The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-10 00:00:00

INJURIOUSNESS OF DAMP WALLS OR FLOORS

Dr Moffat informed me of a case of confinement, which
be attended, where the party bad imprudently rushed into
a new house before it was dry ; so that the walls were
running down with water at that very time : the danger
of which damp atmosphere would have been only aggra-
vated by the mistaken expedient of lighting good fires, of
course. He preferred the plan of getting the wails well
wiped down with dry cloths. Who could wonder that the
poor creature suffered from a severe febrile attack, which
actually placed her life in jeopardy. She did recover,
however, no thanks to the wet walls, whatever might he
due to her doctor.

Mr. Ritchie, surgeon, tells me that he had lately some
cases of low nervous fever, and rheumatic fever, in some
new houses situate upon ground generally under water,
previous to being occupied with buildings. 'I he cellar
kitchens and cellars are often trickling down with damp at
the present time ; and the people, though ill, cannot quit
their prison houses, without giving the regular legal no-
tices. Here is a field for the beneficial duties of a Sana-
tory Commissioner, whose certificate might thus be the
means of saving health from disease, and life from death,
in numerous instances. As it is at present, many in-
stances might be found where the chances are that death
might release the victim rather than the landlord's avarice.

Mr. R. mentioned a case to me the other day, where 3
or 4 members of a family he was attending were attacked
with disorders which he felt satisfied must have sprung
from damp being constant in the house. He inquired if
such were the case, and was shown down into the cellar,
where there was water flooding the whole floor to the ex-
tent of at least one foot deep. He accused this accident
as the undoubted cause. In a short time, on his return-
ing visits, he found the tenant busy pumping out the wa-
ter from the cellar, by a temporary pump, which he had
obtained for the purpose. From the nozzle of which a
very respectable stream was issuing, whereby the existing
evil was remedied for the time. He had advised the
party to use no delay in vacating such an unhealthy house.
The reply was that there existed a difficulty in complying
with this essential part of the medical prescription, be-
cause a long notice of quitting would be requisite ; de-
spite of which, however, the party declared his purpose
not to sacrifice the health of himself and family even for
such a heavy consideration as large forfeit of rent. This
is just one of many illustrations of the necessity existing
for a legal provision introduced into future sanatory mea-
sures, whereby the alternative of a tenant's remaining
under certain prejudice to health, or quitting under pro-
longed legal form of notice, ought to be met. The State
has an interest beyond the landlord in saving life, or sa-
crifice of money.

The subjoined case occurred not a week ago :—A poor
woman, who had been confined but tour mouths ago, got
the present epidemic, low fever, which attack lasted about
six weeks, accompanied with rheumatic swellings of the
joints of the ex rctuities ; she was delirious, and had other
symptoms proportionately severe. Under careful treat-
ment, she rallied into convalescence, and began to sit up
in her room for a little while ; when she released without
obvious cause, such as error in diet, exposure, or other
imprudence; her respiration became difficult, and at length
cough set in denoting oee of the most dangerous affec-
tions of the vital organs in fever, wid its relapsed forms
especially. In this state, I was asked by her medical at-
tendant to sr.e her. She proved to be in a sinking state.
At my visit, the condition of the house-place struck
me as being highly prejudicial to health. The house is
one of those recently built on the flat land of Win,lsor ; it
is situate in a court, the whole of which is well fl,ggud.
This is sa far a great advantage over the former state of
such ccurts ; but then the floor of the house-place was
flagged, and the stones were exceedingly damp, so tlu.t
there was not a square foot of the whole flooring dry !
The flags were evidently laid down simply on the toil it-
self, without nny provision by false flooring for interven-
ing space ; which, of course, ought always to be adopted
for an inhabited ground floor.
I bring forward this case as another illustration of the
unfavourable combination of exciting and predisposing
causes, as they are termed in medical language, of disease.
The epidemic constitution of the atmosphere was un-
doubtedly the pre-disposing cause here ; but the con-
junctiva of two natural causes are requisite to the deve-
lopment of perhaps all diseases. Au exciting cause in the
shape of casual exposure to cold, fatigue, or wet, might
have been the efficient secondary cause of the first attack
of fever ; but the persistence of this exciting cause, viz.,
the constantly damp house floor and walls, was adequate
to cause the renewal of the attack ; and, therefore, in the
absence of other obvious cause, most probably did so.
I believe that most of my professional brethren would
concur in this opinion, although it is possible, I grant, to
dempr at the extent of my conclusion, upon the ground
that parties are prone to relapses in this form of fever es-
pecially. The other medical attendant took the same
view of the subject with myself. For a sceptic, in or out
of the profession, the proposition may be undeniably laid
down, that a relapse is more likely to occur under these
prejudicial circumstances than where such did not exist—
and this admission is sufficient for my argument, were
the full adequacy of the deleterions agency to produce re-
lapse excepted against. Therefore such ought to be dwelt
upon and suitably remedied.
Medicine has no fair field in such cases, and it
s
justice to ourselves, as well as primarily to our patients,
to point out emphatically that state of things, which mili-
tates so forcibly, and I may add, so much more commonly
i but
than is generally admitted, against all the applied resources
of the healing art, and will do, until the hygiene of the
case is studied and efficiently carried out. Unless this is
investigated and fulfilled, the resort to drugs is but as if
a right-handed weapon were wielded by the left hand
against the foe. The profession has too long suffered itself

to remain in this false position, endeavouring to carry on
its unequal contest : deceived into the supposition that
the elemental processes of nature were in friendly alliance,
whereas they have in the crowded social state but too fre-
quently been turned against us—subsidized as it were by
that very enemy against whose inroads we relied upon
their most important assistance in order to overcome. It
has been well observed, " that natural laws are either for
or against us,"—they cannot remain neuter in their cease-
less activities. Yet it will tare long years of still further
sacrifice of life, before this hard-earned wisdom shall have
brought itself into systematic operation amongst the masses
of ignorance and prejudice. The machinery of even a pa-
ternal administration will be like all the great bodies, but
slow in its movements. The profession must have pa-
tience ; they cannot undo in a year what a century of
folly has been permitted to build up in men, manners,
and materials. The philanthropist must even let his enthu-
siastiedesires cool somewhat—even though his eyes are pain-
fully opento thestill sustained carnage of preveratibledisease.
I have further facts to bring forward, which I resume for
my next letter.—l remain, Sir.
Yours faithfully,
G. WATSON.
Bedford-street North, November 7th, 1846.

ANTICIPATION OF LOCOMOTIVE CARRIAGES
AND PADDLE WHEELS, BY EIGHTEEN
HUNDRED YEARS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sra,—ln the ancient Irish manuscript, called " The
Book of Ballymate," which is very many hundred years
old, and is preserved in the library at the Royal Irish
Academy, in Grafton-street, Dublin, there is an account
given, at folio 93, of a vehicle called the" rowing wheel,"
constructed by an Irish prince, named " Moea-Roh," in
the first century. In " The Book of Fermoy," also,
which is a manuscript of the twelfth century, a similar
vehicle, and of the same name, is described. The writer
of this work states, that this vehicle will be brought into
requisition, at some future time; that it will travel, both
by sea and land, all over the world ; and that it will be
used as a means of gathering the Jews together, and con-
veying them to their own land. The reader tray see an
account of this matter in the " Abstract" of " The Book
of Ballymate," published by Mr. Owen Connellan, who
is probably the best Irish scholar, as to ancient Irish, at
present in existence; and who was employed for many
years, by their late Majesties, the Prince Regent, George
the Fourth, and William the Fourth, to make exact
copies, for the Royal Library, of" The Book of Leacan"
and " The Book of Ballymate," and of other unique
Irish MSS. in that and other public libraries; and woo
is now employed, with a bookseller in Dublin, to publish,
in numbers, a literal translation of these books, which
are the most authentic records in existence as to Irish
history before the invention of printing, and of the early
state of knowledge and literature in that country.
The above invention seems to have been an ingenious
anticipation of the use of locomotive carriages and paddle
wheels; but whether as moved by steam or by some
other power, I cannot say.

It is difficult to say why the inventors of the machines,
or perhaps the writers of the books, sifeak of them in
connection with the restoration of the Jews to their own
land ; unless it be founded on a translation of Isaiah xviii.
2, similar to that which Bishop Horsley says is the cor-
rect one. namely, " vessels of revolution," or " of re-
volvers," instead of " vessels of bulrushes," as in the
common translation ; and who also translates the first
verse, " Ho! to the land," &c., instead of " Woe to the
land," &c., which prophecy has an evident relation to
tin, future and final restoration of the Jews to their own
land, and to the assistance then to be given to them, for
that purpose, by some great maritime nation, possibly
our owu.

I am, your obedient servant,
CHARLES ED-WD. HERBERT ORPEN, M.D.,
Fellow and Member of the Royal Colleges of
Surgeons of Ireland and of England, &c.
34, Hamilton-square West, Woodside,
Birkenhead, 28th Oct., 1846.

LIVERPOOL
EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF MODERN ART.
[FOURTH NOTICE.]
No. 3, Pentrwn Back, from Llandilus, J. TV. Oakes,
gives promise of great talent, as do many of the other
specimens of the artist in this exhibition. We should
like, however, to see Mr. Oakes depend a little more upon
his own. He is quite able to exhibit nature to us in her
own dress, instead of giving her to us reflected from the
pictures of Pvne.

••• •• •••••• ••.• •
357. Benson: Portrait of J. Bramley Moore, Esq.
As a painting this is fair, with some considerable deduc-
tions however. The background, in particular. is faulty.
We recognise at once the portrait as that of the Chairman
of the Liverpool Dock Comniittee ; and here is the prin-
cipal fault of the picture. The painter has not caught
the intelligence and character of the features of Mr.
Bramley Moore, in doing which, to our mind, consists
much of the merit of the portrait painter. Flattered
likenesses arttcertainly to he eschewed. Fancy portraits
are only tolerable when those of females. This is neither.
It is heavy and not at all to our taste.

378. Benson: Portrait of Mrifiramley Moore, is a
superior picture, the accessories well managed, and the
colouring throughout good.
477. Portrait of J. Askew, Esq., by Tr. Loyal!, a
Liverpool artist, is a faithful likeness, and full of the
character of the original.
312. Portrait of Dr. Mc.Naught ; 512, Portrait of a
Gentleman; 528, Portraits of three children; and 530,
Port, ail of B. J. Simpson, Esq., Everton, by C. 11'.
Hart, are meritorious pictures, and convey faithful like-
nesses of the parties. The accessories, flowers, &c., of
528 we do not like. Mr. Hart, we believe, has recently
taken up his residence in Liverpool.

72. Catherine Douglas, using her arm as a boll to
assist the (seape of James the First of Scotland from
his assassins. by R. Redgrare, A.R..A., is a well-painted
picture, but rather stiff and incorrect in design. A woman
capable of such an effort, to prevent the breaking open of
a door, would be more likely to assist it by adding the
weight of her body as an opposing force than to stand
upright and aloof, depending entirely upon the feeble in
tetposition of her wrist as a bolt.
74. A Study from Nature, J. P. Drew, is meritorious
731. The Croppie's Retreat —H. 31. Anthony—
powerfully-painted savage landscape and figures,
ba '" "

is considerable talent in the painting of the little girl.
761. Peter the Hermit preaching the Crusades, by
David Scott, R.S.A., deserved a better place.

590. Competition Design
.for a Testimonial to the late
Earl of Leicester, by S. Huggins., is a very flue arclii-

tectural design. It is a Corinthicu column, elevated on a
lofty and massive pedestal, each side ornamented with a

transferred to speculators' accoant during the last two months,
which stock must come again into the market; and although
the consumption is likely to be reduced during the winter at
least one-fourth, still cotton is deemed a good investment•
whilst money continues abundant and yields so bare an interest.
Yesterday (Friday), the operations in the Liverpool market wets"
on a large scale, amounting from ten to twelve thousand bags,
at full rates. All this speculation is going on the chance of •
doubtful contingency, and is little better than gambling. Oar
opinion is already on record. We have sufficient grounds for
believing (notwithstanding the estimates of American jobbers)
there will be a full average crop of cotton, and that in February
or March a good deal of money will be lost by those who are
buying at present currency, in the expectation of selling here-
after at an advance, We are glad to find that at Ashton and
Staylybridge the short time movement is being acted up -)n. A
steady adherence to this policy by the whole trade during the
winter, whether demand have a Iry mentary stimulus or other-
wise, is the only safe and sensible method of correcting the
markets abroad and at home, and reconciling the balance be-
tween supply and demand, on the due establishment of which
depends a fair return for the labour and capital employed in the
staple trades of this district. Prices remain as last week, which
we quote :-26 inch, 64 reed printers, at 4s 6d to 4s ad; 27 inch.
66 reed ditto, at 4s 6d to 5s lid; 27 inch, 72 reeds, at 5s gad to
6s ; 36 inch shirtings, 66d reed, is gd to es fd ; 72 reed ditto.
as 3d to los; 40 inch G. E. India Longcloths, 56 reed, 6s gd to
6s loi ; 64 reed, 7s loid to Ss ; 66 reed, 9s tad to as 3d; 77 reed.
9s gd to Ms. Ya••ns are without material change; No. 20's,
water twist, good seconds, may be quoted at Bid per lb , and
No. 4,l's, mule, ditto, at 01.

ROCHDALE, Monday.—We have had another dull market to-
day, and the demand for Flannels has been very limited. There
is very little doing in Wool, and prices tend downward.
HUDDERSFIELD, Tuesday.—The tone of our market is much
better to-day ; and although there is not a great deal more doing.
there is a better feeling for the future. Prices are firmer and
there is less disposition to press sales. On the whole, there
seems to be a better prospect for the spring trade than could
have been anticipated not very long ago.
LEEDS, Tuesday.—We have no improvement to notice this
week of the state of the markets at both Cloth Halls; the
quantity of goods sold was about an average of the last few
weeks. There still continues to be a complete absence of specu-
lation. The prices, however, keen steady, and the stocks of
winter goods are reduced lower than might have been expected
a few weeks ago. We also hear of a few orders being out for
the American spring trade, as well as for Spanish stripes for the
eastern markets. Business has been dull in the warehouses.
LEICESTER.—The demand continues dull for the season•
Si' ronght hose are most saleable. The straight-down branch is
very fiat. The price of provisions is operating seriously in
checking the demand for the manufactures of this town. Wool
and yarn are stationary.

NOTTINGHAM.— The manufacture of both hosiery and lace
continues in an inactive state. The wrought hose, as well
as the cutup branches, are in the same depressed condition.
The silk-knotted trade is removing slowly to Mansfield; but
such is the low state of this manufacture, that the change is
scarcely perceivable. The plain silk hose branch has by no
means recovered, and it may be considered as half extinct,
although these articles may be bought in London extremely
cheap, or at a little more than half the price they fetch in Paris.
The fancy bobbin-net trade is in a dull state; there is a little
speculation utl,at in new manufactures. The plain net trade is
in a better condition than the fancy branches, but in that the
supply in some measure exceeds the demand. Some of the bob-
bin and carriage-makers are constantly at work making "in-
sides" for Germany. The cotton warp lace trade keeps in about
the same position as it has done for some weeks past, in rather
an improved state. The silk warp lace branch has latterly im-
proved a shade, and some of the manufacturers have ventured
an advance of the wages of twopence per yard, but they state
that the journeymen want energy to maintain it.

LONDON GAZE? TE.—TUESDAY, Nov. 3.
110,
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
J. and G. Wr gg, Liverp el. cutlers—E. T. Booth sad G.
Clarke, Manchester—H. R. stevenson and J. G. Cooper, Man-
chester, manufacturers c.f fancy trimmings.
BANKRUPTS.
John King. 'Buckingham, scrivener.
George Knight. \Veybridgc, Surrey, dealer in manure.
Sarah Wilcke, Fore-street, Cripplegate, whllesale milliner.
Lydii Wood and Charles Ilenry Wood, Willow-walk, Ber-
mondsey, builders.
Laniel Burton and John Burton, Middleton, Lancashire, cot-
ton-spinners.
Robert Crow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, draper.
Mary Dent, York, bookseller.
Joseph Hall, Carlisle. victualler.
Samuel Wellington Roden, Shropshire, brewer.
Thomas Thomas, Ibstock. Leicestershire, draper.
DIVIDENDS.

Nov. 27, J. Holt, Manchester, hanker—Nov. 27, J., J., and W
Cockcroft, Addirgnam, Yorkshire, stuff manufacturers—Nov
'6, J. _ark, Leers, woollen cloth manufacturer.
DECLARATIO'; OF INSOLVENCY.
Edwin Church Everitt, sidmouth, Devonshire, sharebroker.

BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED
John Roland, Manchester. hardwareman.
Henry Payne. Goulden.terrace, White Conduit fields, builder
Wiliam :Frnith, Deptford, potatoe dealcr.
CERTIFICATES
To be granted, unless cause be shown to the contr ry on the

day herein mentioned.
Nov. 24, M. Jones, Liverpool, saddler—Nov. 24, J. Gill, Lf"
verpool, wine merchant—Nov. 26, S. Hawley, Ash:on.under"
Lyne, grocer.

No, 6, Portrait of Mrs. Carpenter, by W. Carpenter,
is a very well-drawn picture, very naturally painted,
although the colours are rather raw. It is altogether very
promising if, as we suppose, the author is young. It is
moreover interesting, as being a portrait of, perhaps, the
best female artist in England.
J.
K.
winte,Tb/EaCtI.,mARIALIO,INieSsteOrF
bDaIdNrkeIrDENDS
1. Portrait of Sir Philip Egerton, T. R. Midge.
This picture is an excellent likeness of the honourable w. Walker, Manchester, fustian ,manutacturer.
member; but, as a painting, it possesses no very striking J. Garsed, sen., and J. Garsed, jun., Leeds, flax manufacto
merit. We cannot but express our opinion that the gene- rers.
ral effect and utility of the exhibition itself, as calculated H. Bone, Durham, grocer.
to advance art, is injured by the prominence with which W. G. Taylor and E. Guy, Liverpool, hosiers.
Failsworth, Lancashire, varnish maker.
these large and showy portraits are displayed, and the J. K. Wood,
BANKRUPTS.
gJeat space which they occupy, to the exclusion sometimes James Stout, Liverpool, bootmaker, Nov. 19, Dec. 14, at 1]
of works of a higher order of talent. No young painter, o'clock, at the Liverpool District Court of Bankruptcy. Sli,c!•
however clever, gets orders for portraits of such a size at tors, Mr. Oliver, Old Jewry; and _ . M ..e-srs. Evart and Son, Li
•
prices which will remunerate him ; and few have the verpool. Official assignee, Mr. Cazenove. Liverpool-
it,
at 11
means to venture so much on speculation.
John Lessor, Birkenhead, builder, Nov. 17, Dec
7. A Morning in Wales, by T. Cresswick, A.R.A. tors,o cl o c
r‘ki , r a. t
Frampton.the Liverpool
G Gray
a District i, ss t ri
oi cot Court; adet
is
.o
if r . Bankruptcy.
This picture, of which we have already expressed an ad- Official assignee, r. Turner, Liverpool.
miration, displays more beauties the more we become Edward Axford, St. John's Wood-terrace, milliner.
acquainted with it. It exhibits all the force and vitality John Morris. Crown-street. Fiusbary, leather seller.
William Henry Smith, Edgware-road, linen draper.
of genuine nature, and the character of perhaps one
Robert Weir, Harley street, Cavendish-square, bookseller.
beautiful spot; but it is imbued also with the spirit of .
William Louis Collins, Wood street, Westminster, brewer.
loveliness and the poetry which we only dream of. The Jonathan George Moon, Fenchurch-street, merchant.
water is exceedingly transparent and beautiful, especially James Rule, Saffron Walden, Essex, veteripa y surgeon.
In the foreground, where it is shallow; and its rippling
is
,Jioahr John
Edward
N 0 King,
ETga
ad
tKel:r
Tg Merton,
aE
vt ai
~.n tdo.
cois
,dg,
surrey,u sao; ae p.
auctioneer,i ,3nmaker.don .
over the p,:bb!y bottom is finely monaged. The trees,ailkiarurftiyr.keislhoeadlici:
also, are very fine in form and character; but, perhaps,
are deficient in that freshness and greenness of nature John Brown and Thomas Brown, Newport, cYhocrillambirretre. 111:11--
makers.
which we see in his contemporary Leo. Joseph Pidwell, Falmouth, general furnishing iroardanger*
324. Contemplation, T. H. Illidge. We cannot see George }lint, Tamworth, paper manufacturer.
why this picture has received such a title. If it had been DIVIDENDS colter/,
entitled the shawl, we could have understood it, and ad- Dec 3, D Thomas, Manchester, merchant—Dec. 1, J• •-•
__,,,_
mired its artistical execution. The painting of the face Winkhouse, Yorkshire, f •rmer—Dec. 2, J. Robinson, Beverley,
Yorkshire, spirit merchant.
o w
IC
n
and figure of the wearer is not worthy of M r. Illidge.CERTIFICATES
422. Portrait of Wm. Ramnscroft, Esq., T. Scarrow,is not a good likeness, though very well painted. Mr. To be granted, unless cause b
e sh
of
meeting.
Scarrow has also a very good portrait of a lady, No. 425. Dec. I, E. S. Boult, Liverpool, sharebroker—Nov. 27. ,
..
,
434. Portrait ci the Rev. B. A. Marshall, by 7'. C. Lancaster, Liverpool, shipowner—Nov. 27, J. Wilkinson, 14.
Thomson, R.H.A., is good as a likeness, although the verpool, fruiterer—Dec. 2. T. ;mason. Leeds, builder
artist has not caught the best expression of the reverend . '
gentleman. The colouring is rather raw and hard to the contrary on the
day

FROM Till? LONDON GAZDTTS OM FRIDAY.
PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
J. Varney and E. Pledge, Birmiugham, whip manufacturers--
C. Marshall and F. J. Stones, Sheffield, edge.tool-manufacte-
rers.

MEETINGS OF CREDITORS FOR LIVERPOOL•

it 11
District ,
Ditto, 3,
10,1101:h
James
WilliammnEvansesG C
Gillman
al(tpnerro:o2f
d) ) Coup,
(proof and div.)..
13, Hewson Dutchman (2d) . .. Ditto„' i
13, William Beamer ;2d` Ditto,
13, Thomas Broady (Ist) , Ditto, 1S
17, John Setlick Lyddon (proof)
17, John Leasor, (lst) Ditto, 1.
lg. Benjamin 91 ercer Burroughs (proof and city.): Ditto. 11
19, James Stout (Ist)
..
20, Thomas Crowther. (2nd) .............. Ditto. 11
20, William Maw, (2ncl; ...... ... Ditto, 11
12
20, John Burton (2nd)
2..,, Henry Eyres (2nd Ditto,
00, Robert Harrison, (211 d) ..
Ditto, )2