The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-21 00:00:00

WEDNESDA.Y ETENING, JANUARY 21, 1852.

and all secresy in this matter is a great mistake, I
shall take the liberty of taking every one here into
council as fully Red completely as when I-was taken
into council tne self.—(Hear, hear.) I tell 3 ou,
then, that the reasons upon which these
alterations were made were these :—First of all, every
person insuring had, under the old rules, the right to
relief, or to apply for relief, under the benevolent
fund ; and when the insurances increased so largely
as they have done of late years, it was clear and pal-
pable to the understanding of any one, that unless the
funds of the benevolent department increased in some-
thing like the same ratio as the benefit depart-
ment, the claims upon the benevolent department
would increase largely, whilst the means of meeting
those claims would not increase at all.—(Hear,
hear.) To hold out, therefore, the benevolent
department, and the prospect of relief in time
of distress to insurers, was little less than
a delusion ; and the second ground appears to me not
less feasible. The gentlemen who hear me are proba-
bly as well aware as I am that under the old rules a
certain proportion—a large proportion_ljbelieve lam
correct in saying one-third of the profits arising from
the insurance department was, on each division of
profits, to be given to the benevolent fund.—(Hear,
hear.) Now that large application of profits was
found to be a most serious obstacle to the increase of
insurances; and persons who had no possible prospect
of having recourse to the benevolent fund very natu-
rally demurred to the application of so large a pro-
portion as one-third of the profits on the business
they brought to the office being given to the benevo-
lent fund.—(Hear, hear.) Now, when you recollect
that-the principal source of revenue in the benevolent
department was derived from a division of the profits
in the benefit department, it is obvious that this was a
state of things which deterred persons from insuring,
and ultimately fell back upon the benevolent fund
itself and 'diminished it in anaount.—(Hear, hear.)
The question, therefore, proposed to me was, whether
in reference to the two causes Which I have explained,
namely, first of all, the great increase of the benefit
department, and the total impossibility of meeting the
claims of those gentlemen who had the right to make
them, and secondly, the natural conviction of all
persons interested in the management of the society,
that the large application of one-third of the profits
to the benevolent department injured the benefit
department, and therefore ultimately injured the be-
nevolent department, it would not be better to make
the alteration which has taken place.—(Hear, hear.)
I gave all the attention and consideration in my power
to the subject, and having received the fullest expla-
nation as to the effect which would be produced by
the change, and received complete satisfaction on that
point, and having given to the two reasons which I
have detailed all the consideration in my power, I
was then, and I am now, bound in honesty to say
that I gave my hearty,
my cordial assent to the alte-
ration of the rules which have already been proposed
to you and carried.—(Bear.) And further, gentlemen,
I beg to draw your attention to the working of the
change seen in this its earliest stage. You have now
got a certain income of about 3701., which you may
consider as a fixed income.—(Hear, hear.) Now
just look at the way it works. It is quite obvious
that it would have been impossible for you to confer
that large and most cheering benefit upon the widows
of clerks which has been detailed to you as in pro-
spect for the month of May next.---(Llear, hear.)
But that is not all, because when you have done that
you will have something like two-thirds of a fixed
income arising from a certain sum, which will ,be in-
vested, and which will go on accumulating and in-
creasing. I really hope no gentleman who hears me will
believe that in making this change we forgot or
undervalued the disappointment which any one indi-
vidual may have received from the change ; but I do
again assure you that I believe it has been done with
the most firm adherence to, and the fullest respect for,
all their rights, and from the best advised conviction
that it would conduce to the real and permanent
interest of both branches of the society.—(Hear,
hear.) There is one other circumstance which I feel
bound also to mention. There is an iten, I think it
is 247/., in the accounts, under the head of law
charges, and it is a most painful item, because it
results from the prosecution of a person in Scotland,
who obtained a loan, and it was afterwards discovered
that the signatures of the guarantees were forgeries.
That, gentlemen, has given rise to the surmise that
the gentleman who borrowed the money had been
guilty of some irregularity, but nevertheless the evi-
dence of the falseness of the guarantees signature is
to my mind utterly inconclusive.—(Hear, hear.) But,
gentlemen, in reference to the large expense of this
trial, it should be remembered that had the board
of management acquiesced in the forgery, without a
previous inquiry, they would have been holding out
a premium for a repetition of similar conduct in
others.—(Hear, hear.) lam afraid I have taken up
too much of your time, but I felt this was an impor-
tant evening, which called for an explanation from me
upon the various points I have touched upon, and, in
moving the adoption of the report, let me hope that
any gentleman who wishes to address you will re-
ceive the same patient hearing that you have accorded
to me.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE again complained of what he termed
the "compulsory" payment of ss. to the benevolent
fund.

The CHAIRMAN said,
what he understood to be the
arrangement, was as folio
ws :—Certain inducements
were held out to join the benefit department formerly ;
those who joined the benefit department had certain
claims or rights on tb
but when the benefit department e
increased so largely,
benevolent department ;
it became necessary to get fresh funds to meet all the
claims on the benevolent
department. At length
at purpose, and they were
means were devised for that
assented to by the metuber
person on assuring his life s.
They were, that every
should
rightwhich he thereby had on ld, in exchange for his
the benevolentdepartment,
contribute a certain sum
Formerly that© was no
s,annually to that department.
was not compulsory now,
payment by assurers. It
no more—that if a , except to this extent, and
person being an assurer, wished
to establish a claim on the
pay for it.—(llear.) benevolent fund, he must
Mr. GEORGE said he had
believing that the payment still some difficulty in
was CUAIRM AN assureda ry.
.a not compulso
and wholly voluntary._(aear.)
him that it was purely
After some further discussion the report and
I
balance-sheet were received
Mr. WELCH said he r and adopted.
which would be :8e to propose a resolution
received
sure and satisfaction. 1. with the greatest plea-
port which referred to the electionhatportion of the re-
stated that the society was in a of annuitants
nuities this year to an ex, position to grant an-
and the cheers with which, extended
that announcement was
led number of persons,
received indicated how
much pleasure the members
felt in learning that the f
u
state, and that they would nds were in so satisfactory a
_ enable the directors to lend a
helping hand to a few i
their widows.—(llear.iic)re distressed members and
Th© directors had the
greatest satisfaction in arriving at the conclusion that
they were in a position t
grant those annuities, but
the members ought to bear
had not been altered and afund thereby created, they
w
proposing that they should render3ing duty
to perform of
to the widows and orphans
of additional assistance
resolution distressed fellow-clerks.
—(Cheers.) The
give great relief to those
w"
he now moved would
,
and another resolution would be subsequently pro-
,° had long wanted it,
posed which would meet thei
case of the candidates
who were unsuccessful
He urged upon the members toena former occasion.
which they had already done follow up the good
to get their fellow-clerks to loin the association. In
by exerting themselves
j
this way they would increase
society, augment the funds, the importance of the
benefits on their less fortunateand bestow greater
It was only by unity and action that
brethren.—(Hear.)
pect to make the association wn that they could ex-
what he hoped to see it ere lola it ought to be, and
a body, would come forward andig'. If the clerks, as
they would every year have to [Mc their support,
selves on the increasing amount cufneratulate them-
the means of doing.--(Hear.) 11/I,°•‘ good they had
by moving the following resolution • Velch concluded
" That on the 26th May next, or c--:
as the board may appoint, of which i- such other day
given, a special general muting of the° notice will be
benevolent department of the Provident ,rnewhers of the
tion be held, for the purposeof 1 ‘-,lerk ' •
electing s Associa-
additional annuitants:— g the following
Two clerks for annuities of ...
And five widows of clerks for annuit* '' • 251. eacb.
1
It one clerk only applies, then one clerk'nt' si. each.
for an annuity of ,„. ...
And six widows of clerks for annuitiec, ••• 251.
Hno clerk applies, then eight whin- °f 151. each.
of clerks for annuities of
The resolution was seconded by bit N lsi. each."
rOT
carried unanimously. LEY, and
Mr. MAITLAND said he bad to pro
which he was confident would con propose a resolution
iruend •
Itself to the
heart of every one present. It was to
the effect that
the three widows who were unsuccessin' at the last
election, and who by the alteration of
the rules were
excluded from 'becoming again candidates should be
eligible at the next election.—(Hear,
hear.) He
would merely remind the meeting that before the
passing of the altered rules, it Was
required that a
person must b ave been a member three
years to make
his widow eligible for an annuity. After careful con-
sideration ',he term of membership
was altered to five years. The necessary
annuities
were of ¶/ery great advantage to the recipients,
a quid pro
and it was thought that something like uo
should be given for such valuabl e allowances.q
The
majority of the members were of that
opinion ; but
while they wished to do justice, they
must not forget
to be merciful. These ladies who Were
for, and were entitled in the event of being
led to hope
eing elected
to, annuities, were now excluded by the
rules, and it
was on ly an act of charity and mercy to place them
in the :same position that they were in );3
efore.—(llear.)
The 'notion was seconded by iZr. JEPPO.

xi L-

! Mr. LLOYD objected to the resolution, on the
grountl that it was contrary to the laws of the society,
and incompetent for the meeting to pass- it. How-
ever much he might regret the consequences to the
three widows, he certainly felt it his duty to make
this objection, lest a step which he deemed to be ille-
gal was drawn into a precedent.
Considerable discussion ensued upon the legality of
the motion, and ultimately it was withdrawn, and
another passed to the effect that compensation should
be given to the three widows at the discretion of the
committee, provided such a course was legal.
Mr. COLEMAN moved a vote of thanks to the trus-
tees and to John Abel Smith, Esq., the treasurer, for
their services to the institution, which was carried.
The' CHAIRMAN returned thanks for himself and
on behalf of the trustees. It was, he admitted,
a rather flattering thing that they could command the
services of such men as Baron Rothschild, Mr.
Thomson Hankey, and. Mr. Prescott. It was no
nominal duty they had to perform, for year after
year they took a most real and lively interest in the
affairs, progress, and well•being of the association.
As regarded himself, one of the most agreeable cir-
cumstances of his life was the good-natured appre-
ciation of the feeble efforts he was able to make to
further the interests of the association.—(Cheers.)
No one who knew him would doubt his word when
he said that as long as he lived his best abilities and
his cordial cooperation would be most heartily at
their service.—(Cheers.)
A vote of thanks was then passed to the directors
and auditors.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging a vote, thank-
ing him for his conduct in the chair, took the oppor-
tunity of earnestly exhorting the clerks of London to
support the benevolent branch of the association,
which would confer, if extended by their adhesion,
the most-incalculable benefits upon them.
The meeting then separated.

THE REV. J. E. GLADSTONE AND THE
BISHOP OF LONDON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—The article which appeared in your columns
on the evening of the 14th instant, with the initials
" C. J. 5.," plainly intimates that proceedings will be
instituted in the Ecclesiastical Court by the Bishop
of London against Mr. Gladstone. Now, Sir, I would
advise Mr. Gladstone to employ counsel as inexpen-
sive as possible, for his case is a very plain and simple
one, and after all the arguments made use of by
counsel the decision rests with thejudge. The only
word uttered by Mr. Gladstone that can be at all
handled is the word "traitor," and that wont bear
any other construction than in the sense it was said—
a traitor to the Established Church. '
The Bishop of Londoh knows right well that it is
no easy matter to strip a clergyman of his gown and
living. A very remarkable instance occurred some
years since: The incumbent, of Sutton, in Bedford-
shire, a Dr. Free, a man whose infamy was without
a parallel, and who violated every law moral, human,
and divine. The Bishop of Lincoln very justly pro-
ceeded against this man; Free employed no lawyer,
Nit moved the proceedings from court to court, and
the decision of the judge was against him ih every
court, but the tithe consumed was five years, and the
expense to the Bishop was 10,0001. Possession of the
house had then to to be obtained, and it was illegal to
use force; it was many months before this posses-
sion could-be obtained, as he kept it barred and se-
cured, and never -moved out of it except on Sundays.
At last, by keeping sentinels on guard night and day,
and preventing provision being taken in, he was
starved out. I instance this case to show the, diffi-
culty'a good Bishop had to get rid of a bad parson ;
what, then, will be the difficulty that a bad Bishop
has to get rid of -a gOod parson, what length of time
Will it take, and what will the sum total come to ?
The rule of three will scarcely determine. The Rev.
Mr. Gladstone is of good family, and a cousin of the
well. known M.P., and he has a phalanx of powerful
friends, not likely to desert him in his hour of need.

I am, Sir, &c.,
OVIS GREGIS.

ASTROLOGY.—MR. COPSTICK'S CASE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
have perused with a feeling of satisfaction the
article in The Sun of last evening upon this case.
In the month.of October, last year, ono James Bell
was, in a similar manner, tempted by a 'policeman. in
disguise to break the law (the Vagrant Act), then
pounced upon, convicted, and imprisoned, chiefly
through the evidence of this same policethan. The case
occurred at the Lambeth Police-office.

It is gratifying to find that the press has condemned
this detestable plan for bringing offenders to the seat of
justice.

I do not presume to intrude upon your valuable space,
by entering into the important question of the merits or
demerits of the ancient science of astrology. Notwith-
standing the opinion and desire to the contrary ex-
pressed by the Learned Recorder at the Bath Quarter
Sessions on the 10th inst., it is certainly a fact that
astrology is slowly but surely recovering from its fallen
state, and that it is now recognised as a science by nu-
merous persons of talent, learning, and respectability.
In these days of mental activity it is impossible that this
important question of the reality of planetary influence
can again be shelved, whether the Vagrant .Act be re-
pealed or not. The time must soon arrive when the
facts in astrology, like the facts in other sciences, will
be generally recognised, and this sublime science be
again honoured, after its long night of neglect and ob-
scurity. The dawn is already approaching.
I am, Sir, your, &c.
London, January 20.

LEX

THE NEW REFORM BILL.
A meeting of the Manchester committee of manaae-
meat of the Financial and Parliamentary Reform
Association was held yesterday afternoon, in
Manchester ; Mr. George Wilson in the chair.
Among those present were Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr.
Kershaw, Mr. Henry, Mr. Heywood, M.P., Mr.
Milner Gibson,
M.P., Mr. S. R. Robinson, Sir E. Arrei-
tage, and Mr. J. Simpson. The meeting was very large.
Mr. Wilson said they were assembled to consider what
steps should be taken in the district previous to the
assembling of Parliament in reference to the new Reform
Bill. In fact he did not know what it was to be, or
anything in relation to it, beyond an observation
which had escaped from Lord J. Russell himself, that
he was likely to have considerable difficulties to
meet among his colleagues on the subject, and that
some members of the Cabinet, instead of rendering
him that support which he was entitled to, provided his
measure was really likely to be satisfactory to the
country, were indisposed to give him that cordial sup-
port which every gentleman in the room, provided the
measure was good, would give him. As this Reform Bill
was certain to be that which would be in operation for
the next twenty years, it behoved all persons interested
to examine into its character, and to see that it was
efficient. Mr. Wilson then proceeded to enter into an
argument respecting the comparative number of Mem-
bers sent by various towns in Lancashire and other
places. The following resolution was proposed by Mr.
Bright, and carried unanimously:—"That the popula-
tion of the county of Lancaster, by the census of 1851,
is declared to be upwards of 2,000,000, or one-eighth
of the population of England, and one-fourteenth of
that of the United Kingdom; that its taxable property,
by a Parliamentary return of the session of 1847, is de-
clared to be 6,463,3631., or more than one-tenth of the
whole rateable property of England; that its contribu-
tions to the national Exchequer, whether from Customs'
contributions or from payments to the various branches
of the inland revenue, far exceed the average of the
population and area of the United Kingdom; that its
position with regard to industry, wealth, intelligence,
and population, is second to no other county in the
United Kingdom; that on all these grounds, this meeting
is of opinion that, in any measure of Parliamentary
reform to be introduced by the Government or enacted
by the Legislature, the number of Members returned
from this county should be largely increased, iu order
that its influence in the House of Commons may corre-
spond to the magnitude of its interests, and to its im-
portance as a portion of the United, Kingdom."

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
NEWPORT, I. W., JAN. 20.
DISTRESSING SUICIDE.—Our town has been visited
by severe affliction in the distressing suicide of Mr.
Robert Bryant, the worthy landlord of the Star Inn.
He rose as usual this morning, and, after giving some
directions to his men about the horses, &c., he went up
to his office; not coming down to breakfast, nor answer-
ing when called, the door was forced open, when he
was found suspended and dead. He was agent to the
Isle of Wight and London Shipping Company, and to
various other concerns as accountant and agent. lle
had the property of a great number of persons in his
hands. His widow was unfortunate in her former hus-
band, ,w'ao died bybe his own hands. Her distress now
cannot possibly described. This and the heavy
failure of one of our oldest and most respected hasto
men last week for a sum of little short of 20,0004,
thrown a, gloom over the town which will not be soon
removed.

VIENNA, JAN. 16.—1 t appears that the so-called
n,
plenipotentiaries from the German States, here assembled, to
settle the great question of commrcial unio are by no
means with the power implied in the name
they haveentrusted assumed ; for we full
are told that the Hanoverian,
Brunswick, and Frankfort deputies have not yet voted for the
adoption of the Austrian propositions, relating to the cus-
toms' union treaty, as they are waiting for
theirther instructions
assented to both parts of the Austrian programme.
We are authorised to contradict an impression
oh'nfliFeracnokniviniction
which appears to have arisen, to the effect that Mr
contemplated the abandonment of his line of
that his
search Beatson
John Franklin from Behring's Straits northward in favour of
the plan recommended by Mr. Petermann, the well
physical geographer, of passing into the Polar ocean known
between
NhyovvahiZcehmsbirla
J.
Sowpintzibsetrhgeencoaunrsde
is too strong in Mr. Beatson's mind to permit
him will be found
it for any other, though fully recognising to abandon
ance of that proposed and most ably supported the great import-
mann whose suggestion it is to be hoped by Mr. Peter-
worked out by sending an efacient will be thoroughly
route he proposed. The result cannotsteanl-vessel upon the
question of much geographical and • fail to set at rest a
than to lend most material aid scientific interest, no less
' f the
ruscueo expedition under Sir J
to that highest
object, the
ILLNEss OF TUE ARCIIDE John Franklin.— Chronicle.
i We are sorry to learn that the VenerableACON OF MANCHESTER.—
' ton is very indisposed,
Archdeacon Rush-,
~... , 1.,'„, . • . ' " , •=•lei,d. •./4-,,•,`:
''''• .e4 • .'
t- . '
' '. -, .C..!:“.; ,t5U.,-;fifli . '

THE. PIIILOSOIWY OF LUGGAGE.

, • BY -ELleat.• coos.
• ,
cc Why, you don't mean to say that there is any
philosophy in luggage," said a very free .and easy
friend of ours, as he came in and eauget our roughest or
" copy" books in a state of exposure, with merely this
heading to a bit of gossiping prose which we intended
to commit. " Yes we do," was our somewhat quick
reply, as we snatched the leaves out of his.hand, in not.
the most lady-like manner possible. Our impertinent
friend went on utterly denying that philoSophy could
in any way be connected with " luggage," and indulged
in that sort of smile which expresses a confirmed con-
sciousness of superior wisdota—a sort of smile which "is
not pleasant, when we know the party to be formed 'of
metal originally intended to be cast into a great spoon,
but that a leaky compound of gold canted to be turned
into a " great gun." We were cognizant of the gentle-
man having large " Firmness," huge " Combativeness,"
and- homoeopathic quantities of " Ideality," and
a Causality," so- we prudently refrained from eseeeiag
any logical tor abstruse elucidations of. our notions-wool_
ing the affinity between peysielugical ethice. and prac-
tical packing-up, and soothed him into a belief that we
were still a rational being, by dint of a superlative glass
of Maderia. and an unusual degree of attention to his
prosy dissertation on the advantages of a war with
Russia. We should as soon have thought of bombarding
the pyramids with pop-guns, as of imbuing him
with our speculative mental analogies, so we
behaved uncommonly well while he stayed, but
thought his foot had by far the most music
in it when he - went " down " the stair.
Ilewever, he had destroyed our mood, and we flung the
Her copy-book on ono side until this moment, when
heving vainly tried fur some ten minutes to put a dozen
rdund apples into a square parcel, we are induced to
have our say out about the Philosophy of Luggage.
There is much of desirable comfort, ingenious tact,
add worldly knowledge mixed up with all travelling ap-
partenances, whether we move about with a large
over the whole Continent, or carry a roll ofmusic intoy
the next street. We have seen more than one united
ITV of pleasure broken up into silent sulks •or savage
deoition,. for want of a little philosophy 'in the luggage
partment.
. ;What an immense amount of irritability. and anxiety
nr be spared, by the use of an extra strap or the
o ission of a delicate bandbox ! Let us here de-
clare, for the private benefit of our lady tifends, that,
trim all we have remarked in our locomotive experience,
we honestly believe that there exists a natural antago-
nism between a man and a bandbox. It is not only a
fair and open intolerance that abuses and denounces. the
Ostia of hatred before the whole world, but it
e4ists even in a private and vindictive malice,
that would vent itself •in an unseen kick or sinister
shove,. when the owner of the helpless thing was
by to defend it. When we are collecting
It,
a ile of luggage in the hall, ready for some marine
Paradise or inland Eden, the portmanteaus and trunks
ate brought together steadily enough, but only let us
trust that-varlet " Tom" to bring down a bandbox, and
so sure does he insist on placing it in a most dangerous
contiguity between a couple of smashing carpet bags, or
else begins to whistle some very lively tune, and em-
ploys the bottom of the bandbox as a sort of " staccato"
aelcompanimena on every emir, and when the traps are
alfi gathered together, somehow the bandbox is sure to
bp the thing that . our brother tumbles over., He looks
at it with most aggravating contempt, and we hear a
Ittatering, in which the words " bothering rubbish"
ate very audible. We are obliged to plead fur it
with modest energy, and eat very humble pie,
an edible which always disagrees ,with our stomach,
hi-the-by, for he might be revengeful, and the thing is
Weak and unprotected. Then comes the eabman, and
With the greatest coolness, he, -positively " flings " the
bendbox on one side, until, the other packages are
fixed; at last, ha " supposes that thing,is to go inside;"
We hardly like to mention the. small private fact that we
have been a sort of pendulum between the front window •
and well-staircase meanwhile, in order to sati.fy
,our-
selves that the band-box was still in existence,—but at
14st we see him put it inside, and if by any chance he
hs any bag or basket over half a hundredweight within
reach, we are prepared to see the said bag or basket
lumped right on it. Let the number of travellers be two of
fOur the poor bandbox is sure to be "in the way"
on the seat; it is the Pariah of our appendages, and
of course, must be carried on our lap. Then comes the
railway porter, who is moat respectful to all that "can't
be hurt;"? but woe betide the bandbox that you entrust
to him—we are always obliged to "keep it with our-
selves," and if all the seats are full, and the box too big
to go under the seats—which it always is—why our
journey is not quite so unencumbered as it might be.
We seriously advise all women who value peace and in-
dependence in their wayfaring, to abjure bandboxes.
We never think of employing such an agent, now, since
opr experience convinces us that the stamp of misfortune
is set upon it. We have travelled with gins-crack toys
and ornamental glass without' ?derangement of the nu-
merous family in "Noah's Ark;"- or a fracture of the
crystal threads, but no sooner did we ventuream a" band-
box" than " Melancholy marked it for its own." Never
travel with a bandbox, ladies.; Hide your evening-caps
or best bonnets in some solid, enduring framework—
have an iron-chest, a plate-chest, a aea-chest, a tea-chest,
an old oak chest, or any chest in the world, so that' it
bears no relationship to the milliner's' receptacle, have
nothing that resembles a bandbox, or every masculine
hand laid on it will contrive some spiteful and insulting
injury. Exercise your philosophy on this point, and you
will never repent it.
There is often a deal of trouble and embarrassment
incurred by the very, desultory and promiscuous manner
in which the extraneous articles in travelling are ex-
pected to find their way _from London to Liver-
pool. There ie something particularly awkward and
slightly impeding in having to arrange and carry
an unlimited number of sticks, umbrellas, parasols,
coats, rugs, and nobody knows what, about a railway
station or pier-head. We lately met a party of three
ladies and two gentlemen, who had arrived at dusk at
Blackwell Station from Ramsgate; their trunks and
carpet-bug were disposed of without anxiety, but the
perplexing and wild state of excitement over four'
umbrellas, three parasols, two walking-Sticks, three
cloaks, two coats, three Scotch plaids, one shawl, three
baskets, and a large bundle of seaweed, was indescrib-
able, to say nothing of an unruly spaniel , attached-to a
string, who persisted in twisting and rushing about in
the most contrary directions possible. As. for keeping
the things together, the attempt seemed impracticable.
William was shouting to Emily to know if she
bad his fur coat ;• James interrogated William as to
the whereabouts. of his Silk' umbrella •, • Ellen was
slightly frantic touching a missing Tweed; and Sophy
was making a desperate. snatch at any article looking
at ail like one of their things, alternating her vigilant
activity with,a sudden smack and energetic shaking be-
stowed impromptu on " that tiresome dog• Fido." Half-
a-dozen plums would keep tumbling out of a basket, and
the seaweed would keep tumbling out of the bundle,
while we stood amongst them rendering • what help we
could, and thinking that a little practical philosophy
would have prevented a deal of bad temper and con-
siderable perturbation of mind.
It was a fine autumn day, and if William or Sophy
had secured the miscellaneous matters with a yard or
two of cord and a strap, comfort and independence
Might have been preserved.
Another fallacy in which many people indulge, is
that of bringing something home with them, which
might be procured within reach of an errand-boy. We
shall never forget encumbering ourselves with six pounds
of butter from Exeter to Bayswater, and on a frying
dog-day too; it was no laughing matter—the comestible
being somewhat carelessly packed, and ourselves enter-
taining a natural horror of grease. The trouble it gave
us from the station to the larder was beyond the usual
small vexations of life—what with being almost in a
melting state, the porter letting it fall on the rail, and
the friend who came to meet us resolutely sitting down
on it in the cab—why, no wonder that we hated. thea,
sight of butter for a month! We were fool enrglre:
another time to bring " specimens" from
and positively had to purchase a portmantepauer
barytes, and
accommodation of lead-ore, sulphate oflor the
"Blue John,"and never -
all of which we could have got cheaper
and finer in London. We know better now,
with
indulge any fancies likely to
interfere
Philosophy of Luggage. We refuse,at
A' toffee" our
Everton, cakes at Banbury, water at Cologne, and
bonnets at Paris. Talking of Paris, we lately had
some friends, consisting of three gentlemen and two
t o England, and
ladles, returning frdm that gay capital
it 'appeared that the gentlemen Were extreme advocates
foe the " philosophy' we are now discussing—they had
a.contempt for Custom-house annoyances, and entreated
the ladies not to " Smuggle" the most trifling thing—
denounced gloves and lace as feminine rubbish, and
talked very big elf the folly of risking impertinence and
ot.ada—a, the
detention for the sake of useless trumpery. The ladies
promised, and kept
elhe_eiste,Ne.
Cnstom-house
officers passed them witnout leaving a suspicion attached •
but alas for the strength of manhood! each of the gen-
tlemen was detected with such an unwarrantable number
of cigars carefully concealed, that loud
altercation
and
seizure, of the " useless trumpery"
resulted, affording
the ladies ample room for
sly allustont to masculine
weakness and masculine Philosophy
That there is philosophy • of Luggage.
we have known peoplein uggage, we are convinced;
who travelled with unnumbered
boxes and bags, and
yet were without essential comforts,
and we have held pleasant company with those who had
extremely compact Some personsare
arrangements, yet needed nothing.
diffuse and unmeaning in their
packing, as in their as
conversation. We have seen a bit
of top-string put round a chest of two hundredweight ;
We have seen an address left on a valise indicating that
it was to be sent to Bristol, when the owner fully intended
it at the present time to go to Cambridge ; we have
seen hampers burst open at the most awkward
moment, and parcels " come undone," when it was im-
possible to do them up again, whereat the " lords of
-creation" generally " get in a way," and make speeches
as sharp as their razors. Somehow, men seldom put up
heroically with trifling annoyances. They can look a bank-
ruptcy in the face with the courage of a lion, and often
bear the death of a wife, who brought them ten thousand
pounds, with Spartan resignatiou; but give them an ill-
cooked dinner, ask them to wait for you five minutes,
or let a parcel, as we have stated above, run restive
in their hands, and one might think a linchpin was
coming out of the world's axle, by the fuss and fume
they make; poor things! they are but human, after all.
Certainly, it is very provoking to find ourselves at a rail-
way-station, as the reputed proprietor of divers adjuncts,
nobody knowing exactly what or where—trunks un-
corded, bags unfastened, brown paper bundles in most
equivocal security, cloaks here, tugs there, and um-
brellas out yonder. One gets into a heated bewilder::
ment, that leaves us in our corner seat, with our a hte,!
to the horses, in a state something between scar eL
fever and nettle rash.
an
Be assured, that philosophy and luggage havedvise
affinity that yields_ great personal comfort?
anclwea
all who " pack-up'' for general travelling excursions, to
and keep those
do with as few packages as the/