The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-10 00:00:00

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.

TO TICS /MOT OP THE =PROM.

St;—l Lave just seen something which im-
presses roc so much that I hope you will grant me
space to describe it, and to commend the facts to
my countrywomen, on behalf of the sewing schools
of Lancashire and Cheshire. . . .

-.-
I need hardly explain that these sewing schools
furnish at once a safe refuge for the unemployed
factory girls, a good training in domestic needle-
work, and the means of buying clothing exceed-
ingly cheap. The plan is in every way ad-
mirable ; and to sustain and multiply these
schools is to do unmixed good. While some
people send money (and much money is wanted)
others cannot do better than send materials for
clothing. The cry for material is very urgent ; and
it is about this that I write. Whatever is sent
should be good and suitable. It would be a cruel
mockery to send rubbish, when cold weather is
coming on, and substantial warm clothing is be-
coming a necessary of life. But there are ways of
getting good materials cheap. For children's arm
particularly this is easy ; and the children have the
very first claim, if Lord Pahnerston's advioe is to
be taken, and the present dreary opportunity is
to be used for keeping every boy and girl at
school.
The other day a friend of mine went forth with
51. in her pocket, to see bow much good sound
clothing material she could get for that sum. I
have just been looking over her package, before it
goes to the Blackburn Sewing-school, and I find
the contents to be as follows :

13 Women's gowns, seemly and serviceable.
6 Frocks for young girls and children.
Pottioests, liosey and stuff.
4 Petticoats, woven.
5 Flannel petticoats, very good.
1 Child's pinafore.
2 Boys' blouses, dark bine flannel, very good.
10 Women's shifts, uublearbed afire.
7 Caps, strong muslin, checked.
4 Bonnets, Coburg, drab.
A good supply of tapes, linen buttons, and hooks sod eyes.
It will be asked how such a purchase was
,ed ? and this is what 1 have to telL

My friend went to a shop(kept by a good-natured
tradesman, which is an important element in the
case) where there was likely to be a remainder stock
at the close of each season of the year. She ex-
plained her object, and was shown remnants of
flannel and calico, dresses out of fashion, out of
season, or soiled (being washable) or faded. Pieces
too short fora gown would serve for • frock ; odd
ends of stuff would make bonnets ; the discarded
fashions in linseys yield excellent warm petticoats
very cheap. There were no cheap shawls in stock,
nor cloaks ; but in a town these might probably
have been obtainable. So might the list and cloth
selvedges from clothiers' and woollen-drapers' shops,
from which warm capes may be made, in a way
which every needlewoman knows.
Now, there are good-natured shopkeepers every-
where ; and wherever there is a draps shop of
any consideration there are remnants, and faded
and old-fashioned articles of dress. Ladies who
have hours to spare can do much to serve their
Lancashire sisters by trying, as my friend has done,
bow much they can get for 81. Fifty ladies, doing
this, might go a long way towards clothing the
women and children of the suffering districts. And
why should there not be fifty and twice fifty ladies
doing this thing within a week ?
1 may remind them that there is little time on
the spot, and little apace and resource of conveni-
ence ; and that therefore everything should be sent
iu readiness for the needle. The unbleached calico
should be washed out ; the garments should be cut
out, in breadths at least, if not to fit ; and each
sort should be ticketed, each parcel of gowns,
petticoats, etc., being separate, and ticketed with
the number and quantity.
It will be a great kindness to put in half-worn
clothes. As I said before—no rubbish. But there
are few houses in which there are not some articles
of dress which can be spared before they are nearly
worn out. I will only say further that every charge
of carriage should be paid by the sender, and as
little trouble given as possible. It will add a grace
to the gift if everything that can be wanted is put
into the parcel—linings, tape, buttons, hooka and
eyes, thread, and even needles and pins. The very
completeness will be a lesson to the girls, and will
give pleasure in places where pleasures are very
rare at present.—l am, he., H. M.

FURTHER SPREAD OP THE ANALLPOI LW
SHEEP.

DEVIZES, TUESDAY.
We regret to state that the fearful disease among
sheep, which has so devastated the flocks in Wiltshire, has
appeared in • district which it wan hoped might escape Its
ravages. Shortly before Isley fair, which took place ow the
26th of August last, Mr. Church. • farmer, at Aldbourne,
on the borders of Witte and Berk*, had in his possession
about 330 culls (ewes and lambs), from which he selected a
number and despatched them to Islay fair. Three days
after the sheep had left Mr. Church discovered that one
of the weakest lambs left on his premises was ill ; and his
suspicions being excited (a flock of sheep which were known
to have suffered from the smallpox having pained in the
neighbourhood a few days before). Mr. Church thought it
better to separate the lamb from the rest of the flock.
This was aooordiagly does, and the lamb subsequently died.
Yesterday (Monday) Mr. Church discovered t a second
lamb was evideatly suffering from some disease, and this
animal was also separated from the flock. It happened,
however, that Professor °singer, oldie new Veterinary
College, of Edinburgh, bad beard that Mr. Church had lost
a lamb, and yesterday he drove over to Aldbouroe for the
purpose of making inquiries. Os his arrival at Aldbouros
he at ooce had an interview with Mr. Church, by whom be
was then informed that • second lamb had bees separated
that morning, it having been discovered to be suffering from
some disease. The animal was 'at coos shown to the pro-
fessor, who, on an examination, declared that the disease
was smallpox, and recommended that the lamb should be
killed immediately. Mr. Church agreed with him, and
adopted the suggestion, the lamb being killed on the spot.

At a meeting of the veterinary committee of the Royal
Agricultural Society of Eoglaad, held yesterday in Han-
over-square, it was announced that the government had
appointed Professor Simonds (tbe society's veterinary in-
spector) a special commissioner, to inquire into the origin
and extent of this disease, with a view to an immediate
issuing of an order in council to check its further
progress. The committee, however, while appreciating
this act of the government, thought it most important
that the general provisions of the act, 11th and
12th Victoria, cap. 107*(apart from cap. 4), as vested in
the local magistracy, should be enforced ; and for this
purpose a deputation waited upon Hr. Waddington, at the
Home-office, yesterday afternoon. They were assured that
every attention should be paid to the subject, and that an
order was already in preparation, caling the attention of
the magistrates to the necessity of enforcing its provisions.
Dr. Gamges writes from Devises :—'• There is a drift
along the celebrated Wansdyks which has been repeatedly
the cause of the spread of contagious diseases from affected
cattle and sheep traversing the Downs in order to avoid the
payment of tolls on the high road. They public may rest
assured that there is no ground at all for the belief that
smallpox could break out in Wiltshire spontaneously. The
disease is spreading, but only is the lines of communication
between distant widths diseased flocks, snd a few =ore days
will indicate that the plague is not stayed. I should not
sound this note of alarm if I did not think that the Wilt-
shire farmers must act in combination to check the disease,
and that the practice of inoculation is extending widely the
area over which the smallpox virus is emanating."

• This act was continued by the Yid and thad Vleoriti
cap. ft.

ROYAL Horricmmuzaz. Bootarr. —The autumn
show of Sowers will be held to-day, at South Ke
and, judging few the number of rotries already t=
roses, &hie's, gladiolus, asters, kc., the oompstition is
likely to be keen. We understand that the society intend
exhibiting about thirty kinds of grapes grown in their large
conservatory, at Chiswick. This cannot fail Jobe a very inte-
resting feature is the show, sad will afford the visiton aa
opportunity of comparing many good sorts of this delicious
fruit. The bands of the Ist Life Guards and Royal Knel-
-1 news will perform in the garden from 2to 6 o'clock. The
weather, however, is very untrvourable.

222 REGENT-STREET, LONDON.
, MAPPIN BROTHERS (by special appointment to
his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III.), SILVERSMITHS. Mectro-
Baser Platers, Downing-case Manufacturers, and Cutlers, queen's
Cutlery Works, &wadi', have the honour to announce that
they have
COMMENCED BUSlNpening MM at the Wti9T-
atEND of LONDON, by
o PM
22r, REGENT -STREET,
with a large collection of their manufacture., and they hope to
reedy*, as they will endeavour to ment, an extension of the
favours hitherto awarded them at their City Establiahmenk
UT and tIK KING WILLIAMATREILT.

0110. SMITH AND 00.2
pIIRE EXTRACT of CALVES' FEET,
For Invalids sod Culinary Um
nold la ad., U., Yu. and 4a. manta, by all elsondalk roma &d.
MANUYACrOkY. 21. MILE POldlaND4l2., lageat-at.. W.

SSOOND-RAND PIANOFORTES.
CRAMAIL, RIALE, and WOOD lump • large assortment
el leeend-hand Ilasegartes, by the moat esteemed makers, at
greatly reduced pier. —9,1. Beyentatreet.

LIVES of EMINENT STATESMEN, by
THOS. HOOD, Esq., in FUN, every week. One penny.
Ready on the 13th September, handsomely bound in Magenta
cloth, gilt, price 4s ed. : post free, es., the
SECOND half-yearly VOLUME of FUN, with
numerous Engravings by talented artists, and humOtirona
Articles by the following distinguished writen :
W. Wiley, Esq. W. & Gilbert, laq.
W. Barber. Esq. T. Hood, Esq.
E. L Blanchard, Fact T. B. Jerrold, Fee.
G. W. Bridgeinau, Esq. W. J. Protege, Esq.
F. C. Bornand, Esq. Godfrey Turner, Esq.
H. J. Byron, Eaq. kc , kc., Bo
Ofllce, 80, Fleet-street, London.

ghe eraregqi•

TO. O.OI.2I2IPONDENT3.

tivertleemente intended for " The ispresa" London Evening
Paper must be at the office, 10, houvetiastreet, by Two
o nbcit on the da of pablleation.

eQvarir pARDEN.

Tuts EVENING, 31bil;iiiiiiiiobsca. Miss Thirlwall.
and Miss Susan Pyne . Meson Yeatley, H. Cunt Patsy. Lyall.
and George Perim—Conductor, Mr. Alfred Ileßon. —Com-
memo at &

BAYMAXICIT._

TEM EVERDIS, THE Mr. Parren.-01711
AMERICAN eXHISIN. Mews. Solberg dealleOne ; Kra. Yorng,
Mtesollver.—CELOS ]'CALLA: or. Love and Jealousy. Peres
Nona and Seuor Moragau—And MY HUSBAND'S OHOST.

Pit! NRIOVIr..

Tins Emma, THE EMMY THE
EIGHTH. Mews Chutes Kean, Jordan, Potter, Raymond,
J. F. Cathcart Everett, Garden, and Meadows : Charted
Kean and Misses Chapman.—And THE TWO POLTS.