The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-26 00:00:00

STATISTICAL SOCIETY,

At a meeting of the above society, held on Tues.
day, Dec. 15, Professor J. E. T. Rogers, of Oxford,
read a paper " On the continuous price of wheat
for 105 years from 1380 to 1484." The writer ob-
served that the prices of wheat annexed to his paper
were taken from a series of farming accounts of
Hayford Warren, in Oxfordshire. The series is
complete, except for the years 1380, 1383, 1386,
and 1390. The prices, however, for these years are
supplied from Weedon, in Bucks, a place sufficiently
near for the purposes of comparison. It will be ma-
nifest, Professor Rogers remarked, that during the
whole of the period before us prices of food were,
with few exceptions, remarkably low. They were
far lower than those which prevailed during the
14th century, and that part of the 13th during
which accounts of farm produce have come
under my inspection. The harvest during this time
must have been exceedingly abundant, more so in
all likelihood than, mutatis mutandis, they were in
the early half of the 18th century, a period which
has always been cited as characteristically pros-
perous. Of the 105 years, 21 alone are relatively
dear; in them the price is above 6s. per qr. These
21 years are-1389 90, 1400-1-2, 14089, 1416,
1418, 1428, and 1429 ; 14324, 14378, 1460-1,
1477-78, 1480-81 ; and in only two of these was
the price indicative of famine, namely, 1390 and
1438. The highest price is much below that at
which wheat was sold during two or three years of
Edward 11. and Edward 111. In considering these
prices the value of the coin in which they are ex-
pressed has to be considered. The coin of the time
was of customary fineness, a pound of silver contain-
ing lloz. 2dwt. of pure metal and 18 dwts. of alloy.
But the currency was twice degraded during the
period. Up to 1412 the pound sterling was equal in
modern value to £2 6s. 6d., and in 1412 it was di-
minished to £llBs. 9d., and in 1464 to L 1 1 ls. At
the commencement of the period reviewed by the
writer, the price of common labour was generally 3d.
per day; of artisans, such as carpenters, masons,
and sawyers, 4d. About the end of the first quar-
ter of the 15th century these kinds of labour rose
respectively to 4d. and to 6d., and so remained to
the close of Henry VIII.'s reign. On the other
hand, the price of lead, wrought iron, and brass,
slightly falls—the price of these metals was about
3s. 4d., Id., and 3d. per lb. respectively. Wheat
was, I have no doubt, observed Professoe Rogers,
the habitual food of the people. Of all the prices
of grain the most abundant are those of wheat,
barley, and oats; of these again the largest infor•
mation is that which can be supplied for wheat.
Labourers rarely used oats, except on occasion in
their porridge. The breadth of wheat, barley, and
oats grown on the land from year to year, occupies
by far the largest of the acreage. Most malt was
used at harvest, when, as now, wages for day-work
were very much higher than at ordinary times.
Corn was reaped at ls. to Bd. per acre. Rye was a
rare grain. The Heyford prices of wheat were
then compared with the prices at Hornchurch in
Essex, and Stert in Wilts. As might be expected
the divergence of prices is greatest in the cheap
years. It is a well known economical law that the
prices of wheat, or of any other absolute necessary
of life, decrease in plentiful years at a very different
ratio from that in which they increase in dear ones.
The price of labour appears to have been higher in
London than in the country by 25 per cent. A
table of the prices of wool at Alton Barnes,
in Wiltshire, was appended to the paper. It
was noted that disease amongst locks in the
middle ages perpetually destroyed one-fourth
of the number kept. With respect to the
productiveness of the land it was stated that
a crop of 30 bushels on average land under
modern culture is by no means excessive; land
under tillage in the present time yields two and a
half times more than in the days of our forefathers.
It was during this time that the class of small
farmers rose ; the fact is traceable not only in the
suggestions of legislation and history, but in the
change made by owners of land in the manage-
ment of their estates by a bailiff. Between the
last thirty years of the 14th century and the first
forty of the 15th this practice is almost univer-
sally abandoned. The landowner ceases to culti-
vate his own land, his rents are gathered in by a
collector, and a farmer cultivates the soil for his
own profit, at a fixed rent, sometimes for a long
term, but with his landlord's stock, which he is
pledged to restore, or its equivalent in money, at
the expiring of his tenancy. After a short time,
however, this practice ceases, the tenant finds stock
himself; and occupies an estate either under a lease
or very often by purchase.

THE FIRST GREY HAlR.—This night when the
last days of the year are ebbing away, a fair hand
playing with my dark locks has discovered a gray hair—the
first grey hair I I had never seen such a thing—never
dreamt of such a thing 1 At my age; I could not believe it.
It was laid upon a band of black velvet and placed before
me. I can resist conviction no longer. There it lies,
blanched and white—white as the driven snow 1 And it is
my hair. It seems but yesterday that I was at school,
wishing I were a man. And now to-day lam grey, and
growing old. What have I done in all this time ? Have
I fulfilled a man's mission upon earth—have I made any
step towards it ? Have I done any good in the most in-
finitesimal degree, for which the world is wiser or better ?
I cannot answer my own questions. I am dumb, and sitting
here contemplating that white hair, with the sense that
another year is gliding away, I feel that it is time in right
good earnest to turn over a new leaf. I have made the re-
solution often before, but never under the sense of obliga•
tion which now weighs upon me.—London Society.

PUBLISHING BEFORE THE INVENTION OF PRINT-
ING.—That the Roman populace was not shut out
from literature, and even newspapers, by the want of a
printing-press, is certain. What their newspapers may
have contained, I do not know; but Tacitus tells us that in
the provinces, and even in the camp, these papers were read
with great avidity, every one being anxious to hear what
Thraseas had not done—as in cur day they are to hear
what Louis Napoleon has said, or has not said. The exist-
ence of several well• known publishers proves the activity
of the book-trade. Dionysius of Halicarnassus speaks of
the " thousands of writers " on the single subject of the
early Roman history ; and although there is of course
hyperbole in his phrase of pvpicov iMcov, yet even
as an hyperbole it indicates a large number, And there is
no exaggeration but a statement to be precise, in the notice
of the two thousand copies of the pseudo-Sibyline books
which Augustus confiscated in Rome alone. Here, also, is a
fact which points in the same direction. Pliny laughingly
writes to a friend that Regulus has taken into his head to weep
ostentatiously for the loss of his son; and ;to one weeps like him
luget ut none, "He sets sculptors and painters to work,
and composes an oration which he is not content with pub-
licly reciting in Rome, buz must enrich the provinces
with a thousand copies of it—in exemplaria transcriptum
milk." There is one important source of demand which
must not be overlooked, I mean for school-books. When
Juvenal says that the " verses which the boy has just
conned over on his bench he stands up to repeat," it is clear
that the Roman boys had their lesson-books, which they
thumbed, tore, and lost, as their descendants have done.
And it is worthy of remark, that in the Roman schools the
popular poets were studied ; nay, Persius tells us that it
was the ambition of poets to be read in schools ; and Nero,
in whom literary vanity, as we know, was intense, gave ex-
press orders that his verses should be given to the boys.
But perhaps the strongest indication of this activity is seen
in the fact that the library formed an essential part of every
house; which is very far from true of houses of our own
day, even among the easy classes. . . The prices tell
a similar tale. It books had been costly, they must have
been rare—if they had not been cheap, they could not have
been common. Thus, on the one hand, the evidence which
proves that books must have been abundant, proves that
they must have been cheap—and on the othet,the evidence,
scanty as it is, but decisive, which proves that books werewa.,
cheap, points to their abundance. A learned Frenth<, e
who has investigated this point of price, cosies to
con-
elusion that the prices were lower thainha:
day. Let us hear what Martial saysiis
us, for five deuarii
wb or olksfiegor. atE°Apuiogrtorhksootirvossilf
his Epigrams was to be bought, hebot:nd_
but in a cheaper
t
eightpenoe)-4nd he says
(nearly three shillings) elegant.xl
Yor ten sestertii (a shfilling
binding fir the people it euis os
bout
tuol(estaaehvee a
authorsfair conclusionp rvoefir teth.
na
ot bpoaoidk.s werei'BThe
to one-and-eightpence).
thatt
was soldhalf
thatf o for f four see
ps
reader, doubtless, jam
aswBn'toedburetliedijan his t hriarstheennesths
magnificent
those
osdlinaOrt assert, nor insinuate, that they ever re-
-s which our m •
cheap in thiei3
sums
sums the very mention of which would, a
bibliopolest
pay cele •
re-
ceived I:reiaevrteree eddpaatadhiuedert.
few years ago, have flattered the attics of Grub-street to
madness. Horace never got a guinea a line for his odes—
nor did Petronius receive £16,000 for his romance. Livy
was not so well paid as Macaulay. But the Roman authors
were paid, nevertheless, and were ',raid sums greater than
were usually received long after the invention of printing.
NagGine for January,

cr-
-61111 M 1
ICM CLEN (Milk

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 25.

Yesterday afternoon, by her Majesty's command,
the children of the workmen and labourers on the
Osborne estate were assembled in the Servants'
Hall at Osborne, where a Christmas tree, with pre-
sents, were arranged.
At half-past four o'clock the Queen, accompanied
by the whole of the Royal family, proceeded to the
Hall, and, assisted by the Royal family, distributed
the presents to the children, which consisted of
articles of wearing apparel, books, toys, &o.
Afterwards her Majesty in the same manner gave
the labouring men and women great coats,
blankets, &c.

The ladies and gentlemen in attendance, and the
Rev. G. Prothero and Mrs. Prothero were present.
This morning her Majesty, their Royal High-
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince
Alfred, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Prince
Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Prince Leiningen at-
tended at Whippingham Church. The Rev. 0.
Prothero officiated and administered the sacrament
of the Holy Communion.

His Serene Highness Prince Leiningen arrived
yesterday on a visit.

His Royal Highness Prince Arthur arrived yes-
terday, attended by Major Elphinstone.

The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort have a large
family party staying at Badminton, Gloucestershire, for
the Christmas, including the Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort
and Lady Geraldine, Somerset, &c.
The Duke of Cleveland is in excellent health.
His grace is entertaining a large number of visitors St
Raby Castle, his seat in Durham.

The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch are enter-
taining a select family circle at Dalkeith Palace, near
Edinburgh.

Tha Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury are
entertaining a numerous party at Savernake Lodge, near
Marlborough, Wilts. The Marchioness (Maria) of Ailes"
bury, Lord and Lady Charles Bruce, the Countess Arai
Danneskiold, Colonel the Hon. Henry W, J. and Mrs.
Byng, &c., are among the guests.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury are
entertaining a large party of friends at Hatfield House,
Herts. The noble marquis and marchioness do not intend
to give a county ball this season, but will receive a suc-
cession of guests until just before the assembling of Parlia-
ment.

The Eirl de Grey returned to town on Thu rsdsy,
from staying with the shooting party at Earl Cowper's sent
in Hertfordshire.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston are sur-
rounded by a family party at Broadlands, near RomseY
Hants.

Society for . Rendering Assistance to the

Aged or Sick Poor.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin.,—May I tax your kindness to make known through
your columns the existence of a society for the relief of the
aged or sick poor.

It occupies a sphere sufficiently distinctive to commend
it, I think, to the support of the Christian and the charitable
public, upon whom the remembrance of the poor becomes
doubly imperative when to poverty are added the pangs °f
disease or the decrepitude of old age. The council is com-
posed of gentlemen who have given long and deep attention
to questions of social suffering and reform. Many other
benevolent institutions refuse relief to persons who have
been or are in the receipt of parish assistance. We shall
make no such restriction, while exercising every care that
the bounty of the society is not abused.
Local societies will be established as soon as possible, and
their operation will be under the direct supervision of the
council. I have accepted the office of treasurer, and sub-
scriptions for the society forwarded to my bankers, Messrs.
Coutts and Co., 59, Strand, will be thankfully acknow-
ledged on its behalf by, Sir, your obedient servant,

TOWNSHEND.

6, Grosvenor•place, Dec. 24, 1863.

A NEW PROCESS OF PRINTING POSITIVES
WITHOUT SALTS OF GOLD OR SILVER.—The
paper is exposed to the sun in the frame under a negative
for 30 or 40 minutes, and, after ascertaining that the print-
ing is sufficiently brought out, it is washed with water,
and the operation is finished ; the image, which, when
leaving the frame, is obscured, is developed by the wash-
ing and in a few moments takes the brightness and fine-
ness of the best Prussian blue, with the white parts per-
fectly preserved. To turn the blue impression black, it is
plunged into a solution of pure caustic potash in alcohol,
in the proportion of 1 gramme of potash to 300 grammes of
water. The blue impression is changed in this bath to
yellow, the transformation taking place in one or two nil-
flutes. It is then well washed with ordinary water, and
over the yellow image is poured a small quantity of,the fol-
lowing alcoholic solution :—Alcohol at 40 deg., 100 gr. ;
Gallic acid, 8 gr. In a few seconds the yellow image 15
seen to change from a yellow to an intense black, and to
attain a deep tone; it is then dried without washing, and
thus becomes fixed.

"WHAT, JOE! OLD JOE !! AM DAT You ?"—Tbe
cause of the American war has at length been ascertained,
according to Brigham Young, who says it is a "visitation
from Heaven upon the people because they killed the pro'
phet Jos Smith." . __

THE STATUE OF WILLIAM DARGAN has
been
placed upon its pedestal on the lawn of the Royal Dublin
Society, in front of the National Gallery of Ireland, at the
west side of Merrion-square.
A SAMPLE OF THE RIGHT ARTICLE !—The late
W. E. Burton, while travelling on a steamboat down the
Hudson, seated himself at the table and called for some
beefsteak. The waiter furnished him with a small strip ef
the article, such as travellers are usually put off with. Tag"
ing it upon his fork and turning it over,and examining it with
one of his peculiar serious looks, the humorist coolly re-
marked, " Yes, that's it ; bring me some."
A FOOTBALL CLUB has been established in Paris
by some Englishmen, who exercise their prowess in the
Champs Elysees, to the wonder of the Parisians, who CO"
not understand the necessity of strengthening the legs In
this way except with the object of kicking leers arnis down
stairs.

Bndsr aewat ousacls!ehenille
RAILWAY OFFICERS AND SERVANTS.—The editor
of Punch (Mark Lemon, Esq.) is announced to read his
benefitpo p ul a r
of dtrhaemua tni ei t story,ed K in
Kingdom
dg
om Hearts
Railway ar e Tor uffimepe
Officers
' a'
nf
do r
stehr
.!
yenta Association, at the London-bridge House Hotel, on
January 19th.
EXPLOSION ON THE HUDSON.—The steamer
Isaac Newton, New York to Albany, was on her
way on the night of the sth, with above 100 passengers on
board, when a terrific explosion occurred,—the bottom of
one of the boilers was thrown out, the fire hurled through
the ventilator into the lower cabin, and the vessel inextin-
guishably fired. Six or seven persons were killed, but all
the rest were rescued, The New York Times describes the
scene as one of great confusion :—" When the burning
coals came down the ventilator into the lower cabin, they,
scattered in all directions. One gentleman, lifting a cup 01
coffee to his mouth, was struck and burnt on his hand.
Another had his coffee thrown boiling over his face by A
red-hot coal alighting into the cup. A lady bad
her clothes set on fire. About one-third of the
Born
sengers were women and children, and the mostat ',___32.
scribable terror reigned. The wildest rumoura ra I"
mouth to ear that the boat was sinking,
ortunately there
oerveelon:e•d
m-,
id butsh iipt •'1
of heart-rending agony occurred. Fho checked the
vide cool, brave men on board,
cowardly
men, and thus
frantic women and shamed the coxwir:3Bsly
rushed
.. ossessian to prevent the
the lady passengers made
saved many who would havvetihip
e
into the water. In ten
guardstthe
greatestan d thrown c
o urag
e themselves
a:7
ad.
onsalel.oe 8
most fearful results.
wild efforts to throw them
had, fortunately, nearly all rushed
was at hand—the steamer Daniel
commanded by Captain John Smith
aflfat
flames.
minutesesA. afterguardian
thess
esane
gx:P: :: bi
be his name—with three barges in tow.
He ran up to the starboard quarters, made fast, and at once
set himself to work to save the passengers. The ladies and
ekildren were first passed on board. Several cowardly men
tried to crowd in advance ot them, but were summarily thrust
b—s.a.celvleibrlylhert°'huoe°lti.bcrrea°dle"sclier'its who sought to xescue. Selfishness
had an exemplification on this occasion—one man had four
life-preservers on his person. There were a number of
valuable horses on board. One escaped and swam to Fort
Washington, and was captured by the policemen of L;aPt•
Wilson's precinct."
HOROLOGICAL PRODUCTIONS.—"Ranged around the
base of the clock were the watches which Mr. Benson ex-
hibited, and which have been universally admired for the
beauty and elegance of the designs engraved upon them._
The movements are of the finest quality which the art o
horology is at present capable of producing."—lllustraterlf
London News, Nov. 8, 1862. Chronometer, duplex, lever,
horizontal, repeaters, centre seconds, keyless, split seconds,
and every description of watch, adapted to all cliniatfe;
Benson's illustrated pamphlet on watches (free by Pot ~,
two stamps) contains a short history of watchmaking., with
prices, from 3 to 200 guineas. It acts as a guide in tia"t
purchase of a watch, and enables those who live in anYPat.
of the world to select a watch, and have it sent by P°'',..
Prize medal and honourable mention, classes 33 and 15. J.
W. Benson, 33 and 31, LudE;ate-hill, London. Establishe3
1749. Watch and clock maker by special warrant of .
pointraent to 1-1,R.11, the Prince of Wales,