The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-12 00:00:00

ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

Now that the Session of Parliament has been
opened, and the practical business of legislation be-
comes a question for serious attention, it is the duty
of the journalist to bring to the consideration of the
public those questions which should be most urgently
pressed upon the legislature. All must remember
the interesting inquiry which took place last year on
the almost universal system of adulteration which
was practised not only in food, but in almost every
commodity sold to the public which could by any
means be made subject to it. If the disclosures which
were then made by competent witnesses and scientific
investigators were only partially true, it was evident
that, with few exceptions, the trade of England had
become one of simulation and fraud, demanding loudly
the most energetic measures to effect a remedy.
The butcher and the green-grocer seemed alone
exempt from the charge, for every other trade was
tinctured with deceit, so that the consumer became the
victim of a widely-ramified conspiracy ; no article
which he purchased being that which it was repre-

sented to be, and many of them disgusting compounds,
consumed in happy ignorance of their reality. It has
been argued that many adulterations are beneficial
rather than otherwise. This is simply a plea in justi-
fication of fraud, an apology for dishonesty, an excuse
for actual robbery. Bnt, on the other hand, the great
majority of adulterations are positively of an injurious
character, deleterious to human life, destructive of
health, and as such ought to be vigorously sought out
for detection, and punished with severity.
For several years past our legislators have devoted
much time and attention to sanitary measures, and
displayed a considerable amount of praiseworthy zeal
in attempts to secure efficient drainage and ventilation
in large and small towns. To accomplish this end,
the most arbitrary enactments have been found indis-
pensable ; yet all will be of little or no avail, if the
public are poisoned in their food, and defrauded of the
medicines necessary to cure them, in addition to
being in some measure compelled to pay for articles
which they do not obtain. It has been alleged that
the public have the means of protecting themselves
in the liberty of dealing with whom they please, and
that they have moreover the benefit of competition,
which was perhaps never so keen as at present.
Unfortunately, however, competition is more in
cheapness than in quality, of which consumers in
general are but indifferent judges ; and trade appears
to be so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of simula-
tion, that it is difficult to say where there is freedom
from it. The consumer in vain leaves one tradesman
for another, and even where the advantage of
genuinenesss may be gained, the rivalry of price
operates with too many as a more powerful stimulus.
The law should interfere by appointing properly
qualified inspectors of every article subject to adulte-
ration, and by imposing such penalties on offenders as
may operate as an effectual check on such practices,
whether committed by manufacturers or by retailers.
It must be recollected that the poor are the greatest
sufferers, not only because they are the most easily
tempted by the apparent lowness of price, but from
their inability to discriminate between a good article
and an inferior one. In the case of weights and
measures, the law very properly interferes, not only
by the appointment of authorised inspectors but by
the summary jurisdiction of the magistracy ; so that
if the officers perform their duties the poor have at
least a measure of protection afforded them as to
quantity. A similar system might be advantageously
pursued as to quality, and it would have this good
effect—that the increase of the revenue would more
than compensate for the cost of its operation, as there
cannot be the slightest doubt that the consumption of
duty-paying commodities would be considerably aug-
mented. The subject is one especially deserving
the attention of the legislature, and as it has already
undergone investigation before a committee of the
House of Commons, it is to be hoped that the session
will not be allowed to pass over without some attempt
being made to effect a remedy for so serious a social
grievance.

THE British and North American mail steam-ship Asia,
Captain Lott, sailed hence for New York, on Saturday, with a
fair cargo and forty-seven passengers, among whom was Sir
William Logan, Government Surveyor in the Canadian pro-
vinces:

AT the meeting of the Liverpool Town Council, to-morrow,
Mr. Gladstone intends to draw attention to the defective
arrangements of the council chamber as to ventilation, and to
move that the deliberations of the local parliament be held at
St. George's-hall.
CHATHAM SOCIETY.—They who enjoyed the late excellent
ball given by this society, at the Town-hall, will be gratified
to know that the result enabled the committee to present to
the Asylum for Orphan Boys the handsome donation of one
hundred guineas.
THE return match at chess between the Liverpool and Man-
chester clubs is to take place on Wednesday, the 20th instant,
at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. On the close of the contest
the members of the Liverpool club will hold their annual
dinner.

WAR ITEMS.—On Saturday, about 600 men, detachments
from various regiments, embarked on board the Great Britain
screw steam-ship for Malta. She sailed from the Mersey on
Saturday, and will call at Cork for further detachments of
troops which have been assembled there for embarkation;
THE Society of Northern Antiquaries of Denmark have just
elected Mr.-Joseph Mayer, of this town, a member of their
foundation. A few days ago he received his diploma, signed
by the King, who takes a great interest in all antiquarian
pursuits, but more particularly those relating to his own king-
dom, and by his example adds much weight to and encourages
his people in every way to study the history of their father-
land, as it must be to all great patriots a pleasure to know
something of the manners, habits, and religion of their fore-
fathers.
BRITISH COAL EXPORTS.—From Messrs. W. and H. Laird's
monthly export coal list, it appears that the total quantity of
coal shipped from all the British to all foreign ports, during
the month of December, was 223,878 tons, of which 91,207
were from what are termed the northern ports, including
Newcastle, Shields, Blyth, &c. ; 9,487 from the Yorkshire
ports ; 17,132 from Liverpool ; 82,329 from the Severn ports,
including Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, &c. ; and 23,723 from the
Scotch ports. About one-half of the entire quantity shipped
from Liverpool was for North and South America.
RAPID PASSAGE.—The beautiful ship Dreadnought, Capt.
Samuels, belonging to Messrs. Taylor and Co.'s New York
line of packets, arrived in the Mersey on Saturday, after a
remarkably quick run of 14 days. She brought files of papers
to the 23rd ult., which contained important news, tending to
restore confidence in the pacific relations of Great Britain and
the United States. During the short period the Dreadnought
has been built, she has made a series of the most extraordinary
passages to and from the United States ever known, running
out, on an average, in 18 days, and homeward in 15 or 16
days.
STEALING PROM A CONVENT.—At the Liverpool Police-
court, on Saturday, Sarah Hussey, aged about nine years, was
brought up under remand from the previous day, charged by
two ladies from St. Thomas's Convent, Mount-Vernon, with
stealing a large variety of shawls and other articles of wear-
ing apparel belonging to the pupils of the school, and pledging
them at the shop of Messrs. Cowell and Kewley, 169, Brown-
low-hill, where portions of the missing property were found.
The girl, who had been charitably provided for by the nuns
during the past five years, admitted having taken the things
produced, as well as a large quantity more, at various times,
and pledged a considerable quantity at the shop of Messrs.
Cowell and Kewley. The presiding magistrate, Mr. Maxwell,
said the conduct of the pawnbrokers, in receiving property
time after time from such a girl, was most reprehensible, to
say the least of it, and he adjourned the inquiry until to-day,
with the intimation that the case should be thoroughly sifted ;
and he gave instructions for the pawnbrokers' assistants to be
in attendance.

FrnEs.—On Saturday morning, between seven and eight
o'clock, a fire was discovered to have broken out in the
bonded vaults, occupied by Messrs. Glazebrook Brothers,
under the Liverpool Corn Exchange, Brunswick-street. Mr.
Superintendent Hewitt, with the Fire Brigade, was speedily
on the spot, and, at the risk of suffocation, he went into the
lower vaults, where he ascertained that the sawdust in the
place had ignited, and that the flames were rapidly spreading
towards the spirit casks. He, however, immediately got the
hose to work, and there being a good pressure of water,
the fire was subdued, before much damage had been oc-
casioned. There were between 2,000 and 3,000 hogsheads
of wine and spirits in the vaults, so that the consequences
might have been of the most terrible and disastrous nature
had it not been for the prompt and energetic measures
adopted by the fire police. It is believed that the fire had
been smoldering all night, but no clue to its origin has yet
been formed.—On Saturday evening, about eight o'clock.
some trifling damage was caused by fire in a porter bottling-
cellar, kept by Mr. Foren, in College-lane, Whitechapel. The
first intimation was conveyed to the West of England Fire-
station, and the engine was immediately run down, quickly
followed by the hose from Temple-court. The property was
not insured. There :were two casks_ of saltpetre on the pre-
mises, but the fire did not reach them.
IMPORTANT TO CAPTAINS. Arrangements are made
whereby the Board of Trade supply the captains of vessels
gratuitously with wind and current charts, sailing directions, and
in some cases with instruments of the best class, on condition
that the captains make as regular and complete observations
as possible of the direction, duration, and force of the winds
which they experience during their voyages. By this arrange-
ment—which is made in concert with a similar one under the
direction of the American government—the captain has the
best materials at his command for the various calculations
necessary to secure a rapid and safe voyage ; while, with
ordinary diligence and observation, he can furnish the most
valuable information to those whose business it is to sit at
home, and by collecting the observations of many voyages,
work out results of the utmost value to navigation, as well as
to general science. The charts and sailing directions supplied
to captains are those published under the direction of Lieut.
Maury, and which embody the observations hitherto made
under the auspicies of the Washington Observatory, with
regard to the winds which prevail during the various seasons
of the year throughout the different tracts of ocean.
WEST DERBY GirAnDLANs.—On Wednesday, the weekly
meeting of this board was held in the board-room, West
Derby Workhouse. Mr. J. Harrison presided. The governor,
Mr. Gough, reported the number of paupers in the Work-
house as follows :—This week, 732 ; last week, 726; corre-
sponding week last year, 715 ; admitted, 30 ; born, 9 ; died,
3 ; discharged, 20. Number of inmates in the hospital:—
This week, 119 ; corresponding week last year, 84 ; admitted,
12 ; discharged, 13. The Clerk read a letter from Mr. J.
Kennedy, assistant-master, in explanation of the alleged inac-
curacies of his bookkeeping, as stated by the auditor. He
said he had followed the system practised by his predecessor,
and had done his duty as an honest man, as best he could.
The letter was considered very satisfactory.—The Clerk read
a communication from the Poor-law Board, in answer to the
request of that board for a new list of averages. The Poor-law
Board wished to know if there was any special reason for it,
as new averages were given in March, 1854. The Chairman
said the overseers might have some special reasons, and they
might be consulted with. The subject was deferred.—Mr.
Shaw moved that the salary of Mr. Hamilton be increased
from £6O to £BO, as previously notified. He said he had no
other motive in submitting that resolution than to do justice
to an officer who, he thought, was underpaid. The motion
was not seconded.—The board then aajorrned.

[FEBRUARY 12, 1556.