suading the public that they are in possession of some newly-found panacea, which, if it have not the power of conferring immortality, has yet the virtue of imparting to those who take large doses of it, the means of attaining a most patriarchal age. It is really astonishing how eagerly mankind pursue even the shadow of what seems to lead to a realization of their desires, and no sooner does one prove to be an illusion than they are ready to chase the next that comes across their path.

Leaving the speculations of the visionary and the nostrums of the quack, we must speak of that which more immediately comes under our notice in the present instance, viz., the "Influence of Manufactures upon Health and Life." It has been the general belief that death is greatly accelerated amongst those who are employed in our large manufactories by the confined and unwholesome atmosphere in which they labour, and by the nature of the employments themselves. This is a subject which has of late engaged much attention both from private individuals and from government. One of the best treatises on the question is the work whose name gives the title to our present article. It is written by Mr. Noble, a Surgeon, residing in Manchester, and a member of our Order. The writer has evidently been aided in his labours by patience and perseverance, an unbiassed judgment, and a luminous and logical intellect. He very properly commences by taking a retrospect of previous views and researches, and ably points out the fallacies which have been broached by different authors who have preceded him. The following remarks occur in the first section of the work :

It were indeed a strange proposition to maintain that an extension and enlargement of human capability should operate, inevitably, to the prejudice of the race; and, whatever be the evils that do actually accompany a high degree of civilization, they ought surely to be regarded, not as something inseparable from and inherent in such a state of things, but as the temporary result of that human imperfection which allows man to become enlightened, not in all things at once, but only progressively. The immense development of mechanical skill within the last half century, the great consequent extension of manufactures, and increase in the number, size, and density of our modern towns, furnish an excellent illustration of that puzzling combination of good and evil which leads some minds absolutely to condem all human improvement in this direction, and to maintain the paradox that the condition of man is deteriorated by the steady increase of his natural powers. Would not a sound wisdom, however, apply itself to discover, by cautious analysis, the source of the attendant evil, and to see if its rectification could not be accomplished without the necessity of acting upon so contradictory a doctrine as would seem to be involved in the position just referred to? These observations are dictated by sound sense and right feeling. After taking a brief glance at the various investigations which have come under his notice, he concludes the section by referring to the volume of Dr. Cooke Taylor, who, he says, was first led by what he had heard to believe that cotton "mills were places where young children were, by some inexplicable process, ground-bones, flesh, and blood together-into yarns and printed calicoes ;" and that the proprietors of these mills were "the living representatives of the ogres and giants of our nursery tales."

The second section is appropriated to a notice of the "general facts of the case," and the following passage occurs :—

In speaking of the sanatory condition of the factory operatives, I have stated my own belief that, on several accounts, their position was unfavourable to health and longevity; but that, in this respect, they differed but little, if at all, from other classes of workpeople who were exposed to the same injurious influences, excluding the effects, whatever they be, flowing especially from the factory system; now, Mr. Chadwick's tables show that the value of life at birth is greater in the rural than in the town districts; and that, on the average, the families of professional persons and gentry attain a higher age than do those of tradesmen and farmers; and that these latter again have better chances of life than the working classes. Now these facts are most valuable, as showing the source of many fallacies that have arisen in the discussion of such questions as the present one; they show that a high average mortality may prevail in a particular locality, not because it is the seat of some special department of industry, but because its labouring population, irrespective of the particular employment, may unduly preponderate. They show that, as a rule, the lower the position of any individual in the social scale, the less favourably situated may he be presumed to be in relation to the conditions of true health; and, upon detailed examination, they show that, as the peculiar evils of the "great-town system" abound, the value of life diminishes accordingly; and assuredly, Mr. Chadwick's figures do not make an unduly unfavourable exhibition of the towns where manufactures prevail, when contrasted with non-manufacturing towns similarly conditioned in all other respects.

I shall here select a few examples, in illustration of what has been just set forth; thus, in the returns of the average age of death amongst the different classes of people in manufacturing Manchester and agricultural Rutlandshire, the figures stand so:

Professional persons and gentry, and their families..
Tradesmen and their families (in Rutlandshire, farmers and graziers 20

are included with shopkeepers,

Mechanics, labourers, and their families..

Manchester.

Rutlandshire.

38

52

41

38

..17

Now, if in the exhibition of the relative mortality of the two districts, no account were taken of the different positions in life of the various classes of the population, but the low average of life

in Manchester set forth in comparison with what obtains in Rutlandshire, manufactures in all probability would be referred to as the cause of such a state of things; and, indeed, this was the actual mode of proceeding adopted by Mr. Saddler's committee; certain returns, very imperfect in themselves, were adduced, and contrasted with others not for their professed purpose legitimately comparable, because not similarly related with the exclusion of the factory system to the other possible causes of disease and early mortality.

The analysed results of our national system of registration have now clearly demonstrated that, in this country, a densely-populated district is less favourable to life than one but thinly inhabited; and the figures just quoted show that, so far at least as the instance extends, the result occurs, in a greater or less degree, in all ranks of life; and thus, in Manchester, where human beings are densely congregated, influences unfavourable to longevity extensively prevail; for we see that the value of life with the most favoured classes is not greater than with the least favoured in Rutlandshire. If it had appeared that in the higher grades there was little variation in the average age of death in the two localities, the difference in the pursuits of the workpeople in these places might, to some extent, have confirmed the idea regarding the specially injurious tendencies of manufactures; but the above facts, with many others of a like character, go to show that the evil appertains to towns rather than to factories.

Bethnal Green, a compact and thickly-populated part of the metropolis, a district where the existing evils of the great-town system, so far as the poor are concerned, prevail to a very great extent, exhibits a highly unfavourable picture of human longevity, especially in the instance of those peculiarly subject to the evils in question. The following applies to Bethnal Green, from a population of 62,018:

Average age of death.

101 Gentlemen and persons engaged in professions, and their families.. 273 Tradesmen and their families

1258 Mechanics, servants, labourers, with their families.

45

26 16 From the above it seems that, whilst in the first and second divisions the chances of life are greater in Bethnal Green than in Manchester, with the third-that representing the working classes-a lower figure is attained. There are yet no factories in this place, the manufactory being chiefly domestic in the department of silk-weaving.

As bearing upon the question relative to the prevalence of disease and death in manufacturing towns, and as tending to decide whether these evils flow essentially from the factories or from other causes, the instances of Manchester and Liverpool seem of all others the most aptly comparable; they have a somewhat corresponding amount of population, and the towns occupy very nearly the same superficial extent; the one has been created and lives by the factory system, the other contains, I believe, but one factory, and that of very recent construction, and situated in the suburban locality. The parliamentary report on the health of large towns, in complaining most justly of the sanatory condition of Manchester, observes, however, that "the habitations of the working classes are described as better than those of Liverpool;" for, as an illustration, it may be stated that, whilst that opprobrium of modern civilization, cellar-residence, extends in the former place only to about 15,000 of the working population, in the latter, so many as 40,000 are subjected to such miserable inhumation in life. Now, the retuns of the Registrar-general have ever exhibited a higher rate of mortality, and a presumably greater prevalence of disease in Liverpool than in Manchester, and Mr. Chadwick's analysis displays the following figures:

137 Gentry and professional persons and their families..
1738 Tradesmen and their families....

5597 Labourers, mechanics, servants, and their families.

Average age of death.

35

22

15

The third section of Mr. Noble's work consists of an examination of " the specific ills alleged to result from the atmosphere of cotton mills." After bringing forward many interesting facts bearing upon the question, he concludes " that no particular evils attach necessarily to manufacturing pursuits," but that "the evils afflicting the workingclasses, appertain to their domestic rather than to their industrial relations." The suggestions which terminate the work are well deserving of the mature consideration of the philanthropist, and, if acted upon, would do much to ameliorate the condition of the artisan.

Presentations.

October 23, 1843, a silver lever watch, gold guard, key, and ring, value £14, to d. g. m. Francis Smith, by the Highland Laddie lodge, Salford district.- March 17, 1843, a splendid gold watch guard and brequet chain, together with a silver snuff box, value £10. 10s., to p. g. John Melling, of the Cumberland lodge: also, October 13, 1843, a handsome patent lever watch, value 6. 6s., to p. g. James Wild, of the Providence lodge; both by the Heart of Oak lodge, and in the Manchester district.-October 5, 1842, a handsome silver medal, with gold centre, to n. g. Cleaver, by the True Friendship lodge, Northampton district.-October 4, 1843, a valuable silver medal, and a splendidly framed widow and orphans' emblem, to p. g. Thomas Blezard, by the Friendly lodge, Kirkby Lonsdale district.-June 20, 1843, a splendid rosewood writing desk, value five guineas, to p. g. Richard Arrowsmith, by the Lord Hatherton Lodge, Stafford District.-October 3, 1843, a handsome silver watch, to p. p.g.m. John Edwards, by the Lord Hill Lodge, Leominster district.-April 12, 1843, a valuable silver snuff box, to p. p. g. m. Johnson: also, a richly chased silver snuff box, to prov. g. m. Cole: April 14, 1843, a very valuable patent lever gold watch, to prov. c. s. James Roe; all by the North London district.-May 1, 1843, a very valuable patent lever watch, to p. prov. g. m. Henry Mercer, by the Earl de Wilton lodge, Bury district.-June 4, 1842, a very handsome silver snuff box, to p. p. g. m. William Fox, by the Travellers' Rest lodge: February 13, 1843, a handsomely

framed emblem, to p. p. g. m. and prov.c. s. Joseph Milnes, by the Amicable lodge; both of the Norwich district.-January 5, 1843, a splendid silver snuff box, to p. p. g. m. John Loft, by the members of the Norwich district.-January 2, 1813, a patent lever watch and appendages, value £'s, to p. g. George Head, by the Prince Albert lodge, Northampton district.-September 25, 1843, a handsome gold watch, to c. s. George Melims, by the Ap Tewdur lodge, Llandillo district.- April 17, 1843, a rosewood-framed emblem, to p.g. George Downing rain, by the st. Andrew lodge, Pottery and Newcastle district.-April 24, 1843, a handsome silver medal, value seven guineas, by the Prince of Wales lodge.

Marriages.

May 24, 1843, p. g. Josiah Ward, of the Victoria Lodge, Wirksworth district, to Miss Fown, of Tansly: June 22, 1843, p. g. John Ellis, of the above lodge, to lizabeth, eldest daughter of Hostess Bown, of the Horse shoe Inn, Matlock.-July 29, 1843, p. g. William Henry Turner, of the Cumberland lodge, Manchester, to Mary Ann, eldest daughter of Mr. Francis Marsh, of Sandbach. -July 8, 1843, p.prov. g. m. Thomas Thompson, of the Providential lodge, Northallerton, to Miss Ellen Holmes, only daughter of Mr. John Holmes, host of the above lodge.-September 13, 1843, brother Lot Brass, of the City of Westminster lodge, South London district, to Miss Warmsby.November 11, 1843, p. v. William Wilman, to Miss Ellen Knowles; and on the same day, brother William Mason, to Miss Nancy Helme; both of the Friendly Drop lodge, Kirkby Lonsdale district.October 30, 1843, brother Samuel Brettell, of the Britons' Pride lodge, Birmingham, to Miss Maria Ward.-November 18, 1843, brother Matthew Smith Pope, of the Heart of Oak lodge, Wigton, to Miss Mary Graham. - June 25, 1843, brother lliot Lees, of the Rose of Sharon lodge, Rochdale district, to Miss Lydia Lord.-September 28, 1843, brother John Page, of the Duoceston and Neviiels lodge, Birmingham district, to Miss Emma Wilson.-- August 4, p. g. John Asbridge Huddurt, of the Honest View lodge, Rochdale, to Miss Sarah Buckley, of Middleton.-October 2, brother Isaac Harrison, of the Temple of Friendship lodge, Birmingham district, to Miss Elizabeth Colton, of Manchester.-October 3, 1843, brother William Messenger, to Miss Ruth Falkner: October 30, 1843, brother Abraham Walker, to Miss Rachel Tomlin; both of the Lord Bray lodge, Rugby district.November 2, 1843, brother John Sanders, of the Albion lodge, to Miss Battams; both of Wellingborough.-November 14, 1843, brother Robert Curr, of the Macedonian lodge, Haslingden district, to Miss Grace Smith.-September 25, brother John Whitehead, of the Starkie lodge, to Miss Elizabeth Johnson; both of Castleford.- December 25, 1842, v. g. Senior Holden, of the North Star lodge, Lydgate, to Miss liza Fielding.-April 27, 1843, p. sec. Thomas Dunbar Harris, to Miss Elizabeth Miller. August 20, 1843, p. p. g. m. William Cartwright, of the Well of Salvation lodge, Kirkburton district, to Miss Sarah Cudworth.-April 20, 1843, v. g. James Riley, of the Travellers' Friend lodge, Skipton district, to Miss Mary Ann Wilkinson, of Skipton.-October 9, 1843, p. g. George Fayer, of the Good Intent lodge, Preston, to Miss Elizabeth Robinson.-June 5, 1843, brother James Luddington, of the Travellers' Rest lodge, Hull, to Miss Ann Eliza Arundale.-August 22, 1843, p.g. James Watson Donn, of the Prince of Wales lodge, Hull, to Miss Elizabeth Chester.- August 5, 1843, p. p. g. m. William Hind, of the Dales lodge, Reeth district, to Miss Harriet Kilburn.-November 9, 1843, brother S. Aldwinckle, to Miss Ann Snow: November 9, 1843, brother William Betts, to Miss Elizabeth Crowther: November 20, 1843, brother J. Barber, to Miss Carter; all of the Britons' Glory lodge, Market Harborough district.-Brother John Waring, of the Philanthropic lodge, Preston district, to Miss Anderton.

Deaths.

September 29, 1843, brother Noah Clarke, Junr., of the Cumberland lodge, Manchester district The above individual, to the time of his death, received upwards of £280 for sick pay, to which must be added £24 14s. for his funeral money; making a sum of upwards of £300 received by him from the Cumberland lodge.- April 1, 1842, the wife of brother Septimus Tutin, of the Earl de Grey lodge, Ripon.-April 23, 1842, brother Joseph Brigham, of the St. Peter lodge, Brafferton.-May 12, 1842, brother Robert Walker, of the Earl de Grey lodge, Ripon.- May 24, 1842, the wife of brother Robert Vest, of the Earl of Ripon lodge.-May 26, 1842, the wife of brother Fryers, of the St. Peter lodge, Brafferton.-June 1, 1842, brother William Jackson, of the Resplith Glory lodge, Sawley.July 9, 1842, the wife of brother William Richmond, of the Ploughboy's Glory lodge, Nulemby.July 30, 1843, the wife of brother James Chapman, of the Resplith Glory lodge, Sawley.--September 12, the wife of brother William Dalton, of the Benevolent lodge, Langthorp.-September 22, 1842, the wife of brother George Jackson, of the Earl of Ripon lodge, Ripon.-November 29, 1843, brother John Brown, of the Hope lodge, Dishforth.-December 8, the wife of brother Fowler Smith, of the Hope lodge, Dishforth.- February 16, 843, brother Josephus Atkinson, of the Ploughboy's Glory lodge, Nulemby.-March 2, 1843, the wife of ernado Eagle, of the St. Wilfred lodge, Ripon.March 28, 1843, brother Thomas Craven, of the St. Peter lodge, Brafferton.- April 17, 1843, p. g. John Calverley, of the Benevolent lodge, Langthorp.-May 11, 1843, the wife of brother George Rumfit, of the Earl of Ripon lodge, Ripon.-May 21, brother John Kilburn, of the arl de Grey lodge, Ripon. -July 20, 1843, the wife of p. g. Bains, of the Hope lodge, Dishforth.-August 2, 1843, the wife of p. g. Poole, of the Hope lodge, Dishforth.-August 17, 1843, brother James Close, of the Resplith Glory lodge, Sawley.-August 24, 1843, prov. g. m. Joseph Gregory, of the Earl of Ripon lodge, Ripon.-November 8, 1840, brother Thomas Lancaster, of the Renevolent lodge, Langthorp.September 4, 1843, p. g. John Bradshaw, of the Rockingham Forest lodge, Northampton district.July 5, brother William Pearson, of the North Star lodge, Brompton district.-September, 1843, brother James Beaumont, of the Heart of Gak lodge, Kirkby Lonsdale district.-September 24, 1843, the wife of p. p. d. g. m. James Atkinson, of the Providential lodge, Northallerton.-October 26, 1843, brother Samuel Prosser: November 9, 1843, brother George Collins; both of the Lord Hill lodge, Leominster District.-March 28, 1843, n. g. Anthony Ward, of the Dales lodge, Reetht district also, brother William Hindmire Gill, of the same lodge.-July 28, 1843, at Toronto, at the residence of his uncle, sec. John Robson, of the Phoenix lodge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. [Presentations, &c., too late for this Number, will be inserted in the next.]

Manchester: P. G. M. MARK WARDLE and SON, Printers, 17, Fennel Street.