The Press.
London, England, 1857-01-31 00:00:00

t 0 iii Uxz i.

Sin ERSKINE PERRY, at the reunion of the Devon-
prt Mechanics' Institute last week, alluded in
eloquent terms to the special vocation of Devon.
Toe :great sources of the material wealth of Groat
Britain might be found in the woollen; of Yorkshire,
the cutlery of Sheffield, the hardware of Birmingham,
and the cottons of Manchester and Glasgow; but
Devonshire, though she could never coml•ete in
these as a rival, had yet a field of her own, in which
she might fairly challenge all opponents:—

Physical strength and continued applied industry may
eiaracterise the north, but the arts have found their birth-
place in the west. There is no part of England which
his been so productive of great artists as this. Sir Joshua
Reynolds, for example, was born in the adjoining parish of
Plympton, Opio only a few miles off. Northente, Hayden,
Eastlake, Prout, anti Hart were all natives of Plymouth—
three of them were burn, I believe, in the same street.
Samuel Cozens, the first mezzotint engraver in the world,
is a native of Exeter; lirockedon of Tomes, Frederick
Lee, the landscape-painter, of Barnstaple. Nay, more than
four eminent men who have lectured on the fine arts—
Rtynolds, Haydon, Eastlake, and Hart—were all born
vr.thin three miles of this town. What inference do I
draw from these facts? It is that the tendency to the arts
in this neighbourhood, fostered either by the beautiful
so •very which surrounds you, or by the still more beautiful
m .ilels which the maidens of the west present to the
artist's eye, and such as I see flitting through these rooms
this evening, the tendency to art is very decided, and only
needs greater cultivation to produce signal results.
S.r Erskine Perry then alluded to the cultivated
taste in design of the French workman, and the
evident want of such cultivation nearer home :
What is needed iu England is, cultivation of the taste for
beautiful things; from early youth the workman requires
to be brought up in contact with the works of art, the
youthful mind should be led to understand and analyse
the principles in which correctness in drawing and har•
mony of colouring afford pleasure to the mind, and
all those gifted with the inventive faculty would
have full development afforded them for creating new
models, and thus adding to the store of pure human enjoy.
menta.

THE EARL OF WEMYSS AND MANCH has announced
his determination to give up the hunting of Berwick-
shire after the close of the present season. The
noble earl announces his resolution to withdraw his
hunting establishment from Berwickshire, "in con-
sequence of the constant disappointments met with
by the almost total annihilation of foxes, which, not
only for the present year, but for a number to come,
precludes the possibility of having sport." It is
pretty well known that in this district, for a consider-
able time past, the practice of p'isoning foxes has
been carried on to such an extent as to put a stop to
Lixhunting.

THE Tyne has been abandoned for the present.
The attempt to pump her out having failed, it has
been decided to wait for more settled weather, in
order to examine her minutely, and plug up the
leaks. She lies on a ledge of rocks, which have
caught her just amidships, as she overhangs forward,
without any support, about six'y or seventy feet, and
s•nno parts of her keel are six feet from the bottom.
The overhanging aft is about forty or forty-five feet.
How the vessel ever got where she is will pro-
bably remain a mystery. Between St. Aldan's Head
and Weymouth the distance is about fourteen miles.
The Isle of Portland lies directly off Weymouth, and
the Tync was about eight miles ()aside Portland
when the Portland Lights were made out at 1 a.m.
on the 12th inst. At 3.30 a.m. the steamer was
entering Kimmeridge Bay with her bow pointing for
the cliffs. Now, the most mysterious thing is, how
she could get there, unless she was steered direct for
the land after tho l'ortland Lights were seen. Just

THE PRESS.

before the ship struck, the officer of the watch,
while forward on the look out, faintly discerned the
outline of the fearful black cliffs overhanging the
bay, and his cry of "hard a-port" astonished the
captain, who thought at first that a vessel was
crossing before the ship's course. But a few se-
conds arid the shock of a tremendous bump told him
the truth. The vessel evidently grounded amid-
ships, for she was going in direct towards the cliffs
when she struck, and by the attempts to wear her
round got into the position she is now—head to sea.
If ever she is floated again, she will have to be
dragged astern towards the land, to get her off the
edge on which she rests, and then she must be
piloted through an intricate channel. The official in-
quiry int her loss was held at Southampton on Thurs-
day, and from the evidence obtained it appears that
after passing Portland Lights, the lead was not
kept "going." Captain Valler attributed the acci-
dent to the strong inset of the spring tide, for which
he had not made sufficient allowance. He thought
they had passed St. Aldares Head at the time the
ship struck. There was no error as to the
compasses. The mates of the ship gave it as their
opinion that had the hand-lead been kept going, the
ship might have been kept out of .'anger. Captain
Vincent, superintendent of the Mail Company, gave
it as his decided opinion that the loss of the ship
was attributable to a "want of forethought" on
Captain Valler's part. With the wind and tide on
his bow, he should have made more allowance for the
set on shore. Under such a fog, also, he should have
hauled off shore. The decision of the Board of
Trade will be given next week.
THE IRON DISCOVERIES AT SEEND, WILTSHIRE,
are now well authenticated, and several furnaces are
about to be erected at once. Various persons are
testifying their belief in the value of these disco•
veries by offering fabulous prices for land at Seend
and the neighbourhood. The Duke of Somerset and
the trustees of the late Mr. Ludlow Bruges own about
half the land at Seend where the richest ore is found.
The duke's agent is collecting the best informa-
tion that can be obtained in reference to the extent
and value of the iron discovered.

A NEW SCHOOL OF Aar was opened at Sheffield, on
Tuesday evening, with a brilliant conversazione. Mr.
Roebuck M.P., was present, and addressed the meet-
ing at some length, insisting upon the necessity of a
knowledge of design in manufactures :
Wonderful as your feats have been, great as I believe
your power is, there is something about the productions of
English manufacture which is wanting. What is that
something? It is that ennobling influence of which I have
spoken—namely, the influence of art. I believe I ant
touching upon a matter somew'ait unpopular ; but you know
it is not my hat it to conciliate popularity. The truth,
however unpalatable it may be, somehow or other happens
ever to find in myself a very unworthy, but a very hearty
expositor. Now, 1 believe that all that has distinguished
Sheffield baa been great energy, great power, and application
of will to the subduing of na•ure. You have Emit 3 our goods
over the whole face of the globe, and I believe that some
discoveries lately made in the very centre of Asia have
brought to light works in iron with tL•e name of Sheffield
thereon written. But in spite of that there has always been
something that has operated as a drawback. What is that
something? It is this—that you have consulted anything
but nature. You have consulted anything but the prin-
ciples which ought to dictate to those working in that art.
I do not care what may be its application—whether to the
erection of this building, or to the working of a teapot, or
to a creamjug—there is the same principle at the bottom.
That principle you cannot learn or discover without thought
and careful consideration. That principle you can learn
here ; and among the gentlemen who conduct the labours
of this school I am sure you will find apt leaders, leading
you on and guiding you to this principle, which is requisite
for those who work in any matter, I do not care what it is,
of art, by which you are to obtain the suffrages of mankind.
The distribution of prizes afterwards took place,
when the meeting broke up.

THE LATE SIR CHARLES NAPIER'S CHARGER, "Red
Rover," which since the gallant general's death has
remained in the care of Lady Napier at Oatlands, was
on Tuesday ridden into Portsmouth by Mr. Herbert,
one of Sir Charles' stepsons, and introduced to his
old friends of the 22nd Regiment, about to leave
Portsmouth. The veterans of Meanee and Hyderabad,
who crowded round the old horse, were addressed by
Mr. Herbert, who in eloquent terms recalled to them
the memory of their gallant chief.

A JUVENILE REFORMATORY FOR LEEDS was pro-
posed at an influential meeting held at Leeds on Wed-
nesday under the presidency of the mayor ( Mr. John
Botterill), to establish a reformatory at Adel, to
appoint an executive committee, to pass a code of
laws, and to transact such other business as might
be deemed necessary. Resolutions to carry ont those
objects were adopted, it being stated that sufficient
money had been subscribed to erect the necessary
buildings according to u model (which was exhibited)
prepared by Mr. Hewitson. It is proposed that the
inmates shall consist only of juveniles who have been
convicted; but that the institution shall not be con-
fined entirely to boys convicted by the Leeds magis-
trates, as it is not thought desirable that boys who

SATURDAY,

have been companions prior to conviction should
meet each other in confinement.

COLONEL YORKE, C. 8., of the Ist Dragoons, was on
Tuesday entertained at a public dinner by the inha-
bitants of Wrexham, and presented with a sword of
honour for his gallant conduct in the Crimea. Sir
Watkyn W. Wynn presided on the occasion. The usual
loyal and complimentary toasts having been drank,
Sir Watkyn Wynn, in a few brief but telling words,
proposed the health of Colonel Yorke, and in the course
of his speech presented the sword of honour to the
gallant colonel. Colonel Yorke acknowledged the
distinguished compliment paid to him in eloquent
terms, and related how he lost his first and only
sword at Balaklava:—

I appear before you this evening without a sword, for
this simple reason. I never possessed but one regimental
sword during the whole of my service. That sword was
presented to me when I first joined the Royal Dragoons
by my kind relative, Sir Edward Cust, who has now
obtained the rank of general. It served me during my
entire career; but unfortunately it involuntarily fell out of
my hand when I was wounded at Italaklava. It may
appear a stupid thing for a soldier to drop his sword in
the presence of an enemy, but I was so greatly distressed
by a shot which knocked my foot. out of the stirrup that
I was completely paralysed for the moment.
THE EARL. OF HAREWOOD met with a sad accident
last Saturday while out with the Bramham hounds.
The noble lord, in jumping a fence, jumped his mare
into a sheep net on the opposite side. The mare's
feet catching the net, she tell heavily to the grouni,
rolling over his lordship. Lord Harewood was im-
mediately rescued, but the mare had struck him on
the head and fractured the skull. Every medical
assistance has been rendered to the noble earl, and
great hopes are entertained that his life will yet be
saved.

THE FUNERAL OF HIS LATE GRACE THE DUKE OF
RUTLAND, K.G., took place on Thursday at lielvoir.
The funeral was strictly private. When the remains
lay in state on Tuesday and Wednesday nearly 4,000
persons paid their last tribute of respect to the body
of the duke.

The RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE has been on a
visit to Oxford during the week.
___ _

THE REV. W. J. BENNETT, vicar of From e, formerly
of St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, has addressed a letter
to his diocesan, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, in
which he avows his entire sympathy with Archdeacon
Denison. He further says :
When I see a brother priest and dignitary of the Church
in our own diocese suffering, or likely to suffer, the penalty
of deprivation, because he has taught a certain doe:rine-of
the Catholic faith—and in my conscience 1 find that I
myself am teaching the very same doctrine without any
perceptible shade of difference—it is quite impossible
that, while the penalty of the law is carried into effect
in his case, I should stand by in silence and be held
harmless.

lie therefore prays investigation into his own case.

,"*ab3 ad Volta.

A CASE OF SOME IMPORTANCE to the public press
was tried at the Court of Queen's Bench, at the close
of last week. It was that of " Davison v. Duncan,"
and came before the court upon a demurrer to de-
fendant's plea. The action was brought for a libel
alleged to have been published in the Durham and
County Advertiser (of which the defendant was the
proprietor), reflecting seriously upon the character of
the plaintiff. The libel was contained in a report
given of a certain discussion which took place with
reference to the appointment of a chaplain fur a
cemetery, at a meeting of the commissioners ap-
pointed under a private act for the improvement of
the harbour and town of Hartlepool. The defendant
pleaded that the meeting was a public one, that the
report gave a faithful and accurate account of the
proceedings which took place at it, and that he had
published it without malice. This plea was de-
tnurred, and the case now stood for argument.
After hearing counsel, Lord CAMPBELL said the
alleged libel seemed to be a very mild one :
The most serious imputations might be cast upon indi
viduals in speeches at the meetings of the Hartlepool
Commissioners ; and the question was, were faithful reports
of those speeches privileged like the reports from courts of
justice? It was thought necessary ten years ago to have a
legislative act rendering such reports lawful, and a clause
was introduced into a bill for that purpose, but it was re-
jected. They could not, of course, take judicial notice of
that fact; but it was then understood, certainly by a high
authority, that without the interposition of the Legislature
the privilege would not extend generally to public meetings.
Mr. Justice WIGIITMAN put the case of a public
meeting held to consider the income tax, at which
some libellous observations were made, and said that
if an editor published those observations it would not
be a good answer for him to say that his report was
strictly accurate.

Lord CAMPBELL also suggested the case of a simi-
lar meeting at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer
was accused with having robbed the Exchequer, and
thereby rendered the income tax necessary.
Mr. UNMASK said it was for the public good that
the proceedings at meetings of that description should

Illaiil

JANUARY 31, 185 t.

he faithfully reported In the newspapers for the use
of those who were unable to attend.

Lord CAMPBELL asked the learned counsel if he
went the length of contending that everything which
passed at a public meeting might be published in the
newspapers if fairly reported ?
Mr. UNTHANK said he was obliged to assert the
affirmative of that proposition.
Lord CAMPBELL said he was of opinion that as the
law now stood the plea was bad :
Under the existing law a fair account of what took place
in a court of justice was privileged. This was a most
beneficial provision, because the public had a great interest
in knowing what passed there under the control of the
judge. The inconvenience which arose from allowing such
a privilege was infinitesimally small compared with the
benefit which it conferred, but as yet the privilege had not
been extended generally to public meetings. An attempt
to so extend it had been made in the Legislature, but it had
failed. He was not aware that the doctrine that the same
privilege applied to public meetings had, until now, ever
been contended for in a court of justice, and it certainly
would, if established, extend the privilege to an alarming
width, and he did not think it would be sanctioned without
some guards to protect private character. If the plea were
good, a fair account of what took place at any public meet.
ing might lawfully be published, whatever injury it might
do to the private character of individuals ; and this right of
publication would apply to all meetings, from one in the
City to petition the Crown or the two Houses of Parlia.
ment, to the meeting of a town council or vestry for the
purpose of levying a rate or considering the removal of a
pauper. He repeated, that to lay down such a doctrine
would he most alarming, for many things might be said at
a meeting very injurious to the character of private indi-
viduals, and the mere fact of the meeting having been a
public one, and of the proceedings being fairly reported,
would exonerate the printer or publisher of the journal in
which the report appeared. In what situation would the
calumniated man be? The falseness of the accusation
would be no ground for an action, and he would have no
opportunity of vindicating his character. Parliament
might think it right to extend the privilege under certain
qualifications, but all the court had now to consider was
whether the existing law gave the calumniated party a
remedy for the injury he had sustained. He considered
that as the law at present stood the action was maintain-
able, and that the plaintiff was entitled to judgment in his
favour.

Mr. Justice COLERIDGE said the privilege contended
for, as regarded the publication of reports, had been
extended almost universally to the great public
courts of justice, where the proceedings were not ex
parte :

In the case of the smaller sourts of justice, where the
proceedings were ex parte, a different rule might prevail ;
but no principle had ever been laid down to the effect that
whatever passed at a public meeting, or a meeting of offi-
cial persons, authorised to assemble for a particular pur-
pose, whether it were libellous or not, became public
property, and that any newspaper editor or private person
was entitled to publish it to the world. He apprehended
that the fact mentioned by Lord Campbell was at the
bottom of the privilege allowed with regard to courts of
justice, viz., that the injury it did to individuals was small
as compared with the immense good its exercise conferred
upon the public. That circumstance might be a foundation
for enlarging the rule, but he did not think it applied to a
publication like the present.

The other judges being of the same opinion,
judgment was given for the plaintiff.

A GREAT NUMBER OF MECHANICS, LABOURERS,
AND OTHERS assembled in the front of C:erkenwell
Police-court on Monday to seek the advice and assist.
ance of Mr. Corrie, in consequence of their having
been refused relief by the parish authorities of
Islington. The complaining parties had formed
part of a large meeting in Smithfield of unemployed
artisans, itc., after which they proceeded in strong
bodies to the parishes of Clerkenwell and Islington
to seek relief, where their numbers caused some
alarm. Mr. Corrie directed that those who wished
to complain should be admitted into the court, when
a rush was made, and it was instantly crowded to
excess. Mr. Kendall, a decorative painter, said he
was unemployed four and five days a week :
He had a wife and three children and they were starving.
They applied with others to Islington parish, and were told
that they could not be relieved except from nine to twelve
o'clock in the forenoon.
Hugh Pierce, a joiner, of 12, Caledonian-street,
Islington, said he was not in actual distress, but he
did not know how soon he might be :

He came as the representative of those who were unem-
ployed ; because, if such things continued, they would lead
to a revolution in the country.

Henry Hunt, a painter and glazier, of Rosoman-
street North, said he was out of work, with a wife
and three children :

He had not a morsel of food at home, nor money to pro-
cure it, or he would not apply to the parish. He applied
to the parish of Islington, and was refused relief.
Mr. CORRIE : Yours is a case that I can practically deal
with. Is there any other case here?
A Voice : Yes, sir, WO here, and as many more outside
the court.

Other statements of an equally painful nature were
made. Mr. Corrie ordered an officer to go instantly
and request the immediate attendance at the court of