1830.] Affairs in General 585 



Freedom is the safety of the King as well as the honour of the people ; 

 and at this hour the King of the freest people in the world is the only 

 one who has a security of sitting on his throne till the next bathing 

 season. This is the true pride of England. Her faith, her honour, and 

 her monarchy, are unchangeable. 



All the world laughs at Boatswain Smith, and probably he is no very 

 classic personage. But he has one quality which is worth a million, 

 and without which all others are worth nothing for public success he 

 has energy. Here is a rough fellow, who talks theology like a sailor, 

 and whose politeness has the 'fore-the-mast finish; yet he has done, 

 single-handed, what all the classics and common-halls of Oxford could 

 not do. He is building a church, an hospital, and half a dozen other 

 things, out of the dust : and Boatswain Smith may ask, which of my 

 betters has done more ? 



" The Refuge for Destitute Seamen. This building is now rapidly 

 rising on the site of the late Brunswick Theatre, under the auspices of 

 the Rev. Boatswain Smith. The workmen employed have prayers every 

 morning at six o'clock, but for all this the piety of some of them is 

 rather questionable. A person passing that way saw an Irishman 

 listening very attentively; the stranger asked him if he were not a 

 Catholic ? " Yes," was the answer. " How then," inquired the other, 



" can you join in prayer with these people ?" " O, by !" replied 



the labourer, " its aster work than cleaning bricks !" 



The scourge of India is coming into Europe. This is a terror which 

 throws all others into eclipse. The cholera will make all the revolu- 

 tions child's play, if it can once fix itself in Europe. But we must hope 

 the best ; precautions are already adopted at the sea-ports ; the quaran- 

 tine laws are put in force ; and we may be assured that every thing 

 which can be done by science and care will be done. England has not 

 seen any extensive epidemic for nearly two hundred years ; and the 

 habits of the people are so much improved within that period, the food 

 is so much better and more plentiful, medical science and public police 

 are so superior, that we should now meet the most virulent contagion 

 with comparative safety. However, all precautions must be taken ; and 

 we are glad to see the order of the Privy Council directing that vessels 

 from infected ports shall be put under strict supervision. Lord Heytes- 

 bury's (the ambassador) despatch certainly does not treat the matter 

 with lightness. 



" St. Petersburgh, Sept. 15. My Lord, The accounts of the pro- 

 gress of the cholera-morbus are becoming rather alarming. It is making 

 rapid advances towards Moscow ; it is already at Sinebiask, Tyaritzigur, 

 SaretafF, and Pewza. At Astrakhan, the governor (Nisson) and almost* 

 every officer of police have perished, and the other deaths are at the rate 

 of about 100 daily. If the disease once reaches Moscow, there can be 

 little doubt that it will spread to St. Petersburgh, Warsaw, and from 

 thence into Germany. This will be much less extraordinary than its 

 regular progress from India to the Caucasus, and from thence into the 

 southern provinces of the Russian empire. It appears to be of a very 

 deadly nature, and to have all the character of the real Indian cholera. 

 " I have the honour, &c. (Signed) " HEYTESBURY." 



" The Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T." 



M. M. New Series.VoL.X. No. 59. 4 E 



