The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-20 00:00:00

THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY

The general monthly meeting took place on Tuesday last,
and as it was the concluding one of the year (at which the
President would deliver his address,) the attendance was
numerous.

Mr. C. J. SMITH read his promised paper,
ON THE COMBUSTION OF SMOKE IN STEAM BOILER

FURNACES

The lecturer (who had evidently taken much pains with his
subject) went into a succinct history of the various plans
hitherto proposed for the prevention, or rather, as he termed
it, the consumption of smoke, with a view to the econo-
mising of fuel, and the abatement of the smoke nuisance.
He noticed the several patents taken out, from that of Watt
in 1796, up to the present time, including those of Hall, and
more latterly that of our townsman, Mr. Charles Wye Wil-
liams; illustrating his opinions by diagrams. He addressed
himself more particularly against, or in disparagement of, the
patent argand furnace of Mr. Williams, whose views he con-
tended were utterly at variance with those of several scienti-
fic individuals, who had devoted their attention and experi-
ments to the same subject—particularly Dr. Ure and Mr.
Brand ; and gave the preference to the plan of Mr. Joseph
Williams and Mr. Kurtz, the patent for which, he stated, had
been claimed by both the partners in the invention (as we un-
derstood him)—a point which he considered it of little conse-
quence to solve. It was enough for him that it was acted
upon successfully, and that it appeared to him to be very
efficient. He combatted, in a strong manner, the opinion
of Mr. C. W. 'Williams, that if smoke were once generated
it could not, from its chemical consistency, be consumed;
and adduced extracts from documents in support of his own
opinions, including some from Dr. Ure, Dr. Birth, and Mr.
Brand. He also differed from Mr. C. W. Williams as to
his opinion' that gases and not smoke were first generated by
the combustion of coal, contending that smoke was generated
in larger quantities over the whole surface of the coal bed of
the furnace than gases ; and he equally differed from that
gentleman as to the efficacy in the consumption of gas (or
rather smoke) of cold air in place of hot air. The lecture
was, in fine, an eladorate review, and certainly not a favour-
able one, of a long and able treatise of Mr. C. W. Williams
on the subject of the prevention of smoke, from which pas-
sages were here and there selected, in which the speaker di-
lated, as, in reference to other scientific authorities, and par-
ticularly the opinions of Dr. Ure, being altogether erroneous,
if not absurd. He concluded by some reference to furnaces
in steam packets, (the Urgent, &c.,) and engine furnaces
fitted up by Mr. Joseph Williams, which were highly ap-
proved of ; and expressed a hope that the authorities of this
town, following the example pursued at Leeds and elsewhere,
would adopt some scheme for the reduction of the smoke
nuisance on our marine parades, and throughout the town
generally. The lecturer resumed his seat amidst great ap-
plause.

The PRESIDENT, (Mr. Grantham,) inviting the remarks
of any one present on the subject under discussion, proposing
that Mr. Smith might reply after all had been heard.
C. W. WILLIAMS, Esq. said, he had not come prepared
to hear so elaborate a view of his humble work on the pre-
vention of smoke, but proceeded briefly to reply to some of
the principal statements just made. It was not for him to
defend Dr. Ure or Mr. Brand, if their opinions were erro-
neous, which he did not assume. He would but say, that
every line of the second edition of his own work, which had
been so assailed, had been revised and corrected by Dr. Ure
himself ; and, if it contained any error, he believed that that
gentleman would not have allowed it to pass the ordeal of the
press. (Cheers.) He should quite concur, however, with the
lecturer in the general tenour of his remarks, if he would sub-
stitute the word " gas," in place of " smoke ;" for he believed
that neither Dr. Ure nor Mr. Brand would say that" smoke,"
chemically speaking, when once generated, and cooled down
to a certain temperature, as it was in the flue of an engine
furnace, could be afterwards consumed. Smoke, indeed,
was not found, or at least in very small quantities, in the
furnace. The first operation of combustion was distillation,
principally of gases, which were generated in a comparatively
cold state, and if not ignited (as we understood him) by an
admixture of air, before they came to a lower temperature,
they would become smoke, and could not then be reduced
back to their gaseous components and rendered inflammable.
The gas-light burning before him was an illustration. The
white brilliant flame was the combustion of those gases pro-
duced by admixture, in regular quantities of the atmospheric
air. He stated that a film or films of air (or jets of air) were
necessary to be introduced to produce that perfect combus-
tion of the original gases arising from ignited coal or other
similar combustibles, and referring to the several diagrams
said that the plan of Kurtz and Williams, as tl-ere shown, was
merely a modification of his own, the principle being pre-
cisely alike. He denied that Mr. Williams, who had in-
fringed his patent, had any patent of his own. (Loud
applause.)
Mr. H. Dincics stated that he had recently had considera-
ble experience in steam-engine furnaces in the manufacturing
districts, and proceeded to support and illustrate the views
of Mr. C. W. Williams. He showed by a diagram of a
burning candle, that the first production of combustion was
gas and not smoke ; that that gas which appeared like smoke
close to the wick at the bottom, if blown through a blow
pipe would not soil a card, as smoke would do ; that in con-
tact with the atmosphere it became the white flame ; and that
the imperfect combustion produced smoke, over the top of
the flame, which would immediately soil the card with a
sooty deposit.

Mr. C. W. WILLIAMS further illustrated the same fact

Dr. WALDIE stated that he should, on a future occasion,
submit a paper on the nature of " Flame," which he trusted
would throw some light upon the whole question,—after Mr.
Williams had read his promised communication on the sub-
ject. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. JOSEPH WILLIAMS made some rather rude and coarse
remarks with reference to Mr. C. W. Williams, amidst cries
of " order."

Mr. C. W. WILLIAMS? in reply to a question by a mem-
ber, gave his definition of the word " smoke," which, we
thought, ingenious. His explanation was received with
much applause,
Mr. C. J. SMITH replied to several of the remarks made
in a rather happy, and, as regarded Mr. C. W. Williams,
sarcastic style—still maintaining his own opinions, or rather
those of other chemical gentlemen, against those expressed
in Mr. W.'s treatise.

Some further discussion ensued on the nature and proper-
ties of gases evolved from combustion, and on smoke and its
depositing itself in soot ; after which the thanks of the meet-
ing were passed to Mr. C. J. Smith for his able communica-
tion that evening.
The CH AIRMAN then delivered an appropriate address, on
the progress and views of the society—the evening being the
concluding one of the session. He viewed its advancement
with feelings of gratification—the proceedings of the past year
being, if possible, more encouraging that when he performed
the same agreeable task last year. While commerce and en-
terprise had for a long period been depressed not only at home
but abroad, their little society had lost none of its early
vigour; its strength and usefulness had been more and more
developed, and it presented a promise of much good in its
greater maturity. The accession to the list of members had
not been so great during the past as in the preceding year;
but it had been sufficient to maintain their numbers, and was
quite as great as could be expected under existing circum-
stances. The communications received had been of a sound
and practical nature, and had elicited interesting discussions.
One class of communications, he thought, it would be well
to encourage. He alluded to those numerous incidental
matters which might be introduced without previous notice,
or with only a private intimation to the chairman, who might
introduee them as an opportunity arose. Subjects thus stated
frequently gave rise to the most interesting discussions, and
also gave variety and freshness to their meetings. They also
induced members to offer their services, who had not time
and opportunity to prepare long papers. With this, too,
might be connected the introduction of models and specimens
of art. He strongly invited members to give as much of their
time and attention to the society as would by this and other
means extend its utility; and urged that their object should
be not only to receive advantage and amusement from
the gratuitous labours of others, but contribute, them-
selves, to the general stock. After alluding to the
increased sale in the foreign market of scientific works
published in London, and the desire for improvement thus
developed abroad, he expressed his belief that in the present
day, a knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, natural philo-
sophy, geology, mineralogy, and even abstruser sciences, were
essential in the education of a gentlemen. He believed a
man not to have profitted as he ought to have done, by the
advantages he possed in our modern institutions, if he were
wholly ignorant of the principles of the steam-engine, the
printing press, and the cotton mill. He then proceeded, at
some length, to a consideration of subjects connected' with
the society, and the important questions to which they gave
rise. There was a rich mine of sound practical science in
this country, ready to apply its powerful resources as oc-
casion should call them forth ; but those who would have
their aid must not think of doing so by stepping in at the
cabbin window ;—they must go before the mast—they must
come up by the ladder of toil and study. In this he ad-
dressed the younger portions of his hearers ; the elder would
acknowledge the hollowness of any other course. This so-
ciety gave the practical man an opportunity of discussing the
merits of works proposed for adoption, or in actual progress ;
and it afforded him an opportunity of introducing his own
plans to public attention. The topics likely to afford in-
struction to the members were numerous, and he should
remark upon a few of them. Here the speaker, at consider-
able length and with much ability, suggested for future con-
sideration as topics-Ist, the steam-engine, and the questions.
with which it is connected, as worthy of a prominent place,
whether considered as applied to steam navigation, to rail-
ways, or to purposes for which stationary engines are re-
quired. He supplied an interesting view of the present state
and prospects of steam navigation. He also remarked on the
railways, their construction, comparative cost, &c., observing
that the locomotives, carriages, and rails, as well as the for-
mation and management, were subjects that might all come
under the notice of the society. He then adverted to steam
as applied to manufactures and other purposes ; the economy
of fuel, (in which France and Belgium had exceeded us,) the
improved construction of engines, &c., and the prevention of
smoke, furnishing examples of superiority in these several
respects, and detailing some interesting facts that had come
within his knowledge. Another topic of interest was the
best mode of preventing and extinguishing fires. Questions
relating to the health and comfort of the poorer classes also
claimed their attention, involving plans for ventilating,
cleansing, draining the streets, &c. Plans for facilitating the
loading and discharging of ships, so as to prevent delay, and
the incommodious crowding of the docks, might also be bene-
ficially considered. He then alluded to the visit with which
the society had been honoured by our late worthy chief ma-
gistrate, and hoped it might be considered a precedent worthy
of being followed by his successors, once at least in each
year. (This suggestion was received with much ap.!,111e.)
After some allusion to the happy termination of hostilities in
the East, and the pleasing prospect which it held out of
enabling us to extend the blessings we enjoy to multitudes
(in China) who had for ages dragged on a dull existence, de-
barred by a miserable exclusiveness from advantages which
they would otherwise have enjoyed,—he expressed his grati-
tude for their attention, not only that evening, but during
the past year, and concluded as follows :—My especial thanks
are due to the gentlemen who compose the council for their
co-operation and support; but to the members at large I
have no power to express how much I feel indebted for the
honours they have conferred upon me. From you, gentle-
men, I received so much kindness and consideration during
the time I have presided at your meetings, that much as I
regret my own efficiency, I cannot but experience the most
lively feelings of gratitude for the past, and the strongest de-
sire to labour continually and with anxious care for the
future benefit of your society.

THEATRE ROYAL, CHESTER.—Mrs Seymour is starring
with considerable success at this theatre, playing several of
the leading characters in the drama. Her benefit will be
under the patronage of Lord Charles Wellesley.

When the King of Prussia was returning from St. Peters-
burg, in July last, lie stopped a night at the little town of
Hohenstein. Captain Kern, owner of the domain of
Dohlau, took advantage of the King's passing through to
request his autograph, in order to place it in a new church,
built on the captain's property. His Majesty promised to
grant it the next day, when he wrote the following lines :
" Being requested to give my autograph, to be preserved in
the new church of Dohlau, I here express my earnest prayer
that the holy Scriptures may always be preached in this
church, in this commune, and in this country, to the end of
time. May God be with you. Written at Hohenstein, the
9th Sunday after Trinity, July 24, 1842, on my return from
Russia, after celebrating the anniversary of the marriage of
my beloved sister Charlotte with the Emperor Nicholas, on
my way from Koenigsberg to Lrdsmandorf, in Silesia, after
having yesterday made the acquaintance of the founder of
the new church, the worthy Captain Kern, owner of the do-
►nain of Dohlau.---FREDEICK WILLIAM."

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MERCURY'S JESUITISM

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SI the " Mullum in Parvo" column of the Mercury
of this day, I find the following :
" The bands are worn by the clergy in remembrance of two
tablets of the law, and underneath the face, because of the text,
" The priest's lips shall retain knowledge, and the people
shall seek the law at his mouth.' "

Now, sir, in the above, the words shall retain are substi-
tuted for the words should keep; and the awful Jesuitry
evinced in so doing can be comprehended by the simplest
capacity. The verse thus misquoted is extracted from the
2nd chapter of Malachi, where the Lord threatens to send a
curse upon the priests ; as we find in the Ist and 2nd verses,
" And now, 0 ye priests, this commandment is for you."
2. " If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart,
to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will
even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings;
yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to

ii. 1-2

the Bth and 9th verses, read in conjunction with
the preceding 7th, will show the wickedness and danger of
misquoting even one syllable of the word of God.

Moreove

" 7th. For the prie.St's lips should keep knowledge, and
they should seek the law at his mouth ; for he is the mes-
senger of the Lord of hosts.

"Bth. But ye are departed out of the way ; ye have caused
many to stumble at the law ; ye have corrupted the covenant
of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

" Therefore, have I also made you contemptible and base
before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways,
but have been partial in the law."

Does not this extract from the Mercury show us the
danger of neglecting to teach the word of God in our schools ?
The perversion in the Mercury naturally will lead the igno-
rant among the lower orders to look to the priest, instead of
God's word, for instruction ; and here is the whole question
at issue—the priests look on all attainments in Bible know-
ledge as trenching on their exclusive privileges, and would
gladly even corrupt the text, rather than the poor under them
should be converted ; while we, taking the word of God in
our hand, boldly proclaim, they are departed out of the
way, have caused many to stumble at the Gospel (which is
the fulfilling of the law), and have corrupted the covenant of
Levi." But we have no occasion to go even so far to know
what priests are. Do they not distinctly state that the
Douay translation of the Bible is more correct than our
"authorised version ?" Now, the Douay version being a
translation from the Latin vulgate, which is a translation
from the original Greek; how is it possible that it can
render the meaning so pure as ours, that is translated directly
from the original Greek? We know it cannot, and that the
assertion is a lie : e. g., the priests who say so are —. It
may be as well (to save trouble hereafter) to ask them at
once, how many mistakes one pope said be found in the vul-
gate after his predecessor had pronounced it correct, and
made subject to an anathema any one who should contra-
vene his opinion ? Psha! the absurdities of Popery are
nauseating to dwell on. I regret to observe how much they
have weakened the tender consciences of the mayor and
nineteen councillors. Let us pray that we may be delivered
from the tender mercies of anti-Bible, anti-corn-law, and
all other anti-Christian and no Christian governors, re-
membering who has declared, " He that is not for me is
against me." I cannot conclude without drawing a com-
parison between holy St. Paul, " who conferred not with
flesh and blood," and Mr. G. H. Lawrence and his natural
feelings, all of which a wag of a radical has called consciences :
if he had only a conscience that would honor God's holy
word, in preference to human inventions (even his own), he
might give the others_to Earle, Evans, and Blackburn.
Your obedient servant,
LOOK OUT.
Friday, Dec. 16, 1842.

THE POOR MAN'S WAGES AND THE

ANTI-CORN-LAW-LEAGUE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Stn,—l am not at all astonished that your opponents on
the corn-law question, the Liverpool Journal and the Man-
cht,ter Guardian, shrink, shuffle, and mumble so egregi-
ously when they come to touch the question of wages as
affected by cheap food. They know now that the inevitable
result of permanently 'educed prices in provisions must be
a proportionate reduction in the rate of wages equitably
claimable by the working classes. It is quite clear that the
writers in question do not relish the subject of wages; they
would rather discuss this corn-law question as to its sup-
posed certainty of producing an increase of foreign trade, or
the like : they would rather the attention of the working
classes was claimed to the circumstance that abundance gives
cheapness to an article, than the fact permanent cheapness
will bring a permanent reduction of wages. That abundance
in an article makes it cheap is an incontestible fact ; but it
is a fact, equally incontestible, that in those countries where
things are cheapest the working classes are the worst paid
and the least industrious ; they are the worst paid, allowing
for the difference in the value of the commodities they have
to purchase ; the ratio of reward or remuneration in cheap
countries is below that of countries where labour is higher.
So that, all things considered, the working classes in your
cheap countries are decidedly worse than in dear countries.
The mock orators of the league, as well as the pseudo-
friends of the people, the editors of the Liverpool Journal
and of the Manchester Guardian, instinctively abhor being
closely pressed on the subject of wages, and their recent
prolix effusions on the question are but futile attempts at
ingenious evasion. The compositions of these worthy writers
have neither sufficient eloquence, cunning, nor vigour to
blind an intelligent working man as to the necessary result
of gene'rally reduced rates of living.
The most conclusive method, however, of debating this
question with the league is that of bringing forward their own
declarations on the subject, and thereby evincing distinctly
what are the indubitable intentions of these fictitious friends
of the people. Have they said that a reduction of the hire
of the working man is necessary, and shall it be forgotten ?
Have they declared that labour is too well paid in this
country, and shall it be forgotten ? Had they formerly the
honesty to avow that of which they are now ashamed? And
since their objects are yet the same, ought not the working
classes to be correctly informed as to what those objects are?
There can be no doubt that the purposes of the league are
inimical to the true interests of the working classes; and
further, it can be clearly proved' that the avowed object of
the Anti-Corn-Law League is a reduction of the wages of
their worlspeople.

In making Out the proof of this proposition, the first step
will be to quote what Lord Worsley stated to the electors of
Lincoln, in 1841, which was, that a manufacturer had re-
cently told him that " it was impossible for them to yet on
until they had reduced the wages in this country to the scale
of wages on the continent." Who the individual was that
made this statement to his Lordship is not said, but that he
was an important and influential manufacturer cannot for a
moment be doubted, if we judge only from the flippancy
with which he declared his sentiments to the noble lord ;
and although no one will venture to impugn the veracity
of his lordship, yet it must be admitted that considerable
strength is added to his testimony, when we recollect that he
was for the ten years the whigs (the patrons of the league)
were in office, their constant supporter; and, as such, is en-
titled to some weight in the estimation of the anti-corn gen-
tlemen. Here, therefore, we have strong evidence of their
intentions, in agitating for a total repeal of the corn-laws.
The next testimony on this question is that of Mr. Gibson,
of Manchester, whose ipse dixit will go as far with his fellow
agitators as that of any man connected with the league. not
excepting even Mr. Cobden's. And what, then, has Mr.
Gibson said, that can be construed as implicating him in the
design of reducing wages? Those who paid close attention
to the debates on the corn-law question in connexion with
Mr. Villiers' motion, will remember that Mr. Gibson then
made the following interrogation :—" He would ask if the
foreign manufacturer, by his improvement in machinery,
had such success as to beat the English manufacturer, whe-
ther the English manufacturer would not be driven, as a
matter of course, either to improve his machinery or to re-
duce the wages of labour 7" Now, there are two parts to
this interrogation of Mr. Gibson, in both of which an ag-
gression upon the interests of the working classes is contem-
plated ; either they are to be thrown out of work by improved
machinery, or their wages are to be reduced. When we
consider that Mr. Gibson was arguing against the corn-laws,
we cannot suppose that he meant that what he said about
improved machinery should be taken as an argument against
these laws ; he certainly did not mean any such thing ; then
it most certainly follows that a reduction of wages, by which
only the English can compete with the foreign manufacturer,
was looked upon by Mr. Gibson as argument for the repeal
of the corn-laws ; that is, wages could not be reduced unless
the corn-laws were repealed ; but, repeal the corn-laws, and
then the wages must be reduced, and the English manufac-
turer would be able, " as a matter of course," to compete
with the ill-paid labour of the continent. Therefore, Mr.
Gibson's motto may fairly be rendered, "Down with the
corn-laws, and down with the wages !"

We come next to the speech of Mr. Villiers, the far-famed
oracle of the league, in which we find the following lucid
enunciation of the motives and intentions of these cool-
blooded anti-monopolists :—" The interest of the manufac-
turer was perfectly clear ; if the price of food was high, he
suffered two ways—by the loss of his home trade, and he was
also prevented from employing his capital to the best advan-
tage. The manufacturer could get labour at greater ad-
vantage when. food was cheap than when it was dear. Here
then Mr. Villiers distinctly states that the manufacturers
calculate on labour being cheapened when the corn-laws are
repealed ; that, in .effect, the repeal of the corn-laws would
do nothing to benefit the manufacturer, unless thereby la-
bour became cheaper. And surely Mr. Villiers knew the
mind of the league on this question; surely he stated cor-
rectly the errand of his employers. It must then appear
inevitably certain to every man of common sense that the
Anti-monopolist Association are aiming at the sublime and
benevolent object of a reduction of the poor man's wages.
Benevolent souls ! what a pity they should not succeed.
But, although the evidence of Mr. Gibson is strong, and
that of Mr. Gibson still stronger, the strongest evidence that
the league intend to resort to a reduction of wages is derived
from the fact, that the very agitation of the corn-law repeal
commenced exclusively with that object, while yet the league
existed only as the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
This very body, in a very early stage of its history, de-
spatched its emissaries to various parts of the continent, for
the purpose of ascertaining the various rates of wages there
paid, and the mode of living amongst the work-people; and
these emissaries were not long in discovering that on the
continent, in the manufacturing districts, people are much
worse fed and much lower paid than those of England.
Hence the agitation for the repeal of corn and provision
laws. These continental spies published, under the auspices
of the chamber, the following as the average rates of wages :
s. d.
France, average per week.
Switzerland
• .
Austria..
•
TheTyrol 3 9
Saxony 3 6
Ports of Prussia (at 80nne)....
The averages at Manchester were reckoned at 10s.
This is the very list of averages which was first used by
the young league against the corn-laws, as these laws were
by them considered as the chief cause why higher prices
were paid for labour in Manchester than in Bonne. How
then comes it to pass that the organs, tools, and dupes of
the league are suffered to gull the public by their abominable
puffing? Solely because they are not sufficiently known
Seeing then that their object is, indeed, a reduction of
wages, let the working classes in time " beware of the
trap."—l arayours, &c., DELTA.

December, 1842,

THE YORKSHIRE MAILS AND THE NEW TARIFF.—An
odd illustration of the present working of the mails between
Hull and Manchester occurred last week. A steam boat ar-
rived at Hull from Hamburgh on Wednesday afternoon, with
a very valuable cow for a gentleman in Manchester, the
steamer bringing also at the same time her Majesty's mail
bags, containing a letter of advice to have some one on the
spot to receive her. The mail bags, in conformity with the
new arrangements,
remained at Hull all night ; but the cow
having been disembarked, was immediately forwarded by
railway to Manchester, where she arrived at eleven o'clock
the same night. No one, however, knowing to whom she
belonged, she was sent toa stable, where she remained until
near noon on Friday, at which time the letter of advice that
arrived at Hull with the cow was received in Manchester by
the mail ! Her Majesty's mail was thus fairly outstripped
by the cow by about 14 hours ! It should be added, that
Hull is the port whence a whole third of all the manufac-
tured cotton of Lancashire is exported.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL
INTELLIGENCE.