The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

A BAMBLEB'S JOTTINGS. ♦— THE aristocracy are all out of town, and the pro- fessional and mercantile men are, for the most part, taking their holiday in the country. At least, if "Paterfamilias" cannot leave his business for the whole week, he has provided apartments for his family at the sea-side or in some rural district, and visits them occasionally, as opportunity offers. This is, therefore, the blank time of. the year in London. There is only one class of persons who assemble in larger numbers at this period than at any other, and that is the betting fraternity. We will endeavour to give a slight sketch of the vari- ous gradations connected with horse-racing, and will first take The Aristocratic Racing Man. Our nobility are, for the most part, brought up to respect the horse and to study his various cha- racteristics. The qualities of a horse is one of the points of daily conversation, and a challenge is frequently given and accepted at an after-dinner chat. The first steeple-chase is said thus to have originated:—When two guests at a noble table had each spoken of the superior merits of his own animal, they at once rose from dessert, mounted their horses, and, seeing the steeple I of a church at a distance, made this the goal. They started from the nobleman's lawn, and by the light of the moon, over hedge and ditch, went the two sportsmen, making the nearest cut to the church, which was distant about four miles. There was no umpire to declare the winner; but as one herse came in a field in advance of the other, there could be no dispute; Born and bred to regard the horse as superior to all animals except man, no wonder that they take an interest in the turf. Many have breed- ing establishments for thoroughbreds; even the Queen herself is known to possess a very large one, and the colts and fillies from the Royal j stud often fetch large prices, and are bought for racing purposes. A special interest is always felt for those horses which have been reared under the eye of this or that nobleman; and a Royal Hunt Cup or a Queen's Vase is ] still considered the finest ornament to a great person's side-board. Amongst noble lords ide connected with the turf we may mention the present Premier, and Earl Derby; these, with many others of like stamp have always been regarded as 1 the soul of honour; yet horse-racing has been one of their hobbies; and who can deny them the privi- J} lege of following the bent of their inclination ? The 1 Earl of Glasgow, one of the oldest noblemen con- j nected with the turf, has sometimes had as many as forty horses in training at once. He is exceed- 1 ingly fond of matches, and will frequently, at a Newmarket meeting, make up a dozen matches, varying from < £ 1,000 to < £ 500 each. At one time he scarcely won one match out of six, and it was j the custom invariably to bet against him. Un- fortunate Lord Glasgow" was the general exclama- tion. This reaching his lordship's ears upon one j occasion, he said, What do you mean by calling me unfortunate, with .£190,000 a-year ? If I choose 1 to spend < £ 20,000 a-year upon horse-racing, what is ] that to any one ?" However, of late years this veteran sportsman has taken the advice of Admiral J ROILc) before he made any match, and has latterly] been as successful as he was before unfortunate. < To be a member of the Jockey Club is the great end and aim of the sporting nobleman; and this is as difficult to obtain as a seat in Parliament, or a place among the members of an exclusive j West-end club. The person nominated must be 1 well introduced, and has then to abide by the ballot, when one black ball will exclude him. We 1 need not say that the rules and regulations for horse-racing are framed by the Jockey Club, and that everything is there conducted in the most I honourable manner. 1 Tattersalls' is the great rendezvous of that section of the aristocracy who take an interest in betting; and here they meet with the pro- fessional bookmakers. It is here that younger < members of the aristocracy and the squire- archy, who have just come into possession of j wealth, and City men, who ought to know better, often seek to increase their fortunes by back- ing their own opinion of the merits of this or that horse—a course of proceeding which not unfre- quently brings about consequences the reverse of what they had expected. It is a thousand pities quently brings about consequences the reverse of what they had expected. It is a thousand pities that racing is encumbered and disgraced' by betting men as it is. The princes of the turf- men like Lord Zetland and Lord Fitzwilliam -mak e it a rule never to bet; but their habits I are unfortunately the exception, and not the rule. Members of Tattersalls' used to meet at what was termed the Corner," because the house of the celebrated auctioneers was at the corner of Hyde-park. The lease of the premises, however, having expired, the Messrs. Tattersalls have erected a splendid building in Regent's-park, where the members meet on Mondays and Thursdays weekly, and previous to any great event coming off, upon such other days as they may appoint. It is an amusing sight, for once, to see gentlemen betters, book in hand, going round to the principal book-makers asking, What can you lay me against General Peel for the Leger ?" Two to one," might be the reply, "I-will take five monkeys to two," might be returned." Done," the book-maker may respond; and in one line the bet is booked, each looking at the other's memo- randum. Perhaps some one with less means will follow up by taking five ponies to two. For the I benefit of the uninitiated we may say that in sport- ing parlance a monkey is.£50?, a century is £ 100, a pony £ 25, a tenner .£10, a flimsy = £ 5, a sov. or a quid £ 1. We will next describe the manners and customs of The Professional Racing Man. Amongst this class are many broken-down gen- tlemen who have lost the greater part of the wealth they formerly possessed by gambling beyond their means. They thus turn to making books-that is, laying against horses; and to do this effectually they make horse racing the one great end and aim of their life. Their minds become entirely absorbed in it, they can think of nothing else, and are quite surprised that any other subject can be mooted. Everything they do or say is "horsy;" their conversation is in- variably upon what was done at the last meeting, the next handicap, or the Sillinger "—alias the St. Leger. Their dress is decidedly "horsy"— tight pantaloons, a sporting cut coat; and their jewellery bears the representation of a horse's head, a horse-shoe, a bridle, a bit, or even a saddle. A friend of ours was once thrown amongst some professional racing men, and he was looked upon as a perfect idiot .because he did not know when Goodwood was run and what horse won it. A Conservative gentleman was boldly taking the part of General Peel wham he had heard called a "duffer;" but was roused to his senses by hearing that the horse could have been beaten a length further for the Derby if the rider of Blair Athol had perse- vered. A very polite gentleman, on his way to Worthing, during the Goodwood week, asked his companions in a first-class carriage if they had seen Enoch Arden," by Tennyson, and was about to offer them the book, when the two gentlemen replied, "What was his dam? Never heard of him." "Did you never hear of the Poet Laureate ? said the former gentleman, amazed. I have seen the Poet run," was the reply; "I suppose you mean him, and I think him about the worst horse I ever saw run." The polite gentle- man quietly evaporated, and sought a seat in another carriage. It is.said to require as good a head, and to take as much study to make a good book-maker for horse-racing purposes as for the highest professional career. We look with wonder sometimes upon a man springing up as a mush- room out of the ground, and in a few short months entrusted with tens of thousands of pounds. Who has not heard of the carpenter who commenced with the proceeds of the sale of his tools, became a leviathan book-maker, and settled down in a few years with a fortune of < £ 100,000 ? But then it was said he had a peculiar aptitude for the busi- ness. The principle lies in betting against every horse in the race, and whichever comes in first, the bookmaker is a winner. Thus, if there are fifteen horses in a race, a book-maker may lay ten to one against each, and gain a third of the money after paying the winner. But the public will not back every horse, and thus a lesser price is given against the favourites, and the book-maker takes his chance to win on the outsider. But as in many walks of life we hear of only the successful persons, while the others are lost to our view, so in horse-racing: to one that succeeds, twenty at least signally fail, and come to poverty, disgrace, and ruin. AnothersetofmenwhohauntTattersalls' arewhat are termed betting agents, who perhaps scarcely speculate themselves at all, but put the money on for others, receiving a commission for doing so. These are men of known integrity, whose word would be taken for very heavy sums; and they are entrusted with money to invest, because if the owner or the trainer were themselves to do so, they would receive less odds. These men are much more numerous than is supposed, and make certain of their obligations being fulfilled before the event comes off. It is for their benefit that a com- paring day" is fixed upon before any great meeting. They point out to their employers upon these days what they stand to win upon certain horses, and how much they will be liable for should they lose. Perhaps they have been able to get the long odds against a horse which has since become a favourite, and they ask their employer if he will "hedge;" that is, supposing he has taken < £ 2,000 to < £ 50 about something which is then quoted at 10 to 1, or even 5 to 1, as the case might be, he would recommend that the person so favoured should lay the quoted odds-say, .£500 to < £ 50, or .£250 to < £ 50—thus saving himself, and standing so much to nothing. Regular business- like men are these, and obtain handsome incomes without risk; but they are peculiar in their man- ners. Nothing will induce them to divulge for whom they invest the money, or any stable secrets they may be entrusted with. So. far, we have spoken of honourable men, whose word is their bond, and who prefer paying a debt of honour to p 11 any legal claim; and now we must come to Little Men and Outsiders. Persons who have not been behind the scenes can scarcely understand to what an extent gam- bling in horse racing is carried on in London. The Legislature some few years ago passed an Act to prevent this, and they declared it illegal for any betting to take place within any building; and the taking of money for such purposes was made punishable by fine. Our readers will remember how many cases were brought before the magistrates in London when the Act was first passed, and the heavy penalties inflicted; but it was found that the Act did not provide for bets made without a building, consequently Regent's-park became a betting ren- dezvous, and crowds assembled daily in the open air. Book-makers—some being creditable ones- assembled, and took the half-crowns of the appren- tice boy, the crowns of the working mechanic, the half-sovereigns and sovereigns of the well-to-do tradesman, and the five-pound notes of men who had more money than brains. In the centre of London, Bride-lane was also selected as a spot where money could be taken; but the crowd became so great that the authorities interfered, and. policemen were placed there to order every one who stopped the thoroughfare to "pass on." The book-makers persisted in walking up and down till the whole thing was declared a nuisance, and the local officials put an end to it. Other spots were, however, selected. "The ruins," a space of ground near the Underground Railway- so called from being the site where numerous houses were condemned and pulled down—now affords small betting men the chances they long sought. Here amotley group maybeseen every race day, and shabby-looking book-makers take to them- selves a stand, composed of a couple of boards for their feet to rest upon. They are attended by an assistant, who carries a frame withlists pinned upon it, or a book with printed betting lists enclosed, tell- ing the prices laid against each horse. The book- maker, lest any one should not understand him, hallos out, "I'll lay agen anything in these ere races for a win, or one, two, three. What's it to be? Here's, long odds agen anything." We are told that there are even a few of these who pay if the horse wins, because they find that honesty is the best policy: that is to say, if they can find it a paying game, it is better to pay and keep their position, and daily earn money, than run away with a lot at once. John Snooks or Bob Styles invest their 2s. 6d. or 5s., and receive a card, with name and address of the book-maker, and a certain number which has reference to the entry in his book; and, in the majority of instances, if the horse wins, and the card is presented the following day, the amount won is paid; but there are others upon this ground who try it on for once and then bolt. A similar scene is enacted daily in a small street at the back of Meux's brewery, and other places: but enough has been said to show how the law is evaded. We must now add, from quiet observation, our own practical view of the matter, which is, that the encouragement of gambling of this kind produces the greatest misery amongst the poorer classes. The desire to be suddenly rich is very pre- valent in London. A hard-working mechanic, who previously has been content on his small earnings, has heard of an exceptional case, where a poor man has gained some large amount by a small investment, and he wonders why he cannot do the same. He perhaps sees the very man who has won the large stake, who tells him of another certainty in which he is going to invest. The poor mechanic, instead of taking home to his wife his weekly earnings, gambles with it, loses, and brings misery and wretchedness to his family. A gambling spirit has taken possession of him, and he determines to recover what he has lost: he goes to the pawnbroker, pledges everything he pos- sesses, loses again, and is driven to helpless despair. Instances are not rare of this kind of thing, and further instances are not rare where misguided youths have made use of their masters' money to invest in what they have been told is a certainty. They borrow the means from their masters' money; having lost once they try it again, calming conscience by promising themselves that they will refund all when they win; the time never comes, and the youth of previous good character becomes an occupant of the gaol. But worse than all we have described are a lot of men who live upon this system without the slightest idea of paying, should they lose we mean The Welshers. This is a name given to a class of persons who visit race-courses in the country and taverns in London, tempting the unwary to invest their money, and dividing the spoil amongst their fellows. It is persons of this kind that we would especially guarel countrymen against. They are dangerous persons to be found in company with, yet they frequent the most respectable taverns, and form themselves into a clique. A countryman—ay, and even a Londoner—might fall in with what he would consider a gentlemanly man. After some I conversation, racing will be brought up, and the welsher will say he knows how to gain .£20, and quietly seduces the countryman into an opinion that a certain horse must win, and, according to the length of purse, persuades him into a willing- ness to invest .£1 or £ 5. He will then say that a friend of his of high standing will lay more than any one else, and he will take his victim to another tavern, where his colleague is found. The money is invested, and, no matter whether the horse wins or loses, the victim is swindled, and the money divided amongst the clique. This goes on to a greater extent in London than can readily be credited, and the law appears powerless to prevent the unprincipled vagabonds carrying on their system of swindling. This is one of the classes who are denominated as living by their wits. Space will not permit us to enter upon the numerous touts" that swarm round sporting houses, or the "tipsters," the "hangers-on," &c. Perhaps they are too contemptible to give any attention to. We would, however, observe, that if any of our readers fall in with such characters, we would advise them to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

ALARMING FIRE AT A PENITENTIARY. About twenty minutes to five o'clock on Friday morning information was conveyed to Oliver-street station that fire had broken out in The Home," otherwise called the Penitentiary, 52, Mason-street, Edge-hill, Liverpool. A reel was immediately dis- patched from that station, and information was sent to the other offices. An engine was at once forwarded from Hatton-garden station under the command of Superintendent Hewitt; the West of England engine, under the charge of Mr. Barrett, was also in atten- dance; and engines were likewise sent from Brownlow- hill and Prescot-street, and a reel from Seel-street. By the time that the engines arrived at the spot the flames had spread over the whole of the building, and very great anxiety was felt for the safety of the in- mates, who, besides Mrs. Wild, the respected matron, numbered about fifty. The women were, of course, the first who were removed from the burning building, and, through the kindness of a gentleman whose humanity and greatnes-s of heart are well-known and appreciated by all who have the slightest acquaintance with him, they were speedily taken to a place of safety. Major Melly attended'at the scene of conflagration early in the morning, and at once placed the store- 1 house of the 4th Liverpool Artillery Volunteers, which adjoins the penitentiary, at the disposal of Dr. White, j secretary. Messrs. Jeffrey, Morrish, and Co. have j undertaken to send up, free of charge, a number of beds, bedding, and other articles to meet the require- ] ments of the fifty poor women who have been thus sud- denly deprived of a home. In the meantime the fire 3 had progressed to such an extent, in consequence of the very high wind which prevailed, that it was at i once seen to be hopeless to attempt to preserve almost any part of the premises. Indeed, the building was J almost completely gutted before the engines reached the spot, and the efforbs of the firemen were therefore directed chiefly towards the preservation of the sur- rounding property. There being a very good supply I of water, they were eminently successful in doing so, and fortunately a large amount of property, of con- siderable value, was saved from the inevitable destruc- tion which must have ensued had not the engines arrived at the time they did. The building is entirely destroyed, and only a very few trifling articles of fur- niture have been saved. It is also in such a dangerous state that a large number of policemen are required to prevent the crowds of people who are inclined to con- gregate in the vicinity, from approaching in too close proximity, as portions of the structure are falling every now and then. The origin of the fire is a matter of doubt, but it is thought that the stove in the Laundry had been overheated, and that a considerable collection of clothes, which was placed there for the purpose of being dried, had in consequence become j ignited. The home was an asylum for fallen females, < and was instituted after two midnight meetings had been held, which were attended respectively by 175 and 300 unfortunate women. It was opened in 1860, and has been attended with considerable success since the benevolent object for which it was started took a practical shape. The building was of an irregular character, and it is understood that it will require upwards of < £ 2,000 to replace it.

THE GREAT FIRES ON TEE YORK- SRlBE WOLDS. It will be remembered that during last winter a succession of great incendiary fires took place on the Yorkshire Wolds, by which a vast amount of property was destroyed, and the whole district placed in a state of the utmost alarm. Since the commencement of harvest, certain suspiciously regarded fires have this year taken place, and it is the opinion of the police that the end of the stack-burning mania has not yet arrived. For the Wold fires of last winter two men, named John Sherwood (" Snaffling Jack ") and Henry Streets ("Sweep Harry") were convicted at the York Assizes, and are now undergoing penal punishment. Another man, named George Stother, (alais Lurcher Slenderman), was arrested in March last, but the case was not proved satisfactorily to the Driffield Bench, who discharged the prisoner, after a twenty days' remand, to appear when called upon. Of this man nothing has been heard till Thursday last, when he was arrested at Eiliington, near Malton, where he had threatened to set all the Wolds on fire again. On Saturday George Stother was taken before the Malton bench, charged with being a rogue and a vagabond, and also with a breach of the peace. The evidence of Police-constable Tripp was to the effect that on Thursday night he found the prisoner riotous and drunk at the inn at Rillington. He asked the land- lord to be allowed to sleep, but he replied he could not let him do so. Prisoner then,said the landlord, Mr. Thomas, did not care what became of him, and got excited, and commenced talking about the Wolds, and what an illumination there would be this" back-end" (autumn). It should be worse, he said, than last winter. Prisoner asked Mr. Thomas if he was insured, and told him not to be surprised if his place was all in flames before morning. The constable watched the man. and afterwards suddenly lost sight of him, but found him about three o'clock lying in a stable belong- ing to a Mr. Dale, of Eiliington. He was then taken into custody, and seemed fresh, but not really drunk. He struggled, hard before the handcuffs could be got on, and was so violent that his legs had to be tied and his hands fastened behind. The raw woke up the whole village. Mr. Thomas, the landlord, who was greatly alarmed at the threats of Slenderman, assisted in conveying the man to the Norton lock-up. On the way he said he should go to Mr. Thomas's father's at Gallowgap and set the old —— in flames. He should also go to Mr. Thorpe's, of Aldro', Mr. Finder's, of Linton, and Mr. Tipling's, of Eiliington (all large farms), and they should all be in flames. Prisoner said he had no question to ask, but he was drunk and had no reecollection of what the constable had stated. Mr. Thomas, landlord of the Rillington Inn, said the man in custody had been in and-out of his house for two days. He had had drink, but did not know how much. He was, not very drunk. Beoause witness could not allow him to sleep he said he would settle" him before morning. Witness was prepared to swear that the prisoner would do him some harm. Was afraid he would fire the place. As witness helped to convev the prisoner to Norton station he threatened to settle with him when he came out. He would see a d- good blaze, and it should be done. The Wolds should blaze like h— flames. Slenderman here alleged that the landlord knocked him down, and that made him so rough. The Bench committed the prisoner to gaol for two calendar months as a rogue and vagabond, and at that time he was to enter into recognisances of .£20, with two sureties in a like amount, to keep the peace for six months, or in default to go to gaol for six months more. Thus, Lurcher Slenderman" is secured from ranging the Wolds this winter. +

Sale of the Great Bed of Ware.-The great bed of Ware was, sold by auction by Mr. E. Jackson, at the Saracen's Head Inn, Ware, on Tuesday. The sale took place in the large, aSsembly room in the inn- yard, which was densely thronged. There was, how- ever, no competition. Mr. H. Willmott, of the Rail- way Tavern, Hertford, made a bid of 100 guineas, and that was the only one, if we except a merely nominal I bid nf =810 previously made. It is stated that the bed was bought on commission for Mr. Charles Dickens.

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE IN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE. Though the questions at issue between the colliers and their masters were fully discussed at the confe- rence of delegates appointed by the men and the masters, held on Saturday week, at the Star Hotel, Brieriey-hill, there is as yet no appearance of the strike coming to a termination. During the-past week the breach seems to have been, if anything, widened, and each party appears more than ever determined not to give way to the requisitions of the other. The colliers conceive that the; object of the masters is quite as much to/re^ak. tip ain! destroy their union as to re- duce their wages and this belief increases in no small degree the obstinacy of their opposition to the reduc- tion. Though iron has fallen £ 1 per ton in price, the ironmasters have not been able to bring about a cor- responding reduction in the wages of the forgemen: and as that class of workmen have hitherto, under similar circumstances, always had their wages reduced before any reduction took place in the colliers', the latter find in that fact an additional argument for not accepting the" drop of sixpence a day proposed to them. Most of the ironmasters are also coalmasters, and were they to accede to the colliers'demands it is probable that they would at once be confronted by a strike of their blast furnace men, whom they, after a strike of three or four weeks, recently obliged to accept a reduction. At the conference above alluded to the masters stated that as much coal as was necessary for carrying on their ironworks could be had from other districts nearly as cheap as they could have it in their own district. There are, no doubt, large quantities of coal coming into the district west of Dudley, to which the strike has hitnerto been principally confined; but several of the large ironworks are only partially at work in con- sequence of the want of fuel. The knowledge that the wants of the district have been in a great measure supplied from a distance determined the leaders of the jolliers to endeavour to extend the strike. To some extent they have been successful. At the latter end )f the week two mass meetings, at which the average attendance would be about 6,000, were held in the Fipton and Deepfields districts on the other side of Dudley, and at these meetings the colliers at work in she two districts named agreed to come out and oin the strike. It was also resolved that a number )f men should go to the village of Cannock, from vllich the supply of coal for the west of Dudley district has been hitherto principally brought, and mdeavour to persuade the colliers at work there ;0 co-operate with their fellows in their resistance iO the proposed reduction. It is considered ex- tremely probable that the Cannock men will fraternise vith them and join the strike. During the week a jolliery in the neighbourhood of Brierley-hill, at which ihewages have never been lowered, hasbeen brought to a stand by the men having been called out. In some places arge bodies of men on strike have assembled for the pur- pose of overawing men who have gone to work on the nasters' terms. In one or two instances these assemb- les have proceeded to evert acts of intimidation and violence, At the focus of the strike, however, large reinforcements have been sent to the local police force, md as a rule, wherever there have been such assemb- violence, At the focus of the strike, however, large reinforcements have been sent to the local police force, md as a rule, wherever there have been such assemb- les, a sufficient body of police has been present to pra- I rent any serious breach of the peace. The strike haS low lasted ten weeks, and as may be supposed the col- ters are reduced to great poverty. The funds of the Onion were long ago exhausted. Tradesmen and trade societies contribute weekly to a kind of "strike fund jut all that is got from these sources does not average ibove Is. 6d. or 2s. per week for each man. The con- sequence is that the district swarms with beggars; nany of the wives and families of the men, and the nen themselves, are literally starving; and many of jhe small tradesmen, should the strike continue much .onger, are likely to be entirely ruined.

M. FAZY AND THE RIOTS IN GENEVA, M. James Fazy having been summoned before the Federal examining magistrate of Geneva to be interro- gated, has addressed the following letter to that functionary;- Sir,-You have summoned me to be examined in an inquiry which has been opened on the subject of the events of.the 22nd ult. I am not aware whether it is as a witness or on personal facts that you have wished to interrogate me. If it is on the latter, I will tell you that, although I consider the taking up of arms at St. Gervais fully justified by what had taken place at the Hotel-de-Ville, I have not to answer for it, as I had nothing to do in the affair. I was at home at half-past two, when a message arrived from the Nation Suisse begging- me to call at the office, and I went there. As is the case at the office of every journal, particularly at the moment of im- portant events, a number of persons came in. All were alarmed at what was going on at the Hotel-de-Ville, whence the worst accounts were every moment being received as to the pressure which the opposite party exercised on the Council of State by keeping it prisoner. Every one agreed that a means must be found of delivering it, but not a word was said by me or by any one in my presence of takulg up arms. The number of visitors soon diminished, and we re- mained with only the editorial staff, and the persons em- ployed in the printing office. We had a number composed which can attest our ignorance of what was 41 to take place. The office of the journal is situated in the Eastern Pavilion of the Entrepot, and the windows loot into the Bue Pecolat. From them neither the Bue du Mont Blanc nor the Rue Chantepoulet can be seen. We were there- fore without any connection with those streets where the events took place, and we only know of them by the noise of the firing. We thought it came from La Ficelle, and we closed our doors. None of us were aware that the citizens of the faubourg had gone to procure arms at the Arsenaldu Grand Pre. Some time after the firing, which took place at half-past four, had ceasecl, I left to go to the Theatre des Varietes, which is opposite, and where I found the unfortunate Jacob, who had been wounded before the firing began by the band of La Ficelle. I was so little ac- quainted with passing events, that I thought that La Ficelle had possession of the neighbouring street, and I took pre- cautions to reach my house, Ci"OssÍ1lg to the theatre and the interior of the square. I was much surprised on getting home to find an armed post there and a cannon planted on the hric1gl;). Some armed citizens requested me to allow them to enter my house, but I refused. From that moment I did not again go out until the following day, when I was several times threatened and insulted by persons belonging to the party opposed to me. I consider as false any deposition which is in contradiction to what I have just had the honour to state to you. I think, sir, you will receive these, expla- nations as sufficient as far as 1 am concerned. I have the honour to salute you with the consideration which is youi due. JAMES FAZY.

A SELF-ACCUSED ACCOMPLICE OF MULLER. At the Worship-street police-court, on Wednesday, George Augustus King, about five feet nine or ten inches in height, with straight red whiskers, wiry frame, and of shabby-genteel appearance, calling him- self a publisher, living at Bow, was brought before Mr. Cuthbert Ellison by Mr. Inspector Honey, of the K division, charged upon his own confession with being concerned in the murder of Mr. Briggs. Mr. Abbott attended for the prosecution, which was instituted by Mr. George Buckley, landlord of the Eanelagh Arms Tavern, Old Ford, who stated—Last night, about eleven o'clock, I was in the bar talking to my customers, and expressing the extreme gratifica- tion I felt at the capture of Muller with the extra evidence against him, when the prisoner, who was present in front of the bar, suddenly remarked, I could wager a fortune, if I had it, that there were two men congregated, in it." A gentleman who was pre- sent turned round, and said, You ought not to say such things if you don't know them for facts." Pri- soner turned towards him, and replied, "I don't care; now Muller is caught I'm sure to be apprehended. Muller is coming across the Channel in irons, but I 0 can walk out of these doors at liberty." Another per- son remarked—"I am really astonished at your saying this; if a constable was within hearing he would ap- prehend you." I then called prisoner into the tap- room. Mr. Safford (clerk): Was he sober? Witness No; he was not quite sober. Evidence resumed: He took my hand, burst into tears and sobbed out, I wish to have fifty pounds weight taken off my shoulders." I asked, What is the matter with you ?" He then said, Muller and I were hard up: we wanted money, and money we would have. It (the murder) was contemplated three days before it took place. We went to Fenchurch-street, waited there until Mr. Briggs arrived, and took two first-class tickets to Hackney-wick. We did not com- mence our operations. until we had just left Bow Station. I then struck him twice: Muller struck him three times. Muller opened the_ door and laid hold of his body; I lifted him up by his legs and threw him out. I got out at Hackney-wick station, and ran to the Mitford Castle, went into the parlour and heard the fireman of an engine halloo out that some person was run over on the line. I went to assist; helped to carry the man into the public-house, and bathed his temples." Mr. Inspector Honey said that since prisoner had been apprehended he bad maSa inqoisaas at the Mit- ford Castle, and learnt that the prisoner was there two hours previous to the time of the murder. Mr. SafFord: Is the Mitford Castle near the spot where the body of Mr. Briggs was discovered ? Mr. Buckley It is. Mr. Stafford: Is is scarcely evidence, you not being present at the time; but for information, say was the body carried into the house? Mr. Buckley: It was. Permit me to say that on hearing such an extraordinary statement from the prisoner, I conceived it my duty to givs him in charge, that the-police might investigate the matter. Mr. Ellison: Prisoner, at this stage of the proceed- ings I will not call upon you to say anything. I think the matter of such grave importance that opportunity for further and searching investigation should be given. If you have made this statement simply through a drunken freak, you cannot complain at the position in which you are placed. I remand you until this day week. Prisoner was then removed to the eells, where he complained to Bendall, the gaoler, of being kept in prison on such a charge, asserting that he should not have made the statement unless when drunk. A concourse of persons assembled opposite the doors of the court upon the news of Muller's accessory hav- ing been apprehended, and as he left he was greeted with shouts and cries of Muller

THE RIOTS IN ~B ELF A S T. The deputation of Belfast gentlemen who waited on the Irish Government a few days ago respecting the late riots, presented the following recommendations at the interview with the Under-Secretary That the garrison should consist at least of one regiment of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, the local police force being composed of too few men, and arranged on far too limited a scale for the requirements of the town. We recom- mend-" That the municipal police force be reconstituted on the plan or model of the London or Dublin police force, or on any plan, if possible, more effective; that the said muni- cipal police force consist of four hundred men, and that the management and regulation of the said force be placed under a commissioner appointed by Government. That there be four police-stations placed in the following different parts of Belfast:—No. 1, in Police-square; No. 2, in the old barracks in Barrack-street, or Divis- street; No. 3, top of North-street, corner of Old Lodge-road; No. 4, about the middle of York- street. That all the special constables sworn in for the suppression of the late riots be now noticed to return their batons, according to the act of Parliament in that behalf made and provided. We further recommend that such individuals in Belfast as are willing to serve on any future occasion when called upon should give or send in their names to Mr. Kennedy, petty sessions' clerk, Howard- street, in order that they may be registered as willing to serve in the office of special constables when called upon. We further recommend that the attention of Government be respectfully called to the state of the law in regard to party processions in Ireland, with the view of suppressing and putting a stop to processions of whatever kind partak- ing, or which can be construed or considered to partake, of a party character, and that the same be generally applied and put in force in all parts of Ireland. It is said that Government is about to order a com- mission of inquiry into the subject.

Spirits in Passengers' Baggage.—By a re- cently issued regulation of the Commissioners of e y Customs, their officers, throughout the Uniced King- dom, are instructed not to charge with duty any quantity not exceeding a reputed quart bottle of drinkable spirits, of any strength, when found in the baggage of passengers arriving from abroad. The great reduction which has taken place in the rate of duty since the former ragulation was promulgated forty-four years ago—under which any quantity ex- r ceeding a pint was changeable—is assigned as a justification of the relaxed role.