Answers to Correspondnets.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 50, 26 November 1857, Page 2

Answers to Correspondnets.

N. P.— The Address was written by a Mr. Samuel Lucas, and delivered by that eminent actor Mr. Phelps. It is a graceful tribute to the memory of “ glorious” Douglas Jerrold. The occasion of its delivery icas a Haymarket amateur performance, got up with a view to swell the large fund already raised for that great satirist's family. Of Mr. Lucas we know nothing more than may be learned from his admirable lines which we reproduce with pleasure : — '• Welcome in Jerrold's name! From Jerrold’s tomb This greeting chases half the gathering gloom, And turns our sorrow for bis mortal part To joy and pride in his immortal art. If of this art, enduring at its prime, We gather salvage from the wrecks of time, You, mindful of the storms and struggles past, Receive and welcome it to shore at last. True to yourselves, aud to each other true— In honoring one who greatly honored you, Behind this curtain you can greet at will His genius living and triumphant still. There waits the actor—there the scene is set, And there the author’s thought is pregnant yet; There the light offspring of bis fancy spi ting, Betray their parent by their English tongue, Reflect his native humour in their part, Or draw their pathos from his manly heart. As 'twas of old, in England’s classic age, II is own creations amply fill our stage. Theirs is the savour and the zest wc crave. Surging and sparkling like a Channel wave, With salt that had been Attic, but the Nine Steep’d them in English and a stronger brine. Forgetful of their state here kings may sit, Subject themselves to his imperial wit— Wit that flows on regardless — free as air,

Like the rough waters around Canute’s chair. Yon humbler men, who come to see the play, And cheer the play wight, carry this away— Toe man was still more worthy of regard, And—though he smote the Philistines so hard, He fought a fair, a brave and generous fight, And struck in honour’s name tor truth and right —Hopeless of cross or riband —taking heed Less for his fortunes than the common need— So—for his guerdon and the common cause, Do you now crown him with your just applause.

No-toady — does Mrs. Slipslop injustice. We cannot admit that she was “ ironing” the 58th heroes when, in a recent “ leader,” she told us it teas long since they “fleshed their maiden swords,” and gave us the comfortable assurance that when “again engaged in actual and deadly conflict their Band will be headed by a nativecarved memorial of lasting unity behoeen them and the Maori race, which the Regiment icill prize and defend as warmly as they do their Regimental colors.” We confess that stuff like this has an ironical look, and had it appeared in Auckland Cross or London launch would certainly' pass for keenest irony. But Mrs. Slipslop was quite in earnest, and meant no offence to the 58th. She cannot, like that Dickey Sludge, familiar to all readers of Kenilworth, make sharp wit mend foul feature. N»; my Grandmother (as Councillor Boylan—when a Brownite—irreverently styled her') cannot mend the ugliness of her political physiognomy by Dickey Sludge-like sarcasm or repartee. Discarding, therefore, the idea that she teas “ ironing" our “ ready—aye ready”-fdr-India-if-ordered-to-go-there 58th, we cannot but think those heroes will little relish rushing into action or, as Mrs. Slipslop better expresses the idea, into “ active and deadly conflict,” headed by a wooden m emorial even though it be “native carved." We have seen many “ actual and deadly conflicts," but in no case knew a woodenheaded battalion “ flesh their maiden (or unmaiden') swords." Every regiment goes into action headed by its Colonel, who is presumed to believe the greater the danger the greater the glory and, unless a professor of Fetishism, would on battle day leave “ carved memorials” in charge of his Quarter-Master Serjeant. We repeat our conviction that Mrs. Slipslop meant no wrong to the 58th, while to “iron” them never entered her head. She would rather lick Colonel Wynyard's boots, and then take a turn at the boots of every officer of his “ Band,” than pen a sentence which might displease “ ready—aye, ready" heroes. She is the sublime of lickspittleism in theory and the ridiculous of lickspittleism in practice. Were John Williamson prudent he would forbid her to nauseate the public by fulsome military-men-adulation. One good turn deserves another no doubt, and many a good turn have 58th officers done our Superintendent; but he should profit by the Oriental wisdom which forbids us to burn when we ought merely to warm our friends. If he would shore his graiitude for military potes let him do so in some practical and handsome manner. Allowing Mrs. Slipslop, by her well-meant eulogiums to put them in an absurd light is poor return for their political support. Were 58th officers of our mind they would petition him to check Mrs. Slipslop's propensity for paper blotting, and make her silence with regard to them a condition of their friendship. IPAaf but ridicule can be gained by allusion to their “maiden swords,” or the good time coming when they will again march to “deadly conflict” headed by a Native and thoroughly wooden memorial, or the marvellous benefits which, in their “civil capacity,” they have “conferred upon the Province and the Colony.” Mrs. Slipslop ptL'per-blotling the virtues, whether civil or military, of our noble 58th might be matched by Mrs. Harris, if that apocryphal and quite “ unprotected female” were some bright day to show the sun with a lanthorn. Mrs. Slipslop’s unskilful laudation of 58th services cannot fail to make our Paul Prys and Peeping Toms over curious with regard to the nature of those service. Many old Colonists think that it tcould have been tcell for the Colony if Colonel Wynard had never been permitted to undertake the “.incompatible duties’’ of Acting Governor and Actual Superintendent. Many old Colonists think the 58th should have nothing to do with laws but to obey them; that they politically spoil what they politically touch; and that to ‘them in. large paid, if not altogether, ice owe the utter corruption of our electoral system. These are old colonist opinions; but not to old colonists are they confined. New colonists are“ tainted” by them. Every day adds to the number oj those who think we have had more than enough of military interference with matters political. Our cheap Superintendent flatters the 58th fora consideration, and that consideration is political support. But he should not allow Mrs. Slipslop to lay the “ soft sawder” on quite so thick. Appearances should be saved, if not for sake of truth at least for sake of decency. JUSTITIA— is correctly informed on both points. Acting Judge Stephens will retire from the Bench when our new in-trigue-made Chief Justice arrives from England. But thouyh Judge Stephens has resolved to leave the Bench his services will not be lost to the Province. We are assured that he intends to practice in his quality of barrister. Happily the wisdom of Judge Stephens does not reside in his wig but in his head, which we take to be one of the clearest ever found upon colonized shoulders. The new Judge

is unknown to fame. On what grounds he has been appointed will come out by and by. Judge Martin resigned. That he would resign was known before Sewell went on his half million mission. To get rid of Judge Stephens altogether, or altogether overpower his influence, has long been the wish of certain political opponents. Sewell was their tool in this matter. Did not the kissing of state jobbers go by favor our Acting Judge would now be chief Judge. But Sewellized Downing Street people have thought proper to send us for Chief Judge “ a legally qualified" person, whose abilities may be very great, but whose reputation is by no means extensive. As, however, Sewellized Downing Street sages knew that in this Province any “ legally qualified” thing will do for a lawyer, it is probable they have also satisfied themselves that in this Province any briefless barrister tvill do for Supreme Judge. Arne is the name of this gentleman ; and had he achieved any such distinction in Law as did Arne the composer of Artaxerxes,in Music,or his other learned namesake Arne the author of “ Physics,” in Science, we might with more patience submit to see him push Acting Justice Stephens from his stool. Our General Government seems to have acted in the matter of a New Chief Justice very much in the same way, and exactly in the same spirit, that our Provincial Government acted in the matter of a new Chief Clerk. Wayland was forced upon Magistrate Beckham, and foisted upon us, as Chief Clerk, not because he could perform Chief Clerk duties, but because he happened to be a Williamsonian partizan. The experienced Clerks, over ichose heads he went in flying, were called upon to teach him what it was his business to know. They refused the modest request and, to this day, our new Chief Clerk, though in receipt of Chief Clerk salary, is incompetent to the performance of Chief Clerk duties. Perhaps the new Chief Justice will come here to learn business, and in his own Supreme Court require aid from somebody who knows that business just as the Provincial- Government-ap-pointed Chief Clerk came to learn from somebody what he was appointed to do in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. But as Acting Judge Stephens retires from the Supreme Court Bench when Chief Judge Arne takes his seat upon it, the latter, if incompetent to discharge his high duties, will not find anybody able to help him. Even in view of such a contingency we rejoice 'that Judge Stephens rises superior to the malice of his enemies. One who knew mankind has said, The enmity of the bad is good."— Malis displicere laudari est. Judge Stephens appears to feel that great truth. The announcement of his intention to practice in both our Courts is evidence alike of his superiority to vulgar insult and contempt for vulgar pride. With regard to the other point touched on by our correspondent we will not noiv offer an opinion. It certainly is rumoured, but we believe the rumour false, that Merriman is to be Provincial Speaker as well as Provincial Law Officer.