Correspondence.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 113, 19 November 1858, Page 2

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sib,—Your contemporary of the Examiner, in his leader of the 3rd instant, reminds me of the criticism of an editor of Frazer's Magazine, who, speaking of a book, says:—" It is what * old Beunis' (whether he of the tongs is not stated) used to call a * heap of clotted nonsense. 1 Why cannot he lay aside his pedantry, and write so as to make himself generally understood. You may read it backwards or forwards, for it is equally intelligible either way; indeed, by • beginning at the tail, and so working upwards, up to the head, we think the reader will stand the fairest chance of getting at its meaning." Never were words more strictly applicable than - are the above to the article in question. In a small controversial pamphlet, the Rev. Mr. Dollamore very justly observes—"ln the choice of.our words, we should be very particular iii selecting such a 9 will most clearly convey the meaning of what we seek to express." Now, after an attentive perusal of the labored article . referred to, I am unable to form the slightest conception as to what deductions he would have his readers draw from (to use his own words)" his " very general reflections." You great we's are very shy of coming to close quarters upon any subject, and for one I have often thought you would, on that' account, make very attractive members of the ' clerical profession, for nowadays you great men of the Fourth Estate of the Realm esconce yourselves behind your press as exclusively as the reverend gentlemen do in their pulpits, whence you each in your respective characters' as editors and preachers, splutter out your own - crude dogma son " .Religion and Politics," secure" from all possible challenge of the truth or justice - of them. lam led to the above remarks, by the leading article of the Examiner referred to "above,.which, curious enough, sets out with a quotationfrom the saying" of one of the greatest champions offreedbm, in the most extended sense of the word, namely, "there were but two subjects tW study of which were of vital importance, or ' deserving of the attention of a thoughtful man, • Religion'/ and • Politics'/ " Now, I would aßk, is a thoughtful man to arrive at a just conclusion on any subject unless he shall firßt have considered it under every conceivable point of view, and attentively combated all that may be urged pro. and con. upon the subject under consideration ; and further, before we can set down to discuss any subject, we must be all agreed upon the premises we start from, otherwise, " unoabsurda datur, milk sequeter" that is, " one absurdity granted, a thousand will follow. "Well, then, the editor has called our attention to two subjects, in comparison with which he -says "all other subjects (not excepting the arts and sciences) are in his opinion comparatively worthless." Now, a3 I have before observed upon the importance of accurate definition—had the editor given us his definition of the two terms "Religion" and "Politics," our labors' would be, or might almost be said to have been, • more than half accomplished. Now don't be alarmed, my good sir, I am not going to drag you into a theological controversy (though I should like to have a fair Btand up discussion with either or both of you upon both subjects at your own time and place). Nor am I going to enter upon one myself, for the best of all reasons,, that he has afforded me no grounds. He has merely dabbed down two combinations of letters, each consisting of eight, without the slightest elucidation of the meaning he attaches to them. Neither will he allow any one else to offer him their definition whatever it may be. Trusting to your liberality and sense of fair play, I will state mine. First, as to Religion, I should say— " Religion, whatsoe'er its kind, wherever found, Is but man's mind personified by man." , Second, as regard Politics, the modern acceptation of the term is, every man troubling his head with every other body's business and neglecting his own, and clamouring for a grab at the public purse to relieve his own necessities. There, now, that need not alarm your sensitive nerves. To proceed then, it is curious how your contemporary coinoides with the clergy in drawing a broad interminable line betwixt religion and morals. In speaking of moral philosophy and political economy, notwithstanding the. comparatively worthlesshess of these two latter branches of study,' he nevertheless gives them the preference over his two paramount objects in their influence over the happiness of mankind ;: for he says, and for once I agree with him, "there are few quarrels—few causes for dissension or heartburning among us which might riot be traced to our ignorance of first principles, (meaning, one would suppose, in religion and politics, seeing that all other subjects are -comparatively worthless) whether in political economy or moral phuosophby, and which might not be removed, or at least greatly^ lessened and mitigated in intensity, by their being generally understood and agreed upon, as true!" Good; ,will he say as much Tor his f Alpha and Omega before cited. When t say I agree with him, it is taking for granted Jtbit: by moral philosophy he means the tracing, of ■ effects .up to causes of natural phenomena and morality, the ascertained 'consequences "of human actions—in other words/a rule'ofjlife deduced from the consequences of actions'as aft-' certained through our sensations and borobser.., rations gf the sensations of others;. and ;by. political economy he means the study of titf

best method of managing our domestic and Bobial affairs, as contra-distinguished from the science of governing the affairs of a State or community; but here again he leaves us without any exposition of the meaning he would attach to these latter important terms. We next come to a splendid piece of rhetorical declamation. He says:—" The first great step in knowledge is to be convinced of outown ignorance, as an acquaintance with our own deficiencies is essential to a just and hearty appreciation of excellence in others. If we could be once convinced of this, we should hear less general declamation about rights, without being able to say in what those rights consist, less disposition to look upon the classes, either above or below us, as our natural enemies, and a more general, active, and earnest desire in promoting •education' among the young." Elere again his term " education," like his other two generalisimos, is liable to as much controversy as either of the other two ; neither of which, be it remembered, can we ever arrive at an acceptable definition of until we shall all of us be more generally convinced of our ignorance; and as that never will be until we are all more disposed to hear all that can be said on them, why I may as well Btop my pen for the present, and remain, ■ Senex Albus Ignoramus.

To the Editor 'ojf the Colonist. Sir,—l beg to be allowed, through the medium of your columns, to say a few words to my fellow tradesmen of Nelson, upon what not only concerns their interests, but their very existence. The case is this:—Some nine or ten months ago I repaired a watch for a person belonging to the district of the Waimea West. A few weeks ago that watch was again sent to me out of order and exceedingly dirty. I told the per*on who brought it that fact, and that it would not go until it was cleaned. I accordingly put the watch iii order, and when it was sent for by him, the person who carae told me if I did not give it up I should be put to a great deal of trouble by being summoned to the Waimea West. For that threat I said I would give him the watch when he had paid for it. The money was sent, and I am now summoned a distance of 28 miles to get back the money which was paid for the repairs and cleaning (103.). Now, it will be impossible for any watchmaker, let him be ever so careful, ever «o honest, or with the talents of Breguet himself, to carry on business in Nelson, if he is liable to be thus compelled to travel a distance of 28 miles to defend a just charge. What is my grievance to-day, may be yours to-morrow, «nd therefore I wish to call public attention to it. I am, Sir, Yours obediently, G.COATES.

To the Editor of the Colonist. •Sib,— Availing myself of your presumed friendly disposition to the cause of Education, in common with your Riwaka correspondent, "A RatePayer," in your issue of October 26tb, I too ■solicit a space in your columns. I Your corespondent commences with generals, urging " those who form committees, &c." He i then immediately individualizes his position— "I" (a parent) " have had ray children at the school"—(what school ? the Riwalca school, of ■course)—" since the introduction of the present system of education into the settlement, and ■am well satisfied with its progress."—(The progress of the system of education, the progress of the. Riwaka school, or tbe progress of his child or children at that school under that system?) He goes on—'' The Committee " —(the Riwaka Local Committee, I presume),— " from an illjudged desire," &c. Now, is your correspondent a Committee-man, and is he, or has he Seen, whether a Committee-man or not, authorised by a majority of the Committee to p readvise the public that the said Committee "are about to alter the school-hours?" Now I, as a Committee-man, have not in private or in Committee heard the subject even alluded to, previous.to the receipt of your issue in this district containing " A Rate-Payer's " letter. " Are =about to alter the Bchool-hours" is positive; there is nothing conditional, except the time yet" to come, of this predetermined alteration. They, the . Committee, "are" positively ■" about" indefinitely "to alter the *:hool-hours. f> i Again your correspondent -says— *' No doubt a great improvement is going on."—Where, and at .what precise time ? at the date of his letter, ■or up to that date from the introduction of the Education Act ? If not, during what term of its operation, and from what date has this great improvement been going on ? He winds up with generalities—" And Committees should be very careful," &c, and, "it. should be remembered that Committees,' &c. Now, I should like to know whether "A Rate-Payer was indicting an admonitory epistle to Local Committees generally, or did he intend to represent the interests and sense of the Riwaka district ?. As a Committee-man, a ratepayer, and a parent of that district, I tell him that his. assumed position is false. The confounding of Committees with Committee utterly confounds me, your present correspondent. I am, Sir, &c, '. ! A Rate-Payer, a Parent, and a ;.-■•..• Committee-man.

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sm,—Your Rlwaka Correspondent ("Ratepayer") must have knocked his head against a post, and jumbled his brain (if ever he had any.) He ■ evidently did not know what subject to write on; he supposed you were friendly to education, and as he was determined to appear in print, be has muddled committees, schools, cows, late hours, children, and in such a manner, that no person can understand what he means. He has requested your advice. The best advice his friends (if he has any) can give hirii is, to -draw on his nightcap, and to step into his bed, take a sound nap, if he can get it, and leave committees and schools to those who understand them, and are willing to devote their time to the public good. I am, &0., ! ' One of the Kiwaka Committee. Rivraka, 15th November,lßsß.

We regret,to say that some lamentable disturbances have broken out in Kelkenny, arising from the opposition of the agricultural labourera to the introduction of reaping machines. Strong military detachments have Been sent down, and th« xiots. have been, or will be speedily, <juelled. Birt the disgrace ivill still remain opon the locality of'haying resisted the application of scientific imprdvettients to the work of production. The cir«unistance betrays too clearly the miserable ignorance of the peasantry, who fail to recognise in a temporary inconvenience the source of permanent and extensive benefits.— Home News, August 16. It is stated that Sir Allan M'Nab, so well known in connection with Canadian politics, is to be the first governor created under the new Caledonian Bill,!; '"'■ • •■..■ -. : ■