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©«R CCRA^MITAF.
CCRA^MITAF. (Wfe deem It right to state that we do not at all times Identify Mmelves with our correspondent's opinions.] Naturally enough, people have not yet done talking of the terrible calamity in the Regent's Park, the de- tails of which have formed so prominent a feature in our papers lately. There are two things which might be done to prevent the recurrence of such a disaster. In the first place, people should not be allowed to go on the ice when it is unsafe. This would perhaps in. volve the abolition of the park-keeper system, and the placing the parks under the control of the police; and a very good reform that would be in itself. But there are many persons drowned while bathing in the sum- mer, as well as while skating and sliding in the winter, and the remedy for this is simple enough. In St. James's and Battersea Parks the water is of a uniform depth of only three feet. Why cannot this be done in all our other parks ? The ornamental waters should be all drained, the bottom levelled and cemented, and the water should not be above three, or, at the most, four feet deep. In many ways this would be a grea1, improvement. The distress in London at the present time, in spite of the generous and large-hearted efforts that are made to cope with it, is lamentable indeed. At the east end of the Metropolis especially the misery is very great. There must be by this time some 10,000 persons receiving relief from Poplar parish alone and the middle classes, but especially the small shop-keepers, are being themselves dragged down to poverty in the attempt to relieve their poorer neigh- bours. I noticed a letter the other day in one of our newspapers stating that there were 16,000 men and their families suffering from the depression of trade; but this statement must be far under the mark. I do not believe, in fact, that it is possible to calculate the distress. The only means of doing so is by taking count of the number who apply for relief; but there must be thousands who will suffer almost the extreme depths of misery before they will apply for parochial re- lief. The severity of the winter has of course been the chief cause of this, and I have been reminded of the beautiful words which Shakespeare puts into the mouth of King Lear:— Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Tour looped and windowed raggedness, defend you From seasons such a* these. But, however much we may pity the poor, it is impossible to shut our eyes to the fact that many of them refuse work, if the remuneration does not come up to what they think they ought to have. One of our police magistrates lately stated that 800 men applied for pariah relief, that all were offered half-a-crown each per day to go and sweep and cart away the snow; that only sixty.three accepted the offer; and that even out of this small number several ultimately refused to work. To this it may be at once replied that 2s. 6cL a day, and this only for two days perhaps, would have been utterly inadequate to keep a family. Remem- bering how little agricultural labourers receive, this may be doubted; but turning from this fact let me allude to another. There is immense distress among the shipwrights of the port of London. With an in- tention of alleviating this distress the Thames Iron Shipbuilding Company succeeded in obtaining some foreign contracts for building some steamers. They were obliged, however, to take the contracts on such low terms that profit was out of the question, and they merely entered into them with the view of giving em- ployment to unemployed and distressed men. Accord- ingly, they proposed to these men that, under the cir- cumstances, they should work for 6s. 6d. a day instead of 7s., and they refused Such a fact, I think, needs no comment, and all that the men can say in reply is utterly powerless to rid the public mind of the im- pression that the men have acted very foolishly, to say the very least. If "half a loaf is better than no bread," how much better is thirteen-fourteenths of a loaf 1 More than one note of preparation has been sounded for the ensuing Session. It has been an- nounced that the Queen will open Parliament in per- eon, an announcement which has given general satis- faction. It ia true that a little damper was thrown on us immediately afterwards by the addition that the ceremony would be with such state as was observed last year," and we know that that was not much. But still the fact itself is consolatory, aa indicating that her Majesty is likely to come once more amongst us more prominently than has been her wont for the last five years. We are informed, too, that Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli will severally give their accustomed (when they have the opportunity) parliamentary ban- quets to their supporters in Lords and Commons. Mr. Gladstone, too, has from his temporary retreat in Florence, addressed his supporters, hoping that their convenience will be consistent with their atten- dance, &c. It is announced too that the Address in the Commons will be moved by the Hon. Thomas de Grey, member for West Norfolk, and seconded by Mr. Graves, member for Liverpool. To these gentle- men the honour is doubtless very pleasant, but the public generally care very little about the matter. When they have read the Queen's Speech they can form a pretty good idea of what the Address will be. Of infinitely more importance is the amendment to the Address, whenever such a course is decided on. There will be, it is rumoured, an amendment to the Address this season if the subject of Reform is not alluded to in the speech from the throne. But I do not think it at all likely that this vexed question, this much-agitated and much-agitating topic, will be Ignored and I confidently look for an allusion to it. Under any circumstances Reform will be a prominent topic of discussion during the next parliamentary cam- paign, and the fate of the Ministry and a probable dissolution to a great extent depend upon it. All sorts of rumours are afloat relative to the probable course which Government on the one hand and the Opposition on the other will adopt, but we have not long now to wait before the Queen's Speech will add another illustration to Campbell's poetic axiom, that coming events cast their shadows before." A very pleasant rumour comes from Paris, and though it is but a rumour there is some reason to hope that it may prove true. The Presse mentions a report that the Queen will visit Paris during the Ex- hibition, while the Epogue also alludes to the report, and adds that the visit will be strictly private. Every. body will at least be glad to hear this much, and will hope that it will be verified. Be it as it may the Prince and Princess of Wales intend to go, and they will, it is said, be officially received with all due honours. This will give a great incentive to the visits of our countrymen. The influx of foreigners into the gay French capital will be something tremendous. Mr. Cook, the excursion agent, is making his arrange. ments to take our countrymen over by the thousand, and to board and lodge them by contract. Many thousands will doubtless avail themselves of his cheap and well-managed plans. For myself I should not like thus to go; but every one to his taste. By the way I think something too much has been said about the probable frightful expense of living in Paris during the Exhibition. The Parisians, it seems, are now beginning to understand that they may overdo it, and are already moderating their expectations. Had I fortunately been a shareholder in the London and Westminster Bank I should have seized on the report the moment it was issued but not having that advantage I have been reading it rather late in the day. The success of this bank is marvellous. They pay 15 per cent. this half-year, in addition to 14 last half-year, making 30 per cent. per annum. What a contrast is this to many banks which have smashed up during the last few years! To pay 30 per cent. successively for three years is something astounding, added to the noble salaries they pay to their managers and clerks. And yet the bank had but small beginnings. It commenced business on the 10th of March, 1834, with the small capital of 50,000?. Like many other great enterprises it was pooh-pooh'd and snubbed at the commencement. The Bank of England brought all its powers to bear against it, and the bill by which it was sought to give it a legal status, though it passed the Commons, was thrown out by the Lords, through the active opposition of Lord Alfchorp, then Chancellor of the Exchequer. The London and Westminister was therefore compelled to transact its legal business through trustees, and the Bank of England refused to open an account with it, and the Clearing House refused admission to its representatives. in one year it surmounted its chief difficulties, and first annual report showed that it had a capital of nearly a quarter of a million. Still difficulties pursued it, and there were three years of litigation with the old Lady of Threadneedle.street. At first the Bank of England triumphed, but ultimately its youn^ rival gained the victory, and has since gone a-head; and now it has a capital of five millions, in 50,000 shares of lOOi. eaoh, and has, to use Dr. Johnson's words when speaking of Thrale's brewery (now Barclay and Perkins'), "a potentiality of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice." The history of joint-stock enterprise is a splendid page in our commercial history.
PASSING EVENTS, RUMOURS, &0.…
PASSING EVENTS, RUMOURS, &0. Negotiations have been for some time pending °f 'H^eat Eastern Railway Company and Mr. Samuel Laing M.P., with a view to induce that gentleman to join'the Board. It is understood that these negotiations have resulted in Mr. Laing's consent to his name beinl proposed to the meeting on the 12th of February, and that he will be prepared to take the control of the affairs of the company, and of any important nego- tiations with other companies, upon the stipulation that his attention is to be principally confined to thos9 departments, and that he is not to be expected to take charge of the details of working and traffic arrangements, which, from the great decrease of ex- penditure effected during the past half-year, cannot, he considers, be in better hands than those of the present management. The" FJaneur" of the Mornino Star tells a good story of "the Circumlocution Office." During the prevalence of the snow, when both routes to Dover were blocked, Ik ■ Manager of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway went to the War Office, and asked for the services of 500 sappers to clear the line. The men should be taken down by special train to the obstructed part, and any remuneration required should be paid. The official applied to could not possibly grant the request without the authority of the Commander-in- Chief. At once the manager sought the Commander. in-Chief. That distinguished functionary thought the notion a very excellent one but he doubted whether the men could be so employed without the sanction of General Peel. General Peel could not be found and while he was being vainly sought a telegram arrived to say that the line had been cleared The stupidity, and even wickedness of some people is almost incredible, as will be seen by the following letter from a barrister, and which appeared in the leading journal :—" We hear of the po-ealled cowardice of the Humane Society's men, and the alleged brutality of the police, but. this ia nothing compared with the mixture of cowardice and brutality shown by Feveral peoile on the bridge crossing the Serpentine on Sunday last. The,e brutes were actually throwing money on theextremely rotten and dapgerouaice, which was likely to break at any moment, and persuading the wretched street boys to risk their lives for their amuse- ment. A penny is a great thing to one of the°e beings, but ♦heir tempters deserve a horsewhipping," in which opinion we very cordially agree. John Bull, a great authority on Church matters, The report of the resignation of tha enerable Bishop of Exeter is, we have some reason to know. premature, though it may take place in the course of the spring. Good and sufficient reasons have existed, according to the bishop's judgment, for non.resignation up to the present time. In addition to the name of Archdeacon Harris, we have heard that of Lord Devon's brother, Canon Courtenay, of Windsor, and Chaplain to the Queen, mentioned for the post. Either would be an excellent appoint- ment, and give sincere satisfaction to Churchmen." s As showing the influence of trade unions in pre- venting workmen from accepting reasonable reductions of wages, contrary to their own judgment, "A Dur- ham Man makes the following statement in a letter to The Times :—A .demand for higher wages in the establishment of a ship-builder in the North led to a strike. After remaining out some time the men were called together, and the employer expressed his firm conviction that the men were ready to go in on the old terms. A show of hands was taken, and all held up against "going in." The master then, still con- vinced that the union was the real obstacle, balloted all the men, and, strange as it may appear, the re- sult showed that every man was in favour of resuming work, though not one would hold up his hand a few minutes before. It is added that the men" went in." The American press has for some time past been speculating about a secret diplomatic expedition for which a war vessel was being fitted out at Annapolis, Maryland. It is in charge of Assistant-Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward, and various destinations have been assigned to it. We are now advised that the real object of this mission, on which Mr. Seward sailed in the United States' steamer Don on the after- noon of the 2nd of January, is to negotiate for an American naval station in the West Indies. The Bay of bamana, on the coast of Hayti, is the point selected, and Mr. Seward is to negotiate with the Haytian Government for its cession. To pay for this harbour and the expenses of the mission 200,000 dols. were recently appropriated by Congress. Some little excitement was caused in New Year's week in the Fenian circles of New York, by a report m the New York Tribune that Head.Centre Stephens had not left New York, but was living in a retired part of the town, under an assumed name, and "pay- ing 45 dols. a week for his board." The Fenians hunted up the place, but could not find him, and it is now said the suspected person was a redoubtable Fenian called Captain O'Shea, who bears a striking resemblance to Stephens. The Irish in America are completely disgusted with the Head Centre, because New Year day has been allowed to pass without his promised" rising "in Ireland and at a Fenian meet- ing held in New York on Monday resolutions were passed declaring Stephens a humbug; and which resolutions, we think, might have been passed some months ago. We need hardly say that at length Feniamsm is at a great discount in America, and will probably die out. According to custom the Middlesex grand jury' attended on Tuesday morning at the Court of Queen's Bench to be sworn in, in case any bills should be pre- ferred before them. It is very rarely they have any business of this eort, and when they have it is mostly confined to indictments for the abatement of nuisances After the jury ^ere called over and before they were sworn in, Mr. Justice Blackburn said that as it was possible, though he did not anticipate it, that a bill might be preferred before them aeainst ex-Governor Jiyre, it any of them had subscribed to the fund for the prosecution or for the defence they had better not serve. One of the gentlemen called said that he believed his firm had subscribed to the defence fund, but he knew nothing of it personally. Mr. Justice Black- burn said then in that case he had better not serve. The gentleman having retired and another takeu his place, the jury were sworn. Mr. Justice Blackburn, in charging them, repeated that he did not. anticipate that an indictment against ex-Governor Eyre would be brought before them this term, but that it was very possible one would be preferred before a future grand jury. ° The Morning Star reports an interesting conference which was held on Monday in London, under the presidency of Mr. E. Miall, between a number of working men and certain gentlemen, lay and clerical with a view to ascertain the extent and causes of the alleged alienation of a large majority* of skilled artisans in England from our existing religious insti- turion!1, and their indifference to public worship in the churches. The attendance was large, both sides being well and influentially represented. No resolu- tions were passed, and the discussion was mark, d by the freest expression of opinion by various speakers in reference to existing religious organizations. Dean Stanley made a short speech, and said he should be glad to receive any practical suggestion with a view to render more attractive to the working classes the Sunday evening services at Westminster Abbey, and he would give those suggestions m08t careful consideration. rfr 8i>eakers during the proceedings TV6 'tPu MlU*r' vicar of Greenwich, the Rev Newman Hull, Mr. Edward Miall, Mr. Edmond Beales, Mr. George Potter, and a number of working men.. ° A pleasing illustration of the adage—"Poor, but honest, has occurred before one of the London magis- trates. A little boy, of the tender age of peven years-, it appears, took a bag containing 251, in gold and silver from a grocer's counter without exciting observa- tion, and conveyed it to the miserable apartment which he called home." As soon as his mother, who was ill in bed and suffering from extreme poverty, dis- covered what her precocious child had done, she con- veyed the money back to the tradesman and restored it to him. The child was given into custody, but the magistrate, mttevl of committing the boy to prison, released the little fellow, complimented the mother on her honesty, gave her a sovereign, and coaxed the Lr!!+C,Ui!°r 1 iomg the 8ame- A gentleman in the fhfrftth"° Pve tbe poor woman 5s., and added, "I thi k she deserves it. The poor woman was very thankful for the kind feeling which had been shown 'tf™ fV1D*h^thanked the worthy alderman and the gentlemen for their benevolence, retired with her boys, the charge not having been proceeded with. There is also another incident of a London police-court, and which forms a pleasing contrast to the sickening narratives so often presented at these places. A man whose name the reporter does not give came before Mr. Ellison, the magistrate, and insisted upon pre- senting him with 253., which he said he owed him Ua an explanation being asked, it appeared that the applicant some twelve months ago had the small-nox m his family, and lost two children by it. He was in great distress, and applied to Mr. Ellison for assist ance from the poor-box. He got a sovereign, and he >at b*d gone well with him since rii^teVtl!autytorePay what he considered £ expressed him- self much gratIfied at thIS in!!ta.nce of gratitude. The very important issue raised in the Vice Chan- cellor s Court affecting the liahibfC \u in the firm of Overend, Guraey J to the debts of the firm h^s argued for four days before Vice Chan ^11 Mailins. The shareholders, it will be rem«™hl?ir contend that, as they were induced to shares by fraudulent representations, the transaction is void by reason of the fraud. On the other side the creditor¡¡ contend that their money was advanced on the of. th« security which the unpaid-up capital barked^h hderS *aV6' as wdl aS that already em- was nn« W bnnne?s J and that the question of fraud the shareholders and tho?e who made the fraudulent representations, to which the present credits were no parties and of which they knew nothing. Phe Vice Chancellor vi'l give judgment on the last day 0f term; or on\l>* tU day of the sittings after term-, 'but his honv.r made a very important remark on I t "limited liability." He said "the act of I860 a'j not contemplate the issue of shares at 5oim or" 1007 of which only 51. or 10I. was to be called "Up -^but that the whole capital should be called up and'used in trading." The decision in this case must un- doubtedly have a great effect upon a'l future limited liability > enterprises.
LOSS OF A LIFEBOAT MANNED…
LOSS OF A LIFEBOAT MANNED BY ENGLISHMEN OFF CALAIS. near tbe^ron^of^rfaU 'h*h** T Fri,day eveninS was totally lost with all hands0" which a vessel seamen who volunteered to go off to +h«V lifeboat. The night, though ler £ stormv-V" gale was blowing from the north and^-b« S ^"r118 of coast was lashed with At" S* 1nd the moon shone very bri^t About five o clock a cry ran along the harbour tW ship had run ashore near the west pier, and the crew were lasbed in the rigging. Captain Wale, of the General Steam Navigation Company's steamer Triton which was detained in the harbour in consequence of the bad weather, with his crew, proceeded to the Pier Head, and were followed by the crew of the Pioneer (Dover) steamer, and some belonging to other English ships m the harbour. On reaching the end of the pier, the wreck was found to be about 200 yards' distant. The vessel proved to be the Trovs Scturs, ■ Captain Chauvelon, of St. Nazaire, from Rotterdam, laden with a cargo of manganese. The cries of her crew for help could be plainly heard on the pier. The English people cheered the poor fellows by tbA assur- ance that assistance would be sent, and all hands started off for the port lifeboat, which is stationed on the sand some distance off. It was got out, and with difficulty dragged through the snow, which laid very deep, to the edge of the sands, where the Triton's crew volunteered to man her; but the French authorities of the port refused, rnd after some delay six Frenchmen put off in it and made for the wreck, hut when it got half-way to the vessel they turned to the shore and abandoned the shipwrecked people. The English sailors, on seeing this, got ferried across the harbour, to the East Pier, where another lifeboat is stationed, which was presented to the Calais authorities by the English Government some time since. Here, however, another long delay occurred, for it was securely locked up, and the party having the custody of the key could not be found. At length it was determined to take forcible possession of it, and by tearing down the railings the boat was safely launched. It was instantly manned by English volunteers, who pulled off with that alacrity and zeal which called forth loud cheers from those collected on the piers, for by that time a great number of people had assembled. The boat rode gallantly as she shot towards the wreck, when, just as she was preparing to bring up to the vessel a heavy sea struck the boat and threw it bottom upwards, throwing the whole ot the brave fellows, thirteen in number, into the raging sea. A fearful shriek rose from the people on the pier, and a scene of great excitement ensued to do all that was possible to save life, for some of them could be seen holding on to the lifeboat, others were sup- poitine themselves on the oars, and others were attempting to swim to the shore. A party of English sailors belonging to the Triton and Pioneer steamer here made for the first lifeboat which had been abandoned by the Frenchmen as useless, and pushed off in it to the rescue of their struggling com- rades and it is gratifying to state that their mission was a most successful one, for they managed to pick up six of the poor fellows, and two others-were saved by means of ropes thrown to them by Captain Wale from the pier. The remainder, however, five in number, all perished. The survivors when landed were nearly dead from exhaustion and cold. They were promptly conveyed to the Societe Humane, where they were received and treated with the greatest kindness and attention. Of the crew of the wrecked vessel only one was saved; they dropped off the rigging one by one into the sea, and were drowned. The last man was taken out of the rigging by the first lifeboat, which, after picking up the drowning people, left the shore a third time, and succeeded in gaining the wreck. Most of the Enelish sailors who were last in the second lifeboat have left wives and families to lament their fate. The body of the engineer of the Triton has been washed ashore, and sent to London for burial.
I The EYRE PROSECUTION and…
The EYRE PROSECUTION and DEFENCE. Messrs. Shaen and Roscoe, solicitors, of 8, Bedford- row, London, have sent the following letter or pub. lication :— The Eyre Defence Committee are advertising as follows :— 1. That the Eyre prosecution has commenc d. 2. That four actions have been commenced against Mr. Eyre and Colonel Nelson by the solicitors of the Jamaica Committee. "3 That the Jamaica Committee are also preparing an Indictment against Mr. Eyre for murder. "4. That In consequence of this unparalleled and oppres- sive persecution, which, they say, will entail upon Mr. Eyre an enormous accumulation of costs, the committee earnestly request additional subscriptions. request additional subscriptions. The facts are as follow: — 1. The Eyre prosecution has not yet commenced. This mis statement, however, if it stood by itself, would not be worth correcting, an the prosecution will be commenced as soon as the witnesses, who have been sent for, arrive in this country from Jamaica. 2. Two private gentlemen, who were illegally arrested and one of whom was flogged, but against whom no shadow of evidence has ever been produced, have, without any con- nexion with or assistance from the Jamaica Committee, commenced actions for damages against Mr. Eyre and Colonel Nelson, and have intrusted their cases to the solicitors who are also instructed by the Jamaica Committee. The defence of the actions against Colonel Nelson has been undertaken by Government, who are thus Interposing the national purse between these victims of martial law and an English Court of Justice. This step on the part of Govern- ment will, of coutae, very greatly diminish the expense of defending the other two actions which have been commenced against Mr. Eyre, as the defence in each case mutt be substantially the same. 3 TM only proceeding with which the Jamaica Com- mittee has anything whatever to do is the Intended indict, ment, which they are advised 1* the only mode open to them of testing the legality of th" late proceedings. The Eyre Defence Committee, having been informed by us of the above facts, have instructed their secretary to reply t^ley 8ee no reason whatever for altering their advertisements to suit the tastes" of the Jamaica Committee and of ourselves. Not in order to suit anybody's tastes, but to prevent the public being misled we must, therefore, ask you to be good enough to give insertion to this explanation. An application was made on Saturday to Mr. Baron Bram- well, by Mr. Rose, solicitor for ex-Governor Eyre, In respect of the indictments to be preferred against him for his con- duct In Jamscia, the nature of his application being that all further proceeding* in the actions brought by Mr. Phillips and Dr. Bruce, of Jamaica, to recover damages for false im- prisonment, flogging, and other injuries sustained by them at the bands of Governor Eyre during the late rebellion, might be stayed until the plaintiffs had given Mr Eyre security for his costs. The ground of the application Wc\3 that the plaintiffs were resident beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and could not. therefore, be taken in execution for Mr. Eyre's costs in case he should be successful in the actions that were penning :.painst him. Mr. Blrnie, from the office of Messr". Shaen and RMcoe, opposed the application on behalf ofthe plaintiff <. After hearing both sides, Mr Baron Bramwell derided that the application was both pre- mature and irregular, and ordered it to be adjourned sine die.
I A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. A writer of much talent, and one of the best contributors to La Pre sac, M Pierre Biragnon, publishes in thnt pap?r a most iEtsrestlrig and sensational article on the subject of urging on Government the necessity of watching somewhat mo^e carefully over the lives and safety of its subjects, and requesting especially the Prefect of Police to bestow upon the honest and honourahle part of the Paris population the same surveillance and paternal care he does upon malefactors. (We are quoMrg the remarks of the Paris correspondent of the Morning Star.) )1. Birtignori's revelations as to what has been latterly goirg on in Paris read like a novel of the middle ages. One would really fancy in perusing th s paper that we were living in the good old times when Lutetia was intersected by narrow and muddy lanes, when the streets were lit by lanterns, when people were in the habit of being attacked by masked robbers, thrown into the Seine, or plungtd ido oubilettes. Among the startling facts brought forward by M Uaraguon to prove that he is In no way exaggerating the state of things, allow me to reproduce the following, which occurred during the last few months :— Aladame X-, 23 years of age, beautiful, and strictly virtuous, arrived in Paris with an elder sister, for the education of her three children. Her husband' a wealthy New York merchant, sanctioned and ape proved of this. Madame X- took an apartment in the Champs Elysees, devoted herself to the care of her boys, attended church regularly, occasionally in company with her sister, at a convent at Auteuil and, in fact, led a most exemplary life. One morning: at eight o'clock, she summoned her maid, dressed hurriedly, appeared unusually agitated, and explained to her servants that she had an early visit to pay. Madame X-did not communicate with her sister before quitting the house, which she left, alas! never to return. On the sad tidings reaching her husband he instantly left New York, and has been in Paris for some weeks, during which time he has spared neither money nor efforts to discover some trace of his beloved and beautiful wife. But one thing is certain that not the slightest blemish can be attached to her disappear- ance. Her life was blameless, and her attachment to her husband and children undoubted. The French police, by means of the appareil Caselli, as M. Baragnon justly remarks, send the facsimile of the handwriting, of the features, and appearance of a common bandit to the four quarters of the globe. A quoi bon ? The director-general of the telegraphic lines lost his chef de cabinet three months ago in a similar mysterious manner, and although that period has elapsed, neither friends nor telegraphic wires has elucidated the mystery. M. S- was a man of between thirty. eight and forty, belonging to an excellent hmily, to which he was much attached, extremely fond of the study of botany, and of all home occupations. He attained the position of inspector, and had every pros- pect of rising in his profession. One afternoon at five o'clock precisely, M. S who appeared very much preoccupied, entered his office, and having summoned his secretary, said to bim:—" My dear friend, I am obliged to absent myself for the next twenty-four hours on private business." The secretary naturally replied, "Very well, sir; what am I to do?" "Go on with the work as usual, and should the director-general send for me, say I shall return to-morrow afternoon." M. S- had received his monthly pay of 251, that mom- ing, and had immediately paid a bill he owed amount. ing to 1(M. On quitting hia office he had walked home, denired his concierge to call a carriage, walked up to his room, left some money on the chimney-piece, made some slight change in his dress, and got into the cab, giving directions to the driver in a low tone of voice. From that hour to the present moment, neither M. S-, cab, or cabman has been discovered. M. Baragnon expresses anxiety lest the great Exhibition should attract to this city a fresh influx of pickpockets and cut-throats from all quarters of the globe. He naturally inquires what is to be done to remedy this state of things. The whole responsi- bility must naturally fall on police agents, and to them appertains the duty of protecting the inhabi- tants of Paris from such mysterious attacks. More- over, M. Baragnon advises every visitor to this capital to conform themselves to the following rules of conduct:—To beware of anonymous letters, and send them at once to the Commissaire of the Quartier they inhabit; to beware of mysterious rendezvous; to walk at nifch'i in the middle of any Barrow street or paQsng-" their business may lead them by; aad h' K' never to go OUT at night without a whistle, whIch of course, will at once attrnct the attention of the police.
WATER THAT WILL NOT DROWN.…
WATER THAT WILL NOT DROWN. All travellers (writes a correspondent to the Quebec Morning Chronicle) have mentioned with astonish- ment the peculiar buoyancy of the water of Great Salt Lake, and it JS truly surprising. No danger of shipwreck need ever cross the mind of those" who navigate the lake, for it would be simply impossible for them to sink if thrown overboard. With my hands clasped together under my head. and my feet crossed, I floated on the very surface of the lake with at least one-lhira of nay body above the water. Upon a warm summer's day there would not be the slightest difficulty in going to sleep upoa the lake, and allowing yourself to be bio vn about as the wind permitted only one would need an umbrella to keep off the rays of the sun. It has been stated that three buckets of this water will yield one bucket of solid salt but inasmuch hs water will not hold above 25 per cent, of saline matter in solution, and if more be added it is instantly deposited upon the bottom, this estimate i", of course, too largo. On inquiring of the Mormons engaged in procurmpr salt, they unanimously stated that for every fi ve buckets of water, they obtained one bucket of salt, which gives the proportion as no less than 20 per cent. No visitor to "the lake should omit the bath; the sensation in the water is mosc luxurious, and leads one to think himself floating in fir' 1,0u the way back to the city it will be as w*u iior the bather to stop at the superb sulphur baths just outside the town, and remove the saline incrustations which will have formed upon him, by a plunge into the fine swimming bath, whose only ob. jection is its peculiar odour and its great heat, which requires a large admixture of cold water.
THE LATE GALES.
THE LATE GALES. In the terrible storm which recently ravaged our western coast, a large East India clipper, the James Crossjield, was wrecked at Langness Point, in the Isle of Man, and every soul on board seems to have perished. Of all the disasters of the late hurricane this appears to have been the worst, and it indicates a lamentable and culpable neglect of the duty of pro- perly lighting our coasts (remarks the Daily Telegraph.) The ill-fated ship was a vessel of 1,500 tons burden, and was on her voyage from Calcutta to Liverpool with a cargo of cotton, jute, and other goods, the value of which was estimated at more than 100,0001 She is supposed to have had about forty persons CIA board. The coast near Castletown was found to be strewn with the cargo and fragments of the vessel; but of all the human beings on board not one survived to tell the tale. Langness has a fearful celebrity among mariners, and the delay to erect a lighthouse there has long been the subject of complaint among the inhabitants of the island. The destruction of the James Crossjield will render the demand for a light at this dangerous point irresistible; and it may reason- ably be expected that one of the first duties of the new Manx Legislature will be to provide that Lang. ness shall no longer retain its bad reputation as a seamen's grave.
IPBTTLLANTOUS 'INTTUIJTNA,
IPBTTLLANTOUS 'INTTUIJTNA, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A SECRET !—The following strange application was made to the magistrate at Marylebone Police- court, in London. A young woman, dressed in black, said:— I want to ask your advice. Two months after the end of August last I kept company with a man with a view to marriage. One day as we were out together he said he had a great secret to tell me. I was extremely anxions to know, and after many askings he said he had murdered a man. I was surprised ai d horrified, and told him I could not think of keeping up our acquaintance. The next time I saw him he said his secret was not so bad as he had stated. It was, he said, his second wife who was dead, and he had married her whilst his first wife was alive. I agatn told him it was use- less to think of keeping up our acquaintance. He became very excited and I alarmed. Since then he has followed me about and threatens me if I will not consent to become his wife. He said the "demon was In him. and he would not see me the wife of another man. He said sooner than that he would shoot me. He throws things into where I am at work, and I really am afraid of him. The magistrate granted her a summons for threatening language. ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A LUNATIC.—Two warders of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum have been charged before a full bench of magistrates at the Castle of Exeter, with severely beating and otherwise ill- treating an inmate of the asylum, named Frederick Lockyer. Dr. Sanders stated that Lockyer was now lying in a very dangerous condition in the hospital of the asylum. Three of his ribs were broken, and he was hurt in the head and near one eye, all the injuries arising from violence used towards him. His recovery is very doubtful. The depositions of the injured man and other witnesses led to the apprehension of the prioners, who were now remanded for a week. The magistrates required bail to the amount of 250l. for the prisoners. A STORY OF THE FRENCH BAR.—M. Paul Girard, in a sketch of the eminent French advocate, Maitre Emmanuel Arago, gives a curions illustration of the license which the members of the bar in that country occasionally allow themselves on behalf of their clients. The case in which M. Arago first made a reputation was the trial of a young man named Huber, and Mdlle Laure Gouvelle, for a plot against Louis Phillippe. M. Arago, in defending the former, exclaimed, Huber is a man whom I esteem, whom I love, whom I shall never forget, as I hope he will never forget me—a man, gentleman, whom I could desire to be my own brother. Surely you will give him back to me." And at the close of this singular peroration the impassioned counsel fell upon his client's neck and embraced him. The jury, however, took their own view of the case, and returned a verdict of guilty. When the prisoners appeared to receive sentence M. Arago again hugged his client, while M. Jules Favre, who defended Mdle. Gpuvelle, flung himself into her arms and kissed her—perhaps a more natural and pleasant proceeding. "In fact," as M. Girard remarks, there was a great deal of em. bracing in that case." THE SHORT TIME AGITATION.—During the past week there have been public meetings of the operative cotton-spinners, weavers, card-room hands, &c., in almost every town and manufacturing village in East Lancashire, to hear the reports of the deputations who had waited upon the several employers, and to take action thereon. The reports were of an indefinite character, but a few were calculated to inspirit the operatives to renewed exertions to obtain a general adoption of short time, as a successful mode of reliev- ing the present depression in trade. In no case have the employers of East Lancashire yet adopted short time, nor agreed to the establishment of a court of arbitration for the settlement of disputes; but the present crisis is likely to force short time upon the trade, and some manufacturers already fear that they will have shortly to run their mills three or four days per week, as urged by the operatives. A CLEVER ESCAPE.—A man named Phillips, who was in custody for obtaining a large quantity of goods under false pretences at Chard, made his escape from the lock-up under singular circumstances last week. He managed to turn the key upon the police- officer who had him in charge, to escape from the cell, go to his home, where be had some refreshment, shake hands with a police-officer on the road. and to get clear off. He has not been heard of since. The police-officer was confined in the cell several hours before relief came to him. A MAGISTERIAL DECISION.—A Memphis lawyer relates (if we may rely upon the statement of the Memphis Bulletin) that while in Caroll County re- cently he attended the preliminary trial of a man be- fore a country magistrate charged with stealing corn from a neighbourV crib. The evidence went to show that the defendant had been found with his hand in an aperture in the crib, safely fastened in a steel trap, which the owner of the crib had set for the purpose of catching the thief who had been preying upon his grain. It was also in evidence that two empty corn sacks were found lying at the feet of the entrapped in- dividual. The decision of the magistrate was that there was no proof that the prisoner had stolen any corn, and as to being caught in a steel trap, any gen- tleman had a perfect right to stick his hand in one if he felt inclined to do so. AN UNPLEASANT LIKENESS!—A London literary gentleman thus writes :— An incident happened to your correspondent at Liverpool, by no means flattering to his self-respect. When he had entered his carriage, a gentleman well known in the town went up to the window to bid him good-bye. Slid this gentleman to your correspondent—"You have been creating a great sentation on the platform" ''How so?" he asked. The startling answer was this—" You were taken for Stephens the Head Centre, and a detective was actually on the point of arresting you, when I told him who you were." The anxiety of the Liverpool police to arrest Stephens is, I fear, becoming a bore to all unknown gentlemen who happen to be six feet Itfgh and wear black beards. Such persons frequently find themselves the objects of a ssrutioy by no means agreeable, without having the slightest idea what it all means. A TELEGRAM EXPLAINED.—Messrs. Grindlay & Co. forwarded to The Times a telegram re- ceived by them from India, "Decor lucko appointy to finlo come out this season if possible," which the gentleman to whom it was addressed asked them to interpret. It is necessary to remember that in India the telegraphing clerk has usually only a scrap of paper before him, and we must make some allowance for bad writing. By re-writing the message in a shaking, over- rapid hand, the following solution is arrived at:— Dear Lucy. Appointed to Dehra. Come out the season if possible,"—clearly a husband's message to his wife, announcing his appointment to a healthy station. Why Dehra should have been mistaken for "nnlo," seems in print unintelligible, but it is notiso "in rapid manuscript. A CIVILISED NEGRO.—Mr. W. Hepworth Dixon, in his New America," gives the following example of what might be done by the negro :— That the negro is fitted, by his humour, by hh industry, by Ms sociality, for a very high form of civil life, may be safely assumed. Some negroes are rich and learned, practise at the bar, preach from the pulpit, strut upon the stage. Many have a great desire to learn and to get on. Here is Eli Brown, head waiter in the Richmond Hotel; a man with a bright eye, a sharp tongue, a qutck hand. A few months since he was a slave. He learned to read in secret, and in daily fear of the lash; since he got his freedom he has learned to write. In this black lad I have found more sense of right and wroDg, of policy and justice, than in halt the platform orators of the schools. SAD END OF A PROMISING STUDENT.—Great excitement has been caused throughout Holland by the death of a cadet, named Mestingh, in the Military School of that kingdom. This young man had greatly distinguished himself in his studies, and had carried off the first prize, and for a long time had been the object of the dislike and jealousy of his schoolfellows, as well for that reason as on account of his humble birth. Some time since, during the hour of recreation, he was stripped by the other pupils in the playground and subjected to the most ignominious outrage; ami, driven to desperation, he poisoned himself. Eleven of the pupils have been placed in confinement, and the master of the school has been dismissed. LONGEVITY—A CHALLENGE.—" Gerontophilos" writes in the London Times As the present cold weather I! sweeping off octogenarians, and you have been admitting to yonr colunrs gome extraor- dinary accounts of ages attained, I hnmMy eolicit space for my statement of the age of tho oldest man, probably, now existing in England. In the pariah ot Leckhampton, adjoin- ing Cheltenham, there is a man of the peasant class' named Percy. He was born in a village between Worcester and Malvern in the spring of 1761 on his 105th birthday he dined In my kitchen. I saw him walking, with the aid of crutches, in Cheltenham in November last. He was then in his 110th year, and ie, 1 have reaeon to believe, now alive The proofs of his birth and age were furnished to the minister of the parish In 1860, and were sent to the Queen from whom he received a gratuity of 52. THE QUESTION OF EVENING DRESS FOR LADIES. —The letter from A Singer at the Alhambra," who asked in the Pall Mall Gazette why she should be for- bidden to wear, as "too indecent for the stage," the cast-off dresses which have done Pervice for ladies of title in "society," has led to further correspondence. A wntt-r calls attention to the latest illustrations of "evening dress for winter," where neck, bosom, and shoulder* are revealed with lavish prodigality. It may be sail," adds the writer, "that none but base minds will see any impropriety in adopting a style of drc HI ilic^ated by fashion, since to the pure all things are pure. Bu1; unhappily we are not all pure; and even assuming that purity of thought predominated aJKons? men, there must always be in mixed assem- hlage8 a leavening of the Old Adam, which the present Eve like simplicity of evening dress is not calculated to rct si or subdue mto respect." CROW ACCIDENTS EXTRAORDINARY.—An inquest has been held at Daroall, near Sheffield, on the body of Wi' 1 jitirty. «vd mker, whodied from the effects of a gun-shot wound. Oa the 26th of Dec. the deceased, who was thirty-fire years of age, was out shooting, He WMI accompanied by hia brother Henry and A youth named Biggings, and the latter carried a gun. He was caught at the side by some briars, which gave him a slight jerk. The jerk caused him to pull the trigger and discharge the contents of the right barrel, which entered the deceased's leg below the knee, blowing away part of two of the bones, and eventually causing his death after the limb had been amputated. Singularly enough, George Gray, the brother of the deceased and the owner of the gun by which the de- ceased was shot, was once himself shot through the right lung, four of his ribs being at the same time badly broken. Notwithstanding the serious nature of the injury he is still alive and remarkably active. The father of the deceased has been twice injured in the face by the explosion of guns, and is now marked from the effects of one of the accidents, and the deceased himself some time ago was shot in the right arm, and sustained severe injury to two of the guiders. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. WHERE WE ARE GOING!—At the annual meet. ing of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, on Friday night, Mr. Roebuck, M.P., made a speech, directing his remarks to Free Trade versus Protection, and to Bankruptcy Reform, expressing an opinion that the most mischievous thing ever done to trade by legisla- tion, except protection, was Lord Westbury's Bank. ruptcy Bill. The hon. gentleman made a brief re- ference to the present position of affairs in America, and concluded with the following burst of elo- quence :— At thh present moment-I wish my poor countrymen knew it—going to the United State", they fancy they are going to Paradise—they are going rather to the other place. [Hear hear, and laughter ] But now that Canada has taken the line of free trade, the consequence will be—and you will see it Immediately—that there will be so large a smuggling trade to Canada that I have no doubt Sheffield will benefit. [Laughter.] I hope this will be thereault, and that In the fights now going on on that continent we at least shall be gainers. I hope you will not fancy I have done any great thing incom!n?here. I came down in fonr hour" from London; I felt no difficulty in getting into the carriage—I came down, In fact, very much like a trunk—[laughter]—In a very com- fortable way. If I cm upon any occasion, by coming here, do any service to Sheffield I hope you will make no bones" (if I may use a vulgar phrase) in asking me to come down, and I shall be most happy to wait on you. THE RIBK OF FLOORING GLASS.—The other evening, on the arrival of a train at the Claoham- road station on the London, Chatham, and Dover Extension line, a gentleman who left a carriage dis- appeared suddenly, as if through an open trap-door. He had stepped upon the flooring glass covering a shaft, about a yard square and 17 ft. in depth, and lighting by means of a window near the bottom, a staircase or passage under the platform. The glass, notwithstanding its special thickness, rendered brittle by the frost, broke under his weight, and he fell through, to the consternation of all on the platform. The station officials rushed to the lower window, where they rescued him. In falling he had extended his arms, and had abraded the skin of the hands. His clothes were cut and torn by the glass, and he had also received two very serious wounds on the right leg, between the knee and the foot. These were not merely gashes pieces of flesh had been cut out by pro- jecting points of glass. The surgeon called in said that the wounds were of a most dangerous character, especially if there were any pieces of glass in them, and said that the worst to be feared was that erysi- pelas might ensue. THE SAVING OF COAL.—If we are to have a continuance of weather so cold as we have experienced recently every suggestion tending to save coal deserves consideration. One correspondent thus describes a way of economising and using small coal in Belgium. When at Liege, in Belgium, some years ago, I observed their method of accomplishing this art. Half a load of clay is shot down in the street, and one load of small coal beside it. Then commences the work of incorporating the two together with water, something in the way concrete is made. It is then made up into small lumps of the shape of a kidney, by the hand, and put away to dry. When required for use the pieces are packed into the grate, leaving air space between, and resting upon a fire- lighter formed of wood dipped in resin or other in. flammable liquid. One small fire-lighter, 'eight a penny,' is sufficient to ignite the mass; and in the course of half an hour the whole is well lighted, and gives out more heat than the ordinary coals. Once placed in the grate, they should never be stirred on any consideration, and the fire will then last for our teen hours." AUSTRALIAN SOVEREIGNS. — A gentleman, writing to a London contemporary from Peterborough, signing himself "Justitia," makes the following re- marks on the difficulty of passing Australian sove- reigns :— On presenting one of these at one of the dining establish- menls in this city it was refused on the grounds of there being a dIfficulty in passing Australian sovereigns, also that the bank refused to accept them. linsisted upon the land- ord accepting it, and told him that as it was a legal tender In this country he was baund to do so; but he refused, saying I might leave it as security for my good dinner. This I refused to do. Ultimately, as a iavour, a neighbour of his changed the obnoxious coin. Will you oblige me by publish- ingthis letter, and endorse the fact of these sovereigns being a legal tender in this country of the value of 203., and that people are bound to accept them. Can you say what remedy a person has in the event of their being refused ? BARNUM'S EGRESS."— Among other stories told by Barnum about himself, in a lecturing tour out West, is the following :—He aad advertised special attractions for tbe Irish on St. Patrick'g-day, and the Museum was jammed with the Biddies and their children. They were so well pleased that he thought it advisable to point out to them the way of exit, so that others might find room to enter. The reply was, Faith, and I'm not going out; we came to spend the day with ye." The wit of the showman was again tried, but he met the emergency by having asigil painted in large letters, "Egress," which he fastened over the door leading through the rear to Ann-street. The trap caught them. Egress sure, that's the animal we haven't seen at alL" And such a current of Biddies started in that direction that none could return, and the Museum was 800n relieved of one set of visitors, to be speedily filled with another. AN INTERESTING CEREMONY.—The city of Moscow was lighted with gas for the first time on the 27th December. A large number of persons who had been invited were present at the consecration of the gas factory when a Te Deum was sung. The guests, after partaking of a breakfast, proceeded to the Kremlin, where the lighting was to commence. The people had gathered around a gas lamp opposite the Cathedral of St. Michael, near the Czar's bell. A platform covered with red cloth had been erected and was occupied by a military band. At half-past four the Mayor ascended the platform, took a taper in- tended to light the lamp, whilst one of the other gen- tlemen turned on the gas, the band playing the national hymn. The music had not ceased before the whole Kremlin was lighted, as well as 2,016 lamps in the streets of the city. DROUGHT IN MALTA.—A Malta Correspondent, writing on the 14th inst., says :— Prayers for rain are again being offered up in the Roman Catholic churches throughout the island. During the winter of 1863 and 1864 we had abundance of rain, but since the spring of the last-mentioned year, the rainfall has been far below the average ot ?2 inches per annum, and through- out the year 1863 only 81 inches fell. Since the beginning of October last the country has been refreshed by several light and passing showers, sufficient, together with the heavy dews at night, for agricultural purposes; but they have !cucely had any perceplihie effect on the tanks and reservoirs, and it is not without reason that apprehensions are entertained as to the very serious consequences that may ensue should the rains be much longer retarded. A SCOTCHMAN'S VISIT TO THE EXHIBITION OF 1862.—Great was the philosophy of the modern economic Scotchman who visited the Exhibition of 1862 (remarks the Daily News.) But he was cast in a rare mould. He lived in Liverpool. He left home at a quarter-past eleven o'clock one Monday night, and reached London at six o'clock on the morrow morning. Most men would have been a little jaded by anight in a railway train. But to the Scotchman it was just nee cessary rest to prepare him for a walk of ten miles about the metropolis. After this light exercise, he repaired to the Exhibition, and took a four hours' journey through it. By this time it was a quarter-past four in the afternoon. Just three quarters of an hour re- mained for him to march to the Euston Square station, where he caught the five o'clock train. All he spent in London was one shilling, being his admission to the Exhibition. It is recorded that three draughts of water constituted his only refreshment during the day. He got home at eleven o'clock at night, quite satisfied that he, at any rate, had not been duped by greedy exhibition caterers. A CLERGYMAN'S LAST WORDS !—On the 10th of November the Rev. Mr. Masson, a missionary to China, in connection with the English Presbyterian Church, was accidentally washed overboard from the ship Peter Denay, when within three days' sail of Shanghai. A friend (Mr. Hodge) who was with him says We had been speaking of the theory of the Unitarians, that Christ was merely human. Mr. Ma-san said—' I could not enjoy the jayful hope of future happiness if I did not beHeve that Christ is the Son of God.' These words were scarcely uttered, when the sea struck the ship, a wave rolled over the fore- castle, the ship lurched heavily, and I saw him no more." A RAILWAY TRAIN BURIED IN THE SNOW.— On Sunday afternoon a local service train running between Margate and Ramsgate on the London, Chatham, and Dover line was completely buried in the snow in the cutting at the Margate side of Broad- stairs. It would seem that a gale sprung up in the afternoon, in an easterly direction, which caused the snow to drift into the cutting to a considerable depth. The driver of the train, which consist) 1 of the engine, tender, and three carriages filled with passengers, being unconscious of this fact, let the train run into the middle of the snow, where it was brought to a stand-still, and the engines and carriages became nearly buried in snow. The passengers were with some difficulty extricated from their awkward position. The snow continued to drift all night, and with the exception of the funnel of the engine, nothing is now visible of her. It was anticipated that a week would elapse before the train could be extricated.
E VITOME OF NEWS.
E VITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. Never were wild fowl more plentiful in Cornwall than last week, when there were killed, according to careful estimation, about 1,000 snipe, 400 woodcocks, 200 ducks, and a large quantity of plover, teal, and widgeon. It is stated that Mr. William Dargan is suffering from a fevere illness, which creates mnch alarm in the minds of his friends. He has been confined to his bed for some weeks. A man has just lost his life in a paraffin candle manufactory at Ziehlersaorf, in Austria, by falling into a vat of boiling oil. "Vienna," says the Nord, "is the only city in the world where the snow is removed as fast as It fans, but at an enormous expense. All the men ont of work are set to sweep the streets at 60 kreutzers (about 1 fr 80c ) Leprosy is said to have broken out atth government hospital at Bronbeck, in Holland. It was brought from the West Indies by an old soldier, and then became communi- cated to several others of the inmates. A few weeks ago Mr. Kirby, nephew of a farmer of the same namo residing at Welham, Malton, was rlln down by aNorth Eastern train and narrowly escaped being billed. He had only just recovered from the injuries then received. and again got to attend to business. On Wednes- day tu last week his arm became entangled in some of the farm machinery, and was so Injured that amputation was neceisary. The Italian papers state that, owing to high winds I In the Adriatic, Venice has been inundated to an extent whlph hall never been eqna\1ed within the memory of "ny of the inhabitants. The Piazza (If San Mark was so fiooded that boats and gondolas passed over tt, and the whole of the space had the appearance of a vast lake. A memorial to the Board of Trade, praying for the speedy resumption of the storm-warriing signals established by the late Admiral Fitz-oy, was deposited in the Exchange News-room, tiverpool, for signature on Tuesday. On Monday a meeting of clergymen and laymen was held at Tnnbridge Wells, at which memorials were adopted to the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury, bringing unner toelr notice the alarming growth of Romish doctrine within the Established Church, and the introduc- tion in certain churches and chape's of vestments and ob- servances hitherto unknown, and praying that effectual means may be taken .or their suppression. The Great Eastern was successfully laid on a gridiron," on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, on Satur- day. She will be completely renovated and repaired there, and will be turned out more brilliant and useful than ever. Our mania for changing names has penetrated into Russia. The Moscow Gazette of the 7th Inst, announces that the Emperor has permitted a M. Durakofl to change his name to Lavrentlefl. We may add. for the benefit of those of our readers who do not understand Russian, that" durak" ,in that language means "fooL" It is said that a celebrated artist, Mr. Hughes, is about painting a picture of the recent dreadful accident in Regent's Park. A terrible subject Indeed Some one has invented a machine for tolling bells. It is wound up on Saturday nieht, and commences its opera- tions at the exact moment on Sunday. The summons and plaint in the case of De la Poer against Wombwell alleged that the latter had, in the bil- liard-room of the Devonshire Arms Hotel, In Dnngarvan, described the former as a Fenian, and added that all his family had been Fenians. It is understood that the matter has been settled, Major Womhwell having made a sufficient apology. The weekly meeting of the Mansion-house Com- mittee for the relief of the sufferers by the recent colliery I. explosions in the West Riding of Yorkshire and in Stafford- shire was held on Monday, when it was announced that the total amount which had been received and promised up to the present meeting was 20 71CZ. 10!. 6d. The Calcutta Englishman of Dec. 13 says:—" We are informed that his lordship the Bishop of Bombay had a narrow escape from drowning while attempting to get on board the steamer Simla. His foot slipped and the boat partially capsized, leaving his lordship hanging on by a repe to the ship's sides, from which perilous position he was happily rescued by one of the ship's officers." A short time ago a London magistrate fined some students for bell-ringing, and in a few days after he received a large parcel containing door-knockers, bell-pulls, knobs, &C. The" Wandering Minstrels" are going to give a concert under the patronage of the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, with a long list of distinguished names besides, in aid of the builaing fund of the Female School of Art. The concert is to take place at the Queen's Concert Room, Hanover-tquare. London, on Saturday, March 2, and the Hon. Seymour J. G. Egerton will be the conductor. "AGreenock smack went ashore near Tobermory in the late gale. It was laden with lime, which, becoming saturated, fired, and blew up the deck. The hull is a com- plete wreck."—Scotsman. To show the interest taken in the progress of the works at the Paris Exhibition, It is Stated that on Sunday last 3,600 persons paid a franc each for admission. No preparations had been made at the turnstiles for such a number of visitors, and consequently the officials had the greatest difficulty during the afternoon in keeping back the crowd. Mr. Watkin, M.P., will, it is said, commence an action against the originator of the Stock Exchange libel which created so much conversation in commercial circles recently There is, however, some doubt whether there was a publication," and whether the telegram containing the libellous statement was not privileged. The Bishop of London has had the honour of re- ceiving a donation of 25l from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and also a donation of 251, from her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales in aid of the funds of the Metropolitan Visttirg and Relief Association, of which his Lordship Is president. In January last year we had 16 days' rain; February, 15; March, 19; April, 19; May, 10 (less than the average); June, 14, with plenty of cloud; July, 11 days', and much cloud j August, 11; September, 27 rain, with only one fine day free from cloud; October, 7; Nov. 15, with much fog and damp; and December, 22 The total is nearly 200 days out of 365. The American papers, referring to the statistics of the production of the oil regions during the past year, ex- press a hope that science may soen do something to bring petroleum into use for purposes in addition to those ot illumination. The yield of I860 was so far in excess of the demand thnt it Is calculated the present year commenced with a surplus on hand in the various markets of the world of 733 000 barrels of refined, "which will have to be con- sumed before the production of 1867 can be brought for- ward." The number of The Times newspaper containing a leading article advising rurkey to voluntarily give up Candia and thereby settle the Eastern question for a time, was publicly crowned by the people at Athens on the 28th ult. This is the first instance on record of the crowning of a Journal. The Marquis of Westminster, being about to eject 149 poor families on his London estates, is providing houses for them by advancing the necessary capital to the associa- tion for building houses for the poor, for the erection of a suitable block of buildings. The collapse, for the second time, of the Fenian aeltation in Ireland, has now become a fact almost without question and the last lingering trace of apprehension that there would be any immediate or early outbreak of the spirit of disaffection, ought to be removed by the state- ment that Mr. Stephens, the great Organizer who has organized nothing, is again safe in New York. It having been so persistently stated, in spite of every denial, that Mr. Bright was unpopular with his work- people, the workpeople themselves have taken the matter up. Last week they appointed a deputation to wait upon their employer, to ask him whether he would accept an address from them expressive of their confidence and esteem. Mr. Bright consented, and a public meeting is to be held shortly, at which the presentation will be made. A telegram from America informs us that the steamer Fashion has been burned on the Mislsssippi River. 300 livts were lost, mostly Ireedmen. The Victoria Cross has been conferred for the first time on a negro, Private Samu6l Hodge, of the 4th West India Regiment. Wednesday, May 22nd, is the Derby Day. A rich but as yet unknown citizen of London proposes a bronze statue of Shakspeare on the Thames Emhankment fronting Temple Gardens; and offers premiums of 551, 211., snl 101, IOs., for the three best designs. The rage for expensive skirts is gradually diminish- ing, and the acknowledged leaders of fashion are now adopting a more moderate form of crinoline. Some ladles, it may be observed, have totally discarded the jupon, but the effect produced is rather peculiar than graceful, and such a decided change is scarcely likely at present to com- mend itself for general adoption. A clever contrivance, and one which will, no doubt, be very popular with the ladles, has been patented by a gentleman of Plymouth; it Is an instrument for fastening earrings without piercing the ears. On the 1st of January was to be published at San Francisco the first monthly number of the California China Mail and Flying Dragon, printed in the Enghth and Chinese languages. The first Chinese printing and job business was about to be established in San Francisco by means of several complete fonts of Chinese type, and a number of Chinese compositors to be Introduced from China. Inventors never get rewarded. The governor of the city gaol at Manchester, for instance, hit upon a highly ingenious contrivance last year—that of silencing noisy women—and all the return he gets for it is a rap on the knuckles from her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons—not be- cause he silenced the women, but because he did so in an Illegal manner. Hp resorted to the gag—an instrument of torture which we thought had dropped entirely out of use. The Naval MedicalWarrantis still "hanging fire." Their Lordships of the Treasury appear to be the culpri's. In the meantime the service Is stdly In want of young surgeons, and although there will, probaoly during the next wtek, he four or five candidates for admission, there will not, even provided they succeed in passing, makeup for the casualties and the resignations of last quarter. Sir Stephen R. Glynne has returned half a year's rent to those of his tenants who have sustained Josses by the cattle plame, and to those who have lost all their stock twelve months' rent. A very singular accident occurred on Friday in Sir Tatton Sykes' park at Sledmere, on the Yorkshire Wolds. The large pond was frozen over, and snow was upon the ice. One beast got upon the ice and was immersed. The bellowing of the drowning beast attracted the others to the spot, and they one by one followed to the place, and were gradually immersed by the breaking of the Ice, and every one drowned. Artemus Ward was pressed the other day to give his opinion concerning an American paper. It is a very respectable paper," said Artemus. That answer was consi- dered evasive, and he was pinned to give an opinion as to the merits of the writing of some parts of the paper, and yielded thu?:—" Wal, some parts of that paper I du con- sider very well written." Well, what parts are those ? "Wal, the births, marriages, and deaths." At a meeting of the Coal-masters' Association for the district ot Ashton and Duklnfield, held last Friday, after contiderable discussion, it was resolved—"That in consequence of the severity of the weather, and the impos- sibility of the public obtaining an immediate supply of coal, the demand of the men should be acceded to, the masters having determined, unitedly, at an early period, to reuuee the price of coal, and lower the wages of the men to the same level as those in the surrounding districts. Professor Hamilton has presented to the Patholo- gical Society of New York the heart of a patient aged forty- four years. A bullet was imbedded in the apex of the heart, wnich had been lodged there from a musket wound received when he was fourteen years old. Six weeks after the injury he returned to work. He was married in 1845. His last illness was ascribed to cold. The ball was surrounded by atheromatous deposit The heart was dilated, but not hypertrophled."—British Medical Journal All danger of a strike in the Midland iron trade consequent upon the recent reduction of wages Is for the present at an end. The question was provisionally decided at a secret meeliing of the executive held In Dudley, on Thursday evening, and the resolution then come to. not to strike, in the actual state of the labour market, was for- mally adopted by the general meeting of delegates which took place on Saturday at Brlerley-hlil, when the districts represented Included the Midland, Manchester, Preston, and Warrington. Recently at the auction rooms in the Rue Drouot in Paris a memorandum book of the time of Louis XVI. was sold. Oa each of the covers was a miniature, the one of Marie Antoinette, and the other of the Countess d'Artols and her two children. On one of the leaves is written: "Pre- sented to the Co. itessde Caummt, governess of the children of the Count u'Artois, by the Queen Marie Antoinette, n h July, 171'1" inis inscription, it, however, modern. The article was purchased hy M Laudence de Tencln, on behalf of an illustrious ludy, for 3tJ0J. The Nelson Examiner, in reporting the execution of Burgess, Levey, and Kelly, three Thug-like murderers in New Zaaland, says;—"it has been a matter of dispute amongst me ucal authorities whether death in such cases is causeu by strangulation or by distocatien of the spinal column. The necks of the three malefactors were therefore directed by D s. Williams and Cusaok, and it was satis- factorily proved that death ha.. resulted in each case from strangulation, the spinal column being found to be perfect in each instance; thus setting this much-vexed question at rest." Amongst the numerous appeals to the benevolent wblch in this season of distress fill the adverthementcolllmns of The Times, appears the following htart-rendingcase—"To Gentlemen of Fortune.—A youne widow lady appeai* to the generous sympathy of a kiud heart to stretch forth timely aid in saving her home, and prevent more sorrow and desolation. She would give life-long gratitude and strict honour and inugrity in returning that so opportunely lent. —Address &c. Great distress now exists in Liverpool, especially amongst the dock labourers, and 'or tiie las&f^wdaj s bands of hungry men have paraded' the streets, terrifying the t-hop- keepers, who in many of the thoroughfares have kept their st utters up through the day. Hitherto there has been no breach of the peace "nd the men have gmn abundant indications o a pwaceable deposition, and a desire to work If it can only be found for them. The adjourned inquest on the body of Jemima Grief, one of the chiidr*n supposed to have been poisoned, at Shernbourne, and sister to one of the dtceased children, for whose muroer iht> grandmother, Sutan Grief, ha. been committed to take her trial, was held at the Bull, at Shern- bourne, on Thursday, in iaiitteek. It will be remembered that the iw dy of this child, who died about seven years ago, was exhumi u by order of the coroner, and having been analysed by Mr. Sutton, of Norwich, no poison has been dis- covered, and theproceedinga terminated with a verdict died from natural causes. M Captain Huish. well-known in the railwav world from blsZongconnexion with the London and North Western Railway Company, died on Friday in last week. "It may, perhaps, be worth readirg as significant of the extraordinary fall in the vaine nf t> a gardens, that tM Jerii Company, on wlrcb 17.000Z bad hpen p i i, wis sold tS* other day for 10l "-Calcutta Englishman Dec. 22. 24,717 applications have bfen received and I volunteers enrobed in in the royal naval reserve. Her Majesty has forwarded to the Bishop of Londof the sum of 2(Ol., to be distributed riuring this incleuieo* season among some of the different refuses for the homele81 poor in London. Mr. Joseph Guy, whose name is familiar to yonOt people as the author of elementary hooks on history, eeOJ graphy, and various branches of science, died on Saiurdw morning, at the age of eighty-three. Sir James George Dalton Fitzgerald, a descendant of the distinguished loyalist of that name, who lived 111 t#J time of Charles I, died on Saturday in last week. He w»| bom In 1S31, and was educated at the Roman CithoBJ College, at Oscott. He is succeeded in his baronetcy by 0* brother, Lieutenant Gerald Fitzgerald, R.N. The cost of the Italian volunteers during the la*| campaign was 14,228,000 lire, or 3 32 lire a day for eftC" volunteer. The physicians in attendance on the Empresf Charlotte ot Mexico have announced that the health of bet Majesty is restored, and have advi?td change of scene. The San Francisco News Letter heads its hrtM deaths, and marriages, "the cradle, Fltar, and tomb." Mr. Emanuel, the Mayor of Southampton, has appointed by the Lord Chancellor a mnclarrate for tnr borough. Mr. Emanuel is of tbe Jewish persuasion. Mr. Henry Green, the London shipowner, has give" 0,000?. towards the erection of a church at Poplar. On the 10th inst., as Miss M. A. Richards, Bridgford-lane, near Nottingham, was driving th-outti flood near her father's house, she observ o a s:'v> ry ohJeeI under the cart wheels, which, on further ex»!ri,,ft:i<'{! proved to be a large live salmon, forty-five inches lo' g. had been washed out of the Trent by the flood."—Sottinf ham Journal. Mr. Goldwin Smith has been delivering a spirit^ lecture at Manchester on "Pym," the revolutionary chief our Civil Wars. Miss Sellon is about to visit Honolulu, in order CO establish fresh sisterhoods in the Sandwich Island". It has been found that in certain Bohemian 8chifl" there are fifty-one millions of animalcules to the cubic inc" each skeleton weighing no more than the two-hundred' millionth part of a grain. The following is Mr. Disraeli's circular to his suP porters in the House of Commons:—"Downing-i treet. 17, 1867.~Mr,—The meeting of Parliament has been fixed Tuesday, ths Sth of February, when the House of CVnimoflJ will immediately proceed to the consi'ierau. n of bns'n-ss J the highest Importance. I therefore take the liberty earnestly reanestlne your presence on that diy.—T h ve r-p5 honour to remain, Sir, your faithful servant, 13. DISRAELl. A verdict of Wilful Murder" against the LancelJ by the hand of one of whom Ciptain Bartholome w KisJJ was killed at Dungarven on the 28th o' December ta-r, is tlJf judgment which an Irish Coroner's jury passes on tne 110' happy business which sprang out of the Waterford El- cti" It is a remarkable fact, the growth, under Free trf^ principles, of the revenues of countries. Thus, in Kna'aojj it amounts to a million and three-quarters annually; 2 France, to about two mUlions sterling and in Italy, f r year 1868, the increased income from the indirect taxes 1* little short of one million and a half sterling. The Emperor Naooleon has twice visited tW Theatre Francaise to witness the same piny, Mdlle. Dell Telgliere," a drama which treats of the legitimists' deprdcff tlon of Napoleon I. with satirical power. An Irish washerwoman in California, who Kit obliged to take a share In a newly-discovered mine in p*jt ment for services, her employer being unable to P»f*J money, now derives an income of 10,000 dollars a tear 1 t<r iii. The death is announced of Mr. John D'Alton, tM Irish historian and antiquarian, who, for upwards of 11"- a century, had devoted himself to collecting materials frJ the histories of nearly every Irish family of note. A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette says tb»j Eucharistic vestments are to be adopted in several churcB' in Herefordshire at Easter next. The Archbishop of York presided on Monday £ the annual meeting of the Sheffield Church Exft-nsl^ Society. He referred to the tra'e outrages in Shfffield, a^J urged the wealthy people of Sheffield to provide their 1^ fortunate brethren with the means of learning their uuJ* towards each other. Scotland consumes milk at the rate of 124J ounces weekly per adult; Ireland. 135 ounces and Eugl*0^ only 32 ounces. Glycerine is said to be not only most economic^1 but also in every respect most suitable for filling gas mete** to keep them from freezing. It is frequently used in & United States for this purpose. "] The Duchess of Leeds and Lady Herbert of J have, it is said. each given the large sum of lo,oo( l. to t"} Roman Catholic Church, to be applied to the purcaae Priory Park, near Bath, for the use of that religious body- The Bishop of Severs has undertaken to pay faj a the clothing and maintenance of nine soldiers of the t'aPv army It is said that several influential members of t" clerical party in France are about to follow his example. It is worth while repeating that Sydney sovereign' are a legal tender. They were made so hy the Queen'a clamation in February last, authorized by a statute. 2<5|5 and 27th Vict., c. 74. If tendered in discharge of a oe" of 20s. and refused the debt is not afterwards recoverable. The increase of passengers on Irish railway" A 1865 over 1864, was 14 per cent, first class, 9 per ctnt. class, and 10 per cent, third class. There were oi ly miles more of rails open than in 1864, and the averse" creased receipts per mtle was 63l: t'>p figures biiug> average per mile in 1864, 882Z in 1865, 94;;l, A conference, under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury, is to be held at the end of this month, in S* Martin's Hall. London, for the purpose of institunng searching discussion int") tha pre?euC systeoi of Lcsnsin# puhlic-hoU6e. and beersbors. Lord Stratbnairn, during his tour of military iJ1; spection, has addressed the 74th Highlanders on paTa e Limerick, in commendation of the highly Ha isf.ictory cc1J1 dition of the regiment. It was ouly necessa'y, he svd. (II read its records and look at the third colour to kuow boil distinguished it WllS. He whhed more to fpea* of that colour, as at the battle of Assays, »her« io was ~x EnnUnn'i greatest hero first dls'fngu sti'V himself. regiment had. whilst under hh own command In 1r. :11, also in India, been remarkable for exempl-ry 1)' tiavtonr. The Exhibition at Melbourne has been visited b1 93,056 persons in its first month. This nrmher is equal nearly a sixth of the entire population ot Y c'oria. It is announced at Montreal that the Britisjj Government has commuted the sentence of <;eath upon the Fenians in Canada to twenty years' Imp,isoi1u'ent. The address in the House of Commons in answer to the Queen's speech wtU he moved by Loro Holmet,dale, me¡J1' ber tor West Kent, and seconded by Mr. S. R. Graves, tl111 member for Liverpool. In London, a little girl was left with two ckilrlrei) in a room while her mother went to attfcnd a "M"tht-r» Meetlrg" held in the neighbourhood. One of th" ci i'dre'' in trying to get something off the mantelshe'f, s*ood mi f.r.. guard and set her clothes in- a blaze, and she was so nado burnt that she died shortly afterwards. The Journal des Chasseurs gives the following statistics of sport at Compiegne. 111 seventeen fbns iiin guns killed 7,009 head ot game—viz., 174 roe deer, 244 hare* 4,087rabbits 2,271 pheasants, 48red-legeedpartrii g^?, 112 erH partridges, 54 Woodcocks, and 19 various This gm s less than 45 head daily to each gun-scarcely imperii sport. The other evening a shocking scene occurred at < ball at Thurmaston, near Leicester, given by a gentleman" that village to a party of friends. The ball had not low begun when the dress of one of the ladies caught fire throug* being brought into too clo*e contact with the fl Becoming terrified by her situation, she rushed ahuu. cb' room, and ignited the dresses ot three other ladies, being of such light material, were speedily in a blaze. 1". flames were extinguished as quickly as possible, hut n^J before the ladies had been considerably burnt—two of th^ seriously so. Last week, the death was registered of Mr. "'¡ Walker, shoemaker, of Upholiand, near Wigan, at tb patriarchal age of 104 years and ten mouths. A Paris correspondent of a Belgian journal mer1' tions that the Emperor fainted the other day. on his retu^ from a shooting excursion, and that he is ml ject to f .i 111iOjj fits af'er great exertion, but that fcis general health is n° very satisfactory. Some of the French journals state that Qnee^ Victoria will prooably go to Germany in the spiii g, also visit Paris for a few days to see the Exhibi'ion I". Queen's journey will be quite of a private ch»rac if, though she will be the guest of the Emperor and Emm s? t- It is paid that the KIF g of Prussia will also pay f,¡¡e .to;xhtlJ tlon a visit. An old woman of seventy has been committed f°* trial at Drogheda for having arms and a nmnnition coli cealed in the apartment which she occupied in an A man named Blowick, and his wife, who had ontf been married three months, has been suffocated at Balcarr^i by the fumes from a pan of flre which they had placed their bedroom. Prince Arthur has most satisfactorily passed examination for admission into the R >yal Military AoadeB" at Woolwich, and he will enter that ins'it u tlon as a cadet 0 the llth of February. A few days ago a baby was presented at the baP* tismal font of one of the churches of Paris. What are t. be his Christian names?" asked the priest. P erre )¡;i1ø: Child,"answered the father, whose name was Pierre B ioho" the Christian name of R ithschild will be of good lucKf him the youth will grow rich." A meteor of extraordinary gfze was seen at U zest. a few evenings back. The Olaneur of B ir lear.x sUtes r.i1a at about seven in the eveniim three per-ous on trie roa i lIe; tween Prechac and Vlllai draut perceived t.is enormoU' meteor passing over them. »n 1 were terrified at, its fl'r^ aspect. In its transit it dropped numerous Rparks, tracP< of which were found in holes being burnt in the umbreii* which those persons carried. We learn that a party of gentlemen will arrive the steamer Henry Chauncey, from New York, with trie tention of proceeding to San Francisco a d thence by first steamer to Japan and China on i,L-a«ure excurtio"' This Is probably the longest pleasure trlu ever undertaget1, and will be quite a novelty."—Panama Star. It i- stated that Mr. George Potter has commence an action against the Messrs. Blickwoid, f q' aU.ii"* which appeared in the last cumber of Blac.lucood's It has been ascertained that the reply of the Fren<^ Emperor to what is called In Washington "Mr. flve-thonsand-dollar dispatch," was a telegram to the M ,rqltÏø de Montholon In nearly the following words :—" If t". United States insists upon forcing matrers in the wlthd' a^ of our troops, France can but consult her honour in th1 connexion." The correspondent of the frith Times, writing fr°2j London on Monday, says ;—"I have the strange* »e«s >n believe that the statement in yesterday's Sunday that Government will not Introduce a Raform il.ll is without foundation." witbout foundation." The keeper of a wineshop at Patin, near Parif, b^ just committed suicide with charcoal, from grief at thel°'. of a sum of money in business. Fis infant son, who slept '5 the same room, was found dead in his arms. The man h' 0 a short time previously proposed to his wife 10 put an end their lives together, to which she refused to consent. Mrs. Petherbridge, wife of a respectable farmer oj¡, Marldon, finding her husband late on his return from feared that something had happened to Mm She tae manservant to put the horse in the trap, and drove off meet him. She hau not proceeded ahove a couple of when she met her husband on horseback. Tne horses, tftg each other, stopped ru idtnly, «nd Mr. "P- ♦■heron beincr, as it jg supposed, drowsr, and not on the pitched over the head of the horae by his buudeuand'u expected stoppage, and killed on the spot. A letter from St. Petersburghof the 12r.li sayR "T e Davenport Brothers, with t ieirc rus and guitar aod their cupboard, are drafts crowi'n ot spectators to t1;e gresthaiiot ine Arlisiss' C-ub ",ree tn>es a week T ej will prohably become a fash'o abie nttr >ctn>n, as uiey bad the honour of going tnroueh t!)..Jr performances "efor8 the Imperialfam'ly. Alter i avinc b'en ro»a> lv hsn iied so many places they appear to Lave become wue»*, t.n^y s*7 nothing about spirits, but perforin I heir ci-v r 'ric. f, 11"' any other conjurers, and everyone admires tneir Among the skaters on the reserved Jake in the de Boulogne on Sunday, about twenty l idies were rem .>k the Princes* de Mett-rnich being of the numf: i'D Princess Achille and Lucien il urat, thu Mm quit: de OU*' Prince J. Troubeskoi, the Marquis de Stint M r», ]j a^.i d Pourtales, and M. des V.ira' ne« *ere also present. Oil tW? prev ous day the PrinceImperia ..nive t a' wo o'clock, a"? was shortly afterwards followed by the Hoipr. s', i,nu about three by the Emperor. His Majesty remained i n about three by the Emperor. His Majesty remained i n ic until half-past four, the public k e ar, a reset ct^ tii i:\une. The Empress, on havii.. t J gi.u id off, accompanied by M. and Mdlle. iuu< r,