The Aberdare Times

INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL. Mr. Edward Prescott, agent in Europe for the "WorXT Peace Jubilee an<1 International Musical Festival, to be held in Bosto'i, United States, writes with reference to th.s projret It is not conceived in any local or personal regard, but inaugurated in the great interest of international peaee and esteem and goodwill among all nations. It has a peculiar significance just at this time, and can- not fail, should England eiect to be represented, in creating among the people of the two great nations a still m' ,re reciprocal feeling of fraternal regard. It is proposed to give to England the inau- gural day, at which time, should they be for- tunate to secure the proper representation in the way of one of her National Bands, there will be given England's popular national airs entire. America desires this to be brought about in this semi-official way, and the effect in promoting its ultimate design cannot be but salutary and wholesome. We are to have organisations and aolo artists from all nations, and each nation will have a separate day devoted to ita peculiar compositions, and it is the earnest desire of our people that Her Majesty's great people should have representation. The spirit with which it is got up is broad and national in its inception, and may we not hope that England will be pleased to send her repre- sentatives in the same good-will and desire in pro- moting and strengthening our present peaceful rela- tions

The United States Senate has unanimously passed a bill appropriating 50,000 dols. to meet the expenaea of the observations upon the transit of Venus in 1874, on the part at the National Observatory in Washington.

"THE QUEEN v. ALLEN." In the eourt for the consideration of Crown eases reserved, the above eause has been heard, which was reserved by Baron Martin from the last assizes, and was briefly this :-It was an indictment for bigamy, the prisoner—a second wife bring alive—having married a niece of a former wife, de- ceased. There had been in two similar cases decisions in this country by single Judges at the assizes that the offence of bigamy was committed though the socond marriage was in- valid but the learned Baron reserved the point in deference to the judgment of the majority of the Irish Judges—seven to four—in a more recent case before the Court for Crown Cases Reserved in Ireland, and also a decision of Mr. Justice Creswell in the Divorce Court, and the opinion of Lord Chief Justice Tindal, in the case of the Queen v. Milles in the House of Lords, that the second marriage must be valid. The Court in this case seemed, during the argument, to enter- tain a contrary opinion, but had taken time to consider their judgments. The Lord Chief Justice now delivered the unani- mous judgment of the Court, overruling the opinion of the majority of the Irish Judges, and affirming the contrary view of the minority and two of the English Judges—that the offence of bigamy had been com- mitted. But for the statutory disability to marry the niece of a deceased wife, the prisoner would no doubt, have been guilty of the offence. The question was whether the statutory enactment that such a marriage should be "null and void" altered the character of the prisoner's act as to going through the ceremony of marriage, so as to make it not amount to the crime of bigamy. The same question in effect had arisen before Lord Denman, and also in an analogous case before another of the English Judges, and they had both held that the offence of bigamy was under circum- stances committed. This Co art would have had no hesi- tation in arriving at a similar conclusion had it not been for the case in Ireland so closely analogous to the present, and which, from the high authority of the Court, was entitled to the most attentive consideration. They had, therefore, taken time to consider their judgment. The question there was decided, by seven Judges against four, against the prosecution. But after giving the fullest consideration to the reasoning of the majority of the Judges, this Court found themselves unable to concur in it, and had arrived unanimously at the opposite conclusion—that the opinion of the dissentient Judges, of the two English Judges, was right. The reasoning of the majority of the Irish Judges was mainly founded upon the argument that in the enactment of the statute against bigamy, that any person who, being married, shall marry another person," the words "shall marry" in the second clause of the sentence must mean the same as the words being married in the first clause and that as there the words clearly meant a valid and legal marriage so they must in the other part; and that so, to constitute the offence, the second marriage must-apart from its being bigamoug-be as valid aa the first. The authorities relied upon for this view were the opinion of Lord Chief Justice Tindal, in the House of Lords, n the case of the Queen v. Milles," and the decision of Mr. Justice Cresswell in the Divorce Court. But as to the former case, the point now in question did not really arise, for the question there was as to the validity of the first marriage not the second so that the opinion of Lord Chief Justice Tindal was extra judicial, and by way only of argu- ment or illustration; and to this it must be added that he expressly said the other Judges concurred only in his conclusion, and that his reasoning was his own. There was this difference also between that case and the pre- sent—that there, by reason of a statutory prohibition, the form of marriage was not in itself valid or effectual as between the parties-one of them being a Pro- testant, and the marriage ceremony being performed by a Roman Catholic priest and so in the case before Mr. Justice Cresswell, the ceremony of marriage was not properly performed and was not legal by the local law, and all that he decided was that the second marriage must be in a form recognized by law. The distinction was adverted to by Mr. Justice Christian, one of the Irish Judges in the case referred to. The majority, however, went the length of overruling the decision of Lord Denman, and their judgment proceeded upon the broad ground that the second marriage must be as valid as the first. This Court, however, differed wholly from that view, and were prepared to hold that if the form of marriage had been used which the law recognized as binding, whether applicaole to the parties or not, the offence was committed. The decision of this Court went upon the ground taken by the minority of the Irish Judges. When it is said that the second marriage must be as valid as the first, it must be borne in mind that a bigamous marriage is always invalid. An exception, therefore, must be ingrafted on the proposition, and that certainly involves a departure from the literal words of the statute. But when it once becomes necessary to seek the meaning of the terms of a statute, the true rule of construction is to look to the purpose of the enactment, the mischief to be prevented, and the remedy to be applied. And on this view it could not be considered that the second marriage must be as valid as the first, or that the mischief to be prevented was polygamous marriages. Polygamy-in the sense of a person having two wives, or husbands- was foreign to all our ideas, and was practically unknown in this country, whereas bigamy, in the modern acceptation of the term, was unfortunately to,) frequent. It was always resorted to by one party in fraud of the law, sometimes by both, in order to give the colour of a marriage which did not really exist. The ground, however, on which it was made penal was that it involved an outrage on public decency and morality. It created a public scandal by applying a form and ceremony, which the law only allowed to a real and legal marriage, to one which was wboll) colourable and fictitious. It was obvious that the outrage and scandal would not be less because the parties to the second marriage were under an incapacity to contract matrimony, and not less so because one of them had induced the other to go through a form of marriage known to be generally binding, but inappli- cable in the particular case. Such instauces as these, in- volving as they did all the public scandal and the out- rage upon public decency and morality, were within the mischief which it was the object of the statute to punish and prevent. And the Court were of opinion that they ought 110., to frustrate the operation of a very salutary statute, by putting so narrow a construction upon it as would exclude such a case a-t the present-if the words are capable of such a construction as would ex- clude it. Now the words shall marry another," may well be taken to mean shall go through the form and ceremony of marriage with another person." The words were fully capable of being so construed without being forced or strained, and as a narrower con- struction would have the effect of leaving a portion of the mischief untouched, which it must have been the intention of the Legislature to provide against, and thereby of bringing a grave reproach upon the Court, they thought they were warranted in in- ferring that the words were used in sense referred to, and that they should best give effect to the Legis- lative intention by holding such a case as the pre- sent within their meaning. To assume that the words must have such a construction as would exclude it, be- cause the second marriage must be one which, but for the bigamy, would have been as binding as the first, appeared to be begging the whole question, and to be running directly contrary to the wholesome canon of construction which prescribed that where the language would admit of it, a statutory enactment should be so construed as to make the remedy coextensive with the mischief it was intended to prevent. In thus holding it was not at all necessary to say that forms of mar- riage unknown to the law (as in the case before Mr. Justice Creswell) would suffice to bring a case within the operation of the statute. It must not be understood that every fantastic form of marriage to which parties might think proper to resort, or that a marriage cere- mony performed by an unauthorized person or in an un- authorized place would be a marrying" within the meaning of the Act. It was sufficient to hold, as they did, that where a pepson already barred by an ex isting marriage went through a form of marriage known to and recognised by the law as capable of pro- ducing a valid marriage for the purpose of a pretended and fictitious marriage, the case was not the less within the statutory prohibition by reason of any special circumstances which, independently of the bigamous character of the marriage, might constitute a legal disability in the particular parties, or make the form of marriage resorted to specially inapplicable in their individual case. The Court, therefore, were unanimous on these grounds in holding the conviction in the present case right.

A FRENCH TRAGEDY IN REAL LIFE. In the whole of the criminal annals of France there is not to be found a more ghastly and horrible story than that into which the Cour d'Assises des Bouches-du-Rhoue has just concluded its investigations, remarks the Daily News, and thus continues :— The mere outlines of this lurid narrative, as they were first revealed some few months ago, were sufficient to thrill the public with a sense of the desperate lengths to which evil passions may drive reckless men and now that the official inquiry has brought into full day- light the various motives and aims of the accused, no one but a Balzac or an Edgar Allen Poe could deal fitly with the depths of iniquity which are thus disclosed. The briefest recapitulation of the charge preferred against the three prisoners will sbew tha.t the romancist who weaves his story out of the blackest crimes known to humanity cannot get beyond the limits of fact; and the most complicated of plots are simple and paltry when com- pared with the tangled mesh of guilty motives pre- sented to us by the "affaire Grego." On the 16th of January last, this M. Grego suddenly disappeared. He was a merchant and representative of a com- mercial houie, was twenty-five years of age, and lived in Marseilles. At the time of his disappearance he had just collected a large sum of money on behalf of his employers and when the discovery was made that he and the money were both missing from his apartments, the natural inference was that he had absconded with the property of his employers. Mr. Michel Samama, a friend of Grego, and a member of the firm for whom he acted, then went to several acquaintances of the missing man, more especially to two called Toledano and Sitbon, who said they had not seen him. While the mystery remained in this stage, a certain fisherman, accompanied by two men and a boy, having gone out to cast his lines, perceived an object floating on the sea. He and his companions approached it, and found it to be a large black chest, so heavy that it could scarcely be hauled on board. One of the seamen forced it open, and recoiled with horror on finding within it a sack in which was the mangled corpse of a man, with the legs sawn off, and the whole body smothered in blood. The chest and its contents were taken into Marseilles, and there it was speedily discovered that the murdered man was the M. Grego who had disappeared. That he had been murdered was abundantly evident; for, be- sides marks of strangulation on his neck, there were deep wounds on his forehead. It was equally olear that the assassins had made off with the large amount of booty which had been deposited in the murdered man's safe. The three men who have been tried for this crime, and convicted on the clearest evidence, belonged to the Tunisian colony in Marseilles, and were well known to M. Grego. Two of them, Toledano and Sltbon, were his personal friends; the third was a porter employed Dy Toledano. The motives which prompted Sitbon to the diabolical deed were, according to his own story, jealousy and anger. One day last winter Sitbon, m a discussion, struck an Algerian named Maman before several persons, and Grego having remarked that his friend was in the wrong, Sit- bon became furious, and cried out, If you say anything against me, I will break your neck." The quarrel continued for some time when it was e complicated by another occurrence. There was a semp- stress in the employment of Messrs. Samama, for whom Grego had cherished an affection. Wearied with his importunities, she one evening left the place in the company of Sitbon, whose arm she took. This provoked Grego into making a rude remark about the character of the house, which saying was carried to Sitbon by Toledano. Sitbon was greatly enraged thereby and Toledano, who had also a quarrel with Grego on account of a lawsuit, thereupon hinted to Sitbon that both of them might have their revenge. WithSitbon revenge was the ruling motive and in his passion he said, If you like we will lead Grego into some public place, we will pick a quarrel with him, and I will strike him." According to Sitbon's own account, Toledano replied that such a proceeding wa3 foolish, as it would ouly lead t I a legal prosecution. "For myself," he said, "I mean something different. I wish to get money. We must get him to drink we will conduct him to the Prado, and make him dis- appear for ever. If you are a man we will rent a garden in the Prado; with a blow of a skull- era- ker I will kill him; we will take his keys, and then throw him into the sea." Two or three days afterwards, Toledano again broached the subject; and said he had secured the services of the man Missim. What would you do to gain "10,000 francs?" said Toledano to this third villain in the tragedy. "I would kill a man," was the ready answer. Whoever actually proposed the crime, and whatever motive was the strongest in any one of the agents, it is certain that from this moment the three men were resolved upon the deed. Toledano and Sitlion-made friends again with Grego. The murdered man seems to have been of an unsuspecting nature he not only .responded to their professions of friendship, but asked them to go to his apartments to see 500,000 francs in Tunisian piastres which he had there. During the next few weeks the two accomplices were making preparations for the murder of the man who was meet- ing them every day in ordinary social intercourse. The details of the crime are too horrible to bear re- petition. We need only say that the conspirators had rented certain chambers, and that one night they in- vited Grego to go and meet some women there. He went. The place was dimly lighted by two candles. While he was still chatting, and wondering why the women did not arrive, the murderers threw themselves on him, strangled him, and smashed in his forehead at the same moment. Then, having washed away the blood from their clothes, they went to his apart- ments, and secured the money and valuables that were in the safe. After that came the question of the dis- Eosal of the body and here the porter, who had een relied on as the chief agent, withdrew, and left the hideous task to his employers. They had a large chest made, and tried to put the body in it; but even then they found they had to purchase a saw to cut off the legs, so that the corpse could be compressed into the chest. They managed to get the bex down to the sea- side, and by a manoeuvre got it in tea boat, of which they assumed possession. Taking it out to sea, they flung it overboard, but were paralysed with horror to find that it did not sink. There was no help for it. They were forced to return to the quay; and thereafter left for their own homes. The very next morning, Sitbon, still in bed, heard some one cry, The assassination in the Rue Montgrand!" Terror seized him, for he knew the chest must have been found. He hastily dressed, and fled from Mar- seilles by the first train, eventually reaching England. Tol dano, with the greatest composure, went to the funeral of Grego. But suspicion pointed to him and to the porter Missim. Both were arrested within forth-eight hours, and the name of the third assassin discovered. The English authorities handed over the fugitive; and the three men were committed for trial for one of the most malicious and cold-blooded murders perpetrated in our day. The result of the trial was foreseen, as there was scarcely an attempt made to contradict the overwhelming evidence brought forward. Sitbon and Toledano have been sentenced to death, and Missim to penal servitude for life. The punishment is not excessive for a more brutal crime than the murder of the young merchant Grego it is im- possible to conceive.

THE TRUCK BILL. The Masters and Servants (Wages) Bill, commonly called the Truck Bill, was a short time ago referred to a Select Committee of the House of Commons. In the committee, a clause (28) has been introduced that,- "This Act, for the purpose of prohibiting payment or con- tract for payment of wages in drink, and conditions OD com- pulsion as to spending wages in drink, and deductions, actions, or set-off in respect of drink shall apply to workmen in husbandry." On this the Rev. Edward Girdlestone, Canon of Bristol, writes to The Times If this clause eventu- ally passes it will be illegal any longer, as now, to pay wages to agricultural labourers in beer, cider, or other i quor. There is nothing which will more than this conduce to the improvement of the agricultural labourer in the West of England, where his condition is at present the worst. But I am informed that the retention of this clause in the bill is to be strongly oppose when the bill again comes before the House. You will, therefore, confer a great boon upon the agricultural labourer if you will allow me to call the attention of members of Parliament to the fact that by voting for this clause they will put an end not only t the detestable practice of forcing an adult labourer to take out one-sixth part of his wages in drink for himself alone, but to the still more degrading habit of forcing a lad just taken from school to feceive one quart of cider per day as part of his wages. Would any member of Parliament submit to be forced to spend one-sixth of bis income on sherry for his own drink- ing, or allow his boys just taken from Eton and Har- row to be forced to receive in sherry a large portion of the salary earned by them in a bank or a solicitor's or merchant's ofnce ?

AN INTERESTING POINT OF LAW. In the Court of Probate and Divorce, the cause of Greaves v. Oraaves" has been heard, Mr..Serjeant Simon and Mr. ■Searle appearing for the petitioner; Dr. Deane, Q C and Mr. Bayford for the respondent. The question in this case was whether a marriage celebrated by a clergyman in a church without bans or licence was valid. The 2flfcd section of 4 George IV., cap. 76, enacts that if any person shall "knowingly and wilfully intermarry without due publication of bans or licence from a person, or persons, having authority to grant the same, first had and obtained," the marriage of such persons shall be null and void. In this case. the marriage was celebrated on the 18th of June, 1857, at the parish church of Bradford, in York- shire by the then vicar, the Rev. Dr. Burnet. It was admitted that the licence for the marriage was dated the 19th of June, 1857, and that no licence was in existence at the time when the marriage was celebrated. It appeared that on the 15th of June, 1857, the day be- fore the marriage the respondent, who was the husband, had gone to Dr. Burnet to get a licence, and had made the appointment for the following day, and that Dr. Burnet told him there would not be time to have the licence sent from Ripon or Richmond, but he bad no doubt a licence would be issued, and it would be all right. The respondent stated that the petitioner was perfectly well aware that there was no licence before the marriage was celebrated but the peti- tioner stated that she did not know there was no licence, and on the contrary supposed that all necessary steps had been taken to render the marriage regular, and it was not until some hours after the celebration of the marriage that the repondent informed her that the licence had not arrived. The fact that it was dated on the day following the marriage was not dis covered until some time afterwards. The wife had instituted a suit for a judicial separation, and the husband in his answer having questioned the validity of the marriage, that question came on for hearing be- fore the other issues in the cause. The only point in dis- pute was whether at the time of the marriage the petitioner, as well as the respondent, was aware that no licence had been obtained, as it was conceded that, if she did not know it, the marriage was valid. The Judge Ordinary, after hearing the evidence of the petitioner and the respondent, said he had no hesi- tation in believing the account given by the petitioner. There was no motive for hurrying on the marriage, and if she had known that the licence had not been ob- tained, she would no doubt have postponed it to a future day. As she had not "knowingly and wilfully" married without licence, the case was not within the 22nd section of the statute, and the marriage was valid, and the suit for judicial separation would, therefore, proceed.

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOUR QUESTION IN NOTTS. A largely attended special meeting of the Notts Chamber of Agriculture was held in the Town-hall, Nottingham, on Saturday, for the purpose of discuss- ing the question of agricultural labour. The chair was occupied by the Duke of St. Albans, President of the Chamber and amongst those present were Viscount Galwey, M.P., the Hon. G. Monckton, M.P., Mr. Hildyard, M.P., Mr. Musters, &c. The Chairman said it was difficult to suppose, when other trades had adopted the principle of combination, that the agricultural class would fail for any length of time to form unions, but the agricultural world seemed, from the aceounts in the newspapers, to consider itstlf launched into an unexpected crisis. F r the future, however, agricultural unions, and possibly strikes for increased wages, must form part of the considerations of the farmer. He thought no one would attempt to stamp o' t these unions by acts of tyranny against their members. If the public-house was to be the centre, L most evil results would, in his opinion, follow the formation of agricultural unions but if, on the other hand the labourers were but gaining a sense of greater responsibility, there would be no reason to regret these combinations. The question must be met by the good sense of the employers, and by moderation on the part of the men. They must not wince from looking into the condition of their abourers, and the labourer should consider whether he has been justly paid for the work he gives the farmer before he lends an ear to the agitators. Having mentioned the fact that the labourer in England was paid better than in any other country in Europe, his Grace observed that his decided opinion was that everything between the labourer and employer should be paid in coin. The agitators said that the increase of wages must come out of the rents but that meant a depreciation of landed property in the country. The real question was whether the loss would fall upon the producer or the consumer. In his opinion, the consumer would have to bear it. Mr. Storer moved, That in considering the present state of the labour ques- tion, this meeting recommend that any differenoe that may arise should be settled between employer and employed with- out the interference of a third party that it deprecates con- bluation on either side to fix the price of labour, whereas it should be left to regulate itself by the law of supply and de- mand j and that it strongly disapproves of the Interference ol paid agitators, who create disaffection between different classes for their own interested motiveB." He contended that the condition of the labourer was not nearly so bad as had been represented by interested agitators. Thkopinion was endorsed by Mr. Neville, who seconded the reaolution. Mr. Walters thought the condition of the labourers ought to be improved, and complained of the great want of proper house accommodation for them. He considered they had behaved wonderfully well during I the agitation. Mr. Gilbert argued that since 1835 the rate of agri- cultural wages had risen 50 per cent. Other members of the Chamber having spoken, the motion was put and unanimously carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

THE LABOUR QUESTION IN WARWICK- SHIRE. The projected Conference between the Warwickshire Chamber of Agriculture and the Labourers' Union took place on Saturday last, at the Shire-hall, War- wick. The representatives of the Chamber were the Chairman, Mr. John Ford, of Pontland Lawn, Leamington; Mr. G. F. Muntz. of Umberslade-hatl; and Mr. J. Burberry, Kenilworth Chase; and the Union by Mr. J. Arch, the leader of the move- ment Mr. :E.- Hayne^, of Ratley; and Mr. Arnold, of Hampton in Arilei). The Conference was conducted in private, but each side had private notes taken, if required, for future reference. The Union submitted, as the requirements of the labourers, the resolutions adopted at the Regent Hotel, some six weeks ago, at the meeting presided over by the Hon. Auberon Herbert. The Chamber of Agriculture re- presentatives admitted the right of the labourers to form a Union, but pointed out what they considered unfair in the labourers' proposals, which were discussed in a friendly and amicable manner for nearly three hours. No resolution was adopted; but it is hoped the Conference will produce good results.

MR. FOLJAMBE ON THE WAGES QUESTION. Mr Foljambe, M.P. for East Retford, in presiding at an Odd Fellows' anniversary dinner in that town, alluded at some length to the present agitation in the labour-market among the agrictural labourers and the builders. He said he rejoiced exceedingly that in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire farmers were meeting the wishes of their labourers for higher wages, and he hoped the shameful and disgraceful rate of wages in the South would soon be raided to that in the North of England. This increment would either have to be made up by farmers laying land in grass which had previously been under cultivation, and thus reducing the production of food by the em- ployment of more machinery and a reduction of manual labour by giving up their farms, which, in the case of small holdings, were stepping-stones for an industrious man who tried to rise or by the landlords lowering the rent, which would fall very hard on that large class of landowners who owned only 500 or 600 acres. With regard to the builders, he reminded the meeting that there was only so much money to be invested in buildings, and if more wages were to be paid, fewer buildings would have to ba erected, and, consequently, less labour would be employed. From these consider- ations he warned them against trying to obtain a false or fictitious rise in wages, while at the same time he would earnestly advocate a liberal dealing by employers with their workpeople.

THE NINE HOURS MOVEMENT AT THE ROYAL ARSENAL. A meeting of workmen belonging to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, numbering between two and three thousand persons, was held on Plumstead-com- mon on Saturday afternoon, to consider the propriety of memorialising the Government for a reduction in the hours of labour. The assembly would no doubt have been much larger but for a division of opinion which had grown up within the last few days among the men themselves owing to a prevalent report, ap- parently well authenticated, that the Government were prepared at once to concede the nine hours, but would at the same time abolish all privileges-these privileges consisting of five regular (and occasional extra) days' holiday in the year, with pay, allowances of half pay in sicknes". and full-pay if injured, the Saturday half-holiday, &c Nine-tenths of the work- men also are employed on piece-work, and many dreaded the decrease of pay which would follow if the hours were reduced without the rate of payment being augmented. Some opposition was therefore expected at the meeting, but none appeared. Mr. Allen, an iron-moulder, took the chair, and read the memorial which it was proposed to present to the Controller-in Chief, praying for a reduction in the hours of labour from ten to nine per day, and six on Saturdays, with an advance of 10 per cent. on piece- work where necessary. He also read a letter from Sir David Salomons, one of the borough members, who pronounced the memorial judiciously worded, and promised to support it. The Chairman said they were anxious to avoid the appearance of dictation or coercion, and that the idea of a strike never entered their minds. They, only asked to put in the same position as their fellow-workmen throughout the country, and no one could blame them for asking that. Mr. Lucas, an engineer, moved the adoption of the memorial; and said that previous to the introduction of the nine hours system the arsenal men worked 56 hours per week, which was supposed to place them on a level with the men in private yards, who, though they worked 58h hours, had higher wages. The hours of labour had now been generally reduced to 54 per week, being 4A less per week and all they asked the Government for was five hours, to place them on the same footing, their wages and all other conditions re- maining as at present. This concession was neces- sary for the physical and mental improvement of the men, but more especially of the boys, in order that they might have time for rest, recreation, and study 81), that they might successfully compete with the skilled workmen of foreign countries. Mr. W. M'Cubry, a storeholder in the Control De- partment, seconded the resolution, saying that the natural division of the day was eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for sleep. Mr. Lloyd Jones then addressed the meeting, stating that the nine hours movement was a necessary conse- quence of the increased demand for labour, and that the workman was bound to sell it on the best terms he could demand. He would not consider the matter of wages at present; the matter of time was of far more importance, for by reducing the time they removed part of the commodity out of the market, and so in- creased its value. If they ^lessened the hours, wages must rise. (Cheers.) Mr. Baxter Langley was the next speaker, and read a letter from Professor Beesly, who sympathised with the movement, and said that the State workshops ought to be patterns for all the private establishments to follow. Mr. Langley expressed an opinion that the memorial would be granted, and urged the workmen not to be afraid of asking because Government might take away a holiday or two and certain privileges which they could buy cheaper of the Odd Fellows and the Foresters. (Cheers.) The Rev. G. Webb, of Plumstead Tabernacle, alsw addressed the meeting in support of the resolution, which was-then carried almost unanimously. Mr. Pearce, engineer, of the Royal Laboratory, in moving a vote of thanks to the speakers, said that the Liberals always advocated the cause of the working classes, and this memorial would put a Liberal Govern- ment to the test. He should be glad to see sick pay abolished if they had a proportionate increase of wages, for then the Government would perhaps do away with the disgusting ordeal of "passing the doctor." (Cheers.) But as the Government paid less wages than private firms, they might fairly ask for this concession of time without any loss of pay or privileges. The vote of thanks was passed, and the meeting was then brought to a conclusion.

THE LICENSING QUESTION. John Coke Fowler, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate and Deputy Chairman of the Glamorganshire Sessions, sends the following letter to The Times for publication My experience in licensing, extending over nearly 20 years, in a very populous district, induces me to ask your permission to say a few words on the subject. I presume that the end which all classes of reformers have in view is, not the closing of publicliousesperse, but the diminution of drunkenness. Reformation is to be sought for, not in the indiscriminate suppression of licensed houses, but in such enactments and guarantees as will by degrees get the licences into the hands of persons who, from one motive or another, will con- form to the conditions contained in them. The land- lords themselves are the best of all police they are almost always at home, and if they are conscientious traders they can easily prevent excess. The existing holders of licences differ greatly in character and status. There are many honourable and conscientious men who will tolerate neither drunkenness nor dis- order, aud who manage so to conduct their business as to avoid complaints or fines for 20 or 30 years. Others are negligent in their management, and some delibe- rately seek profit from permitted drunkenness. The latter are for the most part occupiers of small beer- houses, furnished and worked with a few pounds of capital. Their stake and responsibility are small, and the profits of permitted drunkenness are more influ- ential than law or licence. If we can get rid alto- gether of this class cf licence-holders an incalculable amount of public drunkenness will immediately dis- appear. Now, the Government Bill will go a very great way towards effecting thin reform for I believe that, as the worst houses are in general the smallest, and often of insufficient annual value to carry a licence, a careful re-assessment under Section 47 will be the means of closing hundreds of wretched tenements which ought never to have been licensed at all. Secondly, the power given to the licensing authority to disqualify the house itsef for two years on proof of three recorded con- victions will have great influence on the side of good order and sobriety by causing the owners to take pains in the selection of tenants, and to secure the power of ejecting the tenant on certain specified breaches of hiu licence. If this guarantee were withdrawn it would be a retro- grade step, and tenants would be selected with less care than ever for it should not be forgotten that publichouses may be and are closed under the existing laws on proof of repeated offences. But if Parliament will not allow the house to be disqualified, whatever the disorders in it may h tve been, the owner will no longer have any interest in or influence over the management of it. At present he is greatly interested for the reason I have given, and by the enactment of Section 29 he will be still more so and a more valuable aid to the licensing authority in securing tenants of good charac- ter cannot be found. I think, however, the disquali fication of the house might be limited to one year, in lieu of two, without losing mueh of its effect. It is to be hoped that this all-important section will not be rejected or withdrawn. The other enactments are of secondary importance in comparison with these. If our licences are henceforth intrusted to persons of more capital and good character, and a code of moderate regulations be enacted, ail that can be done by law to prevent drunkenness will have been done. The habits of the people are inconsistent with the suppression af the liquor trade, and in view of those habits suppression would not succeed. We must fall back upon regulations and enactments, of which the true end and object should never be forgotten— namely, to make the landlords themselves the guardians of sobriety.

From Japan we learn that a terrific fire has occurred at Yeddo. There were destroyed 17 Government offices, 287 Government houses, 60 temples and churches, 4 752 dwelling houses, stores, &o being a total of 5,119buildings destroyed. 20,272 people were burnt out, and the same space burnt over consisted of forty-one streets In the different districts. The loss is estimated at 1,514,900 dollars. There were 8 men killed, 67 persons wounded, 65 of the number being firemen. The late Tycoon has been restored to rank. The Japanese are taking active steps to be represented at the Austrian ex- hibition.

MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY ACT. In the Court of Common Pleas, the cause of "Dizges v. Godderer" has been heard, and was a somewhat interesting case, being the first action which has raised a peculiar point under the Married Women's Property Act, 1870 (33 and 34 Victoria, cip. 93). Mr. Pearce and Mr. Lewis Glyn were for the plaintilf; Mr. Huddlestone, Q.C and Mr. Oppenheim for the defendant. It appeared that the plaintiff, an actress, had been living apart from her husband, and had realized suffi- cient money to purchase some furniture, which was seized under an execution against her husband. She now claimed this furniture as her own under the 1st section of the above statute, which provides That the wages and earnings of any married woman ac- quired or gained hy her after the posing of the Act in any employment, occupation, or trade in which she is engaged, or which she canies on separately from her husband, and also any money or property so acquired by her through the exercise of any literary, artistic, or bcientitlc skill, and all in- vestments of such wages, &c., shall be deemed and taken to be property held and settled to her separate use indepen- dent of any husband to whom she may be married, and her receipts alone shall be a good discharge for such wages, earnings, money, and property." Some portion of the property of the plaintiff arose from gifts made to her by gentlemen who, it was said, admired her artistic skill, and it was contended th:lt Section 1 did not apply to money accruing thus, the word "gifts not occurring in the statute and it was argued that the plaintiff's property could be lawfully taken in execution as the property of her husband. The learned Judge directed a verdict to be entered for the plaintiff, and gave the defendant leave to move the Court on the points of law raised. It being term time, execution was directed to issue in four days.

THE MURDERS IN AUSTRALIA. A full statement of the particulars relating to the murder of Mr. W. P. Walker on the Paramatta river, Australia, has just been received by his friends at Leamington. The body was discovered in the water, near the shore of the river, at Five Dock, a few miles from Bedlam Ferry, about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th of March last, by a posse of policemen under Sergeant Dawson, who had gone up the river from Sydney for the purpose of dragging. The body was found in about 4ft. of water, the head being down, apparently in the aud, and the feet upwards. On lay- ing hold of the feet and attempting to raise the body, they found a large square stone, 1501b. weight, tied to the neck with a piece of strong cord. The bcdy was taken down to Sydney and landed at the Circular Quay, where it was carefully examined by Dr. Hamil- ton. On clearing away the dirt from the head, he discovered seven holes, apparently caused by a blow with some sharp-pointed weapon, like a pick. The character and locality of the wounds justify the theory of the police that the deceased was attacked from behind, and rendered totally insensible by th3 first blow. The inquest on the body was opened before the City Coroner,-at the Observer Tavern," on the day follow- ing its discovery, and was continued for several days. It was proved that the deceased had only been in Sydney about three weeks, during which time he had been lodging at Mrs. Stevenson's Registry-office, Bridge-street. On the 4th of March he answered the following advertisement, which appeared that day in the Sydney Morning Herald "Clerk wanted active, intelligent, for country store. Liberal salary to competent person. T.Y.C., Herald." On searching his boxes after the body had been re- covered, the police came upon a draught copy of the application. In it he begged to bring himself under the notice of the advertiser, stating he had been many years employed in a store, both in Eng- land and the colony, and hoped he might be allowed an inter vie w and submit testimonials before the vacancy was filled. On the 13th of March he received an answer from a person signing himself" Arthur J. Norton," stating that he bad been appointed at a salary of 30s. a week and to live in the house, and notifying that a Air. James would conclude the arrangements with him at the Royal'' Hotel, and explain why Mr. Norton couldnot see him. Deceased went to the "Royal "Hotel, and there saw a boy named Walter, who said Mr. James could not be seen. as he was indisposed, but he gave him a letter from James, representing Mr. Norton's place as situate in the Bathurst district. This letter Mr. Walker showed to a Mr. Evans, a watchmaker in George-street, who told him to take it to the police, for he believed it was not an honest transaction. If, however, he was resolved to go, he had better leave all his valuables behind him. Another friend, named Charles Edwards, who had lived with him at Mrs Stevenson's Registry office, gave him similar advice, and said he though it very strange theadvertiser should want him to go down the Paramatta river to a situation purporting to be in the Bathurst district. The deceased appears to have had a presentiment of evil, for on the way to Paramatta-wharf, on the after- noon of thel3;h, he said to Mrs. Stevenson's son, who accompanied him and helped to carry his box, that if he did not return on the following Thursday they must conclude something had happened. He also pulled out his watch, and showing it to the lad, observed, You can swear that I had my watch and chain cn me." When they met the prisoners Nichols and Lester at the wharf, he asked the lad if he thought it was all right. It was shown that the boat was hired by Lester about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th inst., from Mr. George Buckley, of Buckley's Wharf, Kent-street, ostensibly tor the purpose of fishing. He did not return it until 7 o'clock next morning, when Nichols the other prisoner, was with him. Upon the mainsail and ropes there were splashes ef blood. The prisoner Nichols was taken into custody by Detective Elliott, at the Auction Mart of Messrs. Lister and Grisdale, Pitt-street, whither he had gone to receive the proceeds of some articles belonging to the murdered men, Bridges and Walker. He said he had had the things from a man who lived up in the Surrey Hills, but could not give his name. Charged with the murder of Walker, he said, It is a complete iny,tery to me, Elliott. It will be solved in time." A large mark, believed to be a blood stain, was upon his trousers. Lester was apprehended by Detective Camphin at the shop of Mr. Moss, jeweller, Hay- market, attempting to sell the watch presented to Mr. Walker by the church at Amphitheatre. He said Nichols had given him the watch, but declined to say anything to the charge. Before leaving his home in the afternoon of the 13th Mr. Walker made A remarkable entry in his private diary, commencing with these words, Things to be done as soon as possible after this abominable con- spiracy is settled." He then directs JE30 to be sent to his mother at Bristol, a present of clothing and articles of jewellry to a Mr. Owen in the Isle of Wight, and the remainder of his money to be invested in the name 0?"an uncle at Bristol. Lester was found wearing some of his clothes. Two witnesses were called who had answered ad- vertisements in the Herald and had seen Nichols, who a,ked them many suspicious questions, such as what luggage they had, how long they had been in the colony, were they in debt, and did they require pecuniary advances? Both were poor men, and next day they got letters from Nichols stating that their services would not be required, as the old clerk was remaining. The pieces of rope used to fasten the stones to Bridges and Walker were both of the same texture. They were also tied in the same fashion. The handwriting in the manuscript copy of the advertise- ment at the Herald office was proved to be Nichols's The jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder against both prisoners. There is great indignation against the prisoners in the colony, and on removing them from the jury-room the police had great oifficulty in preserving them from the violence of a crowd of nearly 2,000 people. Ropes were called for, to hang them on the spot. Both have been repeatedly convicted. Nichols, who is a fine- looking fellow, has conducted himself with stolid in- difference, but Lester, who is a diminutive young man of 19, has manifested great nervousness.

ANTI-TOBACCO. The annual meeting of the friends of the British Anti Tobacco Society was held in London, on Mon- day evening, at Exeter-hall. Dr. James Ellis in the chair. The attendance was extremely small. The re- port at some length deplored the increase in the con- sumption of tobacco in this country. The sum of BIS,000,000 was annually spent in tobacco, to the detriment of health and the dishonour of the creator. Statistics of heart disease, of insanity, of paralysis, and the diminished bulk and stature of the popula- tion of both sexes proved, according to the Report, that these diseases were attributable to the use of tobacco. The committee had established several anti- tobacco societies in different towns, and had the satis- faction of knowing that the double pledge of absti- nence from tobacco and alcohol was becoming a rule with Bands of Hope, particularly in Scotland. For the first time the society was almost out of debt. The expenditure for the last half-year amounted to jE282 12. Gd. The balance against the society was J342 9s. 8d. The chairman said the practice of smoking hung like a gigantic cloud of evil over the whole country. It was the object of the society to point out the terrible consequence to health from the use of tobacco. He believed smoking was the cause of a number of terrible and incurable diseases rapidly springing up, cancer in particular, which he had no hesitation in declaring had its origin in the use of tobacco. On the motion of Mr. Wheeler the report was carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.

INDIAN PANICS. Mr. Syed Abdoollah sends us the following translation of a letter he has received from a native of India Peuares, April 8, 1872.-The recent assassinations have thrown the entire population of India into a state of fearful consternation. What curse impends over the country God only knows, but all kinds of vague and preposterous rumours are in circulation. The Maho- metans are everywhere throughout India regarded with suspicion by the English residents, and although there is no tangible proof of any kind, it is confidently believed that they are on the eve of a fresh insurrec- tion. An incident which I witnessed with my own eyes will show the state of feeling to which I allude. The 10th day of Mohurrum was fixed for the 20th ult. An absurd rumour had become urrent am ng the English population that the Mussulmans would assassinate them on that day while among the Mus- sulmans a no less absurd notion prevailed that if they attempted to assemble in large numbers at the usual burying of taziahs, they would be arrested and sum- marily sent beyond the seas. Those who believed in these reports went secretly armed with daggers and thick bamboo cudgels furnished with iron pikes, deter- mined to sell their lives as dearly as possible Many of them took an affecting farewell of their females, and left home amid tremendous crying and weeping. The Christian inhabitants, for their part, left town, and sought shelter^ in the European lines, many ladies changed their usual residence, and formed parties in a large kothi (or palace), while others left the station altogether. 1 aoeompanied the crowds of people bearing tasiahs of every shape and oolour, some mott gorgeously and expensively got up. The mournful chanting of the Marsiyah (or dirge), the beating of breasts, the noise of drums, fifes, and torn toms, the shouting of Dami char yar,' the simulated weeping of the excited multitude—all these combined to make a perfect pandemonium of the scene. The crowd appeared to be going simultaneously mad, and I should have sought an ea.rly opportunity forescapo had it been possible as it was, I was borne along by the resistless stream of people. NVL u wereaehed the Maidan Fatman Karballah, the crowd w. immense, and for miles around there was hardly a. foot of ground unoccu- pied. About 12 o'clock an English gentleman was seen advancing on horseback, when at the sound of some drum, or cracker, his horse suddenly took fright, and threw him to the ground. The animal becoming more frightened than before, now dashed off at headlong speed, knocking down and trampling under foot every thing and person which came in its way. The English- man soon recovered himself and regained his feet and with his face bleeding and his garments covered with dust set off in pursuit of his horse, ulosely followed by his groom, both shouting at the top of their voices Pakro, pakro, khabar dar gane na pa we (Catch him. catch him, take care, don't let himgo.) This shout, taken up by some thousands of voices, and the confusion caused by the runaway horse, seemed to confirm the reports which had been vaguely whispered earlier in the day, and the conviction gained ground that the day of retribution had arrived and the massacre com- menced. A fearful panic seized upon the crowd and a sudden stampede resulted, Rome ran as fast; as their legs could carry them, some climbed up into the trees, and others even sought refuge in the prickly pear bushes. In less than five minutes the immense crowd had en- tirely disappeared, and the Englishman and his horse were left in sole possession of the deserted Maidan. I am glad to say there was no loss of life on the occasion. tturely the English Government ought to interfere to put a stop to the disgraceful scenes yearly enacted at these Mohurrum festivals, and ought to take pre- cautionary measures against the recurrence of such a panic as that which I have related, and which cannot fail to be productive of bad feeling between the Ma- homedan and Christian communities in India."

BRIGHAM YOUNG IN THE PULPIT. A correspondent of the New York Times, writing from Salt Lake City on the 30th of April, says I had never before heard the prophet address his people, and was a not inattentive listener. As a pulpit orator Brigham Young is rather a sorry model. True, he has a rude species of eloquence, which accounts in part for his sway over an illiterate and uncultivated people. But npwhere else save among his followers would such a harangue as I listened to from his lips, on Sunday last, be dignified with the name of sermon, or be listened to with the slightest degree of attention or respect. Its distinctive features were an arrogant assumption of prophetic powers, coarse allusions to his enemies and persecutors, interlarded here and there with slang phrases and an occasional touch of profanity, and a total disregard of the simplest rules of English grammar. Underneath all this, though manifested less in words than in tone and manner, was plainly discernible a terrible under-current of bitter hatred, and a longing for revenge against those who had been instrumental in bring- ing about the recent prosecutions. Tnis impression was only heightened by his obvious efforts at the repression of his real sentiments, and not a few Gentiles left the taber- nacle devoutly thankful that they still had the protection of the Federal Judiciary and General Morrow's regiment of blue-coats at Camp Douglas."

BAD PRECEDENTS. The history of the trials of different Marshals of France who have been called on to answer for their acts since the office was first instituted by Francis I. is hardlv of a nature to console Marshal Bazaine (re- marks the Pall Mall Gazette). Only five Marshals of France have been tried for their lives by regular tri- bunals, and all five were found guilty and executed. Marshall de Retz, who was the first holder of the hightest military dignity in France, was brought to trial for high treason, or rather for repeated acts of re- bellion against the authority of his liege lord John VI., Duke of Brittany. Found guilty not only of the crime with which he was originally charged, but of others still more heinous, the Marshal de Retz was hanged and his body burnt in 1440. The next offender was Marshal Biron, the friend and companion at arms of Henry IV. in spite of all the favours heaped on him by his Royal master, Marshal Biron was found guilty of conspiracy with the King of Spain against the first of the Bourbons. Henry IV. would have pardoned him if he would have confessed hia crimes but on his refusal to admit his euilt the King allowed sentence to be carried out, and Marshal Biron was decapitated on the Place de Grfeve in 1602. Marshal de Marcillac, who was executed in 1632 for conspiracy and rebellion against Cardinal Richelieu, was the third Marshal of France who perished on the scaffold. Marshal de Montmorency, who was executed the same year on a similar charge, was another of the victims of the Cardinal. The last of the Marshals of France who have undergone a capital sentence was the best known and most celebrated of them all, Marshal Ney, shot on the 7th of December, 1815, for fidelity to his old and treachery to his new II aster. But Marshal Bazaine is the first Marshal of France arraigned on a charge of bad conduct in face of the enemy.

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS. A genuine lion is sauntering about San Jose in California, and the citizens are keeping remarkably good hours. At Cheyenne the belle of the evening was Miss W. She dressed faultlessly in a linsey-woolsey of the palest shade of cafe au lait, cut en train, and trimmed with Chicago relics. The Louisville Courier-Journal informs a corres- pondent that liilsson was not the one who fought at Trafalgar. The Master of Ceremonies at a lecent St. Louis funeral announced The corpse's cousins will now come forward." Why is it always said, Poor but respectable people ?" and why are rich ones never designated" rich but respectable ditto? Is it an anomaly to say so ? It has been calculated that the combined mouths of the twenty-five thousand singers at the Boston Jubilee will form a cavity of over seven hundred and thirty-six square feet Few ladies consider that they carry some forty or fifty miles of hair on their head the fair-haired may even have to dress seventy miles of threads of gold every morn- ing. The following marriage notice is from the Cedar Rapids Times—" Married, in their buggy on the street Fairfax, on the 22nd ult, by Squire l'liipps, L. V. Boski and Miss Catherine Gibson." Philadel phia restaurators have invented the" Caudle.' It consists of a small box containing fried oysters, a sand- wich, &c., and Benedict buys it to propitiate Beatrice when he goes home late. A Milwaukee lover, dying lately, left his sweetheart, a poor maiden, a fortune of 20,00 dollars. There are few such lovers to be found, says a contemporary. Doubtless it Is the remark of a lady on the staff, who would not be satisfied with one lover, but wants "a few" at 20,000 dollars each. A well dressed and ladv-like individual, who was detected in stealing a pair of silk hose in a Boston store, burst into tears when approaehed by one of the proprie ors, and offered him 20 dollars. Magnanimously, after quietly censuring her, he charged her only the regular price of the hose, and handed back the change. Too late he discovered that the 20 dollar bill was counterfeit. A layman in Providence who occasionally exhorted at evening meetings, thus explained his belief in the ex- istence of II. Deity :—" Brethren, I am jU3t as confident that there is a Supreme Being as I am that there is flour in Alex- andria, and that I know to a certainty, as I yesterday re- ceived from there a lot of three hundred barrels of fresh superfine, which I will sell as low as any person in town." The/Teutonic tailor of a Pennsylva ia village having married a second wife indecently soon after the funeral of the first, the young men of the place signified their dis- approval by a tinhorn serenade during the progress of the wedding feast. The vulgar fraction of a man expostulated in the following style:—"I say, poys, you ought to be ashamed of yourself to be making all dis noise ven der vas a funeral here so soon An American paper says :—The credit system has been carried to a pretty fine point in some of the rural dis- tricts, if we may judge from the following dialogue, said to have recently occurred between a customer and the pro- prietor :—"iloaw's trade, square?" "Wall, cash trade's kinder dull naow. major. Betsy Nipper has bort an egg's worth of tej, and got trusted for it 'till her speckled pullet lays." THE LAST INVENTION.—A paper says the late Mr. Dickens is to be monumented." A MAN TRAP. -A Cleveland modiste is doing a large business in ladies' dresses made up with an Alexis polonaise, the waist of which contains a steel trap concealed by a ma-qued panier. When a young gentleman calls and acci- dentally or otherwise places his arm around the wearer's waist, he hears a click" and finds his arm caught. A big brother and lamp enter, and the victim s rrowfully starts for the jeweller's to examine some wedding-rings. WHERE ARE THE MISSIONARIES?—A New York paper, after making this inquiry, well remarks—" Better let the heathen slide for the present and attenu to the home trade In social demoralisation and general wickedness. Scarcely one crime or one horror is announced ere it is telescoped into another, and so it goes on from one day to another, without end to the chapter. DIRECTIONS FOR FAINTING.-Never faint when you are alone. Always select some good opportunity. The more persons there are about you, the more successful will be your fit. Never faint more than once in the same evening, as there may be a falling-off in the sympathy on the second experiment. A wopau should not only faint well, but be above suspicion. Be very careful, therefore, never to risk a faint unless you have some object iu view. A SENSATIONAL DRAMA IN FOUR ACKS.—Ack fust. —Enter a lap doorg, carrying a boarding skool miss in his arms, about 16 hands high—it makes the dorg puff—the dorg lays down the boarding skool miss, and orders mint juleps for 2, with the usual suekshun. The dorg begins to loll, the boarding skoolmiss tells bim "tew dl i up" (In French), and the dorg sez "he darned if he will" (in dorg). [Great sensashun among the aw jence, with cries, "Put him out. "] Finally a compromize iz affected, the boarding skool miss kisses the dorg, with tears in his eyes. Conkluiilion-Lap dorg diskovers a wicked Ilea at work on his tale—pursues him-rouud and round tha go-dorg a lettle ahead-some- body hollars out "mad dorg "-boardiug skool miss faints standing—the curtain drops. The three other acs was sup- pressed by the sensor.

Itttstcikmeous grtldliigeitte, HOME, FOREIGN, AND CCLONIAL. CURED BY INADVEBTE>CE.—Dr. Du Hadway reports the singular restoration to health of a man afflicted with abscess. The doctor tried several remedies without success, and at last prescribed two drachms iodide of potassium in six ounces dibtilled water dose, a tableapoonful three times a dav The patient, a foreigner misunderstood the directions, and swallowed the whole at once. Strangely enough, the 120 grains iodide of potassium did him no harm but, on the contrary, Ins appetite, which had been very }Va 'Jm1' .anr' iu ten days the abscess was i fvi neede<l no further medicine, and is com- p e e y restored to health. Here may be a chance dis- if"l^)0r^ance > i'1 the dearth of remedies for this dreadful malady it is worth consideration. GENERAL POST OKFIOE.—The following has been issued by order of the Postmaster-General "Letters containing jewelry or whole bank-notes should always be registered, as should also letters containing the second halves of bank-notes, unless, before the despatch of these second halves, an acknowledgment has arrived of the receipt of the first halves. When sanding postage-stamps In letters the numbers should be kept small, by using, when necessary, stamps of comparatively large value and in making up the letter the stamps should be placed in paper sufficiently thick to prevent their presence being discovered by the lael. When this is not practicable the lettet should be registered. When, also, a money order is forwarded by post, and the letter accompanying it supplies the informa tion which the payee will have to give on the presentation of the order, the letter should be registered. The Post- master-General appeals to the public to oo-operate with him, by a careful attention to the foreg ing rules, in preventing the temptations to crime which are now constantly presented to his officers, and which often lead to thefts, followed, in cases of detection, by prosecution and imprisonment." DECLINED WITH THANKS!—On cUt that the Dean of Chester has been offered the proceeds of a performance at Cooke's Royal Circus, Chester, in aid of the restoration of the cathedral, but has declined the same with thanks! He said that he could not con- scientiously accept the same when he had refused to countenance a bazaar for the purpose of augmenting the fund. THE DIRECT CLAIMS.—The appendix to the case of the British Government, just published by the Foreign Office, contains the reports of Messrs Cohen and Young, appointed by the Board of Trade to examine the claims contained in the American case. The total claims, amounting to 17,763,710 dols., will, the Commissioners consider, be amply md; by 8,039,685 dols. The report of the Commissioners appointed by the Admiralty to examine the claims for expenses in- curred by the United States navy in pursuit of the ( onfederate cruisers concludes that the greater part of the claim of 7,080,478 dols. is inadmissible, and that if Great Britain were held liable for the four Confederate cruisers, Alabama, Florida, Georc/ia, and Shenandoah, the amount could not exceed 1,509,300 dols, for the Alabama only 1,427,685 dols., and the Florida only 81,615 dols. WHAT'S IN A NAME ?—The Congregational-tit for May says:—" We bear an inveterate grudge against the word chapel as designating a Noncon- formist plac.. of worship. It is a term unknown to primitive Christianity, and not in harmony with spiritual Christianity. It has sup- planted a most exact and happy term, a word true to the central thought of intense Protestantism, to the deepestand fullest conception of spiritual worship—viz., meeting house." EXCITING SCENE AT BELFAST.—A scene of the most painful excitement was enacted in Belfast on Thursday night in last week, about eleven o'clock. A lady with her child in her arms got upon the narrow parapet of the Eglinton Hotel, and surprised the people in the street as she walked fearlessly to and fro scream- ing for her husband, a sea captain, whom she had come to Belfast to meet. Not finding him, and dreading he was lost, she had gone into hysterics. As her position was 60 feet high, and a false step would have been instant destruction to herself and infant, it required cautious work to get near her, which could not be effected from the roof. and no ladders sufficiently long were at hand. Beds and mattresses were strewn upon the street lest she should fall. At last, by means of a. fire-escape, she was reached and seized firmly, although she struggled desperately to push the fireman away. The husband and mate arrived to witness the end of the appalling scene. DEATH OF THE OLD LION.—Mr. Frank Buck- land regrets to report that the old lion at the Zoo- logical Gardens died on Monday morning, the 20th inst., and gives the following as his dimensions :-Nose to tip of tail, measured along the back, 9ft. lin. nose to tip of ear, 1ft. 7in. across upper portion of mane, 2ft. 5in. acioss lower portion of mane. 2ft. 2in. tail, 3ft. 2in. loug round fore-arm, 1ft. 3in.—a tremendous size tip ot foot to top of back, 2ft. loin. at withers, 2ft. 7in. A fine old fellow, known to be 20 years old— died of old age. His teeth yellow and much worn 5 looked like an old man. Mr. Buckland adds :—"I should have liked to have cast him entire, but could not do so without injuring the skin and whiskers besides which, he did not look a very noble object, and I would not like to perpetuate him as a representative of the Kritish lion. He had no claw on the end of his tail." ATTACKED BY A SHARK. — The Honolulu Gazette, of April the 3rd, gives the following account of the narrow escape of a Sandwich Islander from being devoured by a shark "We learn from Kawaibae that about two weeks since a native, Kaholo, was attacked by a shark while on his way from the shore to the fishing ground in the bay. The old man was going out in a small canoe, which, by his weight, was depressed in the water so that his legs were but a few inches above the surface. He had just passed beyond the reef, and was paddling along unaware of any danger, when a large and hungry shark made a break for him. The jatf" of the ravenous fish closed upon the man's thigh and tbØ cai oe, making a hideous wound in the former, some eieven inches long, and tearing the flesh from the bone half the circumference of the thigh, leaving it hanging down in shreds as the teeth drew away, and leaving in the wood of the latter three or four teeth, broken off. 1 he man was nearly dragged out of his canoe, which at the same time was almost swamped by the onset of the fish, which, disappointed of its prey, immediately disappeared. The old man, though bleed- ing profusely from several wounded arteries, was able to get his canoe back to shore, and on landing leceived from his neighbours whatever help they were able to bestow. He is in a fair way of recovering. The teeth which remained in the canoe were two inches across the line where broken, thus indicating a shark of unusual size as well as strength." OUT OF ITS ELEMENT.—The Boston Journal records the following A severe gale, on the 17th and 18th of April, drove the ice from the west shore of Lake WhineLago, and a storm on the 20th drove it back. The body of ice, three feet thick, 28 miles long, and 12 wide, moved with irresistible force to and upon the shore, to the great consternation of the inhabitants. On it pressed, crushing trees, fences, and buildings in its course. Trees two feet through were uprooted, and great rocks carried ten rods from the lake. The ice is piled in many places 40 feet high, and presents a beautiful spectacle, attracting visitors from all parts of the surrounding country." DEATH OF A CORUNNA VETERAN.—We have to record the death of a veteran who took part in the memorable retreat at Corunna, under Sir John Moore, and who died in London last week at the age of 90, at the Ride Grosvenor-mews, Pimlico. Jonas Williams, a Welshman, joined the 1st Regiment of Guards (Grenadier) in 1801, and served at Corunna, at which time the late Lord Clyde (Sir Colin Campbell) was a simple Ensign, and was one of the retreating party. He was taken prisoner, and for three years confined in an Alpine fortress, whence he managed to effect his escape, tramping through France, and getting over ill a fishing smack. We next hear of him in 1814, when he was in the Coldstream Guards, but was too late for Waterloo and in 1825 he received a pension of 9cL a day. Till twelve months ago he was a hale, hearty man, and worked at his trade as a tailor, but latterly he was in dire need, and was assisted by a charitable society in Westminster. JOKING PREFERRED !—Talking the other day with an able and popular lecturer, who seldom failed in getting a full and attentive audience, we (Court Journal) ventured to ask him what kind of subjects and what kind of treatment he thought the public liked best. "Well," was his reply, "I hardly know but there's one secret I've found out— what the public hates is information. People go to the scientific lectures, no doubt they would go to see a Greek play if it was the fashion but the exuberant chuckle of laughter with which the weakest attempt at a joke on the lecturer's part is welcomed by the gravest audience, is proof quite strong enough of the weariness of the natural man over the dry husks of instruction, and his delight when anything turns up which has an unex- pected flavour. It suggests the feeling of the Irish- man who tasted the quince in his apple-tart HoW delicious an apple-tart would be which was all made of quinces Too BAD, REALLY !-The San Francisco Bulletin, of April 2nd, tells this The silver half-dollar nailed to the end of a stick driven down between the paving stones in the street at the crossing of California and Battery streets, yesterday, caused a number of persons to stop and attempt to increase their finances, then start on with a metaphorical flea in each ear, muttering something anout April fool. At length a small hoy came along, kicked vigorously at the coin, comprehended the situa- tion, and walked off. He soon returned armed with a paif of blacksmith's pincers, and, seizing the head of the sticK with a firm grip, pulled it up boldly arjd walked off with it in triumph, muttering sotto voce, I guess somebody else is fooled this time.' But what is the world coming to! The half-dollar was a bad one." QUAKER MARRIAGES.—An Act of the present Session (35 Vic., chap. 10) extends the provisions of the statutes relating to marriages in England and Ireland, so far as they relate to marriages according to the usages of the Society of Friends. In order that the relief intended to be given by the 7 and 8 Vic., chap. 81, may be made fully effective a pro- vision in 23 and 24 of the Queen, chap. 18, is'to be re- pealed which enacted that the party or parties who shall not be a member or members of the said Society shall profess with or be of the persuasion of the Society." It is now provided that from and after the 1st of January next the proviso shall cease, but no marriage is to be valid unless a certificate be produced to the Registrar, signed by a registering officer of the Society of Friends, to the effect that the party is duly authorised to proceed to the accomplishment of such marriage according to the usages of the Society but no such certificate is to be required in cases where the party giving such notice shall declare that both the parties to the intended marriage are either members of the Society or in profession with or of the persuasion thereof. AN AWKWARD RECOGNITION !—The Pall Matt Gazette, in a late" OccasiOllal Note," threw out the suggestion that Marguerite Diblanc might possibly be a man in female attire. In reference to this idea » curious circumstance is said to have occurred several years ago in an English country house. For a period extending over some months various email articles of value, ill the shape of jewellery, &c., had from time to time unaccountably disappeared. Suspicion attached to no one, and in spite of every precaution these mys. terious depredations continued. Things at length became so serious that it was resolved to send for a London detective, who, after inspecting the premises and putting some questions, requested that the servants of the house might be assembled in the dining roolB. This having been done, he inquired if all were present, and was told that every one was in the room except the lady s maid, who was in attendance on one of the young ladies, an invalid. Well," he said, I should o see the lady s-maid who was accordingly sum* moned No sooner, however, had she entered therooØ1 than the detective, with a droll twinkling of his eye, exclaimed, "Ah! Jim, is that you ? I've been look- "iV0170U this l°ng while." Then pulling out a paif of handcuffs, he snapped them on the supposed damsel's wrist, she being a male returned convict who, in the capacity of Abigail, had lived for a year with the astonished and luckless family. THE POPULATION OF V ICTORIA.-Tablesgiving some additional results of the census of Victoria, 1871, have been issued from the office of the Registrar- General (says the Melbourne Artrus). One of them ex- hibits the birthplaces of the population, and presents some interesting particulars of the composition of the people of Victoria. In 1861 there were in the colony 138,075 persons who had been born within its limits, in 1871 these had increased to 329,597 persons, the numerical increase for the 10 years being 191,522. Turning to the part of our population which is British born, we find that at the date of the last census their birthplaces were as follows :-England, 164,286 Wales, 6,614 Scotland, 56,210 Ire- land, 100,468. Of these nationalities the distribution of sexes is somewhat unequal, of the English there being 97,796 males to 66,490 females, while the Irish stand 49,198 males to 51,270 females. Compar- ing these figures with those of 1861 we obtain the curious result that while the English colonists have in txisi 10 y#ars decreased 5,300, and the Scotch decreased 4,491, the Inah have increased by 13,308. A table giving the numerical particulars of the religions of the people shows that the Episcopalians number 251,328, the Presbyterians 81,832, the Free Presbyterians 20,160, the Wesleyan MethodistR 80,491, the Independ- ,.8'17,4; th« Baptists, 16,311, and the RonaaO Catholics 167,467. There are 17,646 Pagans in the colony, and no less than 9,967 persons objected to state their religion from conscientious scruples. The total ^iK<K>or1' acc0fding to the complete census returns>