The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-27 00:00:00

MAY 27, 1854. mouy was performed by the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell. COUNT BERNSDORNF, who has received orders to leave Naples and occupy the post of Prussian Minister at the Court of St. James's, was expected to leave that capital on the 23rd. His excellency will first visit Berlin, and there receive his instructions before proceeding to London. Count Bernsdorff is said to be favourable to Russian interests. THE PRINCE REGENT OF BADEN is about to visit Baden-Baden. A marriage is spoken of between him and the Princess Louisa, daughter of the Prince of Prussia. Her Royal Highness, who is at present at Baden, is only 18 years old. CARDINAL. LANIBRUSCHINI, Bishop of Porto St. Rufino and Civita Vecchia, the oldest member but one of the Sacred College, and Secretary of the Pon•. tifical Briefs, died at Rome on the 12th of May. He was born at Genoa on the li.th of May, 1776, and was Prime Minister under Pope Gregory XVI. THE DUKE OF GOTHA, who has been residing in Coburg, is said to have left for Vienna, where he in tends staying about a week. Afterwards he will take up his residence at Reinhardsbrunnen, near Gotha. Vatitual an Omni. THE MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS continues high, and last week's returns from the Registrar- General's office exhibit an increase in the number of deaths. The aggregate was 1,188, that of the pre ceding se'nnight having been 1,093, and the decen nial average, if increased in the proportion of the population, only 1,053. Two STEAMERS AND A SLOOP, with divers, have been for some time at work at the wreck of t hei ill fated ship Tayleur, and have succeeded in recovering a portion of her valuable cargo, consisting chiefly of bale goods. THE " STONOR COMMITTEE " met on Wednesday for the last time, to arrange their report, which will be very shortly laid on the table of the House of • Commons. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND met yesterday week. The Lord Commis sioner (Lord Belhaven) held his previous levee in the picture gallery of Holyrood Palace. The rival Assembly of the Free Church met also ou the same day. A VOTE of 7,5501. is to be asked for in the present session to defray the cost of the Statute Law Com mission for their experiment of codification. THE MENDICITY SOCIETY held their annual meet ing on Saturday last, with the Marquis of West minster in the chair. The report stated that the number of cases of beggars brought before the manager by ticket, and considered of sufficient im portance to be registered, has diminished from 058 to 419 ; the number of vagrants has been reduced from 908 to 018 ' • and the begging-letters sent for investi gation is also less than in the preceding year. The number of applicants for relief was 8,080 in the last year ; in the year preceding there were 7,067. On examining the records of the society, the cases of children appear to amount to eleven per cent. of the whole number of registered cases, and many of them were found to be in the hands of persons whose characters were of the worst description, and who subsisted entirely on the proceeds of the children's begging. Two deformed boys were brought to the society by a gentleman who found them begging and was struck with their miserable appearance ; but they were identified at the office as old offenders. One of the boys had been twice apprehended, and admitted that his father was in a situation earning 15s. a week, and that he was himself in partnership with another boy, that they did very well together, and usually collected 2s. or 4s. a day, besides food, which they divided equally between them. A MEMORIAL, praying for a free pardon for Mr. Jeremiah Smith, the late Mayor of Rye, who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of having committed perjury before a committee of the House of Commons, was presented on Tuesday to Lord Palmerston by a deputation comprising many mem bers of Parliament and influential gentlemen. No less than forty testimonials to the high character and integrity of Mr. Smith were at the same time handed to the Home Secretary. His lordship said that nothing could be stronger than the testimonials; but what he should have to consider was, not so much the former character of the person as the act for which he had been convicted. He promised, however, to look at the case with every possible atten tion, and would consider all that had been urged in favour of Mr. Smith. THE announcement of a free discharge having been made to some convicts in Newgate Prison, Dublin, under sentence of penal servitude, four of them were so overjoyed at the sudden intelligence that the dropped dead. THE ENGLISH CONSUL AT ST. PETERSBURG, Mr. Michele, has, at the desire of the Russian Govern ment, left that capital, and arrived at Konigsberg on the 18th instant THE PRESS. THE GROCERY TRADE has been much excited and alariut d by Mr. Gladstone's announcemei t of the way in which the sugar duties are to be treated. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's scheme will, it is said, indict ruin upon numbers who had entered into en gagements previous to the promulgation of the Go vernment war budget. CAPTAIN SIR BALDWIN WALKER, K.C.8., surveyor of the navy ; Mr. Isaac Watts, assistant-surveyor of the navy; and Mr. Thomas Lloyd, chief engineer and inspector of machinery, left Somerset-house for Paris on Wednesday last. THE HERTFORDSHIRE ELECTION terminated on- Monday in the triumph of the Conservative candi date. On the following day the official return of the poll was proclaimed.as follows :—For Mr. Abel Smith, 2,205 ; Mr. Puller, 2,151: majority, 54. The High Sheriff then declared Mr. Smith duly elected. Xat ad Voila. THI BALANCE-SHEET OF MR. C. MATHEWS, late lessee of the Lyceum Theatre, was filed on Saturday last in the court of Mr. Commissioner Fane The accounts extend over twenty-two folio pages, but the in. formation contained in them is of a very meagre character. There is a total absence of all details as to the profits, expenses, or repairs and alterations of the theatre, and it appears that the whole amount of assets for the ntun e roue creditors is but 61.146.4 d. So far back as April, 1851, Mr. Mathews petitioned the court for protection from arrest under the Debtor and Creditor Private Ar rangement Att. His debts were then 17,7271. 98. 6d., and after several meetings of creditors they resolved upon appointing Mr. Thomas as trustee to manage the receipts and payments of the theatre for their benefit, Mr. Mathews undertaking to perform at a fixed salary. The confusion which has from time to time pre vailed at this establishment has ended in the closing of the theatre. The amount of remuneration which the bankrupt re• ceived for his services during the period is not disclosed in his balance-sheet, but his debts appear to have been increased above 4,7001. The balance-sheet commences on the 2nd of April, 1851, and ends on the 7th of April last. It sets forth the profits from the Lyceum Theatre (including amounts received from provincial engagements) at 6,5461. ss. 9d.; less keep of carriage three years, 9001.; and theatrical wardrobe, three years, at 2004., 6001. The pet Ronal expenditure for three years is put down at 3,0191.65. Bd., and expenses, interest, and law cost at 4,7171. ras. 2d. The list of creditors contains about 200 names, and among the general creditors are the following:-The Marquis of Aber corn, 2,4001.; Mr. T. W. Aileron, New Bond-street, 4,3451. 155. 9d.; S. G. Fairbrother, 1481. ss. 4d.; Mr. B. Goldehade, 7531. lbs. ; Mr. Knowles, of Manchester, 3501. ; Mr. R. Lumley, 461.; Mr. L. Levy, 1001 ; Mrs. Levy, 301. (disputed); Messrs. Lewis and Lewis, 3001.; the Loudon Gas Company, 4071. 6s. bd.; Mr. New bury, Hammersmith, 680/. (holds a warrant of attorney); Mr. James Outwaite, 3591. ss. 3d. ; J. R. Planche, Esq., 5841.; Mr. Maddox, 30).; Mrs. Yates, 1801. • W. Taylor, Esq., 2051.; Mr. Whistler, 1951.55. 4d.; Mr. Suter, late of the Lyceum, about SOL ; Mr. Robinson, ditto, 201.; and Mrs. Mars, ditto, 271.; Mr. A. A. Jones, of Quality-court, solicitor, is also returned as a creditor for 540)., and Mr.J.Strutt,3Bol.os.Bd. Among the members of the theatrical profession are the following artists of the Lyceum :- Mr. \V. R. Beverley, 501. 106.; J. Bland, 1151. ; Messrs. Butler, 171,; Barrett, 101•; B. Baker, 821.135. 6d.; Foote, 211. 10s. • Fitz patrick, 61.; T. Glover, 951 ; Gladstone, 81.; Haigh,l4l. 11.. ; J. J. Home, 451. 7s. 6d.; extra ballet account, 42/. 10s. ; Keen, 161. 7s. 9d.; Kerridge, 151. 10s.; Merril, 191. Bs. 4d.; Martindale, 381. 6s. 811. ; Macnamara, 1071. ; F. Matthews, 4021. • Munro, 31.; John Povey, 1131.:0s.; W. Petit, 481. 10s.; M. A. iroctor, 81. la. 10d. • Price, 101.; Robert Roxby, 398/. ; Rosin°, 261. 3s. 4d. ; J. Reeves, 201. ' • F. Sloman, 3101. Os.; Smythies, 101.; Selby, 601.; Swan, 71. 10 5 . ; S. Seymour, 51. ;J. Smith, 161. 75. ;T. C. Sharland, 121. 135. 9d. ; Tully, 229 /.; end for orchestra, 2561.145. 4d. ,• Tem pleton, 131.85. Ott. ; M. Thomas, 451.; J. Turner, 51.; B. Thomp son, 61. 95.; R. West, 161. 75. ; J. Whalley, 16/. 7s. •, G. Wilson, 151. 15s. • R. W. Wyatt, 241. 10e. ; Williams, 101.; and W. Wright, 1601., who the bankrupt says claims 1201.. against which 1 have • set-oft. Among the ladies of the establishment are Mrs. Coch- rane, 41.65.; Campbell, 8/. ; Horn, 601. 125. Bd. ; Humby, 361. 3s. 6d. ; Lush, 241. 3s. Bd.; Stacey, 91. 18s. ; and the Misses Dick inson, 148/. ; Ellis, 241.35. 4d. ; Eglenton, 23L; Grove, 71. ; Har land, 81. Gs. ; Keene, 174 135. 4d.; Robertson, 521.; Julia Harland, 8/. ss. ; Mitchell, 451. •, St. George, 921. tte.Bd ; Stevens, 191.; Wright, 801.; Wydham, 111.; and Wadham. 51. 10a. The creditors connected with rival establishments consist of Mr. J. B. Buckskin°, Haymarket, 87/. 10s.; Miss Cushman, Hay market. 321. 9s. 2d. (holds a judgment); Mrs. Chatterley Olympic, 261 ; Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Haymarket, 801. ; Miss K. Fitzwillisan, Haymarket, 514; and Miss E. Fitzwilliam, 211. 10s.; Mr. J. P. Harley, 1881., &c. ; and Mr. W. Brough is also returned for 1531. The only creditor holding security is Mr. H. Oxenham, of Ox ford-street, 7001., to whose name the following memorandum is appended :-N.B. This furniture was originally hired by me of Mr. Oxenham about the year 1842, and continued in my posses sion, subject to an annual rent, till about April, 1853, when, with the view of relieving me of the heavy annual charge for hire, it was purchased for me by Mr. Allcroft ; but, in the month of De cember last, in order to provide the funds necessary for the pro duction of the Christmas extravaganza, I was again compelled to subject it to a charge In favour of Mr. Oxenhasu of 9001. The balance-sheet does not contain the name of a single debtor to the bankrupt. The lease of the Lyceum Theatre has become forfeited by the bankruptcy. Mn. AUGUSTUS NEWTON some years since formed an acquaintance with Miss Jane James, whom the police reporters describe as a "plain but not unin teresting-looking spinster." The gentleman visited her continually during a period of some years, made her presents, gave her money, and did all but reside with her as a husband. In 1852, however, he got married, and Miss James, being wrath and jealous, proceeded to disturb him and Mrs. Newton with various kinds of annoyance. Among other things she wrote letters both to husband and wife, seeking to interrupt their domestic harmony, and calling Mr. Newton a swindler and robber. Two of these letters, sent through the post, were directed outside to " Mr. Newton, Swindler's Villa," and for sending these epistles the writer was brought up at Westminster Police Court on Wednesday on a charge of "libel." The libel was said to consist in the words given upon the address, while the fact that the letter had 491 passed through the post constituted a " publication" in the eye of the law. Counsel for the defendant argued that, although her handwriting was proved in the letters, it was never shown that she was cogni sant of their being posted, i.e., " published" in the legal sense of the term. He submitted, also, that the title " Swindler's Villa" was no libel, seeing that, if anything, it was the residence, and not the tenant, that was so stigmatised. The magistrate, however, overruled these objections, and Bliss James was called on to find sureties for her reappearance at the court next week. ADULTERATION OF FOOD. A CONFERENCE, attended by medical and other gentlemen, was recently held in Birmingham, to consider the best means of preventing the adulteration of artleles of food and drugs, Mr. Scholefield, M.P., was in the chair. Mr. J. Postgate, Lecturer on Anatomy at Sydenham Col lege, Birmingham, presented a statement to the following effect :—" Bread is made of flour which, in addition to bean meal, contains alum in variable but injurious quantity. It is white, dry, and readily crumbles, produces acidity and flatulency, and often leads to permanent dyspepsia and ill health. Being minus the proper quantity of gluten which gives the heart to bread, it ill sustains the strength of the working man. Further, the effect of alum is to make an unsaleable, unsound wheat saleable, and apparently sound, by absorbing the moisture, and it is always added in much larger quantities directly after harvest. Some dishonest traders, aware perhaps of the constipating effecti of alum, very considerately introduce a little julep. Alum in bread is easily detected by macerating it iu water, and-adding to the solution ammonia. I sin informed that American flour in a wet bad state has been, when dried, baked, and hardened, broken with hammers, and ground up with wheat, to be sold at market prices. I can prove by wit nesses that horaebean-meal is regularly mixed with wheat flour, in the proportion of one sack of the former to 15 of the batter. Coffee.-1 have purchased specimens at several shops, paid the beat prices, and found ou examination chicory in the proportion of one-half to one-third, besides roasted corn. Vinegar, entering largely into those articles of daily consumption, mustard and pickles, containing an excess of sulphuric acid, must exercise a prejudicial effect on the system. Much of the malt vinegar I have met with is little better than oil of vitriol diluted with water, coloured with burnt sugar, and a small quantity of the real article added to give it the proper odour. A solution of chloride of barium soon detects the acid. Even in Stilton cheese, for which I paid the best price, calcareous nodules of carbonate of lime have been detected. Cream of tartar is an article of common consumption in the sum mer months, under the agreeable form of lemonade, ginger beer, and other cooling beverages. 1 have examined re cently a sample which contained three parts of alumin four, and the druggist was obliged to mix it with a better article to make it saleable. The price paid per cwt. was 51.; alum is only 10s. per cwt.; consequently the person alluded to has been defrauded to the extent of Si.?. lid. This cream of tartar, or rather tartar cream, will, I dare say, be shortly sold and consumed in Birmingham under the characteristic cognomen of pop 1 With what effects? Spirits of sweet nitre and spirits of sal volatile are both sold much diluted with water—the former often contains aquafortis, and thus a mild and useful medicine is rendered irritating and injurious ; the latter in one case lately produced indirectly serious consequences. A lady in the habit of taking adulterated spirits of sal volatile in large quanti- ties to ensure the desired stimulating effect accidentally procured from another druggist a fresh supply of the fluid, and, after attempting to take her usual dose, the result was inflammation and ulceration of the throat. Within a mile of the centre of this midland seat of intelligence, in a hack street with a very aristocratic name, resides, or did reside, a milkman, celebrated for the thickness and richness of his cream. He was thought to have rare cows. His name was up, and he drove a roaring trade. His cream consisted of very finely-prepared chalk and a modicum of cow cream, to which a rich butter tint was given by turmeric. The real cream he churned. Water furnishes a risadynieass of adulterating milk, as every resident in Lige total's can testify, and this is no small matter, as it directly diminishes the quantity of nutriment given to children and invalids—to say nothing of the difficulty of procuripg from this milk good cream. As for drugs, it bee been for years a source of complaint and annoyance to the medical profession that no means were adopted to ascertain— first, their strength and purity when imported • and second, to prevent their adulteration by wholesale dealers and retailers afterwards. From the variable strength of drugs and the adulterations of them, the most uncertain effects are produced • indeed, the personal experience of every individual who has had the same prescription made up by different druggists will verify this assertion. By this fearful practice not only are the medical man's inten tions frustrated, suffering and pain protracted, but even death results in some cases by the extraction of the active principles naturally contained in drugs." Mr. Postgate stated, that if asked what commodities are unadulteratkd he could but reply—only raw materials, fish, flesh, vege tables. He said he had information from a miller that alum to a large extent is regularly ground up with wheat. or mixed with flour, and beans also when the price of wheat is high : this person stated that his health had been greatly injured by the alum-dust given off in grinding. After much discussion the conference came to a resolution to petition Parliament to appoint examiners at the ports, and enable the magistrates and town councils to appoint public analysers in towns, and to provide by law that Gig be imposed, a 4 that the County Court adjudicate between the manufacturer or wholesale dealer and the retail trades man in case of adulterated articles being suppliud, Xiiith court to have power to allow the retail tradesman com pensation for his loss, and to indict $ fine nut ssfsek ng 501. ."`"