THE SPEECHES of SIR H. D. C. ST. PAUL; SIR JOHN CAMPBELL, and
others;
Delivered on the Hustings, on Monday Dec. 10th, 1832, being
the day of Nomination of a Candidate for that New Borough.
On MONDAY last the election for this borough commenced. The
candidates are Sir HORACE St. PAUL, a high Tory, and Sir
JOHN CAMPBELL, the Solicitor-General. A great proportion
of the houses in the town were decorated with laurel, and
exhibited the colours of the Solicitor-General; and on Monday
morning public enthusiasm was wound up to a great pitch in
favour of Sir John. The hustings were erected immediately in
front of the Town hall, and at 9 o'clock Sir John Campbell,
accompanied by his committee and numerous other friends, made
his appearance, amidst the loud cheering of the populace. Sir
H. St. Paul shortly afterwards arrived from the Hotel, and was
greeted with mixed sounds of approbation and displeasure. The
latter, however, greatly predominated. The applause appeared
to proceed from, perhaps, some 200 special constables and the
more immediate friends of the hon. baronet. The necessary oaths
having been administered to Mr. Cornelius Cartwright, the
Returning Officer, and other formalities gone through,
Mr. CARTWRIGHT expressed a hope that the electors would
discharge the duty imposed upon them with temper and
moderation; and, by doing unto others as they should wish to
be done by, display a truly Christian spirit. If they did
this, whatever might be the issue of the contest, they would
secure the reward of an approving conscience, and though then
divided, the town would again subside into a state of peace and
happiness. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DIXON, on rising to nominate Sir Horace St. Paul,
congratulated the electors of Dudley on their being now
qualified to return members to the representative branch of
the Legislature, and he hoped, for the credit of the town,
they would send that man who, from knowledge, connexion,
and political principles, would prove their most faithful
representative. He was about to propose as a candidate for
their suffrages, a gentleman who had large property in the
neighbourhood, and who was in every way a fit and proper person
to return as their representative to Parliament. He begged
to nominate Sir Horace St. Paul. (Great hooting, with slight
cheers, and cries of "No tripe." Sir Horace, we believe,
nightly treats the supporters with tripe suppers.)
Mr. SALISBURY had great pleasure in seconding the nomination of
Sir Horace St. Paul, as a gentleman, from his well known honour
and high integrity, well qualified to represent the borough of
Dudley in Parliament. (Groans.)
Mr. TWAMLEY, who was received with loud cheering said, however
inadequate he might be to perform the task he had undertaken,
he solicited their attention while he offered a few words on
the glorious, happy, and momentous occasion on which they
were then assembled. (Cheers.) He had to introduce to their
notice a gentleman as a candidate for their suffrages, who had
long been before the public, a gentleman of great talent and
commanding eloquence, and who was competent to do every good
to the country which it was possible for any individual man to
do. (Cheers.) It gave him, Mr. Twamley, supreme felicity and
pleasure to propose Sir John Campbell, as the representative of
the borough of Dudley in Parliament. (Loud cheers.)
H. BRAIDLEY, Esq. then presented himself to second the
nomination of the Solicitor-General, when he was vehemently
opposed by the friends of Sir Horace St. Paul, on the ground
that he was not properly entered in the register. It appeared
that by mistake his Christian name was stated on the register
to be John instead of Henry. Being thus disqualified as a
voter, it was contended that he had no right to take part
in the election proceedings. The point was argued at length
before the returning officer, by Mr. Whitcomb the barrister,
on behalf of Sir J. Campbell, and by Mr. Hildyard, on behalf
of Sir Horace St. Paul. Mr. Whitcomb contended that the act
had provided for any misnomer and wrong description, and that
it was merely necessary when such a mistake occurred that the
party claiming a vote should swear at the time of election that
he was the person described "as A B" in the registration. The
returning officer, after receiving a protest from the friends
of Sir Horace, allowed Mr. Braidley to proceed.
Mr. BRAIDLEY, again presented himself, and was again assailed
by the interruptions of the Paulites and the cheers of his
friends. Having at length obtained a hearing, he began by
observing the glorious cause having triumphed, he then came
forward to second the nomination of Sir John Campbell. (Loud
cheers.) Who was his opponent? Sir Horace St. Paul,--a Tory,
who during the 20 years he had had a seat in Parliament, had
on all occasions given his silent vote in favour of all the
wasteful and extravagant expenditure incurred by successive
Tory Governments. (Groans.) Within the last few months, as far
as the scope of his abilities would permit, he had done all in
his power to destroy the elective franchise, which the people
panted for, and which they now enjoyed; and yet had now the
daring assurance to ask the electors of Dudley to exercise
their new privileges in his favour, and return him as their
representative. (Groans and hisses directed at Sir Horace.) The
time was now arrived when the electors must honestly perform
their duty to themselves, to their children, and to posterity.
Let them throng early and eagerly to the poll, and the triumph
of Sir John Campbell, whose nomination he seconded, was secure.
(Loud cheers.)
Sir H. ST. PAUL was received with loud cheers by his friends,
and the most uproarious disapprobation by his opponents. It
then became his duty to address the electors of Dudley, and
would preface what he was about to say, that he should not
offer any observations of a personal nature as regarded his
hon. and learned opponent. He bore no enmity to the learned
gentleman nor to any of his supporters; and he hoped the
contest would be conducted, and if possible concluded, in
perfect good humour on both sides. The political principles
he had hitherto entertained he still adhered to, and should
ever continue to maintain them. (Loud disapprobation.) He
had held those principles when they were in good report, and
now, when they were for a short time out of favour, he should
not cowardly abandon them. (Groans, with applause from the
Paulites.) His principles had ever been those of practical
economy, and it was upon these principles he acted when he
opposed the present Ministry in the grant of 5,500,000_l._
to pay the Russian Dutch loan. (Cries of "Oh, oh.") He
recollected, and they would all bear in mind, that this sum
came out of the pockets of the industrious labourers. (Cheers
from the Paulites.) Again he had opposed the sum of 800,000_l._
guaranteed to the new King of Greece. What, he would ask, were
all the trifling savings effected by the present Government
compared with those enormous items of expenditure? Upon the
same principle, when Parliament assembled, and he was returned
as their representative, of which he had not the slightest
doubt, when His Majesty's servants came down to the house--a
most disgraceful war--(immense uproar, shouts from the
Paulites, and groans from their opponents,)--he claimed fair
play--he said a most disgraceful war, for it could lead to no
good, but at the same time occasion great depression and ruin
to the English trade. Many who now heard him already felt its
disastrous effects. If the trade of the manufacturer by this
war--this damnable war--(great uproar,) They must excuse him,
he could not but speak strongly because he felt strongly. He
could not but think of the sufferings of the inhabitants of
Antwerp, forced to leave shelter and property, subject to the
peril of foreign and intestine war. He was, however, about
to state, that if in England, the merchant and manufacturer
suffered from this disgraceful war, the sufferings of the
artisans and the industrious working classes must be much
greater. Formerly, the man who opposed the Government was
deemed an independent man. He who now opposed the present
Administration might, he hoped, claim the same character.
(Laughter.) Before he concluded, he might be allowed to
allude to one other circumstance. Englishmen had hitherto
been considered as being particular lovers, and particularly
proud, of their country. They were always proud of the flag
under which they had fought and conquered--a flag respected
throughout the whole habitable globe,--he alluded to the old
English union jack, which, by the bye, was their English
tricolour. Why, then, should an Englishman borrow the colours
of the French? (alluding to many tricolour flags waving from
the windows of the houses in the opposite street.) It was bad
enough to think what had occurred within a few weeks under that
flag, without being publicly insulted by its exhibition in the
streets of an English town. Formerly, the English navy knew
nothing of a French ship in her ports except at the tow of
an English ship; but recently, to the disgrace of the British
Government, her fleet had been placed under the command of
a French admiral, in fact, under the auspices of the French
flag. It was for wars like these their pockets were drained,
and the national character humbled. The Government and its
supporters might talk of economy,--but while they merely talked
of economy they practised extravagance. Under the British flag
their heroes had fought, and conquered, and had died,--and God
forbid that Englishmen should ever be ashamed of it. The hon.
candidate retired amidst most conflicting demonstrations of
opinion.
Sir JOHN CAMPBELL presented himself amidst the most deafening
cheers, which lasted some minutes. He was proud to present
himself before the electors of Dudley, and solicit their
suffrages as their member in the first reformed Parliament.
(Cheers.) It had been said by his enemies that he was only
supported by the rabble. Let them look at the rabble that stood
around him. (Cheers.) First, he was proposed by a venerated
inhabitant of the town, than whom a more respectable individual
did not exist in the world. He alluded to his friend Mr.
Twamley, who for half a century had lived respected and beloved
in the town, and who was now enjoying an ample fortune as
the reward of his industry and integrity. (Cheers.) The next
of the rabble (laughter) by which he was surrounded was his
friend Mr. Braidley, against whom a strong effort had been
made by a quibble (and it was only from such quibbles that
any doubt could be entertained of his, Sir J. Campbell's,
success) to deprive him of the power of taking any part in
their proceedings. Through the impartiality of the returning
officer that attempt had failed, and he (Sir J. Campbell) had
been honoured with the support of Mr. Braidley. Another of
his rabble was his friend Mr. Foster, (cheers) a gentleman at
the very head of the most important manufacturing concerns in
the district, and who employed more men than all the rest of
Sir Horace St. Paul's friends put together. (Loud cheers.)
Indeed, he believed he had the good opinion and suffrages of
the vast majority of the respectable inhabitants of the borough
of Dudley. The individual who now presented himself to them
was no stranger; they had known him, and he them, for a long
course of years, accustomed as he had been to practise among
them in that profession to which his studies had been chiefly
devoted. In the course of his practice in that profession he
had been called to defend his friend Mr. Cooke, whom he saw
near, who was prosecuted, or rather persecuted, by the Tories
of Dudley, for doing that only which he thought it his duty to
do, (cheers) and through his instrumentality he might assert
he escaped unmerited punishment. He (Sir J. Campbell) was not,
however, alone known to them by his professional practice,
but also as a public man. He Would defy any man to produce,
during the time he had the honour of a seat in two successive
Parliaments to find a single sentiment or a single vote he
ever gave against the rights and liberties of his country.
His friend, Mr. Foster, one of the rabble (laughter) had sat
side by side--many a weary hour they had spent within the
walls of the House of Commons. They invariably supported the
interests of the people. (Cheers). But where was Sir Horace
St. Paul? He would take care to say not one word discourteous
of the hon. baronet, but as a public man he had a right to
comment on his political conduct. Never then, when the ayes or
the noes went, were his friend Mr. Foster, and himself, to be
found in company with Sir Horace St. Paul. His hon. opponent
was always against the bill, and anything but the bill. He
(Sir J. Campbell) had been much amused with an expression
of Mr. Dixon on moving the nomination of his opponent. The
gentleman set out by congratulating the electors of Dudley on
the obtainment of the elective franchise. Now this struck him
as singular, for having anticipated such dreadful consequences
from the bill, instead of terms of congratulation he should
have expected terms of condolence. (Laughter and cheers). Mr.
Dixon ought to have commenced--"Electors of Dudley, I condole
with you on this melancholy occasion," and instead of the
brilliant colours now exhibited by his opponents they ought
to have been habited in mourning and crape. They who thought
the constitution had been overturned ought not to make it a
subject of congratulation, but of condolence. In the language
of defeated men they ought to say "We are beaten, but we will
do all in our power to restore Old Sarum and Gatton, and the
rest of the rotten boroughs, and perpetuate every abuse, both
in church and state." Sir John, after indulging in a strain of
happy ridicule, said if Dudley, at the present time, returned
an acknowledged Tory, the town would be for ever memorable
in the annals of infamy, for he believed that there was not
one new borough in either England, Scotland, or Wales, except
Dudley, where an Anti-reformer had dared to show his face. In
some of the old boroughs, where corruption in a degree existed,
Anti-reformers had presented themselves as candidates; but he
believed Dudley was the only new borough in which a candidate
professing such principles had offered himself. He could not
believe that the electors of Dudley would stain themselves and
posterity with such unspeakable discredit (Cheers). It could
not be, for he knew that, with few exceptions, it was with the
electors of Dudley "Campbell and Reform." (Loud cheers). If
they were ashamed of the franchise which had been conferred
upon them, they would return Sir Horace St. Paul. (Cheers).
He (Sir Horace St. Paul) had told them, as a honourable man,
that he entertained the same principles that he had always
professed; that he was the advocate of again enslaving and
enthralling them under the mastery of those under whom they
already smarted. Sir Horace was for the old state of things,
although he claimed their suffrages under the new bill. He
(Sir Horace St. Paul), to be consistent, would say, reform
being bad, the sooner we revert to the old state the better.
He would support a bill to disfranchise Dudley, and support
another to enfranchise Old Sarum. (Cheers). The repeal of the
Reform Bill was considerably too desperate a measure ever to be
expected, and the object of the Tories was therefore directed
to the destruction of its objects, and if possible to render
it a mere dead letter. It would indeed be a dead letter if
the constituency of England returned anti-reformers--men who
had exerted all their power to prevent reform in the church,
the law, and the state. The Reform Bill would prove no good
to the country unless they returned to Parliament, which the
King's writ had just issued to assemble, men prepared to
carry out into beneficial effect ulterior measures, which its
framers and supporters contemplated, when by their efforts it
became the law of the land. (Cheers.) The learned gentleman
went on to state, that when he first offered himself for the
representation of Dudley, he was induced to do so by a highly
respectable body of requisitionists, and that, although since
that time he had been requested to stand for other boroughs,
both in England and Scotland, where it was supposed he would
be returned with less difficulty, he had declined doing so,
because every day brought with it fresh reasons for his
rejoicing in his original determination to stand for that
borough. After once pledging himself to the electors of Dudley,
he should have considered himself the basest of mankind had he
deserted them. ("Why don't you go to Stafford?") Some gentleman
called out Stafford. He could only say, that he had no doubt if
he had gone to Stafford, he should have been returned, as well
as other places, with little trouble. He had already contested
that borough with a gentleman whom he saw standing near him,
and one of his present opponents (Mr. Hawkes), although that
gentleman then went to Stafford under the colours of reform,
and he (Sir J. Campbell) had in both cases defeated him.
(Cheers). He repeated he had no doubt that he should have been
returned for Stafford without difficulty, but he considered he
should be more honoured in being returned as the first member
for the virgin borough of Dudley. (Loud cheers). The resolution
he had formed he had no doubt would be crowned with a glorious
victory. (Cheers). The learned gentleman was about to enter
into certain charges of intimidation he had to prefer against
a supporter of Sir Horace St. Paul, but first wished to be
informed by the returning officer whether, if he mentioned the
name of a person, the accused would be allowed to reply.
The RETURNING OFFICER, said, any gentleman whose name
might occur in the discussion should certainly be heard in
explanation.
Sir JOHN CAMPBELL was glad to hear that declaration from the
worthy Returning Officer, as he could then have no difficulty
in naming the gentlemen to whom he alluded, and calling upon
him to explain the circumstance he (Sir J. Campbell) was about
to detail.
The RETURNING OFFICER said if Sir J. Campbell was about to
bring forward any matters of accusation against private
individuals, he would rather that he refrained from so doing.
He did not think the present the time for discussions of that
matter.
Sir JOHN CAMPBELL said he purposely and advisedly put the
question to the Returning Officer, as he was unwilling to
mention the name of any gentleman, as connected with certain
transactions, unless the party accused had an opportunity
of defending himself. He should certainly, under such
circumstances, not mention the names of those who had been
guilty of the most disgraceful intimidation; but if the ballot
should be introduced, he could with safety predict that it
would mainly be owing to the exertions of the Tories. (Cheers.)
Supposing it should be introduced at the next election, they
would doubtless then congratulate the people of Dudley upon the
ballot as they now did upon the elective franchise. The learned
gentleman said he knew of many acts of intimidation, but he
was happy to say that in several instances they had proved
unavailing. He then went on to state, that since the last time
he had presented himself before the electors of Dudley he
had accepted office under the Crown. Enjoying the confidence
of His Majesty's Ministers, and the favour of his Sovereign,
he had been appointed his Majesty's Solicitor-General. He
thanked God, however, that he believed he lived in times when
no collision was likely to occur between the duties of the
King's Solicitor-General and the electors of Dudley. (Cheers.)
The British constitution, when in healthy operation, worked
harmoniously together, the privileges of the Crown and the
rights of the people being equally for the protection of both.
Could any charge be brought against him for accepting office
under Lord Grey? Did the people of Yorkshire censure Lord
Brougham, after his election for that county, for accepting
the Lord Chancellorship? No; when in office he laboured only
still more efficiently to carry into effect the measures he
had advocated and promoted when out. He (Sir John) assured
the electors of Dudley that he would not hold office one
moment longer when he found by so doing he was compromising
the liberties, interests, and happiness of the people.
(Cheers.) The moment he found he could not hold it consistent
with his principles he would resign. (Cheers.) The learned
gentleman next proceeded to reply to Sir Horace St. Paul on
the Russian-Dutch Loan, and to defend, in eloquent terms,
the Government on that question, of which he gave a succinct
history. The fact was, when Lord Grey with his ministry came
into power, they found a treaty in existence, made by their
predecessors the Tories, and which they found they could not
fail to fulfil without a complete breach of national faith.
Almost the whole of the Tories admitted that according to the
spirit they were bound to pay the guarantee to Russia, and it
was only by a quibble such as had been brought against his
friend Mr. Braidley, that they attempted, for the purpose of
embarrassing the ministry, to set it aside. As to the Greek
Loan, that, too, was a job of the Tories; but he confessed,
unlike most Tory jobs, he approved of it, for it was nothing
more than a guarantee, if necessary, to enable the Greeks
to withstand the Tories of Turkey and the Conservatives of
Constantinople. Every nation of Europe that possessed one spark
of liberty was anxious that the Greeks should be emancipated
from the slavery of Turkish tyranny. Sir John next entered
into the Belgian question, and defended the policy of the
British Government at great length. He described the present
state of affairs in Holland and Belgium as the result of
Conservative influence in this country. With regard to the
colours which the hon. baronet remarked were so conspicuous
in the distant vista before him, he (Sir John Campbell)
was not surprised at his consternation. The banners of the
Solicitor-General were to be seen at almost every house in the
long street opposite the Market-hall. He had no doubt, though
he was the last man to inflict pain, that the hon. baronet
was literally appalled at the fearful exhibition which then
presented itself before his astonished eyes. (Cheers.) If they
could walk through the streets of Dudley, they would find
200 similar flags; flags all bearing the emblem of British
loyalty--the crown; all denoting respect and admiration to King
William IV. (Three cheers for the King.) The learned gentleman,
after a long and eloquent speech, called upon the electors of
Dudley to come speedily to the poll. He assured his opponent
he should not make any vexatious opposition, nor demand the
administration of any unnecessary oaths. Sir John Campbell
concluded a speech of about an hour and half in length amidst
the most vehement cheering.
After a few observations from MR. HAWKES, a late opponent of
Sir J. Campbell for Stafford, the Returning Officer put the
question as to the nomination of the two candidates, when it
was decided by a large majority for Sir John Campbell. The
friends of Sir Horace St. Paul immediately demanded a poll,
which was fixed to commence at 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning.
The meeting then broke up, and the supporters of the
Solicitor-General walked in procession through the town.
(_From the Times, December 12th, 1832._)
1832. At the time the late Mr. Thomas Hawkes won his first political
spurs, as M.P. for old Dudley; he was the head of the glass trade in
this town, and we could then boast of having _five large glass houses_
in full operation in our midst, employing at the time upwards of 1,000
hands. Since that time the glass trade has nearly departed from Dudley,
and we have now only one glass works amongst us--viz., that highly
respectable firm of Messrs. John Renaud and Son, at the foot of Tower
Street, once the celebrated firm of Messrs. Guest, Wood, and Guest. The
glass trade seems to have migrated to Wordsley and Brettell Lane, for
that is now a large centre of glass manufactory.
The establishment of a Mechanics' Institute in Dudley during the last
fifty years has undergone many phases of decline and prosperity, for
at this early period a feeble effort for securing and maintaining a
Mechanics' Institute was made by holding a Reading and Lecture Room,
with a touch of political debate, in New Street; and the late Rev. John
Palmer, A.B., Unitarian Minister, took great interest in its promotion,
and his subjoined lecture, delivered to the Institute on Monday,
October 14th, 1833, testified his energetic efforts in its promotion.
LECTURE ON THE ADVANTAGES OF UNITING SCIENTIFIC WITH PRACTICAL
KNOWLEDGE, IN ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.
The circumstances under which the mechanic is usually brought
forward in life, are in a national point of view, as well
as regards the individual, deeply to be deplored.--England
has obtained celebrity all over the world for the skill and
ingenuity of her workmen; but her reward has not ended in a
mere name: she has experienced the more gratifying testimonials
of seeing the wealth of the world in her ports, to pay her for
her superiority in Arts and Manufactures. Indeed, if we trace
England's greatness to its source, we shall find it issuing
from the labour and ingenuity of her operative classes. Her
agriculture is adequate to the support of a small portion of
her population only, and it is to her manufactures she must
look for the maintenance of the remainder. It is from the same
inexhaustible source that her armies have been sent to every
shore, and her fleets to every sea; it is from the same source
that her power and energies are everywhere seen rising in such
gigantic forms, and executing such incredible operations; it
is from this, too, that her philosophers are wise, her poets
eminent, her statesmen eloquent: this is her universal spur
to industry; remove it, destroy the manufactures of England,
and her greatness is annihilated by the act; a universal palsy
seizes on her powers, her resources, her genius, her name. Is
it not then of the first importance that she should look on
her mechanics, those who hold the germ of her eminence, with
a favourable eye? Is it not the duty of her statesmen to view
their country's greatness in its cradle, and to anticipate the
means best calculated to bring it forward to the best and most
vigorous maturity? Yes, it may be replied, and this is already
done; have we not _schools_ in abundance for the children
of all classes, have we not schools _national_, schools
_congregational_, _army_ schools, _navy_ schools, _public_
schools, _private_ schools, was ever country so be-schooled
as this is?--Alas! the education of our youth is miserably
defective. I do not desire to put down the schools that now
exist, but I should wish to see others of a much different
kind established. The education now universally afforded is
merely _mechanical_. The intellect is but little taxed, and,
less still, amused by it. What is the amount of instruction
penuriously dealt out to the children of our mechanics?--why,
to know how to read, to mind their _stops_ and _emphasis_ in
proper places, to write and make up pecuniary calculations,
and this being done, their education is _finished_; they are
then sent to learn their _trades_; the system of _mechanical_
instruction goes on; the hands and feet and fingers must
practise such and such motions by which such and such results
are produced; and after all it is often found that a better
workman may be constructed out of materials of wood and iron.
It is melancholy to reflect how large a field of literature
has been thus left uncultivated. I lately wanted information
respecting the iron trade; I desired to know what internal
or chemical change takes place in the metal in its progress
through various states: and I have not been able to discover
that more than one simple and popular treatise on the subject
has ever issued from the British press. The French have been
more inquisitive on these important subjects, and some English
chemists have noticed them in a desultory manner. But a full,
familiar, and popular treatise on this great source of our
country's wealth is a _desideratum_ reflecting the greatest
disgrace on the system of education pursued throughout the
country. It is impossible that the philosopher who sits down in
his study to propound theories on subjects connected with arts
and manufactures should be able to bring as much information to
the task as is known to the practical man; and it is equally
useless to hope that the latter can turn his experience to
the same account as if he were acquainted with the peculiar
knowledge of the theorist. At the first meeting of this
society, I mentioned an anecdote of two individuals employed in
the humble but useful calling of _stone breakers_; one struck
each stone as it happened to lie before him; the other observed
that stones broke easiest in _certain directions_; he applied
this observation to his employment, and was thereby enabled to
earn considerably more than his companion. Now this fact was
known to the theorist long before, and under a proper system of
education, should have been more especially known to him whose
bread so materially depended on it.
I constantly observe in the streets and highways, as strong
an instance as need be adduced to point out the necessity of
a better national instruction. Waggons are drawn by teams of
horses to the number of four or even five, placed _one after
the other_. Now a knowledge of mechanical forces would shew,
that the nearer the exerting force is placed to the draught,
the greater the power; to speak in _technical_ language, the
_power is inversely as the square root of the distance_--thus,
if one horse be nine feet distant and another sixteen (the
two horses applying equal strength) the horse nearer the
draught will draw four pounds for every three drawn by the
more distant; for these numbers 4 and 3 are the square roots
of the numbers expressing the distances 16 and 9 feet: or
in other words, three horses at 9 feet distance will do as
much as four 16 feet, or as 5 at 25 feet. Horses then in
draught should always be put _in pairs_; there is an obvious
inconvenience in increasing the breadth of the team; and
besides those stationed _too far_ on the side, may be _as far_
from the centre of gravity of the draught, as if they were
placed in front of the others. The want of scientific knowledge
occasioned our ancestors incalculable trouble and expense. I
will explain this by their aqueducts: should we require to
convey water from the top of a hill or mountain to another of
equal elevation, the object may be easily and at little cost
effected by placing united pipes through the intermediate
space, and allowing the water to enter at one end. It is
obvious that it will find its level, it will run through the
pipe where it has entered, and having filled the lower portion,
will rise on the opposite side until it has attained the
elevation at which it entered the pipe on the first hill; but
before this simple principle was known, it was deemed necessary
to _find a level_ for the water; immensely high and broad walls
were raised from mountain to mountain, while to save some
labour and to afford some convenience, arches of proportionate
magnitude were built, spanning the valley below, and on the
top of this structure a canal was formed, over which a stream
of water, dearer in many instances than _Setin_ or _Falernian
wine_ was conveyed. The Architects in those days could not have
been more uselessly and absurdly employed, if their genius were
exercised in inventing diving bells, to secure the _sea horse_
from _drowning_, or in constructing steam paddles to assist
the whale; their employment was more preposterous than that of
"painting the lily, or flinging fresh perfume o'er the violet."
Scientific knowledge can be a burden to none, and there are few
indeed that it may not benefit. Even the frugal house-wife,
who with her family partakes of the evening cup of tea, may
practise a little useful economy by knowing a simple chemical
principle. Some alkalis have a superior power of extracting the
colouring matter from vegetables. In the tea plant, the essence
which we extract by infusion is identified with this colouring
matter; hence, if I put into the tea pot, during the process of
infusion, a small quantity of the _carbonate of soda_, I shall
draw forth a larger quantity of the _essential tea-principle_,
and, of course, I shall have my _tea stronger_; or if I have a
_respect for my nerves_, a less quantity of tea with a little
carbonate of soda will answer my purpose.
In performing operations in certain manufacturing processes,
all the assurance of success in the mind of the operator
proceeds from the knowledge that, by the same means, _such
results have been produced before_. How exceedingly slow then
must be the progress of discovery and improvement. It is almost
impossible in some trades, that some fortunate combination of
circumstances should not occasionally take place, and that
a discovery of importance should not thereby follow. It was
thus that the telescope was invented. Some glasses happened
to be placed by the hands of children, in such a disposition
as to magnifying or reflecting powers, as that the peculiar
telescopic qualities were observed. The hint was acted on, and
after repeated trials and disappointments, some clumsy and
inefficient telescopes were formed. But had the science of
optics been known, the secret must have instantly followed;
or had the construction of the human eye been previously
considered (for the eye is a perfect and beautiful telescope)
the hint for making an external and _auxiliary eye_ would
have been suggested by the study. But let it not be supposed
that all important discoveries are already made, and that
there is no opportunity for new Watts and Arkwrights to take
their illustrious positions in society. Genius still has many
harvests to reap, and men of common sense and common ingenuity
have many opportunities of rising to wealth and respectability.
Even a simple discovery in _candle-making_ is at this moment
realizing a fortune for the inventor. Many of you know the
argand lamp; the burner, whether for oil or gas, is circular,
and through it is a passage for a current of air; while this is
freely open the volume of flame is large, and the colour of the
light white, but when obstructed the flame is smaller and of a
_bluish_ colour. Most of the gas burners in the shops are on
the argand principle, where the fact now stated may be brought
to trial. The inventor of the patent candles had nothing to do
but to transfer this well known principle to materials used in
candle making; the wick is tubular, and the passage secured
from obstruction by the melted wax or tallow. This was almost
the whole improvement. Candles thus made, burn with a purer
and larger flame, and the protection afforded to inventors by
the patent laws, will I doubt not, be the cause of an abundant
reward to the _observer_. Thousands of these discoveries will
yet be made, and thousands will derive fortunes from the
discoveries.
In the very same useful article, I knew an attempt made to
produce improvement, which was unsuccessful, because the
individual was poor, and his fellow tradesmen ignorant. Had he
the means of continuing experiments, or could he have found
any individual in the candle trade wealthy enough to assist
him, and possessing sagacity enough to appreciate the intended
improvement, I am confident the effort alluded to would have
issued in merited success. The case was this. It may not
be known to you, that generally, no flame can be produced
without a quantity of a certain gas which is always in the
atmosphere, called oxygen; if a portion of air be deprived of
this gas, you can get nothing to burn in it; if you increase
the quantity of oxygen, you thereby augment the flame of any
substance burning in it; if you fill a vessel with pure oxygen,
almost any thing will burn in it; even _iron_ first touched
with lighted tinder, will burn in it, with a light intense and
beautiful. An individual in the candle trade conceived the idea
of infusing this oxygen gas into tallow; his ingenuity enabled
him to overcome some obstacles; the tallow was saturated with
this supporter of flame, and candles were formed from it;
but when the candle was lighted, it was discovered that the
tallow all round was possessed with the quality of _wick_; it
was beautifully inflammable, but the candle burned away very
rapidly. From circumstances noticed above the inventor could
not follow up his experiments to the point he had so nearly
attained _success_. The art of dyeing is very imperfectly
understood by those who profess it. A dyer possesses merely an
_imperfect art_ when he ought to command a _perfect science_.
I know few, if any, trades so completely scientific, and so
abounding with pleasing investigation. But there is not only
the absence of this pleasure but absolute loss of money to the
dyer in the composition of various dyes. This may be shewn in
several ways; I shall now notice one. The science of chemistry
has unfolded a singular fact, which is that bodies will not
always unite in _any proportions_ we might desire; we may take
salt and water, and mix them in any proportions up to the
period when the water becomes _saturated_, but it then finds a
limit. Thus we can make water more or less salt.
Now common vitriol is a compound formed of sulphur and oxygen;
two parts of the former being mixed with one of the latter;
but if one unacquainted with this principle should attempt to
make vitriol, and should put three parts of the sulphur to
one of the oxygen, or two of sulphur to two of oxygen, there
would either be a positive waste of a considerable portion
of ingredients, or a new article would be formed essentially
different from the desired acid. A want of knowing this
valuable truth costs many an humble dyer a fortune. How evident
is it then, that "Ignorance is a heavy tax."
In the operation of tanning it might be shewn, and I trust
will be shewn by gentlemen connected with this institution,
both by lectures and experiments, that the exhausted tan, as
it is called, contains much more of the tanning principle
than has been extracted from it. Our British-oak bark is
approaching a final exhaustion, and when we are driven to use
the foreign only, the secret will I doubt not be discovered.
When I look around me, and consider the several trades, arts
and manufactures, in which many in this district are engaged,
I cannot help expressing my astonishment that an Institution
of this nature was not established before. Instances of the
beneficial purposes it would serve, multiply on me so fast,
that I might expend the time of many lectures on the subject
of this evening. I do not wish to _encourage fraud_, but a
fact now strikes me, in reference to the gold, silver, and
jewellery trade, too curious to omit. I shall prepare my way
by explaining a few principles respecting _weight_. I dare say
you are aware that the air we breathe possesses weight. If you
weigh a bottle under ordinary circumstances, containing air,
and _nothing else_, and afterwards pump the air from it and
weigh it again, you will find that its weight is reduced; it
weighs _less_ than when filled with air. Now if I weigh two
bodies of different sizes, but of equal weights, in the open
air, and then dip _balance and all_ into water, I shall find
that they are no longer equiponderant. Each article in weighing
_loses as much weight as is equivalent to its own bulk of the
medium in which it is weighed_. For instance, if I weigh a
piece of timber shaped like a _quart bottle_ and of the size
of one, and in the other scale have copper weights, the timber
will lose as much weight as the size of the bottle of air would
weigh, and the copper loses as much weight as _its_ own size
of air would weigh. Now if I weigh them both in water, the
timber will lose as much weight as a bottle of _water_ would
weigh, and the copper weight will lose as much as its bulk of
water would weigh. It is evident then that the disproportion in
the latter case must be much greater than in the former. This
is the reason why boys lift stones in the water they could not
raise on land. And this is the reason that we often find, that
a commodity balances a certain weight at one time, which it
will not balance at another.
The cases of air and water, as media for weighing, I have
adduced as extreme cases, to explain the effects of the
different states of the atmosphere; some times it is _light_
and _thin_, at others _dense_ and _heavy_. When air is _light_,
bodies weighed lose _little_, but when it is _heavy_, they
lose proportionably. It is then of importance in purchasing
precious articles by weight, to know the state of the weather
as indicated by the barometer, and to observe the same index
when we sell again; the difference in silver would not be much,
that of gold would be of more importance, but in the purchase
of _diamonds_ the difference in value may be very considerable.
But you must observe, that as each body loses according to
its _bulk_, so the greater disproportion in _this respect_,
the better; a fraudulent jeweller should then have weights of
_wood_, and he should buy when the _atmosphere is light_, and
sell when it is heavy; the rule also will be of service with
common weights to the dealers in feathers, &c. _So much for
honesty!_
In connexion with the silversmith's business, I shall now
illustrate my subject by a reference to the art of gilding.
Many of our shopkeepers are proud of having their names and
callings over their shops, glittering in golden letters; and
Dudley has many artists well qualified to gratify the taste.
We also gild our frames for pictures and mirrors; but the
gilding soon wears off, particularly that exposed to the air.
The artist cannot prevent this, he has no control over the air,
but the man of science has. I think I shall best illustrate
my subject, by noticing the discovery of the truly beautiful
principle it is now my object to unfold.
The atmosphere acts with various corroding effects on different
metals, and it will, under certain known circumstances, often
pass by one to seize upon another. Some years since the lords
of the admiralty, struck with the amazing expense of coppering
ships' bottoms every year, (for one year, or rather one long
voyage, effectually corroded and destroyed one sheathing)
applied to Sir H. DAVY, to know if any plan could be devised
for remedying this serious evil. It would be useless for me
now to enter into minute details; suffice it to say, that
Sir H. DAVY was fully aware of the principle noticed above,
and he applied it; he connected here and there very small
portions of metals, more liable under certain influences to
be _rusted_, than the copper of the vessels; the metals he
used were iron and zinc; the latter placed inside the ship,
the former connecting it to the copper outside. The process
was most simple,--the cost very trifling,--the success truly
gratifying. It was then found that the corrosive qualities of
both air and sea water were neutralized; and, fortified with
this simple protection, vessels afterwards completed the whole
extent of the India voyage, without the copper sheathing being
tarnished. True, other difficulties made their appearance.
Rust of copper is pernicious to water-worms and small marine
animals, that do great injury to the bottoms of ships; and when
the copper was kept free from rust, by means of Sir H. DAVY'S
galvanic contrivance, those little reptiles came in vastly
increased numbers and strength, and achieved as much mischief
as was prevented. But while ship's bottoms are thus exposed,
the principle on which it was attempted to secure them, may be
applied to other purposes; amongst those is gilding. By drawing
a very simple galvanic circle, made of small morsels of zinc
and iron from the gilded letters or ornaments outside a shop
window, the gilding may be made to retain its brilliancy for
many years. Indeed simply driving a _nail_ in the wood-work
under every letter, will keep the metallic lustre outside
distinct and beautiful for a much longer time, than if this
were not done.
Whenever a new principle unfolds a law of nature, its
applications are almost innumerable; and things buried in
mystery before, become simple and obvious. I some time since
visited the Cradley Salt Wells, and on entering the bath room,
saw a man busily and laboriously employed in removing the rust
from the inside of the boiler; he told me he had to repeat
this job very often; for that the dust formed very fast, and
quickly became exceedingly hard. This was obvious to me from
the difficulty of removing it with a large and heavy knife.
I instantly saw a method by which the man's labour might be
altogether saved; or the task much more easily accomplished.
This was by the application of chemical re-agents. I do not
profess to know these, because my acquaintance with that
beautiful science is too limited; but such as it is, I doubt
not, that after a few experiments, I could discover it. But
I _do_ know a principle, that if applied, would not only
have made the task an easy one, but would, absolutely, _have
rendered it unnecessary_; and that is, the principle noticed
above in reference to ship's bottoms, and gilding. Were a
portion of zinc placed, according to the galvanic principles,
in connection with the inside of the boiler, the rust would
not accumulate, at least _on the boiler_; the same agency that
in the former case kept the coppers clean, and the gilding
bright, would in this case also, prevent the _incrustation from
adhering_ to the boilers of the _Salt Wells at Cradley_.
It must be acknowledged, that there is in the human mind a very
great repugnance to that which is _new_. The march of knowledge
is always considerably in advance of the march of improvement;
a philosophical principle of the greatest value, is sometimes
ascertained a long time before it is profitably employed.
It was suggested long since that the principle here noticed
ought to be used in the construction of steam boilers of all
descriptions, all being subject to rust; but particularly those
of ships, in which the water is generally from the sea. This
has not been done; and I am confident that if it had, many
explosions would have been prevented, and many lives saved.
But the time is fast approaching, when no useful discovery
will be rejected, merely from the fact of its being _new_.
Many a fortune to future mechanics and artists in the form of
philosophical theories are already stored up in the studies of
men of science. They want the knowledge of _how_ they should
be applied, and men who could employ them _knew nothing about
them_.
One of the latest triumphs of Science is of a nature too
interesting, and too appropriate for my present purpose, to
be omitted. I refer to the cure of _dry rot_ in timber. This
malady, the scourge of houses and builders, long engaged the
attention of the literary world; and recently was nearly
abandoned in despair. Success and perseverance are however
closely allied. The eye of the chemist was brought to bear
somewhat more closely on the subject. It was observed that
in the pores of some timbers a little globule of fluid was
contained, which further examination proved to be a substance
called _albumen_, precisely the same as the white of the
egg. This substance, belonging more to the _animal_ than to
the _vegetable_ world, was more liable to putrefaction or
rottenness; and when in this state, it naturally imparted the
principle of decay to the surrounding woody fibre. This was
the true nature and cause of _dry rot_. The _knowledge of the
disease_ is, proverbially, considered _half_ the _cure_. Here
it was the whole cure. It was known that _corrosive sublimate_
united to _albumen_ formed a substance not liable to _this_
species of corruption. The timber then was deposited in tanks
containing a solution of _corrosive sublimate_, and it was
discovered that _albumen_ was immediately destroyed; and, of
course, the dry rot effectually prevented. The discovery is
truly beautiful, and not less so than valuable and important.
A question is sometimes asked by persons in this neighbourhood,
whose querulous propensities cause them to anticipate evils,
centuries removed,--what will become of the iron trade when all
the coal pits are worked out? The question brings to mind the
old lady who, on being told that a certain comet would in the
year 3,000 and odd burn the world, absolutely lost her senses
through fear.
The man who from past improvements relies on human ingenuity
sees no cause for apprehension in the question. For what is the
fact,--the same question was just as seriously asked a couple
of centuries back in reference to timber, what shall be done
for iron manufacturing when all the timber in the neighbouring
woods shall be exhausted? It appears that the woods about
Dudley were very extensive at the time. Of these but little
remains at present; but the manufacture of iron has experienced
no obstruction.
The idea of applying _coal_ to the purpose would have appeared
_preposterous_. This valuable combustible was known to exist
abundantly, but it was believed to be impracticable to apply it
to the manufacture of iron, till a Mr. DUD DUDLEY, in the year
1619, tried the experiment and tried it successfully.
Had I time I should gladly read the life of this singular man.
It may be found in SHAW'S History of Staffordshire; but I have
not time even to condense it. The obstacles he had to encounter
for forty years, from a want of scientific knowledge--from
those who detested _innovations_--from those who saw that his
success would be prejudicial to their interests--from natural
causes (such as floods, &c.)--and his final and complete
triumph over all, evince a mind gifted with no ordinary
endowments. I think it would interest many were this life read
in the society some evening of meeting.
But the question may be asked, do _you_ see any probable
substitute for coke, when the coal is exhausted? I answer,
yes I do; and you will smile when I tell you that it is by
_burning water_; for the fact is undeniable, that water is, in
its elements, a most combustible body. This discovery has been
long within sight; the only obstacle was, that the expense of
other materials, necessary for preparing _water for fuel_, was
too great to make the discovery practically useful; this it is
said has been overcome by a gentleman at Leamington[1] and we
may shortly expect to see coal and timber superseded by this
more abundant article. Cooks will then light up their fires
by heaping upon it _masses_ of ice, and the rivers will be in
constant danger from the impudence of _cigar smoking boatmen_.
But, seriously, while we laugh, a proper question is, why
should such anticipations excite laughter? An article appeared
last year in Tait's Magazine, on reading which, we may have
cause to suspect, that in the abundance of our laughter, there
may be much folly. As the article is short, amusing, and to my
purpose, I shall read it. "About this time five hundred years
ago, _Anno Domini_ 1340, gunpowder and guns were invented." Now
the following (setting aside the mode of language, which is
not essential to our purpose) is the way in which one of these
gentlemen, a few months previous to that event, would have
expressed himself in reference to some other impossibility.
Somebody would be speaking of alterations in the mode of
warfare, upon which our contemptuous antivicissitudinarian
would thus break out:--
"A change like _that_! Why you might as well say that people
by-and-by will fight with fire and smoke, and that there will
be arrows as round as plum-puddings, and made of lead, as thick
as your skull!"--(A laugh among the Hon. Gentlemen of that
time.)
In nine months after this speech, gunpowder is invented, and
the art comes up by which round leaden arrows are shot out of
cannon, darting fire as they come, and filling the air with
smoke.
_Anno Domini_ 1440--The great grandson, or other representative
of the above gentleman, exclaims, on some fresh subject of
innovation amidst the honours of the laugh.--"A change like
_that_! Why, you might as well say that by-and-by there will
be books without being copied out, and that we shall have a
hundred of those impossible books in the course of a day."
Next year the art of printing is invented, which was thought
at first a thing magical and devilish, and by which we can now
have a thousand copies of a book in a day.
_Anno Domini_ 1534.--The great-great-great-great-grandson or
_now_ representative as aforesaid, is treating some other
novelty with the usual happy contempt of his race:--"A change
like _that_! Why, you might as well say, that the people will
all be permitted to read the Bible, and that nunneries, and
even Abbots will be put down!!"--(Shouts of laughter, in which
the Reverend Abbots present were observed to join.)
The same year the Bible is printed and read openly, and upwards
of six hundred religious houses suppressed.
_Anno Domini_ 1666.--"A change like that!" quoth the
representatives, "Why you might as well say that Englishmen
will leave off taking a steak and a cold tankard for their
breakfast--(A laugh)--or that they will go to the other end of
the world to pluck it off a gooseberry bush."--(Great laughter.)
The same year tea is brought into England, not indeed off a
gooseberry bush, but off a bush of no greater importance, and
(in common parlance) at the other end of the world.
But what ridicule would the man have excited who would have
presumed to prophesy the use of the _compass_, the application
of the _giant steam_, and the rising of gas light over the
manufacturing and the civilized world! What more interesting
task than to sit down with our fathers and hear them tell how
things were done formerly; with what time, trouble, expense,
and uncertainty operations were then performed, that now cost
but little delay or uneasiness. There is not a single mechanic
amongst us who, in the course of his study, will not see
hints towards an improvement that future times will develope,
doubtless far greater than what has already taken place.
And let me urge it on you, the pursuits that will lead to these
ends belong peculiarly and immediately to you. The philosopher
goes out of his way to pursue them. When we find Dr. Lardner
furnishing the world with practical treatises on manufactures,
we are surprised to think where he got the information. You,
the mechanics, ought to be the discoverers of all improvements
in your several trades, and ought to enjoy the reward of
such discoveries. Talk not of want of time, anticipate not
difficulties. When you feel disposed to make such apologies,
call to mind Sir R. Arkwright, when a barber's boy, kicked and
cuffed by his master for chalking the wig blocks over with
figures, that were to him fully as intelligible though not so
pretty as the hieroglyphics of Egypt. Poor Arkwright had the
most difficult obstacles to surmount; and yet he lived to be
honoured, and died full of years and possessions.
And call to mind the profound Bonnycastle, who commenced his
literary career in the situation of shoe-boy, an _inferior
kind_ _of John Boots_ in the Military College of Woolwich;
where he afterwards became deservedly the principal. And
look to honest Jamie Ferguson, making a heaven and an earth
for himself while he tended the flocks and herds of his
agricultural employer. Many a cold night did this poor boy lie
on his back to watch the motions of the stars, and to imitate
them by his ingenious contrivances; and who that then saw him
could have supposed that he was destined to become the light
and pride of science, the friend and favourite of kings and
philosophers. And is there nothing inciting in the story of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, the printer, entering Philadelphia unknowing
and unknown in his 17th year, eating his plain morsel under
the portico of that proud mansion that afterwards gave him a
wife?--And is there no magic to rouse to exertion in the names
_Marmontel_, _Kelper_, _Johnson_, _Linnæus_ and _Simpson_,
men whose genius no poverty could blight, and "being dead yet
speak?" But where do I run?--Is not the delight of pursuing
science an ample recompense? if not, is there not a _golden
reward_ in reversion. Truly has it been said of wisdom, that
"she has in her right hand riches and honour."
* * * * *
THIRD EDITION OF THE SPEECH OF THE RIGHT HON. AND REV. LORD
WARD.
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON MONDAY EVENING, April 6th,
1835.