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    THE IEADEB, [No. 335, Saturday, m 1tJ ¦ ...

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    AMKRICA. JVIlt. Bkookh, tho bravo who st...

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    IRELAND. Government Patkonaqe.—-The appo...

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    The Adulteration Of Food, &C The Final R...

    Sr ^ Sal ^^ S ^ ee £ Pt ? SSrLe qualifications , the law should be clear anTpo ^ iVe in forbidding adulteration , and m ^^^ rSr pro ^ r ^ Wslation has not kept naceiSb the ingenuity of fraud , which has not scrupled Fa Hail itself of every improvement in chemistry or the arts which could subserve its purpose . Although , however the means of adulteration have greatly increased , so also , fortunately , have the facilities for detection , especially by the improved use of the microscope , which has been employed by Dr . Hassall and others with signal success . ... " It has been suggested that the prevention of adulterations in food might be accomplished by an extension of the system of the Board of Inland Revenue ; but your committee are of opinion that no machinery for this purpose will work satisfactorily unless the agents employed derive their authority from corporate or other local governing bodies . "It will be desirable , therefore , to empower municipal or other local or district authorities to appoint an officer , or officers , who on complaint made , or in cases of reasonable suspicion , shall procure portions of any article supposed to be adulterated , with a view to their examination or analysis by some duly qualified person appointed

    for that purpose . On the report of such , persons , if it confirm the suspicion of adulteration , a summons shall he i 3 sued and the case be investigated before the justices , who shall have power to inflict summary punishment , by fine or imprisonment , in every case where pecuniary fraud or danger to health shall have been proved . The justices should also be empowered to publish the names of offenders It is essential that a right of appeal should lie to the Court of Quarter Sessions . With regard to coloured confectionary , your committee recommend that authority should be given to local boards of health , or other governing bodies , to forbid the use , for colouring , of all mineral matter and all poisonous vegetable matter . "

    The Committee suggest that one or more scientific analyzers should be appointed under the authority of the General Board of Health , and that the same Board should from time to time issue information as to the nature of the adulterations of articles of food , & c , injurious to health . The want of special education among chemists and druggists is pointed out ; but the decision of the question of licenses the Committee think may be deferred " till it be seen how far the efforts of the Pharmaceutical Society and a more general system of inspection may prove successful . " The report thus concludes : — " Though not coming strictly within the scope of the inquiry entrusted to them , your committee cannot forbear calling attention to the evidence concerning patent medicines , the sale of poisons , and the state of the pharmacopoeias of the three kingdoms .

    " With regard to patent medicines , there can be no doubt that the public health is endangered by the use of several of these compounds ; and your committee are of opinion that the stamp duty , by giving them a seeming Government sanction , has an injurious influence in encouraging their sale and consumption , and should be abandoned , whenever this can be done with a due regard to the wants of the public revenue . " The unrestricted sale of poisons is a matter of pressing importance , and deserves the early attention of the legislature . At the present moment the most violent poisons may be universally sold , without any restriction , except such as is afforded by the sense of moral responsibility on the part of the dealer . It is needless to point

    put the serious consequences which frequently ensue from this unrestrained freedom . To take a familiar instance—it is stated in evidence that the essential oil of bitter almonds , and what is called almond flavour , ' of various strengths , and containing highly dangerous ^ elements , are openly and commonly sold for culinary purposes , and , in the hands of servants wholly ignorant of their properties , used in quantities often dangerous , and sometimes fatal . It is well worthy of consideration whether the sale of poisons should not bo forbidden , unless under the authority of a medical prescription , or under such conditions , as to witnesses and formal entries of the names and addresses of purchasers , as may secure the needful amount of caution .

    " The evil arising from the existence of three distinct , and , in some important instances , widely differing pharmacopoeias for the three kingdoms , is one too evident to need enforcement . The result is , that many of the prescriptions of one country ore not only inefficacious , but Vften absolutely dangerous , if made up in either of tho other * ., One of tho witnesses states that an Edinburgh f ^^ WttW n containing a solution of morphia , made up in LopdoD , would involve the patient's taking twice tho quantity W aded . On . tho other hand , a patient taking pruflBlc ac \ 4 Under , an Edinburgh prescription , made up in ^ ° " d ^ n > ifWWt p taking only half tho quantity intended , tn © Sal ^ burg ^ pruBBic acid being twice tho Strength oTUm pjrt » i « Ho > ld of tho London pharma-^ v , , &*? ^ ;* M > h can bo remedied only by tn , e combined eftWof the , medical authorities of Kng-•' W $ ^ X % ^* ^ »* BUbJoct flhould '

    ^ THE UNITED STATES ON THE RIGHT OF PRIVATEERING . A despatch from Mr . Marcy to the Count de Sartiges , Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of France at Washington , has been published . It has reference to the regulations with respect to privateering and to neutrals agreed to at the Paris Congress ; and it expresses the dissent of the American Government from the arrangement by which it is proposed to abolish privateering . The United States , explains Mr . Marcy , have always

    regarded large standing armies and powerful navies as " detrimental to national prosperity and dangerous to civil liberty , " on account of their requiring a burdensome outlay to keep them up , and of their being " a menace to peace among nations , " by offering " a temptation to rush into war . " America has depended for her safety upon volunteer troops on land , and upon her mercantile marine at sea . She cannot , therefore , consent to give up privateeringa mode of warfare which , has been sanctioned by many high authorities , including those of France .

    " It certainly ought not to excite the least surprise that strong naval powers should be willing to forego the practice , comparatively useless to them , of employing privateers , upon condition that weaker powers agree to part with their most effective means of defending their maritime rights . It is , in the opinion of this Government , to be seriously apprehended that if the use of privateers be abandoned , the dominion over the seas will be rendered to those powers which adopt the policy and have the means of keeping up large navies . The one which has a decided naval superiority would be potentially the mistress of the ocean , and by the abolition of privateering that domination would be more firmly

    secured . Such a power engaged in a war with a nation inferior in naval strength would have nothing to do for the security and protection of its commerce but to look after the ships of the regular navy of its enemy . These might be held in check by one-half , or less , of its naval force , and the other might sweep the commerce of its enemy from the ocean . Nor would the injurious effects of a vast naval superiority to weaker states be much diminished if that superiority was shaTed among three or four great powers . It is unquestionably the interest of such weaker states to discountenance and resist a measure which fosters the growth of regular naval establishments . "

    History is referred to , to show that when , at an early period , France , without a navy , had to encounter England and Spain with large armaments , she gained signal successes by obtaining privateers from Holland . Mr . Marcy Iay 3 it down as a rule that " thos 3 who may have at any time a control on the ocean will be strongly tempted to regulate its use in a manner to subserve their own interests and ambitious projects , " and that " a predominant Power upon the ocean is more menacing to the well-being of others than such a Power on land . "

    " The President therefore proposes to add to the first proposition in the ' Declaration' of the Congress at Paris the following words : — ' And that the private property of the subjects or citizens of a belligerent on the high seas shall be exempted from seizure by public armed vessels of the other belligerent , except it be contraband . ' Thus amended , the Government of the United States will adopt it , together with the other three principles contained in that ' Declaration . ' " I am directed to communicate the approval of tho President to the second , third , and fourth propositions , independently of the first , should tho amendment be unacceptable . The amendment is commended by so many powerful considerations , and the principle which calls for it has so long had the emphatic sanction of all onlightened nations in military operations on land , that the President is reluctant to believe it will meet with

    any serious opposition . Without the proposed modification of tho first principle he cannot convince himself that it would be wise or safe to change tho existing law in regard to the right of privateering . " If tho amendment should not bo adopted , it will be proper for the United States to have somo understanding in regard to tho treatment of their privatoora when they shall have occasion to visit tho ports of those Powers which are or may become parties to the declaration of tho Congress of Paris . Tho United States will , upon tho ground of right and comity , claim for thorn the same consideration to which they are entitled , and which was extended to them , under tho law of nations , beforo tho attempted modification of it by that Congress . "

    The Ieadeb, [No. 335, Saturday, M 1tj ¦ ...

    THE IEADEB , [ No . 335 , Saturday , m 1 tJ ¦ — -- — — ' ' ' — — — ,.- . — — — -i — . — _ _ M — . —^^—^— ¦ ¦ i _

    Amkrica. Jvilt. Bkookh, Tho Bravo Who St...

    AMKRICA . JVIlt . Bkookh , tho bravo who struck down Mr . Sumnor in the Senate , and who who turned out of tho House of Reprcscntativoa on account of that piece of rufllaninm , has been ro-oloctod by his constituents , tho South Cajoliniana , by tho unusually l ^ rgo number of 7900 votes , without , it it ) stated , ono Uiuucntioat voice . This must be regarded uh an act of open hoHlillty , on tho part of South Carolina , to tho majority of tho House of Repro-Hontativos . Another event , of a cmnilarly disroputablo character , is tho ro-oloction to Congreas , for California , of Mr . Herbert , tho man who shot an Irish waitor . but

    who was acquitted of that crime . The Kansas question is decided , so far as the Senate is concerned , ¦ by the rejection both of Mr . Whitfield ( the pro-3 lavery candidate ) and Mr . Keeder ( the Republican free labour candidate ) . The Army and Navy Appropriation Bills have passed through Congress . The Governor of California has made a requisition to the Federal Government for assistance against the Vigilance Committee ; but the Washington Cabinet has refused , upon technical grounds , to interfere . The District Attorney for New York has been authorized to offer a pardon to Wagner , convicted of illegal enlistment and to order a discontinuance of further legal proceedings against other parties implicated in that matter . Another dreadful steamboat accident has occurred , the John Jay having been burnt upon Lake George , with the loss of several lives .

    Tranquillity is said to be again restored in Venezuela . An alarming fire broke out at Belize on the 17 th of July , which completely destroyed about fifty houses , the Jesuits' church , the Custom-house stores , and a large quantity of logwood , which was lying on the banks of the river . The United States Consul ' s residence was among the houses burnt . The coast of Valparaiso has been desolated by severe storms and floods . The British and North American Royal mail steamship Persia , C II . E . Judkins Commander , arrived in the Mersey on the evening of Friday week with advices from New York to the 6 th inst . The Persia has in this instance accomplished the most remarkable feat in

    maritime history , having traversed the distance between New York and Liverpool—about 3200 miles—in little more than nine days . A letter from the Irish " patriot , " John Mitchell , has been published in the New York papers , urging his countrymen in the United States to vote for Mr . Buchanan , as " the only candidate who stands on the broad , free constitution , " and as a man who will resist faction from within , and " the common enemy from without—I mean of course the British Government , my enemy , thy enemy , his enemy , our enemy , your enemy , their enemy , and the enemy of mankind . " Mr . Mitchell must certainly have found himself out of breath after he had finished that sentence .

    In the New York stock-market , the tendency is still downward . There is no change in cotton . Breadstuffs are firm . Freights to Liverpool are rather firmer .

    Ireland. Government Patkonaqe.—-The Appo...

    IRELAND . Government Patkonaqe . — -The appointment of Clerk of the Hanaper in Ireland , vacated by the death of Mr , C . Fitzsimon , has been conferred upon Mr . John O'Connell , M . P ., brother-in-law of the last possessor of the office . Representation of Clonmel . —Two candidates for the seat about to be vacated by Mr . John O'Conuell have issued their electoral addresses . The first is from Mr . John Bogwell , of Marlfield , the virtual proprietor of

    the borough ; the second is from Mr . Patrick Joseph Murray , of Dublin , a Roman Catholic gentleman , who declares himself an enthusiastic advocate of Repeal . The other candidate is a Protestant , but opposed to the endowment of the Church of England in Ireland , an advocate of the grant to Maynooth , and a supporter of liberal measures generally . It is thought that he will receive the countenance of the Roman Catholic priests . There are also three other candidates , including Mr . John Reynolds , formerly member for Dublin .

    LA . WYKIIS IN THE HoUSK OF COMMONS . Mr . JailltiS O'Connell's attack upon Irish gentlemen of tho legal profession holding scats in the House of Commons has elicited a sharp rejoinder from the member for Dundulk , in which there arc these passages : — "I perceive that in proposing Lord Castlorosso you made some very uncivil and illiberal remarks on myself . You boasted yourself a ' country gentleman , ' and , by way of contrast , sneered at' a Mr . Bowycr , a lawyer , ' among others . Now , you are not perhaps aware that 1 am the eldest son of ono of the oldest baronets in tho kingdom , and owner of 6000 areas of land . It so happens also that , though I have the honour to be a member of tho bar , I do not practise . " From this , it is pretty evident that Mr . Bowyer would rather bo considored a gentleman than a lawyer .

    Scarcity of Lauouu . —Notwithstanding the rot urn of tho men forming the various militia regiments to their ordinary avocations , thero irt a Hcuroity of labour . In tho south of tho island , tho lowest rate of waged for men is two shillings a day ; for women , one shilling . The Education Question . —It is announced that tho National Board of Education are about to establish in tho city of Cork a maritime achool for the touching of navigation . Ono of thcao wohoolri i . i »«> w being erected in Belfast , and tho Harbour Coinmitmionors ol Limerick Harbour have oilered a site to tho board lor tho erection of a Hiiuilur institution .

    This Tutkuaky Bank . —A circular Iuih bison issued by tho Poor Law Coinmimiionorti to those unions which had unfortunately their uccouiitu with the Tippmnry Joint Stock Bank , informing them of the op inion of the Solicitor-Uoucral »» to ( ho mode of apportioning thi losaoa incurred by its failure . Tho learned g « ntJ « inaii utatoa that tho aaaota of the unlou . s consisting of canh , the date of payment l > eiii # htopped , ulioiild bo n . ¦ >«< ' !' tained as actually bulongiiig to each electorul divi-

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 23, 1856, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23081856/page/4/