294 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



ceut3. (6d. to ejd.) per lb. It rose from 1841 to 1850, to 

 from 70 to 73 cents.; and we have seen, from 1851 to 1855, 

 aud afterwards, it has attained a rate aasumiug from day to 

 day more of a prohibitory character. 



" la it not expedient here to recall that fearful declaration 

 made before the Commission of Inquiry of 1851, and quoted 

 in page 101 of this work, that when the consumption of meat 



decreases, THE MORTALITY INCREASES IN AN ANALO- 

 GOUS PROPORTION?" 



We have here certainly matter for serioua reflection, and 

 motives for endeavouring: to bring back the production and 

 consumption of cattle, that source of public health, to con- 

 ditions equitable for all. 



Could agriculture prodtice meat in a profitable manner, by 

 producing more, and at the same time considerably diminish- 

 ing the price to the consumer ? Certainly yes ; but, in my 

 opinion, three conditions are necessary, in what relates to the 

 butchery of Paris, and these measures would have an imme- 

 diate aud decided influence upon the butchery of the rest of 

 Frar ce, which, without reaching the impositions of the Paris 

 butchery, tends to copy its proceedings in its own. These 

 three conditions are as follow : 



Ist. Free-trade for the butchery — that is, competition. A 

 vigilant authority may, by measures more eflScacious than 

 those which now exist, survey more closely the quality of the 

 meat. It cculd not make the matter worse, in any case, how- 

 ever evidently disposed to do so ; for fraud has been intro- 

 duced everywhere, and the existing monopoly lives only by the 

 violation of the laws and regulations which govern the matter. 



2ndly. The suppression of all the middle-men and all the 

 duties which are placed between the producer and the con- 

 sumer. Let there be only the butcher, and the municipal and 

 abattoir charges, reduced to 5 or 6 centimes. 



3rdly. The creation of one market only, within reach of 

 Paris, aud thereby the suppression of the 8 or 10 centimes 

 which tax the meat of animals usually driven from 

 SctauK to Poissy, from Poissy to Sceaux, or from Sceaux or 

 Poissy to Paris, to the great injury of their health, their 

 weight, and the quality of their meat. By this arrangement, 

 again, we might look for a more strict and real attention than 

 that which a director of Abattoir intimated in the following 

 terms in the Legislative inquiry of 1851 : — " It is certain that 

 the inspection of the markets is completely illusory ; for the 

 inspectors inspect nothiug at all. They do on the market just 

 as they please, and the public find in it no guarantee. Tliere 

 come animals in the most deplorable condition; the inspectors 

 never see them ; and then even if they did see them, it is a 

 question whether they would prevent the sale of them." 



The establishment of a single market, aud within reach of 

 Paris, might involve other desirable measures ; for instance, 

 the verification of meat, which every one declares to be of a 

 quality frequently wretched ; and by this means the pre- 

 vention of the entry into Paris of dead meat, or that of 

 animals killed beyond the Barriers, moat frequently diseased, 

 and killed clandestinely. The consumption of meat under 

 such circumstances assumes a frightful proportion ; for in 1856 

 it reached the amount of 17,150,000 kilos., being a third of 

 t.he consumption of meat proceeding from the Abattoirs ; 

 whereas iu 1818 it was only 366,000 and in 1846 4,653,000 kilos. 



All meat which has not passed under inspection alive ought 

 to be proscribed : it is the only means of insuring a healthful 

 alimentation. 



Such is the state of thia great question of the butchery, so 

 important in all points of view for agriculture, and so worthy 

 of engaging the attention of all reflecting men. 



E. DE Dampierre, 



PRESENTATION OF PLATE. 



TESTIMONIAL TO MR. R. T. BECKETT, OF TARPORLEY. 



On the occasion of the rent-day in December last, in con- 

 nection with the estates of Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, 

 Bart., M.P., a general feeling was expressed by the tenantry 

 that some matk of their appreciation of the honest, courteous, 

 aud exemplary conduct of Mr. R. T. Beckett, the agent, was 

 called for ; and no sooner was the sentiment expressed, than ar- 

 rangements were made for briaging such good wishes into a 

 tangible shape. A committee to obtain subscriptions and 

 arrange details was formed, consisting of Mr. J. Vernon, of 

 Williugton (chairman), and Messrs. Warburton and Barnes, 

 of Eaton ; Messrs. J. Barker, Finchett, and H. Siddon, of 

 Rushton ; and Mr. Rigby, of Fenna Wood. Mr. William 

 Vernon was appointed secretary. The intentions of the com- 

 mittee were at once announced, and tenants on the Oulton, 

 Broxton, Astbury, and Upton and Chester estates, all came' 

 forward with their contributions from £2 to Is., to pay a 

 tribute of respect to the man who for 23 years had discharged 

 the onerous duties of laud-agent with fidelity to his employer, 

 and at the same time with benefit to the tenantry. So uuani- 

 mous was the feeling, that in a week or two £140 was sub- 

 scribed ; and to add to the general gratification, Sir P. Egerton 

 expressed his hearty approval of the whole proceedings. Af- 

 ter some little consideration, the committee determined that 

 the testimonial should consist of a handsome, but useful col- 

 lection of silver-plate. The articles comprised a dozen silver 

 table forks, a dozen dessert ditto, a case containing a dozen 

 dessert knives and forks, four silver tablespoons, two gravy 

 ditto, massive soup ladle, salt cellars, kuife rests, cruet stand, 

 liqueur frame, bread basket, cake basket, a richly chased fiower- 

 bordered salver, an elegantly embossed kettle and stand, a 

 dozen Queen's pattern teaspoons, and a splendid gold watch 

 and chain. A purse containing 30 guineas was also added to 

 the above-mentioned articles. Accompanying the present was 

 a beautifully emblazoned and engrossed list of the articles, and 

 also the names of the various subscribers to the testimonial 

 On the kettle, salver, and watch, the following inscription was 

 engraved—" Presented, with other pieces of plate, by the 

 tenantry of Sit Philip Ds Malras Grey Egertop? Part., M P. 



to Mr. Ri?hard Trim Beckett, as a token of their admiration 

 of his courteous conduct, and of their high regard as an honest 

 and efl!icient agent for the last twenty-three years. 10th 

 February, 1858." The ladle, spoons, &c., each bore some part 

 of the inscription, denoting that they formed portions of the 

 testimonial. 



In order that the tenantry generally and the friends of Mr. 

 Beckett might have an opportunity of paying their personal 

 respects on the occasion of presenting the plate, it was decided 

 that a dinner should be held at the Red Lion Inn, Eaton, near 

 Tarporley, on Wednesday last. Early in the day, the inde- 

 fatigable secretary, Mr. Wm. Vernon, had tastefully set out 

 the articles of plate in a small room at the Red Lion, where 

 they were inspected by nearly 300 of the ladies, gentlemen, 

 and labourers living in the neighbourhood. At two o'clock 



THE DINNER 

 took place in the large room of the inn, when about 90 of the 

 tenantry sat down. Amongst the company present we noticed 

 Mr. John Vernon (chairman), Mr. R. T. Beckett, Mr. Beckett, 

 and Mr. W. Beckett, Northwich ; Mr. Moss, Shaw Farm ; 

 Mr. Hicklin, Chester; Mr. Brown. Broxton; Messrs. Bad- 

 deley, Leadbeater, Robinson, and Bivy, Astbury; Messrs. 

 Bithell and Beecroft, Upton ; Messrs. B. Taylor, Rigby, and 

 Hyne, Little Budworth : Messrs. W. C. Warburton, Barnes, 

 Law, Ruscoe, Finchett, aud Barker, Eaton ; Messrs. Bebbiug- 

 ton and Siddon, Broxton ; Mr. Shrigley ; Mr. Johuson, 

 Egerton Hall; Messrs. Hitchens and Bretley, Rushton; 

 Messrs. EUwood and Rowe, Kelsall; Mr. Davies, Egerton ; 

 &c., &c. 



After the dinner had been disposed of, the Chairman pro- 

 posed the usual loyal and complimentary toasts ; after which 

 the health of Sir P. Egerton (the landlord) was drunk with 

 three times three. 

 The testimonial was then placed by Mr. Butt in front of 

 The Chairman, who rose and said — Mr. Beckett, the 

 committee farmed for the purpose cf providing some substan- 



