1835.] LUNATIC ASYLUM AND GIN PALACES.

357

THE EVERGRASS.

OUR anonymous Correspondent, in page 309 of our last Number, speaks of a grass called, in Pembrokeshire, "Evergrass," which is considered the most suitable for being plaited for bonnets. The English grasses certainly will make a finer plait than straw; it will be like the Leghorn, and the specimen of the plait sent to us by our Correspondent is a proof of this. The bents of grass are generally left by the cattle in the pasture: by this beautiful provision of Providence the seeds are spared. In a pasture field there are generally several sorts of grass; though one sort will, probably, be more abundant than any of the others. Any of these sorts of grass would, probably, answer the purpose of plaiting; but that which is longest and toughest must be the best. We have lately observed in some fields in Kent, (and probably it is the case in many other parts of the country,) that nearly the whole crop of grass is of this sort: but in some places, as we have remarked near London, there is a much less proportion of it. In case of any attempts being made at grass-plaiting, in consequence of what has been written in our pages, we give the annexed figure of our Correspondent's evergrass.

V.

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM, AND THE GIN PALACES. MR. RAWLINSON said, at a meeting of Middlesex Magistrates, that the cause of the alarming increase of insanity was the gin palaces. These great and increasing evils were loading humanity with one of its greatest curses.

Mr. Broughton contended that the increase of the gin palaces did not arise from supineness on the part of the licensing magistrates, but from the difficulties with

which the subject was surrounded. He was sure, greater power were given to the magistrates in putting down gin palaces much good would result.

Mr. Laurie observed, that every report from the asylum had denounced gin drinking as the great cause of madness.

Sir G. Farrant said, they might make their asylum three or four times larger than at present, but unless they could put down the gin palaces they would still find it too small. Albion.

MORE FOOLS' PENCE.

IN a former Number of the Visitor a history was given to show how the keepers of gin-palaces enrich themselves by the "fools' pence." The following statement, which appeared originally I believe in a London paper, (M. Herald,) well deserves attention, as it places this subject in a very striking point of view. The landlord of a large public house, and "long-room," in which sailors trip it every night to the sound of a fiddle, not 100 miles from Shadwell, has lately launched an elegant carriage, drawn by two horses, with attendant footmen, &c., in which he is every night conveyed to his country residence, a few miles from town, where he keeps up a large establishment of servants. In the morning he rides to Town in the same manner, and is set down at the door of his temple to dispense gin, grog, and beer to his customers. Occasionally he is to be seen riding on horseback accompanied by a groom. D. I. E.

WHOLESOME COUNSELS.

For Persons of every Class, Sex, and Age.

THE best way to keep out wicked thoughts is always to be employed in good ones; let your thoughts be where your happiness is, and let your heart be where your thoughts are; for though your habitation is on earth, your conversation will be in heaven.

Make use of time if thou lovest eternity: know yesterday cannot be recalled, to-morrow cannot be assured; to-day is only thine, which if once lost, is lost for ever.

1835.]

WHOLESOME COUNSELS.

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Let your prayers be as frequent as your wants; and your thanksgivings as your blessings.

Let thy estate serve thy occasions; thy occasions, thyself; thyself, thy soul; thy soul, thy God.

Consider, that in heaven above there is an ear which overhears you, an eye which oversees you, and a book wherein all your words and deeds are carefully written; therefore so behave yourself in every action, as if God were on the one hand, and death on the other.

It may be set down as a truth, that a free thinker is ever disposed to be a free actor.

There are four good mothers that have four bad daughters, truth hath hatred, prosperity hath pride, security hath peril, and familiarity contempt.

It is easier to give counsel than to take it; wise men think they do not need it, and fools will not receive it. A great fortune is a great slavery, and thrones are but uneasy seats.

You will find by experience (which is the best looking-glass of wisdom), that a private life is not only more pleasing, but more happy than any princely state.

It is a great prudence in matters of debate to speak last, and be master of others' strength, before you discover your own.

Money in your purse will credit you, wisdom in your head will adorn you; and both in your necessity will serve you.

A seasonable gathering and a reasonable spending make good house-keeping.

Balance your expenses by the just weight of your own estate, and not by the poise of another's spending.

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal

more saucy.

He hath riches sufficient who hath enough to be charitable.

Consider the life of man how full of vexatious thoughts it is, with thinking, first, how to get riches, and then how to keep them; afterward how to increase them, and then how to defend and preserve them; and yet, in the conclusion, all vanishes and falls to pieces.

Providence hath placed all things that are for our ad

vantage near at hand; but gold and silver are hidden in the bowels of the earth, where they were mingled with dirt until Avarice and Ambition parted them.

If you would enjoy the fruit, pluck not its blossom.
To say little and perform much is noble.

Knowledge is the treasure of the mind, and discretion the key to it.

In all companies and in all places remember the presence of God; walk continually as if under the view of his all-seeing and observing eye; often considering that God is every where present, and then you will study to be every where holy.

From a Leaf sent by a Correspondent.

If

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c. HINTS TO COTTAGERS.-Thistles, fern, nettles, and other such weeds, cut, dried, and burnt, will leave ashes that will make an excellent ley to soften water. They may be made up in balls, and put by for use. farmers would employ the poor to cut thistles before they seed, it would prevent their spreading, and be a great saving of expense in the next spring. Cottagers may also easily earn some money by cutting and drying many medicinal herbs that grow in the hedges and on commons, which will be purchased by chemists, druggists, &c. -Devizes Gazetteer.

A Company has been established at Norwich for the rearing of silk They already possess 120,000 of these valuable insects, and have planted 100,000 mulberry-trees for their support.

worms.

An inquest was lately held on view of the body of a fine lad, aged nine years, whose death was occasioned by his having swallowed a quantity of gin under the following distressing circumstances:-Mrs. D., of Westminster, deposed that she knew the parents of the deceased, who resided in the same house. On Sunday morning Mr. H. sent the deceased to see his brother; he (deceased) returned home between nine and ten o'clock the same morning, very ill, and evidently labouring under the effects of intoxication. His mother was much alarmed, and sent him to bed, but soon after the poor boy was seized with convulsions, and became insensible. Mr. Keigh, a surgeon, attended, and administered medicine to him, but he continued to get worse, and about twelve o'clock the same morning he was carried to the Westminster Hospital. He died on the same morning. His brother had sent the gin by him for the purpose of delivering to his parents. Dr. Basham, of the Westminster Hospital, proved that the death of the boy was caused by drinking a quantity of spirituous liquor, and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly.—Albion.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of S. B.; D. I. E.; E. M.; P. P. C.; A. H. S.; and some anonymous articles.

A note for "A Subscriber to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum," is left at Messrs. Rivingtons, Waterloo Place.

It is now about three hundred years since the Protestant religion became the religion of this country. Before that time, the Roman Catholic religion was established in this land, and in most of the countries called Christian. The Roman Catholics profess the same faith that we do; but in course of time they added so many doctrines and customs unsupported by Scripture, that it became necessary for those who wished to be guided by Scripture alone to separate from them; and this was called the Reformation.

The great distinguishing advantage of the Protestant religion is, that we encourage the free use of the Scriptures. The services of the Roman Catholic religion are read in the Latin language; and it was so in this nation before the time of the Reformation; and, moreover, there