The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-12-16 00:00:00

ANCIENT ADVERTISEMENTS.

To a newspaper reader of the present day, the advertise-
ments to be Lfound in these antique prints [Glasgow papers a
century agoJ arc somewhat 'amusing. While in our own
times it would be considered a matter of indelicacy, it not of
absolute supererogation, to enlarge on the virtnes, the beauty,
or the dower of a' bride in the common notifications of mar-
riages, it was the custom, a century ago, to apprise the world
of all the most prominent qualities of a lady who had just
entered into wedlock. Thus we find such notices as the fol..
lowing

" Last week Mr. Graham, younger of Douglaston, was
married to Miss Campbell of Skirving, a beautiful and vir-
tuous young lady. (Glasgow Courant of Feb. 9, 1747.)
" On Monday last, Dr. Robert Hamilton, Professor of
Anatomy and Botany in the University of Glasgow, was
married to Miss Mally Baird, a beautiful young lady with a
handsome fortune. (May 4, 1747.)
" On Monday last, Mr. James Johnstone, merchant in
this place, was married to Miss Peggy Newall, a young lady
of great merit and a fortune of £4,000. (Aug. 3, 1747.)"
Another advertisement, which sounds a little strangely to
a modern ear, is the following :
" Jame Hodge, who lives in the first close above the
Cross, on the west side of the street. Glasgow, continues to
sell burying Crapes ready made: and his wife's niece, who
lives with him, dresses dead Corpses at as cheap a rate as
was formerly done by her aunt, having been educated by
her, and perfected at Edinburgh, from whence she is lately
arrived, and has all the newest and best fashions."

With respect to politics, these ancient publications cannot
be said to have advocated any set of opinions. We are un-
able to discover what were the real sentiments of their con-
ductors on the subjects of legislation or government. They
are characterised by little unity of design, and appear to have
been simply mediums of intelligence, without any attempt
to guide or form the public mind on matters of general in-
terest.—Glasgow Citizen.

LLANDRINDOD WELLS.—The Cheltenham Looker-on,
after reciting the virtues of these wells, which require, inter
alia, to be accompanied with teetotalism, gives the following
anecdote of a visitor not passionately addicted to the prac-
tice :—" A worthy yeoman of a neighbouring county went
to Llandrindod, once on a time, merely to oblige his better
half, who promised that he should occasionally be indulged
with a glass of his favourite beverage—brandy and water.
One evening, the old toper was longing for a drop of com-
fort, but having had his allowance in the course of the after-
noon, he dare not ask his wife for any more ; he, however,
hit upon the following expedient to carry his point: He
asked a friend, who he knew never drank spirits, if he. would
oblige him by having the stomach ache for ten minutes?
His friend agreed, thinking that there was some joke in
embryo. Mr. M. rang the bell, and desired the servant to
request his wife to come to him immediately. The good
woman soon made her appearance, and the husband said—
' My dear, poor Mr. Evans has drank so much of the aqua
pumpus, that it has given him a dreadful fit of cbolic ; do,
my love, get him a glass of hot brandy and water.' During
this time, Mr. Evans was twis'.ing and writhing in his chair,
as if in great pain, but ready to burst his sides with laugh-
ter. Mrs. M. marched into the room followed by the ser-
vant, bearing a tray with water, sugar, &c., the lady
carrying the brandy bottle. When old Silenus eyed the size
of the glass to nbler, he said—' This won't do at all ; go and
get the largest you can find ; such a thimble full of a thing
like this will do my worthy friend no good.' The servant
brought in a large goblet, and Mrs. M. mixed up a glorious
jorum ; then, most innocently recommended Mr. Evans to
drink it, as het as he could. Go, my love (said. M.) and
find a large piece of ,flannel for our afflicted friend, to wrap
around him when he goes to bed.' Iss, sure, in a minute,'
said the worthy dame- -who had no sooner made her exit,
than the ' jolly nose' 'took up the brandy and water, and
drank it off to the speedy recovery of his friend."

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 13.
A few limited parcels of Irish and Canadian Wheat, to-
gether merely 2,420 quarters, comprise the whole arrivals of
this Grain into our port since Tuesday last. Of other Grain
as well as Flour received Coastwise and from Ireland, the
supplies are also very moderate, but of Oatmeal liberal, awl
of States and Canadian Flour 2,771 barrels.
At our market this morning the Wheat trade exhibited no
features of an interesting character, the millets still gene-
rally hesitating to purchase more than just to serve their
immediate purposes ; and devoid at the same time of any
speculative indicatiOos, the transactions altogether were un-
important : holders, notwithstanding, were tolerably firm,
and we repeat, without alteration, the currency of this day
week for all descriptions of foreign ; fine parcels of new
Irish, however, in the present scarcity of supply, were rather
improved in value; in English no variation. Superior qua-
lities of States and Canadian Flour met some demand at Gd.
per barrel advance, and Irish was also in better request at
previous rates.

Malt, including all kinds of malting and grinding Barley,
continued to meet a very limited sale on the terms last noted.
Beans and Peas remaining unsaleable, were nominally rather
cheaper. . _

Oats and Oatmeal, restricted to a very moderate retail de-
mand, the former barely sustained the rates of Friday last,
and the latter declined 3d. per 240 lbs., leaving the extreme
quotation of prime Irish 21s. 6d.

PRICES OF TIMBER AT LIVERPOOL.