The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-22 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF RATS BY PHOS.

PHORUS.
(From the Gardeners' Chronicle, March 16.)
Having already detailed at some considerable length,
in your paper of Feb. 9, the success—l may say the
complete success---of my experiments in the destruc-
tion of a colony of rats by the use of carbonate of
barytes, I will now, according to promise, tell you
how to handle with unfailing effect, under certain
circumstances, another fatal weapon—phosphorus. I
publish this at once, and through the medium of your
columns, for a most particular reason. Very consi-
derable attention has been directed to the subject, by
the quotation in nearly every paper in the kingdom
of my two several contributions to the Gardeners'
Chronicle of January 12 and Feb. 9. This has
brought me such a multitude of letters, every
successive post adding to their number, and
has involved me by consequence in so ex-
tensive and serious a correspondence, that I
positively begin to despair of ever again being in
equilibrio. I can only hope for repose by seeking
the aid of the press, whose power of extending infor
mation I can, alas 1 but too feelingly vouch for ;
and which power I trust to their generosity again
to accord me, seeing the peculiar " fix " in
which I am placed. Their timely assistance will
prevent the necessity for providing myself
with an amanuensis, Mai:, revenons a nos
Rats! The phosphoric compound is as follows :
I have purposely divided the materials into small
quantities; according to the number of the enemy to
be vanquished, they must be lessened or increased.
Procure of lard, or dripping, a quarter of a pound, of
phosphorus 1 drachm, of spirit of wine 1 gill ; place
the whole of these in a pint wine bottle, thoroughly
cleansed previous to use. This should be covered, up
to its neck, or rather middle, with hot water, which may
be managed by putting the bottle into a saucepan
deep enough to hold it; and by gradually heating
the water. When the lard or dripping is dissolved,
remove the bottle from the water, cork it firmly, and
shake it until the contents are thoroughly incorpo-
rated. When cool, pour off the spirit of wine. By
this time, the "charm " will have nearly been
" worked." Little more remains to be done.
Procure some wheaten flour, and having
rubbed sugar into it, warm the contents of
the " charmed" bottle, and pour sufficient
from it to make the whole into a paste of ordinary
consistence Flavouring the above is the " seventh
bullet," the master-piece. To this much attention must
be paid. Get some oil of rhodium and some oil of ani-
seed, both powerful oils ; and dividing your dough into
two portions, " charm" the one half with rhodium,
the other with aniseed. The quantity of oil requisite
is very trifling. Having made up the paste into
number of small globular pieces (like marbles), place
them carelessly wherever the rats abound, and the ex-
istence of the latter will soon become a mere " matter
of history." I need only add, that when rats are run-
ning about, and revelling in an abundance of animal
food, the barytes only must be used in conjunction
with garbage, fish, the entrails of rabbits, poultry, &c.
These, if untouched by the human hand, are subtle
emissaries, and deal destruction right and left.
Where, on the contrary, the rats have little to prey
upon in the form of flesh, phosphorus, cooked as per
receipt, will be esteemed a dainty luxury, worthy of
our own Soyer, and they will sit down to it with the
appetite of a London alderman. Would, for their
sakes, that their digestion were equally good ! I
should be glad to have it in my power to rat-ify the
fact.—William Kidd, Sanders' Cottage, New-road,
Hammersmith, March 13.

ST. TNOM.II3'B BRAMPTON.—MORMON FUNERAL.
—Some excitement prevailed on Sunday last amongst
the Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, residing at Bramp-
ton and in the neighbourhood, in consequence of the
Reverend J. B. Jebb, the incumbent of the district, har-
ing intimated that he could not conscientiously use the
burialThp
eMormonso
crsese in
rvicesof the Church of England at the funeral.
St. Thomas's
p er si
s te d
churchyard.their determination
Onarriving
to bury
the
at
the churchyard it was closed; but the incumbent ap-
peared in his canonicals, and taking off his hat, pro-
ceeded to read the following protest —" In the name of
God, I, John Beridge Jebb, incumbent of the district of
s'. Thomas's, Brampton, do hereby solemnly protest
azainst the use of the burial service of the Church of
England in this case ; and I do declare that it is only
because I am compelled by the law of the land that I
allow a member of the community of Mormons, or
Latter Day Saints, to be interred according to the rites
of the Church in the churchyard of St. Thomas's,
Brampton; and I further declare that Icannot knowingly
ootffitteida The Rev. F.
doing
einign any future interment
sooifonthoee.4lame kind with-
Arnold, the curate of the district, then performed the
service in the usual manner. The behaviour of the Mor-
mons was decorous and proper. It appears that they do
not desire the service of the Church, but only the pri-
vilege of burying in the churchyard, even without any
reJigious service.---Chesterfield CouriCfi

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, March 21.

Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock.
The Marquis of BREADALBANE presented several
petitions from different Presbyterian congregations in
Scotland against Post-office deliveries on Sunday.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition for the ex-
tension of the jurisdiction of county courts; also a peti-
tion from the members of the Whittington Club, one of
the most useful and best managed clubs in London,
praying for the repeal of the taxes on knowledge ;viz., the
stamp duty on newspapers, the advertisement duty, and
the excise duty on paper.
Earl FITZ WILLIAM presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Sheffield with a similar prayer. He
feared, however, that certain cheap publications were
not by any means of a moral character.
Lord BROUGHAM at once admitted that the press
ought to be very carefully watched. The Noble and
Learned Lord then proceeded to explain the plan
adopted by the Committee of the Society for the Diffu-
sion of Uuseful Knowledge to secure the publication of
good works at a cheap rate.
MUTINY BILLS.

The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were
brought up from the House of Commons: They were
respectively read a first time, and ordered to be read a
second time to-morrow.
TITLES OF RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS

(SCOTLAND) BILL.
This Bill was reads first time.
REGISTRY OF METROPOLITAN CARRIAGES

BILL.

This Bill passed through Committee.
TURNPIKE ROAD AND • BRIDGE TRUSTS

(IRELAND) BILL.
This Bill passed through Committee.
Lord EDDISBURY presented a petition from a union
in Cheshire, in favour of the appointment of county
financial boards.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 21.
The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'clock.

PETITIONS.

Mr. DUFF presented a petition from Banffshire,
praying for the ceisation of Sunday labour in the Post-
office. _

Mr. FERGUS presented a petition from Fife against
the Marriage Affinity Bill; also several petitions from
Fifashire complaining of the postal communication with
that county.

Mr. BUSFEILD presented petitions from Bingley,
and other places in Lancashire, complaining of the relay
system in factbries.
Mr. DUNCOMBE presented' similar petitions from
factory workers in places in Lancashire.
Mr. WYLD presented a petition from the borough of
Bodmin praying that the tithe rent charge may be com-
puted at the average annual price of corn.
Mr. OGLE presented a petition from the Bellingham
Un ion, in Northumberland, in favour of union settlements
and rating. _

Mr. H. BERKELEY presented a petition from Mr.
Stuart Williams, the proprietor of the Bristol Mercury,
praying for a repeal of the tax on advertisements.
Sir GEORGE PECHELL presented a petition from
Brighton praying for a repeal of the taxes on news-
papers and advertisements.
Captain PELHAM presented a petition from Boston
in favour of the Small Tenements Bill. _

Mr. EWART presentedaPetition from Dumfries
against the Marriage Bill.
Lord JOHN MANNERS presented a petition from
factory workers in Manchester and Glasgow in favour of
the Ten Hours Factory Act.
Mr. RICARDO presented a petition from Longton,
Staffordshire, against the Marriage Bill.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD presented a petition from the
mayor and other inhabitants of Birmingham in favour of
the Museums Bill.

Mr. GREENE presented a petition from Lancaster in
favour of the Small Tenements Bill. _

Mr. BRAMSTON presented a petition from the Arch,
deaconry of Essex against the Bill for legalising mar
riage with a deceased wife'a sister.
Mr. HUME presented a similar petition from mer.
chants and other inhabitants of Montrose. _

Mr. WYLD presented a petition from Bodmin com-
plaining of the pressure of the burdens on the farming
interest.

Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR presented a petition
from Spitatfields in favour of the sanitary improvement
of the metropolis. _ _ _

Mr. PORTAL presented several petitions from Hamp-
shire praying for a revival of agricultural protection.
Mr. COWAN presented a petition from 43 office-
bearers in St. George's Free Church, Edinburgh, against
the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's
sister.