The Press. — London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

750 PRISON STATISTICS IN MIDDLESEX. THE following statement, compiled from offieial re turns, shows the result of the year ending Mielmel lUM last, with the number of prisoners committed, and other incidents of the preceding tweh•emonth : HOUSE of Coaaec•rlox , IiDATH•FIEI.I)4. Prisoners committed in the course of the year, 14,450. The greatest number of prisoners at any one time was on the 30th of August, when there were in prison, 1,345. Number of prisoners who hail been committed before —once, 1,740 ; twice, 508; three times, :172 ; four times and more, 411. Puniqhments for offences committed within the prison—whippings, ; in irons, 21; solitary confinement, 177 • other punishments, 10,912. Total additi o nal punisloments in the year, 11,135. Cases of sickness in the year, 405 ; greatest number of sick at one time, 42; deal is, 24. Weekly cost of the prisoners per head, ls. to 2s. Od. The total number of commitments is less than that of last year by 771. During the year 5,304 persons were discharged without having been reported or punished ; 1,552 were reported only once; 759 were reported twice; 345 were reported three times; 170 were reported four times i • while some few greatly exceeded that number. The daily average number of prisoners was 1,111 ; and the daily number of punishments, two and two-thirds per cent. Prisoners under daily instruction, 141. Of the 323 who were discharged front the schools during the year, 50 who were linable to read or write on admission had learned to read with tolerable ae curacy, and a largo proportion were fair profit:lents in writing. Honor or Cootarro:rioN, WENTMINKTEII. Prisoners committed in the course of the year, 7,l$U; the greatest number in prison at one time, sss. Number of prisoners who had been committed before —once, 1,1043; twice, UBl4 ; three times, 351; four times and more, 1,1475. Punishments for offences committed within the prison—whippings, 1 ; in handcuffs, M ; solitary confinement, 1-16 ; other pun ishments, 0,151. Total additional punishments, 9,507. Cases of sickness in the year, 3,5-16 ; greatest number of sick at one time, 16; (lentils, 11. Thu daily number of prisoners was 750. Weekly cost of the prisoners, Is. 1141. per betel. Number of pri soners who received instruction in the schools during the year, 413, of whom Is 7 were unacquained with the alphabet at their entrance, and 53 knew nothing beyond their letters. Of this number 1914 learned to read and write ; and of these who could only read a little when received MI could read and write tolerably well on their discharge. 161 boys and women had been received into reformatory institutions, in addi tion 140 51 toys sent there by tioverinnent. 7,11+11 prisoners passed through the prison dining the year. The per-tentage of sickness did not exceed 31 per cent., and there had been only n 4 important eases of illness. Births in the prison, 24. lloust: eF 1/v.TEsTios, CLERKENWELL. Primmer% committed during the year, 7,990; the greatest number of prisoners at one tinie,l9l. Num ber of prisoners who have been committed before— once, 290; twice, !+5 ; three times, 111; four times and more, 13. Punishments for of within the prison—whippings, nil ; in irons, nil ; solitary con finement, 79; other punishments, 197. Cases of sickness during the year, It t 4; greatest number of sick at one time, 9 ; deaths, 2. The daily average number of ptisoners was 115. Weekly cost of the prisoners, Is. 11d. per head. During th e year 35 females were committed charged with having at tempted suicide, of whom 24 were given up to the care of relatives or friends, 5 admitted into 'imitable asylums, 5 into workhouses, and 1 disrliarged on rc e:antination. There was a decrease in the number committed this year of 192 ; and the number ilis• charged by gaol deliveries was 99, ' w ing 33 more than last year. The number of 7,090, rommitted during this year, were thus divided—mules, 5,969; females, 2,291. IT appears that the amount to Le remitted to this country by Russia for dividends, .t-e., dining the next four months will livobably b i t fr o m :timmioni to VOA W., or nearly one-half the total which has just been summarily removed. The two Russian loan, known in the London market are the Five per Cents. of ft 4 '4l. for 0 , 500 . 01101 .; and the Four.ataa Ita ly per Cents, of Is4o, for :1,5410,01141/., of which latter 220,000/. has been redeemed. The proportion of the former still held in this country cannot be timwer. tained, but it is supposed to be large. The half.. yearly dividends on the two fall due respectively on the Ist of January and the lst of March next, and will amount to about 250,1100/., while a further sum of 110,000/. is required in January for the annual withdrawal of J per cent. of the loan of Ism, accord ing to the conditions of the contract. The aggregate funded debt of Russia, home and foreign. is estimated at about 154M100,11001. Tin: Two SExtint hitiertits IN Cii.txt - Env, Mr. Senior and Sir W. Horne, have retired, under the powers of the Masters' Abolition Act, and the causes remaining unfinished in their offices; hate been trans ftwed to the five continuing Master'. THE PRESS. 60LD-cRUSHIN4 . A sEw machine for extracting gold from ore, called Berdates gold-ore pulver.ser, washer, and amalgamator, is attracting notice, as an invention that may exercise an influence in accelerating the itnpending changes in the value of the precious metals. It was originally exhibited at the New York Crystal Palace, and its peculiarity is, that, by the rolling and grinding of two iron bulls, weighing together nearly four tolls, in an iron basin revolving by steam power, it produces an action analogous to that of the pestle and mortar, and reduces some of the hardest ores to an impalpable powder, which is washed by the constant dropping of a small jet of water, and amalgamated by a deposit of quickailver at the bottom of the basin, heated by a tire beneath it. Tie whole of the processes usually performed by separate labour at the gal mines are therefore effected simultaneously, and, as it is affirmed, at little more than a nominal expense, by this machine. At the /4111110 time, the extraction of gold is alleged to be carried to the last particle, the process being such as to enable it to be ontaiued from ores in which its existence has been undisrovetablefrom any previous . tests. According to an account published a law days since, a committee appointed by the Society of Arts examined the method on the .2stli ult., and obtained from s4filb. of Devonshire gossan a yield of gold at the rule of lot. 1:1 ilwts. and 131 grains per ton; while it is further said that, other ores in that county, which ane available almost to any extent, have like wise been tried with satisfactory results. The eonse quenees to arise frame the general employment of the machine, supposing the allegations regarding its capacity to be fairly borne out by experience, are sueh as to invest the subject with great interest. The matter is one that should be investigated by all companies connected with gold-mining, and espe cially by those who possess property in auriferous !MOM, since it is professed that the machine disposes of all difficulties regarding the labour question, as it. can be worked by slight attendance, and also without the possibility of access to the products on the part of those employed. The price of each is 600/., and it is said that orders have already been re ceived for thirty-one—siamel, eighteen for England, twelve for Australia, and one for Sardinia. A con siderable number also have been prepared in the United States. NEW PATENT Blilc1:31.1KINu-NIActlINE. Is 1114'54 • dais of building societies, agricultitral improve silents, and sanitary refill m , there min be scarcely any subject more loractimilly interesting than the improvement of brick and tile making, and accordingly it has, for two or three 1,1111., v11;4111414 u 11011.1(1411ible share of public attention. At the various ap,rieulturid shows, at ineetivitis of farmers' clubs, and more especially at the Brent Exlith' • , •lt prominence has been glee,' to new processes of maiinfae. titre, and immliimit formakinglit•llow bricks and improved tiles have 1111).4 114411 latent:l% el: Willi. Of saute tof the /ma'am mac) • 44 for making holhow bricks anal tiles the revolt of the jurors of the Exhibition slake in approving terms ; but us regards solid briektiinking the 111 e was eta relent. In fact, the machines moist mimed fits thud purpose' were costly and cum b rous. invented snit patented Lv !Or. 4 id) ton whit+ ttttt leutokew to supply the confessed deficiency, and to bring solid Wicks within the range of efficient niiiehine power. His Meet'• thin has already obtained th•• titettat of the f•reat Exp444l - if Industry at Amsterdam. The improlement ism mists in the eimstruction of Alswllitlilitt orifices or dies, having rotating sides formed by vertical rolit•rs, instead o f the fixed sides used 114 . 11 . 10fu1t., the rollers rotating w hil e the clay is delivered through the die, mid thus producing and preserving a slimpftess and nentia-s in the edges of the brick which land previously been f 1 miattaiinable in the manufacture it Iraicks I,y compression through fixed dies. The machine pugs or prepares the clay and makes the bricks at one and the MI • 11111 e. tine of the leading features observed is a continuous delivery. The action of the, blii•les as crdinatily set tllll pteltture only an inlet mit. tent delivery ; but in this case there is an arrangentent of blades by which the clay is subjeetett to a eontititions lateral thrust, effected on either side of the die through the moulding orifices. The machine, as now shown in Lons don, is worked by one horse. with a /111111 to tied it, and two Isla to clear ••tt the bricks at the sides. Font or five revolutions were i.erfoinied in a minute, and in that time twenty•liee bricks are 11111114% A comparison of the ramble. lice powers of this machine with those of handniont ling is of 1 . 4111t51. illllO II Mit but it i'3lllllot l easily made ill a positive IllanlPT, tin illg II) t h e fact that the daily perform. offices of haunt' ttttt tillers ripps sir to easy considerably. tiuuething like an appoilimation, however. may be arrived Ht. In the 1.4.1141..11 distlisl a pilliellllollliitT will 111111 cut :lAN 4) bricks in a dun, in doing which he requires the as. sistance of 14 clot Ida r and five other hands, and also that of a horse. In the country districts, where the elot• moulder is dispensed with. 3.10) is the nvenige. These results. :t should be ••liscre rd. are attained in a day, which is hill s hotel being a factory one ; the brit kmakers con• meowing in the best Tensof at four or five in the Intoning. and working on as long as the day holds out. Assuming twenty-live all i iiii as 1114• tit einge 1.1441141iiin the tna ellinc, the total for ten bons oidd 14 , • le t t th.in this would probably have to be deilliettel two or three th• sand for iinatleoidulde stoppagi s. lt perhaps. n Ft 111.- nil average of 11,11* a day. Snell is the in% esi. The coat of u machine of one•lol'fe out ris ?.1;l• to be about lon/. SATURDAY, SUPPLY OF GUANO. AhmugAT, Mootr.sav, commander in-chief in the Pacific, has forwarded to the Admiralty some very important estimates constructed by Mr. APlntosh, naval instructor, relative to the quantity of guano remaining on the Chinca Islands. Former accounts claiming considerable authenticity had rated the quantity at 15,00,000 tons. Mr. 3Plutosh says that it is about one-third of this amount. _ In his despatch, which is dated "Portland at Sea, Sept. 9, ls5:1," the admiral says : "I have confidence in the data given by Mr. ?Whoosh. hi s education and practical experience being a guaniutre for correctness. From the northern or principal island more than one-third the guano has been removed. The remainder way be dividol into three porti and path. t i es That termed English guano, as formerly, alouc selected 14 the English market. Seeondly. That exported by foreign ships to America and elsewhere. Thirdly. Inferior guano, reserved for the coast trade. tit' the first quality there remaina on the north island about three mill• fire hundred thousand tons: of the seeond, about One million the hundred thonsand tom: of inferior. about half a million. I have no data on which to report the shipment of gllllllO iu IsAI, but I have ascoiained that within the last eight months about three hundred, thousand tons of guano has been shipped from the north island. A loss of twelve per cent. occurs from the rude manner of its working and conveyance, daily observed in the dense cloud of pulverised guano blown seaward, and correctly ascertained by the shipping dockets at the crnt►e Fron► the figures given by the admiral it appears that in 18541 about 157,8(N), and, in 1851,'252,031, tons of guano were taken from the island. He con- " There were at the Chines islands, on our departure, a hundred vessels, capable of exporting near one hundred tl sand tons of guano. The Americana far exceeded in amount of tonnage. Between the lath of .luly and 14th of September, l$5:1, there had been loaded, were loading, or waning their turn to loud, sixty-tive American ships, earning a gross ;mount of sixtv-one thousand nine lone dreti anol eight-two tons. Other Ammierm ships wets daily arriving, and they now take the superior quality. On the collie island there may be about eight hundred ama sand tons of guano of the that quality, and seven hundred II sands of the second. This island is worked entirely by Chinamen they dig and wheel daily about one thousand two hundred and ninety tons, of which eleven hundred unwell.; in the shipping ;lockets. The sonthein and smallest island has not yet been worked ; tram its windward position the goalie is inferior, and has 110 great depth. • • • From the pleas and elevations or AB. M lutosh, flout thy personal examination, and infoimation gathered &mu those on the islands comet sent with the working, I am of opinion that. at the p.n sent ay; lege late of exportation, the 14011118 would be exhausted of the guano that would pay freight, orb e saleable in the English minket, in eight or nine years." The following estimate showing the result of all the calculations regarding the amount of guano still remaining on the Chinca Islands was enclosed by the admiral in his despatch:— " The examination, for I cannot call it survey, taken by your order, was necessmily exceedingly rough and imper *feet , both by reason of shot-Mesa of time and the want of prover instiuments, as well UR a desire not to excite ob servation. To avoid the possibility of underratirg the quantity. I have estimated at the rate of 40 cubic feet per ton, and I have allowed a considerable excess on the ineasmement given by the plans and sections. Though chain to grout fIeVIIIIICV is MA.', I have no hesitation in pledging myself that tile quantity here specified is greater than that absolutely rt mulling on the ishoals. ( Signed ) "W. 11. M'l viosn, Naval Instructor." Quantity remaining on northern island ',Ono tons. Ditto on centre island _ 500,000 Quantity on bouthern island 1,C,1N1,411.0 „ Total spo,ooo Mr. M'lntosh appends some remarks and notes of information obtained cu the islands : " The mechanical engineer in charge of the excavation on the northern island told the that, since he emir in October, Isll, a space of VA) feet had leen cleared into the deepest cutting, which amounts to 3 0t,0110 tells. 1 have not been able to ascertain the exact present ship ments on this island, lint judging from the number of cheek clerks, labourers, the plant, &c., it may probably be estimated at one-frurth more than the centre island. M. Kossuth, the superintendent of the centre island, having allowed me accees to his books, I have satisfactorily ascer tained that his statement of shipping Lion tons per day is comet. The details of the work are, MO Chins.nun, at five tons per else, in harrows, and four ship slait.ts. at 13 , 1 tons each per day. N. Kossuth further infinmed me that when he commenced. in December, MI, the rail extended fret (nun the brow of the OK and that he has now obtained a distance of scill feet in a direct line into the deepest pint of the cutting. This statement, on calcula tion, further proves the foregoing prat as the amount of Ritmo from such an excavation would amount to 240,1110 tons, which in seven months is at the rate of I,llio tons per day.' THE number of emigrant ships which left Liver pool during Nov( mber Walt thirty-seven, with a hind number of 11,781 adults on board, being less by :t,5 0 than in the pre.ions month. MR. WILLIAM pItANIOE PoLLARD is appointed titian ciidaccountant in British Guiana.