684 Monthly Review of Literatme. QDec. 



Sciences at Paris, the model of such a bridge ; and the year after superintended 

 the construction of one, chiefly of wrought iron, at Rotherhara. But a prior 

 claim is put forth in favour of a Mr. Pritchard, of Shropshire, by which it 

 appears he anticipated Paine by ten or twelve years. It is said to have been in 

 accordance with his plans, that Colebrook Dale Bridge was built. The chain, 

 or suspension bridges — of which the Hammersmith one is detailed with great 

 accuracy — are followed by descriptions of plans for suspension rail-ways, by 

 which it is proposed that the bodies of carriages shall go under their wheels, and 

 thus be secured against over-turns. 



But amidst all the wonders of art, the sacrifice at which they are obtained 

 must not be overlooked. The eifects of mines and furnaces every body hears of, 

 and readily imagines ; but others are more insidious, and scarcely known at all. 

 In the manufacture of steel there is of necessity a great deal of dry-grinding, and 

 the consequence is, that the workmen live in an atmosphere of dust, consisting 

 of stone and steel particles. The effect of this is quickly felt in the lungs, and 

 so destructive is the "grinders' asthma," that in a body of men consisting of 

 some thousands, in Sheffield alone, very few reach the age of forty-five ; and 

 among fork and needle grinders, it is rare to meet with one of thirty-six. It was 

 bad enough when the grinders worked in large and lofty rooms, with only six 

 or eight stones, and, in the summer season, for only four or five hours, for want 

 of water ; but in the progress of improvement came the steam-engine, smaller 

 rooms, more crowded stories, a denser atmosphere, and no suspension of labour. 

 To meet the evil thus aggravated to the labourer, masks of magnets were inge- 

 niously contrived to intercept the steel particles ; and ganze covers for the mouth, 

 to stop the entrance of the coarser stone particles. But such is the extreme 

 tenuity of both steel and stone, that these remedies prove but partially effective ; 

 and besides, from the inconvenience to the wearer, they are reluctantly, and of 

 course but little used. The mischief, though sure and obvious, is not imme- 

 diate ; and young men are too heedless and reckless to provide against distant 

 dangers. Were the consequences felt at once, doubtless they would either be 

 more guarded against, or the risk not incurred at all. The fire-guilders, who 

 use mercury, are quickly compelled to take due precautions, or intolerable sore 

 mouths are the speedy consequence. But deplorable as is this loss of life, com- 

 petition will not be checked by the destruction of its agents. Can labour be 

 saved — can the process be shortened ? Yes, but at the cost of health and life. 

 No matter, the article will sell cheaper, and secure a market. This satisfies all 

 scruples. 



Familiar Law Adviser. I. II. III. IV. 



These are very useful compendiums — every body occasionally requires some- 

 thing of the kind. On the whole, they correspond very well with the profes- 

 sions of the compiler — that is, they communicate essential and authentic infor- 

 mation, in language divested of the technicalities in which lawyers have locked 

 up the laws, to keep themselves exclusively the keys. Nothing can be more 

 difficult than for a man, who has been long drilled and worn to the jargon, to 

 escape from it ; and even the compiler with all his efforts, and efforts bent 

 directly to the especial purpose, has not completely freed himself from the fet- 

 ters. Speaking of Temncy by the Year, he has insensibly pursued the old 

 jargon — " All demises, where no certain term," &c. What docs a demise con- 

 vey to the mind of a man, accustomed only to common parlance ? Yet it is for 

 such, professedly, books thus said to be stript of technicalities are destined. 

 Generally, however, the compiler is intelligible, and his books, in proportion, 

 useful. The four portions before us apply — the first, to Landlords and Tenants 

 — the second, to Masters and Servants — the third, to Bills of Exchange — and 

 the fourth, to Friendly Societies and Savings Banks. Pains have been taken to 

 ascertain the latest decisions of the courts. 



