The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-02 00:00:00

ADULTERATIONS OF FUUD.

_........_ .
Among the number of substances used in domestic
economy, which ate now very generally found sophis-
Nettled, may b.• distinguished—tee, coffee, bread, beer,
swine, spirituous liquors, sallad uil, pepper, vinegar, mus-
tard, cream, and other articles of subsistence.
'I here are particular chemists who make it a re-
lar trade to supply drugs or nefarious reparations to
r
e unprincipled brewer of porter and ale: others pee.'
• the saute other to the wine and spirit merchant;
end others again to the grocer and the oilman. The
perators carry on their processes chiefly in seeress., and
oder some delusive firm, with the ostensible denote-
, ts of a fair and lawful establishment.
The baker inserts that be does not put alum into
mad ; bet he is well aware that, in purchasing a cer-
tain quantity of dour, he must take t sack of sharp
irhiter (a term given to dour contaminated with &quan-
tity of alum), without which it would be impossible for
inns to prodace light, %%bite, and porous bread, from a
eV-spoiled material.
The wholesale mealnian frequently purchases this
eptirioas commodity (which forms a separate branch of
usinese in the hands of certain individual'). in order
e enable himself to sell his decayed and half-spoiled
oar.
Other individuals furnish the baker with alum :nixed
up with salt, under the obscure denomination of Met/
There are wholesale manufacturing chemists %% hose sole
nainess is to crystallize alum, is such a form as will
:.dept this salt to the purpose of being mixed in a cry-
' taline state with the crystals of common salt, to ilis-
itise the character of the compound. The mixture,
ailed the, is composed of one part of alum, in minute
•• r) ma: s, and three of contusion salt. In many other trades
,t similar mode of proceeding prevails.-Lpotatoes are
soaked in water to augment their weight.
It is really astonishing that the penal law is not more
effectually enforced against practices so inimical to the
'abbe welfare. The men who robs a fellow-subjeet of
• few shillings on the highway is sentenced to death ;
bile he, who distributes a slow poison to a whole com-
!iunnity, escapes unpunished.
Thus devoted to disease by baker, brewer, grocer, &c.
he physician is called to our assistance; but here again
be pernicious system of fraud, as it bas given the blow,
•teps in to defeat the remedy.
iNine-tenths of the most patent drugs and chemical
!.reparations used in pharmacy are vended in a sophisti-
: ated state by dealers who would be the last to be one-
, I.ected. It is well known, that in the article of l'ern-
siau bark, there is a variety of species inferior to the
genuine : that too little discrimination is exercised be
the collectors of this precious medicament ; that it fa
carelessly assorted, and is frequently packed in green
idea; that much of it arrives in Spain in a half de-
rayed state, mixed with fragments of p
other vegetables 1
red various extraneous substances ; and in this state is'
istribated throughout Europe.
Bat as if this were not a sufficient deterioration, the
„oublic are often served with a spurious compound of
tailsogany saw-dust and oak wood, ground into powder.
s braid with a proportion of good tonguing, and sold as
enuine bark powder.
Every chemist keie' that there are mills constantly
work in this metropolis, which furnish bark powder
" it a much cheapee rate than the sut'stance can be pro-
rated for in its natural state. The price of the beat ge-
'Mae bark, upon An average, is 1101 lower than twelve
' billings the pound ; but immense quantities of powder
a it:rfre supplied
,to the apothecaries at three or four
a resod..
it is also meter riots that there are rnanufeettirers of
spurious rhubarb , powder, ipecaeuanlia powder, James's
.-..eirtier, and stile r simple and compound medicines of
• rest potency, wb o wry on their diabolical trade on an
meziagiy large si cal.
Soap used in hi isse-keeping is frequently adulterated
with a coogidarah le portion a hoe white clay, brought
from St. Stephens ,in Cornwall. In the manufacture of
• printing paper, t large quantity of plaster of Paris is
added to the papa r stuff, to increase the weight of the
manufacturing of tide. The selvage of cloth is often
dyed with a perm Anent colour, and artfully stitched to
'be edge of cloth dyed with a fugitive dye. The fraud
ommitted in the tanning of skins, and in the manufac-
tire of cutlery ant I jewellery, exceed belief,
BAZAR—This i s one of the sophistication@ of the ar-
•iclos of food 11204 .t commonly practised in this metro-
•mlis, where the gi Jodness of bread is estimated entirely
or its whiteness. It is therefore usual to add a certain
isantity of alum tt • the dough ; this improves the look
.f the bread very muck, and renders it whiter and
tirme: good, wki te, and porous bread may certainly
ie manufactured fro on good wheaten Hour alone; but to
prudent the degree of whiteness rendered indispensible
by the caprice of d to consenter, in London, it is ne-
-emery (unless the, very best deer is employed) that
Ise dough should IS • bleached ; and no substance bas
litherte been found i o answer this purpose better than
slam.
Potatoes are likewu r largely, and perhaps constantly,
Seed by fraudulent ha kers. as a cheap ingredient, to co-
mm., their profit.
live bushels of flour, three ounces of alert., six pounds
of salt, one bushel of 1 *Woes boiled into a stiff paste,
mid three of yeast, with the requisite quantity of water.
Osmium a white, light, A ad hi Illy palatable bread.
Wars.—lt is sufficiee tly obvious, that few of those
isminsodities, which air, the objects of commerce, are
Islulterated to a greater et etent than wine. All persons
moderately emixensitet alt b the subject, are aware that
.portion of alum is adA ell to your and meagre red
• toes, for the parpoee vf lA-lightening their colour ; that
i , I wood, in tftwbustrs lif eiderberrirs sod bilberries,
are employed to Impart a sleep rich purple tint to red
tort ot •a pale, faint colour ; that gypsum is used to
:ender cloudy white wines transparent: that an addi-
sioual astringency is imparted to immature red wines
11, Y means of oak-wood letr-d4'st, and the husks of fil-
nods t and that a mixture of t•poiled foreign and home-
made wipes Is converted Into the wretched compound
.remptently sold iu the min by As name of geenixe old
'ore. .
The timbering imredients mud by manelextlirell.
may all he purchased by those dealers so wine who are
nitrated in the mysteries of the ,trade; And even a Ina-
ouscript receipt book for preperinr them, and She whole
uystet• of managing all seers of wines. may be obtained
on payment of a considerable fee.
Tim particular and 'epergne department in this fac-
tidos' wine trade, calletlimrestieg, Consists in lining
tbr letelbr surface of catty wine bottles, in pert, with
a fed reset of super-tartrate of• potash, by suffering a
saturated bet solutiot of this salt, coloured mid with
a shoection of • Brasil-nondi• to crystalise within them ;
dad, saw this sienetation:ot lommilty is perfected, they
are Sited meth the mesposed idled Poet wine.
, Other attains ere replant lilkkitored in staining the
lb*er extremitire orisottlitcolkt ;sit a doe red colour,
to appear, on being drawi, #8 if they Wad been lung in
with the w ne. ' f
Casks are crusted as we I as bottles ; but—
' The mod dangerousiteretion of wine is by some
tpaeatiobsof li al who Posiesses the property of stop-
s; ng itse proves* of aresce9ce of wipe, and also of et*
ring AIM; *lnes, when muddy, transparent. The :
jillieeffslivid ; iiPil liitti qpir to be no. Mitt
Israel • of Cal.ldly 'Wise% reftty.wines.
s' 1.en1,1 ;1 Whettivey state it be hies Ibto the stn-
mash, meta Was terrible diseases; amdlYkte, iffuiterieed 1
___

THE S 7

with the minutest quantity of it, becomes a slow poison.
The merchant or dealer who practices this dangerous
sophistication, adds the crime of murder to that of
fraud, anal deliberately scatters the seeds of disease andi
death among those consumers who contribute to his emo•
!omea.

Beita.-1 f front wine we descend to beer, we learn that
we run still greater risks.
Malt liquors, and especially porter, the favourite be-
verage of the inhabitants of Loudon, and of other large
towns, is amongst those articles in the manufacture of
whirl, the greatest frauds are frequently committed.
The statute prohibits the brewer from using any in-
gredients in his brewing., except malt and hops; but
it too oriel] happens that those who suppose they are
drinking a nutricions beverage, lade of these hire.
dients only, are entirely deceived. The beverage
may, in fact, be neither more nor less than a compound
of the most •leleterious substances ; and it is also clear
that all rinks of society arc alike exposed to the nefa-
rious fraud.

Mr. Jackson, of notorious memory, fell upon the ides
of brewing beer from various drags, without any malt
and hops. This chemist did not turn brewer himself ;
bnt he struck out the more profitable trade of teaching
his mystery to the brewers for a handsome fee. From
that time forwards; written directions and receipt-books
(Jr !psis g the chemical preparations to be substituted (or
malt and hops, were respectively sold; and many adepts
soon afterwards appeared every where, to instruct brew-
ers its the nefarious practice, first pointed out by Mr.
Jackson. From that time, also, the fraternity of'brew-
ers' chemists took its rise. They make it their chief
business to send travellers all over the country with lists
and samples, exhibiting the price and quality of the
articles manufaetured by them for the use of brewers
only.
To this appall's, description, we shall only add, that
sunny other vile ingredient., wormwood, quassia, cap-
sicum, grains of paradise, &e. are used for similar pat
pose., and tlay chemical skill to detect them; and,
finally, that even the froth of the cauliflower head
proshseed by a deleterious mixture called " beer-hea
lug,- composed of common green vitriol (sulphate
iron), :slum, and Nth.
_ _

%.—.1.11.1S substance has been so fully before the
public of lair, that we shall not enter into details.
founded on the examination of Treaty-oecen sample* of
indiation Feces !

All the samples of spurious green tea, nineteen in
number, examined, were coloured with carbonate of
copper, a poisonons substance, and not by means of rer-
digri•e, sir copperas.
l•orrzx is counterfeited to an equal extent, principally
by mesas of pi eon's beans and peas.
Respecting tirtnyrrocs lantocas there are some in.
teriating farts. " Oak saw-dust, and a spirituous tine•
tnre of raisin-stones, are used to impart to new brandy
and min a ripe lash., resembling brandy or rum inns
kept in oaken racks, and a somewhat oily consistence,'
so as to torus a durable froth on its surface, wiles
strongly agitated in a vial. The colouring substances
are burnt sugar or molasses ; the latter gives to imita-
tive brandy a hutch's' taste, and fulness in the month.
"The fioflowing is the method of compounding or
owskiog u it is technically called, brandy for re-
tail :

Gallons.
" To len pormiseons of brandy I.obl
Add davonved raisin spirit.
Tluctt:re of {reins of paradise .
Illterr laurel seater 4
Spirit of almond cakes

1.1117 •'t

" .14141 also ten handfuls of oak saw-dust ; and give it
complcrion wstli burnt sug.nr."

!._III' INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF OF CHANCERY, Fes. I.

This mond ng the Lord Chancellor,attended by Messrs.
Stratford, Catonhell, anti Alexander, Masters of the
Court of Chancery, came into Court at eleven o'clock.
when his Lordship took the Oath of Allegiance to his
present Majesty, and also the usual oath of office as
Lord Chancellor. The Court then immediately ad-
journed till Thursday.

(AUNT OF OF KIM'S BENCH, Fun. 1.

COMIIIITMENTOF J. CL._IIOIIIIIOVSE, [eq.

At the rising of the Court. Mr. JORIIVA EVANS moved
for a writ of Habeas Corpus to he directed to the keeper
of his Majesty's gaol ofl\ewgate, connnanding him to
!idol( up the hotly of John Cam llobbouse, Esq. a pri-
soner in the said gaol, under a writ of committnent signed
by the Speaker of the House of Commons, in order to
his liberation by slue course of law. The Learned
Counsel read the affidavit of 31r:Ilohlsonse, which stated
in substance, that on the 30th of Dec. Isl 9, the deponent'
was forcibly taken into custody at his residence in New
street, Spring-gardens, by certain persons representing
themselves to be Messengers of the Honer of Commons.,
by virtue of a warrant made out by tire Speaker of that
house, fur in alleged offence in the said warrant men-
tioned ; that deponent was forcibly carried to Newgate,
where he still remains in custody, without having been
served wills any summons to answer the charges pre-
" • his

,ugh
d . ordered
.4 whereas ,
..
..an Cam tiobhot ...mire, to -or
Aced to his Majesty' .mate; then
_.k. ,
-
authorize and require von to receive into y.. —c '.7
the said John Cam Ifoldionse, and him safely ~ 1 g
the pleasnre of the slid House, for, which I *arrant
shill be your salleient authority. e:
(Signed) • " CHARLSII MANNERS lITTON."
" 30th Ike. 1819."

The Curse JUSTICL—The warrant sets forth tt re-
Solution of the Ilonse of Commons, that the publication
imputed to Mr. Hobbouse wai a libel, and that be ac-
knowledged himself to be the author ; ur :lierefore can-
not enter into the geonads of his commitment.
Mr. t rims.—My Lord, this gentleman is entitled as
batter bf Hight to a HaheaCtorpns. It is not necessary
tbat I slum d enter into any argument to induce roar
Lberltbips to accede to this motion in the first instiuce,
tioy, indeed, am 1 prepared with such argument, as it
will be quite time enough for me to he so prepared when
this gentleman comes and demands his lifieration.
Thr Curse Jurrics.—lf you are not prepared to argue
It, the best course fbr Too isle ntithrletw.the motion for
',resent, and come M. the %art Whet) toffsilittl be prepared. It is not a rnattlraillefl/rto grant
0' Habeas torpaq, withmit *none 0111111111 for del'
interposition of the Court,- z 3•1

TESMAN.

Mr. Evans referred to the case of the King r. Benja-
min Flower, T. R. 314, for the purpose of showing
that this Court, without argument, will grant a Habeas
Corpse-to bring up the body of a person stated to be
illegally imprisoned. That was the cue of a commit-
ment by the House of Lords for six months, for an al-
leged contempt, and there Lord Kenyon did not require
any grounds to be stated when the motion was first
made.
Mr. Justice Ilcsr.—Bilt Lord Kenyon stated after.
wards, that as the coma was for a contempt
towards the House of Lords. rids Court could nut order
the prisoner to be liberated, that House having. adjudi-
eated as to the nature of the offence. Now, in this case,
the warrant of the Speaker. states, that the prisoner WaS
committed, not for a libel morally, but for a libel on '
the House of Louttutons, having a tendency to excite the
people to acts of violence against that House.
Mr. EVANS said, he merely referred to the case of the
King v. Flower, for the purpose of shelving, that the
Court, without requiring any argument in the first in-
stance, forthwith granted the writ, as a matter of en-
doubted right to the subjects of these realms. In that
'case the warrant of the House of Lords was annexed to
' the affidavit, as in this case, and Lord Kenyon merely
a.ked 31r. Clifford, who made the motion, whether it
was a commitment fora contempt towards the House of
lords; and the answer being in the affirtnatire, the
writ s Instantly granted.
Cuter JUSTICE.—But, upon the writ being
grail fed in that case, the matter'• was aftertariis much
discussed, as to the authority of Ala Court to supersede
a commitment of the House of Lords, and the result was,
that this Court had no such authority.
Mr. EVANS.—BIII, my Lord, it is scatter of right due
to this Uentleman to have the question discussed,
whether he has been legally committed. and whether
;the Hassler of Newgate is lawfally authorised in detain-
ing hint under this writ?
The Come Jounce.—lf yon suggest that the writ
sander which the party is detained is not a correct copy
lef the original upon which he was committed, that is a
different question ; but that is nut your suggestion.
' Jar. EVANS.—Nor do 1 consider it at all necessary to
dittos& at present the legality of the writ.
The Clot.? .Icsvics.-It'e most take it to be a true
espy of the writ, and therefore we require you to state
to us the cause of complaint against the propriety of the
commitment.

Mr. WANS.-11 apprehend that I am not bound to
enter into any cousitleration of that kind in the present
state of proceedings. 1 take it to he a dear and indis-
putable right, inherent in this tientleman as a subject
of (treat Britain, to have his case argued before yur.r
Lordships, because the Habeas Corpus Act does not
make Buy exception, authorizing this Court to exercise
a discretion whether they will or will not grant this writ.
I conceive the Court is bound to grant the Habeas Cor-
reia to ever). person detained in prison under an alleged
illegal rooms:orient, except in cases of treason and
felony.
The Cuter Jerrice.—Will von sir, that every person
in rustoily has de Jere a right to he brought before this
Court on a Habeas Corpus, without sufficient grounds
being stated to the Court?
Mr. ETAI4I.-31y Lord, I do say so ; except in cases
of high treason mad felony.
The Cuter JUITICE.--14011 net our constant practice
' been otherwise? Do we nut always inquire upon what
and the Habeas Corpus is wowed, befure we order a
to issue? Unless a gi °end is stated, we do out
'sect a writ to issue.
Fit
r. EVANS,--if I were to arm the case now (
,0
not p.tbipited to dif), for the purpose of
there is no authority in illll this warrant,
Lordship could do no more than order the writ to issue i
but as I chilfiithe writ as matter of right, in the first in-
stance, it t be necessary to argue the case before
this g . .. comes up ; tier-ease that would impose
ei
upon met grilen if arguing the case twiee.—My
Lords, I *Attire to soy, that there never was an instance
before In ethic!' such an application as this, so brought
forward, was refused.
Mr. Jnstiee HOLIOTD.—ShouId you not lay some
ground, to show a doubt whether the commitment is le-
gal or not? If yeti !avouch grounds, there can be no
doubt as to the authority of the Court to ooler the writ
to issue. If the Court entertains any doubts as to the
legality of the commitment, we would not hesitate.—
The House of Commons state distinctly in their writ the
ground of their commitment. But have we authority to
my, that the Habeas Corpus shall be granted as a matter
of course, unless some ground of doubt as to the legality
of the process is laid before us ?
Mr. E•ANS.—My Lord, I say that the Habeas Corpus
Act contains no such exception, and thatit is peremptory
on the Court to grant the writ forthwith.
Mr. Jnatics Biter.—Yon cannot say that in the ease of
legal custody we are bound to grant the writ in order
that a prisoner may be removed out of that legal ear
Aft'.
M4.lltvarra.—lf it were reqnisite that I should argue
the time now. I persuade myself that I should do so with
effect i but I contend that every prisoner in custody is
entitled to the benefit of this writ, unless in case of
felony and high treason. The Habeas Corpus Act.
31. Car. 11. c. 2, enacts, " That on complaint and in-
quest in writing, by or on behalf of any person mai-
nlined and charged with any crime, except treason or
felony, the Lord Chancellor, or any of the twelve
, upon viewing a ropy of the warrant
copy Is denied, shall award a Habeas
limper, returnable immediately before
ether of the Judges ;" and it is further
-iy such prisoner way niece for and
:orpus as well out of tAtit Chancery
out of the King's Bench or the Com-
. Lord Chancellor or Judges denying
. of the warrant or oath that the sante
flaribit severally to the party grieved'
It is true that mention is made of an
the vacation time, and that the pe-
- be incurred by the Judges in case if
period ; but a fitrtiori it is a matter of
party should have the writ in Term4iine;
exceptions in the Act are the cases of felony
Jtortee.—lt seems to me, that in appli-
motions of this kind the practiet.has been to require,
belbre the writ is granted, some ground to he laid he-
fob the Cowl, affording a reasonable experustion that
lkiltperty will not be remanded; and that when no such
phupect is held out, to refuse the writ. According to
me ekollectiou that has been the ordinary practice.
Bat, inasmuch as this is a question materially alfectiog
liberty of the subject, and in order that nothing
t be done to prejudice that question, without doe
cm iteration, we will either give you the writ sow, or
4
wile von an eppoetsaity or mestitining the ease again
or Tlioreday, when the Cosset is full, and when the Court
may consider whether is ought to great the web balms.
tota, sinless them is mom expectatioo bold mat that the
potty will nor be emminsied.
Mr. Beans.—l beNeve there never was au hostiles* la
*filch the Court rebused the writ in the lest 111111148014
angler any eireentstaaoes, *hen
appliedlest
is nespe4ii
Of tacos I have mentioned. If of great fat
to this Gentleman, that he 'hyoid have the writ new.
' ?Weiner Juartir.-t-Then take the writ. and let him
le htouficht_ a_p on Thuridar.
‘6lOO ',WWI
hf ollid BaYlef hilt Ulrike Court at the time the
-1!It41111i

(erred against him; that he has never been put upon his ; .fudges in vacation,
defence, nor has he bail any opportunity of making a ; or algdavit, that a e
defence to the said charge. The Court having desired Corps for sech prim
the Learned Counsel to . read the Speaker's warrant, he hinatelf, or any °the
did so accordingly..eacticeponinence# with a recital of evesiied, " Thit any
a hicealimium °cam Hoospsiat.
_:iw:.l mat alit his I I abeas I :4
letter, addressed to TI ttttt 1311 Erne, a limper, as au
dation% libel. calculated to i, awe the people of this tedsPPleee, and the
country
.to arts of violence against the Legislature, and ; 'WO ir W o light of
against this House in particular, and that the said libel I is refused, shall fort
was a high contempt of ilie privileges and comithettion the is of WI." I
of Parliament ; and that whereas John ('am Ilobhonse, applhation only in I
Esq. having acknowledged himself to be the author of natty of NMI. is to i
the said libel, and this House having adjudged hint to reale' at that pellet
be silty of a high contempt of the privileges of flat 1 , right, that a party.
House ; and whereas the. said House leaving ordered the I sad the only except',
said John Cam Ilobhouse, fur his said offence, tq ). Dr;* aod treason.
Miffed to his Majesty's gaol of Neirgate; these
,Ifuti ; The Com Jeer