The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-22 00:00:00

THE TRUCK SYSTEM

" During the severe weather in 1841, when soup was dis-
tributed to our poor at a penny a quart, it is a fact, which
came to the knowledge of my curate, that some of the fami-
lies, in the receipt of nominally good wages, actually declined
a ticket for the soup, on the plea that they had not the penny
to pay for it, as they received their wages in goods ! ! "
Another, dated

'• Wolverhampton, April 13, 1842.
" Sir,—ln reply to your inquiry respecting the quality of
the goods sold at the truck shops, I have frequently seen
had salt butter from these shops at 15d. and 16d. while at the
retail shops good was sold at 10d. and 11d. a pound ; the
sugar at 9d., and in one instance at 10d. per pound, not so
good as at 71d. ; flour of a very inferior quality at lls. the
bushel, while I find that at the very time the best was 10s. at
the mill."
Again—

" On the 14th of December a manufacturer was convicted
before the Sheffield magistrates for paying wages in cloth ; he
asked £2 a yard ; the workman gave £1 15s. and sold it for
lls., proved before the magistrates to be its full value, and a
quarter of a yard not fit for use ; fined £lO and costs. Two
more, £5 and costs. [Sir James Graham being here ob-
served " to take a note," the hon. member observed]—No
doubt the right hon. gentleman at the head of the home de-
partment would talk about the law having been thus en-
forced ; but his (Mr. Ferrand's) case was, that for one case
in which the law had been enforced, in 99 it had been success-
fully evaded."
Another, extracted from the Report (p. 552) of H. S.
Chapman, Esq., of the Middle Temple, an assistant com-
missioner for inquiring into the condition of the hand-loom
weavers in 1838 :

" At Idle, where I held a public inquiry for the townships
of Idle, Shipley, Eccleshill, and Bolton, a written statement
was handed in, complaining of the existence of the truck
system at a small hamlet called Windhill, in the first-named
township. It is a fact worthy of notice, that I was begged
not to ask questions on the point, as auy testimony on the
part of a weaver who had suffered from the custom, would
have been followed by loss of employment. I was, however,
assured by many persons, both employers and weavers, that
the allegation was correct. This shows how completely im-
potent is the law, howsoever stringent it may be, where both
employer and employed will consent to violate it. The em-
ployed is compelled to submit ; the constantly overstocked
state of the labour-market places him at the mercy of his
master ; and the same condition prevents him taking a single
step to expose the fraud to which he is subjected. At Chur-
well, south of Leeds, another form of truck was exhibited to
me, as existing at Beeston. where there is a factory employ-
ing between 20 and 30 hand-loom weavers. It is the prac-
tice of the owners of this factory to oblige their weavers to
take part of their hard earnings in cloth, in some cases less
than half being paid in money. "
In concluding a long and able speech, filled with similar
evidence of fraud and oppression, the honourable member
proceeded:—
" Sir, I have done my duty in bringing this question
forward. (Hear, hear.) The responsibility rests upon the
house and on the Government of dealing with the claims for
justice and redress of honest manufacturers and distressed
workmen. (Hear, hear.) If the Government resist the
motion the responsibitity of rejecting it will be theirs. (hear;
hear.) There is, let me assure them, an intense feeling
abroad upon the subject. There are not far distant honest
manufacturers, who have come from the north at their own
expense to give evidence upon this committee, and to declare
that they must be either honest themselves and retire from
trade, or be as dishonest as those who have till now oppres-
sed the poor and disgraced the country. (Hear, hear.)
There are those, not far distant, who are ready before a com-
mittee of this house to substantiate those claims for justice
which there, and there only, they can assert. (Hear, hear.)
In their name I appeal to your justice for that protection
which here alone they can seek, and which here they have an
inalienable right to claim. (Hear.) This motion may be
lost ; but if it be, it will be lost to the serious injury of trade
and commerce ; it will cause heaatrending affliction to thou-
sands of the working classes who are anxiously awaiting
your decision. (Hear.) And ardently I do hope that the Go-
vernment will discharge the duty they owe to the public as
guardians of the country's honour, and of the sovereign's
dignity (feeling that dishonour at home or abroad must sully
the lustre of that sovereign's diadem)—that they will dis-
charge that duty by agreeing to the motion, which I urge on
the unassailable principle that the labourer is worthy of his
hire." (Loud cheers.)

ATTEMPTED MURDER AT ELLESMERE.—On Friday last,
Robert Jones, plumber and glazier, was committed to
Shrewsbury gaol, by Sir J. R. Kynaston, bart. for trial at
the next assizes, charged with an attempt on the life of his
employer, Mrs. Elizabeth Simister, of Ellesmere. The
prosecutrix is the window of a painter and glazier, and the
prisoner had been in her service as journeyman for some time.
It is said that Jones had solicited the hand of his mistress in
marriage ; and, on her refusing, he uttered threats that she
should remember it. On Wednesday week he absented
himself from work during the day; and, about ten o'clock
the same night, he went to his employer's house. Mrs,
Simister asked where he had been till that time, and in
reply received a heavy blow on the head from a plumbing-
iron, which felled her to the ground. Jones then went to
the house of the constable, and stated that he bad killed his
mistress ; but the officer thought he was merely jesting,
and refused to take him. Mrs. Simister had in the mean
time, crawled to a neighbour's house; and alarm being given,
the constable apprehended the prisoner.—Shrewsbury Chro-
nicle.

CURIOUS COINCIDENCES CONCERNING THE LETTER C,
AS CONNECTED WITH THE LAMENTED PRINCESS CHAR-
LoTTE.---Her mother's name was Caroline ; her own name
was Charlotte ; that of her consort Coburg ; she was married
at Carlton-house ; her town residence was at Camelford-
house ; Lord Carnelford was ultimately killed in a duel; her
country residence Claremont, formerly the property of Lord
Clive; she died in childbed ; the name of her accoucheur
being Croft.

LIVERPOOL ANI) MANCHESTER. RAILWAY►

A special roeeting of the proprietors of the Liverpool and

Manchester Railway was held on Wednesday, for the pur-
pose of hearing the report of the directors, touching the result
of their negociations with the Manchester and Leeds and the
Manchester and Birmingham Companies, with a view to the
attainment of the best practicable scheme for connecting the
several railways at Manchester, in conformity with the reso-
lutions passed at the special general meeting of the company
on the 15th ultimo. Charles Lawrence, Esq. presided.
The Treasurer read the report, the circular accompanying
which stated, that there was a diversity of opinion amongst
the members of the board as to the most expedient course to
be pursued at the present juncture relative to the above sub-
ject. The report set forth that the Manchester and Leeds
Company persevered in their avowed intention of completing
the line to Hunt's Bank, and declined altogether the offers of
mediation or reference proposed by the Liverpool and Man-
chester Company. The directors of the latter had requested
an interview with the directors of the Manchester and Bir-
mingham, as equally interested with themselves. The Man-
chester and Birmingham considered any discussion of no avail,
stating that " their engagements with the Alanchester and
beds company were such, that they scarcely thought a
meeting for the purpose of discussing the question of a south-
ern junction, at Manchester, would lead to any practical re-
sult." It was thus evident, that if the Liverpool and Man-
chester Company proceeded with the southern junction line
to Store-street, it must be, not only without co-operation,
but probably with the decided hostility of the two companies
most immediately interested in the scheme, and with whom
the proposed junction was to be made. The report proceeds
to express the regret of the directors, their opinions as to the
desirableness of co-operation in the southern line remaining
unchanged, that the condition of such co-operation was un-
attainable. It became a question of anxious consideration
with-the directors what course, under the peculiar circum-
stances of the case, it was their duty to recommend to the
proprietors. It was at this stage of the proceedings that the
chairman and deputy-chairman intimated to the directors,
that they believed it was still practicable to obtain from the
Manchester and Leeds and Manchester and Bolton Compa-
nies such terms and arrangements for an amended line from
Ordsall-lane through the vacant land of the Manchester and
Bolton Company to New Bailey-street, and thence by the
parliamentary line to Hunt's Bank, as would, in their opi-
nion, be satisfactory to the proprietors, and consequently
such as it would be expedient under all the circumstances of
the case to accept. The chairman and deputy-chairman hav-
ing been empowered to confer with the other parties inte-
rested, they reported to the board, and the result was, the de-
termination to recommend to the proprietors the adoption of
the following resolution :
_.

" That the directors be hereby empowered to proceed with
the negotiations and arrangements now pending with other
companies and parties interested, and to take the necessary
steps by application to parliament in the present session for
an extension of time for the purchase of land, should such a
course be deemed expedient, and to enter into such contracts,
and do all such other matters and things as may be necessary
or expedient for carrying into full effect and operation the-
formation and completion of the proposed Hunt's Bank
Junction Line, in conformity with the report now received
and approved by this meeting."
The CHAIRMAN said the report 'had now been before the
proprietors some days. The directors had felt it to be their
duty to lay it before them as early as possible, in order that
it might be duly considered before they were asked for their
decision. The answer of the proprietors was of the greatest
importance, and it was a matter of regret that they (the
directors) did not come before them as an united board.
There was a difference of opinion amongst them, and they
thought it due to the proprietors to state the same in the cir-
cular. The Chairman proceeded to state his unchanged opinion
regarding the merits of the southern line, but as they could
not get other parties to co-operate with them, or to coincide
in their views, they were compelled with the prospect of the
decided opposition of a powerful body on the one hand, and
that of the support of that body on the other, to decide upon
going hand i❑ hand with the other parties interested. He
thought these views had been taken by the public at large,
as had been indicated in the fall of shares, when it was per-
ceived that these interests were not united, and their advance,
when it was observed that matters were in a train for ad-
justment. He thought it his duty to state that they had
met with much kindness and support from the Manchester,
and Leeds, and Bolton, and Bury Companies.
Mr. Moss stated that he was one of those who had voted
with the majority, and he justified himself in the course he
had taken. He was aware that he was open to the charge of
inconsistency, since he had been one of the strongest advocates
for the station in Store-street, but he saw no inconsistency
in abandoning a position that was untenable. Mr. Moss
concluded by moving the resolution recommended by the
directors.

Mr. ROBERT BENSON, jun. moved, as an amendment,
three clauses or resolutions, which he read to the meeting.
The first was to the effect that the line via Store-street was
preferable to that via Hunt's Bank ; the second that the com-
pany did not know that they were called upon to extend
their railway to the proposed terminus of the Leeds Railway ;
and the third that as the company had always been anxious
to consult the convenience of the public, if the Leeds com-
pany concluded themselves to execute the line, this company
would give them every facility of effecting a junction with
their railway.

Mr. DAVID HODGSON said that, as himself and others had
been placed in rather an extraordinary position as directors,
the circumstance called for an explanation on the part of
those who formed a very large minority on the present ques-
tion, before the meeting took any part in the division. The
directors had been, and were, very harmonious as gentle-
men assembled at one board, but it was their position on the
present occasion to have from reasoning, and not from feel-
ing, decidedly different views in forming the projected junc-
tion. Therefore, painful as it might be to dissent without
feeling, it was the duty of the directors to say that they would
carry out what the meeting might decide upon, and to let
their reasons and views be known before the proprietors
adopted any measure whatever. No smaller a majority out
of a board of thirteen than five were distinctly of opinion that
the position in which they were, was such that the meeting
ought not be solicited to adopt any particular course what-
ever, but simply to receive the explanation of the difficulties
of the directors, and asked simultaneously to fix the mode
by which they would wish to arrive at as unbiassed conclu-
sion. He was aware that it had been the practise of the pro-
prietors to be guided by the recommendations of the board,
who had always desired to carry out whatever might be fit
for the interests of the concern. It seemed to the five that
the meeting should not be placed in the ordinary prejudging
position of having statements laid before them. They were
all agreed that for public convenience there could be no
question of the desirability of a junction; but it was equally
honest to state that there had been no pecuniary return ever
attempted to be shown to the board that ought to induce the
meeting as proprietors to make any junction whatever.
Therefore, it was to be taken as regulated by some other
principle; and he must in all candour state that the prin-
ciple on which they were acting was one upon which
he never liked to act. He called it, not expediency, but
fear. They had been most extraordinarily alarmed by
a threat, as he believed got up for the occasion, of a
north line. First of all they were told that the Leeds com-
pany would come down to Hunt's-bank, deepen the Irwell,
and retain a controul over the rates of the present com-
pany, by having the option of sending their goods by water
conveyance or railroad; but they soon found out that it
would be well to superadd the threat of a north line, if the
Liverpool and Manchester company would not make the
junction at Hunt's Bank. The reason given the proprietors
now for making the junction with the Hunt's Bank, though
it had not been exactly put forward, was, that if they did not
do so, they would be exposed to the north line, and that
their combination with influential parties in Manchester
might stave off that line. Many thought there was no pros-
pect of a north line being made, on any ground of remunera-
ting those who undertook it, but the animosity of the people
of Manchester was so much raised, and their carelessness
for money was so great that they would make the north line
whether it paid them or not. He would not allude to the
vulgar malice of those who wished for such a plan, neither
would he attribute to the manufacturers and others of Man-
chester the desire to gratify such a feeling, by the adoption
of such a course. He feared not the north line, but, if he
did, the very fact of a project of combination, designed for
the purpose of taking away that which really would be an
accommodation to the public, would be an additional motive
with him for proceeding. He, therefore, could not acquiesce
in this view of the case. He was not prepared to give up the
making of the line in Store-street in despair, neither was he
disposed to believe that it could not be accomplished. From
the information he had received he was unprepared to believe
that a large proportion of the people of Manchester were in
favour of the Hunt's Bank, on the contrary, he had been
informed that many of them liked the other better. He
wished the proprietors- to make their connexion with the
Hunt's Bank, provided they could show any reasonable
security for such a step, in connexion with moderate expen-
diture and return. But he reminded them that no attempt
had been made to lay before the board any estimate whatever
of any return. _

The CHAIRMAN interrupted the speaker. Full accounts
had been laid before the board of the traffic.

Mr. HODGSON stood corrected. He certainly had seen a
small estimate which was made out by their treasurer. He
thought the estimate of £225,000 for the Hunt's Bank junc-
tion considerably under the mark, and that they might safely
say it would cost £300,000. When their railway had cost
them £1.400,000, and that they were now about to add one-
fifth to the original cost, it behoved them to pause and not
to be too precipitate. Their act of parliament had, more-
over, been nearly run out, and their legal adviser would tell
them not to take any step upon their present act, lest they
might irretrievably commit themselves ; but to go to parlia-
ment and seek to get a suspension of the standing orders, as
a sort of preparatory matter. He could not see any neces-
sity for all the present haste, and he believed the necessity
had sprung out of fear of the north line. If a couple of
years' time and consideration were afforded the proprietors,
matters would proceed in a mach more satisfactory manner ;
but if the junction must be made, he bail no objection to
see others apply to parliament and expend their money on it
if they liked. The proprietors of the Liverpool and Man-
chester Railway were not bound to make a junction. They
had their railroad ; and though he desired public convenience
yet he did not like public convenience at the sacrifice of
private speculation. He denied that the fall in the price of
shares and their subsequent rise were at all attributable to
the reasons stated by the chairman. He stated that the
division in the board was as 7 to 8, two of the absent mem-
bers having been known to unite in opinion with the minor ity.
The five who voted in the minority represented directly 2,134
shares, and the eight who voted in the majority only repre-
sented directly 231 shares, being about one-tenth part of the
interest of the others.
In reply to a question from Mr. HARDMAN EARLE, Mr.
HODGSON said he included in the minority the shares of the
Duke of Sutherland. The number of the Duke of Suther-
land's shares is 1950.

Mr. HARDMAN EARLE seconded the resolution proposed
by Mr. Moss. He confessed he Was one of those who were
strongly impressed with the necessity of going to Store-
street. He was decidedly in favour of it as the best line, and
still continued of that opinion. Mr. Hodgson said they had
been determined to adopt the present resolution by fear. He
thought fear was the wrong term, and that discretion would
much better express the true motive which had instigated
them. He had already, in a former conversation with Mr.
Hodgson, reminded him that "discretion is the better part
of valour." Mr. Earle went on to show that there was every
probability, if this proposition were not agreed to, that a
northern line would be made.
Mr. SANDARS, after stating that he still held the southern
line to be the best, said he was justified in changing his views
when he found that a body, which would be decidedly hostile
under one set of circumstances, would be friendly under ano-
ther. If they carried the line to Store-street they would not
have any goods to carry, and the outlay would be useless.
He had communicated with Mr. Stephenson, the engineer,
who had shown him that every foot of the northern line had
been laid out. The coal owners were most anxious for that
line, and would have it made if they lost 10 per cent by their
shares. There would, if this proposition was adopted, be
no excuse for making such a line.
Mr. W. GARNETT, of Manchester, at some length ex-
pressed his hostility to the resolution, and his decided ap-
proval of the Store-street line. He thought at least they
ought to leave the Manchester and Leeds to come to them.
If they thought proper to come to their railway, as a sort of
tributary stream, there could be no objection : on the con-
trary, it would be a very valuable acquisition.
Mr. ALsTos said it would be impossible for the proprietors
to come'to a decision on a matter that bad been so suddenly
brought before them. The case was one of great difficulty,
and he for one could not decide at once, and he would not
vote that day. He moved that the matter be postponed for
a month.
The Rev. H. FORMBY seconded the motion.

Mr, Dumas Riasioaxx ipeka gooney Rant the
resolution,

The CHAIRMAN said, if the matter were postponed it
would be in effect giving up the agreement to go to Hunt's
Bank ; it would be tantamount to deciding against it.
Mr. SANDS hoped the proprietors would have more respect
for their property, than to vote for an amendment which
would put a stop to the pending arrangement, whereby all
things would be amicably settled.

M. ALSTON insisted on his amendment being put.
The amendment was put and negatived by a large majority.
Mr. BENSON withdrew his amendment, when the original
motion was put, and carried by a large majority.
The meeting broke up at three o'clock.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

The Dock Committee held their weekly meeting yesterday,
when the following members were present,—Messrs. Sands
(chairman), Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Chilton, Sand-
Mich, Middleton, Molyneux, Nicol, Thltor, Bulley, Smith,
Evans, Tobin, Shand, Martin, and Ripley.
The Sub-committee of Works presented a comparative
estimate of the cost of coping Salthouse Dock with granite
and sandstone. For granite the cost would be £2946; and
for sand stone £773. After some conversation on the dura-
bility of the two sorts of stone, the committee decided that
granite should be adopted. •
The shed, used for wrecked goods, on the west side of
Waterloo Dock, was, on the report of the Surveyor, ordered
to be repaired and flagged with Yorkshire flags.
The tender of Messrs. Filcher and Son for sperm oil was
accepted.

Tile Sub-committee of Works reported that Mr. Laird of
Birkenhead had undertaken to send in a specification of the
intended new iron lightship ; after which, if approved, tenders
would be sent out to the several builders, Mr. Laird among
the rest. The estimates would be laid before the committee
next week.

A resolution from the Paving and Sewering Board, acced-
ing to the request of this committee to be permitted to lay
down a railway across Regent-street, for the purpose of
conveying the materials excavated from the new dock to the
north shore, was read, and ordered to be acknowledged.
On the recommendation of the Watch Committee, Police
Superintendent William Nevitt was accepted as tenant of the
apartments at the central police-station, lately occupied by
Superintendent Quick.

A letter from Mr. Edward Heath, asserting a right to com-
pensation for some demage done to a locomotive engine, by
the breaking of a crane chain, as it was being put on board
the brig Perseverance, for Trieste, for the use of the Vienna
Railway, was read. The committee denied their liability,
and after some conversation the letter was referred to the
Sub•committee for the Department of the Marine Surveyor.
Mr. SANDBACH stated that a great deal of the excavations
now being carted away from the dock works consisted of very
fine marl. It was splendid blue marl, and perhaps the Sur.
veyor would say how good it was for land.
The SURVEYOR said that if he had a farm four or five miles
from town-be would certainly cart some of this marl away
rerit. There was a prejudice, however, against it, because
some of it contained copper, but that did not apply to all.
Mr. RIPLEY asked whether some remarkable oak trees
had not been found during the excavations.

The SURVEYOR said they were not oak trees, but oak piles,
which were put down in 1740.

Mr. HORSFALL said Mr. Ripley might have a whole log,
if he choose, and make snuff boxes out of it.
The committee then separated.

KIRKDALE QUARTER SESSIONS

The General Quarter Sessions of the peace for the Hun-
dred of West Derby commenced in the Court House, Kirk-
dale, yesterday, before the Rev. Jonathan Brookes, chair-
man, and a full bench of magistrates.
The following gentlemen were sworn the Grand Jury :
James Spencer Steers, Esq., of Halewood,
Wm. Edward Richardson, of Much Woolton,
James Langton, of Much Woolton,
William Lassell, of Much Woolton,
James R. Jeffrey, of Much Woolton,
James Kelshaw, of Little Woolton,
William Lewin, of Little Woolton,
Thomas Teeby, of Winstanley,
John. Cross, of Windle,
Lee Watson, of Windle,
Samuel Robinson, of Windle,
James Vicars, of West Leigh,
Robert Naylor, of Haigh,
Isaac Moss, of Halewood,
Thomas Hornby, of Huyton-with-Roby,
Robert Prescott, of Ormskirk,
George Walker, of Halton,
Robert Neilson, of Halewood,
John Dennison, of Little Woolton.

The CHAIRMAN, in his address to the Grand Jury, ex-
pressed his regret that the calendar should contain solmany
felonies. There were above a hundred cases which they
would have to consider. He had gone through the whole of
them as well as he had been able, but he did not find any
case in which they would find any difficulty. Should they,
however, meet with any, the court would be glad to render
them all the assistance in its power.
. The Grand Jury then retired to their room, and the trials
commenced about one o'clock, but nothing of interest occur-
red during the day.

The calendar contains the names of 97 persons for trial on
charges of felony, and :seven for misdemeanours and as-
saults. The offences generally are not, as the chairman
observed, very weighty ; but on reviewing the calendar with
reference to the education received by each of the accused,
the mind is struck by the very serious want of the elements
of knowledge among them. For instance, there are 51, or
nearly one-half the whole number, who can neither read nor
write, and among these are the oldest and the youngest pri-
soners for triaf, the former being a man of 68 and the latter
a girl of 10. There are 21 who can read imperfectly, 21 who
can read and write imperfectly, and the • small proportion of
only eight who are able to read write well. These are facts
which speak for themselvas as to the necessity of increasing
the means of scriptural education among the poor.

ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

[We have received the following communication from M.
Lafontaine. As the original is in the French lancuage,
we have rendered
it into English, supposing it will be more
ders.--ED. L. S.]
acceptable to the generality of our rea

TO THE EDITOR OrTHE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR,—You have inserted in your valuable journal letters
against magnetism. Will you have the justice to insert a
few words in its favour?
Magnetism is an immense problem, that has been the
subject of debate for nearly a century throughout Europe.
The Academy at Paris has exerted all its energy without
being able to give it a solution. On the contrary, day by
day it has been more perplexed by new changes and marvel-
lous phenomena. At the present time many learned
men
reject it, it is true ; but a learned man makes up his mind
with difficulty to understand a positive innovation, when it
humiliates and dethrones him. The Cartesian tenets wres-
tled a long time in France against the old universities before
obtaining their rights ; latterly they themselves have repelled
the principles of the Newtonian philosophy. In other places
tobacco, coffee, emetics, vaccination, and even potatoes,
have had their time of persecution. The inventor of brandy
(eau de vie)—was he not burnt for a sorcerer? The disco-
verer of the properties of steam—was he not imprisoned as
a fool? Galileo, for having found out the system of the
world=was he not dragged barefooted into the forum of
modern Rome, and compelled to deny his theory? Para-
celsus, Volta, Fulton, Gall, and very lately Priesetnitz the
hydropathist, and all those who have presented themselves
with truth in hand at the door of the mighty Bedlam (Char-
renton) which we call the world—have they not been received
with blows, stones, and execrations? All the great discove-
ries—have they not been for a time under the ban of nations,
and obliged to pass a long quarantine at the doors of science
and civilisation ?

It is thus with magnetism, which is ridiculed, rejected,
and denied. Had we lived two centuries back, we should
have been burned. There exists in magnetism phenomena
so extraordinary, that even now a fear exists to put faith in
it. The human understanding is so backward, so limited,
and man is yet so far from being in the place he ought to
occupy, the human mind receives in every period forms so
different, good and evil vary so frequently, that there is
hardly anything in what is called truth but has something in
it apparently impossibilities. The bounds of possibility have
already been so extended since the times of Pythagoras and
Aristotle, that we cannot reasonably assign them a position.
The effects produced by magnetism are extraordinary, ne-
vertheless we find them almost all in certain diseases. It is
thus in natural catalepsy, in natural somnambulism : we find
the insensibility of the body, insensibility of the senses to
exterior impressions ; the transposition of feeling and the
sight piercing through opaque bodies.
_ _

•- •
Magnetisers are treated as impostors (charlatans). Impos-
tors act in the dark and in secret; magnetisers, on the con-
trary, have always addressed themselves to scientific bodies—
to academies—for the purpose of provoking an inquiry. They
have appealed to all learned men, and, far from engrossing
the secrets of magnetism, they make it known to all. You
who are incredulous, do as we do—examine, practise, and
soon facts will convince you. It is a remarkable circum-
stance that, amongst those who are opposed to magnetism,
there is not one who has examined or practised it. It is only
when subjected to serious and frequent examination, and often
having practised it themselves, that its partisans arrive at a
profound belief in it.
A remark not unworthy to be made is, that it is not
amongst the people that magnetism is spread : they hardly
know it even by name. It is amongst a class of men who
have received a certain education, men of great merit, who,
having opposed it, have become converted, and written books
which we now possess. These are medical men—naturalists
—who, by their position, could not be,attacked for charlata-
nism. Vbrould that those who oppose it—who are incredu-
lous—would follow my advice; that they would take the
trouble to examine without prepossession. They should mag-
netise persons themselves amongst their friends, and they
would soon discover that magnetism is a truth.

I have had the happiness to make a second deaf and dumb
boy hear, who absolutely heard nothing, not even a pistol
cap fired at his ear. The first has made a progress that the
public will have an opportunity of appreciating.—l am, sir,
your's, LAFONTAINE.
George Hotel, April 18th.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert has accepted the ap-
pointment of Warden of the Stannaries and Chief Steward
of the Ducby in Cornwall and Devon. The salary and
emoluments hitherto attached to this important office have
been abolished by his Royal Highness's desire.
We are enabled to announce that all the preliminaries are
now finally arranged for the marriage of the Hon. Miss Stu-
art, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of his Excel-
lency Lord Stuart de Rothesay, the British ambassador ater-
W St. Petersburg, with the Most Noble the Marquis of
ford. By the last cornier froTtheernbassy, who reached
town, from St. Petersburg, on Monday last, the consent and
approbation of Lord
Stuart,, which_ alone was wanting and
waited for, to the completion of a happy union, so entirely
one of pure affection, has been received. Without intending
to wound susceptibilities or delicacy anywhere, it may be
mentioned now, as a well-known fact, that there is, perhaps,
no lady in the land who has declined so many noble and
otherwise desirable alliances, and refused the hand of so many
distinguished personages, as the amiable and beauteous bride
of Lord Waterford that is to be; and it is no small honour
to the noble marquis to have carried off the prize from so
many competitors.
THE EMANCIPATION OF THE BLACKS OP BRITAIN.—The
act to abolish chimney-sweeping by the "living machine"
conies into force on the Ist of July ; and after that period we
trust we shall not again be called upon to record the violent
deaths of poor and helpless children, who too often, to escape
a fierce and blistering fire, have clambered upwards in a
horrid and tortuous flue, and found a frightful death amid
stifling vapours and burning
i soot. Her Majesty, it is ru-
moured, took great interest n, and expressed great sympathy
for, these much oppressed infants ; and to so high a source
may doubtless be ascribed the hastening of a measure which
has been so long retarded. The act has, however, passed ;
and it is alike creditable to the country and honourable' to the
humane persons concerned, to learn that, with a view to carry
out this enlightened measure, capital has called in the aid of
science, and a machine has been invented which will for ever
prevent the posibility of, a return to this barbarous practice
alluded to. The apparatus is termed the " Ramoneur," and,
from what we are informed, is admirably adapted to the ob-
jects in view, and will obviate the necessity of altering the
construction of chimneys.