unheard of articles as food. I recollect even "saw-dust" was attempted
to be converted into bread, while horse-beans were cooked in all sorts of
ways to be made palatable, and were also ground down to a sort of flour
as a substitute for wheat. The newspapers teemed with cautions to the
public to use the utmost economy, while recipes without end appeared as
to how bad flour could be best used and made wholesome. It will scarcely
be credited that even a public notice emanated from the Town Hall on this
subject, signed by Mr. Statham, the Town Clerk. I have by me a copy of
it, which, as it may interest some of my readers, I will give entire. It
is headed--

JOHN WRIGHT, MAYOR.

MAKING OF BREAD.

NOTICE TO HOUSEKEEPERS,
AND DEALERS IN FLOUR.

Complaints having been made against some of the Flour Dealers in this
town for having sold Flour unfit for the making of Bread, the Mayor
thinks proper to acquaint the Public that, upon an investigation of
such complaints, it appeared that in many instances blame was not
imputable to the Flour Dealer, but to the Purchaser of the Flour in
not having taken proper precautions in the Making of the Bread,
which, owing to the state of the Flour this season, it was necessary
to have taken, and which had been pointed out to the party by the
Flour Dealer.

From the above circumstance, the Mayor has been induced to recommend
to all Dealer's in Flour upon the Sale of any Flour which, although
not unsound, may render proper precautions necessary in the use of
the same, to apprise their several customers thereof; and the Mayor
has been further induced to recommend to all Housekeepers the
adoption of the following system in the Making of Bread:--

To boil the water and let it stand till of a proper heat, to knead
the Flour well, using as little water as possible, and let it stand a
sufficient time to rise; to use fresh Water Barm, and bake the Bread
on the oven bottom, in small loaves of not more than 2lb. to 3lb.
weight; to use, as much as possible, Cakes or Hard Bread, and not to
use the Bread new.

By Order of the Mayor,
STATHAM, TOWN CLERK.

22 _Nov._ 1816.

In London the distr