To The Editor Of The Time...
sir,-A letter in your paper a few days ago, sighed " Eliza," expressed some surprise at the potenteffects or that generally esteeni- ed simnple substance-jelly. A- this iss an article frequi ntly given to invalids, even in thelaststagcof illness,l should think that in future, our worthy hausewives, or their daugkters, will not be disinclined to resume that nearly ;%bandened science of domestic confectionary; for then only cpn they be sure of what they themselyvs are to eat, or to present to tr friends. I will now inform " Bliza," that jellies, &c., are acidulated with chymical acids, whiclh are more powerful and cheaper than lemon-juice. The true citric acid in crystals would do nearly as well, but this also is expensive: so tartaric and oxalic acids supply its place. This latte&, as is well-known, is very strong, and wh1ere used in quantity, a deadly poison: the least por. tion placed on the tongue discovers its pungent and corroding qua- lity. No one can he sensible how much rubbish he eats, who devours at random all thetrash which invites his eyesand palate by the finished appearance of a coo.k-shop, or well.covcred table. Air. Accum was not far wrong, when he announced that there was " poisou in the pot-" but his terrors were so numerous, tha.t they disposed us to keep our tmouths shut altogether, for feat of even inhaling the pestiferous effluvia of a laurel-leaf, which Atiss had chop- ped into her custard, because the bitter almonds were all I used. I may remark, by the way, that the essential oil of even this latter article is a deadly poison ; and would advise that in future we should be satisfied with the Jordan almond in lieu of it. Laurel-leaves have been long knoWh to be very deleterious, and to contain much prussic acid-probably one of the most power- ful poisons ever vet discovered. There are Abundance of wholesome and agreeableflavostn, withoutbeing oblgd to have recoarse to either ofthe above. But now to the object of nmy Icttcr. A few days ago, I was in- duced bytheverytempting appearce ofsome prttty cemfits to take some home to my children. We had them of all colours-blue, white? gray, yellow, red, and green. WVe had the shapes of turnips, parsnips, carrots, peas, beans, and indeed could very soon have set up a greeri-grocer's shop. I wad always aware that these said sun- dries must have been coloured with sornething, and also that tbat something was not likely to be very wholesome; but I also thought that so diluted as the colouring matter must be, it could not possibly be injurious in a small quantity. It turned out otherwise. Aboy I have of two years old was not much disposed to go to bed at his usual time, and as ours is rather the soothing thas compelling sys- tem at thai age, his rurse had recourse to what boys an men of no age refuse-a bribe, aNd this was in the shape of half of one of the above-mentioned beans, she keeping the other halfas her own perqui- site. In the coura of halfan hour, however, both nurbe and cl-ild were seized wnth sickness and retching, which I should not have known what to ascribe to, but it happened that another child, who was a little older and wiser, was possessed of a bean also, and she de. cined eating is, because *s it tasted like a halfpenny." This, I think conclusive evidence of verdi cf5bei' the colouring matter; an3 I think it mnv uty, through theinterninable channels into whicb you convey infernation, instruction, and admonition, to warn the purchasers of those tempting sweetmeats to beware of them ; and tc warn both their nurses and children to avoid themn, as they would green apples and apothecaries' mixtures, whlicli are always sure tc succeed them. As for erpecting the .elcrs to alter their mode ol colourin, them, we rnay as soon look for a dividend from the Povah loan. ''he ciestems of thetrade are asimmutable as the laws odth( Moedes and Persians; and yerogsiss wil. be used, if even drii spinnge le~es were placcds PpOn their c0ounA!. I do not wish t dfnghten you, Mr Edaitor; bit if you will,take the trouble to look Ine which yur nice summer cabbage were boiled yeserdy,iti vry ikly onwill be thericher by a clean, well- boiedhlf~nn,anjw~c'j wU rcmain there, notwith,tandinK all yoar lecturcs on chymical eff'ects, tobrighten and vivify vosr grens, peas, end beans. for many future nmonths to come. 'the sight of this halfpenny (I have sometimeas seen a farthing, when capper was .scaee ia the kitchen) will have a ilouble chymical effect-it will nake your vegetables look green. and it will m.lk. v.- Mt f I 100i1 blUe. A FRIEND TO PUR WHITE. ' THE EDITOR OF THE TIM1ES.