The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-21 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 21, 1828.

PRIVATE PUPIL.

AMARRIED CLERGYMAN, for some
years Tutor to a Nobleman, and subsequently re-
ceiving Six Pupils into his House, a moderate distance
from London, would be glad to fill a vacancy with a gen-
tleman's son, whose Health or Education may require more
than common attention. _ _

Letters addressed to the Rev. H. S., Messrs. Harding
and Lepard's, llooksellem, No. 4, Pall-mall East, London,
will be duly forwarded to him in the country.

This day was published, a Genuine and Complete Edition of
DON JUAN, ill two vols. foolscap Bvo.,
price 145., and in demy 18me., price 9s. Printed
uniform with Mr. Murray's Editions of Lerd Byron's
Works, and illustrated with Two beautiful Engravings by
Finden, from Westall's designs.
Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars. To be had
of all the Booksellers.

In 2 vols. post Bvo. with plates, U. Is.

THE PICTURE OF SCOTLAND.
By R. CHAMBERS,
Author of " Traditions of Edinburgh."

" Not only the most amusing,' but the most useful com-
panion for the Northern Tourist."—New Monthly Mag.
" By far the most readable topographical book we ever
read."—London Weekly Review.
" It is quite impossible to dip into any part of it with-
out having the attention riveted."—Literary Gazette.
Printed for William Tait, 78, Prince's-street, Edin-
burgh ; and Longman and Co. London.

THE GRAVEL AND STONE, LUMBAGO, &o.
HICKMAN's PILLS are allowed to be the
most successful Preparation for effectually remov-
ing and preventing the future recurrence of those Disor-
ders, which arise from an imperfect action of the Urinary
Organs, as GRAVEL and STONE, LUMBACSO, P UNS
in the BACK and LOINS, &c. Composed of the most
innocent ingredients, this truly valuable Medicine relieves
the suffering patient from the excruciating tortures of those
diseases without any violence or injury to the constitution,
and requires no confinement or restraint of diet during its
use. It is one of the oldest Public Medicines extant ; and
its peculiar virtues and efficacy have uniformly maintained
the highest reputation.
Sold in Boxes, at 2s. 9d. and I Is. by Messrs. Butler,
Chemists, Cheapside, corner of St. Paul's, London ; Sack
ville-street, Dublin ; Princes-street, Edinburgh ; Savory.
and Co. 136, New Bond-street ; and the principal Medi-
cine Venders. Of whom may be bad MORRIS's
BRUNSWICK CORN PLAISTER, an excellent Remedy
for eradicating Corns, Bunions, &c. In Boxes at Is. lid.
and 2s. 9d.

OFFICIALREPORT ON RATS IN FRANCE.

REPORT OF A FRENCH COMMISSION APPOINTED TO IN-

QUIRE RESPECTING THE IMMENSE SWARMS AND DE-

FREDATIONS OF RATS AT MONTFAUCON.

PARIS, JULY B.—The section of the Report re-
lating to the Rats of Montfaucon is not a little curi-

ous :--

To ascertain the number of these animals is, of
course, impossible, but that it must be enormous
will be judged of, from the facts we arc going to-
state, and from the circumstance that one of the
chief obstacles to the removal:OfAhe horse slaughter-
house to a greater distance from Paris, is the fear
entertained of the dangerous consequences that may
result to the neighbourhood from suddenly depriv-
ing these voracious vermin of their accustomed sus-
tenance. The carcasses of the horses killed in the
day (and sometimes these amount to 35) are found
the next morning picked bare to the bone. Now,
as besides that it is known that they devour a con-
siderable quantity of the muscular parts and intes-
tines that have been thrown together in heaps, arid
the quantity necessary to the support of a single rat
being ascertained, some idea may be formed of their
amazing number. Dussaussois, a proprietor of one of
the slaughter-houses, has, however, made a still
more conclusive experiment. A part of is esta-
blishment is enclosed by solid walls, at the foot of
which are several holes made for the ingress and
egress of the rats; into this enclosure he put the
carcasses of two or three horses, and, towards the
middle of the night, having first cautiously, and with
as little noise as possible, stopped up all the above-
mentioned holes, he, accompanied by several of his
workmen, each having a torch in one hand and a stick
in the other, entered the yard, and, closing the door
behind them, commenced a general massacre; it was
not necessary to take any aim, for no matter how
the blow was directed, it was sure to immolate a rat;
and those who endeavoured to escape by climbing
up the walls were made to descend in double quick
time, by applying the torch to their nether ends.
By a recurrence of this expedient, at intervals of
a few days, he killed in the space of a month
16,050 rats. After one night's massacre the dead
amounted to 2,650, and the result of four hunts was
9,101. Even this can give but an imperfect idea
of the number of these vermin, for the enclosure in
which they were thus killed contains not above the
twentieth part of the space over which are spread
the dead bodies of horses, which it is but natural
to suppose must equally attract the rats upon all
points. These animals have made burrows for them-
selves, like rabbits, in the adjoining fields, andhollowed
out into galleries all the surrounding eminences, and
that to such an extent that it is not unusual to see
Pthe latter crumble away at the base, and leave ex-
posed these subterraneous works. They have
undermined all the walls and constructions in the
neighbourhood, and it is only by taking the most
particular precautions—casing the foundation with
broken bottles, &c.--that Dussaussois has been able
to preserve from falling a small house attached to
his establishment. So great is the number of these
animals, that they have not all been able to lodge
themselves in the immediate vicinity of the slaughter-
houses, for there are most distinctly traced and well-
known paths leading across the fields from the en-
closures in which the horses are killed to a burrow
about five hundred paces distant. These paths are
particularly remarkable in wet weather, as they are
covered the whole of their length with a clayey mud,
that adheres to the feet of the rat on coming out of
their burrows. There is a peculiar circumstance
worth relating relative to the predilections which these
animals show to one particular part of the horse ;
they always invariably begin by devouring the eyes,
drinking the liquid contained ►n them, and eat►ng
the fat at the bottom of the orbit. There never has
been an instance of a dead horse left one night ex-
posed, the eyes of which were not devoured before
morning. During very severe frosts, when it be-
comes impossible to flay and cut up the bodies of
horses that have been for any time exposed to the
air, and when even the fragments of flesh lying about
have become so hard as to render it difficult far the
rats to feed upon them, they resort to the following
expedient :—They penetrate into the body, either
through the wound, when the animal has been put to
death by plunging a knife into the breast, or
through the anus when the skin is not cut, the
animal having been killed by a blow of a sledge.
They there establish themselves, and devour
the flesh, so that when the thaw comes, the
workmen find nothing but a skin and a skeleton us-
derneath, as clean and clear of flesh as if it had been
prepared by the most skilful operator. These ani-
mals are extremely prolific—the females bear five or
six times a year. In several that we opened we
found, 14, 16, and even 18 young ones. It is only
necessary to turn up the earth with the foot to find
nests containing as many. Their ferocity and vora-
city surpass any thing that can be imagined—to
prove which, we need only state the following fact :
" M. Magendic having gone himself to Montfaucon,
to procure twelve rats, upon which to make experi-

ments, had them put together into a box. On his
return home he opened the box, and found but three
rats, the others having been devoured by the survi-
vors, and nothing remained of them but their tails
and bones. The fact appears incredible, but we
have it from M. Magendie's lips." The fetid ema-
nations arising from this horrible nuisance, not only
render almost uninhabitable the neighbouring villages
of Pantin and Romainville, but infect the Boulevard
du Temple, several of the streets in the Maraes, and
extend their influence even to the gardens of the
Tuileries. This last extension, however, only takes
place when the air is cairn, and the weather heavy
and cloudy." The remaining extracts we shall take
at random from the Report :—" Near to the slaughter
house of Dussaussois, is a large room set apart for
the flaying and cutting up of the dogs and cats either
found dead in the streets of Paris, or stolen and
killed by the cheoniers (rag-gatherers)." From
what follows, it appears evident that the flesh of
these animals figures, of course, under a different
same (rabbit or hare most likely) amongst the deli-
cacies served up to their customers by the minor re-
staurateurs ; for the Report goes on to say—" A
man and a woman are employed the whole year
round in flaying and cutting up these animals. The
skins of the dogs are hung up to dry; those of the
cats are carefully stuffed with straw ; the fat of both
is seduously collected and melted down, and the paws
sold to the glue-makers. We never entered this esta-
blishment without finding a great number of dogs and
cats flayed, and embowelled, and trussed with the
greatest care, and quite ready for the spit or stewing
pan. Whether they are eaten by the slaughterhouse men
(their numbers would seem to preclude this idea), or
sold to other persons, we were not able to learn. As the
heads and tails are always cut off, these cats and
dogs, thus prepared, present a very tempting ap-
pearance, and it would Rot be a little difficult to dis-
tinguish them from other animals of the same race
which are admitted to our tables. In the room, or
hovel, in almost all the cheifoniers, of Paris, is a
little gallows, in which are hung up the unfortunate
dogs which they steal or find wandering about the
streets. They have also dogs trained to bring to
land the dead dogs and cats floating in the Seine."
The abominable and permanent stench which pre-
vails at Montfaucon exercises, it appears, no in-
jurious effects upon those employed there ; for the
Report states that all the workmen, their:wives, and
children, though living in the midst of eternal filth
and corruption, enjoy the most flourishing and bril-
liant health. One of these women, remarkable for
her fecundity, has a house full of the finest and
handsomest children it is possible to see. The
members of the Commission have often seen her
place the child that she was nursing in the skeleton
of a horse, as in a kind of cradle, while she proceed-
ed to flay and cut up another carcass that lay close
to the spot. The workmen employed in these
slaughter-houses attain to a considerable old age, and
preserve, is general, their activity and good looks
to a later period than those of Paris and the sur-
rounding country. It is also well known that, during
an epidemic disease which prevailed in the neigh-
bouring villages of Pantin and La Villette, not one
of the workmen of Montfaucon was attacked by it.
The new site to which the members of the Com-
mission recommended that the horse slaughter-
houses should be transferred is on the left banl, of
the Seine, some yards below the village of Anteuil,
which is on the right bank, and about half-way be-
tween Paris and St. Cloud.

The average rate at which the different objects of
commerce furnished by the horse, are sold, is as fol-
lows :—The skin, 15 francs each ; the long hair,
10d. per lb.; the flesh, whQn fresh and wholesome,
3d. per lb.; the tendons, 6d. per lb.; the oil, 7d.
per lb. ; the hoofs, Gd. per lb.; the bones, 4 cen-
times, or something less than a farthing per lb.

A few days since, in the neighbourhood of
Pegwell, Isle of Thanet, a girl collecting the scattered ears
in a corn field, was discovered by the owner plundering
from the sheaves ; no sooner did she see him, than to
escape punishment, she took to her heels, and heedlessly
leaped over the cliff, a height of SO feet ! Both her thighs
were broken, and she was otherwise sadly mutilated.—
Maidstone Journal.

ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF LONDON.—
The number of oxen annually consumed in London has
been estimated at 110,000, calves 50,000, sheep 770,000,
lambs 250,000, hogs and pigs 200,000, besides animals of
other kinds. The total amount of butchers' meat sold at
the principal market, which is Smithfield, is estimated at
8,000,0001. annually. There are on an average annually
brought to Billingsgate Market, 2,500 cargoes of fish, of
forty tons each, and about 20,000 tons by land carriage ;
in the whole 120,000 tons. The supply of poultry being
inadequate to the demand, the prima are consequently high,
and that article is mostly confined to the tables of the
wealthy. The consumption of wheat in London may be
avernged at 900,000 quarters, each containing eight Win-
chester bushels; of porter and ale 2,000,000 barrels, each
containing 36 gallons; spirits and compounds 11,000,000
gallons ; wines 65,000 pipes ; butter 21,000,000 11)3., and
cheese 26,000,000 lbs. The quantity of coals consume 4
is about 1,200,060 chaldrens of thirty-six bushels, or a
ton and a half to each chaldron. About 9,600 Cows are
kept in the vicinity of London, for supplying the inhabi-
tants with milk, and they are supposed to yield nearly
7,900,000 gallons every year; even this great quantity,
however, is considerably increased by the dealers, who
adulterate it, by at least one-fourth with water, before they
serve their customers. The difference of feeding cattle
about the year 1700 and. at the present period, 182 S, is
strikingly illustrate'? by the following comparison :-1n
the year 1700 the average of the oxen sold in the London
market was 310 lbs. ; of calves 50 lbs. ; of sheep 23 lbs. ;
and of lambs 18 lbs. ; the present average weight is, of
oxen 800 lbs. ; of calves 140 lbs. ; of sheep 80 lbs. ; and
of lambs 50 lbs.

TILSIT, AUGUST 4.—DUrillg the night be-
fore last, a fire broke out in the South-eastern extremity
of the ancient castle of Ragnit, at present made nse of as a
house of correction ; and such was the violence with which
it raged, that it was only with the utmost difficulty that
the greater part of the prisoners in confinement could be
saved. The different partition walls of the great building
being almost entirely of wood, and not one of the five floors
into which it is divided separated from the other by vaults,
tho smoke soon forced its way into the different apartments,
and apprised the prisoners of their danger. Some succeeded
in forcing open the doors, and those of others were opened
by the inspectors, and the unfortunate people thus rescued,
were then conducted by the military to a neighbouring
barn. The task of the guards and firemen was peculiarly
severe, having to struggle, not only with the raging ele-
ment, but also against the efforts of the inmates of the
building who were making incessant attempts to effect their
escape. Several prisoners sought to save themselves by jump-
ing from the windows, in which two succeeded, while a
much greater number either lost their lives or were seriously
injured. Seventeen escaped, but of these the greater
part have since been recaptured. As it was impossible to
Provide for the safety of so many prisoners in so small a
place, 200 of them were the following morning brought to
Tilsit, and lodged in the barracks.—ln the northern wing
of the building, four women, of whom several were already
condemned to the wheel, were placed in the most immi-
nent danger, their rooms being entirely surrounded by fire,
and the only possible exit being by the windows, which
were secured by strong iron bars. A reward of 150 dol
lars was offered to any one who would save them, upon
which a mason's apprentice offered to hazard his life in
the attempt, but declared beforehand that be would not
accept the proffered reward. By means of ladders he
climbed tip to the window, and there, surrounded by
flames and smoke, he succeeded in filing away several of
the bars, and rescuing the unhappy creatures from what
appeared a certain death. It was remarked as a singular
circumstance, that those already condemned to death,
and whose execution was fixed fur the 18th instant, were
exactly those who seemed to return the warmest thanks
to Providence for their preservation.—Hamburgh Re-
porter.

FREE TRADE.

(From the Nambur9h Reporter.)
From Lyons we learn that the operatives are
to be seen every evening begging in the streets.
This is melaucholy, but is there any thing strange
in it? Is it not rather the inevitable and natural
consequence of that disastrous and miserable policy,
copied from the former folly of England, and adopted
after the absurdity had been recognised in the latter
country by an abolition of the greater 'part of the
system.
France has all those glorious laws which the
bigots are brawling for in England. No foreign
wool, no foreign corn, no foreign manufactures, are
admitted into her ports ' • a loathsome line of douaniers
extends along the whole length of her frontiers,
and not a foreigner can enter France, unless he
travel in the suite of an Ambassador, or some other
privileged person, without being subjected to the
most insulting and revolting treatment at the hands
of the eustom-house officers. For these worthies,
being entitled to the half of whatever seizures they
make, are exceedingly diligent in their vocation,
and take care never to let the person of a stranger
pass, without defiling him by manual examination.
And yet a wonder is expressed by the Parisians
that the delicate fabric of Lyons should remain un-
purchased, and the generous produce of the vine-
yard cease to be demanded ! Is it at this time of day
that nations have to learn, that trade can never be
anything but an organized barter, and that in the
exact proportion to the amount of what they receive
from foreign nations, will be the amount of that
which they return in exchange ?
The foreign trade of France is sunk to a degree
of insignificance, conspicuous even in comparison to
that of countries her inferiors in wealth, population,
and extent of sea coast. The flag of Prussia, Den-
mark, Sweden, Holland or the House towns, are
seen displayed in every friendly harbour of import-
once over the whole globe ; but how rare is the ap-
parition of the drapeau sans tache in any of these ?
The only official document immediately at hand,
is the Sound list, and though we are aware that the
trade of France is comparatively greater to the New
World, yet some idea may be formed of the self-
inflicted injury which France suffers in consequence
of her disastrous restrictive policy.
From the Ist to the 9th of August, inclusive, 261
vessels of different sizes passed from the Baltic
through the Sound. Of these 115 proceeded to
British, 8 to North American, 42 to Dutch, 9 to
Hamburgh or Bremen, 2 to Mediterranean, not
French, and 27 to French ports.
The vessels entering the Baltic are much in the
same proportion.
Now to judge correctly of the disadvantage under
which the trade of France is here found to labour,
it must be recollected, that independently of the
quality of her wines, France is the nearest country
from which wine can be received in the Baltic, and
that in their trade thither, England and Holland
have the solitary advantage over France, of not re-
jecting the productions which those countries have
it in their power to offer in return.
French manufactures may, by the fatal restrictive
policy, be forced into an unhealthy state of existence
at the expence of her agriculturists, whose most vu
luable productions, wine and fruit, will have to re-
main upon their hands : but then again a sop is
thrown to the agriculturist in the shape of an exclu-
sion of foreign corn, and the two interests are thus
conciliated by the injuries inflicted upon each! Le
pauvre genre humain !