The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-25 00:00:00

SUGAR.

That a nutritive so delightful as sugar should have
long remained unknown in its concrete form to our
ancestors, is another proof of the comparative modern
date of civilization in Europe—l say of Europe—
because the process of extracting and crystallizing the
juice of the cane has been practised from time imme-
morial in the East, particularly in China, where, how-
ever dormant or stationary the human mind may now
be, it is certain that at one period it had all the inven-
tive faculties in full play. According to chemical
analysis, sugar is a vegetable oxyde, composed of oxy-
gen, carbon, and hydrogen ; 100 parts containing
(according to Ure), of oxygen, 50.33 ; carbon, 43.38 ;
hydrogen, 6.29. It may, however, be described as
comprising, in the most concentrated vegetable form,
the principle or nutriment of life, azote, a fact which
admits of natural demonstration, for not only do tlic
inhabitants of every part of the globe delight in sugar,
when obtainable, but all animated beings ; the beasts
of the field, the fowls of the air, insects, reptiles, and
even fish have an exquisite enjoyment in the consump-
tion of sweets, and a distaste to the contrary ; in fact,
sugar is the alimentary ingredient of every vegetable
substance, encumbered with a greater or less propor-
tion of bulky innutritious matter. A small quantity of
sugar will sustain life, and enable the animal frame to
undergo corporeal (I may add mental, from experience)
fatigue better than any other substance ; often have I
travelled with the Arab over the burning desert, or
with the wild Afric through his romantic country, and
when wearied with fatigue and a noontide sun, we
have sat ourselves beneath an umbrageous canopy, and
I have shared with my companion his travelling pro-
vender, a few small balls of sugar mixed with spices,
and hardened into a paste with flour. Invariably have
I found two or three of these balls, and a draught of
water, the best possible restorative, and even a stimulus
to renewed exertion.

During crop time in the West Indies the negroes,
although then hard worked, become fat, healthy, and
cheerful, and the horses, mules, cattle, &c., on the
estate partaking of the refuse of the sugar-house, renew
their plumpness and strength. In Cochin China, not
only are the horses, buffaloes, elephants, &c., all fat-
tened with sugar, but the body guard of the King are
allowed a sum of money daily with which they must
buy sugar-canes, and eat a certain quantity thereof in
order to preserve their good looks and embonpoint ;
there are about 500 of these household troops, and
their handsome appearance does hon Our to their food
and to their royal master. Indeed, in Cochin China,
rice and sugar is the ordinary breakfast of people of all
ages and stations ; and the people not only preserve
al their fruits in sugar, but even the greater part of
their leguminous vegetables, gourds, cucumbers, ra-
dishes, artichokes, the grain of the lotus, and the thick
fleshy leaves of the aloes. I have eaten in India, after
a six months' voyage, mutton killed in Leadenhall-
market, preserved in a cask of sugar, and as fresh as
the day it was placed on the shambles. (In the curing
of meat I believe a portion of sugar is mixed with salt
and salt-petre.) The Kandyans of Ceylon preserve
their venison in earthen pots of honey, and after being
thus kept for two or three years its flavour would de-
light Epicurus himself.
In tropical climates the fresh juice of the cane is the
most efficient remedy for various diseases, while its
healing virtues are felt when applied to ulcers and sores.
Sir John Pringle says the plague was never known to
visit any country where sugar composes a material part
of the diet of the inhabitants. Drs. Rush, Cullen,
and other eminent physicians are of opinion that the
frequency of malignant fevers of all kinds is lessened
by the use of sugar ; in disorders of the breast it forms
an excellent demulcient, as also in weaknesses and
acrid defluxions in other parts of the body. The cele-
brated Dr. Franklin found great relief from the sicken-
ing pain of the stone by drinking half a pint of syrup of
coarse brown sugar before bed-time, which he declared
gave as much, if not more, relief than a dose of opium.
That dreadful malady, once so dreadful on ship-board,
scurvy—has been completely and instantaneously stop-
ped by putting the afflicted on.a sugar diet. The dis-
eases arising from worms, to which children are sub-
ject, are prevented by the use of sugar, the love of
which seems implanted by nature in them ; as to the
unfounded assertion of its injuring the teeth, let those
who make it visit the sugar plantations and look at the
negroes and their children, whose teeth are daily em-
ployed in the mastication of sugar, and they will be
convinced of the absurdity uf the statement. I might
add many other facts relative to this delightful nutri-
ment. I conclude, however, with observing that I have
tamed the most savage and vicious horses with sugar,
and have seen the most ferocious animals domesticated
by means of feeding them with an article which our
baneful fiscal restrictions and erroneous commercial po-
licy has checked the use of in England, where millions
pine, sicken, and perish for want of nutriment.
The extended consumption of sugar in England,
began with its cultivation in the British West India
Islands. In 1466 its use was confined to medicines
and feasts, and was thus continued until 1580, when
sugar was exported from Brazil to Portugal, and thence
to this country. In 1641 sugar canes were trans-
planted from Brazil to Barbadoes, and thence to our
other western possessions ; and in 1643 the English
settlers in St. Christophers made very good sugar, an

example which was soon followed in the other islands.
The moment, however, that its consumption extended
in England, that moment the Government stepped in
with the tax-gatherer to mar the efforts of human in-
dustry., and to check human happiness. The progres
sive Increasing taxation was as follows 166 1 a
Is. 6d. per cwt., in 1669 at 35., in 1703 at 3s. 4d. t
,
in 1747 at 4s. 10d., in 1759 at 6s. 4d., in 1779 at
6s. 8d.,, in 1781 at lls. Bd.. in 1712 at 12s. 3d., ill
1787 at 12s. 4d., and in 1791 at 15s. The natural
result of this impolitic taxation was to check con-
sumption ; in 1787 hut 77,355 tons of sugar was ree
-
tained for home use, while ten years previously th
consumption had been Sl,OOO tons ; in 1790 the con-
sumption decreased to 76,811 tons ; in 1791 it fell to
70,160 'tons ;in 1792 to 68,000 tons. The financier
of the day, however, would not take warning, and in
1797 the duty on British Plantation was raised to
17s. Gd. per cwt, and ss. 2d. per cwt. was levied on
East India sugar, in addition to a previous ad valorem
duty of 371. 16s. 3d. per cent. ; the result was a furi
ther reduction of consumption, which in 1797 amottote,c
to only 63,000 tons, being a reduction of nearly
20,000 tons in the course of a few years, owing to
taxation.—Montgomery Martin.

OPENING OF THE LEEDS AND SELBY

RAILWAY.

to
LEEDS, SEPT. 22.—The ceremony, if such it can be with
propriety called, of opening the railroad from Leeds
e..
Selby took place to-day, according to previous annons
meetinF
meet. This day was fixed by the Directors at a
held about six weeks ago, in order to facilitate the transits
of visitors to the Hull Musical Festival, which comtneece°
on Wednesday. It was, however, notified at the same t'ele..
that the opening would not be characterised by any r a
markable ceremonial, a resolution which, though perhaPs, ,„
wise one, considering the density of the population of tn 7
district, can only be accounted for by reverting to the atlbe;
lancholy occurrence which signalised the opening °livir.
Liverpool and Manchester Railway—the death 0'
Huskisson ; or by the circumstance that the railwg' of
though sufficiently advanced to admit of the Passagwehole
carriages along one of the tram-roads throughout the
line, is not yet fully completed.•
named
The early hour of six o'clock in the morning was f
for starting from Leeds, in order to reach Selby in time
•A°4
the Hull and Selby packets, which usually leave at
in the morning. This, combined with the weather, wilsit„
was any thing but favourable, prevented that array
ers which might otherwise have been expected. act
Only one engine has yet been launched. It is a comp s•
and handsome piece of mechanism, manufactured by Mesrat
Featon, Murray, and Jackson, of this town, is estimate t,
18 horses power, and called the Nelson. To this were at,
tached three of the'first class carriages and six carriages
the second class, the former carrying 18 passengers been
and the latter 24. The requisite preparations havin,, at
completed, a start was made, but at a pace anythin,
err
satisfactory, owing, it is understood, to the rain havingfrthe
dered the iron tram-rails so slippery as to admit °1 any
wheels of the engine turning round at times without.ies,
sensible locomotion. In this way she proceeded twoo anra,
which occupied a space of forty minutes' time in the aec° et
plishment. It was therefore thought advisable to con that
the drag of the machine as much as possible, and with Oar%
view the passengers who occupied the six second class cleft
riages were stowed into five of them, and the sixth was
behind. She, however, proceeded at the same slowPtahe
for some time longer, amidst the jeers and laughter of
at,
bystanders, who called to the police-officers and othersher
tendant upon her, to put their shoulders to and Push, t
along, and to such an extent was this joking carried, tubaitst
saw a man get out of one of the carriages, pretend to tirihe
her some short distance, and then resume his seat.the
first four miles occupied an hour and ten minutes, het - ,aO..
next two miles were done in fourteen minus. The
tiler then cleared up, and after stopping somete three Tainu.tne
near the Garforth viaduct, to regulate the steam, the eng.„ies
shot away with her load, and did the remaining 14 nilie
in 42 minutes, being at the rate of 20 miles anhour'l 5,
estimated distance between station and station is 201' din;
which was run in two hours and twelve minutes, inelu-
the stoppages.
bled • • • of
C rd-- the line

.crowds of persons assembled at intervals on A tbel
road to witness the novel and interesting sight, and eery,
testified their approbation by loud and reiterated ell for
and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Thereit icav pe;
upwards of a mile at the Selby end was crowded ivit
tators, beer-tents, and similar places of refreshment 1i at
been erected along the side of the railway. The arnica
Selby was signalised by a salute of carronadcs. rail'
The steamer from Hull having arrived opposite tbed6, for
way jetty shortly before eleven, preparations were nl3.o.inai
returning to Leeds at that hour, according to the erl7eots
intention. At ten minutes past eleven, the arrange-„too,
having been completed, the train set off on its re that
crowded with passengers, under a similar salute to roo
which greeted its arrival. The first seven miles Wereed 3
in twenty minutes, after which the pace was slaekellxt si
little, in consequence of the plane ascending. The "eg, of
miles were done in thirty minutes, and, after a stoPP3;led
five minutes near the Garforth viaduct, the train proc were
at a rapid pace towards Leeds. The last four mile% ati-
done in fourteen minutes, including a stoppage Of w„wing,
nutes when crossing the Halton Dial embanktnent,joine
it was said, to one of the carriage-wheels having "iesevo
over-heated by friction. The tunnel, which requirea
355 ed
or eight minutes for the passage in the morning, Wu' Ps, was
in a, minute, and the whole journey, including stoPPage at sr
performed in one hour and sixteen minutes, to tbe grhe, trip'
tisfaction of all who had the pleasure of jolning in t
and without the slightest accident. 1 toad
I should state, that on the ret'arn of the party, t!e
he linei
was lined by thousands of
sPtctators, s read along esso
for at least two miles f2;oni Leeds, all of whom es!' ,tion•
r
their surprise and admiration at the celerity of the Te first
It may also be useful to mention that the fares by the
.'29.
class carriages are 3s. each way, and by the second -
each person. wate 3.
The length of the railway, as I have already ?nit,' pules
is about twenty miles and a half. For about eigni',s the
from Selby the road runs nearly upon the same leve ...side"
surrounding land. On the approach to Milford con )fil'
able embankments have been necessary ; but betweeta long
ford and Killingbeck there are several very deep 31 a very
cuttings. Between Killingbeck and Osmondthorrao al'
expensive embankment and viaduct was necessar):,n, deep
mostimmediately adjoining the Leeds station is a %e
tunnel, above half a mile in length. rtes
The railway has been mainly constructed bY joie
r gr. is
Nowell, the contractors, from the designs 0' ,„,indiog,,
Walker, engineer. It runs through a country an:011 r
lime, coal, and other minerals, and is likely to bemtrie sb,r
neficial both to the manufacturers of Leeds, an l;
ping interest at Selby. Its utility will be still father4vy fr°l-
-
mented by the completion of the projected rat 'by a 0
Selby to Hull, and if connected with Manchester„otern to
way from Leeds, a person may travel from the -
the western shores of England in a very linur
ells
fleari
BIRTHS.
On the 22d inst., at Errol Park, Perthshir, the Lady f Edwin
~
Allen, of a daughter.
,i, lad). °
On the '2lst inst., at Chase-cottage, Enfield, -e
..fary,Ale,
Walker, Esq., of a son.
On the 22d inst., the 1 1- . St. i"
lac 1.-1 of John Smith, Eglo collie's'
of a son.
On the 21st irni,, , liajor
late of the at Tunbridge Wells, the laciYo' i f GO'
€4lst Regiment, of a son. ,_,lv 0.
the tau.,
On the 23d inst., at Goldington, Bedfordshire,
Musgrave, Esq., of a daughter.
C tail' Cl°'
MARRIED.
eldtuerstt,
On the 20th inst , at St. James's Church, Pover, ttnaPChrclisof
Esq.,
fr
iloufe.
__oe,
Bengal. ktshheawla-house,
Gerte,entoe,Charl? r-Gcl'er'.
f Queen d.
On the 22d inst., Richard Plowman, Esq.,, ?,,„ late Rev. ,
Bloomsbury, to Catherine, youngest daughter ca ,"-
fit, of
John Hay.
Air. J. M. Af 11111".
f
On the 22d inst., at St. James's Church, ----* liter o
Frith-street, Soho, to Mar Elizabeth, second daub
rsr
David Scott, of Marylebone street, Piccadilly. F .0
Chevalier.
ervi
On the 24th inst.,_ at Mal lebone Church, the , Chant') cos,
cois Mortara, secod brotherYto the Count Afortara to Jenuto
to his Royal Highness the reigning Duke of Lucca,
many )
Audit°
youngest daughter of the late Josias Jackson, Esq.,
~.
110'
M.P. for Southampton. IlenrY W i y. of
On the 23d inst., at Christ Church,
young son of the late Rev. Wm. Ray.enscly
daughter of the
i3rebend3r,,be
Rasharkin, in the county of Antrim, to Eliza, 0 _
e.,
..,ershiug..,
late Rev. Wm. Babington, Rector of Cossington: Lo Va'r`v, (17,
At Taney Church, Alichael Lloyd Ferran, E t
sq. of Belville, coon'
Marylebon!,,
ter of William Augustus Howard Minchin,Esq.,
rr 1,009
Dublin. blin John •• ilt,
On the 18th inst., in St. Peter's Church, Du_s_,, of sunciate
Going, Esq., secod son of Thomas Goirg r• q
da.ught.er of th°
county of Tipperary, to Caroline, yo
117;of IT.:111t
Captain Ward, of the Waterford Regimen
DIED.
f•
n of Air.
On the 22d inst., Arthur James, the
iin fan . o
months. •
Ross, of Grove-place, Stamford-hill, aged of Nathaniel Phillips,
On the 19th inst., Emma Docia, wife
„„ fr'
of Portland-place, Clapham-road. .
otl ,ear, James, s— °
On the 15th inst., at Enfield, in his 1- i )er.
JO'
L. Jacox, Esq., of St. Agnes Villa, B?yswat
SomersotOire, for
P.
On the 21st inst., at Halswell House,
1 Tynte,
of Co one
Kemeys Tynte, second daughterflstr
Bridgwater. Chas. A. Afoore,._,,re,
On the 23d inst., at the house of his son,
nthe Rev. William Ttd,
Dursley, Gloucestershire, in his 71st year,and late of Lang'
D.D., formerly of Park Hill, in that county,
Pearson,
„__ .
_
Berks. Glasgow,
On the 17th inst., la Dranven-place, iur.
6,5 th leaf;
wife of Walker Pearson, Esq.
Edwe-hill, in his .oi,th
On the 20th inst., at Chatham-p?.ce, p and of P 1
John Thompson, Esq., late of the island of Jamaica, ,
Hall, Liverpool.
:- - - - -YOVSG'
i' 11-d by MURDO
London : Printed and Pub is e
112 Strand.
at The Sun Office, No. ,

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