The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAy MO,R_NING, MARCH 1, 1847.

MARYLEBONE VESTRY.

A PYALLI% G DESTITUTION.-011 Saturday, shortly'
after the Rev. Dr. Spry had taken the chair, Mr. Hodg-
kinson, a guardian, entered the vestry-room and begged
a temporary suspension of the business to enable him to
communicate to the board some important information
respecting the state of the poor of the parish. He said
that there were 800 men in the workhouse yard at that
moment, imploring for bread, :lithout obtaining any re-
lief, or the prospect of it, as there was no work for
them. Unless immediate steps were taken to give them
food he could not answer for the result.

Mr. LAURIE (city pleader), said that although Mr.
Flodgkinson's statement was the suggestion of a kind
heart,, it betrayed but little policy. The fact was that
so pressing and so numerous were the claims upon them
that they were compelled to resort to the labour test.
During the last fortnight, theishish paupers seeking out-
door relief were 70 per cent. as compared with the
English. Such should not he the case; but Irish pros-
perity should be compelled to relieve Irish poverty.
Sir PETER LAURIE never signed a vtition with
greater pleasure than he did the one calling upon the
Legislature to force the Irish landlords to support their
own pot r.
Mr. GLAZIER flounced the conduct of the guardians
in allowing 800 men to starve, as being eutrageous and
scandalous in the extreme.
Mr. ItawLussoN (magistrAe)—lf there are SOO of our
fvl!ow-creatures starving, why not adjourn this; meeting
instanter, an LA the guarclians assemble anfi devise
measures to relit tine them.—(Hear, hear )
Mr. M. CIIEL—Of the 22,000 lately relieved in the
workhouse, a in,jority were imiß;stors.
Mr. G. DANIEL—It was lately resolved to abolish the
latv-,,ur test, an,f to afford assistance to every applicant
deserving of relieF. It that resolu, ion were acted upon,
such a frightful statement as had been just made would
not have come before them. Every poor person ought to
obtain instant relief.—(Hear, hear.)
The guardians having prouliseal to inquire into the
statement, and Mr. Skase, the surveyor, having gua-
ranteed to provic:e all the able-bodied with work, the
subject was dropped.

IRISH WASTE LAND IMPROVE-

MEN r SOCIETY.
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the shareholders
of this society was held oh Saturday, at the King's Head
Tavern, PoUltry; the Earl of Devon in the chair.
After a considerable delay,
The CHAIRMAN said that it appeared there was not a suf-
ficient number of shareholders present to constitute a legal
meeting ter any efficient purposes. He was not aware that
there there was any very pressing matter for the society.
There would be no call on the shareholders for money, nor
would any resolution be passed, It was, however, the opi-
nion of the directors present that as there were
so many of the shareholders there who might
wish to hear the report of their engineer, Colonel
Robinson, it would be as well to read it, though they
could adopt no steps in reference to it —( hear, 1 ear.)
The SEcaemsey then read the report, which after alluding
to the distress that existed in Ireland, but which prevailed
less generally on the estates of the society than elsewhere,
and the refusal of the Government to afford them any assist.
ance, proceeded to state that the expectations held forth last
year of the tenants generally having sufficient crops, had
been realised, and hopes were also enti rtained from the
efforts of the society, that a system of rotation crops might be
introduced. In some cases they had, however, failed to induce
their tenants to abandon the sole planting of the potato. Those
who had been the longest on the estates of the society, had
' showed every disposition to adopt the suggestions that were
thrown out to them for the improvement of their land, and
every means had been used, by giving seeds gratuitously,
promises of reward for improvements, and other means to
stimulate the apa,hetic, and .to encourage the industrious.
The society, notwithstanding ell their eialeaveurs, had found
a vast amount of destitution on their estates. In some cases
one-fifth of the crops had been lust, and an apathy, in-
duced by their sufferings, existed among the tenants
in several instances, against which all the efforts
of the sociey were ineffectual. The society had,
notwithstanding, given employment to a great num-
ber, and they had every reason to expect that a much
larger portion of land would be shortly reclaimed. 4 In
consequence of the losses that had been sustainei, those
tenants who were under progressive rents had not been sub-
jected to any increase in their rents during the past year.
Several applications had been received from persons desirous
of taking land on the estates of the society, but such were
refused, unless it could be shown that there was sufficient
capital• to meet the contingencies that were to be naturally
loeked forward to during the coining six months. Treaties
by i been entered into for the purchase of five thou-
sand acres of land. On the estate of the society at Bel-
linakill was a loss of seventy-five per cent., and
some of the tenants would not work on the land. No
exertions had been spared to overcome this feeling. Rob-
beries had also became frequent in this district, as well as
in every part ot Galway. Wages had been paid in Indian
meal, at the request of ' tenants th, inselves. In some cases
there was a loss of 90 per cent. in this district. Since October,
h,wever, 7,500 perches of land had been drained. In Kil-
ker le it was found that the crops of twenty tenants had
failed. and the losses in some cases varied from 80 to 90 per
cent., but the average was only 30 per cent. What was
scientifically cal:e4 nullipora had been successfully used with
ina•iure in tide district. A communication had been effected
between the counties of Mayo and Gaiwa) ; a grant had
been obtained for schools, and every effort had been made to
meet the distress that existed in Connemara and Mayo.
The CitAtestesi said—lie thought the meeting must agree
with
him as to the propriety of having the report submitted
to them. It could not in the present state of Ireland be ex-
pected that there would be a return fur money invested in a
speculation ot this kind, but it was evident that they had
every reasonable prospect of success. He thought that from
the disixisition of the Government to forward everything
beneficial to Ireland ; therefore, notwithstanding their turner
failure, another application would be successful. To promote
this oW ect the directors would use every endeavour.—(clear.)
An 110 S. PROPRIETOR suggested, that if application were
made to Government for lamer to enable them to become
purchasers instead of lessees, it would be desirable.
The CIIMIMAN said lie aeproved of the suggestion, and
he had no doubt application to Government for such a per-
; pose would be successful. It bad been entertained by the
directors, but there was an unacceunteble jealousy in Ireland
of those who met in the Poultry, by some who gave them.
selves the title of •‘ Ifeetitis of Ireland," that they did carry
out their views. There was, however, a diffeleut feeling at
present, from which he augured the best results.
The meeting then separa:ef.

EXTRAORDINARY AND PERIL-
OUS ADVENTURE IN A SNOW STORM.
We were recently put in possession of the details
of one of the most singular and perilous adventures
during a snow storm, which we recollect to have heard.
The parties concerned are highly respectable and well-
known gentlemen in this neights.nrhood,— James Side-
bottom, Esq. of Waterside, near Glossop, and Mr. Ed-
ward Wrigley. colliery surveyor and civil engineer, of
Cross-street, Manchester ; and though these gentle-
men were naturally averse to making themselves
the subjects of a notoriety, such as a newspaper
report may be calculated to give them, yet Mr.
Wrigley was induced, from a representation that the
notice might operate as a caution to other parties,
at this inclement season of the year, not hastily to
place themselves in a similar position to the very dan-
gerous one from which they have escaped, to give us
the particulars of a story, an outline of which had
reached our reporter through another channel. It may
be remarked that the scene of this adventure is on the
same biesk and lofty range of hills, forming the boundary
between Derbyshire and Yorksaire, and only five or six
miles from the spot. on which a soldier of the 69th
regiment perished a fiw weeks ago, under circumstances
i not unlike those we are about t i relate. Mr. Wrigley,
on this occasion, was • -a a professional j eirney, one
of th objects of that jeurney being to search tor :he
inlet of the broek known by the netne of the Great
' Crowden Breole into tha river Etherow. He was
! accompanied by Mr. Sidebottom, and they reached
Woedhead Stecio», the nearest point to their
destination they could attain by a travelling convey
ance, by about nine o'clock on Monday morning, by the
train of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire
Railway, which leaves Manchester at a quarter before
eight. From thence they walked down the turnpike
road towards Huddersfield, as far as the summit of
Holme Moss, and turned westward on to the moors, en-
deavouring to follow the boundary between the coun-
ties of Derby and York ; but whilst they were thus en-
gage 1, a snow storm came on, and they were completely
bewildered. They took a direction which they con-
ceived would lead them into the valley down which the
Great Crowden flows ; but after a cold and
fatiguing walk, they came to the turnpike
road from Greenfield to Holmfirth, a distance of
several miles from the place at which they aimed. The
snow was coming down et this time very fast ; there
are neither paths nor vegetation in the desolate coun-
try they bad traversed, and the snow prevented them
from obtaining a sight of any. landmarks by which to
direct their course. They had a copy of the ordnance
map, however, with them, and after some .considera-
tion as to the course they should take, they again left
the turnpike road to cross the moors. This was about one
o'clock on Monday, and they had reason to believe that
their best guide to the point of which they Herein search
was to walk in the teeth of the snow. To their astonish-
ment and disappointment, however, after traversing a
rough and precipitous country for nearly three hours,
they came, at nearly four o'clock, upon the turnpike road
to Greenfield, at link more than a mile from the point at
which they had first left. Mr. Wrigley now suggested
that they should desist from the further prosecution of
their search till more favourable weather, and that they
should pursue the road to Greenfield, and from thence get
home bv way of Stalybridge, which place.they could have
reached in time for a railway train. Mr. Sidebottom, how-
ever, had confidence in his knowledge of the country, and
the snow having abated for a time, thought they should
still be able to retch the p int at which they had aimed.
They consequently rest red again upon the moors, and
had been engaged for nearly three hours in the object
of their excursion' when they came upon a brook, which
they were led to hope was the Crowden. With great
difficulty they reached the bed of the brook, down a
precipitous arid dangerous ledge of rocks, with the in-
tention of following the course of the stream. But
darkness had overtaken them nearly two hours before
this, and they at length found it impossible, under
such circumstances, to surmount the obstacles pre-
sented by the immense rocks in the course of the
stream. In crossing one of these rocks, Mr. Wrigley met
with a serious accident. A portion of it was covered with
ice, but both the snow and the darkness tended to con-
ceal it, and the consequence was, that he was precipi-
tated with almost stunningviolerce into the water which
in this place must have been four or five feet deep. In-
deed, it would be difficult for any one not placed in
similar circumstances to conceive the dancer and diffi-
culties with which they had to contend after darkness
had set in. The moors in this place are covered with
peat to the depth of from five to fifteen feet, often
affording a treacherous footing to the traveller; and in
these great. gullies (locally called " gruffe"), have.
been washed from time to time by the rains. Many
of these gullies are eight or ten feet deep, and several
yards in width, but they ate now, in some places
partially, and in others wholly choked rep with snow,
adding to the fatigue as well as danger a crossing
them. Mr. Sidebottom, who is a stout man, had begun
to feel the letigue of the journey much more than his
companion when they arrived at the brook, and was so
overcome by it and the cold together, that as they sat
in a recess formed by the reeks, ut the side of the brook,
an almost irresistible drowsiness stole over him, and he
proposed to pegs the night there. That they should
both have been fatigued and worn out is no wonder,
for they frequently lost their &sating, and had severe
falls. Mr. Sidebettom slipped down a ledge of rocks
ten or twelve feet in depth, and had many Heavy
falls, and Mr. Wrigley, who fared little better,
sunk at one time kin the bog to his armpits, be
sides getting wet in the brook. as before mentioned.
Mr. Wrigley resisted the proposition to pass the night
in the recess, which only partially sheltered them from
the weather, believing that from the state they were
1 sthuervni:en,ti(lretheorretbuortnh
cldatlyie
1.. induced his companion to make an effort to find the
' turnpike road, or a • more suitable place of' shelter.
;manccieu‘ildithasssamreedldyillinet:tcyr
• They then climbed the rock, to an elevreion of probably
a hundred feet about the level of the stream, and it
then became evident that Mr. Sidebottom was too
much benumbed and exhausted to move much forth-, r.
In this dilemma, it is a sinetilsr circumstance
that Mr. Wrigley, who had seats(' himself on a
ledge of rock, regardless of the snow, to wait ter his
companit n (eho had called upon him to step, declaringhis inability to continue the journey), feeling an opening
beneath his feet, which he could not fathom even by
holding on the re ck with the hands, was led to hope
there was some recess in which they could obtain shelter
for the remainder of the night. In the darkness, how-
ever,' it was impossible to see of what depth it might be;
and they were afraid .to trust themselves to a descent
which might involve serious injury, or lose of We. At
length Mr. Sidebottom, taking hold of the bands of Mr.
Wrigley, was let down, and enabled to touch the bottom
with his feet, and both of them descending, found them-
selves immediately in a cavern of the rocks, of irres.,rular
shape, but about 3 yards in length and li yards in
width. Here they at once resolved to pass the night.
It was difficult to say which was in the worst rendition
for such a resting place. Mr. Wrigley was wet to the
skin, but had a topcoat and gloves on; Mr. Sidebottom
had left home without either of these useful cover-
ings. They could not see the time by their watches,
but imagined it to be about eight o'clock when they
discovered the cave. To keep out the snow, which
blew into their retreat with bitter coldness, the only
thing available to form a door was the ordnance map,
which hail been wet through in Mr. Wrigley's pocket
when he fell ioto the hreok ; anti this, on !wine held to
the mouth of the cave, soon stiffened with the frost, and,
to some extent, formed a screen from the wind and meow.
For several to.urs they sat haek to I. a. k, in the hope that
they should be able, with the heat obtained in this way,
to resist the effect, of the cold, but they found it re:Tess
vary at interve.s to get upon their feet and move about,
and stamp on the floor, to Educe ma circulation of the
blood, Even with these aids, however, they found the
cold so piercing about midnight, as to induce them to
try other means, rind oue of, these was to wrap their
handkeichiess over their faces and mouths, as veils, to
obtain the benefit of warmth to the face from the breath
thus confieed to that locality. For several hours, Mr.
Sidebottom lay across Mr. Wrigley': knees, as that gen-
tlemen sat on the finer of the cave with his back against
one of the aid( s, and his right arm resting on a shelf' of
the rock; and additional warmth was obtained by each
in this way. The great difficulty was to keep off sleep,
which each felt must he fatal to the party indulging in it;
and to keel, off this friend so refreshing to the tired
frame under ordinary circumstances, but now dreaded as
the worst enemy that could insinuate itself, they found
it necessary continually to ask each other the question.
In spite of all their efforts, however, they seem to have
been so benumbed and cold as only to have retained
half-consciousness, and day-light, at seven o'clock, sur-
prised and gladdened them by its appearance, when
they supposed it to be only three in the merning.
With . the return of light, on Tuesday morning, they
ventured forth from their wretched retreat, but so
nearly deprived of sensibility,they could with
difficulty
difficulty walk. Nor was that difficulty lessened by
the nature of the country they had to traverse. They
followed the course of the brook which they had sup-
posed to be the Crowden,
till
they came to a sheep.
track on the southerly side, and here they made the
disappointing discovery, that they were several miles
from the point they had supposed themselves to have
reached. Instead of finding themselves on the Great
Crowden Brook they found it was the Greenfield
Brook ; and the object by which they first
made this discovery was the plantation at no
great distance, at the top of which stands the
house known by the name of Bills-'O-Jack's, the
scene of a notorious murder, committed some years
ago upon a father and son, the perpetrators of which have
never ) et been discovered. They pressed forward as fast
as they could, having iliscovered tho locality, and soon
arrived at a farm-house called Ash way Gap, where they
broke a fast which had been protracted to twenty-six
hours' duration I It they walked with difficulty and
pain, however, befoie reaching this shelter, they had still
greater difficulty in walking after sitting before a warm
fire for a time. They tried in vain to obtain a convey-
ance on the road, and had to walk to Stalybridge, a dis-
tance of eight or nine miles, from whence they took " ths
rail" to their respeetive homes. Mr. Wrigley had left
home, stating that he might probably be away all
night, and his absence created no uneasiness; but Mr.
Sidebottom had given no such intimation to his family,
and the alarm in which his protracted absence hal placed
them may be conceived. Both of the gentlemen have
iuffsred severely from the effects of cold and bruises
since—Mr. Sidebottom in particular—but we believe
they are now fast recovering from them.' It is a sin-
gular circumstance, that though they must have
walked a distance of not less than nine or ten
miles on the Monday night, after leaving the Green-
field turnpike road, the cave in which they shel-
tered is not more than half a mile from the point they
started from. and at which they had s second time
found themselves at four o'clock; so that they seem to
have journeyed, probably from some peculiarity of the
country, continually in a circle. The rocks in which
the cave is situated are marked upon the ordnance
map, sted are called "Seal Bark Rocks," OM 13 i

and a-quarter from the home above-nun?*
tioned—Bills2o-Jack's. The people at Cireenliel.l
stated that the night had been one of the se
verest they had experienced for many years, and, ac-
customed as they had been to the keen air of the hills,
it was with difficulty they could be made to believe that
human beings had survived such a bitter frost and
snow in a situation so exposed. Mr. Wfigley states
that the position of the cave is ruch, that it is
doubtful if it has ever lit • e been visited ; and that f
they had perished, it is probable that years would
have elapsed before their bodies would have tech
discovered, ia indeed, they had ever been dis-
covered! Their fingers on the Tuesday morning were
so benumbed and contracted, that as they took them
from their pockets, pulling out with them money and
other articles, which fell in the snow, they had no power
of picking them up from the ground; and up to this
time sensibility has been but imperfectly restored to
these important members.—Manchester Times.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.
Froze a curious " Table of Prices of Wheat," by Lieu-
tenant Mackenzie, author of the Elements of the Cycles
of the Winds, Weather, and Prices of Corn," compiled
from Smith's " Wealth of Nations," and our Parliamen-
'ary records, the following deductions are made. We
are induced to lay these before our readers from the
electimstlnee that, of late, public attention has been
aroused, teeli e,t home and abroad, to the discovery
made by Maekeezie of a fifty-four year cycle or Dent-
odical revolution of the weather. The " Table" we
refer to records the prices of wheat from the year 1203
to the present time; and, by a minute computation, it is
proved that during twenty-seven years of the cycle
prices have a tendency to rise, and during the other
twenty-seven years to fall. From 1836 till 1847, the in-
clination to higher prices has been perceptible; and,
from the present year till the year 1862 they will, it is
conjectured, still further advance. This the author
ascribes to the great prevalence of unfavourable winds
on this division of the fifty-four years' cycle. The
dreadful years of 1800-1801,- when prices were at 110-.
,cworhreens
pporniwere isi
olnl 6c:
f.
is no doubt (the author
a
:he effect and other emven-
ndtml
iltls6)st.
h;
atti
h2fi
,Icrleoe3rn
laws,
a ci
twenty-sevenuarter; fell
tional arrangements of legislators, political economists,
changes in the currency, &c., materially affect the prices:
these, and a state of peace or
.war, vary the rate and
generally produce higher prices upon both the dear and
cheap divisions of the cycle—more espeAully when
Europe is suffying under a striking visitacion of nature;
but Legislative measures can have no Owe in any sys-
tematic account' of the weather or itrtlie revolution of
seasons ; and such is the powerful Influence of the
weather, that prices, on the average, are oroved to be
cheap and dear on the respective divisions of the
fifty- four years' cycle. This very influence of the
weather—altogether in:lepen4ent of conventional ar-
rang,ements—would produce, as it has produced already
for a period extended back for more than five hundred
years, an average of 54 s en the dear half (or twenty-
seven years) of the cycle; and of 365. per quarter 00
the cheap half. We are now in the comtnencement of a
series of unfavourable years, which (if the theory be
well-founded) wi l prevail till 1862, when another revo-
lution of the cycle will occur, which will have a tendency
to produce greater abundance, and consequently the
prices will decrease from that period till the year 1889.
—Church and Ade Gazette.

FOOD RIOT—STATE of the NORTH.
Avoca.—At the village of Avoch, in floss-shire, very
determined opposition was made by the fishermen and
others of the villagers, upon Friday and Saturday last,
to an attempt, by Mr. George More, farmer and corn-
dealer, to ship some bixley. Mr. More having applied
for protection in the shipment, Mr. Jardine, the sheriff
of the county, accompanied by Mr. Cameron, the sheriff-
substitute, Mr. Mackenzie, the procurator-fiscal, and some
officers, repaired to Avoch upon Friday, and were joined
there by Sir Jas. Mackenzie, Mr. Davidson, of Tulloch,
.and others. • Arrangements had been made for procuring
from Fort-George, the aid of a company of the 76th Regi-
ment; but the forenoon was so stormy that they could not
be brought across the ferry in time to render their ser-
vices available that day. In their absence the sheriff
and his Firty endeavoured, but in vain, to obtain ac-
cess to the vessel, which lay at the pier-head to receive
the grain. Previously to their arrival, the entrance to
the pi.-r had been barricaded by means. of boats reversed,
and, when they came up, a crowd of from 100 to 200
men and women, old and young, expressed to them, very
unequivocally, their resolution to obstruct the grain in
its passage to the ship. Proceetliogs were, in conse-
quence, delayed until Saturday forenoon. when the au-
thorities and ~their friends re-appeared,. . supported by
sixty men aid two officers from the Fort. The villagers
had, in too aaeantime, loosened the vessel from -het-
:moorings, anti it was not until about two o'clo:k the
state of the tide admitted of her being afloat ; but
several of the fishermen entered their boats in the
herbour, with the evident design of drawing her
away, should she move towardi the pier. The
people were . addressed, and reasoned with by
the Sheriff and others to no purpose. -One o'
the crowd read aloud the Resolutions; of a meeting held '
about n fortnight ago, containing a pledge, subscribial
by Mr. More Among .others, not to export any more
grain from.the district this season. This was rather an
eir,o.m3iance ; and we doubt whether the
had h ku.,wn it earlier, would have felt hitnself
hound to.‘..,x.nply with, the.requisii Rill foe protVetion. All
particti :now on the ge,,und, however, it ww.
late to retrat-,lttlir steps: and explanations-Imq argil-
meots have,tailed nivitiduce the people to rctire,- the sol-
diers were ordered to secure the command of the pier—
the boats lyirg across, the access to which were
literally covered with women—and the Sheriff read'the
Riot Act.' The peopie.cOntinued determined to resist,
saying they :naiglaa.aais well. die then as starve for
want of . f 404:; -but, as the preparations for r
conflict approached maturity, Mr. More corisultA hi
frieads, and .came forward and declared. that, " 'to pre
vent blood,:hed," he had resolved to abandon the intended
shipment, and to retain the grain in thevountry—upon
which the people cheered and chairatt-him: Three your;::
heo, considered to have been active in the riot, were ap
prehendetton :the ,spet,.and sent away to the prison of
that they are subjected to great in-
Dingwall Under a military escort, and so the affair ha,
ended for the present. Farmers and corn-dealers L
suspension of shipments of grain,' owing
to the noti-arrival of the Wth regiment, which has be•A;
expected in Fort George for the last three weeks—the
whole disposable force in the garrison having now 'well
cßeVeritirneceC:967Pl4ln
dispatched to Caithness, to quell the food riots in that
cowry. —lnverness Courier.

NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR THE
POTATO.
(From the Northern Whig.)
The interest with which every addition to our stock of
plants, capable of affording food, is at present regarded,
will rendetea few observations, on a species of grain hi-
therto unknown in Ireland, acceptable to our readers. At
a late meeting of the Council of the Cheinico-Agricul-
tural Society, I produced a sample of the seeds of a
South American plant, which,by the kindness of a friend,
I had procured, about a year ago, from a Peruvian gen-
tleman, who, at present, resides in Liverpool. The
parcel, containing the seeds, was accompanied
with a note, in praise of their numerous valuable
qualities, and stated, that they were known in Peru by
the name of quinoa. At the same time, my friend sup•
plied Mr. Ferguson, Curator of the Royal Botanic
Garden, with a parcel of the seeds, but which, I regret
to find, upon inquiry, dill not vegetate. The only infor-
mation which I could, at that time, procure, respecting
the plant that yields these seeds, was in the writings of
the old Spanish voyager, Don Antonio de Utica, wine in
his work on South America, when giving an account of
the vegetable productions of the Province of Quito,
speaks highly of its value, both for food and medicine. In
the interesting work on South America of Dr. Tschud',
a German traveller, which has lately been translated into
English, I observe some additional particulars re-
specting it, which are of peculiar interest, from the
circumstance, that the plant his been successfully culti-
vated in Germany ; and should, according to hie ac-
count, be regarded as , valuable substitute for the
potato. The following is the description which Ulloa
gives us of this grain :---" Besides the grains of the
same species with those in Spain, this country (Quito)
has one peculiar to itself, and which very well deserves
to be ranked among the most palatable foods ; but. still
more valuable, from its being one of the best preserva-
tives against all kinds of abscesses and imposthumes.
This useful species of grain is here called quinoa, re-
sembles a lentile in shape, but much less, anti
very white ; when boiled it opens, and out comes
a spiral fibre, which apears like a small worm, but
whiter than the husk of the grain. It is an annuel plant,
being sowed and reaped every year. The sw m i
about three or four feet in height, and has a large
pointed leaf, something like that of the Mellor°. The
flower is of a deep red, awl five or six inches in length,
and in it are contained the grains or seed. The quinoa
' is eaten boiled, like rice, and has a very pleasant taste,
and the water in which it has been boded is often used
as an apezem. The quinoa is often used in external
applications, in order to which, it is ground aed boiled
to a pre-per consistence ; after which, it is applied to
the part, from which it soon extracts all corrupt
humours occasioned by a contusisn. Dr. Tschudi
account oF this plant is not less interesting.—" Maize,"
he slys, "is the species of grain most extensively culti-
vated in the Sierra ; it is of excellent quality, though
smaller than that grown on the coast. Wheat, though
it thrives well, is cultivated only in a very limited
quantity, and the bread made frem it is exceedingly
bad. The other species of European grain, barley ex-
cepted, are unknown to the Serra.nos. To compensate
for the want cif them, they hare the quinoa. (cheno-
podium quinoa, L), which is at once ethrious, whole-
some, end a pleasant article of food. The leaves of this
plant, before it attains Lull gmturity, are eaten like
spinach ; but it is the seeds' which are generally used
tor food. They are prepared in a variety of ways. but
inost frequently boiled in milk or broth, and stenetimes
cooked with cheese and Spanish • pepper. Tee dried
stems-of the quinoa are us' das fuel. Experiments in
the cultivation of this plant have been tried in some
parts of Germany, and with considerable success.
It would appear, however, that its flevour is
not much liked—a circumstance rather surprising
to the traveller, who has tasted it in Peru, where it is
regarded in the light of a delicacy. It we're to be
wished, that the general cultivation of the quinoa could
be introduced throughout Europe ; for, during the preys-
fence of the potato disease. this plant would be found of
the greatest utility. It is a well-known fact that pota-
toes and tea, two articles now in such universal use, were
not liked on their first introduction into Europe. The
quinoa plant, which yields a wholesome article of food,
would thrive perfectly in our hemisphere • and though,
in its hitherto limited trial, it has not found favour, there
is no reason to conclude that it may not at a future time
become an objest of general consumption."
JOHN F. HODGES, M.D. .
Laboratory of the Chemico-Agricultural
Society. 7, Arthur street.

The Howe of Commons, as at present constituted,
consists of 656 Members, the two vacant seats for Sudbury
being still in abeyance, making the total number 658. Of
these there are 44 Members between the ages of 21 and 30;
159 between 31 and 40; 213 between 41 and 50 ; 155 between
51 and 60; 67 between 60 and 70; and 15 above 70. The
oldest Member in the House is Mr. Denison, the Member for
West Surrey, aged 77: the youngest, the Earl of Grosvenor,
Member fot:Chester, aged 22. The average age of the entire
Rouse is 50 years.--Jersey Times.
Sta. W. SCOTT 15 MODELS.—One of those indivi-
duals introduced amopg. those graphic portraitures of Sir
Walter' Scott has this Week left the scene. Gabriel Young,
hunter, Kilmaurs, whose death we this week record, at the
advanced age of 88, is understood to have been the character
,mentioned in Guy Mannerly as Tod Gibbie, or Hunter
dibbie, a fell " fox hunter down the country somewhere on
the Dumfris side."—Kilntarnock Journal.

HRNRY RUSSELL AT THE STRAND THEATRE.--•
Few of our native vocalists and composers have reached
greater popularity than Mr. Henry Russell—none have better
reserved it. We attribute this success to a variety -cif
Air. Russell has a very tine voice, of great compass, and so
xceedingly n.an,geable. that.. it is espalde alike ot expre,s-
Mg the thpths of •passii:ia' and A pathos. Ili, manses. too, is
siitinguislied for its utter want of pretension. His styl
both
as a singer and a compose-, is distinguished for its
purity. After a -provincial campaign of considerable dura-
tion, be has come ha€k to Loudon for a short time, and has
taken the Strand Theatre• for the purposes of his performs
slices. That place of amusement, which is too small for any
hut private theatricals, is exactly the place for a performer
who, without any assistance, undertakes to make two
hours pass so Very pleasantly that the auditors "take
no note of time,''• and when it is done wonder how
he performances could have extended to such a length. Be-
sides, the size of the Stroud Theatre peculiarly adapts it tbr
the voice. There " hearing does not die in vastnesa," and
tie varying intonations and inflections of that magnificent
iegan-s-the human voice—can there be heard with satis-
faction.: The theatreerhas been crowded during the week, and
Ale. .Russell has never been in better voice. The changes
from grave to gay, from lively to severe," in his songs and
:Anecdotes is very pleasant,. " l'lte Dream of the Re,beller"
(which, by its truth and power, thrills through the heart),
or the celebrated " Song of the Shirt," have scarcely been
uttered, with the added force which music can give, ere the
change is giVen to the impulse by some clever and
arousing Negro anecdste, or some lively song. This
variety gives the' greatest relief. It has been
Ebenezer Elliott's greatest boast that the immortal
C"hristopher North once designated him " The Poet
of the Poor.'-'- It. may be Mr. Russell's pride, that he,
:merits to be called " The Musician for the People."
Through the medium of his art, he has constantly aimed at
the amelioration of the poorer classes. He has made the
truth plead for them,—be has familiarised the wealthy, the
Aristocracy, and the proud, with the sufferings and wrongs
of the bumble and lowly. His is a high mission, and he
fulfils it worthily. We may add that a new system has been
introduced by Mr. Russell at the Strand 'Theatre. At other
places of amusement the attenCnts expect fees for taking
charge of cloaks, bonnets, &c., but at Mr. Russell's no such
payments are permitted, white the needful is dose quite as
etliCiently. and far more courteously, than by feed but ever-
craving servitors
MORE STREET ROBBERIES IN EDINBURGH.—We
!tear that on Wednesday night, last week, a gentleman con-
veyed with the Excise, was knocked down on the road lead-
ing from Market-street to the Mound, and robbed of a gold
watch--and late on Saturday night, a tradesman while going
to his house in Potter-row, was assaulted in that street and
rubbed of about 15s.—Caledonian Mercury.
The fo-lowing paragraph, which we find in the
Toronto Herald, gives a vivid picture of the extreme cold in
Canada It is with no small concern that, at the v. ry
outset of our new volume, we have been compelled by cir-
cumstances, over which we could have no control, to be
behind-hand as to the hour when to.day's Herald is issued.
On Saturday evening the first side was worked off, and pre-
pared for going to press with the inside sheet the first thing
this morning. Owing, however, to the extreme cold of last
night, the paper—which, as every one acquainted with
printing is aware of, is wetted down previously—was frozen
together in a solid mass, despite all the precautions taken
(luring the intervening day to prevent such an occurrence.
The consequence has been that the paper had to be thawed,
and some portion of it worked off a second time, ere the
ordinary process could be gone on with. Hence the reason
for the Herald being out so late this day."
LYNCH LAW IN DEVONPORT DOCKYARD.-. 4 ra-
ther summary mode of executing justice was adopted here
last week, on board the hulk occupied by the crew of the
Brazilian vessel now undergoing repair in the dockyard. It
appears that two officers of this vessel engaged a couple of
watermen to row them on board. not taking the caution to
agree as to the fare previously. Now it is well known what
watermes consider it their bounden duty to do under these
circumstunces. In the present instance, then, they did not
fail to demand 2s. instead of the one the Btazilians believed
to be properly due. These refused to pay, and began to
ascend the companion ladder. One of the men, with that
polite and courteous urbanity which characterises his profes-
sion, instantly laid his hand upon the coat-tail of the hind-
most, and the result was a considerable rent in the laced
skirt, and the ignominious detection of the officer. In this
shuation the latter judiciously sounded a parley. " Well,
my good fellow," said he to his grim Charon, " come on
board, and we'll arrange what you're to have." Nothing
suspecting, the waterman went on deck, but was seized soon
after by a file of marines, and received an uncertain number
of lustily applied lashes, which, we are told, lie (id not bear
with that amiable spirit of resignation one would have ex-
pected. His companion, artfully seduced on deck by visionary
promises of biscuit and grog, was served in a similar manner,
and after being kept some hours, the two were dismissed to
make their reflections on the incompatibility of possessing
at the same tune roguery and a sound back.--Deroaport
Journal.

PERILOUS SNOW STORM IN MONTGOMERYSHIRE
—The mail from Gloucester to Aberystwith was in great
peril on its road at the foot of Plitilimmon Mountain, on
Tuesday, the 9th inst. On its arrival at Llangwrig, at eight
o'clock in the. evening, being five hours after time, six horses
were attached to it, and it proceeded with the greatest diffi-
culty for five miles, when the obstructions increased. With
the aid of Mr. Scott, of the Trewythen Arms Inn, Llanidloes,
who happened to be at Llangwrig when the mail
passed, and volunteered to swiss, they got it
onward another mile ; further, however, it was
impossible to go, the drift being as high as the top of tha
Coach f and the road being without fences of any kind, was
totally undiscoverable. Sometime before this the postilion
on the third pair of horses had been put inside the coach, he
being totally benumbed with the intense cold, and his place
on the saddle was taken by a stable boy. In this distress,
it being evident that the coach must be abandoned for the
night, the horses were detached, and the coachman (who for
some time had been unable to drive, and had resigned the
reins to Mr. Scott, who fortunately knew the road Al ell) was
put upon one of them, bat could nut retain his seat, and
was so totally helpless that Mr. Scott and the guard had nu
alternative but to put him also within the coach, with the
postilion, for the night; whence he was fetched to Dyffrvn
Castle Inn, on the tollowing day, in adk plorable state. The
horses were with dia•ulty taken to Dyffryn Castle, and the
mail bags were taken thence by Mr. Scott and the guard to
Aberystwith, where they arrived at six o'cloek in the morn-
ing of the 10th. Thu coach was cut out of the drift in the
course of the day. Fortunately there were no inside pai- •
sengers.—Shrewabury Chronicle. ,