased from 42,000 to
17,000, or nearly 60 per cent. Munster pre
sents the dark side of the picture, containing.
in April last, more than one-half the entire
pauperism of Ireland.
On the whole, comparing this Report with
those which have preceded it, and looking at
the prospect which it offers for the future, we
think that, notwithstanding social neglect,
religious feuds, and legislative blunders, we
may safely reckon on the increase of that
prosperity which the Irish people have, almost
for the first time, begun to enjoy.

CAPITULAR REFORM.
Orm of the most important bills which, in the

general " slaughter of the innocents" at the
end of a session, has just been consigned to
the tomb of the recess, is the bill of Lord
131.ANDF'ORD for the regulation of eapitular pro

perty. We do not, however, mean to speak of
the property of eapitular bodies at present ;
but a sense of duty to the Church, ,joined to
an earnest desire to promote its efficiency, in-
duees us to speak of the present position of

the cathedral bodies, of their importance as

integral parts of the Chureh system, and of
their proper purposes and value. We are
quite certain that these questions must be
looked at courageously, and discussed iu a
wise and liberal spirit, by those who desire to

preserve those establishments. To resolve
upon leaving things "as they are " is simply
to pass sentenee of destruetion on them.
These establishments were originally
founded, and received subsequent endow-
ments, for the most important purposes.

They represented, and were, in fact, descended
from, the " schools of the prophets ;" and were
intended not only to be collections of learned
ministers of the Church, but also to be
" schools " for the instruction and roaring of
the young for the office of clergymen. Schools
will generally, if not always, be found attached
to capitular bodies ; but the revolutions pro-
duced by ages in manners, society, and intelli-
gence—and, in particular, the revolution pro.
duced in the matter of education—have ren.
dered such capitular schools incapable of
themselves to fit a student for the office of a
clergyman.
It is, however, greatly to be regretted that
the proper business of the capitular bodies
viz., the instruction of men in the knowledge
and duties of the ministry—was ever lost sight
of. These bodies existed for centuries before a
university was thought of, but the universi.
ties have gradually usurped their office ; and
now, as a general rule, a candidate for orders
is expected to have taken an academical de-
gree. We by no means wish to deny the
advantages of a university education ; but we
say this, that, if any person who wishes to
take orders must be a graduate of Oxford or
Cambridge, the Church ought to insist on a
large diminution of the present expenses of a
college education, As long as the present
scale of expenses remains, the various Protes-
tant dissenting bodies will reap the advantage
by gaining the services of men of ability,
whose mediocrity of means shuts the doors of
a university against them. Perhaps no ahem
tion of system could now render the capitular
establishments perfect substitutes for other
education ; nor should wo wish that tho edu-
cation of the clergy should bo inferior to that
of the best educated orders of men • but the

cathedrals skauld be rendered auxiliary to the
Universities; the process of education for the
elem should be canied ua by them ; and we
have no hesitation in laying that this educa-
tion ought to be se far efficient, that to have
passed a course of cathedral instntetion cre-
ditably ought to be sufficient qualification to
entitle a 111M1 to Prevent himself for orders to
the Church.

A rich person who is highly educated will of
course fiend his son to the University, whethir
he is intended ti►r the Church or not. Hut
there are many men whose sere ices should nut
I►u lost to the Church bemuse they have n►.t
this advantage in their reach. And, with all
our afreetiaill din• our old college, wo must
admit that the University is not an ane.rrcp-
tionahle pla•e of preparation ti►r the ministry.
We would suggest that every eapitular body
slronld be made more immediately and etlec•
Wolk benctieial than it now is, by having
(slum duties attached to eve►•y stall. Eve►y
dean and prebendary should be re►luired 10
preside over some department of ecelesiastieal
education: every ono should be professor ► f
some branch of learning. Courses of lectures
should be regularly given, embracing all the
subjects which it is accessary for a clergyman
to understand, viz., the evidences, doctrines.
history of the Church, &e. These lecture
shoubi on no account be gratuitous ; but tiny
should on no account be expensive. lf tht y
are gratuitous, they will probably degenerate ;
and if they are expensive, they will defeat
their object. We would further suggest that
erevy ►u►e who holds a living of a chapter should
betequired to take Mon! or less part in thew
lectures. awl in examinations of persons who
attend them. At present, those who hold
chapter livings have nothing whatever to do
with the cathedral--an obvious and crying
defect. Above all, the students at such schools
should be practically t►mght the duty of visiting
and rending to the poor and sick.
Tow•, we cannot hell► thinking that, if our
cathedral bodies were turned to such purposes
As we have sketched, they would perform most
iutl►ortt►t►t service, and be converted from being
what they are too much at present—a splendid
►mminent—into firm 'imports and entontial
bulwarks of the Church. lint the subject is
so large that we must reserve what we have to
say for future discussion.

GUANO.
To TILE Kl►lT►►lt " THE enEss."
Sir,—Pcrhap►► the following information respeetiog
guano okay be interesting U► your readers. In 1140 a
gentleman came to England tOr the put'lN►se of pm-
curing pecuniary aid to enable him U► carry out a de.
sign for growing sugar with free labour at Mergnie.
lie, however, and niftily others with similar views,
was foiled by Lord John Russell's pro slavery bill.
I saw his estimate or cost, and, among other items,
guano— whieh he repceset►ted to lir abundant an the
Tenoseerint coast—was put down ut :Nis. per acre tor
manure.
Ilan this locality any relation to !dr. Caird's mys-
terious island between Mauritius and Calcutta? It
certainly is not far from the direct track, and, us
ships are daily passing near, it is to be hoped that
some one of them will ascertain if the above state-
taunt be correct.—l am, sir, your most obedient ser-
vant, 11. C. IL
Abbey-place, Aug. 19, 145:1.

GREAT CONSERVATIVE BANQUET AT HALIFAX.-011
Tuesday, the 30th of Angt.st, the Conservatives of
this good old town ;taro a semptuons dinner to the:r
champion, Henry Edwards, Esq., who represented
theta in the Parliament of Isl 7-1852, and so gal
lantly fought their battle in the two subsequent elec-
tions. As a lasting testinu of their regard and
attachment, they presented to him on this occasion
a magnificent centrepiece of plate, executed by
Messrs. iiarrard ft.r 1,000 guineas, the contribution
of Isoo subscribers. About that number sat down to
dinner in the ruling-school, which was admirably
Mud up and decorated. At the north side there was
an elevated platform for the principal guests at the
era--; tattle ; anti along the >uutit side galleries were
erected for 500 ladies. Geutv,e Haigh, Esq., pre-
sided, as chairman of the testimonial committee, and
was supported by Henry Edwards, Esq., Lord Vis-
count Galway, Samuel Waterhouse, Esq., Mayor of
Halifax, and several distinguished magistrates and
members of Parliament.

t

1.-

of a new position ; the young man of eighteen,
whose life has been spent in the monotonous education ; nor should wo wish that the e count Galway, Samuel Waterhouse, Esq., Nla) or of
labour, and more monotonous seclusion, of a cation of the clergy should bo inferior to that Halifax, and several distinguished magistrates and
workhouse, is helpless as a child when first of the best educated orders of men but the members of Parliament.
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