The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

to be whispered about that Lord

ncils of the

aid Lord PALMERSTON, fin

purpose of hastening this event, it is belie
First Lord of the Traasury will; in the cours

themselves

ved that ti

week or ten days, summon a Cabinet Council. • These are
the on dits of political men, whom at all seasons I find
best up to the mark, and whether they be well or ill
founded, I can assure you that they have obtained no
small share of credit .4-
reunions.

ad other West-end

As if in the most insolent contempt for the storm of
indignation which the persecution of the MA DIAL excited
in every enlightened part of Europe, and disregarding
alike the promptings of reason, the sympathies of huma-
nity, and the energetic remonstrances of the agents of the
British Government, the GRIND DUKE of TUSCANY has
ventured upon a fresh exercise of his arbitrary Rower,, in

allest desire to

the most odious form in which that polvc
played. Without evidencing t 1
establish himself in the favourabl

could be dis-

opinion of the world—
without even allowing time to soften the deep feeling of
reprobation which swelled every
recital of I
and to aggi

rocities

bosom, at-tge

-he tics hastened to -confirm

to the sinister impressions of himself and
his government which they gave rise to: and the more
completely to demonstrate that the liberal views of the
present day are incapable of balancing in his judgment
bigoted and servile adherence to laws and sentiments
the bequest of a barbarous period, he has
British subject for the object of his resentment
Were the facts of the case not completely authenticated,
we could hardly bring ourselves to believe that a prince
occupying so low a place among the Sovereigns of
Europe, would thus gratuitously offer an insult to a
r ation so powerful to visit him with a terrible retribution
and we might equally wonder that he should ag

selected a

soon fly in the very fa'ce of the public censure of Europe,
which at least informed him that his principles of action
were wholly unsuited.progressive
for the spirit of the age
_ .

in which his and our lots laaverbeen cast. But there is no
room for doubt. A benevolent and pious young lady,
zealous and active as she should be in spreading far and
wide around her the glad tidings of salvation, has been
suddenly dragged from a bed of illness to answer an accu-
sation, drawn up against her for having given a copy of
the Holy Bible and an Italian version of Bunyan's " Pil-
grim's Progress"'to a Tuscan peasant, eager for religions
instruction. Untouched by the youth and innocence of
the so-called offender, unmoved by the entreaties of her
Mends, and deaf to the remonstrances of the resident
English Minister, the barbarous administrators of the law
of Tuscany consigned Miss CUNNINGHAME, their victim,
to the prison of St. Georg.; at Lucca, whither she was con-
veyed in a van, under a strong escort of yens d' armes,
and where she now remains. These are the chief features
of this new example of papal tyranny, and though not
aggravated by incidental harshness, they need no addition
to them to awaken in the people of this country the most
determined resolution, first, for prompt and effective re-
dress, and secondly, while execrating the miserable priest-
ridden policy of Tuscan rule, to obtain, through the con-
stituted diplomatic channels, adequate guarantees for the
future security of British subjects resident in, or travelling
through, the territory of the GRAND DUKE, so attractive
to the tourist by the profusion in which nature has
scattered her beauties through it, and so inviting by its
vast stores of art, but unhappily cursed by the intolerant
bigotry of man.
To consider the bearings of the question involved in this
unfortunate matter is almost superfluous. However Miss
CUNINGHAME mayhave violated the public law of Tuscany,
under which, for the time, she was living, common sense
will suggest to every one that her punishment has been
shamefully disproportioned to her offence. What has she
done ? She has given a copy of the Bible to a poor
Italian peasant—doubtless in want of one. Is that an
act which ought to receive the praise or the censure of any
state in which it took place ? A little consideration ought
to show that the Bible so given—or indeed any other book
—should be allowed to do its work of confirmation or con-
version, as the case might be. Truth is only to be at-
tained by the gradual elucidation of error ; and if the
means of elucidating it be withheld, or if the natural food
for reflection be diverted, the human mind will remain
for ever sunk in the darkness from which it is even now
only slowly being emancipated. As far as I can discover
any tendency in this act of the Tuscan Government, it is
to maintain in its now fortunately crippled state the de-
'testable remnant of that persecuting spirit which, in by-
gone and less happy days, forced the philosopher GALILEO
to abjure a declaration which he had made in opposition
to priestly teaching, when convinced before the mighty
majesty of truth. In its essential principle, the proceed-
ing in both instances is precisely identical, amounting
simply to a forcible repression of thought and teaching.
It is not to be supposed, however, that, in this enlightened
age, these narrow-minded prejudices and the barefaced
tyranny by which alone they are sustained, can withstand
the impulsive effort of events. Italy, though compara-
tively removed from Anglo Saxon influence, is gradually
being brought within its sphere, and the dominion over
the minds which its priests have long held with ruthless
rigour will not survive the first shock of the coming
encounter.

In the meantime, however, oppression and suffering still
mark its slow and tottering footsteps? An amiable young
lady is unjustifiably detained in a foreign prison, under
circumstances of extreme hardship, and for her immediate
restoration to her friends the English nation will cry with
one voice. Headed by that excellent nobleman Lord
SHAFTESBURY' ever foremost in the work of humanity, a
deputation hasalready attended the Foreign Minister to
urge upon him the necessity of immediate and vigorous
action on behalf of our imprisoned countrywoman. The
favourable reception which Lord CLARENDON bestowed
upon this deputation, and its spirited declaration of true
British feeling, would create in us the most lively feeling
of satisfaction, and encourage us to look forward to a
speedy and substantial vindication of offended national
dignity, but for the sad illustrations we have recently had
before us, of the little anxiety displayed by the Govern-
ment to sustain the honour of the British name. I am
willing to believe, however, that Ministers will readily
apply themselves to the redress of this intolerable act of
oppression, surrounded as it is bycircumstances which make
:it repugnant to us beyond all endurance : and than they
will humble the wretched little Tuscan tyrant into a true
estimate of his power. But should our hopes and expecta-
tions be unfounded,—should our Government, in this case
too, let the world see that despotism advancing over the
continent with its great strides might possibly be wel-
comed by it on the shores of England—we fearlessly en-
trust the issue to the well-formed resolution of the

people.
It is gratifying to know that the health of London has
not been better for some time past, especially so for the
last four or five days. The weather has much to do with
this : it is drier and colder, and sunshine has enlivened
us. The Board of Health sits daily, and Mr. c
-HADWICS
receives his deputations like a minister of state. The
parish surgeons also report favourably ; and I might almost
venture to state that cholera does not exist, save in a mo-
dified form. Provisions are still rising in price, and from
certain movements among the bakers, I believe it is ar-
ranged that the quartern loaf shall be a shilling before
many days are over. In some sort to compensate for this
untoward state of prices, wages in most trades are better.

This is the result of the recent strikes : nearly all the
trades have gone to work, masters and men meeting each
lutary view taken

way, as the phrase is
strikes by the magisl

diamond ring. BROOKE stays and plays another
Led. A troupe of Americans, who had taken the
theatre for a time, have been arranged with, so as to leave
the tragedian hi possession of the stage. The theatre is
crammed nightly, and there were notices stuck on the

when prepa:
eessary ; ni

Wen t

inguished guests present could travestie the
immortal WILLIA.M—
I have dined not wisely,
But too well. •

I am no admirer of what SUTER denominates " ridiculous
gastrophagy," neither appeared the guests at the BROOKE
gathering, for they did such justice to the eating and
drinking as indicated robust health in each of the artists

BENEDICT, the

:11-known

.compjished musician;

undertaken to give a series of Wednesday evening
!erts in Exeter Hall with first-rate artistes
:VES, with a heap of al

and Sims
as, go to

Drury-lane, for the Purpose of giving Opera in English
JAMES ANDERSON, the actor, leaves London instanter fo

Liverpool to embark for America, where he has 'got engage-
ments of a liberal kind. The last time he visited the
United States he cleared upwards of £lO,OOO, and lost
very penny of it in no time at Drury-lane. The little
-some—some opening with much pro-
in short, the theatres are all alive.

mice of excellenc

DISASTER TO THE ISAAC wieiGffi
EMIGRANT SHIP.
♦

THE packet-ship Isaac Wright, Captain Abeel, which took
her departure hence for New York on the 20th ult., with 600
passengers on board, composed chiefly of German and Irish
emigrants, struck on a rock, about 40 miles south of Cork,
on Tuesday last, when seven days out. Sne had experienced
very rough weather, severe squalls, with heavy storms of
hail, from the time she parted with the steam-tug, which

had been a dense fog for several days, bet every-
thing had gone on well until about eight o'clock on
Tuesday evening, when it was found she was close in shore.
The captain, who was on deck, celled to the man at the wheel
to put the ship about; but it was too late, for, as she was
wearing, her stern struck against a rock, unshipping her
rudder, and doing such damage to her timbers that she began
rapidly to make water. They succeeded in getting her into
deep water, and the sails having been reefed, all hands were
called to the pumps. The ship remained in this position until
Thursday, no vessel going to her assistance, although several
passed at a distance, when the Ocnasta, Budfield, from St.
John's N.B. hove in sight and immediately bore down to her.
On being asked where he thought he had struck, Captain
Abeel said he believed it was Cape Clear; but Captain
Hadfield told him that could not be, as he was only forty
miles off Cork and thirty off the Head of Kinsale. They
consulted as to the best means to adopt, and it was decided
that the Ocnasta should make all sail to Liverpool, and send
a steamer to the assistance of the Isaac Wright, her captain
being of opinion that he should be able to keep her afloat in
the meantime. Although there was no accommodation for
passengers on board the timber-ship, Captain Hadfidd took
off the cabin passengers, of whom there were ten in number,
including two Misses Harvey, of Cincinnati, U. S., Mr.
Moore, Mr. Neigbt, (a Welsh gentleman,) two servants, and
four children. When the Ocnasta left the Isaac Wright,
she was very deep, the water being up to her port holes. The
Ocnasta experienced rough weather until she reached the
Mersey. On Sunday night Capt. Dixon, master of the Fidelia,
belonging to the same line of packet-ships as the Isaac
Wright, left this port in the steam-tug Constitution, in search
of the unfortunate ship, with a view of rendering assistance.
By telegraph we learn that the Isaac Wright was seen off
Holyhead yesterday afternoon, in tow of a steamer.