account, ye can just let it stand over till next journey, or may be ye'll draw the bill at sax months instead of twa, and we'll say nothing about the discount."

Finding that remonstrance was of no avail, the traveller reluctantly drew the required bill at two months, which the Baillie signed, and handed back, and the traveller took his leave; but just as he was quitting the shop the Baillie called him back, and assuming a tone of confidential sympathy, observed, that "he wadna trouble his gude friend to carry the bit of paper to the bank, may be he wadna object to gie him (the Baillie) the trifle of commission he wad hae had to pay at the bank for cashing it, an he'd een gie him the siller himsel."

The traveller could not help laughing at this shrewd trick for obtaining the extra discount, and he therefore allowed Baillie Angus to cash his own bill for a trifling consideration, as he modestly expressed it.

Trained under such influences, it was not surprising that George Angus should early have learned to regard the acquisition of money as the object of paramount interest and importance. His father's comment on his studies and amusements at school, generally comprising some practical reference to the main chance. Thus, when little George came home one day full of excitement about the story he had been reading of Archemides rushing from his bath to announce the discovery of the king's problem, for the detection of the goldsmith's fraud, "Aye, aye, Gordie," said his father, "yon chiel was a great feelosopher, nae dout, but he could na solve one problem that auld Baillie Angus has speered thro' lang ago-he said he could move the world gin he could find a fulcrum for his lever; but he couldna find it Geordie, he couldna find it. Hoot lad, he never thought o' the siller-gie a man money, and he'll move the world in the blink o' an ee."

To do the Baillie justice, however, though he pursued business with such eager and absorbing interest, and held every other acquirement cheap compared with the art of making a good bargain, yet he was neither miserly nor uncharitable. He could higgle stoutly over a halfpenny, when he made his weekly purchases at the market, but when winter came, and work was scarce, many a poor body found her meal chest replenished from the Baillie's bounty, and none could speak a word of kindlier sympathy to the lone mourner in the hour of her bereavement and deep sorrow. As his son grew up the same qualities were largely developed in his character; with intense and unwearied devotion to business he combined a frank, hearty, and good nature, that preserved to him the respect and goodwill even of those who complained most of his tight dealing.

Such was the man who through many gradations, had at length worked himself to the head of one of the largest outfitting and ready-made clothing establishments in the city of London. The extent of business transacted by the firm, and the profitable nature of the trade, were mainly owing to the energy and close calculations of Mr. Angus. "To buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest," had been his ruling maxim, nor had any misgivings ever crossed his mind as to the right he possessed to use the power afforded by his rapidly accumulating capital for his own advantage, in whatever channel it might be employed. He bought the stock of a broken-down bankrupt, and the labour of a broken spirited family on the same principle; they were offered cheap, and he had never thought it necessary to look beyond the amount of discount involved in the transaction. Thus he had scores of workpeople, whose necessities drove them to his warehouse, and he seemed to think that the certainty of his work and of his pay justified him in adopting a scale of prices, governed solely by the alternative, which he knew to exist, of employment on his own terms, or the humiliating and precarious resource of the parish. This he called availing himself of the state of the labour market, nor had he ever thought it necessary to inquire whether the

wages which he paid procured either comforts or necessities for those who toiled for him. They came to him for work and knew his prices-they were free either to accept or reject it; and as long as he was crowded with applicants on his own terms, he had been but too pleasantly occupied in counting his own profits, to calculate for a moment on their possible privation and suffering.

(To be continued.)

FACTS TO REFLECT UPON.

Submitted for the consideration of their fellow workers, by the Members of the People's Medical College and School of Domestic Medicine.

1st.-Out of one thousand children born in London, only 592 remain alive at the end of five years; in Birmingham, only 518; in Leeds, only 520; in Manchester, only 490; and in Liverpool, only 470.-Report of Registrar-General. 2nd." One hundred thousand persons die annually in England of preventible diseases, and eighty thousand of the three following incurable diseases-viz., 5,500 of cancer; 9,800 of dropsy; and 60,000 of tubercular diseases (consumption)."

3rd. "The number of licensed medical men in England is estimated at 20,000; the number of druggists, 30,000." Millions are annually expended in teaching medicine, and millions more in supporting her public hospitals and private medical institutions, and yet for all this "the people do not live out half their days."

In reporting upon the Hygienic and Therapeutic condition of the nation, the Registrar-General makes the following pointed remarks:

:

"Within the shores of these realms, 28,000,000 of people dwell who have not only supplied her armies and set her fleets in motion, but have manufactured innumerable products, and are employed in the investigation of scientific truths, and the erection of works of inestimable value to the human race. These people do not live out half their days: one hundred and forty thousand of them die every year unnatural deaths."

He then asks the following questions:

"Who will deliver the nation from these terrible enemies? Who will confer upon the inhabitants of the United Kingdom the blessings of health and long life? His conquests would be wrought neither by wrong nor human slaughter, but by the application of the powers of nature to the improvement of mankind." "Who will deliver the nation from these terrible enemies? Who?"

The aggregate, or 28,000,000, is made up of units, of which each unit is a part: the Government and people of all classes, therefore, which compose the nation, can only be moved as units." He who redeems himself redeems his country! The truth has made him free!

"RULE BRITANNIA " is no mere sound without a meaning. The Empire of the Seas is one, and indivisible. “Le Trident de Neptune est le Sceptre du Monde." If each so-called maritime nation will be so good as to put down its own military fleet, good; if not, we must help them all, to put them down as speedily as possible. Whatever other duty we have to do, this is our first, by far most important duty; whether for our own sake, or for the sake of the rest of the whole world. We have it in our power now, I say, or perhaps never more (if we inaptly allow the present opportunity to pass) to put an end to all war by sea, over the whole surface of the globe, at once and for ever! Surely, even the Peace-at-any-Price Party would subscribe in favour of this grand aim. Barkway, Herts, March 9th, 1862. HENRY CLINTON,

TO THE HONOURABLE THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. The humble Petition of the undersiged Members of the

SHEWETH,

Society, established under the Industrial and Provident Societies' Act, 1852.

1. That many Societies of Working Men have been established under the said Act for the purpose of improving the condition of themselves, their wives, and families, by supplying the articles of their ordinary consumption, and that great benefits have been derived through such Societies, by the Members, both from the pecuniary savings arising therefrom, and from the habits of forethought and industry encouraged thereby.

2. That in consequence of the success of the Societies aforesaid, the disposition to form Societies for the purposes aforesaid has of late greatly extended in various parts of the United Kingdom, and more especially in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and that a desire has also sprung up extensively, amongst the Working Classes to avail themselves of the power given by the Act aforesaid to carry on Manufactures on their own account: and that your Petitioners are confident, from the results already attained in some cases, through the establishment of such Manufactures, that the establishment thereof will much increase the benefits found to result from the Stores aforesaid,-and will also materially tend to check the existence of Strikes, wherein large sums of capital have been and still continue to be wasted.

3. That for the purpose of conducing to the establishment of such Manufacturing Societies, and of enabling the Members thereof, as well as of such Stores as aforesaid, to derive all the benefits capable of being obtained by them, therefrom, the following provisions appear to be requisite.

I. That facilities should be given for Investing the Capital arising from the Profits accumulated out of the business of the Stores aforesaid, in the promotion of Manufacturing enterprises.

II. That the Members of Industrial and Provident Societies should have the same privilege of Limiting their Liability to the amount of their Shares, as is now extended to the Members of Joint Stock Companies.

III. That the limit fixed by the Industrial and Provident Act to the quantity of Land capable of being purchased by any such Society, is objectionable, inasmuch as it prevents the Members of such Societies from erecting Dwellings or other Buildings for the accommodation of themselves and their families, either in the neighbourhood of Manufactories established by them, or elsewhere.

IV. That the Members of such Societies should be enabled, by the rules thereof, to provide for the Application of any part of the Profits arising from the businesses carried on by them to Educational, Charitable, Sanitary, or any other beneficial purposes desired by them, with the same freedom as is enjoyed by the Members of Joint Stock Companies.

V. That the rules of such Societies should be allowed to provide for the Transferability of the Shares therein.

VI. That the provisions of the Friendly Societies' Act 1854, whereby Members are allowed to Nominate the Persons to whom their Investments in such Societies shall be paid on their decease, should be extended to Industrial and Provident Societies.

4. That two Acts have been passed for Amending the Industrial and Provident Societies' Act, and that your Petitioners are desirous that all the Acts relating to such Societies should be Consolidated into one Act.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honourable House that the Laws relating to Industrial and Provident Societies may be Consolidated and Amended in the several matters hereinbefore mentioned, and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

N.B.-The preceding Petition must be copied out and clearly written upon one sheet of parchment or paper, with one or more Signatures attached to the same Sheet. The printed Petition will serve for obtaining Signatures-which it is absolutely necessary should now be obtained with as little delay as possible, to secure an early presentation of the same to Parliament.

[The Presidents of Societies could, we think, sign on behalf of such Societies. This would save delay.-ED.]

CO-OPERATIVE NEWS.

ST. GEORGE'S (LONDON) CO-OPERATIVE INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY. - The first anniversary of the above society was held on Monday, the 10th ult., at the Temperance Hall, Mint-street, Tower-hill. The evening's proceedings were enlivened by the gratuitous performances of the band of the 3rd London Volunteers. Upwards of 120 members and friends sat down to tea, after which a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. J. Nott. Mr. J. Basmond delivered a very interesting lecture on the principles of co-operation and the progress of the society. It appears that this society was originated by four working men, with the small capital of 3s. 6d., February 20, 1861, and at the present time it numbers 240 shareholders. The amount of trade done during the year is £2,294; profits, £153. The whole amount of subscriptions have been £170. Dividend declared on purchases, 1s. 8d. in the £; and interest paid on capital, £6. 2s. 8d.

LEEDS CO-OPERATIVE FLOUR SOCIETY.-The anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the new grocery stores, belonging to this society was commemorated in the large hall of the premises by a tea party and public meeting. The chair was occupied by Mr. Wildridge.

RIPPONDEN CO-OPERATIVE STORES.--The half-yearly meeting of this society was held in the Working Man's Institute, on Saturday, the 8th ult.; Mr. J. Dyson in the chair. The attendance of members was very good. The old salesmen, Messrs. Gledhill, Taylor, and Mellor, were re-elected. Mr. J. Mellor was elected secretary; Mr. S. Gledhill, treasurer; Mr. T. Whiteley, vice-president. On the motion of Mr. S. Mellor, it was agreed to revise the rules. The dividends are declared once a year.

SOWERBY BRIDGE FLOUR SOCIETY.—On Saturday, the 8th ult., the adjourned half-yearly meeting of this society was held in the Town-hall; Mr. T. Baxendale in the chair. Mr. Morris moved, and Mr. Greenwood seconded, the following resolution, which was unanimously agreed to:-"That a bonus be declared and paid on the purchases of the past half year; and also that the amount previously set aside for bonus be paid at the same time." He said the amount previously set aside for bonus was £2,700. The profits for the half-year were £1,500, less, paid Mr. Fielding and other expenses, £300. To make all shares £3, 1s. 6d. would be required, which would amount to £212; two-fifths of the profits went to share and share alike, and this would come to £480, which would make £992, and this deducted from £1,500 would leave £508, which, added to the £2,700, made £3,208, to be divided as bonus and interest. The meeting was a crowded one, and everything went smoothly.

ORIGIN OF THE BLAYDON CO-OPERATIVE STORE. This Society has lately celebrated its third anniversary, and it appears, from an excellent speech delivered on the occasion by Mr. Ramsay, that a "few men in the neighbourhood were induced to unite their efforts and try their hands at co-operation, by the readings of their most worthy and indefatigable friend, Mr. J. Cowen, jun. After having deposited their first shillings, they opened correspondence with the various successful co-operative societies in Lancashire, and received much useful and practical information from their respective secretaries. Time passed on, and business grew, till at last a shop was needed for the transaction of business. Some difficulty was at first experienced in getting a place, but this was soon overcome, and they began to talk of buying property-yes, working men buying property. The premises they then occupied-a four-roomed house-became too small; they sought after and obtained others; and the premises coming into the market they bought them. These were inspiring words for a labouring portion of the community. The shop is their own, the stock is their own, the trade is their own, and, better than all these, were the influences possessed by them for the removal of political abuses." A suggestion was made at the meeting by Mr. Cowen, jun., that a gathering of representatives from all the stores in the North

of England should be held to devise some scheme by which the members of the different stores could often meet and compare notes as to what each was doing.[This is as it should be, and we are endeavouring to bring about the same object among London co-operators.]

HEBDEN BRIDGE.-The new shops and buildings about to be erected here to the glory of co-operation, are to be proceeded with immediately. Mr. W. Crabtree is the successful contractor for the stone work, whilst the wood work is entrusted to the care of Messrs. John Cockroft and Sons. The work of clearing has already begun, and ere another winter the building will be complete.

CAMDEN AND EUSTON CO-OPERATIVE AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.-This society, which is established at No. 11, Adam's-terrace, Hampstead-road, has issued its first half-yearly report, from which it appears the society has made steady and effective progress, despite of all jealousies and obstacles that have been thrown in its way. Much credit is due to the efforts of the warehouseman, Mr. Dring, who was selected from out of 98 applicants for the situation. Goods sold from June 24th to Dec. 31st, 1861, £1,027 16s. 3d.; wages paid, £45 6s. 10d.; balance at bankers, £134 0s. 6d. ; shares paid up, £354; dividend 1s. in the £ to member-purchasers, and 5 per cent. on capital. Number of members, 143.

LASSWADE CO-OPERATIVE STORE.-The 21st quarterly meeting of this society was held on the 15th of February. The report shows that the profits were £408, or 1s. 10d. in the £ on the amount of business done. Some members, having large families, had realised from 30s. to £2 as profits, which should give encouragement to working men to support their own stores, and thus aid themselves. In addition to the dividend of 1s. 10d. in the £ the 4-lb. loaf had been sold at d. below the current price of the village shops, being supplied by the Co-operative Baking Company at Roslin, which for superiority of flour and bread cannot be excelled. [Will our friends forward their reports earlier, and thus assist to lessen our difficulty.]

ST. ROLLOX CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.-The first anniversary soirée of this society was held on Thursday evening, Feb. 21st, in the Garngad-road Schoolroom. There was a large attendance of members, their wives, and friends, when some excellent addresses were delivered by the well-known and indefatigable Alexander Campbell and Mr. Wilkinson, on the principles and objects of co-operation.

BRISTOL.-There appears to be two central co-operative societies in Bristol for the sale of provisions and groceries, the one being situate in Castle-street, and the other in West-street. They have three branches, with about 600 members, and although the latter has not made such rapid strides as the former, its progress has been sure and certain. One branch was recently opened in St. George's, and to advance the movement in that populous parish, a meeting was lately held in the British School-room, Mr. Kendal occupying the chair. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Trew, Holmes, Vowles, and others. There was an exceedingly good attendance, and the pithy, elaborate, and pointed speeches delivered had the effect of enlisting many members to the store.

VALE OF LEVEN.-A co-operative store was opened here in October last. Mr. Jagger, of Rochdale, delivered a very effective lecture. The result was that a company was formed, with shares of £1 each (each member not holding less than five shares or more than 100), on the limited liability principle; the members were speedily increased to about 200. A shop was taken and put into first-rate business order. The paid-up capital of the company is £250, and the credit system is discountenanced.

RAWMARSH, NEAR ROTHERHAM.-Mr. Henry Turner, of Sheffield, has recently delivered a lecture in the Grammar School of the above place, subject-" The principles, progress, and advantages of co-operation." Mr. John Wild, the secretary of the Kilnhurst Co-operative Society, occupied the chair, and a branch store is to be opened here under the auspices of the Kilnhurst Society, which has divided 1s. 8d. in the £ dividend,