Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

14 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

(Dur .f anion Corns pntoii.

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(Dur .f anion Corns pntoii. [We deem it right to state that we do n .ot identify ourselves with oar correspondent's opinions.] Government are progressing fairly with their budget, and, with the exception of a few minor modi- fications, it is probable that the whole of the resolu- tions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be passed. The bill for the abolition of the paper duty which is, in fact, a part of the budget, may now be considered safe. The Chancellor of the Exchequer having agreed to allow the paper makers a drawback, it seems to me that the trade has nothing to complain of, and the measure is one which will benefit the public. There are, of course, some arguments in favour of the retention of the duty, but the argu- ments are certainly in favour of the abolition. What a contrast was the debate on the paper duty to some of those illiberal, narrow-minded notions which the Sidmouths and the Castlereaghs of half a* century back used to enunciate! What a tribute was paid to the value of the Cheap Press-the people's press The press may now be considered entirely free. No more Excise spies, no more antiquated security laws, no compulsory stamp, and no censorship. Not that we have, in the present generation, been afflicted with this; but the thought will force itself onus when hearing of the miserable fettered condition of the conti- nental press. Thank God for a free press! The liberty of unlicensed printing," of which Milton wrote, was a good thing to obtain by stealth; the liberty of licensed printing was better; but the liberty of printing with- out Government being able either to license or prohibit, is a grander thing still. If anything should make us love our country well, it is our free, enlightened, moral ress. May we continue to use our power wisely and Your readers cannot be expected to take much interest in the management of our suburban gardens open for the amusement of the public, but I may be allowed to allude to a matter which is of general interest. The Royal Surrey Gardens, made famous as having been so long the preaching station of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, have latterly been conducted in a way to give great offence to the neighbourhood and the community generally. There have been Sunday even- ng concerts, admission to which has been gained by refreshment tickets, and the conduct and the character of the company have been such as to cause regret to the religious and moral portion of the community generally. I hear that a great change is to be now made—the Sunday admission being entirely abandoned. It would be well if a similar change. could be effected elsewhere. These Sunday evening concerts, combined as they are with drinking and smoking, cannot but be injurious to the morals of the crowds which they attract. It seems, to me that some legislative enact- ment is required in this direction. We are to have another literary benefit, a grand vocal and instrumental concert being given at Sadler's Wells Theatre, "for the benefit of a literary gen- tleman, long suffering from severe illness." There ca be nothing objectionable in this; but it is to be regret- ted that the funeral of friends should be followed by burlesques to pay the funeral charges, and support dependants. I cannot think it is in good taste that gentlemen should, as it were, dance upon the tomb- stone, and then go round with the hat. It may be well to say this much before another case is announced -a case which I hear is looming in the future. It is a thousand pities that literary men, who have it in their power to make a. provision for their families, should thus leave widow and children as a legacy to the kind- ness of friends. How fast and furious must have been the dancing, and how great the bustle and confusion, at the Volunteer Ball, judging from the advertisements which appear in the daily papers relative to things which were lost at the Floral Hall. One gentleman has lost a light-coloured rough great coat;" another, "a perfectly plain sword;" another, a military cloak;" and as to the ladies, their losses are innumerable! Madame R, advertises that the lady who dressed for the Floral Ball at Madame 's saloon, and who left a costly bracelet, need not be under alarm," &c., &c. Now, I mind me that this same Madame R-— was, some time since, a witness on a trial, and it came out that she was a kind of maker-up, or dresser of ladies who were anxious to lend artificial charms to those of Nature, or to substitute them for those of which Nature had deprived them. Madame R-, it seems, makes a handsome income by this sort of thing. She is a perfect adept at false ringlets, false teeth, Ninon bloom, pearl powder, and rouge; she knows how to pencil the eyebrows, and tinge the cheek. If she cannot give lightness to the step and fire to the eye, she can, at least, give every advantage that long practice and con- summate skill in her curious profession can afford. I wonder whether any bracelet was lost; whether the lady is not a myth; and I wonder, too, what was lost at the Floral Ball. Did any false ringlets drop off? Did any false teeth drop out? If so, they were irreclaimable perquisites! Arabella. Clarinda would never apply for those tresses she bought at Truefitt's, nor would Grace Angelica (aged) claim that ill-fitting front tooth. Ah, me! what secrets could the ball- room tell if it knew all that the "gay and festive throng" know! We most of us remember what a sensation was made in the academic and religious world when the cele- brated "Tracts for the Times" appeared, especially that celebrated Tract No. 90, which sought to unite the Churches of Rome and England. Puseyism is not confined now to the seat of learning from which it emanated; it has spread, and, it is said, is spreading; but, I fear, from the same learned city whence ema- nated Anglo-Catholicism is likely to emanate a more dangerous system that of enlightened, classical, learned scepticism, under the guise of liberal Chris- tianity. Professor Baden Powell and Professor Jowett, men of undoubted first-class ability, are apparently the leaders of a movement which seems to aim at sapping the foundations of evangelical Christianity as received by orthodox Churchmen and Dissenters. To the volume of "Essays and Reviews," which is now attracting so much attention, the former gentle- man contributes a paper on the "Study of the Evidences of Christianity," and the latter a paper on the "Interpretation of Scripture." The views enter- tained by these gentlemen are peculiar, and are giving much anxiety to those who value the simple truths of the Gospel. There was rather a eurious and suggestive gathering in London a day or two ago. Your readers are aware that in Central Italy there has been a kind of general election—a public voting to decide whether Central Italy shall be annexed to Piedmont, or whether it shall be a separate kingdom. Strange to say, also, this general election extended itself here. In the; neigh- bourhood of Hatton-garden there are numbers of Italians—image-men and organ-grinders (and fellows, by the bye, who grind the grinders—padrones, as they are called). These persons had an equal right to vote with their fellow-countrymen at home. Accordingly numbers of them might have been seen wending their way down Hatton-garden to the London Mechanics' Institution. They went to record their votes. Each Italian had two voting-papers. On one was inscribed Annessitne alia monarchia costituzionale di Re Vittorio Emanuele Second,o on the other, "Regno separato — (" Annexation to the constitutional monarchy of Victor Emmanuel," and Separate king. dom"). According to each man' wishes, so he de- posited his voting-paper in a voting-urn. It is some- what curious that this act of citizenship should have been followed up so zealously by men far away from the scene of strife in Italy. It shows how strong is the love of country. If not true of personal love, Haynes Bayly's line is certainly true of love of country— Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Public attention is now very actively directed to the vast improvements in gunnery which are being effected, and it may be well, therefore, to allude to the great injustice contemplated towards a gentleman who is doing much for the people in this respect. The way in which inventors have in all ages been pooh-poohed by Governments, and laughed at by the people, is well known. Sir William Armstrong was at first a recent instance of this, so far, at least, as official authorities I are concerned; but he now appears likely to be some- what more highly honoured than he deserves, to the prejudice of the inventor of a still greater gun than that of Sir William. After a good deal of official delay and cold water, Government at last take up with Sir William Armstrong, and lay out an enormous sum of money in manufacturing Armstrong guns. But to! there comes news of a more powerful gun-a stronger arm than anything from the armoury of Sir William Armstrong—the Whitworth rifled cannon. Now, it seems only reasonable that Mr. Whitworth should have not only the credit, but the pecuniary benefit of his invention; but, if all I hear be true, the authorities are allowing, or are likely to allow, Sir William to reap the advantage of Mr. Whit- worth's invention. The former maintains that the Whitworth rifled cannon is only the Armstrong principle developed, and {rather unscrupulously intimates. that he, Sir William, can also make the Whitworth cannon. Nominally he will improve his own gun to the excellence of that of his rival, but virtually there can be little doubt that new ideas will be appropriated, the originator of which will gain nothing by them. This is the old tale. The inventor lives and dies in poverty the adapter succeeds in more senses than one. But Governments especially should be careful that honour is given to whom hcnour is due.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ECCLESIASTICAL VESTMENTS BILL.

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; SEDUCTION AND REVENGE.

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