The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

MAY 30, 1857.

The camp at Aldershott continues to be the subject of con-
flicting comments. Both its material and moral results are widely
attacked and defended. In respect to the former we feel bound to
notice one point most absurdly put forward by the denouncers of our
Crimean generals—that is, that the canvas roofing to the stables at
Aldershott sufficiently proves the feasibility of canvas roofings in the
Crimea. Why, nobody ever said that horses could not stand under
canvas as well as men. It was the fearful violence of the Crimean
hurricanes, especially on the exposed spot where our cavalry was
stationed, which led experienced officers to deny the utility of canvas
Morally, the results of the camp system are stated to be bad. The
isolation of the troops from all they have been accustomed to in the
way of society must have, we should think, rather a brutalising effect.
By the officers, of course, the hardship is little felt ; but it must press
heavily on the privates, who have none of the excitements of war to
counterbalance its effects. We should be glad to be informed also of
the real efficacy of the system towards inuring men to the hardships
of campaigning. Does it really do so? Is it possible to practise them
in those disagreeable surprises and crises which (constitute the real
hardships of war? The total loss of baggage, for example, or eight
and forty hours compulsory abstinence ! Is not this petty mimicry
of the soldier's life productive of more inconvenience that its actual
benefits can counterbalance?

The African Slavery Question appears to be a prominent topic in
all quarters. It is discussed by the papers, and argued in Parliament,
but neither writer nor speaker appear to regard it from any other point
of view than that of coercion. Now, coercion is effective only to a cer-
tain extent ; and if the bulk of the African Foreign Slave Trade was
carried on by nations whom we could coerce into abolition, we might
possibly in time destroy the trade. But though we can coerce Brazil,
we can coerce neither Spain nor America; besides, the Slave Trade
must be regarded' as distinct from the domestic slavery of Western Africa.
Domestic slavery is an institution of the country ; and the Foreign
Slave Trade, though a mere excrescence upon this native institution,
is not to he cut off and cured b 3 coercive measures alone. The most
obvious course to be pursued is, to apply internal remedies as well as
external restrictions. The result of the system of domestic slavery in
the interior is to produce a glut of labour power, which the scarcity of
trade and of agricultural employment, and the absence of any large
markets for mere mechanical dexterity, fails to stimulate into action.
What is the result? The native chief, from his intercourse with the
coast-traders, has learned to appreciate the advantage of blankets,
bullets, Manchester cotton goods, and old Tower muskets, and for his
slaves he finds a ready market of exchange. Now, if these circum-
stances prove anything, they appear to prove the inexpediency of
adopting the coercive system alone as the best means of prevention
and cure. So long as two negroes of rival tribes exist in Africa, the
one will subdue the other, and sell him as a slave to the first trader
rather than miss the benefits to which he has become habituated.
The obvious cure for this, we maintain, is not coercion, but commerce
and Christianity. It is trade alone which will change these hunters of
men into cultivators of the earth—will teach theta the use of the
plants indigenous to their soil, and will force upon their notice the
advantages of industrial employment for their slaves. They will then
acquire a sense of new wants—a relish for new pleasures ; civilisation
and Christianity will rapidly spread among them, and the vices and
miseries of savage life and slavery will gradually disappear. To
hasten such a desirable result the Government should encourage
every expedition to open up the country, should offer special advan-
tages to resident traders, should establish factories on the great
rivers, and should foster and protect in every way legitimate trade.
In so vast and fertile a country, who can doubt but that we should not
only effectually destroy the Foreign Slave Trade, but should be rapidly
repaid for our efforts by an extended and lucrative trade with these
populous regions, which otherwise will remain an uncultivated wilder-
ness in the hands of savages and slave-hunters?

The Derby is a legally recognised day of recreation for the Lon-
doner. Parliament puts its wisdom into a hamper, and, packing itself
behind a good team, goes down in style to Epsom. Law at Westmin-
ster becomes a fiction for four-and-twenty hours; ledgers are closed,
Blue-books put up, manuscripts put by, and men devoted to commerce,
politics, and study unbend their minds, and resolve upon one day, at
least, of genuine exhilarative recreation. And there is no reason why
they should not do so. We have an abundance of laws that make men
grave, we see no objection to one more to make them merry, and
there is nothing like a good day's horseracing for doing so. The keen
fresh air, the warm sun, the bright sky, the contagious excitement of
the thousands of people about you, the gay dresses of the women,
their pretty faces, and bright eyes, and delightful anxiety as they book
their little bets of dozens of gloves, the champagne and soda water,
the raised pies and cold fowl, and last, not least, the mysteries
of the paddock, and the intense curiosity exhibited as each
favourite is stripped, and shows in his glossy coat, his bright
eye, and his immense muscular development, every symptom
of health ani power, and every proof of high training—all this
readers such a day more thoroughly enjoyable to a non betting
man than any other in the year. We do not presume to say that horse•
r.:cing is a grand or an ennobling pursuit, but as the character of a
nation is somewhat reflected in its amusements, horseracing would seem
exactly the sport suited to the tastes and character of Englishmen. The
henchman has his military shows. the Spaniard his bull-fight, and
the comfortable burghers of Holland delight in feasts and ceremonial
pracesssions; but the healthy nature of the Englishman only takes

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pleasure in amusements more manly than cruel or frivolous. Last Wed-
nesday was the finest Derby-day we have had since Surplice's year in '4B.
The old times of the road were revived ; thousands of drags, carts,
carriages. and costermongers crowded the road, and the Downs never
exhibited a more brilliant sight, than as the horses took their canters
between the myriads of human beings massed on each side
of the Grand Stand and Course. Of the race what can we say, but
that it exhibited in a remarkable manner how little among betting
men does experience influence his calculations. Last year "Ellington"
was beaten disgracefully at York and Chester, and from first favourite
went back nowhere. At Epsom, with 20 to 1 against him at starting,
he won the Derby. This year Blink Bonny, first favourite all the
winter, was roped three weeks ago at Newmarket, sent back to 40 to 1,
and comes out at Epsom, forgotten or cursed, to win the Derby and
Oaks, a feat which no mare has accomplished for years past. Some
gentlemen in particular, and the Ring in general, have been hard hit,
but the Derby of '57 will long be remembered by all who had the
good fortune to be there, as giving us one of the finest days and the
best racing seen fur some time. The "set-to " from the straight run in
past the Grand Stand was magnificent—then for a moment a hand-
kerchief would have covered the first three ; a few strides more, and
like lightning Blink Bonny came out, and the Derby of '57 was won
and lost.

PAM'S ISTHMIAN GAMES.
If all things go well, when the session is done,
We'll have down at Broadlands some classical fun ;
With quoits, leaping, and caber, and putting the stone—
In fact, I'll have Isthmian Games of my own.

We'll have down old Cranny ; he isn't a fat un,
And ought to dance briskly as Christopher Hatton :
He shall bring the Sack with him, and jump in it, too ;
If he flounders ('tis likely), why that's nothing new.

We'll have Charley Wood—to miss him were a crime—
And we'll rig up a mast for his Lordship to climb ;
His gymnastics might fail at a simple greased pole,
But he'll feel quite at home when he sees "lubber's hole."

We'll have Bernal Osborne, and please all the folks
With the gibes of that eminent joker of jokes;
On the green turf of Hants we'll allow him his fling
In the part cut out for him, the clown in the ring.

We'll have the two Peels. Fred's an affable lad,
And Bob, now that Anton is floored, may be had ;
And to add mythological grace to our frolics,
We'll make 'em encounter as Castor and Pollux.

I think we'll have Hayter, the worthy of Wells,
He'll be useful in case any champion rebels ;
He shall ride up and down on a very tall horse,
And crack a long whip, as the clerk of the course.

Then Granville, a fellow to ask, past disputing.
To please the young ladies we must have some shooting :
And since that affair of Locke King's Bill, you know,
I think we'll set Granny to draw the long bow.

We must ask old Clarendon, too, nunc et semper,
I'm only afraid of his angular temper ;
He's pleasant when civil, when not, it's no joke ;
He shall sit in a tent, and tell fortunes, and smoke.

I suppose Vernon Chatter will bother to come,
But I've got a contrivance for keeping him dumb ;
He shall sit as an Indian Faquir, for a treat,
Who is neither permitted to move, speak, nor eat.

Have I left out Argyll, and escaped his rebuke ?
In full Highland costume we'll have the young Duke—
His Grace shall run races, in bonnet and kilt,
But with trews, my dear fellow, for fear he gets spilt.

There's Bethell—l'm told that his intimates state
That at private theatricals Bethell's first-rate ,
He shall dress like the " Bard," stand in elegant pose,
And play a Welsh harp, and sing '• Ar ywd y nos."

And. talkinf.,, of nose, there's my friend, Cornewall Lewis,
Some part in our festival surely his due is ;
He's a very fine classic, and truly refreshing's
The thought how he'd do " Grecian Statues " in fleshings.

I've omitted, you tell me, the cynical Grey :
W(.11, fun, as you know, isn't much in his way ;
But as his religion won't let him be proud,
We'll make him a Lictor, to bully the crowd.

And to keep up the game, I'll disguise myself, too :
And that all may for once have assumed something new,
I'll come as a Christian, all meekness and love,
To preach to the heathens—l will, Sir, by Jove !

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