Star.
London, England, 1831-08-04 00:00:00

SLAVE POPULATION.—By the official returns
from our Colonies, it appears that the decreese in
our West India slave population for the last ten
years, amounted to upwards of 46,000.
NEW Mr. Jennings, of New York,
has invented a preparation of spirits of turpentine
and alcohol, which, burned in the same manner as
oil, gives a most beautiful light. It is said to be
cheaper than gas, and gives a more brilliant light
than either oil or gas, and is at the same time
free from their impurities.
SUBSTITUTE FOR CREAM.--Beat up the whole
of a fresh egg in a basin, with sugar, ar.d then pear
boiling tea over it gradually, to prevent it curdling.
The taste of the tea is far superior to that made
with ordinary milk.
To PREVENT MILK FROM BECOMING SOUK.—
To prevent milk from turning sour and candling,
as it is so apt to do in the heat of the et:miler, the
milkmen of Paris add a small quantity. of rib-
carbonate of potash or soda, which, saturating the
acetic acid as it forms, prevents the coagulation or
separation of curd ; and some of them practise this
with so much success as to gain the reputation of
selling milk that never turns. Often when coagu-
lation has taken place, they restore the fluidity by
a greater or less addition of one or the other of the
fixed alkalies. The acetate which is thus formed
has no injurious effects, and, besides milk, ton-
tains naturally a small quantity of acetate of
potash, but not an atom of free or carbonated alkali.

ANTS IN Lon non.—The small black ants
thrive well in London, and drive out their ene-
mies, like so many Canaanite, before them. The
school-house of Spitalfields parish, situate in front
of the church, a few yards beyond the boundary of
the City, was some time ago infested with beetles,
which maintained their ground in defiance of the
schoolmaster, his servants, and the boys. After a
while a colony of small ants, wandering in quest
of a new habitation, invaded the school-house,
and completely drove out the beetles from their
ancient possessions. It may appear wonderful
in what manner such diminutive insects should
overpower such gigantic foes, and they, too,'
caged in complete armour. On observation it
was found that multitudes set upon the same beetle,
and, fastening round the legs and every other pert,
like the Lilliputians on Gulliver, completely over-
came him. The ants now swarm there like •
plague of Egypt, and are particularly numerous
about the time when the young issue from the
chrysalis, and become perfect insects, the males
being furnished with wings
BEES IN LONDON.— of the London Ci-
tizens keep bees in hives, however unnatural it
may seem to have them in the middle of a great
city. A bee amateur, residing in Holborn, was
able to ascertain that his own bees went to seek
for honey as far as Sydenbam Common. He had
suspected this to be the case, and satisfied himself
that it was so, by throwing flour over his bees as
they came tran the hive in the morning. In the
course of the same day he discovered bees, as dusty
as millers, on Sydenham Common, which is seven
miles off. The distance is not greater than in
many other instances bees have been known to go
in quest of favourite food ; but it is remarkable
that they do so, having, for miles, to fly far up in
the smoky atmosphere above the houses.
SILVERSTKENE, on WOOD-STOPF.--This
substance has for some time been much need in
Paris, in the manufacture of various objects. It is
composed of very thin leaves or shavings of wood,
which are laid side by side on a light and flexible
pasteboard, so as to corer the entire surface, and to
render it very difficult to distinguish the line at
hich the various slips of wood unite. Each of
these wooden leaves may be stained of a different
colour, and this variety, combined with the delicacy
of the texture and the polish of the surface, gives
to the whole the appearance of variegated silk.—
The silverstrene is used for hats and bonnets, and
also for inlaying furniture, binding books, and
making various domestic ornaments ; and it is
found to be superior to Chinese paper for the recep-
tion of lithographic engravings. It is the invention
of M. Achille de Bernardiere.

GELATINE EROII Box as.—Doubts having
been thrown, by certain French chymists, on the
value of M. Darcet's great discovery of the means
of extracting gelatine from bones, a medical com-
mittee was recently appointed in Paris to examine'
into the question, and their report is of consi-
derable interest and importance. It appears that
the committee distributed gelatine broth for a spaie
of three months, to forty sick persons and
domestics in their' clinical establishment; and
they thus sum up their inferences, as arising out of
this extended experiment :—l. The application of
gelatine, in alimentary diet, is not only an essential
improvement, but is attended by a saving of ex-
pense, which ought not to he lost sight of.-2. Broth
made with gelatine, is quite as agreeable to the pa-
late as the broth usually given in hospitals.-3. Not
ie.:Ay is gelatine nutricious and ready of digestion,
, but it is extremely wholesome ; neither can its use
be accompanied by any bad effects on animal eco-
nomy. The hospital of St. Louis possesses an ap-
paratus capable of producing 900 meals of gelatine
broth per diem ; it has been iu nse for the last
twenty months, and has already 'supplied as many
as .550,000 rations of gelatine in solution.
From the reports made to the directors, we se-
lect the following paragraph:—" It is the unani-
mous opinion of the nurses, physicians, and
patients, that their diet has .been changed to
advantage. From being better fed, the convales-
cent patients quit the , hospital sooner than for-
merly." To these interesting particulars we add
leomparative analysts, made by Darcet :—Every.
1001hs. of butcher's meat contains, on an average,
24 parts of dry meat; 61 of water; 15 of boot._
And the average contents of every 1001 be. of

Lai
The cause of ill health is excessive, or rather
too long-coutinucd, labew. The chief remedial
measure is an abridgment of the hours of labour :
" At t (in the cotton trade at least, which is already
by law) the hours of work generally extend from
half-past five or six in the morning till half-past *even or
a4ght at night, with about two hours intertninden, wailful
In all about twelve hours of cletelebour. This we would
reduce In atm hews. if •ands 1 Indoor* should be rendered
praaileabla sod safe by a resillWatof all taxes on ma:tufa&
tuns Sod ; and we agettexpvtes onecontredon,
sukiset tu 'warp OWN, puler fit Aar,
mimeo is adopted,' an plane and auctions Air
the moral-aad dodos& audition of the mint-
can only olLtah a very partial area tem.
=sphere of ograratioo. We say this with confithwess,
in every of the kind which we have been
enabled to form, re:ere yt attempt for this purpose which our
personal acquaintance end habitual Intercourse with thes
pie could suggest, we have been met and defeated by the
hours (absorbing in fact the whole of the efficient day)
the operative Is (Impelled to remain at his employment.
When he returns home at night, the sensorial power is worn
out with intense fatigue; he has no energy left to exert is
any useful abject, or any domestic duty, he Is fit only for
sleep or sensual indulgence, the only alternations of employ-
ment which his leisure knows; he has no moral elasticity to
amble him to resist the seductions of appetite or sloth ; no
hews foe regulating his household, euperintending his family
oshmeno, or enforcing economy In his domestic arrange.
lIRWArg as power or capability of exertion to rise alorventt
clsommlames, or better his condition. He has no time to
be wise, us /share to be good; be is sunken, debilitated,
depressed, omessulated, unnerved for effort, incapable of
wire, unfit he sassy thing but the regular, hopeless" de-
sponding, depodfog variety of laborious vegetation or
shameless intempersam Redeye him In this particular,
shorten his hours of labour, and hi will find blond( pos.
,ftewil of solicisot leisure to mks it an object with him to
moll thee Memo well ; he will not be so thoroughly en.
mated with his day's employment, he will not feel so lin-
prious • necessity for stimulating liquors • he will cas-
aba more closely, and regulate more carefully, his domestic
ZrilMts ; and, what more than all, he will became a
en is
the religions philanthropist may have some chance
efilabouring with advantage. We do not my that a redue-
die of the hours of labour would do *very thing, but we are
ors that little can be dope without it; it is Indispensable m
a prallminary measure ;It will pave the way for the m-
e
ively ma m of other plans, and render their execution compara-
ty."

RELIEF OF THE POOR
Lord Teynham has presented to the Hem of
Lords a Bill " to improve and amend the lamina-
don of Overseers of the Poor, to define their pow-
ers and authority, and to make certain provisions
for the better regulation of pariah relief."
Its preamble seta forth that—Whereas, for the
raising a supply for the use and maintenance of the
pooris Ewlmd sad Wides.everseens woriappoisted
by an Act of Queen Elizabeth, of glorious me-
mory, in the 43d year of her reign; and whereas
the great increase of pauperism and of the amount
of the /mid poor-rate of late years renders it expe-
dient to amend and alter the provisions of the said
Act in regard to the appointment of overseers of
the poor, and to better define their powers and au-
thorities, and also to make more efficient provision
for the executing of the said Act ; be it enacted, &c.
Clauses are then introduced providing that over-
seers of parishes do make out and deliver to clerks
of justices lists of persons liable to serve as over-
seers, according to the qualification hereinafter
stated.

That justices hold a petty sessions after the re-
ceipt of the lists, and draw by lot the several names
so returned, and enter them in a book, from which
shall be taken in succession the future overseers.
That overseers, at the expiration of their service,
enter in their account-book the names of all per-
sons who shall have become liable to serve, which
names shall be inserted in the list by the justices
as before mentioned.

That the said overseers shall examine and ascer-
tain, from the last years's accounts of the said pa-
rish or district to which they are appointed, the
amount of rates requisite for the coming year for
the relief of the poor only, and shall apportion the
same into 12 equal part►, and levy one such rate or
part on the first Monday in every month upon
those liable to pay them in their respective parishes
or districts ; and that if and forth.) rate be re-
quired, it shall be levied at the expiration of the
year, or otherwise, as shall be deemed requisite.
The duties of overseers to be performed by each
half-yearly, and their names to be placed on the
church doors. Acting overseers to attend at some
place one day in each week to hear claims to relief,
at which plate rate-payers may attend and vote.
That overseers may nominate collectors and re-
ceivers of rates and distributors : but the duties
of overseers not to be delegated.
That the payments from poor rates be in money ;
and to be made in advance.

That persons receiving parish relief be incapa-
ble of creating debt, except for rent ; but not to
affect debts contracted previowly to receiving
relief, or after it shall cease ; no justice or clerk to
receive any thing for hearing matters.
That no overseer of the poor shall assume the
power or direction to order any person or persons
, receiving parish relief to draw carts or any other
vehicles, to be confined in any local or close, or
placed in gravel or other pits, except for the pur-
pose of digging, and not for confinement, or to
wear bells or other gear, under the penalty of
pounds to each overseer so offending, and for each
offence of the like kind ; and also that no overseer
Thall have the power to put up to auction, to let or
to sell, the labour of any person receiving parish
relief, under the like penalty for every such
offeice.

. That.overeeent be exempt from all other parivh
duties- for the time.

That the rates collected fur the relief and sup-
port of the poor shall in no way be appropriated,
by law or any other means, to any purpose what.
ever, or pay any other claim on the said pariah or
district; nor shall any sum be allowed fur journies,

'dinners, or expenses incurred by the said overseers
in the performance of the duties of the said office ;
and that no legal expenses shall be Wowed in the
accounts of the said overseers unless directed t 3 be
incurred by three-fourths of the rate-payers of the
said parish or district.
That whenever there are any number of persons
out of work in any parish or district, the said over-
seer may employ them in the said parish or dis-
trict, or may unite with the overseers of one or
more parishes or districts, whether in the same
county or otherwise, in procuring work end em-
ployment for the said persons, either in their own
or in adjoining parishes or districts, whether in the
einarr.county or otherwise; and that such pemons
se empityed shall always receive
_tit! fall and fair,
wages elrihe' time gf Jetd., payable to them in
mop;pO;AGO tbst any overseers of adjoining
parishes i 1 districts,' whether in the same county
or othenrise, may, with the approbation of the
majority of rate-payers, signified at any two suc-
cessive weekly meetings, unite for the purpose of
hiring any quantity of land to be cultivated by such
persons out of employ as each united parish or dis-
trict shall contain; and that the profits thereof shall
be duly divided in due proportions amongst the over-
seers of such united parisbesor districts, to be applied
by them in aid of the rates of their respective parish or
district : and that it shall be lawful for the said
overseers to relet to deserving persons receiving
parish relief, portions of the land so hired as afore-
said; but no rent shall be required of such per-
sons higher than the rate per acre at which such
land shall be hired or leased to the said overseers,
nor shall any hard or severe regulation. for such
favour be imposed ou them ; and such hiring of
laud shall not alter the palish to which such per
son or persons did previously belong or have
claim for relief therefrom.

That the overseers may relieve persons, although
they possess property to a certain extent.
That the act do not extend to the city of Lon-
don or to any large towns.
••• The concluding clause provides that the act
(when passed) shall be sent to the clerks of the
peace for the overseers ; and that it shall be read
in the parish church or district chapel " for four
successive Sundays after the morning service."
DARING OUTRAGE ON THE RIVER.
Tuesday, !Merchant Barber, a tall lighterman, of
Herculean strength and of reckless courage and
daring, who has been in prison for riotous assaults
no less than three years and six months during
the last five years, was brought before Messrs.
Ballantine and Broderip, at the Thames Police-
office, charged with committing a most desperate
outrage on Mr. James Little, a surveyor of this
establishment, and Robert Marston, a river con-
stable, and also with violently assaulting Mr. C.
J. Manning. of Great Ormond-street, at the time
their Majesties were returning from the new Lon-
don-bridge.
Robert Marston, a Thames-police cons.able,
stated that on the previous evening, about seven
o'clock, he was on duty with his surveyor, Mr.
Little, in one of the office galleys, on the south
side of Blackfriars-bridge, when he heard a dis-
turbance, and saw the prisoner in a skiff endeavour-
ing to break the line of boats as their Majesties
were passing down the channel. He nearly cap-
sized several wherries and turned others out of their
places, creating very great confusion. Some gen •
tletnen in their wherries tried to impede his attempt
to force a passage, when he abused them grossly,
and struck one of them a tremendous blow in
the mouth with his fist, which caused a copious
effusion of blood. Several persons cried shame,
but he struck them and put them to defiance.
The populace then desired witness and his brother
officers to take the prisoner into custody,whlch the
witness proceeded to attempt, and, knowing Bar-
ber's prowess, seised him by the throat, and in-
stantly prostrated him in the boat. The prisoner
finding himself thus suddenly seized, said be would
go quietly and be peaceable, and he was then al-
lowed to rise ; but in a minute afterwards cried out
" here goes," and jumped overboard in order to
escape, and he began swimming. Witness and
Little seized him, and again got him into the boat,
but he knocked them backwards, jumped overboard
a second time, and witness was compelled to hook
him with the boat-book, so that be could not get
away or sink, although,he was several times under
water, and had nearly drowned Mr. Little in the
struggle. At length, after being somewhat
weakened with his long ducking, be was pulled
into the boat, and then commenced another
desperate struggle, the prisoner biting and kicking
in a violent manner. In the end Marston tied his
legs, nod secured him to the bottom of the galley.
and as the procession was just passing he was in-
stantly conveyed to the Thames Police ship, where
he behaved most outrageously all night.
Mr. James Little, a surveyor of Thames Police,
confirmed the above statement, and said that his
legs were much injured by the kicks he had re-
ceived from the prisoner, and his thumb was lace-
rated with his teeth.

The prisoner said he was half intoxicated, and
begged for mercy, as he liad been a long while in
confinement.
Mr. Judge said, he was only released last week
from pal, where he had been confined for assault-
ing a dew Polies officer.
Mr. Ballantine said, tbat although Mr. Man-
ning had not, in furtherance of a public duty, come
forward, as he should have done, to prosecute, yet
it was fortunate, for the ends of justice, that the
imam& upon him was promile.by the officers. The
primuser's conduct had bsesanostgessa and despe-
rate, and the offence was aggranond by beisl
,committed upon, and in thiprootomi of, numbers
!o( the loyal. peep'e whs spossai to eels-
kale a Frootillublie ant ttdioad t, and honour
their lawarsign.
Mr. Broderip, in warm bet %loprobated the in-