The Sun.
London, England, 1817-01-14 00:00:00

that nunierotfs .estabilsitments hare been formed
for the benevolent purpose of supplying thelowel•-
classes with that ,salutery and nutritious
Stich institutions, in the present state of, general
distress, present the most judicious and effectual
means_of distributing charity, in the true sense
of the term, by affording relief where it is really
wanted, Pecuniary donations are generally thrown
away upon the undeserving ; anti they tore, in
fact, a premium to idleness and profligacy. But
-the distribution of soup is, perhaps,' in e'fitue
scarcity, the best mode that can be devised:of
feeding the hungry, and of preserving multitudes
from perishing with want. In order to give.the
fullest effect to these benevolent institutions, it
might be expedient for all persons who are dis-
posed to bestow promiscuous charity, to he pro-
vided with tickets, entitling the bearer to applyv
at the place there specified for a bason of soup.--
Such a plan, besides • affording substantial relief
to those who are really io went of it, far beyond
the ordinary amount of pecuniary donations,
would.furnish a test to distingeish beiween real
distress and fraudulent pretensions ; and it would
tend materially to defeat those attempts at impos-
ture, which so frequently assail us in the garb of
mendicity.
" The charitable distribution of soup is, however,
calculated only for populous districts, and chiefly.
for the lowest classei of society, But it is ex..
tremely desirable that the cottager, and indeed
persons of the middling rank, should- know lioW
favourable this wholesome and palatable.diet Is to
that systematic economy, which .lie circumstances
of the times so imperiously demand, by turning
animal and' vegetalle food to the best account,
and by making it go as far at possible. This is.
a lesson which, unhappily, they have. still to
learn; in which respect, the corresponding classes
in other countries have greatly the advantage.—
it has been justly observed, that in England is
pound of meat is simply a pound of tood ; and,
indeed, when dressed in the usual manner, it
does not afford so much. By the usual mode of
roasting, baking, or boiling animal food, a very
large portion of its nutritious juices is entirely
lost. But when carefully stewed with potatoes,
turnips,* barley, onions, split pease, cabbage,
carrots, or rice (varying the dish according to
circumstances), its nutritive powers are multi-
plied in proportion to the ingredients on us bleb it
is made to act : insomUch, that a pound or two
of meat will, with such helps, and actually does-
in other countries, furnish a comfortable •tueal,
and a very cheap one too, for at least six or eight
persons. In the Appendix will be found some
receipts to assist the poor in providing for their
comfort, by a judicious selection and use of the
articles which may be the best employed by them
in the making of soup. It would be a perthatient
benefit to the lower classes, if their present dis-
tresses wets :v to have the effect of inducing an
habitual use of soup in their families. Such a
change would he favourable to .health as well as
ti, economy. For it is the opinion of many me-
dical men, that tloe health of the poor would be'
improved by the adoption of a more varied diet,
and by the connivent reduction In their con-
sumption of Bread.
" It is no small advantage attending the use
of soup, that the cheapest articlei of meat will
answer as well as the dearest, and, whh the aid
of vegetables, will produce a dish fit to be brought
to the .tables of the moat. opulent. Time intro-
duction of a few bones into the stew-pan will help
the cookery,
" It may here be observed that it would, at this
time, he a most useful effort of charity to take
care that the lower end middling .classes be sup-
plied with iron-pots or stew-pans. This would;
et once, prowite both economy and comfort in jtheir families, and furnish some relief to an int.,
portant :branch of Manufacture. These valuabie
articles • might- be judiciously alonbuted by soup
establishments, to poor persons evincing a dison-
shim, to make a proper use of them; and the gift
might be accompanied with directions how to use
them to the best advantage in the making of soup.

" Upon the wILJ'e, the use of soup, as a par-
tial substitute for bread, is; at this
.time, reit-
Harry calculated to afford Subsistence to the ne-
cessitous; to relieve the distress which presses
upon varions classes of the community ; and to
promote that reduction in. the consumption of
bread, whieh scents to he the only sure and ef•
fectual remedy for the late bad harvest."

The Appendix gives the receipts for :nuking
soup, which appeared in TllB SUN of the 4th of
January ; and for which, as we then noticed, the
Public dre indebted to the benevolence of Lord
Radstock:
* While we have to lament the deficiency of the crop of
potatoe.. we have to rejoice that the crop of turnips is most
abundant I—and this vegetable is a most valuable iugredieut
iu the making of suup.

FOR TUE SUN.

Me. EDITOR,—Ai it seems to be generally agreed
upon, that all the benevolences at, this period col-
lecting for the unemployed industrious class should
he applied to occupy them , in some useful work,
allow me to suggest the folloWing, among other
fit labours almost every village, thc houses
of the working people are less attentively' purified
than those of affluent persons. This is a common
source of infectious disorders, such as dyseuteries
and fevers, in addition to its offensiveness and
constant Una holesomeness,• especially for dill-
&en. To relative those nuisances, I recommend
all die ir , ditches, and geitteii; which convey
putrid 'matter from cottages and inferior 'looses,
to be freely opened, and drains constructed'for
the future passage of such noxious things also
that the privies and' other offices, too frequently
left in a filthy state, should be cleansed and puri-
fied by quick lime. if the working people could
be once matte fully aware of the comforts of such
cleanliness, and of the slight efforts
,aftarwards
demanded to maintain it, 1 am persuaded that the
rising generation would be improved in health and
decency. To the shame of almost every village,
and particularly at inferior Inns, the total neglect
of these decencies render, the abode at peasants
more filthy than the worst alleys of the metro-
polis.
FAIEND CLEANLINEsS.