The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-09-13 00:00:00

CHEAP PUBLICATIO,VS.

Every body is aware of the miscellaneous multitude of
cheap publications which the last two or three years have
called into existence. Some of these have had a very
considerable sale ; but we have it in evidence that all,
without any exception, of an innocent and respectable
kind, have been sold, not as cheap publications, but in
collected numbers, at prices such as the upper and middle
classes are accustomed to purchase. We need not hesi
tate to say, therefore, that those classes which have been
the objects of eleemosynary education, have not availed
themselves of the cheapness of innocent and respectable
reading. But perhaps they have been reading—doubt-
less they have, and we ale enabled, from an authentic
source, to give some account of their reading. We give
it upon evidence wholly above exception—evidence
which the conductor of the Morning Chronicle or the
Examiner shall be cheerfully furnished with at our of-
fice. It is a list of the unstamped political publications
published in defiance of law, with the late average sales
of each :

Average circulation.
Poor Man's Guardian
This is printed by Hetherington, an Irish Papist
and ex-student of Maynooth.
Destructive
Printed by the same.
It is scarcely necessary to mention the principles
of these publications; they are Jacobinical of the
deepest, bloodiest dye. It will be remembered
that Hetherington has preached the use of the
dagger as an instrument of rebellion. The Poor
Man's Guardian and Destructivo circulate in
Lancashire.
Gauntlet 22,000
The conductor of this is the notorious Cathie—
his name is enough.
Cosmopolite
Ed.tor, Detrosier. Principles, Owenite and Re-
publican.
Working Man's Friend
Editor, Watson. Principles, Republican.
Crisis 5,000
Conductors, Mr. Owen and Morgan, author of
the " Wrath of the Bees." Mr. Owen's name
precludes the necessity of describing principles.
The Man ..... 7,000
Conductors, Lee, the chairman of Coldbath-fields
meeting, and Petrie. Principles, Spencean and
Republican.
Reformer 5,000
Principles, Republican and Revolutionary. Editor,
Lorimer.

These are the principal unstamped publications of Lon-.
don—the reading, with the Times and Weekly Despatch,
of the educated democracy of the metropolis. Are men
to be turned loose upon such garbage as this ? In the
country there are also several unstamped newspapers—
particularly at Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, &c., all
taking.their tone from the Poor Man's Guardian and the
others, which we have described as the penny-press of
London.

These are the primitive, the first fruits of the late ac-
tive exertions in behalf of indiscriminate education.—
The Standard.

KITCHEN'S PATENT SELF-INKING PRINTING
PRESS.
( From the Newcastle Journal.) . . .

We have carefully, and with great attention, examined the
working model and the elevational and sectional drawings of
" THE SELF-INKING PRINTING PRESS," invented by Mr. J.
Kitchen, reporter of this Journal, as well as one of the presses
in course of manufacture, and now nearly completed. Its ca-
pabilities arc partially known to the public through the medium
of Mr. Kitchen's petition to parliament, in favour of. the Patent
Inventions' Bill, although the principle upon which the machine
is constructed has, hitherto, been kept profoundly secret. But,
as patents have now been sealed, the time is happily arrived
when Mr. K. can safely submit the creation of his inventive
powers to public scrutiny. We need hardly state, that between
the common press and the steam machine there is an astonish-
ing difference. as to speed; but practical men will not be startled
at the assertion, that the ordinary press combines many advan-
tages wanting in the more complicated machine. The press can
be used conveniently for small cards, and other miscellaneous
work. Its movements can be easily kept under the most per-
fect coutroul. The whole surface of the tympan being of easy
access, and at once exposed to the eye of the workman, gives
him the requisite facilities for overlaying, so as to equalize the
impression. And last, though not least, it call be obtained at a
price within the means of every respectable master.
Such are the advantages of the common press; but these are
counterbalanced by the tact that it is so clogged by unnecessary
movements, and consequently so slow in its operation, as to
render it nearly useless for large and extensively circulated
newspapers. It requires also, a detached and dirty inking table,
and it is a man's entire labour to perform the operation of ink-
ing the types ; a process which, considering the adsrance of me-
chanical science, is sufficient to excite our wonder, if not our
ridicule.

The principal advantages of the steam machine are an asto-
nishing rapidity of action and a self-inking apparatus, which, as
it supplies itself with ink, and distributes it over the surface of
the types with untiring and never-failing mechanical precision,
keeps the printing of an uniform colour; and contributes greatly
to the beauty and excellency of the work.
But the splendid invention of the steam-machine can never
be brought into general use. It occupies so large a space, and
is so costly as to prevent the possibility of men of small capital
becoming possessed of it, whilst many of its parts are injured
by friction in a few years' constant working. These are not the
only objections. Even if it could be purchased it is not calcu-
lated for the miscellaneous work of a provincial office; and ex-
cept in a few large establishments in London and Edinburgh,
it is exclusively confined to newspaper printing. The rotatory
cylinder or drum is injurious to the types, and does not give free
access for overlaying where the types or wood-cuts vary in height.
Mr. Clymer, an ingenious American, has left no room for im-
provement in the common press, and Mr. Napier's modification
of the steam-press, driven by hand-labour, seems to have ac-
complished all that is practicable in rendering that machine
less cumbersome and complicated. It was desirable, then, to
strike out a new path, to break up fresh ground, and endeavour
to construct a machine which, while it had the durability, sim-
plicity, utility, and power of the Colombian press, should be
provided with a self-inking apparatus, approach, in rapidity, the
Napier machine, and discard the destructive cylinder.
Such are the objects which have occupied the attention of
Mr. Kitchen for years, and in which he has had the advantage
of long experience as a practical printer, and in the manage-
ment of several large offices. His labours have at length been
crowned with the most complete success, as may be inferred
from the following description of his invention.
One distinguishing characteristic of Mr. Kitchen's Self-
inking Press consists in the position of' the table and plattin.
The pate of iron which, in the common press, forms the table,
is in this press placed perpendicularly, so that the form stands
upright as if fixed with its back against a wall. THE PLATTIN
Is PLACED BEHIND THE TYMPAN, and moves with it. The sim-
plicity of this motion will be best understood by holding a book
in an upright position in the left hand, and working the outer
cover backwards to and from the leaves with the right hand,
while all the other parts are kept stationary. Imagine the sta-
tionary part of the book-back to be the table, the leaves to be the
form, and the moving back to be the plattin and tympan, and a
correct idea may be formed of the movements of Kitchen's
press. By this ingenious plan it will at once be obvious that
khe. paper, when placed upon the tympan exactly as in the com-
mon press, is brought into immediate contact with the types, with
im
proved
arrangements little motion as possible. There are various
arrangements for pointing; for stretching the parchment or
canvass when it is bag instantaneously
; for easily raising the form, however
heavy, to its proper height, and for fixing the
form in its position, from which it never moves till lifted.
The act of moving the sheet upon the tympan takes fresh
ink, distributes the ink upon the rollers, inks the types, and
thus dispenses with one man and with the detached inking table.
The quantity of ink distributed upon the rollers can be most
effectually varied at the pleasur4 of the workman.
Each press will be provided with two inking feeders, one for
fine and one for common, which can be changed at pleasure,
and thus the great waste and inconvenience of brayeriny out fine
ink, or emptying the feeder of the inking table, as is usual upon
the present system, will be avoided.
There is an arrangement attached to the inking feeder by
which the ink can readily be kept at a proper temperature for
working in the coldest weather—a desideratum never before ac-
complished.
To preserve the ink and rollers from injury by dust or other-
wise, they are inclosed in a box ; but all or any of them may be
readily removed when necessary.
The composition rollers are of an uniform size. They are only
three in number, and of a larger diameter than those employed
in Napier's machine,—an obvious advantage in heavy work.
A roller mould, of the most approved construction, wili be
given with each press.
It has been said that no man is required to ink the types.
The man who remains to pull will work much faster than at the
commonpess, making his work (taking into consideration the
self-inking apparatus,) equivalent to three men at two presses.
The machine will be equally applicable to a small card or a
large news form.
By a simple and efficient arrangement the frisket is dis-
pensed with.
The roller that inks the types is made to work in racks, so
that the furniture, blank pages, or white lines can never be
blacked during the operation.
Not only is the cylinder or drum dispensed with, but, as the
form is not dropped upon the table, being always kept upright,
there is no possibility of accident or inaccuracy in the work, by
types falling under, or of their being broken by the frisket—that
ungainly and unseemly appendage being discarded.
The power can be regulated with the same ease and expedi-
tion as in the Colombian.

The working of the Self-inking Press will not, like the ma-
chine, be effected by vibration; but it may be set up on a boarded
floor, or in an upper story.
The power is given by a combination of levers, which cannot
be injured by friction.
Such are a few of the advantages of this press ' • and we are
justified in stating that Mr. Kitchen has succeeded in combin-
ing all the good properties, and in avoiding all the bad proper-
ties, of Clymer's press and of Napier's machine.
In conclusion, Kitchen's Self-inking Press is lighter than any
other invention for printing. There is no frisket flying to the
ceiling, and no table running upon a railroad, or ribs; so that
the press does not occupy more than hall the heyht, or half the
length, of the Colombian Press. It must become of universal
adoption; more especially as its power is more than double that
of the Colombian, and its price will not much exceed that of the
common press; the cost of the Napier machine being four or
five times the amount.

There is, therefore, in Kitchen's Self-inking Press an amazing
economy in time, in labour, in outlay of capital, and in space
occupied.
The Presses will be constructed at the celebrated works of
Messrs. R. and W. Hawthorn, civil engineers, Newcastle, those
gentlemen having kindly afforded mos-t valuable assistance in
what may be termed the architecture of the machine, including
the calculations for the dimensions and proportions of the se-
veral
.parts, and a symmetrical arrangement of the whole upon
unerring scientific and philosophical principles, so that the
trade may rely upon the strength and truth of each press; whilst
it is confidently asserted that in beauty of appearance it will not
be excelled, or even equalled, by any hitherto known. Ina very
short time one of the presses will be at work at the office of- the
Newcastle Journal, when Mr. Kitchen will have pleasure in
sheaving it to as many gentlemen of the trade, as feel an incli-
nation, and can make it convenient to call. In, two or three
-weeks, we are told, he will be ready to execute orders, many of
which, we understand, are already waiting completion, not only
for various offices in England, Ireland, and Scotland, but in the
United States. Those of the trade who have already had an op-
portunity of judging, have expressed their delight and astonish-
ment at the beauty, effectiveness, and general utility of this in-
ventiori, it be.pg alike applicable to every description of pi inting.

IRELAND.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

"The country, shocking to relate, is in the most horrible
state of tranquillity!"—Evening Post of Thursday, Aug. 29.

DREADFUL MURDER IN THE COUNTY LOUTH.
( From the Drogheda Journal.)
On last Friday evening a most diabolical murder was
perpetrated in the neighbourhood of Churchtown, near
Ardee. The victim of this nefarious outrage was an
inoffensive, well-conducted young man, named Sharkey,
residing under the same roof, but not in the same house,
with his father, who is a respectable farmer, renting a
large tract of land. We must make a few observations,
which, though tending to prolixity, are necessary for
elucidating the affair. It appears the perpetrators of the
murder are a family named Finegan, who resided in the
same bairn, as it is termed, with the Sharkeys •' but their
residences were separated from each other by a wall,
which, from the situation of the ground, was about seven
feet high on the side next Finegan's, and about half that
' height on the side fronting Sharkey's. In this wall there
was a stile, which was used as a pass to and fro to both
dwellings for upwards of forty years. The Finegans, for
some reason, wished to stop up this pass, which was op-
posed by the Sharkeys, and this has been for some time
past a bone of contention between the two families.
On Friday last the deceased went to Dundalk, and du-
ring his absence the Finegans built a turf clamp against
the pass, and on old Sharkey remonstrating with them
they threatened him very hard and gave him a beating.
When the son came home in the evening, and was in-
formed of what had occurred, he went out to the wall and
began to speak to the Finegan:3, who immediately pounced
on him, dragged him across the wall, and continued beat-
ing him until they deprived him of life. Such was the
ferocity with which they attacked him that they tore the
flesh off his neck in endeavouring to strangle him with
his cravat, which snapped in two in the struggle. There
were no less than thirteen at this savage attack ; the poor
fellow was literally beat into a jelly. His old father
came out in his shirt on hearing the row, and on seeing
them dragging his son across the wall, he laid hold of
him, and was dragged over with him, and would have been
murdered also but that one of his daughters threw herself
on him, and at the risk of her life saved him. It is thought,
only a younger son of Sharkey's made off and alarmed
the neighbours, that the whole family would have been
murdered. As soon the next morning as the police of
Ardee heard of the circumstance, sub-constable Woods
and others went to the scene and secured eleven persons.
Woods and his small party deserve the greatest praise
for the promptitude with which they acted; were it not
for their exertions the whole of them might have escaped.
Two of the principals have made off, the servant boy and
the maid servant of the Finegans. The police are on the
alert for them, and it is to be hoped they will not long
elude their vigilance.
Shortly after the prisoners were captured, a party of the
peace preservation establishment from Ardee, under the
command of Sergeant Williams, joined the constabulary.
As soon as C. C. Barry was apprised of the circumstance,
lie was promptly on the spot to assist in furthering the
ends of justice. The coroner, J. Byrne, Esq., did not
arrive until late in the evening, and having empannelled a
respectable jury, a verdict of wilful murder was returned
against ten persons, eight of whom were in custody, and
have been committed by the coroner to Dundalk. The
eight persons committed are old Finegan, his two sons,
a grandson, two daughters, and two granddaughters. It
appears old Finegan, who is on the verge of the grave,
was the most ferocious in exciting his family to the
murder. The remains of poor Sharkey were interred in
'l'allanstown, on Sunday, attended by as great a concourse
of persons as was ever witnessed on any similar occasion,
in general, respectable farmers, from the surrounding
neighbourhood. The greatest sympathy was evinced for
the unfortunate deceased. He has left a wife and two
young children to deplore his untimely fate. It appears
Sharkey had become so obnoxious to the ruffians who
were last winter keeping the country in a state of alarm,
that he was afraid to go to either fair or market for
some time.