NOTES AND QUERIES.
THE King of Portugal does not disdain to recognize his own youth and its necessities. "I have undertaken this voyage," he said to the City deputation, "not for my amusement, but for my instruction, and for the purpose of better fitting myself hereafter to guide the destinies of the people over whom I am called to rule." The young King appears to have profited by his schooling already. He recognizes the strength of Portugal in her English alliance and her "liberal" institutions. He could not have come to a better school than that where the Sovereign of the country so well understands government by law, and her Consort has at once shown so much tact in adapting himself to the genius of his adopted country and in penetrating to the philosophy of things. The idea of this young King suggests a wish that other princes could follow his intelligent example and go to school. It may be objected that Nicholas, while only Grand Duke, also visited this country and studied English institutions : but Nicholas was per- haps already too old to learn with the facility of youth. Even the pre- sent generation of Russian Grand Dukes are past the tender years in which the genius is pliant. Russia is to go to another school— that of discomfiture ; and after that preparatory course of adver- sity, perhaps a course of education in England might be advan- tageous for the next relay of princes. The American princes, too, might meet those of Portugal in our old original establishment. We say the American princes, since the Republic has now arrived at that extreme point in Democracy, that absolute freedom for in- dividual ambition, which is likely to occasion a reaction ; and so we may expect to see a crop of aristocracy, if not nascent princes, in the far West. How much better if their schooling be found here, where we are not new to it, than on the wild border or the Mexican battle-field!
Mr. Gladstone told the Decimal Coinage deputation, that the subject had not undergone enough "sifting by all classes of the community." Imagine "all classes of the community" sifting a decimal question! It is, however, one of those subjects where no additional sifting can get at anything fresh ; nothing but tenths can ever result from the most minute sifting of this particular sub- ject. "The sentiments of the Government," he said, are of no importance : not as sentiments, but as an executive order they would be of importance. Unanimity may exist in sentiment, but absolute universality is required before it can be carried into effect ; and that can only originate from the central Government. Decimal coinage would reduce all compound arithmetic in connex- ion with English monks and weights to simple addition and the other simple rules; and the public would bless the Chancellor and the Government that enabled it to get rid of vulgar fractions, which are infinitely more troublesome than decimals.
One of the grand difficulties in adapting the present gold and silver units to a:decimal system is said to lie in the necessity for raising the copper unit to a value of about five farthings. As the piece thus created would represent the "round sum" charged for small articles of common consumption,—the penny loaf, penny bun, penny journal, &c.,—there would be a rise of price to the poor. The producer, however, would, as usual, adjust the quan- tity sold to the rise ; unless, as is probable, the natural rise of prices, just now, were found to meet the change of coin, and so to furnish the very best opportunity for effecting the change at the only difficult part—the copper range.
Government is safe against De Bode; far safer than Mississippi or Florida against bondholders. The British plan of resistance is inimitable ; it may be called the circular plea. Forty years ago save one, Government objected to the Baron de Bode that he was not a British subject. With immense trouble he proved his Bri- tannic capacity. It was then objected that he did not incur con- fiscation as a British subject, contemplated by the treaty. With immense trouble he proved that he was a British subject contem- plated by the treaty. Government then took one objection after another; ultimately pleading, that there were no effects—Govern- ment having misappropriated the effects ; and finally pleading, that it was all such a long time ago ! For forty years the De Bode family have carried on the contest in logic against the official resistance in illogic; and now they are met by Sir Alexander Cockburn with the first two pleas,—that the Baron is not a British subject ; that he did not incur the loss as a British subject contem- plated by the treaty. Since the series of pleas have lasted thirty- nine years, Government have only to carry out the same routine to secure possession of the De Bode money for thirty-nine years more. By that time, perhaps, the De Bodes will be extinct; and then, no doubt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer of that day will claim a reversion of the De Bode property to the Crown, on the ground that they have been British subjects all along. If they should be in existence, there will be the same recourse; and in the year 1883 the Cockburn of the day can again be pleading, that Baron de Bode -was not a British subject, and did not lose his pro- perty as a British subject contemplated by the treaty.
"Indict them "—those houses in which Alice Leroys are en- trapped and Margaret Reginbals are cheated—" indict them as nuisances," is the common cry. And it is not unnatural that disclosures so disgusting, of offences so flagrant, should provoke the indignation. But what is the use of indictment? Illicit commerce can be carried on, even when bloodshed and danger are thrown in, at any rate of profit not less than 10 per cent. Smug- glers are under chronic indictment, with a whole host of armed sailors to prosecute in the first instance; but 10 per cent is suffi- cient to cover the expense of keeping up the force and machinery on the smuggling side. In an establishment where a single ,jour- neywoman can earn 231. a week, there is plenty of margin to work upon in paying indictment penalties, or in meeting the ex- pense of evading the law. While that money is forthcoming, in- dictments will perhaps only palliate, if they. do not sometimes aggravate, the evil. The infamous trade originates in the de- mand: it is not a Margaret Reginbal that originates such houses, nor even a Marmaysee, but the men that go there. The nuisance has its rise in the bosoms of respectable families; and it is there only that the incentive demand can be treated.
It does appear rather ridiculous for Dean and Chapter to meet and play at electing a Bishop, when the Queen has already ap- pointed him, and only allows the dignitaries to elect ; but it does not follow that the Reverend Downes Willis can succeed in his reform of restoring vitality and truth to the ceremony. The worthy gentleman objects to the translation of Bishops ; but will the Church aid him ? Besides, if we were to recognize the prin- ciple of restoring the Church as it was in the beginning, two serious inconveniences might ensue : the medimval realities might prove to be very impracticable or if practicable very disagreeable in the present day : and if the institution be ransacked to its foundations, in order to get at the treasures which are supposed to be buried beneath, we may discover ancient testaments and instru- ments perplexingly entangled with existing leases and titles, and the very walls of the establishment may be jarred. Better take. things as they are ; find some quieter mode of repairing the fabric than shaking it every year with a squabble about church-rates, and go on electing Bishops by Royal licence while we may.
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