Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-07 00:00:00

THE FOOD OF THE POOR

THE food, not only of the poor, but of the
working classes generally, is much of it of a
quality that is not merely adulterated, but most
unwholesome, not to say poisonous. That there is
" death in the pot," by such means, in too many
of their humble dwellings, has from time to time
been complained of, by those who had taken
pains, by close inspection and analysis of many of
the articles of daily use with which the poor are
supplied ; and the system, it is to be feared, still
prevails as injuriously as ever. Disorderly com-
petition in many departments of retail business
has the mischievous effect of beating down prices
so low, that genuine articles cannot be afforded for
such prices. Spurious and generally most delete-
rious practices of adulteration are had recourse to,
in order to meet the irresistible cry for cheapness,
Every thing must be cheap ; and the great merit
of too many establishments, and more especially
such as are mainly engaged in supplying the poor,
is that they sell cheap rather than genuine articles
of constant consumption. There would be a great
evil in this, if it were only in deranging the true
system of trade, by creating a constant excess of
supply over demand. And political economists
and philanthropists have often combined their
efforts to correct. so great an evil, upon that
specific ground,—contending, not only " that
trade, exchange, distribution of goods, are trusts
to be administered alike in the mutual interest of
producers and consumers, not to be conducted as
matters of speculation ;" but, moreover, and more
importantly still, " that any adulteration, fraud,
and falsehood of any kind, in price, quantity, or
quality, is a misdemeanour, and should be [dealt
with as such by public opinion, and by each
individual privately, in the absence of law."
Attempts have been made to carry out this
principle, more especially with regard to adultera-
tion, by establishing shops where the genuine
quality of the articles on sale was guaranteed,
upon the certificates of competent inspectors. But
the thirst for what is cheap, among the poor above
all, has prevailed over every other consideration.
The poor, in fact, have so little to spend upon the
various articles of food which their 'daily- wants
require, that they are irresistibly impelled to give
a preference to the cheap system,—cheap and
nasty, as it has been called, and with only too
much truth, it is to be feared, as respects many of
the items of food which the poor are constantly
consuming—are compelled almost to consume, on
account of their cheapness, rather than have a
better, and probably a really genuine article at a
higher price, but a price which unfortunately they
could not afford to pay. It is altogether a false,
and most mischievously false principle on which
the poor are thus compelled, or think they are, to
act, even on the score of economy,—for true
economy of necessity involves frugality, discretion
of expense, laudable parsimony. To be economical,
is to lay out money to the best advantage ; and
this can never be the case where we purchase
adulterated articles of food, because they are in a
great degree waste, and, more than waste—
injurious, it may be poisonous. It may be " slow
poison," much of the adulterated material with
which, under the system of cheapness, the poor
are supplied; but it is sure poison nevertheless--
systematically injuring the health, and gradually
destroying the life, even of the most robust.

But what are we to say of those who thus
traffic on the health and life of the poor,—who
adopt the system of selling adulterated articles,
that by selling cheap they may have both a brisker
trade and a larger profit ? %%Thy, under any eh -
curnstances, adulteration is fraud—it is the making
that which is true to be that which is false ; it is
to cheat, to obtain money, even the hard-earned
wages of the poor, under false pretences ; and it
ought to be, if it is not, iu the eyes of the law, a
high crime and misdemeanour. The system of
adulteration, then, of every kind, is tin iniquitous
system ; but, infinitely more than this, it deserves
to be considered, when as well as being a fraud
upon the poor, it is a means of injuring their
health, and even destroying their life !
With the view of checking, and, if possible,
preventing so dire and fatal an evil as this, a more
stringent principle of legislation is now proposed
to be adopted. Mr. SCHOLEFIELD has re-introduced
his useful and much-needed Bill, in the House of
Commons, " For Preventing the Adulteration of
Articles of Food or Drink." And the measure
seems well adapted to the exigencies of the case.
It imposes a penalty of so many pounds (not yet
fixed) on every person vending or exposing for
sale any article of food or drink with which, to the
knowledge of such person, any noxious ingredient
has been mixed. More than this, the offender
will be, so to speak, pilloried, to the utter ruin of
his reputation, by the publication of his name,
residence, and offence (at his own expense) in the
newspapers or otherwise, at the discretion of the
magistrates. Vestries and district boards and
Town Councils are authorised to appoint analysts,
such as Dr. HAss.&LL—that is to say, men possess-
ing competent medical, chemical, and microscopical
knowledge. Purchasers of provisions may have
their purchases (of food and drink) analysed by
these officials, on a payment of a fee of 2s 6d to
lOs 6d, and the certificate of the analyst will be
made evidence against the fraudulent vendor. The
Privy Council is empowered to cause analyses to
be made, and to regulate the use of materials or
ingredients distinct from the natural composition
of any article of food or drink with which it may
Thus chicory, used to adulterate
; coeculus indicus and treacle, used by

be mixed.

coffee

brewers in . "rs „c.,,.4

Make "cayenne pepper ;" vitriol, used to counter-
feit acetic
.acid, or vinegar; and lo,s;wood,
us
the manufacto,:e of " port wine," would nature'
•
come under its Opel
There con be no quest: on whatever as to the
i 9
urgent necessity a such a 11104,.:4re as this. It
needed for the proteOion of the whole coaltriani*
for the suppression of a very iniquitous and utast
mischievous system of' fraud. The syitena is the
more infamous, because ta, more pernicious, to its
application to the food of the poor, who so fre
quently, alas ! in this, as in too many °tiler
respects, " have none to help them." There
woe denouacel at a higher tribunal than that °°
man, against him that defraudeih the poor t

increase his riches." Punishment, therefore'
awaits him beyond the confines of this -world. Bat
it is just and expedient that human law should
not overlook a crime, the prevalence of vtllich
so severely felt by those who have the gx eates‘
claim to the law's protection:

ARILIVAL• OF THE RED JAC}iET.—The " White Star
clipper ship Red Jacket, Captain O'Halloran, arrivethle
on Saturday with 39,611 ozs. of gold, valued at £lsBi'l' f
The Red Jacket sailed frdat Melbourne on the 2nd
December, and was acclrlingly 92 dap on the passage.

JOHN BRIGHT, ESQ., IN LIVEROGOL.—The Reform`''`'
will be glad to learn that John Bright, Esq., has consented
to visit Liverpool and deliver an address upon the gel.
question of the day. Last week the Council of the Lifer-
pool Reform Club (recently organized) had a reqisiti°ll„
prepared to Mr. Bright inviting his attendance, and
4.. A.
Saturday a deputation from the council of the club vial
upon the honorable gentleman in. London, and after some
hesitation he consented to comply with the request, but %e'
served to himself the privilege of fixing the time, which, that
probability, will be the week after next. Considering
Mr. Bright has refused to accept many invitatioas, and that
.
his health is very far from being in a satisfactory state, his/
handsome compliance with the request of the Liveret,
Reform Club is especially gratifying. We have no d()Ilb
however, but that the reception. with which he will be
-
greeted will fully compensate him for any personal iflC°ll
venience he may suffer in.