Star.
London, England, 1821-04-06 00:00:00

PATENT PROVISIONS.

The various applications of science to matters of
common comfort and utility are, undoubtedly, among
the characteristic and most valuable features of the
age. Steam, that ,4 noble drudge," as it has been
called, is now turned into almost a new element; it
his become one of the prime movers of the mechani-
cal world ; it already makes almost everything, from
a pin to d ship ; it digs our mines, tills our fields, and
thrashes our corn; it brews and bakes for us; it is
our tailor and our shoemaker; it prints our News-
papers, and it dresses our dinners. All this is very
extraordinary; and to a man who, a hundred, or even
fifty years ago, saw our clumsy and circuitous efforts
to accomplish the thousand things that we now leave
to the mercy of cylinders and pistons, would have
been incredible. But it is nevertheless the fact; and
the use of which we are about to speak is, if not the
most curious, perhaps among the most valuable of
the wonders of this mighty magician, generated of
the discordant families of fire and water.

About the year 1812, some experiments were made
on the probability of preserving provisions without
salt, under all trials of climate and time. It was
obvious that a discovery of this kind must be of sin-
gular importance to the sea service, where fresh pro-
visions are, on many occasions, a necessary of life.
The success of the experiments resulted in a patent
take out by Messrs. DONKIN, HALL, and GAMBLE
and a well-compiled brochure of authorities displays
the .sanction of a crowd of imposing names—the
Victualling Board, Officers commanding squadrons
and foreign stations, and ship Captains, in various
climates, all giving their witness to the excellence
and completeness of the invention.
The first use of the discovery is to obviate altoge-
ther the necessity of having live sto.:k on board. The
cost of this article is enormous, independently of its
inconvenience. Taking its attendant expenses, loss
by death, &c. into account, it is from 2s. 6d. to ss.
a-pound, on voyages of average length. But cook-
ing, and the separation of the bone, diminish this
weight by one-half; thus the general cost is about 56.1
the pound. The average price of the patent provi-
sions is under Ss. the pound. These provisions are
every kind of meat, prepared so as to be eaten cold,
a matter of great importance in bad weather ; or to
be heated in a few minutes. To these they have
added concentrated soups and milk.

There are testimonials from Culling Smith, Esq.
the Duke of Kent (by his Secretary), Sir Alexander
Cochrane, Sir Harry Neale, Astley Cooper, Sir
FraUcis Laforey, Sir Home Popham, Commodore
Evans, Sir Joseph Batiks • the Governor and Coun-
cil of St. Helena, Rear-Admiral Burlton, Dr. Bail-
lie, &c. and they establish, in the most satisfactory
manner, the great points of salubrity, of perfect pre-
servation, and of comparative cheapness. The letter
of one of the East India Captains mentions the tra-
vels of some canisters of those meats, which were
opened in London in perfect condition. They had
gone from London to Batavia, thence to Sourabayo,
then to Batavia, again'to Calcutta, to Batavia, and
thence to London, about 3.5,000 miles, in the warmest
climates ! But perhaps the most interesting testi-
mony, from all the circumstances, is the latest—that
subjoined from the Discovery Ships.
From these, therefore, we make extracts, to con-
firm the importance of this invaluable process.

" FILOM CAPTAIN Naar,
H. M. Sin? HILCI4, 9ni Dec. 1820.

" Gerrt.zaux--In reply to your letter of the 28th ult. I beg
leave to acquaint you, that I felt it Impossible to speak too highly
of the Preserved Meats and Soups, prepared by Messrs. Don-
lan and Gamble, and supplied to his Majesty's ships Ueda and
Griper, employed under my orders on the late expedition for the
discovery of a North-West Passage.
" Of the very large supply we obtained, not a single instance
occurred of opening a bad canister of meat; four or five bottles
of vegetable soup, and two or three of the concentrated gravy
soup, were found unfit for use•.
" With these few exceptions, they were excellent, and proved
a most invaluable acquisition to us, in the absence of all other
fresh supplies.

" I have the honour to enclose the opinions of the Surgeons
of the Hecla and Griper, and am, &e."
Mr. Edwards says, " I beg leave to state to you, that I consi-
der them to have been acquisitions of the highest value to the
provisional stores for that service, and I cannot hesitate in say.
ing, that I believe the substitution of those articles for a consi-
derable portion of the salt meat usually allowed in the service,
was one of the principal causes of the general good state of
health which prevailed. among the crews of both vessels during
the voyage."
And Mr. Beverley also writes thus strongly :—" I have the
honour to state to you that, after the trial afforded by the late
voyage of the beneficial effects attending the net of Donkin's
pteaerved meats and soups, I have no hesitation in pronouncing
my opinion, that to the judicious einphlyment of their articles,
is to be attributed, in great measure, the preservation Oi the gene-
ral health of the Officers and crew of his Majesty's brig Griper ;
and to the same means is to be ascribed the recovery of the indi-
viduals attacked by the scurvy. The soups I consider peculiarly
excellent, as I have evert reason to believe that the antiscorhu-
tic quality of the vegetable is not injured in the preparation."
We understand that an order for -about £6,000
worth of the preserved provisiens,for the nest voyage,
bas consequently been given.
We consider it a public service to make such things
known.

• A rteurrenee of this, is now. we tmderstand, wholly pre-
wow-1, by the soups bettg put lit tha resisters, the aisle as the
17111,141.

•
• MAJORITY.
A ttWood, M. RVis, Thomas Pearse, John
Adam!, Sir Thomas Ellison, C. PeHew, Hon. P. 13.
A'Court, L. 11. F.,tcourt, 'fhomu Phipps Hon. G:
Alexander, J. Evans, W. • - Pitt, Wm. Morton •
Alexander, J. D. Fine, Vere Plumber, John
Aocram, Lord Fane, Thomas Pole, Tit. Hn. W. W.
Arbuthnot, Right - Farrand, Robert Pole, Sir P.
lion. C. Finch, G. Pollington, Lord
Ashutst, W. Fleming, John Rowlett, Hon. W.
Audi, William Forrester, C. W. Prendtrgast, J. C.
Bagwell, Rt. Hn.W. Forster, it. lion. J. Pringle, Sir W.
Beaskes, Henry Cifrord, Sir R. Ray, Sir W.
Baring, Alexander Gilbert, 1). G. Rice, Hon. G.
Barne, M. Gipps G. Ricketts, C. M.
Bathurst, Rt. Ho. B. Gladstone, John Robertson, A.
Bathurst, lion. S. Gordon, lion. W. Robinson, Re. Hr.. F.
Beckett, Rt. Hn. J. Goulburn, H. Rochford, G.
Bective, F.arl of Cram, A. C Rocksavage, Lord
Belfast, Earl of Grant, Rt. Hon. C. Russell, J. W.
Bent, J. Graves, Lord Ryder, lit.' lion. 11.
Buchanan, John Grenfell, Pascoe Scott, Hon. W.
Beresford, Lord G. Greville, Sir C. Scott, S.
Beresford, Sir John Gossett, W. Shaw, Robert
Bernird, Lord Hamilton' IL Sheldon, R.
Blackburne, John Handley, 11. Smith, J.
Blair, J. Hardinge, Sir 11. Smith, George
Bourne, Rt. Hon. S. Hart, General Smith, Samuel
Brandling, C. Ilarvey, C. Smith, Robert
Brogden, James Heygate, Alderman Sneyd, N.
Browne, Rt. Hon. D. Hill, Sir G. Somerset, Lord G.
Browne, P. Holford, G. I'. Somerville, Sir M.
Browne, J. Holmes, W. Stewart, Sir John
Browniow, C. hope, Sir W. Stewart, A.
Bruen, 11. Iforrocks, S. St. Paul, Sir 11.
Burgh, Sir IL. Hotham, Lotd Stoptord, Lord
Buxton, J. J. Holdsworth, Thos. Strutt, J. H.
Calvert, John Howard, Hon. F. G. Suttie, Sir J.
Canning, Rt. Hn. G. Hudson, H. Taylor, Sir H.
Castlereagh, Lord Hulse, Sir C. Townshend, Hon. IT.
Cheere, E. M. Huskisson, Right Tremayne, J. H.
Chichester, Arthur Hon. W. Trench, Ho. F. W.
Cherry, G. H. . limes, Sir Hugh Thompson, W.
Childe W. L. Janes John Ure, M.
Cholmeley, Sir M. Jenkinson, Hon. C Uxbridge, Earl of
Clerk, Sir G. . Irving, John Valletort, Lord
Clements, Hon. J. Kerr, 1). Vansittart, lit. Hon.
Clinton, Sir W. Kingsborough, Lord Nicholas
Clive, Lord Kinnetsley, W. Vernon, G. V.
Clive, Hot:. R. H. Knatchbull, Sir E. Villiers, Rt. lion. Gs
Clive, Henry Lawley, Frank Vivian, Sir H.
Cockburne, Sir G. Legge, Hon. H. Walker, S. -
Cockerell, rC. Leigh, J. H. Wallace, Rt. Hon. T.
Cocks, Hon. J. S. Lennox, Lord 0. Wall, .B.
Cocks, Hon. J. Leslie, C. P. Walpole, Lord
Collett, E. J. Lewis, T. F. Ward, Hon. W.
Congreve, Sir W. Lewis, W. Ward, Robert
Cooper, KB. Long, Rt. Hon. C. Warrender, Sir G.
Cooper, E. S. Lowther, Lord Wet herell;C.
Copley, Sir John Lowther, Din. IL C. Westenra, Hon. U. ..
Courtenay, Wm. Lowther, JH. Wigram, Sir Robert
Courtenay, T. P. Luttrell, J. F. Wigram, W.
Crawley, Sam. Lygon, Hon. H. Williams, W.
Croker, J. W. Macdonald, IL G. Williams, Robert
Crosby, J. Macnaghten, E. A. Wood, Colonel
Curzon, lion. Rt. Magennis, R. Wortley, J. S.
Cost, lion. K Mansfield, John Wrottesley, H.
Cult, Hon. W. .Marryatt, Joseph Wilson, Sir H.
Cost, Hon. P. Martin, H. Yarmouth, Lord
Daly, J. Martin, Sir T. B. York, Sir J.
Davis, R. 11. Metcalfe, H.
Dawkins, J. •' ;Mills, C.
Dawkins, H. Monteith, H. zsztrat.
Dawson, J. M. hJorland, Sir S. B. Binning, Lord
Divett, Thomas .111ountcharles, Lord Lushington, S. 114
Dodson, J. Musgrove, Sir P.
Douglas, John Neale, Sir 11. PAIRED ore.
Douglas, W. K. Needham, Hon. F. Apsley, Lord
Doveton, G. Nolan M. Bouverie, lion. B.
Dowdeswell, J. E. Osborne, Sir John Bradshaw, R. H.
Drummond, J. Ommaney, Sir E. Chaplin, C.
Dugdale, D. S. Onslow, Arthur Dalrymple, A.
buncombe, C. Paxton, W. G. Evelyn, L.
Duncombe, W. Paget, Sir C. Manners, Lord C
Dundas, Rt. Hn. W. Paget, Hon. B. Morgan, G.
Dunlop, J. Palk, Sir L. Money, W. T. •
Elliott, Hon. W. Palmerston, Lord Norther, W.
Ellis, lion. G. A. Pechel, Sir Thomas Psice, Richard
Ellis, C. Rose Peel, lit. Hon. R. Seymour, florae.

MINORITY.
Allen, 36 It. • Forbes, C. Ramsay, Sir A:
Aithorp, Viscount Fellowes, W. H. Ramaden, J. C. • •
Altley, J. I). Glesorchy, Lord Ricardo, David
Beaumont, T. W. Grattan, James Ridley, Sir M. W.
birham, J. P. Grant, J. P. Robarts, W. A.
Barham' J. F. jun. Gurney, R. 11. Roharts, A. '
Barnard, Viscount Grant, F. W. Robinson, Sir G.
Barrett, S. M. Grant, G. M. Rowley, Sir Wilfiani
Beecher, W. W. Gooch, T. S. Rumhold, Charles
Bennett, Hon. IL G. ILldintand, NV. Russell, It. G.
Benyon, Benj. Ilamilrun, Sir 11. D. Ramsbottom, John
'Bernal, It. Harbord, Ilon. Ed. Rogers F.
Birch, Joseph Ileathccre, G. J. Bickford, W.
Browne, Dom. Heron' Sir It. Scott, James
Height, H. Hill, Lord A. . Smith, lion. R.
Bury, Viscount Hobhouse, J. C. Smith, William
Blair, J. H. Honywood, W. P. Smith, J. IL
Bruce, Robert liornhy, Edmund Scudamore, Tl. P.
Baillie, J. linglies, W. L. Stanley, Lord
Belgrave, Viscount Hume, Joseph ' Stewart, W. •
Buxton, T. F. • Hurst, Robert Stuart, Lord J.
Bastard, E. I'. James, William Sykes, Dan.
Boughton, W. F. 13. Johnson, Colonel &outfield, W. fl, •
Boughey, Sir J. F. Jervoise, G. P. Srbright, Sir J. Gi
13enett, John Keck, G. A. L. Talbot, R. W.
Chaluner, Robert Lehbridge, Sir Te Temple, Earl of
Caicraft, John ,Lennard, T. It Tynte, C. K.
Campbell, Hon. J. F.Lamb, Hon. W. Townsend, Lord C.
Cavendish, Lord G. Letcrtche, Robert Tennyson, C.
Cavendish, 1 knry Lemon, Sir W. Western, C. C.
Cavendish,S... Lloyd, Sir E. Whitbread, S. C.
Clifton, DM Lloyd, J. M. Wood, Alderman
Coke, T. W. Lockhart, J. '. Wyvill, M.
Colburnc, N. W. Ti. 'Maherle—, John Wells, John
Concannon, Lucius Diaberiey4 W. I. Wemyss, J.
Crompton, S. Dlartin, John Wynn, Sir W. W,
Curwen, J. C. Mildmay, Hon. P. Wodchpuse, LA.
Crrecty, Thomas St. John
Curteis, J. H. 'Monet, J. 11.
Chetwynde, G. ignore, Abraham
Corbett, I'. Mackenzie, Thos.
I)eCrearigny, SitWe Mahon, Hon. S.
Davies, T. 11. Marjoribanks, S.
Denton, W. J. Ord, W.
Doncannon,VisecamtOsborne, Long F.
Dickenson, W. Ossnlstote Laid
Davenport, D. (rGrtly, Standish
Ellice Edward Palmer, Colonel
Fart:Aar:ton, A. Palmer C. Rsche
Ferguson, Sir R. C. Pares, :Mounts
Fitzroy, Lord C Parnell, Sir Henry
Fitzroy, Lord I l'rice, R.
Folkeston, Viscount Pryse, Pryse
Fairlia, Sir W. C. Prise Francis
Flfe, Bali of Pot tinar,.E B.

•m11m..•

Tetteh.
Hamilton, Lord /ti
Shelley, Sir Juba

PAIRED o►►.
Heathron•, Sir G.
Milton, Viscount
Neville, I lou. R.
Newport, Sir J.
Ponsolsby, floe. T
Musser, Wialat
Russell, Lord W.
Bisset U, Lord Jolla
Sefton, Earl of
slfaviatorli, Mel*
Wilkino, W.