Fifteenth Meeting January 16 1871

With the Franco-Prussian War entering its final days it's likely that our cosmopolitan group would be discussing the Siege of Paris. On the day they they met, the Liverpool Mercury reported extensively on the siege, and, then as now, reflected disgust at the suffering of the civilian population. Perhaps it was no coincidence that "Civilisation" and "Barbarism" were selected for discussion that night.

Liverpool Mercury 16th January 1871.

French Protest Against the Bombardment Paris.

“Prussian shells appear to have been wantonly launched against hospitals, ambulances, churches, schools and prisons, making numerous innocent females and children their victims. No means had been afforded them to provide for this unexpected aggravation of suffering”.
“The exigencies of war can never be an excuse for the shelling of private buildings, the massacre of peaceful citizens, and the destruction of refuges and hospitals. Suffering and weakness always find mercy at the hands of force; if force is not disarmed by them it is dishonoured”.

Transcript.

22R
Meeting at Mr Raven’s house
Jan 16th 1871
Present. Messrs. Raven, H.Brunner, (JL)Muspratt, Mond
and Watts
Words. Cant, [Slang], Civilisation, Barbarism
Resolved - that in Mr Carey’s absence the words
Cant & [Slang] be postponed.
Word taken - Civilisation.
Civilisation is the development of the intellect
and moral qualities of nations.
Unversagt
Civilisation is that state of society in which
men to some extent recognise the rights of others.
Nemo
Civilisation is the refinement generated by the
intercourse of citizens. Gradatim
Civilisation is the progress of a nation or
community in knowledge.
Palmam qui meruit ferat
Erin go bragh amends his definition by
striking out the word “physical”.
Definition proposed
Civilisation is the development of the -
Jan 16th 1871

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Transcript.

23L
-intellectual & moral qualities of communities.
Agreed to by - Erin go bragh, Unversagt,
Palmam qui meruit ferat.
Civilisation is that state of society in which
men to some extent recognise the equal rights
of others.         Nemo
Civilisation is the refinement generated by
the intercourse of citizens. Gradatim
Civilisation is the mental & physical devel-
-opment of the human race.
Erin go bragh
Civilisation is the progress of a community
towards the attainment of its highest
collective & individual development.
Paulatim
Recorded in Paulatim’s absence.
———
Word taken - Barbarism.
Barbarism is a state of society in which the
rights of the stronger is the greater right.
Nemo
Barbarism is the absence of civilisation
Palmam qui meruit ferat
Jan 16th 1871



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Transcript.

23R
Barbarism is a state of [un?]civilisation.
Gradatim
Barbarism is the absence of development in
nations. Erin go bragh
Definition proposed.
Barbarism is the uncivilised state of communities.
Agreed to by        Unversagt
Erin go bragh
Gradatim
Palma qui meruit ferat
Minority.
Barbarism is the state of society in which the
right of the stronger is the greater right.
Nemo
Barbarism in the uncivilised absence
civilisation.
Recorded in Paulatim’s absence.
  ------------------------------

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Next meeting: January 30th 1871