Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-31
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE
IoNpoN, AUGUST 8, 1850.
What huge, spirt-stirring- to raise and
denress- ;ncomprehensible Babel is this London !
And vet. who that has once mastered some OF its
mysteries. and acquainted himself with some of
it's MANY and varying phases, does not feel bound
to give Il a portion of his praise and attachment,
and his unqualified astonishment and wonder
Dearly as we love the fair fields, the green hedge
rows, and the calm sequestered lanes and hooks of
England, we sometimes question ourselves whether
we do not love this giant London still better. tits
impossible to live long immersed in its neverceas-
ing turmoil and hustle, without becoming citizen
of the word-without feeling that the poets asser-
ton correct and that the proper study OF man
kind is man." There is not feeling in the hu-
man breast, there is not faculty in the human
mind that one or other Of its everchanging scenes
is not calculated, sooner or later, TO arouse Lon
don affords food for every taste, employment for
every mind Much does it contain, it is true, that
is evil and degrading; but wherever the foot OF
man has trod has it not left evil in its track as well
as good; and if in this great emporium wee ana
degradation do abound, we are willing TO believe
that virtue and elevation of mind and heart much
feverish and turbulent surface of London socie-
", of the deep current that runs below, who
erroneous would be our conclusions. How many
faces wear the stern, hard look of worldly care.
which may be moved in a moment to the smile
of sympathy and consolation! How many hands
grasp with misery tenacity the very farthings
of a mercantile speculation or a trading profit,
that open freely to the demands of suffering
and sorrow There is no place where charity
more lastingly prevails than in London. It is too
generally believed that long intercourse with the
world blunts the better feelings Of the heart and in
some instances it may be so; but they are, we trust,
the exceptions to an almost general rule, that long
life in London leads to directly opposite result
IT, while passing through its many scenes, and con-
templsting its various phases, we become more
aware of mans deception and depravity, we also,
at the same time, acquire more intimate know
ledge of his suferings and necessities and it is
impossible to avoid feeling, as we are swept along
the busy current, elbowed and jostled on every
side, that we form one of universal brother
hood, and gradually become alive to the common
and general claims of our species upon forbear
ance, kindness, and sympathy. The man who can
look on the crowded streets of London with apathy
and indifference deserves our pity rather than our
envy. And in these "pipng times Of peace" when
visit from the Continent is so easily paid to this
in the Strand or Cheapside, groups Of Frenchmen,
with their wives and daughters, gazing on the OBJ
jects they knew before only from books or travel
lers' details; interchanging cvilites with English
men at home; asking, in language almost unintell
gible to the passer-by, the road to point of at
traction; every where received courteously and
kindly; regarded as friends and neighbors by all;
affording convincing proof that the times are
past we trust for ever, when Englishmen and
Frenchmen considered each other as natural enc
mics, whose only business with each other was to
cut each others throats. A walk from the India
House to Charing Cross will bring us into contact
with men of every nation, and race, and religion !;
with Jews, and Turks, and Mahometans with
the worshppers of Brahma, Bhuda, and Confu-
Gus; with the busy merchant, the industrious me-
chanic, and the importunate mendicant; with the
titled NOBLE the eminent statesman, the representa-
tive of Nepaul or Turkey the man of business the
searcher after pleasure and the votary of fashion.
The debate in the House of Commons upon
Baron RoTHscHILD's admission to his seat in the
House of Commons has terminated in the adoption
Of the two resolutions proposed by the Attorney General the
first that the Baron was entitled to his seat until he had
taken the oath Of aburaon in the form appointed by law
the second pledgng the House, at the earliest opportunity
in the next session. to take into consideration the om Of the
oath of aburaon with view relieve her Maesys sub
JeCs processing the jewish Religion ms may be done by
emitting from that oath the words son the faith Of Chris
tan : although agree with the Times hatthe sbstance
Of the oath Of abjuaon purely POLITICAL and is binding
NE conscience Of the English Jew but that the form of adj
uation is not binding upon his conscience, and has now
IN the Of Baron Rohschd been done away with BY adj
hitting him to be the Old Testament according to
the mode and with the Jewish ceremonies. Parliament"
says the Tines, has also repeatedly declared that the
words on the faith of Christian, parts of that
form Of abjuration from which the Jews have been
relieved" We believe Lord JoHS RUSSELL has acted
strictly conscientiousy although think, enormously
Is said however, that scupes to the proprey OF liberal
interpretation Of the oath of aburaon existed in the mind OF
Hen MAJESTY, and that nothing short Of removal Of the
impeding words Of the oath will induce the Queen to consent
to the admission Of Jews into Parliament We reverence
sincere religious scupes whether they be entertained by
monarch or msndican and know that the regard Of
George Ill to the exact words Of his coronation oath pre-
vented the emancipation Of the Catholics during his reign.
We suppose that Recommendation to this Jewish
disability will form part Of her Mes speech at the opening
Of the session Of Parliament In this CASE we cannot
imagine that the House Of Lords will continue ungacious
as to oppose sanctioned by the other two branches
of the Legislature.
The select committee Of the House of Commons appointed
to inquire into official salaries has published its report
mendng very considerable reductions in many departments,
particularly the judicial and diplomatic. advocates exten-