The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-17 00:00:00

COMMITTEE ON ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

THE committee appointed by the House of Commons to in-
quire into the subjects of adulterations of food assembled at
one o'clock on Friday, Mr. Scholefield in the chair.
Dr. Hassell was the first witness called, and he stated the
results of his investigation into almost every article of food,
not one of which escaped adulteration. The substances em-
ployed in the process of adulteration were sawdust, red ferru-
ginous earth, Venetian red, vermilion, Prussian blue, turmeric,
and things of the most filthy and poisonous character. In such
articles as arrowroot, mustard, &c., there was scarcely a particle
of the genuine substance which they pretended to be. The
witness stated that tea-leaves were dried up, coloured with
offensive matter, and resold as genuine tea. In the manufac-
ture of pickles copper was very extensively used. Red lead
was often found in Cayenne pepper, and was apt to be very in-
jurious to the system if taken two or three times a week.
Chromate of lead was used so extensively in snuff as frequently
to produce paralysis. No leads escaped freely out of the system,
but were cumulative, and consequently dangerous. It might
be mentioned that a strong redness in Cayenne peper was a
suspicious circumstance, though not conclusive„an the addition
of salt to pure Cayenne would render it more visidly red than
even red lead itself.
Lord Claude Hamilton—With regard to other articles, are
they adulterated chiefly by the wholesale dealers, or by retail
dealers, to whom they are supplied ? Witness—No doubt by
the wholesale dealers. _ _ _

On referring to the adulterations of marmalade, the Chair-
man inquired whether it was always made of oranges. Wit-
ness—Oh no; generally of turnips. (Laughter.)
In answer to questions in reference to coloured con-
fectionery, the witness stated that scarcely a year passed
without deaths arising from the consumption of these
adulterated articles. The largest consumption was amongst
children, who were consequently the principal victims. He
had purchased such confectionery at large and small shops,
and he found very little difference between them. There was
an enormous consumption of this coloured confectionery, and
there had been a great increase since the diminution in the
pride of sugar.
After some evidence on the adulteration of gin; the com-
mittee adjourned till Wednesday next (to-morrow).

THE MODELS OP PARIS AND PEKE LA. CHAISE, it will be
seen, are still on view in Old Postoffice-place. At the present
time, when so many are availing themselves of the facilities
and other inducements held out to visit the French capital,
an' attentive study of these models must be generally useful.
To those going to Paris it will greatly abridge their labour
and increase their comfort by enabling them to understand
the different localities which they will require to visit. To
those who remain at home, it will increase the means of un-
derstanding what is said to them of it by their more fortunate
friends who have made the visit.
STEALING PROM THE ADELPHI HOTEL.—On Saturday,
Margaret Lewis, a middle-aged woman, was charged before
the Pdlice-court with stealing a large number of knives, forks,
glasses,. towels, and other articles, from the Adelphi Hotel.
The Officer stated that information had been given by Mr.
Radley, of a number of articles having been stolen. The
Officer suspected the prisoner, who had been employed by Mr.
Radley as a charwoman. He went to a housed bad character,
'4ll Dance-street, which was kept by the prisoner, and he there
Found a great number of articles, bearing the mark of the
hotel. The prisoner did not deny the charge. She was sent
to gaol for a month. It appeared that 'the woman had got
into Mr. Radley's employ on the faith of a false character,
she having passed herself off as a poor widow, anxious to
work hard for a living. She has a small annuity, derived
from some property in Carnarvonshire.
A MAILINt STORE DEALER IN TROUBLE.—On Saturday,
Samuel Winter, a middle-aged man, who keeps a.marine store
in Sumner-street, was brought before the POlice-court, for
having about 701bs of metal bolts, and a large quantity of
compositim nails, for which he could not satisfactorily ac-
ccount. The officer who had charge of the case stated 'that a
boy, named_ Johnson, who was •an apprentice with Messrs.
Humble and Grayson, of Neptune-street, had gone at various
times to Mr. Marsden's in Argyle-staeet, with forged orders
for nails and bolts,which were supposed to be for his employers.
It turned out, however, that tthe boy lad sold about 31 cwt.
Of nails to marine store dealers. The boy's employers did not
wish to prosecute him, as be was a poor orphan, and had pro-
missed to go to sea. But, as the boy had told to whom he had
sold some :of the nails, the officer went and searched the
prisoner's premises. A large quantity of nails and bolts were
found, of which no entries were made in his books; and some
of the property was found at the prisoner's private dwelling,
in Gildart's Gardens.—After some comments by the magis-
trate, a fine of 20s. and costs was inflicted ; and his license
\was ordered to be revoked.
THE CHANGING SCENES OP A POLICE,OPP/CE.—A young
woman, raving mad, was•conveyed to the Salford Police-office,
on Thursday, for safekeeping. She was a mother, and had an
infant six weeks old. The cause of her derangement was the
enlistment into the militia of the young man who was the
father of the child. She was a Roman Catholic, and she called
loudly and repeatedly for a confessor. A priest was sent for,
and though it had previously required two men to hold her,
when left alone with him she vas as quiet •as possible. He
remained with her, a few.minutes, and when,he left the room
she broke out again, and•was as violent •as ever. The child is
six weeks old, and- as it had not been baptized, and is not
likely to live, the priest ,proposed to baptize it. Water was
accordingly sent for, and the ceremony was ,performed in the
superintendent's office, in the presence of -the woman folio
cleans the police-offiee, and one or two women who had accom-
panied the lunatic to the station. In• the course of the day
the unfortunate creature.and her child, were removed to the
workhouse. Previous to this, however, an• elderly man, who
had for many years been a public servant, • was conveyed to
the police-station, prior to -his removal, under the usual certi-
ficates, to the county asylum at Prestwich. He was a reli-
gious monomaniac. Later in the day some boys took to the
office the bcidy of a prematurely stillborn child, which they
had found in the river ; and the police would have to see to
its interment, whiohwould, probably, be effected with all the
expedition consistent with coinmon decency.—Manchester
Guardian.
HEALTH' COMIITTEE.—At the usual meeting, on Thurs-
day, Mr. Dover presiding, the Medical Officer represented that
the mortality of the borough was lower in the week ending
on Saturday than in any 'week of the preceding twenty
months. The total deaths were 170, the average of the
same week ,of the preceding seven years 228.—A tender
from George Ravenscroft fee sewering Harrington-streei,
Bell-street, Fisher-street, &c., at a cost of £1039, was re-
ferred ; a tender of Jame Jones for sewering 'Water-street
and King-street-lane. West Derby, was accepted ; also a
tender from John Hankin, for similar work in Fairclough-
lane.—ln accordance with a notice of motion previously
given, Mr. Dover proposed an Increase in the salary of Mr.
Davies, the deputy borough engineer. Mr. ,Beckwith saw
no grounds for the proposed advance, and • stated that in
1846 Mr. Davies had an advance to £2OO, in 1850 he was
-advanced to £3OO, and in 1858 to £350 per annum. Mr.
-Johnson moved that the salary of Mr. Davies be advanced to
4400 per annum. Mr. Beckwith would oppose it not only
there but in the council. Some conversation took place, and
After a suggestion that the subject tbe referred, the committee,
without coming to a division, allowed the matter to drop.—
The Law-clerk informed the committee that Sir Benjamin
'Hall had declined to proceed further with his Public Health
.13111. With regard to the alleged encroachments by the Dock
Committee at Wapping, he had 'forwarded to their secretary
a oopy of the resolution passed by the Health Committee, but
had not received any .official answer. Some desultory con-
versation took place ,moon the subject. Mr. Halhead sug-
zested a resolution referring certain understood arrangements
as to the land, &c., to the surveyor of the two trusts, but no
decision was come to upon, it.—This being the whole of the
business, the Board adjourned.
THE DUKE of CAMBREDOE is to be immediately appointed
Generalissimo of the Foreign Legion.
Sulcru2.—On Thursday afternoon, a gentleman named
Thomas Wilson committed euicide, at Eastley's Hotel, South-
ampton-street, Strand, London, by shooting himself with a
pistol. A letter was found in the room, • directed to Mr.
David Wilson, Belfast ; which contained, also, a request that
his portmanteau should be sentto Miss Wilson;Tictoria-street,
Belfast.

•
INFRINGING THE LIBERTY QP THE :SUBBECT.—A rag-
gatherer, about fifty-five years of age, on Friday threw himself
into the Seine from the Pont d'Austerlitz. An octroi man,
who happened to be on the towing-,path, immediately plunged
iu and rescued him. The rag-gatherer, instead of thanking
the man, was no sooner brought safe to land•than le flew into
a ;violent passion, and abused him grossly. " A pretty thing,
indeed!" cried he,." not to allow a man to leave the world
when and how he pleases ! And," he added, "I ought to be
allowed to drown myself, for I have three times merited the
guillotine !"
Cniusrivo IN THE ,YEW ROYAL Y.ACHIC.—The Queen and
Prince, accompanied by the King of the Belgians,,the Count
of Flanders, Princess Charlotte of Belgium, the Princess Royal,
and the Princesses Alice and Helena, embarked at Osborne-
pier on Thursday afternoon, for a cruise in the new Royal
yacht Victoria and Albert. The course was round the Isle
of Wight, which was accomplished in three hours and twenty
minutes. The distance is about 62 nautical miles ; the Royal
yacht, for her tonnage, may therefore be considered the fastest
vessel in England. The same evening, Her Majesty took a
second cruise from Osborne round the Nab light-vessel, and
back again.
MURDER AND MUTILATION OP A CHlLD.—Elizabeth
Perkins, aged 28, has been committed for trial on the warrant
of the coroner of Shrewsbury, charged with the wilful murder
.of her female infant. The evidence at the inquest was to the
effect that the prisoner bad lived as cook with Mr. Harding,
manager of the business.of Messrs. Redmaine and Co., mercers,
Shrewsbury. The prisoner's sister was the chief witness ; and
from other evidence it was proved that the child had been cat
into small pieces, and the remains had been found in the water-
closet. The witness stated that she had not been aware of the
condition of the prisoner, and that she attributed her appear-
ance to dropsy. The surgeon stated that the prisoner had
admitted the birth of the child, but said it had been born
dead. In his opinion, however, this was not the case.
SALAD VlZTEGAR.—Esebalots, sweet savoury, chives, and
tarragon, of each three ounces ; two tablespoonfuls of dried
mint-leaves, and the same quantity of halm ; pound all these in
a mortar, and put them into a stone jar holding a gallon of
strong white wine vinegar, cork it down securely ; let it stand
for a couple of weeks exposed to the sun, strain it off, press as
much as possible from the herbs, &c., and filter it through a
flannel bag.

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