The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-06
LETTER FROM LONDON.


To tie Editor of hs National Era:
The committee of the great exhibition have al
ready published the Classification Of p,tjk,1~- 81
the building for exhibition, at least the general
principles which will be adhered to in the ar
rangemept Of articles. Each nation will have
distinct quarter for its purposes of exhibition,
with the exception of such machinery as the own
ers intend to exhibit In moton-all such, from
whatever country, will be placed in one depart
ment where steam-power can more conveniently
be used. The committee will give gratis to ex-
hibitors certain amount Of steam-power, aud TO
all is afforded the liberty to arrange their own
articles according to their own taste, the commit
tee only selecting the space and exercising gem
eral oversight in the arrangements.
The building itself, as far as outward appear
goes, Is complete and looks as finely ii ever
will look, though, in point of fact, it is not quite
finished. Its appearance q frosty morning
with the slant sun-besms falling upon it is Pc
ouliarly brilliant and beautiful and what strikes
one most forciby is its originality. There is no
building like it in the world, and though 1t may
not be we'll calculated to endure age yet it is Pc
Your readers may not be entirely aware that il
is quito an old custom in England at certain
period Of the year for interested parties to get up
great hue and cry about the state of the national
defences. Such is the case, however--as surely
and regularly as any season comes and goes does
this cry fill the ears Of the nation, and when il
has effected its object die away The object is to
frighten John Bull in reference TO the prospect
of French invasion, that he will not grumble at
the enormous appropriations for the army and
navy departments. This year Sir Francis Head
opened the cry, and Lord Knnaird has followed
IL up In letter to tho Chancellor OF the Exche-
quer, proposing that what surplus revenue there
will be land there will be large one) in the Ex-
sbwaqGs az the nation next spring, be appropr;~''a
tainly nation with a debt such as n laiI,S. oef-
milestone about the neck of Great Britain, must
be at loss how to appropriate surplus in her
revenues and, simply because she knows not mhat
to do with it, throw it away foolishly in aug
mening the defences! The army, navy, and or
dinanoe expenses Of last year were nearly eighteen
millions of pounds sterling and it is necessary, to
counteract the efforts of Golden and the peace
party, to scare the nation into voting its moneys
into the pockets of gallant " younger sonsp Of the
aristocracy iapay for their defence of the liber-
ties Of the country against France. Poor France,
that cannot take Of herself il is said is ready
| TO cross the Channel almost any favorable night
and march an army to London, to burn II as a
| British army once burned Washington Even il
these forebodings were true and sincere II would
| only prove the truth Of the remarkable line:
| "what towards doth conscience make Of us slln
R,t n 10 N M all In
England fears French invasion but, by dint Of
continual crying the interested ones get the full
appropriations TO the army and navy, well aware
that il let alone the people would not stand such
enormous taxation for empty glory
The number Of deaths in London during last
week WAS larger than for any corresponding week
for a number of years-it amounted to 800
the result, probably, Of unusual weather. The
warmth of last week Was astonishing for January.
la the country in certain parts, there is a look OF
spring, and the birds have been deceived into
building nests and laying their eggs The weather
was quite as warm AS the average of May weather
| over New England.
Quite dispute is going on in the metropolitan
journals in reference TO the alleged wrong impris-
onmcnt Of a Mr.. Taylor in the Queens Prison
| for debtors for the long term Of fourteen years
lie WAS released few days since, and in his joy
quaifed more alcoholic liquor than his brain could
clearly manage, and was taken in charge by
the police. The next morning in the police court
he stated in extenuaton of his conduct the fact OF
his long imprisonment, and upon examination IL
was found that he had been imprisoned for 80 long
| time by q legal misGkei The daily journals at
| once complained Of the legal officers who were
guilty Of such an astonishing blunder, and also Of
the unwieldly machinery Of the Chsncery Court
Charles Dickens wrote one Of his best articles
upon the subject, depicting the horrors Of prison
| slavery, when Sir Edward Sudgen comes out In
tho Tines, and denies that the officers were at
fault, and is sorry That Mr.. Dickens should be
guilty Of such blundcrsl Since, however, it has
been proved that in the s,me prison another man
| has lain for Muiy-three yeGrS, through similar
mistake TO that which ensaved Mr. Taylor 80
long
For some months past the leading journals have
been advocating legal reform, especially In the
| ohaucery courts and the presence Of Mr.. Dudley
Field Of New York, has given q strong impulse
| 10 the movement. The recent reforms in the
State Of New York have been widely quoted MS
precedent for change. IL Is certainly iattering
10 American Jurisprudence when the lending
thinkers Of England quote it's reforms as worthy
of being followed in Britain. Lord Brougham, who
Is constantly dancing about from one subject to
another, is In favor Of reform, and though no one
knows what 10 make Of so erratic genius, yet all
acknowledge his profound knowledge Of law, and
his opinions on any matter connected with 1t carry
considerable weight. But reforms move slowly In
England, and II will take century, perhaps to
achieve what New York achieved in Q 1.-THE Of
that time.
! perceive that the East India Company i'm
ported last week ,452 bales Of cotton from their
plantations The bales were readily sold In Man
chester, as there Is quite demand for free-labor
oottons in certain portions Of this country, and
part Of the importation was equal In quality TO
the generality Of American cottons part oft
was raised from New Orleans seed.
A large meeting was held In the metropolis on
Wednesday evening, to agitate for the repeal Of
the odious window tax. Lord Stuart Was one OF
the prominent speakers present. The duty upon
light II Is argued by reformers, is altogether too
strocious practice 10 be allowed in England.
Tha nuarrel In France which has been going