carriages and machinery, which improvements are applicable to other purposes. September 5, 1831. W. Bickford, of Tuckingmill, Cornwall, for his invention of an instrument for igniting gunpowder, when used in the operation of blasting rocks and in mining. September 6, 1831. J. Neville, of Great Dover Road, Surrey, for his improved apparatus for clarifying water and other fluids. September 9, 1831. G. H. Palmer, of Manchester Street, Gray's Inn Road, for improvements in the steam engine, boiler, and apparatus, or machinery connected therewith, applicable to propelling vessels, carriages, and other purposes. September 16, 1831. J. Potts, R. Oliver, and W. W. Potts, all of New Mills, in the County of Derby, Engravers, for an improved method or process of obtaining impressions from engravings in various colours, and applying the same to earthenware, porcelain, china, glass, and other similar substances. September 17, 1831. S. Mordan, of Castle Street, East Finsbury, Middlesex, and W. Brockedon, of Devonshire Street, Queen Square, for improvements in the construction of writing pens and penholders, and in the method of using them. September 20, 1831. M. Cosnahan, of the Isle of Man, for improvements in apparatus, modes, or process for converting sea or salt water, and also other brackish, turbid, or impure waters, into purified or fresh water; which apparatus, modes, or processes, or parts thereof, may be applied to other purposes. September 20, 1831. HORTICULTURE, RURAL ECONOMY, &c. ON THE KEEPING OF APPLES. By Mr. WM. OLIVER.-The fruit-room ought to be placed in a dry, cold, shady, situation, free from wet, and sunk 3 ft. or 4 ft. in the ground. The shelves should be of beech or sycamore, about 2 ft. wide, and 10 in. asunder. Fir shelving tastes the fruit. There is no need of fire in fruit-rooms, for a little frost does not injure apples. There ought to be ventilators, as a good deal of air is necessary after the fruit is first gathered and stored. When the apples begin to drop, the ripest are gathered, and taken to the fruit-room in shallow baskets. These are taken singly out of the baskets, and placed upon the shelves. After the apples have been ten or twelve days on the shelves, the process of sweating is considered as accomplished. They are then wiped one by one with clean soft cloths; by this means a kind of coat or shell is formed, which proves a safeguard to the fruit. The shelves are wiped at the same time on both sides until quite dry. During the whole time the apples are in sweat, plenty of air is admitted, if the weather is clear and dry; but, if damp, the room is entirely shut up. I think it is when the apples are sweating that they imbibe the flavour of whatever materials they are laid upon; and, if due attention is given to them at that time, there is little chance of their afterwards acquiring any bad taste. The fruit is turned over about the end of January, and, with the shelves, wiped, if any moisture appears. After this time the room is closely shut up; for the admission of much air, after the end of January, is found to occasion shrivelling. All the time the fruit is in the room it is carefully looked over every four or five days; and in the month of August it is handled with gloves, the hands of gardeners being generally moist at that season. When apples are frozen, no artificial means must be used to thaw them. If, when in sweating, they are affected by the frost or damp, they will be materially injured. I have gathered apples, and laid them upon one another in large baskets in a vinery, kept up to about 60° Fahr., for ten days or a fortnight: they were then covered with sweat. I had them wiped, conveyed to the fruit-room, and laid on the shelves, as already described. I have never found the flavour of apples treated in this way to be in the least impaired.-Trans. Cal. Hortic. Soc. STRAWBERRIES.-Keen's Seedling strawberry is a variety of great merit, and perhaps the finest of its season. "Of the varieties described by Mr. Barnet, (of the Edinburgh Experimental Garden,) in the London Horticultural Transactions, the Grove End Scarlet seems to be decidedly the best for market gardeners. It is a very handsome fruit, a remarkably abundant bearer, carries the berries on long scapes clear of the ground, so that they are less liable to be soiled than the sorts commonly cultivated. It ripens in succession, and continues longer than almost any variety. Its flavour is not so rich as the old Scarlet or Roseberry; but is on the whole a very desirable fruit. Keen's Seedling is somewhat apt to be injured by carriage, the Grove End less so. No private garden should be without the former. Market gardeners should have the Old Scarlet for the earliest crop, the Grove End for the next, and one we are about to describe, when it can be had in plenty, for the latest crop. The gardeners near town should cultivate Keen's in considerable quantity as their second crop. It cannot be too much impressed on gardeners to enrich the ground intended for strawberries; and new plantations for summer plants should be made every third year in order to have this delicious fruit in perfection. The strawberry alluded to, as calculated to succeed the others, and to prolong the season, is one lately raised from seed by a well-known horticulturist, Sir George Mackenzie, of Coul. It has been sent to the London and Edinburgh Horticultural Societies under the name of the Coul Late Scarlet strawberry. It is a large fruit, most of the berries taking the coxcomb shape, and some that of a wedge. The flavour is high and rich, and the berry remarkably firm, so as to bear carriage uncommonly well. This quality is also of importance to those who wish to preserve the fruit entire. The scapes are long and stiff, and keep the fruit clear of the ground, and the plant is a good bearer; and, being late, prolongs the strawberry season at least a fortnight, and indeed longer, for last year some of this sort were gathered after the middle of August. The merits of this new variety are not less than those of Keen's; but the price, instead of being two guineas a plant, is, notwithstanding but a few hundred plants exist, only two pounds per hundred. It is a pity that the Downton strawberry requires so much attention, and such frequent renewals of the plantations to raise it to perfection, as it is an admirable fruit. All strawberries require much manure, and to be frequently renewed; and many excellent sorts are rejected on account of improper treatment. The Old Scarlet, with a plentiful supply of manure, will not be recognized to be the same which is seen in the market. There is no variety yet known that excels this for what is called in Scotland-jam; and market gardeners may rely upon it, that their old friend will yet pay them handsomely if well treated.-Scots Paper. POTATOES.-A French publication denies to Sir John Sinclair the merit of having discovered the means of producing a fine colour from the flower of the potato; and asserts that the Frenchmen of science have long stated the practicability of applying the water and the flower of the potato to the purposes of dyeing. It says that M. Fouques has shown by experiments that linen and cotton, plunged into potatowater, acquire a grey colour; and that in 1817, a chemist of Copenhagen pointed out, in a scientific journal, a simple method of obtaining a fine yellow colour from the flowers of the solanum tuberosum. He dyed with it linen, cotton, and even woollen cloth, which took a very solid green colour on immersion in a blue dye. PRUNING SAW.-There is a suggestion in the Journal of Agriculture for an improvement in the pruning saw, that our country friends may think worth consideration. It is to be affixed to a long pole for the removal of high branches, the line of the teeth to be directed a little inwards, to cause them to act on the wood without pressure being necessary, and to cut by a pulling stroke instead of a pushing one. A pushing saw is found inefficient, and liable to be broken by the smallest exertion; the improved saw, it is said, may be used by an inexperienced person with great ease. HAY. In Russia it is usual to preserve the natural verdure of the hay. As soon as the grass is cut, it is, without having been spread, formed into a rick, in the centre of which has been previously placed a kind of chimney, made of four rough planks. It seems that the heat of the fermentation evaporates by this chimney; and that the hay thus retains all its leaves, its colour, and its primitive flavour. WEEDS. The annoyance of grass or weeds springing up between the stones of pavement and in gravel-walks, &c. may be got rid of for years by watering with a solution of lime and sulphur in boiling water. COMMERCIAL AND MONEY-MARKET REPORT. The state of trade is still unfavourable, and the manufacturing districts are in no respect in so flourishing a condition as in the corresponding period of last year. The immense and incessant demand for cotton goods keeps this manufacture more active at all times than other trades, and depression in it is never so apparent; but business here has rather slackened, and in the silk, iron, woollen and lead manufactures, it is we fear very deficient. The causes to which we adverted in our last report that had done much to produce this depression, are several of them at least still in existence, and we apprehend that there is no prospect of an immediate revival of commercial affairs. Of course this is only an opinion, but it is an opinion founded upon extensive enquiries and information, and as such we think ourselves bound to give it, that as far as in us lies delusive hopes should be checked. In West-India produce, coffee is the only article in brisk demand, and affording remunerating prices: sugar and rum can only be sold at a sacrifice. Although the raw cotton market continues steady, an advance of prices does not take place, which has been long expected. In short, low quotations chiefly operate now in inducing purchasers to come forward. The East-India produce market is however an exception to the commercial inactivity we have been alluding to. Considerable transactions have occurred in it during the middle and latter part of the past month, as the following statement will show. Cinnamon.-The result of the quarterly sale that took place on 17th October, gives an advance of 6d. peril. on last sale's prices. Cloves.-Fine Bencoolen very scarce and wanted; Bourbon also more in request. Nutmegs and Mace. The half-yearly sale of these spices took place at Rotterdam on the 7th instant, when both these articles were disposed of at advanced rates, viz. nutmegs 137 casks, sound, brought prices equal to 3s. 3d. to 3s. 4d. per fb. English; and mace 51 casks, very ordinary and damaged to good, 2s. to 5s. 6d. per lb. Some orders have been executed in 2nd mace at 4s. 7d. to 4s. 8d., and for export nutmegs 3s. 3d. has been paid. The stock of mace is now reduced to only 800 casks, and the deliveries from the 1st of January to the 15th instant amount to 687 casks. The stock of nutmegs is 1520 casks, and the deliveries have been 830 casks. Black Pepper.-1 his article has experienced a very extensive demand throughout the year. The deliveries up to the 30th September are equal to 20,446 bags of 316lbs. each. The stock is about 42,000 bags. The advance is d. per b. on the lowest quotation in February last, which was 2d. for light unsifted, now 3d. per fb. It appears that the supplies of this article to Europe for the last two years have been chiefly directed to this port, and that the continental stocks, which had gradually decreased, were at length exhausted; hence the great demand for exportation. From the best calculations, the stock now in Europe is only sufficient for nine months' consumption, and as prices have ruled so very low since 18:6, it is not unreasonable to expect a falling off in the supplies, and a further and still more considerable advance in its value during next year. Saltpetre. Though the clearances are good, the market is without animation. The refiners are working upon their stocks, or buy as they want in small parcels; they expect lower prices. Rice.-East India in demand for the West Indies. Low white Bengal is now held at 15s., and yellow cargo at 13s. per cwt. Pimento must be quoted d. per lb. higher, according to prices paid at public sale, 17th October. Camphire has risen from 51. to 91. per cwt. since August, in consequence of great demand for exportation. The stock is reduced from 3200 chests to 1350 chests. If arrivals do not speedily take place, and the Cholera Morbus should continue to rage on the continent, its present value may be doubled. Cassia Lignea.-The stock of this article is also very small, say 5300 chests, and prices have advanced 15s. to 20s. per cwt. Pearl Sago. The demand for export as well as home consumption on the increase. An advance of 3s. to 5s. per cwt. must be noted.-Common Sago also more wanted. East-India Ginger. The large quantity of 1400 tons of this article which was in the warehouses some years since, has gradually diminished to about 250 tons, and the price has risen within these two years from 12s, to 30s. per cwt. The considerable improvement in the value of the above-named and several other articles, which has taken place this year, must be attributed to the falling off in the imports or the increase of the consumption, both caused by the extreme low rates at which they have remained for some years past. From the same causes other articles still neglected must experience the like effects. The declaration of the East-India Company for the next tea sale is out, and it exceeds the amount offered at the last by 130,000s., which has since caused the trade to be dull, as a decline in price may be anticipated from the extra quantity in declaration for the next quarterly sale. The Indigo sale at the East-India House, which commenced on the 11th, ended on the 21st of October. The biddings were conducted with spirit, but quotations as compared with those of last sale have given way. Oude and Madras from 3d. to 4d. per H., and finer qualities 6d. The Hop picking may now be considered as over, and the estimated duty 170,0001. A good deal of business has been doing in the Borough, and prices have ranged according to quality from 90s. to 74. 10s. There has not been much doing in the Tallow market: 39s. to 39s. 3d. has been the prevailing price. The dread of Cholera has very much interfered with mercantile communications generally, but particularly with those to Hamburg. THE MONEY MARKET.-English securities have shown great firmness since the country has remained tranquil upon the rejection of the Reform Bill. Consols immediately after that event declined about 1 per cent. ; but they very soon rallied from that depression, which brought them down to 801, and subsequently they have been as high as 824 for the account. Although they have occasionally reached this quotation, they have never long continued at it; but still the disposition appears to be decidedly upwards, without the apprehension of a Continental War should increase, which at present there seems some expectation of; but this appre hension has so often prevailed, and as often passed away, that without very good grounds for the belief that the peace of Europe will be disturbed, we do not think that British securities will give way; but on the contrary, as we have before said, rather advance. There is undoubtedly a very strong party interested in keeping them up; and nothing we imagine but positively untoward events will counteract the operations of that party. The last settling day showed a scarcity of stock, and the internal circumstances of the Stock Exchange are in favour of the present price being maintained. However, the great casualty of Peace or War stands now fearfully in the way of any opinion that may be offered upon this subject.-There have been considerable transactions in the new 3 per cents., principally for permanent investment, which have caused great firmness in this stock. In the Foreign stock market the chief fluctuations have been in Russian and Brazil Bonds, although minor ones have taken place in Greek, Spanish, and Portuguese.-Russian stock has advanced to 98, in consequence of its scarcity in this market; and the Bears being caught, were obliged to purchase Bonds at any price, to meet their engagements, which has produced the advance. Brazil Bonds declined, in consequence of a fall in them at Rio of 6 per cent. Their present price is 42, 43, which is a decline of 14 per cent.-Greek and Spanish Bonds have fluctuated about per cent. from their present quotation. FROM SEPTEMBER 16, TO OCTOBER 7, 1831, INCLUSIVE. September 16.-W. Austin, Powis Street, Woolwich, ironmonger.-T. C. Rout, Portpool Lane, Middlesex, currier.-C. Beville, Clapham Common, upholsterer.-J. Reynolds, Parker's Court, Coleman Street, grocer.-J. and W. Meller, 48, Castle Street East, Oxford Market, working jewellers. G. Walton, Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, timber merchant.-J. Stephen Geldard, Pulteney Lodge Academy, Enfield Highway, boarding-house keeper.-W. Thompson, Upper Thames Street, wine merchant.-John Clark, Jewry Street, Aldgate, wine merchant.-E. Hull, Gallery of Arts, Regent Street, picture dealer.-W. Butler, Rampton, Nottinghamshire, fishmonger.-E. Gibbs Plowright and William Plowright, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, wine merchants.-William Withers, Holt, Norfolk, money scrivener.-J. Muirhead, Buxton, Derbyshire, inn-keeper. R. Graham, Liverpool, victualler. September 20.-B. Harris, Northleach, Gloncestershire, linen draper.-E. Rule and A. Rule, Leadhenhall Street, ship owners.-J. Backhouse, Great St. Helens, insurance broker.-C. Scott, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, merchant. -G. Crofts, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, merchant.-T. R. Hawker, Cheltenham, tailor.William Henry Edwards, Norwich, maltster.J. Williams, Trosnant, Monmouthshire, miller. -J. Lovecraft, Bickington, Devonshire, worsted spinner. R. Maynard, Durbam, wine mer Road, Lambeth, cooper.-I. Malden and J. Malden, No. 41, Clipstone Street, St. Mary-le-bone, bakers.-T. Cannon, No. 34, Edward Street, Portman Square, tailor.-N. L. Stanger Leathes and T. Bradshaw, Mincing Lane, wine merchants.-J. Ward, Coventry, grocer.-S. Kebby, Old Bond Street, Bath, umbrella maker.L. Zachariah and G. Novra, No. 194, High Holborn, dealers in toys.-J. Shaw, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, grocer.-S. Weaver and Benjamin Hickman, Ludlow, Salop, mercers.-D. Wright, Birmingham, lamp manufacturer.-T. Emery, Newport, Monmouthshire, corn merchant.-J. North, Southamptonshire, grocer.J. Lees, Alton, Staffordshire, innkeeper. September 27.] W. King, Beech Street, Barbican, victualler.-R. Casstine, Devereux Court, Strand, tailor.-J. Dawson, Lowndes Arms, Pimlico, victualler.-R. Hoskin, Holsworthy, Devonshire, innkeeper.-J. Singleton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, chemist.-W. Hume, Manchester, timber merchant.-F. Quarton and Samuel Radford, Middleton Place, Lenton, Nottinghamshire, lace machine makers. — T. Salmon, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, merchant.-The Rev. J. D. Crofts, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, ship owner.-J. Gibson, Manchester, commission agent.-J. Wood, Liverpool, livery-stable keeper.-C. Ely and B. Treacher, Swansea, Glamorganshire, merchants. September 30.-W. T. Spencer and W. J. Hall, Crosby Square, packers.-W. Luddington, Stoke Newington Road, coal merchant.. W. Smith and M. Lewis, Tunstall, Staffordshire, earthenware manufacturers.-H. Brown, Liverpool, silk mercer.-T. Watkinson, Marsh Gate, Lambeth, publican. George White, North Wharf Road, Paddington, victualler.-R. Mercer, C. Ely and B. Treacher, Swansea, coal owners.-J. Elder, Oxford Street, horse dealer. -H. Mendelson, Manchester, jeweller.-William Dean, Abbey Mills, Durham, worsted spinner. October 4.-P. Morris and S. Smith, Friday Street, warehousemen.-S. Tebbut, Islington, wine merchant.-S. Hall, Duke Street, West Smithfield, brazier.-B. Hornar, Bilton-withHarrogate, Yorkshire, joiner.--John Williams, -J. Daws, W. Daws, and HISTORICAL REGISTER. POLITICAL JOURNAL.-NOVEMBER 1, 1831. HOUSE OF LORDS. September 22.-This day the Reform Bill having passed the House of Commons, was brought up by Lord John Russell and upwards of a hundred members of the Lower House. The Lord Chancellor received the Bill, and, resuming his seat on the Woolsack, said-" My Lords, a Message from the Commons, brought by Lord John Russell and others, is, that the House of Commons have passed a Bill, intitled an Act to amend the Representation in England and Wales, The Bill was laid on the to which they call for your Lordships' concurrence.' table, and the Commons' withdrew from the bar. The Bill was then read a first time, and the second reading fixed for the 3rd of October. Sept. 23.-The Surplus Ways and Means Bill was passed.-The Amendments on the Game Bill were repealed, and it was referred to a Select Committee.-The House went into Committee on the Bankruptcy Court Bill. Sept. 26. The Pluralities of Benefices Bill was passed.-The Marquis of Londonderry complained of the absence of the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, and threatened to make a formal accusation on the subject.-The Marquis of Westminster presented the Westminster Reform petition, his Lordship at the same time expressing a hope that the House would pass the Bill, and his conviction that no re-action had taken place in the public mind on this important question. Sept. 27.-The Royal Assent was given to several bills.-The Marquis of Londonderry renewed his complaint respecting the absence of the Lord Chancellor on Monday, contending that his Lordship ought, in compliance with the standing orders, to be present, if practicable, when the House assembled, and that such absence was treating their Lordships with great disrespect, and was not sustaining that order of the House, the violation of which was on a former night the subject of accusation on the part of the learned Lord. The Lord Chancellor said, he felt that there never was a charge brought against any human being more void of foundation than that brought forward by the Noble Marquis. The noble and learned Lord contended that the standing order contemplated the occasional absence of the Lord Chancellor, and that the Deputy Speaker frequently officiated for him-on_one occasion in so important an affair as a prorogation. The noble and learned Lord sat down amidst loud and continued cheering. Sept. 28.-The London Coal Trade Bill was passed.-The Lunatic Asylum Bill was read a first time. Sept. 29.-The Game Bill was passed.-The Lord Chancellor brought in a Bill, for taking better care of those unfortunate persons against whom a Commission of Lunacy might unhappily be awarded.-Many petitions, most earnestly praying their Lordships to pass the Reform Bill, were presented. The Lord Chancellor presented one from Scotland, signed by 36.000 persons, his Lordship observing that great care had been taken to prevent double signatures. His Lordship highly eulogized the petition, and remarked that it came from a city where thirty-three individuals returned Representatives for the whole of its population of 140,000—a remarkable feature in the time-honoured system which some wished to continue. As to the counties of Scotland, his Lordship declared that they were closer than the closest English boroughs. Lord Wharncliffe said he would not go into the merits or demerits of the Scotch Reform Bill; but that he wished it to be understood that, if their Lordships threw out the Reform Bill, it was not hence to be inferred that their Lordships were against all Reform !-The Lord Chancellor next presented the petitions of the Court of Common Council, and of the Livery of London; and his Lordship remarked that, if the English Reform Bill were refused, it would be to him, and must be to every lover of his country, a matter of deep |