The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-03 00:00:00

NURIATIC ACID IN THE STOMACH.

The Annuls if Nibsuphy ontain a valuable notice from
Mr toil svs on the chemical nature of the acid found
in the human stomach. The distressing disorder of the
digestive functions, termed alnspepfia, has been commonly
ascribed to the prevalence of acetone acid in the stomach ;
but for the purpose of determining the point, and conse-
quently for administering such antidotes as the improved
state of medical science might suggest, Or. Prout last year
made sonic experiments on the acid ejected from the
stomach, and found it to he the muriatic acid, and not the
acetone. Mr. CHILDREN says:—" An acquaintance of
mine, who occasionally suffers severely from dyspepsia,
and was aoniewhat sceptical as to Dr. Prout's conclusions,
lately requested me to examine the fluid ejected from his
stomach during a violent dyspeptic paroxysm the day
before, t .th the view of ascertaining the nature of the free
acid it contained. The fluid which had been thrown from
the stomae:s in the morning fasting, when filtered, was
perfectly tunisparent and nearly colourless : it gave a de-
cided red tint to litmus paper. 1 distilled about six ounces
of it almost to dryness, at a gentle heat, receiving the pro-
duct in three separate equal portions. One-half of each
portion was treated with nitrate of silver. The first had
no cad on litmus paper, and scarcely gave the slightest
cloud with the test. The second became slightly clouded
by the test. but was equally without any action on the
blue paper. The third pertiou rcohloicol the paper strongly,
and produced an abundant dense cloud, when I dropped
into it the nitrate of silver, and a pretty copious precipitate
collected at the bottom of the tube. The remaining half of
the third portion was evaporated by a gentle heat to about
half a fluid drachm. The precipitate which a drop of it
placed on a slip of glass, occasioned with a drop of nitrate
of silver, was insoluble in nitric acid, and perfectly
soluble in ammonia; another drop, similarly treated with
tnuriate of barytes, gave no precipitate nor cloud. The re-
mainder was neutralized with pure ammonia, farther evapo-
rated, and poured on a slip of glass, when it afibnled a mul-
titude of well-defined crystals of inuriate of ammonia. The
presence of free muriatic acid in the ejected fluid from the
stomach, anti consequently Dr. f'ront's conclusions, scent
thus to Le fully confirmed by the preceding experiments."
hence we have the means pointed out of greatly miti-
gating, if tot actually removing, the distressing complaints
of this class by the meaty-dicing. agenry o f Ude alkalies.

A dreadful occuireneettok place Yesterday morning,
shout eleven o'clock, ira consequence of a trifling dispute
betwetn two own in the employment of Mr. Darby,
builder, in the Five Fields, Chelsea; one a stone-sawyer,
of the name of John Bishop, and the other an Irishman. a
bricklayer's labourer. The contention arose as to who
should he tint supplied with water from the pump. Bishop',
succeeded in placing his pail, and, was iu the act of
pumping, with his hack turned to his opponent, who, I
taking an assasin-like advantage of his position,
seized a hoc, with which they mix mortar, and gave him
a tremendous blow on his head. It penetrated through
his hat, and inflicted a dreadful wound on the top of
the head. The poor man, who is only about Sk2 years of
age, was instantly conveyed to the Westminster Inthmary,
in a very precarious state. Through the anxiety that pre-
vsileal to render assistance to the poor sufferer the perpe-
trator of this horrid deed made his escape. At a late hour
we made inquirit s, and understood that his life was in
the most imminent danger.
Wednesday evening, as Mr. John Ilellard, of South
iVraxhall, was returni.% from Atworth, where he had
been to collect poor-rates, he was knocked down near the
Lodge of Tim. Hale, Egg. Conies, about half-past six
o'clock, and moat cruelly beaten by two ruffians, who,
after robbing him of 601. left him lying in the road in-
sensible of his loss ; so:ne time afterwards he was found
anal taken home. Nis.. Pearce, surgeon of Bradford, was
ittamet!iately sent for, and soon after arrived with his as.
sistant. After they had rendered the necessary aid to their
patient, they called on a neighbouring gentleman, leaving
their horses in charge of a man, who was instructed to walk
them up and down on the opposite road ; the man trans-
ferral the charge to two boys, who mounted the horses,
which set off at full speed. One of the boys was thrown
without sustaining much injury, but the other had his
foot caught by the stirrup anal was kicked to death ; the
horse was found much injured on a Leap of stones by the
side of a drain which had been left open, across WI ite-
hill, Bradford, without any light or protection. A leg of
the unfort::nate child was hanging in the stirrup leather.—
lief h Journal.

MINING INTYLLMENCY.—Iropp•st ores sold at Tr...ro,
October 119, 1814, 51,25.1 tour.—Average produce, 7/.—
Quantity of flue copper, 177 tou.--Atztuunt of ss'e.
13,17911. 4s. 6d.—Artlage standard, WU.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

SALE OF ANTIQUEs.

On the lOh inst. there was a curious rale at Kirkinuir-
hill, of old efhrts belonging to a person lately &tallied
then•. Ile was the last survivor of a family that had re-
sided at Draffin for upwards of three humlred years ; and
the knowledge that there would be sold the various cos-
tumes chat had been in fashion among our forefathers for
many getteratimis back, and bail Lein handed down from
father to son, drew together an immerse crowd. Most of
the articles, from their stit'qiiity, were bought at high
prices. There was a silver watch, made 160 years ago,
which went well, and indicated the day of the month as
well as an eight-day clock. Three presses, little better
than lumber, which bad then in use for 170 years, brought
more than any new presses would have done. There were
forty of the oldest-fashionial vests to be found in Scotland,
and hail any person con iected with the stage been present,
they would have proved a valuable acquisition, and been a
genuine representation of the costume of the last two cen-
turies, instead of the ationa of the present day. There
was one vest, with elegant buttons, of Charles the Second's
reign, the lappets of which hung over the thighs of the
breeches, and it was single-breasted. The various patterns
and shapes of those days were a most interesting sight,
and carried the mind hack to former times. Some vests
and coats had buttons on them with the inscription,
" Duke of Cumberland, born 1721," and the bust of the
Duke. About 500 yards of hart. and linen went off at
Its ail. a yard, being's& half above value. There were eight
nibles odd, which were very old, and there was much corn-
petition for them. A number of old catechisms, which
hail accumulated in the faintly, were eager)] purchased by
the curious. There were a number of reeds and other ar-
ticles connected with weaving, sonic of them 150 years old,
and -quite different from those at present in use. there
was a large lot of cotton gowns of different figures and co-
lours. There were two very rich silk brown and black
gowns, of as particular make, and well worthy the attention
of the 'milliners of the present day, as it corroborated the
saving, that there was nothing new under the sun, and
showed that the prom at fashions were wholly derived from
our forefathers. There was a bottle of very old Jamaica
rum found hid among the old apparel, which wrs handed,
like a scent-bottle, round the company. There was a num-
ber of-ancient cravats, made with fringes at the end, and
squares fur worecn's calls, with lace round them, put to the
figure of the ladle.' dresses of the present day. There
were GY caps, which gave a fine idea of the head-dresses
150 and too years ago. There was a vast quantity of
stockings of curious forms. There was a singular woollen
petticoat, fringed round the bottotn with red, which would
answer well for the Gentle SlierAerd. The family seat at
the door was a solid piece of cannel coal, and had been
there longer than any one reeoltskted. A variety of other
old articles were disposed of at high prices. Indeed, any
person could have been furnished with all the different
modes of fashi9n for two centuries back. The sale lasted
two days.—Gl'rrgo;e JoarnaL

TO THE EDITOR OF TX'• BRITISH PRESS.

Si tt —Some of the dui'm upon law time-ceilings having been lately
repealed, particularly the stamps upon writs, bail.boods, he. It
would materially benefit the public, if some of your legal cones-
pondents would, through the medium of your useful and entertain-
ing publication, inform them what are the tees a bailiff is entitled
to demand; as the following circumstance, which occurred in this
neighbourhood last week, hilly proves the extortion practised by
those officers npon every person who unfortunately becomes their
captive :—A respectable tradesman was arrest in the Mar.
shakes Court, for a debt and costs amounting to 181. hr.
Anxious to avoid exposure. lie sent and borrowed a 2W. note,
which he gave to the officers, desiring them to take the amount.
'Their requested a gratuity fur their civility in waiting his con.
verde-nee, winch he rewarded by desiring them to keep the change.
In the evening lit mentioned the circumstance to a friend, %hewing
the bill, who immediately pointed out several overcharges, amount.
ing to 21. 11rs., tar which he advised his summoning the officers,
which he threuened to do; but rather than have their delinquency
publicly exposed, they not tefunded the overcharge but the
gratuity also. Yours, &e.
Nov. 2, 1821. %'ERITAS.
Blackman-street, nouthwark.

It is stated, that ten gun-brio, of 251.5 tons each, are
im-
mediately to be put on tlic Falmouth station as additional
I packets.
I A private letter from Madrid, dated the I lith of October,
'states that the prisons are crowded with persons of all de-
scriptions, except thii.vcs, although they abound in the
capital.
Poretariosi or GREECF.-The actual population of
Greece, according to the most exact calculations, and
Lak-
in, a middle estimate between the different valuations
which have been made, amount to four millions. Half
lise on terra firma ; a million in the Moto aud Negropout ;
and a milli en in the isles. This population, it is true, is
composed c: Greeks, Turks, Albanians, Jews, and Franks;
hut it may be with certainty calculated that the true
Creeks compose three-quarters of it ; and in adding to them
those who live in Asia, European Turkey, Russia, and
Germany, the t':tal population of the Creeks may still,
without exaggeration, be rated at four millions. The po-
pulation of ancient Greece was not more numerous.

A correipondent writes—" A duel was fought yesterday
at Gravesend by two gentlemen, a Mr. C. L. and Nlr.
J. N., two members of the law. Mr. N. received his an-
tagonist's hall in the shoulder. The cause of dispute was
an insult offered to a lady."
The ale brewers in London yesterday morning sent cir-
cular letters to thci: customers, that from the high price of
malt and hops, they are under the painful necessity of
raising the ale los. per barrel.
ARDROA TM—Three English travellers, last Sunday
forenoon, took a walk to view the picturesque scenery on
the sea-coast to the eastward of this place. Having sauntered
along the foot of the precipices, unconscious of the progress
of the tide, they were completely inclosed by the sea before
they were aware. To scale the steep eraggs were utterly im-
practicable; and to commit themselves to the waves was
certain destruction. No alternative therefore remaiued but
to wait patiently till tile waters recetled. At flood-time,
their standing ground was limited to a very few feet ; and,
had the sea been in any degree boisterous, in all likelihood
they would have been swept away. Fortunately they escaped,
after enduring only a six hours' imprisonment, and being
detained a little from their comfortable viands in Fair-
weather's.—Culedon ion Mercury.
Se our N MAT ll.—Mow3ay night, Mr. J. Smith, who,
for many years past, has held the situation of Surveyor of
Pavements to the parish of St. Giles's, after eating a thinly
supper at his residence, YR, King-street, Seven-dials, pro-
ceeded to bed apparently in his usual state of health and
spirits, but on his wife awaking in the morning, she found
him dead by her side.

......
Died on 3lontlay last, in the 94th year of his age, Mr.
John Preston, Foutcony-street. We believe he is the last
surviving freeman who polled for Sir Wm. Meredith, in
the memorable contest of 1;o1. He did not intend to have
voted upon that occasion, and had retired to Cheshire, for
the purpose of avoiding the urgent solicitations consequent
upon au arduous contest. His resolution, however, was
destined to be shaken. A young lady who had strongly
imbibed the patriotic ardour of the times, followed Preston
to his retreat, and solicited his vote for the independent
interest. Her et-.treaties failing to arouse his patriotism
she at length actually went down on her knees. To with-
stand such a suppliant in Such a cause was not in his nature.
He yielded ; returned to town with the young lady, and
gave her a plumper for Sir William Meredith.—Liecriool
Mercury. . .

'l'he following is a melancholy and singular instance of
the bail effects produced by chastising children too severe-
ly :—A few days ago, a girl who had been severely beaten
by her mother, threatened to put a period to her existence,
that her mother might never havens opportunity of beating
her in so cruel a manner, which threat she too fatally ac-
complished. In the absence of her fattier from his work-
shop, she went in unobserved, and hanged herself with a
hank of yarn.—/ye IferulJ.
S11091'1)(6 Latnbkm race week, a brace of
pointers was shot for at Chester-le-street, by eight Gen-
tlemen. when a ivddle took plate between Ur. lleorge
Wardell, of Edinondsley, and a gentlemen from the South,
named Ilaratow (each of whom had hit thrice). It was
agreed that the prise should be decided the next day, bg
eiieli of time gentlemen shooting at piceons ; when the erg
who missed was to he declared dvleited. Mr Wardell
killing his ninth bird in succession, won the match. Ilia
adversary's ninth birl Wale also killed, but fell bvoni.l the
boundary line.