THE BREAKWATER AT PLYMOUTH. THE river Tamar forms the boundary between Cornwall and Devonshire. Its meandering course terminates in the noble estuary of Plymouth Sound. The northern part of that magnificent harbour is called the Hamoaze; and there, in time of peace, great part of the British navy is moored. In the entrance of the Sound is the Breakwater, the greatest work of the kind ever attempted in this country. It is a vast heap of stones, quarried from a rock of grey marble on the eastern shore of the harbour, and brought together with prodigious labour and expense, in order to form a barrier against the heavy swell which is almost constantly rolling in from the Atlantic. The limestone of which the Breakwater is composed, is of a very beautiful kind; the colour varies greatly, from yellowish white to a light blue, or grey, and again to much darker shades, approaching to blackness, and is also sometimes variegated with different hues ; it takes a fine polish, and is often used for chimney-pieces, slabs, and other ornaments. The Breakwater is nearly a mile long, and is composed of large blocks thrown in promiscuously, and left to find their own base and position with regard to each other. The work is about two hundred and ten feet wide at the foundation, narrowing as it rises upwards, till on the top it measures about thirty feet. The undertaking has been most successful, checking the swell, so that many hundred ships may anchor as securely behind this artificial barrier, as behind a coral-reef. THE ECONOMICAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE USE OF THE WORKING CLASSES. THE PROVIDENT SOCIETIES encourage foresight amongst the poor, by inducing them to make small deposits for the provision of winter-stores, clothing, or other useful objects. A benefit is usually added to the amount deposited; and this, as well as the weekly amount of deposits, varies according to the rules of different Societies. These institutions are valuable not only to those who are depositors in Savings' Banks, but to many whose means 1839.] THE ECONOMICAL INSTITUTIONS. 99 are not sufficient for that purpose, although they can lay by a sum which is scarcely missed when paid weekly to the Provident Society, but returns to them" like a gift," at the end of the year. The advantages of SAVINGS' BANKS are now too well known to need description. The only difficult matter is, to persevere in availing ourselves of them. Habits are not the growth of a day, and not a little resolution is required, when an opportunity of gratification is within reach, to resist it, and to look to a more distant benefit. Few deserve to be honoured more than those who struggle successfully; and it is justly ordered that the exercise of a wise and virtuous economy should render a poor man happy, as well as increase the amount of his personal enjoyments. There is another point to which we hope to see the advantages of Savings' Banks more extensively applied. Instead of delaying the period of marriage, until a little capital has been saved to meet the unavoidable expenses which marriage occasions, it is too often the practice of the working classes to enter into such an engagement with no other resource than the wages of the present week. Some little economy is then practised, though under fewer advantages than when the parties were single, in order to collect household furniture, &c.; but, habits of economy not having been already formed, and other wants becoming urgent; these articles, instead of being lasting and solid, are usually of the cheapest and worst description, and are soon worn out and destroyed; they do not neatly adorn the poor man's home, which has no cheerful appearance to welcome him, but is rendered cheerless by the wretched substitutes employed in the absence of those conveniences which are necessary to domestic comfort. In this state of things, there is great danger that the attractions of the public-house will be but too successful: then, indeed, the prospect of that family ever living above the most absolute dependence on daily labour is gone; and the most trifling casualty produces the greatest poverty and misery. How different is the situation of a man who has practised economy for a few years before marriage. Having pursued a steady course of industry and economy, in due time he is mar ried to one who has acted in a manner equally praiseworthy. LOAN FUND SOCIETIES are also established for the benefit and encouragement of the labouring classes, and are ready to enable a man to fix himself firmly in the new station to which his economy has raised him. These Societies are established under the protection of an Act of Parliament, and are associations of individuals willing to encourage the industrious, who are engaged in occupations requiring a little capital, by the advance of sums under 157., for which interest is to be paid at the rate of 5 per cent. A person borrowing in this manner, must obtain the security of persons who have confidence in him, founded upon actual knowledge of his general good conduct and integrity. These three institutions-Provident Societies, Savings' Banks, and Loan Fund Societies, have all the same object in view, they are not calculated to weaken the reliance of the poor on their own exertions, but are all instruments for their welfare, to which they must apply their own hands. With the addition of Friendly Societies, for insuring a provision in sickness and old age, the poor man may be protected from many of the casualties of life. In some places MEDICAL CLUBS have been also formed, for enabling the poor man to obtain the best medical attendance in sickness, at a small expense: and there are Endowment Societies, on the plan detailed in the January Number of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor, for enabling him to save during the earlier years of his children, so as to meet the expenses of fitting them out, when old enough to maintain themselves.-(Chiefly compiled by a Correspondent, from the Working Man's Companion for 1836. Art."Economical Institutions for the use of the Working Classes.") THE LEAD MINES. ABOUT the middle of the last century, Mr. James Sterling, (a mathematician of eminence,) was overseer of the lead-mines, and established a library for the miners, 1839.] USEFUL HINTS. 101 which in 1830 amounted to 2000 volumes, including the standard works in every branch of science. At Wanlockhead, another mining village, within two miles of Leadhills, but in Dumfriesshire, there is another. library almost as large; whilst in other mining districts crimes are frequent, petty offences only occur here; and whilst the children of colliers and miners are generally ignorant, there is neither a boy nor a girl in these villages who cannot read, and most of them can write. The apparent comfort of the people, the neatness of the children's dress, and the intelligence of the men, cannot be denied. Might not the overseers in other mining districts try to establish reading societies among their workmen? For it will always be found, that correct moral conduct follows the cultivation of the mind, when founded on good religious principles. The miners of Leadhills and Wanlockhead only work six hours in the day', and are allowed by their landlords, the Earl of Hopetoun at the former, and the Duke of Buccleuch at the latter, as much land as they can cultivate with the spade. Uncultivated land lets, in the neighbourhood, at 2s per acre, but under spade cultivation the produce has in some instances proved quite extraordinary, showing what can thus be effected even under unpromising circumstances. At Leadhills, Scotch firs will not grow, and all other trees are stunted, except larches, which grow luxuriantly when protected. The late Duke of Atholl ascertained that, whilst the Scotch fir thrives only at an elevation below 900 feet; in the north of Scotland, the larch ascends to 1600, and may ascend higher. This may be applied to unprofitable heaths in Scotland; and almost all hills in England may have larches growing upon their tops, and producing very valuable timber. Sent by a Correspondent. USEFUL HINTS. To keep flour sweet.-Scald out the flour-bin as often as it is empty, and let it dry in the sun. mites from breeding in it. This prevents 'This is the case, it is believed, in some other lead mines, if not in all. |