The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-01 00:00:00

STATE OF THE PROVINCES IN GREAT
BRITAIN. 3

A PUZZLER.—A few weeks ago, the following persons
ccupied a pew in the Baptist Chapel, at Wainsgate, near
lebden Bridge, Yorkshire, viz.,—Three mothers, two
landmothers, one great-grandmother, two daughters,
ne granddaughter, one son, one grandson, and one great
.randson. And yet there were only four persons !
To PRESERVE CHERRIES.—Take large ripe morello.
berries, weigh them, and to each pound allow a pound of
oaf sugar. Stone the cherries (opening them with a
harp quill), and save the juice that comes from them in
;he process. As you stone them, throw them into a pan
n. tureen, and strew about half the sugar over them, and
et them be in it an hour or two after they are all stoned.
Chen put them into a preserving kettle with the remainder
if the sugar and boil and skim them till the fruit is clear
,Erd
syrup thick.
RELATIVE PROPORTION OF JEWS.—The comparative
lumber of Jews to Christians is as follows :—Great Bri-
tah and Ireland, 1-2,076; Sweden and Norway, 1-5.012 ;
89gium, 1-2,157 ; France, 1-482 ; Denmark, 1-366 ;
li:therlands, 1-61; Austrian dominions, 1-57 ; Russia,
including Asiatic Russia, 1-56; in Germany, the propor-
'non is 1-90, but their repartition among the- individual
motes varies considerably, for while in the kingdom of
,_
f&T„..OIIY the proportion is 1-1909, in Brunswick it is 1-180;
Hanover, l-158 ; in Wurtemburg, 1-149 ; in Baden,
i 62 ; Anhalt-Dessau 1-37 ;in Hamburgh, 1-22. In
the of Prussia 'the proportion is 1-237 ; in the
'ties and towns, 1-26; (in Breslau, 1-16.)
VALUE OF MINERAL PROPERTY.—MineraI property
?n. the hills, which, when the Monmouthshire canal and
t
tramroads were canstructed, was only worth ss. an
eke surface rent, soon increased in value to £l5OO an
or more, underground. The area of the Monmouth-
sir coal field exceeds 89,000 acres, and the various
aye „....of coal that can be profitably worked are said to
tabout 50 feet, which produce a gross yield per
vin nearly 73,000 tons. The total quantit ow
whichannually is estimated at about 2,200,000 tons; at
150olch rate there is a sufficient supply left for the next
be." Years. The net quantity available for export has
t 3.1 estimated at about 3,000,000,000 tons ! Great Bri-
, 2113n0w annually consumes from all her collieries about
%MOW tons.
'CEA-WEED BREAD.—Sea-weed bread, or Laver cake, if
I°t one of the delicacies, is one of the edible curiosities of
the Gower coast. A great sensation was made some years
ago, by a statement that thousands of the peasantry in the'
wild west " of Ireland were obliged, for some months in
the year, to live mainly on sea-weed. In Gower and at
Swansea sea-weed is rather a popular article of food.
Women attend Swansea market with baskets of laver
cakes, which are sold at ld. to 2d. each. This weed
(Ulm porphyra laciniata) makes an excellent ingredient
in sauce for mutton. It is got close to low-water mark;
washed well in sea water to free it from sand, then boiled
twelve hours, and seasoned with salt. In winter it is only
necessary to boil it two hours. The weed grows rapidly,
except in winter, and is renewed every other spring tide.
It is also used in several parts of the Scottish coasts and
islands, where it is called sloke or slokum.
MOUNTAIN FARMING IN SOUTH WALES.—The farms
are of vast extent ; we have seen one which was more
, than six miles in length, the farmer's dwelling being at
the extreme end, nearest the market town •, the shepherds
and their families, who also look after black cattle and
PonYs, which are turned out to pasture about the middle
or end of May, were stationed in three aged farm-houses
. -of the most primitive sort, two or three miles apart, buried
near water-courses in the deep shadows of lonely cams,
into which sunbeams never penetrate throughout weary
winters. The simple people rarely emerge into the every-
day world except at fairs. The farmer had several thou-
sand small ragged sheep—true mountain mutton—a
number of which are snowed up in deep drifts and lost
in winter, but they are wonderfully hardy. One of the
adjoining hills bears the expressive name of Drum yr cira,
the snowy Ridge." The peasantry live chiefly on oat-
cakes, cheese, and buitermilk ' • they have so faint an idea
`of growing corn or potatoes, that we have seen heaps of
manure by the first pla ed icn the
water. middle of brooks, to be swept away
fresh of idd
•
DR. CHALMERS IN LONDON.—When Dr. Chalmers
first visited London, the hold that he took on the minds
of men was unprecedented. It-was a time of strong po-
litical feeling ; but even that was unheeded, and all parties
thronged to hear the Scottish preacher. The very best
judges were not prepared for the display that they heard.
Canning and Wilberforce went together, and got into a
Pew near the door. The elder in attendance stood alone
by the pew. Chalmers began in his usual unpromising
Way, by stating a few nearly self-evident propositions,
neither in the choicest language nor in the most impres-
sive voice. " If this be all," said Canning to his companion,
..` it will never do." Chalmers went on—the shuffling of
the conversation gradually subsided. He got into the
111..a.18 of his subject ; his weakness became strength, his
whole
ation was turned into energy ; and, bringing the
a
volume of his mind to bear upon it, he poured forth
torrent
of the most close and conclusive argument, bril,
hant with all the exuberance of an imagination which
ranged over all nature for illustrations, and yet managed
and applied each of them with the same unerring dexterity,
as if that single one had been the study of a whole life.
" The tartan beats us," said Mr. Canning ; " we have no
preaching like that in England."
Who would have imagined, when gun-cotton was pro-
duced by M. Schonbein, and the world was threatened
with destruction by being blown up by this terrible explo-
sive material, that within a few months it should be dis-
covered to be an excellent styptic for dressing cuts and
Wounds ? But so it is. Dissolved in ether, and applied
to the severest cut, it forms an adhesive covering of sin-
gular closeness and adhesiveness, protects the wound, and
excludes atmospheric air, or any irritating matter, so that
the process of healing is carried on speedily and effectu-
ally ; and when all is well, the " protectionist," having
done its duty, is removed. So also has Dr. Simpson, of
Edinburgh, we are informed, similarly applied chloroform
and gutta percha! This mixture, in illiquid condition, at
- -about the consistence of fine honey, is kept in a phial or
bottle, and when an accident of the kind to which we have
referred occurs, it is simply poured upon the wound ; the
chloroform instantly evaporates, and the gutta percha re-
mains a perfect, flexible, second skin, over the injured
part, preserving it for weeks if necessary, without the
need of dressing, bandages, or any other appliance, till
. there is no more occasion for this admirable agent. When
we call to mind how much human pain will thus be alle-
viated, how many cures effected where hitherto there have
been danger and uncertainty, and how a number of surgi-
cal operations will be simplified, it may not be considered
too much to rank such inventions among the most valua-
ble that could be discovered and applied for the benefit of
mankind.—Literary Gazette.
LANCASHIRE GENTLEMEN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
• —"Gentlemen then lived as they ought to live ;as real
gentlemen will ever be found living—in kindliness with
their tenants, in open-handed charity towards the poor,
and in hospitality towards all friendly corners. There
were no grinding bailiffs and land-stewards in those days,
to stand betwixt the gentleman and his labourer, or his
tenant, to screw up rents, to screw down livings, and to
invent and transact all little meaniiesses for so much per
annum. Mercenaries of this description were not then
Prevalent on our Lancashire estates. The gentleman
, transacted his own business ;he met his farmer, or his
labourer, face to face. When he did that which was
wrong, he was told of it in unmistakable language; or, at
any rate, he stood a good chance of being so told. When
he did that which was right—which was noble-hearted—
he got blessings, no doubt, and made friends who stood
by him whilst living, and spoke well of him when dead ;
and that is a kind of speaking of which one does not hear
over much nowadays. There was no racking up of old
tenants ; no rooting out of old cottiers ; no screwing
down of servants' or labourers' wages ; no cutting off of
allowances, either of the beggar at the door or the visitor
at the servants' hall; no grabbing at waste candle-ends
and musty cheese-parings. Gentlemen were gentlemen
indeed, as ladies were what they pretended to be—loaf-
givers—dispensers of good. If they lived carefully, they
were not mean. If they lived sumptuously, their waste
as scattered at home—on the spot whence it was de-
rived ; and those who toiled to produce it had the benefit
of it. The treasure and all the fatness of the land was
not carried out of the country, to be wasted and thrown
away like dust, in the pride and big babyism of country
life, nor in the brothels and gambling hells of London,
Paris, or other Babylons of the world.—" Early Days,"
by Samuel Bamford, Part I.
DISTRIBUTION OF CHARITY.—We notice this person
[Signora Cuzzoni], whose bones now he in a pauper's
grave at Bologna, not from any regard for her, her pur-
suits, or her memory ; but to inquire whether the distri-
bution of charity is better regulated now than it was a
century ago. We are afraid not. A century since Henry
Goldsmith endured the responsibilities of a rector's office
'upon £4O a year. He lived in independence ! With as
much per week, Francesca Cuzzoni never had wherewith
to satisfy extravagance, and died a beggar. Do we order
these things better in 1848 ? The answer is that, much
the same as in 1748, we pay philosophers more scurvily
than we do flunkies, and Mr. Horsman has shown that
there are clergymen whose labours are requited with the
?munificent remuneration of less than a shilling a day—
this, too, in a country where a gracefully shameless female
dancer receives forty pounds a night for being picturesquely
. indecent ! No doubt, a century ago, as in the present
Century, individual charity was exercised on sound and
Christian principles ; but we doubt whether the last cen-
tury ever produced such a stupid scandal as has been in
One case attempted, and in a second achieved, in this. In
the attempt, we refer to the endeavour made to raise a
statue in honour of a lawyer who, beyond all of his class,
Was famous or infamous for retaining fees when he left
undone the labour for the performance of which the fee
cogiven. In the design accomplished, we allude to the
that,
memorial voted to a man whose only merit was
:gat, through being lucky. he one morning awoke rich !
itine names of a dozen or two of pensioners to be found on
1..T.e civil list would alone suffice to show that charity is
misunderstood and abused among us. When foreign
teachers of singing, dancing. and other accomplishments,
are placed for their lives on a list from which are excluded
• site of the worthiest sons in England in church and
as th,ewe inay be forgiven a murmur. These are rewarded
Emperor Galba once recompensed a blind minstrel
t 2• °had discoursed some most eloquent music. He called
ePo or artist to him, and, taking the alms that the peo-
ple had thrown into his basket, the Emperor put the same
into the:goodrminstrel's hand, with the remark, Take that,
• leasf.titn :it is not the people's, but mine." If some of
stt eurttehicselfeabshriitoiens
recompensed
not so in.sulted, they are, at
oampensed With what their
na talent may acquire for them they are bidden to rest
content. If the requirement fall short of necessity, that
whichla
lacks will seldom be furnished by the fund which
enables t already over-paid instructor in foreign airs and
graces
to
k.4eep, not only a horse, but a stall for himself in
dui epera
ousel.

As might be expected, the spirit of the disaffected, and
ignorant, and rash portions of our large English towns,
especially those that are " manufacturing," has become
evinced by sundry insubordinate demonstrations. We
trust, however, that the generally loyal and manly spirit
of the inhabitants of this island will be sufficient to arrest
any attempt that may be made to disturb the tranquillity
or endanger the lives or the property of any of her ma-
jesty's subjects. The accounts we have received from
Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham, sufficiently show
the excitement alluded to, but it is perfectly clear that the
malcontents, though largely mischievous in purpose, are
miserably diminutive in numbers, that their attempt at local
disorder may easily be crushed, and that the attention of
the country need not be thereby withdrawn from the
major seditionists in the sister kingdom, who will proba-
bly require a larger measure of coercion before they be

qualled.
On Wednesday evening an attempt was made to fire a
factory in King-street, Bolton, belonging to Messrs. Pow-
nall and Lomax, and in consequence of this and other
symptoms in other quarters, the Mayor of Manchester
addressed a circular to the mill-owners and proprietors of
that town, to the effect that as the confederates had de-
clared " their determination in case of any disturbance to
create confusion by attempting the destruction of mills
and other property by fire," he and his brother magis-
trates request they (the owners) will " take all the pre-
cautions in their power, and especially during the night."
The Mayor adds, that though the authorities will ever be
ready to afford all the protection within their power, direct
protection can only be given by individual watching on
the part of the proprietors within and around the building.
He concludes by counselling them to dissuade their work-
people from joining assemblies in the street, and to ap-
prize them of the injury to their own interests as well as
all others that must result from the insane conduct of the
clubs, if they be not restrained. Shortly after the issuing
of this circular, a fireman in the employ of Messrs. Wat-
son and Co., Eagle Quay, observed a suspicious-looking
man about their premises, and after watching him had him
followed by the police. He had thrown away a piece of
paper which was found to contain a small quantity of gun-
powder, and some lucifer matches were found upon him,
but he by some means escaped.
On Friday morning, a pr ociamation was issued by the
magistrates of Manchester, to the effect that illegal clubs
had been found in the town ; that large bodies of armed
men had assembled, contrary to the public peace; that
they would put them down with the co-operation of the
well disposed ; that they looked for aid to the great body
of the working classes, honest in purpose, and sound in
principle, as their faithful allies in upholding that entire
security of person and property in which all were inter-
ested, but which was peculiarly essential to the welfare
of those whose subsistence depends upon their daily la-
bour; that trade, if unmolested, would revive, and that it
was the duty of working men to discountenance all illegal
associations, to separate themselves from the disturbers
of the public peace, and to remain quietly at their lawful
occupations, except their services should be required to
assist the authorities in repressing attempts for the de-
struction of property and the creation of disturbance.
The proclamation concludes by requesting all persons,
in case of disturbance, to go to and remain at their homes,
so that they may not be amenable to the consequences of
becoming accomplices.
Captain Woodford, chief constable, and Captain Shep-
pard, assistant chief constable, of the Lancashire County
Constabulary, have made efficient preparations amongst
their corps, for the preservation of the peace, in the event
of any attempt at outbreak being made in the country dis-
tricts. On Friday the town was tranquil.
On Wednesday afternoon, at Edinburgh, Mr. Archi-
bald Walker, and Mr. James Cummings, with some
others, were arrested on a charge of a very general charac-
ter, comprising attendance at illegal public meetings, and
for addresses delivered on those occasions of an excit-
ing nature. The houses of these persons have been
searched, and documents of a very suspicious nature have
been seized and carried away. An examination of the
prisoners took place, but it was of a strictly private cha-
racter. After the examination, Rankin, Cummings, and
Walker were committed to gaol, and the other parties li-
berated on bail. Bail was offered for the others but re-
fused. A great demonstration of sympathy is talked of by
the more active chartists.
At Birmingham, on Tuesday evening, the inhabitants
of the Bull Ring were much surprised by the sudden and
unexpected appearance of a number of Chartists and
Repealers, who had marched in procession from a meeting
in the People's Hall, Lovelady-street. The meeting was
not called by any public announcement or demonstration,
and would seem to have been the result of some secret
organization. The numbers have been estimated by
some at 2,000 •, others say less ; but there were at least
800 present. On arriving at the Bull Ring they com-
menced groaning and cheering ; and before leaving, an
announcement was made of another meeting.
In London, on Tuesday evening, a public meeting of
the Irish repealers resident in London took place at the
theatre, in Milton-street, Cripplegate, for the purpose of
organizing repeal clubs throughout the metropolis, similar
to those established in Ireland. Several hundred persons
who were unable to gain admission congregated in front
of the theatre. The police were on the alert. The chair
was taken by Mr. Kenealey. A good deal of seditious
language was employed by several of the speakers, so
much so that the chairman had to call them to " order"
repeatedly ; threatening to adjourn the meeting if such
language were not withdrawn, as he was neither desirous
of becoming a victim himself in the dock of Newgate, nor
any of those around him. The speakers, however, would
not be restrained by the advice of the chairman, and the
<latter, therefore, adjourned the meeting amidst the most
tumultuous uproar.
A meeting of Irish Repealers and Chartist sympathisers
was held in the Vicar's Croft, Leeds, on Thursday even-
ing ; but the professional Chartist lecturer, who talked for
two hours, uttering only tame things, was listened to by
not a very numerous auditory.
At Preston, yesterday evening week, a man named
Baker, an itinerant Chartist, delivered a sort of harangue,
to a congression of chiefly foolish young men, on " the
way to national wealth, and the curse of an aristocracy."
He dealt in wholesale abuse of all the higher classes of
society, and said he was for the annihilation of royalty,
&c., &c. ; and thought it would be happy for the people
if they had a thorough democracy in place of an over-
ruling aristocracy. He was not very warmly received.
Last Wednesday, a mob of about 400 persons marched
through the streets of Bolton, eight or ten abreast, and
then, giving groans and cheers, separated. No speeches
were delivered, but several of the leaders used military
words of command, " Fall in," " Quick march," &c.
It is said that torchlight meetings of the Repealers and
Chartists are to be held.

NORWICH UNION LIFE INSURANCE SOCIETY

The members of this society held their annual general
meeting, in their offices at Surrey-street, on Thursday,
the 29th ult., the recorder, Isaac Jermy, Esq., president,
in the chair.
_Among the members present were—Major-

General Sir R. Harvey, and J. Wright, Esq., vice-presi-
dents ; the directors, Dr. Evans, T. Steward, Esq., G.
Purrant, Esq., J. Neave, Esq., J. H. Barnard, Esq., &c.,
&c.

After having read the resolutions of the former general
meeting, the secretary, S. Bignold, Esq., read the adver-
tisement calling the meeting, and laid before them the
following accounts :-Ist. The annual cash account of
the receipts and disbursements of the society, from the
Ist July, 1846, to the 30th June, 1847. 2d. The account
of the capital of the society, as the same stood invested
on the 30th June, 1847. 3. The account of the liabilities
of the society, as the same stood in life policy contracts,
and annuity contracts, on the 30th June, 1847. 4th.
The society's mortality table, for the thirtieth year, end-
ing 30th June, 1847. fich. An account of the new busi-
ness for the last twelve months.
The PRESIDENT then rose and said, he was anxious to
make some comments on one or two points. Every
director, as well as himself, must feel so serious a respon-
sibility in the administration of the affairs of this extensive
society, must at all times render them alive to the inter-
ests and welfare of the institution. It appeared, on an
inspection of the annual balance sheet now before them,
that the increase of capital in the year amounted to
£97,080, a result, he thought, of a most satisfactory na-
ture; and although the number of policies issued during
the last year was greater than in the preceding year, yet
the amount of new business showed a slight decrease.
This might be attributable to the distress that had lately
prevailed, preventing persons availing themselves as largely
as usual of the benefits of life insurance. Another cause
to which it might be attributed was the additional caution
of the directors, especially by his friend Dr. Evans, in the
addition of fresh lives. He considered that although the
increase of members might be thus slightly checked, still
it would, in the long run, answer well for the prosperity
of the office. The society's investments was another point
which occupied the greatest attention on the part of the
directors. These were improving yearly in soundness,
and realised interest. An additional half per cent. on
many very extensive investments had been established
during the past year, the advantages of which would in
due time accrue to the society. In conclusion, Mr. Jermy
stated that the directors would be happy to give informa-
tion on any subject which the members might desire to
have explained.
Mr. ROBERT HARVEY thought that one unerring proof
of the society's increasing prosperity was most apparent in
its low rate of mortality.
Dr. EVANS was convinced that the great safety of the
office depended on the caution exercised in admitting
lives, a caution he was ready to assist by all the means in
his power. He hoped that it would always be the aim of
the directors, to render the society sound and prosperous,
by particularity in admitting lives, rather than to court
business indiscriminately.
Mr. R. STEWARD, of Yarmouth, made some inquiries
regarding the accounts which had been read, and stated
that the reports of the condition of the society which had
been laid before the meeting were, in his opinion, highly
satisfactory; considering that 414 policies had been granted
during the past year, he thought that considerable pro-
gress had been made in new business, which would tell
well for the prosperity of the office on an examination of
the state of its affairs. He had great pleasure in moving,
" that the position of the Norwich Union Life Insurance
Society, as evidenced by the accounts now read, is very
Satisfactory to this meeting, and fully entitles the society
to a continuance of that support which it has hitherto re-
ceived from the public ; and that the best thanks of the
members are due to the directors, for their great care and
attention to the society's interests at large.'
The Rev. J. BAILEY had paid great attention to the
proceedings of the day, and placed the greatest reliance in
the soundness of the principles on which the society was
based. He felt much pleasure in seconding the resolu-
tion, which was carried unanimously.
The PRESIDENT, in acknowledging this vote of confi-
dence, felt convinced that the directors would continue to
do their utmost for the affairs of the society, and urged on