The Constitution of Friendly Societies,

upon Legal and Scientific Principles, exemplified by Rules and Tables of Calculations, &c. By JOHN THOMAS BECHER, M. A. London: Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers' Court.

We have lately had much satisfaction in perusing a little work written by the Rev. John Thomas Becher, M. A. upon the constitution of Friendly Societies. The remarks of this worthy divine are so much in unison with our own, and are so well calculated to effect the end in view, namely, the improvement of Friendly Societies, that we do not hesitate in stepping aside from our usual plan, to notice this publication, and present to our readers a few extracts therefrom, recommending all persons engaged in forming such societies to adopt the plan which has so happily been carried into effect in the town of Southwell, under the immediate direction, and under the patronage of the reverend author.

The following is the outline of the plan of the Southwell Friendly Society:

Persons of either sex, from the ages of 10 to 50, of respectable character, and living within ten miles, are eligible to become members.

Members are honorary who enrich the funds by donations.

The affairs of the society are managed by stewards, the amount examined by an auditor, a treasurer, who gives bond, a secretary, who also gives bond, and certain trustees.

The members are divided into ten classes, according to the rules of

classification, and certain tables of calculations.

The advantages to the ordinary members from this society vary according to the class such members may subscribe to; from two shillings per week during sickness, a weekly allowance after the age of sixty-five, and two pounds on death, to twenty shillings per week during sickness, a weekly allowance of ten shillings after the age of sixty-five, and twenty pounds on death.

The members are divided into ten classes, according to the tables of payments. Every person may, on his or her proposal for admission, select the class to which he or she is desirous of belonging, provided the amount of his or her weekly earnings or emoluments, calculated or estimated upon an average, for the year next immediately preceding his or her admission shall appear to have been equal to three times the amount of the walking pay of the class chosen.

To illustrate the system of calculation. The tables are so framed, that whoever makes an assurance in sickness, must at the same time as- . sure an annuity after 65, and a payment on death; which combination has been devised with an intention of preventing imposition or inequality. Thus, were a sickly person to effect an assurance, what was gained in sickness would be lost in the annuity. On the other hand, should the healthy members receive but a small portion of the pay in sickness, there is a greater probability of their living to enjoy the annuities. By a similar arrangement, the annuities and the assurances on death reciprocally cooperate. If the member dies prematurely, the contributions on account of the annuity become available towards discharging the payment on death; but, if life be prolonged, the assurances on death, after a certain period, may be regarded as applicable towards the annuity. So that by introducing a system of balanced interests, it seems scarcely possible to defraud the institution, or to preclude the attainment of its benevolent objects.

Any member between the ages of

10 and 50, may remove to a higher class by increasing his assurances, subject, however, to the regulation respecting the amount of his earnings. Should he prove unable to make his monthly payments, he may descend to a lower class; or, if his inability has not been occasioned by immorality or improvidence, the institution may purchase his interest at a fair price.

The author remarks, "Let any unprejudiced person compare this institution with the friendly clubs established upon the old system of mismanagement and conviviality. Without adverting to the hours consumed in attendances at the publichouse, let him only bear in recollection, that a portion of the funds, seldom amounting to less than 4s. 9d. a head, and frequently to more, is expended upon the anniversary feast and the ale provided for the monthly meetings, which sum would secure for every member under 20 years of age the full allowances of our first class, with an annuity after 65.

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Supposing such a club to consist of 120 members upon an average, this 4s. 9d. a-head, misapplied every year, would, under our regulations, be vested in the Bank of England, upon the same security as the funds of the saving banks; and in 30 years, which is less than the time that has elapsed since the foundation of several friendly societies in our neighbourhood, would produce, by compound interest, more than one thousand seven hundred and forty pounds! or, in 55 years, being the period between 10, our youngest age of admission, and 65, the commencement of our annuities connected with sickness, it would yield more than six thousand six hundred pounds! This accumulation is not visionary, but such as must actually take place in our institution, so as to become available for the general uses of the depositors.

"Five farthings saved weekly will, according to the tables, assure a member under the age of 25, the allowances of the first class, with an annuity after 65; and a daily reservation of one penny will purchase the privileges of the fifth class, with an

annuity of 9s. weekly after 65, affording a comfortable maintenance in sickness, and a decent competency in old age.

"Provident foresight, habitual temperance, and early industry can never be too forcibly or too frequently im‐ pressed upon the minds of the laborious classes. Death is the punishment imposed upon wilful transgression. Let it therefore be remembered, that the wages of sin is death.' The diseases which precede his approach and accelerate his coming were not originally ingrafted on our constitution by nature. They are the bitter fruits produced by licentious indulgence and criminal sensuality. Mortals may deviate from the paths of virtue; but the divine ordinances remain immutable, since human events daily verify those predictions, which pronounce, as a curse upon the wicked, that they shall not live out half their days,' while they promise, among the blessings entailed upon the righteous, 'Length of days, and riches, and honour.'

WATER.

The signs of good water are, that it easily becomes hot and cold; that in summer it is cool, and in winter slightly lukewarm; that a drop dried on a clean cloth leaves not the faintest stain behind; and that it has neither taste nor smell. It is also a sign of good water, that when it is boiled it becomes hot, and afterwards grows cold, sooner than other water. But this sign is far more fallible than the evidence of the quality of water obtained by feeling. Singular as this may sound, it is very possible to distinguish the properties of water by means of this sense. A soft or a hard water is synonymous with a water the parts of which adhere slightly or closely together. The slighter their adhesion, the less they resist the feeling, and the less sensible they are to the hand, because they may be so much the more easily separated. Our, cooks and washerwomen would be able to furnish many instances of the faculty of discriminating the properties of water by the touch, which would show that this faculty depends

more on the excitement occasioned in the sensible parts than on any other cause. Hard water, for instance, makes the skin rough; soft, on the contrary, renders it smooth. The former cannot sufficiently soften flesh or vegetables; the latter regularly produces this effect. The difference of the extraneous matters which change the qualities of water, naturally makes a different impression on the feeling; and in this there is nothing that ought to astonish a person of reflection.

The water of standing pools and wells is in general extremely impure, and is accounted the worst of all. River water differs according to the variety of the soil over which it runs, and the changes of the weather; but though commonly drank, it is never pure. Of all impure river-waters, those which abound in earthly particles alone are the least injurious, because those particles are not dissolved by the water. In Auvergne, near the villages of St. Allire and Clermont, there is a stream of a petrifying quality, which constructs of itself large bridges of stone, and yet it is the only water drank by the inhabitants of those places, and that without the slightest inconvenience. If we consider that a stony concretion is deposited in all our kettles, we shall readily conceive, that a water which carries stone along with it cannot be very pernicious to health, since it is constantly drank by men and animals. This stone in our kettles is really a calcareous earth, which may be dissolved by boiling in them vinegar, or water mixed with a small quantity of nitric acid; and as the water deposits it, and does not hold it in solution, it can of course do us very little injury. We cannot, therefore, imagine how the celebrated Dr. Mead could believe that ater which leaves such a deposit in linary vessels may occasion stone in the kidneys or bladder, merely because Pliny has said so, though he was well acquainted with the great difference between animal calculi and mere calcareous earth.

Next to well and river-water, both which are always impure, rain-water follows in the scale of preference. It

is very impure, and a real vehicle for all the pernicious matters that are continually floating in the atmosphere. Snow-water is much purer. Snow is formed of vapours which have been frozen before they could collect into drops. It is in the lower region of the air that these drops in falling absorb most of their impurities. The vapours floating in the upper atmosphere freeze before they reach the mire of the lower. This water is seldom to be had. That which is most strongly recommended for drinking, is a spring-water, which descends from lofty hills, through flints and pure sand, and rolls gently along over a similar bed or rocks. Such water leaves behind all its coarse impurities in the sand; it is a purified rain and snow-water, a fluid crystal, a real cordial, and the best beverage for persons in good health.

ON HOUSE BUILDING AND TAKING.

The first object to be considered, either in building or renting a habitation, should be its situation: a current of air passing over a forest, marshy ground, stagnant water, or where noxious operations are carried on, must necessarily be impregnated with the respective vapours arising from such circumstances.

The most healthy situations are gentle rising grounds, avoiding the excessive hydrogen with which the air of the valley is charged, and the perpetual blasts to be expected upon the summit of a hill.

If the neighbourhood of a large or manufacturing town be the desired locality, it should not only be considered what the place is, but what it may become. If we would retire from town for fresh air, and cheerful recreation, and meditation, we would not place ourselves on the margin of a burial-ground; but, although we may not go to the burial-ground, it may nevertheless come to us; and instead of being delighted with the view of verdant foliage and evergreens, our lively prospects may be changed to sculptured stones, and all the woestirring paraphernalia of the place appointed for all men; but this is a grave subject, and we leave it to the

discussion of those who may undertake it: other nuisances may travel towards us, in the shape of soapboilers, knackers, grease and varnish makers, dust dealers, farmers, chemical laboratories, and all the thousand ills the place is heir to.

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If a garden be required, some attention is necessary to the quality of the soil a just knowledge of the quality of land must be the result of experience, but a general idea may be formed by turning up a turf, throwing a little soft water upon it, and well kneading it; the greater or less degree of adhesiveness which it possesses, will determine the greater or less fertility of the soil. Notice also should be taken of the depth of the soil, which is easily ascertained by digging in various parts; if the earth dug out of a square hole more than fills it, such soil is good. One of the chief necessities and comforts requisite, is a good supply of water; before a person builds, buys, or even rents a house, he should carefully ascertain if there is a good supply of water, or if it may be obtained by digging, boring, or otherwise. A noble house was built some years ago, at a vast expence, by the late Lord Thurlow; when the house was quite finished, it was discovered, too late, that water was unattainable; the house was never inhabited, and, after several years, dismantled, and the materials sold at a loss of many thousand pounds.

THE PROJECTED WATER-COMPANY.

In one of the last Sunday's papers appeared an article which endeavoured to throw a damp upon the exertions now making to establish a new Water-Company, and this was done by extracting the opinions of Mr. Bligh upon Water-Companies in general. Those arguments go not a jot to prove that the present Water-Company, which undertakes to supply London, does its duty, or that another Water-Company, if once established, would not eminently benefit the city of London. Now, without entering into the practicability of the proposed plan, we say that a more desirable thing could not be than an effective opposition to the New River Com

pany all the monopoly which now exists would be thus crushed, and, instead of measuring out every gallon of water, which is now done, the inhabitants would not be stinted in that necessary article of domestic use and civic health. In case of fire, how would the people be situated? Why the city might be consumed to ashes before they could extinguish it by its present supply! Look at the subject in point of health too. Can a close, naturally-dirty city like London, be kept properly healthful without water -and a plentiful supply of water? No. Next to the air we breathe, water is necessary. Accumulation of filth, and consequent foul impregnations of the air, must take place in London, unless there be a profusion of water. Look at the Dutch towns: -why, there is more water used by a housemaid in Holland in one morning, than in a whole street of London in a week: every inch of the outside of the houses, the pavements, yards, and passages are washed daily in that country. Plagues arise in cities from accumulations of filth, and fires extend frightfully, unless opposed by plenty of water. Now, either another London-plague, or another London-fire, may very probably happen, if the present system of watering remain unchanged. We are sorry to see a public journal stand up against so laudable an exertion as is now making to remedy the evil. The press should protect the public in terests, and never lend itself for an opposite purpose.

MEN AND MANNERS.

To the Editor of The Economist.

MR. EDITOR ;--Having lately mar ried a woman who, before I espoused her, was the picture of gentleness and virtue, but who has turned out a most outrageous vixen, I have no pleasure in her society; I therefore ramble abroad the whole day, and sometimes remain out whole nights, mankind, and amusing myself with examining the nature and morals of writing down my remarks. I have read your Numbers of The Economist, and as I find it to be a publi- ‘

The acquirement of wealth is easy, compared with the difficulty of spending it with wisdom and economy; in proportion as it is less difficult and dangerous to ascend than to descend a steep: we should only roll down where the declivity is smooth and gentle, taking care to stop ourselves in time, lest the descent become precipitous.

Genius is for ever trying to reach its object by a nearer cut; while dulness pursues a long, round-about, obvious, broad, beaten track, and frequently arrives first at the point of destination.

Advice, when asked for, assumes the features of command; unsolicited, it is merely opinion. If I request the advice of a friend respecting my future conduct, I am in some degree bound to follow it.

Man is still, whether phlegmatic or ardent, a stoic or a libertine; it is only the difference betwixt a lump of ice and a kettle of boiling water.

Most men (aye, and women too) measure their excellence by the vices which they have not, rather than by the virtues which they have.

There are many persons who, arriving unexpectedly at a thousand pounds, act as if their newly acquired wealth was a thousand a-year.

Prisons are formidable only to knaves. There needs not the sheriff's mandate to incarcerate a noble mind, writhing beneath the pressure of debts unpaid. With such an one, the sight of an unreceipted bill is the merciless grasp of a bailiff; while the consciousness of its being a just demand, converts his comfortable home into the cheerless precincts of a gaol: then, should Fortune grant him the means of payment, he feels, in the honest creditor's discharge, the ecstatic sense of being restored to liberty.

To do a good action is right, but deserves not the plaudits of fame; it is merely performing an act of justice';

it is like the paying of a bill when due; and the thanks reverting to the doer, are no more than the creditor's receipt.

The progress of guilt is like a pedestrian journeying through a dirty. lane. At first he picks his way with extreme caution, fearful of disturbing the gloss upon his shoes. As he proceeds, however, the splashes multiply; he views the labour of the brush destroyed, he gives up the purity of his shoes as lost, and all his care is now bent upon his stockings; but finding these also bespattered by the increasing miriness of the road, he becomes reckless of both shoes and stockings, and no longer striving to pick out the cleanest path, dashes on through thick and thin.

It is sometimes an unfortunate thing for a boy to shoot too rapidly into adolescence; for, from the external appearance of a man, one is led to expect manly sentiments and actions; but disgust ensues, when nought but boyish frivolity accompanies apparent manhood.

Birth-days should uniformly be kept;" they are like mile-stones on the road of life, and remind us of the progress. of our journey.

Few things are more disgusting than the vulgar (or, as some would say, natural) mode of expressing sensations: the shiver, with the labial accompaniment, expressive of cold; the volume of steam, spouted into your face, to assure you that the weather is close; the vacillatory movement of the body, denoting sundry abdominal twinges; the vinegar aspect, indicative of suspicion respecting the purity of a joint of meat; these, and a thousand other ways, equally indelicate, nauseate me to loathing. However different my own previous sensations may have been, they directly feel the pestiferous influence of these vulgarisms