work hard, they may make 16s. per week! and yet they are always grumbling!" said a woollen manufacturer in Westmoreland. Shocking depravity! Have you ever seen degraded, half-starved humanity in a hopsack-hopping through the streets from the workhouse to the police-office? You may; and how far Poverty is the precursor of Peccadillo is certainly questionable. The rows of handcuffed delinquents marched before the spruce cane-armed constable, to be judged by the immaculate parson, may owe much to "the want of all things." If money is the root of all evil, it at least is the producer of much good. It is the poor man's great friend in the hour of adversity-when work is scarce or miserably underpaid-in sickness and bereavement. It is alone the aid that can save the workman from immediate, forced, and unselected labour-the great curse of his class.

In Mr. Henry Ayres' admirable pamphlet recently issued-" The Balance Sheets of Insurance Companies," &c. (published by Mr. J. Foss, of 7, Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill, price 1s. 6d.), we are informed that an Act was passed in 1844 to the effect that all assurance companies thereafter formed should register their annual balance-sheets in the Joint Stock Companies Registration Office, but no penalty was, so far as the writer is aware, attached to the neglect of the statute. Consequently, as Mr. Ayres proves, the Act was not complied with in the case of numerous companies, and only very imperfectly so in others; whilst the revelations contained in the blue-book issued thereon, and digested in the pamphlet before us, prove the real necessity for complete publication in all such matters. Among the remarks in the last Parliamentary blue-book is the following on the Royal "This Company, although transacting such a very much larger business than the others referred to in the blue-book (about 40 in number), yet contrives to render all its statements in a complete and satisfactory manner. Indeed, these statements, by showing how thoroughly the Act can be complied with, justify a strong censure on the slipshod method adopted by some other companies." So much for honesty and straightforward conduct.

Mr. Ayres also says, that a heavy expenditure does not always attain the best results is iustanced by the Royal, which, in six years, at a moderate expenditure, has increased its annual fire income by £160,122, and life income by £73,276-thus showing by far the largest total increase of any company mentioned in the Government returns. Of the fire insurance companies no one seems to have at all approached the Royal in its progress: while among Life Offices one only has exceeded it-and that, by going to treble the rate of expense! The Times, in a leading article, printed some short time back, also most favourably recommends the Royal to the attention of its readers.

Thus introduced to public notice, it has been thought advisable to

give the readers of tho Family Friend some further particulars in relation to this company. If Poverty is so great an evil, and Economy the remedy then the right use of saved money is of the utmost importance to the worker, and the recommendation of a safe and good company incumbent to make this article of value. The Royal has a very large capital (two millions sterling)-gigantic branches all over this country and our colonies-officials of good character and high standing in society, and excellent references in their past conduct. By turning to the list of their terms it maybe seen that from 6 to 10 per cent. more is insured by the Royal on lives up to 40 years of age inclusive, for the same amount of premium than by offices founding their calculations on what are usually known as "the Northampton Tables." And here let me explain that the Royal, in order to take precedence of its brethren, has had Tables constructed expressly for its own guidance, which Tables and all other information may be obtained of J. B. Johnston, Esq., Secretary, at the chief office in Royal Insurance Buildings, Lombard-street, City. They are exceedingly interesting, show, by coloured lines, the anticipated and actual deaths-how much nearer the Royal is to the fact than the other associations, and thereby the secret of its great success and large bonus dividends. The Company has been desirous to avoid, on the one hand, premiums evidently excessive; and, for the entire safety and ultimate gain of the assured, it has, on the other hand, rejected those which could be shown to be speculatively insufficient and consequently unsafe. At the same time the effect of any possible overpayment is guarded against by its return of a large portion of the net profits of the Life Branch to the party who effects the Insurance with the benefit of participation.

The total life premiums received up to 1859 (15 years) was about £340,000, while those since received (5 years) alone are about £550,000, being an advance of 63 per cent. over the total result of the former period, including thrice the space of time. The total funds accumulated after paying all claims and expenses during the last 5 years (up to 1865), taking the Life, Annuity and Endowment branches together, amounted to, on an average, £86,992 annuallythat is, 65 per cent. more than the sum collected on those combined branches for the preceding 15 years. The funds in hand, on these branches, have also enormously swollen, the amount of funds in the Life Branch alone being about £550,000 (without reckoning the debts on half-credit policies)!-that is, equal to 63 per cent of all the premiums received since the commencement. The amount of profit in the same period was between £160,000 and £170,000.

The Royal (under the impression that the late reduction of fire duty will also multiply the dealings in this branch of its labours) is prepared to issue policies giving insurers the full benefit of the reduc

tion as follows:-For the furniture, in an ordinary private dwelling, the total charge is 7s. for £200, 10s. 6d. for £300, 14s. for £400, 17s. 6d. for £500, &c.; and a deep responsibility will lie on the head of every master of a family who now neglects to use the means of security offered to him, or to increase his insurance to such an amount as will save him from all loss by accidental fire!

DOMESTIC COOKERY.

IT will be the endeavour of the F. F., in commenting upon Cookery, to touch on those points of the art upon which Cookery-books give least information, and which are at the same time of the most importance to every-day comfort in families of limited means. F. F. will now essay a short discourse upon

WHOLESOME PIES.

The great point generally overlooked in meat-pie making is the necessity of getting rid of the scum which all meat throws up in stewing, which is, in fact, the process of cooking which goes on inside a pie. A good hole in the top of the crust is, doubtless, some security, as much impurity will escape with the steam; but far better it is to cook the meat before making the pie. Thus

Excellent Rabbit or Giblet Pie. Prepare the rabbit or giblets, and a piece of steak if convenient, as if making the pie in the usual manner, but instead of putting in the pic-dish, lay it all in a stew-pan, and pour in as much water or broth as will cover it; set it over a gentle fire. The stew-pan lid may be on at first, but remove it when approaching boiling heat. As soon as it boils gently, the scum will rise; skim it off as it rises, and keep on until no more scum appears. Then set the pan where the heat is so gentle that no more boiling can occur; the liquid in the pan should only "just move," as the cooks say. Three-quarters of an hour, reckoning from the setting aside after skimming, will stew it enough to please the plates of most people. Next day make some balls of veal-or, if for giblet-pie, goose-stuffing and, if liked, boil two eggs hard; then arrange the pie, packing in the joints of rabbit or giblets the cut-up steak, some slices of boiled bacon, or slices of cooked sausage (of course, no sausage with giblets), the stuffing balls, and eggs cut in quarters. Pour over the whole a good cup of nice gravy, consisting of some of the liquor in which the rabbit &c., was stewed, a spoonful of strong roast-meat gravy, a little mushroom or walnut catsup and Reading, Harvey, or Worcester sauce, as preferred; pepper and salt, and thicken with a little flour. Put on the pie-crust, not too thick, and bake just enough to do the crust perfectly. It will be an advantage to the meat, as tendng to moderate the heat to which it is subjected, if the pie-dish is placed upon a flat, common tile in the oven.

Any good Cookery-book will tell how to make pie-crust of all degrees of richness and plainness; but it may be worth while for F. F. to prose a little about stuffings. A good stuffing is, in fact, a light pudding of which the staple ingredients are finely chopped fat, grated bread, and some sort of herbs.

What is commonly called veal stuffing is an equal number of spoonfuls of fine bread crumbs and chopped suet:-high-heaped spoonfuls of crumbs, and very slightly heaped of suet; black pepper and salt to taste, chopped boiled onion, and chopped parsley, much or little, as the family party generally like. The whole is usually mixed up with beaten egg, using enough to make a soft thick pudding; but F. F. has a word to say about the egg presently. First about the suet. Be it remembered by diligent readers of the last article "that all spare fat is equivalent to suet," by which, of course, is meant all good fat, not musty stuff which only resembles fat in being white. Therefore let no young housekeeper think that she must necessarily have what is properly called suet for her stuffing. Any good fat cooked (not dripping) or uncooked will answer well; and supposing the larder to contain a little remnant of bacon, hardly presentable for the breakfast table again, that is quite a prize for stuffing making. If it be of the part that cuts like ham, all the fat in one, and all the lean in one, so much the better; chop the fat, flouring from the dredging as the chopping proceeds, and grate the lean; the latter is not necessary to a veal stuffing, but it is very nice, as people say, "by way of change," and of course in the composition of the article it ranks as seasoning; it must not be overdone, and if too much has been grated it will be nearly as nice as grated hung beef, called by the children saw dust, to eat with bread and butter, so nothing need be wasted.

Now about the egg. F. F. is aware that most cooks would cry out vehemently; but not having undertaken to write this article to teach the professors of the art, but young housekeepers, whose reliance must chiefly be on themselves, makes bold to say: Do not mix up with egg, especially for a party of children. Even if the stuffing is to be rolled into balls, a sprinkling of flour among the bread crumbs-the fat has been dredged already-will make the mass easily manageable, and it may be mixed according to taste, with a little broth, or gravy and water, or milk, or even with water.

For stuffing hare, or rolled loin of mutton, it is usual to use, besides onions and parsley, the stronger herbs-thyme, savoury, knotted marjoram, &c. This is very good done in the proper way, but if chopped up bodily and put in, they are obnoxious to any delicate stomach, and are, in fact the cause-together with the use of egg in mixing-why stuffings have a bad name with many particular people. Parsley is the only herb that may be chopped up and put into these stuffings; the other herbs should be tied up and bruised, and boiled in the broth, or with milk, or whatever the stuffing is to be wetted with, and then taken away. The flavour may easily be got up to any strength that may be liked, and the horrid little irritating bits are avoided.

Goose and pork stuffing is the well-known sage and onion, pepper and salt, with or without the bread-crumb and suet; but if to make balls to put in a pie, it must, of course, be mixed up like other stuffing, and the strength of the herb flavouring should be less then than if the stuffing were about to be roasted.

BOOKS WORTH READING.

Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and its Tributaries, and of the Discovery of the Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa; 18581864. By DAVID and CHARLES LIVINGSTONE. Murray.

We shall soon be as familiar with the interior of Africa as with the Ring in Hyde-park. The direction of its great rivers, the position of its mighty lakes, the character of the country, with its fertile plains (even on the Equator), its wooded slopes, and bracing uplands, are now well known to us, and very different they prove from the Africa of old, where

Geographers on pathless downs

Placed elephants instead of towns.

Dr. Livingstone's last expedition has extended and confirmed our modern knowledge. He traversed the old track of the Zambesi from its mouth up to the Victoria Falls. The Shiré he ascended to its source in the great lake Nyassa. But his object in all his journeyings is still the moral and physical amelioration of Africa; hence the slavetrade is the ceaseless subject of animadversion, because in it he constantly finds the great obstacle to all African improvement. He thus describes his own feelings of mortification on this mournful subject :

:

"We confess that we do not attempt to describe the productions of the country with that fulness they deserve, nor with that hopeful heartiness we once felt. Nor do we cite the discoveries of Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa, or the patient examination of the Zambesi to a point beyond the Victoria Falls, or other important geographical feats, with any degree of pride. These were all incidental to our main design. What we have seen of the slave-trade has thrown a gloom over all. Our notes are of a country entirely different from most preconceived notions of Africa; and though, in the cosy room which, by grace, we occupy in Newstead Abbey, the eye now falls on the lawn all covered with snow, it is no difficult task to recall the bright warm glow reflected from East African ghauts. We can easily fancy the slopes furrowed by valleys lined with trees, with here and there a rocky bluff jutting out; or we can bring back to our memory the rich open plateaux, like open prairies covered with grass, or dotted over with clumps of foliage, and watered by numerous streams, all bathed in a flood of sunlight. But that sad slave-trade hangs like a pall over the whole. The picturesque undulations, the deep gorges and ravines leading down from the edges of the table-lands to lower levels, where the Shiré meanders in green meadows like a silver thread, or the broad lake, backed with its mountain masses,—can all be pictured to the mind's eye; but their natural beauties are now inseparably associated with human sorrow and woe."

The Doctor takes up his parable against this one great evil throughout the whole book. Check the slave-trade, and Africa will burst into civilisation at once; let the slave-trade continue, and real permanent improvement is hopeless. The Portuguese Government professes its desire to discourage this traffic, but Dr. Livingstone has ceased to put any faith in its professions; and even the new paths which he himself struck out for reaching the interior he saw employed by the slavedealers for the further prosecution of their nefarious trade.