Weekly Mail

DEATH OF MR. SbRJEANT PARRY. Mr. Serjeant Parry died suddenly on Saturday u.iLitg, »t his residence, Holland Park, near London, of congestion of the lungs. His wife died on tie preuioua Friday of the same disaaae. The deceased gentleman was called to the bar eariy in life, and had an exceptionally fine bearing, manner, and delivery.

THE MERTHYR AND BRECO.N RAILWAY. In the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Monday (before Mr. Justice Fry), the oaae of Woodruff y. the Merthyr and Breoon Railway Company *aB in the day's list of trials, but at the sitting of the court his lordship was informed that the parties had come to terms, the defendants submitting to an injunction.

¡ OPENING OF THE ALBERT I INSTITUTE AT WINDSOR. I Windsor was on Saturday morning en fote, in anticipation of the opening of the Albert Institute by the Prince of. Wales. The principal streets weie decorated with the nagB of *A nations, and the town-h" was almost hidden beneath its decorations. The lecture-hall, where the cere- it;ony took place, had been tastefully decorated, a grand emblematic device showing the titles of the Prince of Wales, draping a wall near the pUt. form where the address was presented. The Prince iIt Wales and Prince Christian and suite left; Cumberland Lodge in two open carriages, the outriders and postilions being in plain li feiy,and drove through the park to the institute, whi;h w as reached at noon. The Prince of Walas W-18 y the committee of the institute and r* iILIRIs, and a guard cf honour of the » vviuatnere, with a saai. OA r." Royal ror-F, c-rter;rg tle lecture hall, which was I < tfi, & < h i et-vg 4" God Bless the P. of V. «}• An ar:Jr<?rs was tber rear by rr. j huso- is-} Pecr»tarj, -o *h;cb ths Prrco «;!ied. A C £ J feta, 1 y Sir Gsorg- It Key, waa nfX" 118') Pecr»tarj, -o *h;cb ths Prrco A en feta, 1 y Sir Gsorg- It Key, waa nfX" t afur which prnjer x a 4 offered her tha B c f Oxf. td 9 r, J th c, Prircc decked th? I u stitnte rpej;- The cerem< nj concluded with tb* eit jit g of thu National Anthem. A?ier io- frffctij g the building thi Prince iefc Wiadjor for London.

THE TRANSVAAL. A special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Cape lown, telegraphing under date of Jan. 10, saysPretoriuB, ex-Preeident of the Tracs- vaal, has been arrested by Sir Garnet Wolseley. This step has caused a profound sensation. Other arrests are contemplated. Armed Boers interrupt eommunioations, and a collision is possible at any moment. The Attorney General haa resigned.

APPOINTMENT OF MAGIS- TRATES' CLERK AT NEWPORT. On Monday afternoon the borough justices of Newpcrt met in the council chamber to appoint a successor to Mr. C. B. Fox, their late clerk. There was a good attendance. It was a private meeting, but we are informed that Mr. Thomas Ksssick, who had acted as Mr. Fox's deputy for 30 years, was unanimously appointed, and at the same salary, viz., JE600 per annum, as Mr. Fox. There were two or three candidates besides, including Mr. G. Batchelor and Mr. A. J. David.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE PRISONS ACT. The attention of the Home Secretary h3 been called to the eubject of the unrestricted associa- tion of prisoners confined for want of sureties in the county prison at Strangeways, Manchester, which, it is considered, is an evil. Mr. Cross, in reply, said he agreed with his correspondent (a magistrate of the Salford hundred) that changes in the law in reference to prison discipline were nf cessary, ard he proposed to introduce a Bill to effect these el angea next session.

AUSTRI A AND SERVIA. A Berlin correspondent of the Standard, tele- graphing on Sunday Light. says :-Baron ii^y- neile's emphatic statement yesterday to the Committee of Hungarian Delegates that Austria was determined to hold cervia to a prompt and strict fulfilment of tha obligations (in relation to raUway junctions and a treaty of commerce) which were undertaken by the convantior. with Count Andratsy of July 8, 1878, haa produced a favourable impression in this capital. It i, fait that the time haa arrived for the small Balian States to show something of the same; za.¡ in carrying cut their engagements as thay have d ine in reilis^cg the advantages and rights accorded by the Berlin Treaty.

PIE AND SAUSAGE MANU- FACTUBE&S FINED £200. Messrs. Yiccara Collier and William Dunmore, of Leicester, pie makers and sausage manufao- turera, were charged with being in possession of 8* cwt. cf beef unlit for human consumption. Mr. Story, the town-clerk, prosecuted, and Mr. E. Bentett defended. The evidence ahowed that the inspector of food found on defendenl's premises 21 pieces of meat, two of which were in process of being out up. Some were covered with tubercles containing matter, and all were emaciated, wet. and unfit for human food. Mr. Collier being spoken to, replied that he was not aware that the pieces were uj fit for food. The defence was that the offence was committed in ignorance, but the Bench held that the defendants were responsible, and fined each ot them wGlOO, with the alternative, in default of distress, of three months' imprison. ment.

GERMANY AND FRANCS. The correspondent of the Times, writing from Berlin on the 11th of January, states :—I can state as a fact that in spite of all quieting assurances circulated from St. Petersburg, the ill-feeling between Germany and Russia continues, and the struggle between the Chancellors of the two Empires still goes on. In these circumstances particular attention is paid to the development of affairs in Franoe. The German Government is well aware ttat eince the peace of Frankfort the French leaders have but one desire—to take revenge at the first opportunity. It was hoped that time would remove the national antipathies, and that a war might altogether be avoided. This hope has been much shaken by the late events which have occurred in France. The new Cabinet, and particularly M. de Freycinet, is mis- trusted, the latter being regarded aa a cceatura of M. GambeHa.

VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES TO THE PREMIER. The Prince of Wales arrived at Wyoomba on Monday evening, and proceeded to Hugendeu Manor, on a visit to the Earl of Baaconafield. Hie Royal Highness travelled in a saloon carriage by the ordinary train, reaching Wycombe at four minutes put six p m. A large number of persons assembled outside the station a privileged few, principally ladies, being admitted to the interior. lhe Premier was represented by his private secretary, Mr. Montagu Corry, who received the Prince on the platform and conducted him, through a reception room specially fitted up in the booking office department, to the carriages. The visiters who accompanied his loya.¡ noas ware the Marquees of Salisbury, Sir Wlllim. Dyke, Lord Kocsijrn, and Mr. B^rnai O^borna, Colonel Teesdale beirg in attendance upon tae Prince. There were loud cheers when his Koyal Highness stepped upon the platform, which were taken up by the crowd as the carriages were set in motion for Hugenden.

THE CASE OF THE CLAIMANT. The Tichborne case came before Mr. Justice Field in chambers on Monday, in connection with the application for a writ of error to ahow why the Claimant's sentence should not be made con- current. The eolioitor for the Treasury recently asked for time to have the roll drawn of the trial proceedings, which it was stated would be rather voluminous. On Monday the Crown was repre- sented by Mr. A. L Smith, and the Claimant by Mr. Snelling (representing Mr. Kimber, of Queen street, London, solicitor). The counsel for the Crown stated that he had not as yet been able to get the roll drawn, although 24 days had elapsed since the application for the writ. After counsel had addressed the court at length, Mr. Justice Field decided to grant the Crown 14 days to com. plete the roll. Mr. Kimber had a long interview with the Claimant at Portaea Prison on Friday last, and the prisoner expressed himself aa sanguine respecting the application on the writ of error.

PANSLAVISM IN RUSSIA. A correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing from Vienna on Sunday night, says :-The tele. gram from Berlin to the Standard, stating that Russia had guaranteed the independence of Servia against every other Power, has created a great impression. It confirms the statement often made, that Panalaviam prevails uninterruptedly in Russia, and induces her to continue her aapira. tions in the Balkans, notwithstanding the Berlin Treaty and the warnings against infringing it. I am informed, on good authority, that since my last communication the artillery already in Poland has been increased to a strength corresponding to that of an army of about half a million of men. Besides this, Russia's guarantee to Servia cornea a little too late, sinoe Baron Hay merle declared in Monday's sitting of the committee of the Hungarian delegation that the Servians ha i finally yielded to the pressure of Austria upon the railway question, and that a Servian Commis- sioner will shortly arrive here to settle the affair. After our late experiences, however, we must wait to see whether Servia will now fulfil her prcmisee any be-tir than she has done before.

SERIOUS SUBSIDENCE OF LAND. For some time past there have been indications of a serious subsidence of the land at Nev Shildon, near Newcastle, in the neighbourhood of St John's road. Most of the houses in this locality are of the better class, and are owned principally by working men, who have been enabled to erect their own dwellings by means of assistance received through the medium of the building societies. Although several serious cracks and fissures have been observed for some time, fresh breakages have occurred during the week, and the owners of several of the end housas hava found it necessary to place large beams of timber against them to prevent them from falling. Two of the residents have hurriedly left their homes, and have gone to reside elsewhere, fearing to remain in them. There appear to be various opinions as to the cause of the Bubsidenoe, which is ascribed by many people to a bed of sand underneath the foundation, which, it is supposed, is being washed away by the action of water. The extent of the disaster can hardly be gauged at present, since a further subsidence is appre- hended. The property is situated in the beat and most improving part of the town, and there doea not appear to be the slightest prospect of the owaers obtaining any compensation.

EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGA- TIONS OF SCUTTLING. A Board of Trade enquiry was opened at Liver. pool on Monday into the low of the Carnarvon schooner, Wepre Lass. Mr. Tyndall, solicitor to the Board of Trade, said the object of the enquiry was to ascertain whether or not the vessel had been scuttled. She was a wooden schooner of 41 tons register, built in 1860, and in 1873 she was insured for it200, her estimated value then being j £ 300. From time to time she was repaired, and on the 30 fh of September last she left Silloth for Dundalk with a cargo of coal, the entire crew consisting of two persona, the captain, Morris Hugbea, and the mate, Griffith Griffiths. Acoor. ding to the captain's Btataa-unt, the wind freshened tiie IHULe afternoon, and sail had to be taken in. fson afterwards the captain, who was at the tiller, saw water in the cabia, and he and the mute went down to save their cfrccia. Both th-aa worked at the pumps, but tho water still inoroas- i' (-T thi Y turned !or tbo land, g-,t into a L',Oat, aid r«jjiaixed by the vessel for 15 miauls, vr'aoa she fonr.<?c;ed, sr.d they th«.u pulled for Maryport. ,-re they reported that the vssel I r.(i r. p r g a leak and s«ik on the 25th. of October. It was averted, thit in N'jvorabe? two piect<? of fee hull were washed ashor?, an i • he of Hem wae fcusd to have a large piece, fiv-i iu cits long arid three quarters of an irc I broai, cat out of it. Since t-en another part of the bull bad been sel-n at iow water. aid it was evident, that she lad gone down while at anchor, and not; as described by the captain. Tee inquiry was adjourned.

THROWING A MAN OUT OF A WINDOW. A man named Joseph Miller and a woman named Ann Tollan, or O'Neill, were brought before the stipendiary magistrate, at the Central* Police- court, Glasgow, on Saturday, and remanded on a charge of causing the death of a blind man named James O Neill, the female prisoner's hus. band, by throwing him out cf a window. O'Neill, bis wife, and family resided on the top fit of a four-storey building at Moodie's court, 31, Argyle street, and Miller was a lodger in the house. The man O'Neill was jealous of his wife and Miller, and some hot worda paased on Friday week between them. Early on Saturday morning a eci ffle took place in a room of the dwelling between tbe men, and this was followed by a crashing of glaes. O'Ntill's eon shortly after went down staira ard found his father lying dead in tha street..

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ON MISSION WORK. The Lord Chancellor presided on Monday after. noon at a meeting held in connection witn the Bournemouth branch of the Churoh Missionary Society, and said that the operations of this society were conducted in all quarters of the globe, and were of a moat extended and com- plicated description. There was, he thought, little danger of cur forgetting or misunderstanding works relating to the spirtual good of our feHow- countrymen, because the exigency of such matters met us at every corner. But with mission work it was not so. This work related to populations which we never see, and of which we seldom hear. It conperned the movements of missionaries who were banished far frcm cur sight, and there w^a, therefore, absolute necessity that this work ehould be brought prominently before us. His lordship expressed his admiration of those devoted men and women who, forsaking kindred, country, and home, go to the uttermost part of the world to spread the knowledge of the Gospel, and sa.id it must be a great encouragement to them to know their movements were anxiously and tenderly wateled.

A COLLIER FINED FOR RECKLESS COKDCJCT IN A COLLIERY. At Mertbyr police court on Siturday (before the stipendiary, Mr. J. Biahop), a collier named Janson Job appeared in answer to a summons charging nim with having unlocked a safety lamp in his possession whilst in the Potvell Duffryn Colliery, Mountain Ash, and thus committed a breach of the special rules laid down. Mr. J. Plewa appeared on behalf of the comoany, and stated that the defendant was eazagel as a lampman, and when that portion of his work was completed he waa en. gaged in the level and oiling the m.kjhine3. Defendant was sitting downwiththreeothera, and had the gauze of the lamp in one hand and the box of it in the other, the light being thus un- covered and burning. The manager, Mr. Williams, spoke to the defendant, who, however, had no excuee to offer, and stated that he o >uld not say what he had opened it for. The Stipendiary remarked that the defendant had been guilty of reckless carelessness, and would be fined 20a and costs, in default one month's imprisonment. The fine and coats were paid.

ALLEGED SHEEP-STEALING BY A RHONBDA VALLEY COLLIER. At Merthyr police-court, on Saturday (before Mr. J. Bishop, stipendiary), David Jones, said to be a collier from the Rhondda, was charged on suspicion of stealing five shqep. Mr. George Martin, butcher, of High street, Merthyr, stated that en Friday week the prisoner came to his shop aid aaked him if he would buy five sheep, to which be replied that he did not then want them, as he had enough for the week. Prisoner invited him out to see the sheep, and pressed him to buy them, which he eventually did. Prisoner said the sheep did not suit him; he had been out looking for them all day they did not auit him, and sooner than take them back he would sell them for .£2. He also said he did not know what was the value of the sheep. Mr. Millward thereupon came up and said the sheep were worth 50s, whereupon prisoner said, Give me 593, then." He had a suspicion that the sheep were stolen and asked Mr. Millward to tell Police sergeant Davies so. Before the prisoner left he gave him a receipt for X2 10a. In reply to the bench, Mr. Martin said the prisoner appeared to be as scber as he was then. The sheep were of a mixed breed and in very poor condition. After the evidence of the police constable, Superinten. dent Thomas asked the bench that the prisoner might be remanded for a week, which was granted.

CHARGE OF COAL STEALING BY RHYMNEY RAILWAY OFFICIALS. At Merthyr police court on Saturday, Henry Cotty, engine driver; Thomas Joflnci, stoker and Lewis Jenkins, goods guard, all ia the employ of the Rhymney Railway Company, wera charged with stealing coal, the property of the Dowlaia Company. Mr. C. R. James appeared for the prorecutioo, and Mr. D; Rees Lewis for the defendants. Mr. James, in opening the case, said the facts were these. Oa the 18th of Decem- ber Police constable Phillips was stationed on the top of the cutting through which the Railway passed. On the night in question the train was as usual divided in two, and one portion taken away. Immediately afterwards witness observed a man get on the top of the first truck, and throw coal down. He then went oi the second truck and did the same, and subse* quently carried the coal a little way up the line. The engine then returned, and one of the de- fendants got dewn and assisted the man already on the ground to throw the coal on to the engine. Mr. James went on to say that it might be asked what motive or inducement these men had for etealing the coal, but he explained that he believed that a bonus was paid to the servants of the com- pany for saving in the consumption of coal in the working of the engines. The case lasted for a considerable time, a number of witnesses being called. For the defence it was urged by Mr. D. R. Lewis that no robbery had takau place, and he also denied that there was any inducement for the theft, or that a bonus was paid to the company's servants for the saving of fuel. In the course of the evidence it was alleged that the defendants had taken about five cwt. of coal. The Stipendiary committed the defendants for trial, but allowed them bail.

THE BAGOT WILL CASE. Tuesday being the day appointed for the now trial of this celebrated case in the Irish Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin, greatexcicement prevailed, and the court and its precincts were crowded. The action is taken by Bernard Lloyd Bagot and Arthur Harris Holmes, the executors named in the last will of Christopher Neville Bagot, de- ceased, against Alice Emily Roberts, late Mrs. Roberts, wife of the testator, re Bernard Wynn Roberts, her second husband, and Arthur Christo. pher Neville Roberts, her child. On the first tril of the case there was a verdict for the plaintiff, and a new trial was afterwards granted on the ground of reception of illegal evidence and misdirection by the judge. Since then a special commission has been sent to Nice to examine witnesses which the defendant alleged were essential to her case. On Tuesday the counsel engaged in the trial were-For the plaintiff, Messrs. M'Donagh, Q C.; Law, Q.C.; Murphy, Q.C.; Porter, Q U. and Mr. T. P. Law; for Mrs. Roberts, Messrs. Heron, Q.C.; Walker, Q C.; Monroe, Q.C.; and Mr. Anderson. The Lord Chief Justice pre. sided. Mr. Heron moved that the trial should be postponed on the grcund that Mrs. Roberts was in ill-health, and her medical attendant in Paris stated that she was threatened with a miscarriage, and to attempt to travel to Dublin for at least a month would endanger her life. He produced affidavits in support of the application, which was opposed by the trustees of Messrs. Bagot, who, in affidavits, stated that the motion was made in order to cause delay, and that Mrs. Roberts had no intention to go to trial. An affidavit made by Bernard Bagot would not be accepted by the court, who cha- racterised it as containing slanderous statements, and was a contempt of court. The application was granted, and the trial was postponed till the Easter sitting.

THE LATE DR. BUDD. The Pa 11 Mall Gazette of Tuesday night, referring to the death of Dr. William Budd, says As a physician Dr. Budd waa not satisfied with combating disease; his constant attention was devoted to its causes and to the means of sub. Btituting prevention for oure. To exter. minate disease was the passion of his life. His contribution to medical knowledge was the germ theory of disease, of which he ia in this sense the practical originator. He was the first to treat zymotic fevers as the result of specific organic growths bred iu the individual system and propagated through it; and he thus not only substituted the idea of a tangible cause for the vague theories of infection current before his time, he established the faot that oholera is due to as speciflo a poison as typhus or typhoid fever, and must be stamped out by the same means and if his mode of treatment was met by doubt in the case of ailments admittedly contagious, an outbreak of cholera which took place at Bristol, and of which he published the account, supplied a vindication of his principle already oonfirmed and verified in relation to typhoid fever by the epidemic at North Tawton. Its successful appli- cation in Indian hospitals is equally matter of history. When his last illness overtook him he was collecting materials for a treatise on tubercular consumption, which he also believed to be caused by an organic poison and communi- cated through it; and the hope of striking at the root of this national and hitherto insurable malady gave a ftesh intensity to hia osertiobs and a deeper bitterness to their defeat. it all he did and all he would have done, he sustained the p-eeHge of a remarkable family Be v «p ore of nine gifted brothers, of whom eevtisl bav6 won lau eia m the macical protes snr, though cne osly, Dr. George, practised Ü, Lcadoc. Tie two yonngest &i:6 boauuiably remeisberv? CambrWpo as senior wranglers of Pembroke CWil ¡;;9, cf which Ouaviue Badd ;-?no,v 'he oleest f How. They we Ml bom cEd, as ol:jidret, bred in the L>evoiiehire village of North las ton. Dr. Vviiiiam Bu-"d died at Olevedoa on tt f 9'h of rbie month, at; the sge of 68 Ha was ( lecttd Fellow of the Society in 1S70."

7IIE RADICAL DISSENTERS OF MERTHYR. ANECDOTE OF LORD ABSSDARE. "When Lord Aberdare, then Mr. Bruce, aou. tested Merthyr Tydfil against Mr. H. Richard and Mr. Richard Fothergill. an incident occurred which deserves to be chronicled. The latter gentle- man was one of the partners of the Plymouth Iron Company, whose worka are very near the town, and, as a consequence, the employes of the firm were strong partisans of their employer, The Home Secretary had been advertised to address a meeting of the followers of Pope Pius IX at the Temperance-hall. During the speech, or the earlier portion of it, constant disturbance came from the gallery, and little doubt was entertained from whom it came. At a moment, when the interruption beoame irritating and incessant, the speaker, without the least show of annoyance, or loss of temper, remindea, hia hearers that he was addressing the Roman Catho- lics of the borough, and not the Plymouth Brethren. The hit, delivered with blandness and perfect good humour, gained for him the sym- pathy of the audience, and a great cheer rewarded the bon mot. He lost the election, and otherB, more just and more generous than hia own people. found him a Beat for* Renfrewshire. With the instinct of the lower depth of the party, they hated him. Henry Austin Brace, although a follower of Mr. Gladstone, waa too muuh of a gentleman for the Radical Dissenters of Marthyr Tldfil.—aborting Times.

GREAT FIRE IN BOSTON. The North British Daily Mail haa received particnlhra of the disastrous conflagration in Boston, U.S., cn the night of the 28th of December, it appears that the fiameB broke out very near the place where they originated iu the great fire of 1872. At 11 o'clock at night the inaide of a building in Federal street waa observed on fire, an alarm was given, and in an hour afterwards the whole cf tlati the department had to turn ouc. The premises were occupied by a firm of wool brokera, and were directly over the paper warehouse of Rico, Kendall, and Co. In a very short time the exteccied t the buildings on both sides, and soon the entire block was in flames, and the fire threatened to cross Frasklen street and destroy the large establishments on the north side. After f everal hours of hard and plucky work on the part cf the firemen, the fiameB were at last got under control, but for a longtime afterwards they burnt fiercely, and afforded a magnificent spec- tacle to the thousands of startled inhabitants who gathered in the vicinity. Amongat the principal premises destroyed are those of the Ashton Valve Company, tbe North National Bank, and the publishing tooee of Messrs. Houghton, Osgood aLd Company, in which a valuable atookof booka were stored. Their printing and binding offices, however, being at some distance off, escaped, and their business will not be materially interrupted. Tbe loep by the fire is roughly estimated at over 5,000,000 dels., whioh will fall very heavily upon Boston insurance companies.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOCJRT-1 AT OXFORD. The annual dinner of the Oxford Liberal Asso- ciation was held on Tuesday night, presided over by Mr. Councillor Saunders, who was supported by Sir William Harcourt, M.P., Mr. Chitty, Q C., the second Liberal candidate for Sandwich, Professor Rollestone, &o. There was a large attendance. Sir William Harcourt said that he was there to stand by what he had said last January. On reviewing the conduot of the Government, he found they were going on all bacly as could be expected, aa each time they examined their affaira they found that they advanced in geometrical progression to political bankruptcy. In the last twelve months they had three or four new settlements of Europe, several distinct policies in Afghanistan, and fresh settlements at the Cape; aad the Cape waa not settled yat. What he desired to do was to convince the public mind that the promises made were hollow, and that ali tha grar diose pretensions had collapsed. What they required for this was patience and pertinacity. He argued that all the schemes of the Government had toppled over, and that there waa no good policy for the East that did not make provision for the inevitable dissolution of the Turkish Empire. While the demonstration was being held in the Corn exchange the effigies of Sir W. Harcourt and Mr. Chitty, the second Liberal candidate, were burnt in St. Giles, one of the principal streets of the city, in the presence of a considerable crowd. The effigies, whioh were adorned with fireworks, burnt for some little time, but the police eventually interfered, and demolished the impromptu gibbet upon which the figures hung, but not before the object of the originators of the auto da fe had been accom- plished. The figures were postured as if bidding one another the final adieu.

AN ADMIRALTY CASE AT fcWANSSA. On Saturday, at Swansea county court (bafote Judge Falconer and Captains Casile and Rosser as nautical assessors), the case of the teataaella was tried. This was a claim by the owners of tug Here, cf Burry Port, for £50 for salvage aerl vices said to have been given to the 3atanella on tbe 28th of December outside the port of Llaaelly. Mr. Vachell, of Cardiff, appeared for the plain- tiffs; and Mr. Howells for the Satanella, the defence being that no salvage service was given, but that the tug had been employed in the usual way to tow the vessel into port, and that the towage had been tendered to the tug owners. It appeared that on the 23th of December the Satanelia was anchored to the south east of Whitford light. The plaintiff's oaae was that tha weather was very thick and stormy, aad that there were breakers about 200 yards from wbere the vessel waB, and that the master of the ves el waB out of his course, being bouud to Liver- pool, and oould not have made Llanelly without the aid of a tug, and also that the veaael could not without great risk have continued to remain at her anchorage. The plaintiffs also alleged they did not agree to tow the veaael for the towage tariff, but offered the tug without any agreement, intending to obtain a fair sum for the service. The defence was that the captain of the tug offered his tug, which was accepted ia the usual way for the usual tariff that the vessel had been in her position for soma time, and even if it were dangerous the vessel could have been got into Llanelly without a tug by canting the vessel and putting up sail. Ou the part of the plaintiffs, the crew of the tug and some inde- pendent witnesses were called to prove the state of the weather, the nearness of the Sitanella to a lee shore, and the impossibility of getting her to Lianelly without a. tug. For the defendants the crew of the vessel, the harbour master at Llanelly, the keeper of the Whitford lighthouse, aud other witnesses were called to prove the vessel wail not in danger, and the service waa a towage one. Finally, after a protracted hearing, the Court held the service was a salvage service, and judgment was given tor the plaintiffa for .£3() and OOdt.

RUSSIAN INTENTIONS. The following important news in reference to Russia appears in Tuesday's Standard. The Berlin correspondent of that journal telegraphs:- Russia appears to be playing the same double game in her domestio as in her foreign affairs. In relation to the latter we are one day refreshed by reading from the correspondents in Russian pay of high class and semi-official journals in different European States, profuse assurances of Russia's peaceful policy, and of her determination to repress the Panslavistic spirit. But our gratification is not a little damped by finding that Russian news- paper writers in the equal enjoyment of Prince Gortschakoff's confidence express themselves with dissembled bitterness against countries with whom Russia is ostensibly on friendly terms, and that warlike preparations are actively pursued. To judge from the latter, one would believe that war was contemplated to-morrow." A correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing from Paris on Monday night, saya:—"I find in the French papers of this evening an extract from the Vienna Presse, in which that paper oommits itself to the opinion that a oollision between Russia and England is inevitable. Simultaneously we hear that at Minsk General Skobeleff made a speech at a banquet offered him by the local notabilities, in which he declared that Enssia was on the eve of her national war." The Vienna correspondent of the Standard telegraphs :—" I hear that neither M. de Novi- keff—who, daring the week, will tender hia letters of recall, and afterwards leave for Constantinople —nor Baron d'Oubri1. the new Ambassador here, will offer any explanation is regard to the con- centration of Russian troops in Poland, nor ia any expected. The movements of Russia in the matter are evidently being closely watched, although they are not made the subject of diplomatic represen- tatiofas on the part ot the Austrian Government. I am informed on good authority that Russian Chauvinism is again at work and has been a prin. oipal cant e of the increase of forces oollected in Poland during the month of December. It waa hoped that the Ministerial changes in Franoe would help to bring about a Franco-Russian rapprochement, which has been 10 long desired. The disclaimer of Buch intentions on the part of FRaoe, therefore, has greatly disap- pointed Russian intriguers. M. de Nelidoff, who is a valnaHe agent in the furtherance of Pansla- vistio doctrines, will probably remain at Dresden, where he can easily foster Panslavism among the CzeckB, with whom it is just now most per. sistently alive."

MODERN SPIRITUALISM. Sir George R. Sitwell and Professor Buch, F.C.S., contribute jointly the following letter to the Times_Some time ago, being desirous of investigating the truths of so-called Spiritualism, we were advised by an eminent Spiritualist to attend the seances held at 38, Great Russell street (British National Association of Spiritu- alists). We were assured that the seances oon- ducted at that association were the most genuine in England, and under strict test conditions. On cur first visit, the medium being tied by one of 1 us with great care, no manifestations followed. At the Becond vieit (January 2) one of us again tied the medium, bat under the directions of the chairman, who is officially connected with the institution. A spirit" seen appeared, which we were told was hiarie."ard was represented to be tha.t of a child 12 years of age. She was dressed in white, her face covered with a veil, and htr arms rnd feet bare. We were surprised to distinguish tbe appe&rsrco of a corset uuaae the whue rooo«. -,nd Jier voice and general srwe as the 'ds a that it was th3 mecSum h€r--?lf~Mr-i. Cji-ao." (nee i'iorne Cook). On tho sfeini vUih, 9, e were accompanied by a fuisd, Mr. Joha <J. Fell, engineer, and editor of a scientific journal of 23, Rocd lace, E.G., with his wi'e. The" spirit Marie" eg&in appeared and rendered our former fruspicions alroot certain by the audible sound of undres&ii:g within tha curtail; and by the un. :opiritual" levity of her b ihaviaur and coaversa- tion. One of us by a sudden rush intercepted aid gently held" tbe spirit," while another dashed into the curtains, and, drawing them aside, dia- played the medium's empty chair with the knot slipped, her dress, stockings and bootA, and other discarded garments. There was sufficient light from a half-obscured candle for the cap- tured "spirit" and all the above objects to be plainly seen, whioh latter were handed round for inspection and examined by those present. After a few minutes to cover the confusion, we presumethe candle was extin- guished by the offioial present, and we adjourned to. the lower room. All present, except tM offioials, one of whom took refuge in abuse, entirely agreed with us and thanked U8 for exposing the deception. Now. eir, we leave general conclusions on Spiritualism to others, but what we do olaim to have proved is that in the first society {of Spiritualists in England, one of its best mediums has been detected in personating the spirit herself. Not wishing to further occupy your valuable space, we shall be happy to giro further informa- tion to anyone interested in the cause of truth.

THE STRANGE SUICIDE AT SWANSEA. The inquest on the body of Thomas Ridd, 45, baker, who committed suioide by shooting himself in his bedroom in Matthew street, Swansea, about midnight on Thursday week, was held at the Black Horse Inn, Dyfatty street, on Saturday morning, before Mr. G. B. Strick, the borough coroner. The first witness examined was Ann Treharne, widow, who stated that she was a sister of the deceased, and lived in Matthew street. DeoeaBed had resided with her ever since he returned from Australia nine or 10 years ago. He went to Aus- tralia in the year 1854 with his brother for the benefit of his health. He brought home a con- siderable amount of money, and built some houses in Baptist Well street. He was a joiner before he left England. He hid been a baker with his brother about five years, but left the taketouee four or five months ago. Since then he had complained very much of weakness in the chest, end was very nervous. Ho aloO complained cf bis head. Had never seen him the worse for liquors but heuted to take a few pints of beer in the course of his day's work He was very low. spirited at times. He had no occupation after leaving the bakery, and spent most of the time in the house. He had never eaid anything which would la.d witness to suppose he was tired of his life. When the West of England Bank failed he had seme money in it, ar.d some in the Glamor- ganshire Bank. He got the money out and kept it in the house, and asked witness for a revolver which belonged to her late husband, in order to protect himself. He was very timid, and the bMk failure affected him very much. During the past week he was more depressed than usual, and very silent. On Thursday night he went up at lira and witness beard him draw from under the bed a box in which he kept his money. A few minutes after she heard a shot fired. She went upaUira and saw deceased with the revolver in his haad. He was standing up. Ho pointed the revolver at her and said, "Stand off from me." He then fired again. Witness went downstairs. She waa frightened. She sent for her brother, and he came, and Dr. Rees was fetched. Deceased had a letter from Hamburg in November whioh appeared to trouble him very much. Witness did not know its contents, but it WbOS something about a lottery. Mr. A. B. Rees, surgeon, said he saw deceased about eight o'clock on Sunday evening,' when he seemed quite rational. Had seen him frequently during the last 18 months, and never noticed any. thing strange about him. About half-past 12 on Thursday night witness was informed that deceased had shot himself. Went to the houae, and found him lying on the floor of the bedroom. Found a very small wound behind the right ear. Told the brother that the wound was fatal. He waa becoming insensible. Police constable Gill said that about quarter- past one on Friday morning he was informed by Dr. Sees that deceased had shot himself. Dr. Reea also handed him a six chambered revolver, three barrels of which had recently been discharged. Went to the house and saw deoeased. Assisted te undress him, and lay him on the bed. Saw Dr. Reee find a bullet on the bed, under a hole in the ceiling. look another bullet out of the ceiling. Searched deceased and found on him about J680 in money and a Swansea bank deposit note for lOd. John Ridd, grocer and baker, 108, High street, said deceased was his brother. Ha had searched his box and found several tickets and papers relating to the Hamburg State lottery. Daoeased was very reserved. They had agreed to leave the country together in a short time and go to Cali- fornia or Africa for three or four years. He brought about .£850 from Australia. '1 he jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity."

THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF AN ABERGAYENNY MAN. An inquest was held on Tuesday evening to enquire into the circumstances, which are of a very suspicious character, attending the finding of the body of James Williams, 50, carpenter, a native of Abergavenny, who was found dead in the river Wye on Monday morning, minus his watch and chain and money, whioh comprised the greater part of a full week's wages. Thomas Williams, Widemarsh street, Hereford, identified the body as that of his father, James Williams, Monk street, Abergavenny, who had come over to do a job for Mr. Bowera, builder, and was living inBewell street, Hereford. Charlotte Hull, Dewell street, wife of Mr. J. Hall, said while working in Hereford deceased lodged with her. He was very nice, and would not touch drink except on a Saturday, when he would have a little. He was alwaya back by 10 or 11 at night. On Saturday he came home about a quarter to two, and paid what was due. He never talked of destroying himself at any time. Mrs. Augusta Halford, Barr's Court-terraoe, said she saw deceased on Saturday night last at the Red Lion, at five minutes past ten ia the evening, treating men to beer. Deceased wa9 a respectable man; yet he was in company with a rough gang altogether. These roughs asked deceased to treat them, and being a good natured man he did so. She left at five minutes to eleven o'clock, when the under ostler cleared the house. the and her husband went home, and the charac- ters and others she had mentioned went along Victoria-street. pushing deceased along. De- ceased knew quite well what he was doing. The deceased was perfectly sensible, and objected to be pushed along with the ganp. He was going against his will and going the wrong way. Had he been left alone he would have gone home. He was a gcod-natured honest man, and respected by all who knew him. Superintendent Davies said one of the men mentioned was in custody for stealing a watch, but it was not deceased's. Two of the men who pushed deceased were present, viz., Eggy" and the soldier mentioned. The Coroner said he would take their evidence. William Watkins, private in the 24th Regiment of Foot, said he saw deceased in the Red Lion for the first time on Saturday night, at about 10.10. There was a house full, and be saw" Eggy" and "Jemmy the Cheeseman." Deceased paid for beer, and witness paid for half a gallon. Went out at five minutes to 11 altogether. Was sure he did not go up Viotoria street. or push the deceased. Andrew Eggy, living near the Barton Bridge, said he was at the Red Lion, and saw deceased on Saturday evening there. Deoeased was sober, and treated the peple there. He came out olose behind witness. He oould not aay whioh way deceased went, but he believed he went up Victoria street. Did not go with tiim. Witness went home by himself. Saw no more of deoeased. Did not eee anything or anyone pushing deceased along Victoria street. The Coroner If anyone said you were pushing deceased along would it be correct or false P — (After seme hesitation)—It would be inoorrect. Witness prevaricated a great deal, but admitted he saw Watkins and '4 Jemmy the Cheeseman" on Sunday. He afterwards admitted that a number of persons followed deceased down Victoria street. Witness was pressed hard. but refused the names of those who followed deceased. Saw Mrs. Halford there. Harry Jordan, son of a boat proprietor, said he found deceased in the river Wye, about a couple of yards from the bank, near Mr. Jakeman's, on Monday morning. His hands and head were only in three feet of water. He examined the bank near that morning, and found footmarks leading towards the river. The boots of tbe deceased were compared with the marks on the bank, and it matched. There were a lot of footmarks close by. The deceased's footmarks seemed as if he went in a hirrry. Mr. A. Skipton, surgeon, said he examined the body of the deceased externally, and found two marks on the finger, the skin being knocked off. There was a small mark on the elbow, and the veins of the neck were much swollen, and the chest and abdomen also. There was no wound on the head. The Coroner said it waa dlear the deceased had been robbed, but there was no evidence to show he was thrown in. The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned," the police to fully investigate the matter, and open it again when they obtained evidence further.

THE "ERA" LIBEL CASE. The trial of Mr. Edward Ledger, editor and proprietor of the Era newspaper, on a charge of having published a false and defamatory libel concerning Mr. Hodgson Stanley, was resumed at the Central Criminal Court, London, on Tuesday. The case arose out of a ball that was given by the complainant in October last at Cannon Btreet Hotel, and whioh was described as a grand dramatio ball. The libel complained of was a statement in the Era which referred to the ball as a disgrace to the theatrical profession," and a disgraceful orgie." Further evidence was given, and the jury, after deliberating about half an hour, found the defendant not guilty, but added that they thought the criticism very sevejre.

Epps's COCOA.—URATBFUL AND CQMFOBTING By a thorough knowltdge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutri- Hon s £ d by a careful application o f the fine properties of wall-selected cocoa. Mr. Eppa haa provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious uee of such articles of diet thataeonstitut on may be gradualiy built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attaik wherever ther* is a week point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping our.eives well fortill^d with pure blood and a properly nourished fraiTte."—Civil Service Gazette.— &oM only in rackets labded-" JAMES KPPS and Co., Hosaceopr-ttic Caemiutg, Lonuou." 32151t¡¡

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PBIEbTS. On Saturday tie church of St. Peter, Hatton Careen. LUldon, b.tt r kcown aa tin Italian h>: war- t e 200"0 of a. shocking outrage. The ehnifhhad he -n decoratei for the Christmas and New Year Feasts, and special preparations made in view of the visit on Sunday of Cardinal Manning. Ten o'clock mass waa being celebrated by the Rev. Father Bakanowski, a Polish priest, licensed as chaplain to the Polea in London, who ie allowed the use of St. Peter's Church for the performance of his religioua functions. Just at the elevation, a shot was fired at the priest by a person in the body of the churoh, and the bullet lodged in tha altar. The acclyte who was serving mass imme- diately fled into the sacristy and locked the door behind him, so that the priest in following was unable to enter. Here his assailant fired two more shots, one of which became embedded in the crown of the arch over the sacriBty door, and the other in the side of the door. The priest then Bought refuge by going behind the altar, where he was followed by the would-be murderer. The rev. father succeeded in getting round to the front of the churoh, and made his escape. Two more shots were fired after him, one of them piercing the back of a chair at the top of the right aisle of the churoh. The man rushed to the back of the altar, and seizing some of the massive candlesticks, dashed them to the ground, breaking them into fragments. He thea went up the altar steps and wrenohed away the door ahd framework of the tabernacle. The force required to do this may be imagined when it is stated that the door itself is a plate of metal of considerable thioknesa. The screws which fastened the door he snapped like a matchwood, and then taeized the pyx and chalice, which he bent and damaged as much as he could. Not content with this he brought out the ciborium, whioh contained about 300 consecrated elements of the Host. The altar linen and ante-pendium were ignitedfeither by the falling candles, whioh he tore from the altar, or by the man setting fire to tham with matches, a supply of which was afterwards found in his possession. The ante-pendium was a beautiful work of art, being worth at least .£150. It waa the gift of the noble ladies of Genoa, being the work of their own hands, and was presented to the church on the 8th of December last, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. As it waa low mass that was in the course of celebration, fortunately the ante-pendium was covered by another of leaa value, which has been some time in use in the church. The outer one was to all intents and purposes destroyed, and the under one was scorched and blackened by the hmes. The debris of the broken glass, candles, metal, and woodwork was scattered all over the ohancel. The incidents thus described were the work of a few moments. The congregation at first were struck with panic at the audacity of the attack, but, quickly reco- vering from it, the housekeeper extinguished the flames, and some members of the congregation surrounding the man, removed from his peraon the revolver and dagger which he had on him. He was shortly after taken to the Clerken well police court, where he was remanded to admit of an examination as to the state of his mind. Another report states that about half past 10, when not more than 20 persons were in the church, and Father Bakanowaki was officiating at the high altar, Schossa came into the building, and without taking off his hat said aloud to the congregation, "You go away," and then walking up the middle steps to the altar rails, presented a pistol and fired at the officiating priest, who, being alarmed, ran towards the sanctuary door, followed by the would-be assassin, who fired again. Fortunately, Father Bakanowski escaped without personal injury, but was very much alarmed. The miscreant, who was running into the saoristy, was met by the Rev. H. V. Arkell, a priest residing at the presbytery of the same churoh, who, having heard several shots fired, was coming into the church to see the cause of a violent ringing of the bells. Mr. Arkell was also fired at. Schossa went to the back of the altar and threw down therefrom a candlestick, and proceeded to otherwise damage the altar fur. niture, smashing a considerable quantity. He broke the chalices, took the sacrament from the tabernacle, and threw the particles on the ground. When he left the sanctuary he came direct to Father Arkell in the nave, who, when within reach, seized hold of both arms of his assailant and took from him a five-chambered revolver. Notwithstanding the efforts of Schossa to stab the priest in the chest with a large stiletto knife, by the aid of the housekeeper (Eliza- beth Brooks) the desperado was secured but not without having cut Brooks a good deal about the hands. The assistance of the police having been secured by some of the congregation, they, with the aid of someone in the crowd, which had by this time collected in the churoh, took the dagger from the man, who made attempts to stab those about him. The result of hia destructive attack on the altar and the furniture thereon was to cavee the light of the candles to set fire to Bome of the surrounding ornamentation, and it is esti- mated that altogether some hundreds of pounds loss will be sustained. Schossa, who returned from the United States some two and a half years ago, has resided Bince that period in Saffron hill -ecgntly at No. 37 —which, like most of the houses in that neighbour- hood, is occupied by members of that Italian oolony which stretches from Holborn, close to Farringdon road, to Hatton wall, close by Leather lane. He has turned hia hand to many pursuits, and was for seme time a vendor of Btreet icea. It appears that be has been a very short time engaged in asphalte-working— a business almost monopolised by Belgians. He is described in the neighbour- hood as being of an uncommunicative, moroae disposition—one who did not mix freely with his countrymen for, although he stated, at one time, he was a German, and at another a Swiss, it was ascertained cn Monday, beyond doubt, that he is a Milanese. A fact whioh may be taken for what it is worth, and stated by one of the clergymen, ia that a few years ago, shortly after fcchossa arrived in the United States from Milan, the life of a Catholic priest who was officiating in an American church was attempted in a manner similar to that in which the life of the Polish priest was attempted last Saturday. It haa been discovered that the revolver was purchased the day before the attempted assassination. It is rather remarkable that while Schossa is a power. fully-built, though under-sized man, Father Arkell, who courageously arrested his course of destruction by seizing his arms, is slenderly built. The church was crowded on Monday by people curious to see the effects of the prisoner's violence, but the high altar had resumed its wonted fine appearance, and the only thing to remind one that the outrage had occurred was a large bcx for the reception of offerings of repa- ration," placed in front of the altar outside the chancel rails. Sohossals not illiterate, as at the police station he signed his name in good hand- writing. It has been placed beyond doubt that he lighted up the altar cloth and antependium by snatching a candle from the altar and applying the flume to them. At the remanded inquiry several additional witnesses will be examined.

THE SEKIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A BARBER AT DINAS. At an adjourned meeting of the Epiphany Quarter Sessions for the county of Glamorgan held at the Town-hall, Cardiff, on Tuesday (before Mr. J. C. Fowler and Mr. R. 0, Jones), Joseph Phillips, hairdresser, Dinas, who was found guilty by the jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm on one MooeB Sees, landlord of the Glamorgan Hotel, Dinas, whose log it was alleged he broke by jump. iug upon it, was placed in the dock to receive Sentence. When asked if he had anything to say, the prisoner stated that he was innocent, and that he never bad any intention of breaking the pro- secutor's leg. Mr. Fowler eaid: You have been found guilty by the jury of the offence of doing grievous bodly harm to the prosecutor. I am sure you were properly found guilty; the evidence was clear and satisfactory, and the court approves of the verdict. I do not think I have ever met with a case of a more revengeful or cruel kind, because you first of all kicked the man and then got his leg on a chair, or on the groundJ and kicked or stamped upon it so as to break it. The spirit in which this was done was made clear by the fearful language you aaed before it took place, showing clearly that you harboured seme kind of grudge or spite against the man, and that you took that means of avenging yourself for a fancied grievance. Yon have aggravated your guilt, because you persuaded either one or two witnesses to Bhelter you from that guilt by giving false evidence. I am sure one, probably two, persons were brought into court to swear that which was false. Having considered the nature of the offenoe, I am desirous of passing a sentence on you that will deter others in the district from which you come from committing an offence of the kind. The sentence of the court ia that you be imprisoned for IS calendar months.

MYSTERIOUS DEATHS FROM DROWNING AT CARDIFF. At the Cardiff Town-hall, on Monday evening, Mr. £ B. Reece, coroner, held an inquest upon the body of a woman identified as that of Elizabeth Powell, which had that morning been found in the Old Glamorganshire Canal, near Bute Bridge. William Morgan, boatman, of 14, Tyndall street, gave evidence as to finding the body. Elizabeth Parnell, 36, Frederica Btreet, recognised the body as that of Elizabeth Powell, who had rented a room of her for three months. Deceased was missing a month ago laat Saturday from the house. She waa 38 or 40 years of age, and went by the name of Mrs. Powell. She was a native of Haverfordwest, and was given to drink. Fanny Keen said she last law the deceased at the Rothsay Castle Inn, Bute street, a month ago last Saturday, at half-past 10 o'olock at night. The jury returned an open ver. diet. The coroner also held an inqneBt upon the body of a respectably dressed, but unknown man, who was found in the canal near the lock by the North road. Daniel Jenkins, sawyer, 7, Rodney street stated that he had seen the body, and he reoog: nieed it as that of a man who, on Thursday stood next to him in the Rose and Crown Inn North road, at from a quarter to half.paat ten o'clook. The deceased was in the house about ten minutes, and had one glass of warm whisky. Deceased seemed to have been drinking heavily, but had partly reoovered. His hand shook very much while he was drinking, and he spilled some of the whisky on his hands. In thia case the jury also returned an cpen verdict.

FATALITIES AT ABERDARE- On Wednesday a collier named Nicholas Williams, aged 40, waa killed whilst at work in a stall at tbe Ravon Level, Abernant, the property of the Abernant and Plymouth Company.—On Weccctsday morning also, a woman named Ann Rees. sped 49, the wife of a collier living at No 3, Bell court, Treoynon, was found dead in bed by her daughter. Deceased waa last seen alive by her butband about h^K-past six, when he took her a n of tea. "n appeared to ba all right, but half.- c- t'. uta was found to ba extinct.

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND, Tbe Times correspondent at ^Berlin, writing on January 11 says The Riissiau Prasa is again very busy disouaeing the Central Aaia question. lhe Golos particularly speaks of the growth of Erglieh influence in Persia aa injurious to tha supremacy of Russia, and directs particular at tention to the English proposal that Persia should, with the help of English arms, occupy Harat: — "However fantastic such a plan might appear there is no reason why an attempt to realise it should not be made. We should not act wisely if we were to overlook such combinations. Although Russia needs peace, for she has many matters to put in order at home, and every necessity, more- over, to divide her forces on her frontiers, and particularly on her Eastern frontiers, must be unwelcome to her, still this is no reaaon why she should remain an inactive spectator when plans with regard to Herat are being made between England and Persia." A correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing from Berlin on Sunday night, says At Berlin and Vienna it is believed that the British Govern- ment have determined to answer the Russian oooupation of Merv by the despatch of British troops to Herat. The Austrian Government have resolved to enforce in the ensuing summer those clauses in the Berlin Treaty having reference to the construction of railways in the Balkan Penin. sula. The Persian Government haa instructed the Governor of the Province of Khoraasan, whioh is adjacent both to Merv and to the Russian posses- sions on the east of the Caspian Sea, to obtain precise information touching the preparations for hostilities on the part both of the Turcomans and the Russians, and to report the result, of his inquiries to Teheran. Upon his doing so, the expediency of establishing a corps of observation in the Attreck Valley and on the Merv frontier will be decided npon. These cautionary measures illustrate the anxiety felt by the Shah as to what may be the result of a successful Russian campaign against Merv.

FATAL RESULT OF DRUNKEN- NESS AT CARMARTHEN. At the borough petty sessions on Monday, a young man named John Evans, a labourer, was brought up in custody charged with causing tha death of one Mary Vaugaau. Unusual excitement was manifest amongst the townspeople, as the prisoner was well known. The firat witness examined was Ann Podcster, living in Cambrian place, who said she knew Mary Vaughan aa a neighbour. She eaw her between 11 and 12 o'clock on Saturday night last, sitting on a chair in front of the house. Previous to that she heard noises of singing coming down the street from the direction of the Butcher's Arms. Witness was able, when the persons got nearer, to perceive that they were Mary Vaughan and a young man whom witness did not know. Both were very drunk, thedeoeaaed being worse than the young man. They fell down when near the soup kitchen, and the deceased beitig unable to rise, witness aasisted. The two afterwards went towards their house, and witness followed, meeting an old woman named Bet, with whom she went to the prisoner's house. All waa quiet there, however, and witness went home, About midnight Mrs. Lewis, landlady of the Cambrian Arms, oame to witness's hbuae saying that Mary Vaughan had been murdered. Both went to the house, and found deceased in the chair. She did not speak, and waa dying fast. John Jones, a painter, who lived in the same house aa the prisoner and deceased, gave evidence to the effect that he heard someone fall down- stairs, and found it was Mary Vaughan. He gave her into the charge of a neighbour named Evans, and then went to bed. On Tuesday several other persons appeared and gave evidence, but nothing waa elicited which showed that the prisoner was guilty of pushing the unfortunate woman. An impartial witness named Jones, who was present in the house at the time, said that when the woman foil the prisoner was quarrelling in the room with his mother. The Benob, in dismissing the oase, mentioned the narrow escape which tha prisoner bad had, and counselled him to alter his mode of living in the future.

CHARGE OF MISAPPROPRIA- TION AGAINST AN OYBRSEER. John Hughes, late overseer of the parish of Llan- dilo Talybont, was charged by Mr. E B. Haynes, clerk to the guardians, at the Swansea police- court on Monday (before Mr. J. C. Fowler, stipendiary), with embezzling various sums of money, the property of the guardians. Mr. W. Robinson Smith appeared on behalf of the guar. dians to prosecute, and Mr.Mansel Rees,Llanelly, defended. AIr, Smith, in opening the case, said defendant was charged with five offences with re- gard to the receipt of rates. He drew tha atten- tion of the bench to Act 4 and 5, Wm. IV., o. 75, see, 97, which provided that any person who pur- loined, embezzled, or wilfully wasted or misapplied acy portion of the money belonging -to any parish or union, he should upon conviction pay a penalty not exceeding j620, and aleo the treble value of the money so misapplied. Mr. Smith then went on to say that the offences were completed on the 14th of June, 1879, when the poor rate, made on the 20th of Novtmber. 1878, was audited. The first case differed slightly from the others. At the time of the audit a schedule was produced in which the name of Ann Thomas appeared as a person legally excused by the magistrates, and, of course, that was a good ground for the non- payment of the rate by her. But in the previous March defendant had received 38 9d from her, which she paid, not knowing she had been excused. The second case was that of David Bonnell, who was entered in the rate-book as vacant. He held in hie hand a receipt in the handwriting of the defendant, dated December 27, in whioh he acknowledged having received 98 from Boniiell. He was only charged with 7s 6d, as the road rate of Is 6d was included in the 9s, The third charge wae in respect of a house owned by John Roberts, and occupied by Isaac Evans. The amount was 7s 6d. The premises were entered as vacant, but he (Mr. Smith) held defendant's receipt for the money, dated the 20th of February. The next oase was that of Thomas Richards, whose houae was again described as vacant. In this case defendant had given a receipt on the demand note, and not by a separate document. The fifth charge was in respect of 7s 6d paid by John Evans. These premises were also entered as vacant, but defendant gave a receipt for the money on the 8th of December, 1878. Mr. Smith proceeded to explain that these receipts were not torn from the counterfoil and demand note in the receipt book, but were taken from other parts of the book, or from another book. Mr. Edward Jones, Poor-law auditor of the South Wales District, was then called, and stated that he held an audit for the parish of Llandilo- Talybont on June 14, 1879. The rate made on the 20th of November, 1878, was submitted to him, and signed by him. He found a balance of jBll 3s 6d due to the overseers on the face of the account, which would have been decreased by the amounts which had been referred to if they had been entered in the books. It was the duty of the overseer to fill up the rate receipt book in ink and number the cheques consecutively. Looking at the book produced he found that some of the receipts men. tioned by Mr. Smith still in it, so that false receipts had been given to the ratepayers, A duplicate receipt book must have been kept. There was nothing to prevent an overseer having a duplicate receipt book. Richard Williams, the assistant overseer, said he made the entries in the rate book produced from information supplied him by defendant. He had nothing to do with the collection of the rates and could only have made the entries from what defendant told him. Witness was cross-examined at some length by Mr. Bees, who endeavoured to show that he might have made the entries on his own responsibility. Anna Thomas, David Bonnell, John Roberta, Thomas Richards, and John Evans were examined, and deposed that they paid defendant money and received receipts for it. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr. Rees addressed the bench for the defence. He eaid that aa regarded the oaae of Anna IhomaB, when defendant found that she had always been excused from paying the rate he got her put in the excused list, and immediately after- wards, and long before the audit, he repaid her the money, as she had admitted. Mr. Smith: It could not have been long before the audit, as the excused list was only dated tho 9th of June, and the audit was on the I4th. Mr. Rees went on to contend in the case of Bonnell the overseers had no right to receive money from him, aa hia name was not on the rate- book. The name on the book was Wm. Williams. Therefore defendant could not be charged with having embezzled the money. Bonnell, re-called, said that he entered the house in September, 1878, as soon aa Williams, the former tenant, went out. Mr. Reea continued that with respect to the oaee of John Roberts, he did not deny that defen- dant received the money, but contended that the assistant overseer had no right to make the entry he did. He also submitted that the overseers had no right to receive. money from Roberta. The receipt cheque-book was the authority upon which the charges ought to be made, for, according to the book, there had been no misappropriation, as defendant had debited himself with all the iteaig by allowing the counterfoils of the receipts to rtmain in the book, and the auditor might have surcharged him with the amounts. The Stipendiary said that those five entries in the rate-book were untrue, and "p'rue, he had no doubt, to the knowledge of the defendant. The audit was founded upon those false entries, and its reeult was that ba °een diverted from the treasurer of the u?lon Pockets of the defendant, and that was a wilful misapplica- tion. He shonld defendant £ 20 and costs, and treble the amonPt misapplied.

--= RELIG1019 ANT) EDUCATION. Mr. Hubbard, member for the City, presided on Wednesday at the twentieth annual dinner of King's College, .Londpn. In proposing the toast ct tbe evening, the right hon. gentleman spoke of the affinity of religion with education, attributing the absence of charges of corruption, suspicion, or unworthy motives brought BO often against public men in other countries to the general observance of this principle among the educational establishments of England. Dnriog the whole of his public life he had never heard such a charge brought againat an Englishman who had served the Crown, and he could not help thinking this was owing to the teaching of the religioua element with that of eduoation.

LIVERPOOL MUNICIPAL ELECTION. The municipal election petition inquiry termi. nated at Liverpool, on Wednesday, before Mr. Prentice, Q C., who declared that the election was void en the ground of violation of the principle of the Ballet Act, by the presiding offi-jer in so marking the register numbers as to make a scrutiny almost impossible. His Honour agreed to reserve a oaee for the Coaiama Pieaa. J

¥-=-< I THEMCW BRITISH CANADIAN t-XPEDTTlC' j L;TTT.i FROM CHi-YNfc), TO THE EMTOK. SIR,—-The inisax-N of a NEW Britist Canadian expedition Arctic serious a matter to bo dealt with ia the aaaie tabid style as that adopted bv the wri er of an Arctic leader m the columns of a a mtemporary of the 8th The writer is wtli known to me (Mr. Clements Msrkharc), who has long ago arrayed himself ic somewhas boisterous opposition to the work, which I shall carry through all tha more tenaciously aa co^tenuiiig dulicultiea may from time to time arrive. In nu way do I fear the result, depending as I do upon thac love of fair, play so dear to Englishaien from school days to mature age: Any thinking reader will see at a glance the jealous intention of the badinage used in the leading article mentioned, yet I myself am not smprised, for the style belongs to the man, who uses it as a weapon to hack out hia own path at the expense of others. Sir, did I seek momentary amusement and satisfaction nothing would give me greater plaagure than to out the artiole up from beginning to end, in a like spirit of raillery, but what would be the outcome ? Your readers would certainly be amused, but my cause as certainly damaged in the well balanced minds of substantial men. Let me, then, scan the artiole in a reasonable and quiet way. In the first plaoe there is a vioioua thrust at the Lord Mayor, who is credited by the writer with not knowing what he is about, at which the Lord Mayor will doubt. leas smile then my rank is ignored, being spoken of as Mr., when the Admiralty always addrecB me aa captain, at whioh I can afford to smile at tha same tima the deputation is called small, aud from a scientific point of view, not particularly ia. fluential," whereas it was a very large deputation, the Venetian room bein quite fall, aud the Lord Mayor twice pronounced it. m influential. I am then twitted with not the necessary jE30,000, and of being con vine id taac the present incumbent of the civic th&ir is especially fitted to wile that trifling st-m cu-, of thl British public's pocket." I might havo had & good round sum collected long ere thia had 1 not conscientiously refueed to allow fmy money tc be subscribed until a central committee was foraged :n London, and as to aeking the Lord Mayor to r.&-w action, his lordship acknowledged the.t the a /p taken was iu. order, prudence, allc; moderation, Cnen follow eeveial lines of sheer nonsense about steamship ccmpanies, tie Adciiralt-y, and 11 > Minister of Finance for Canada which I naturally paBg over. A stab is next mare m the Oaaad;. r. Dominionfov never having vet ei ^aged in Ar?t c discovery, aa though that were a reaeon why Canada should not add to former entei prising venturo-j in the West, by now looking t.«* irdo the North IJoie for a fresh field of labour. Fcl:owiag tho writdf ia due order, his next attack ie upon "the 19 committees and 14 mayors," which s,rganitsation exi .fca in support of the moven: en t. Let me roply to thia, by asking the worshipful hj; jurs and oouiii ittees enume- rated to tuftt f: j'ja a succeasuu of jealous badinage as an ftt* mpt to be fuuu:, which must have almost equaled the writer bi-naelf, and to pass amiable emil a, or enjoy a htui ,y laugh, as I did, thereby improving digeutioa. It ia hardly likely that Uk ,e committees would take very active t eps for collecting funds until they tea the coat.ro of operations well at work, bo that centre in London, or Ottawa, in :'asatia. It is then touched upon that for "three years I perambulated Great Britain with a magic lantern for the pur- pose of getting up ,hi8 expedition. Nothing like perseveranoe, my iellw, would 1 say to the writer, and it ÍiJmy intention to continue to perambulate the country with a magic lantern, if it be neoessary, ir.i' U the desirable end ia achieved of a national expeetion, set on foot to accomplish tbe tak too Ciihcth tor the lace Palasacrystio Expedition to overcoma. Than most unfairly and ungenerously the "nter goes ou to 8-\Y the pro- posal was pcoh-po (hed at the B.itish Association, but he did no. axate that h himself was president of Section E, and chat it was he himself and his immediate supyoi* ers who viciously decreed what they feared might turn out a euccoes and eclipse tha Pa!seocrystic party. With regard to his attack upon Mr. CoxwelJ'B remarks, ttJ" writer and your readera must remember that Mr. Coxwell haa Dever been to the arctic regions, and had not the opportunity of co isuiting me upon hia ice opinions, and was theretct. catutally led K tn vague ideas upon the Arctic portion of the modus operandi; but that will all be set right and tiie whole ques- tion well threshed out, to use the Lord Mayor's most apt phrase, on January 2S, at the Mansion House. Until the sjeceiral meatiiug on that day, when the Lord Mayor will preside, it is only fair that expression ot adverse opinion should be kept in abeyance. Let me lift íh veil. There are two parties in the country-the Mai kham, or Palssa- cryetic party, and those who believe it does not actually require Clements Mackciam's froth to organise a new expedition. It ia now a question for the nation, not for Clements Markham, to decide.—I m. &c,, JULiN C. CSEiNiS. New Atheiseum Club, 26. buft'olk street, Pall Mall, London. S.W. Jau. 9,

BOUSE OF MERCY FOR SOUTH WALES A&D MG £ MOLTTH?HIRE. We have been requested by the committee of the above institution to publish the following circular letter isaued in its behalf by the Lord Bishop of LlaIlQaff "The House ot ihercy was established in the year 1860, as the re*uiiof a phíH; Kite ting convened at Bricgend, by the bheuii the oouuty of Glamor- gan, on the 30;h May in mat j«ar, and attended by many leading persons ot Glamorganshire and Mcnmouthahire At a meeting iield ill Swanaoa on the 9th of April, 18tii, under the presidency of H. A. Bruce, Cvi.P., i.ord Aberdare, it was reported that the Tru<nee& ot the Marquess of Bute had cfieieci for the use of tne charity, at a nominal rent, an eligible builoiag near Llandaff. f rom the autumn <.f that year till the present time this budding haa tJ."en, through the continued kincnets of Bate, the scene of ita diligent and chcn anxious labours. During this period it has been found necessary to expend from time to time considerable sums of money upon tbe enlargement, adaptation, and repairs of the house, Tho committee believe that the amount thus iaid out nut fallen far ahort of a thousand pounds. iho of the laat 16 years has not been either insignificant or unsuc- cessful. Without attempting to tabulate results —an effort alwaya difficult, and sometimes mis- leadiDg-the committee are aoic to say, in general terms, that, thougn always embarrassed and often crippled by want of fundb, they have oeen enabled year by year to rescue many lues from degrada- tion and ruin, and to give to their families, or to place in positions of redvectable service, many yourg persons who had tought the aid of the charily under circumstances of the utmost misery and remorse, Jn come iuatanoes, so favourable an impression haa been made by those who hare been Bent out from the institution, after a period of probation and discipline, that a request haa been received by the committee for tue services of othera similarly trained and recommended. The charity has necessarily depended in large measure upon the benefactions of tha public. Hilt it is satisfactory to be able to state on an average of past years, more than half of its expenditure haa been derived from the work of the inmates of the home. An intimation having lately been received from Lord Bute of his intention to include the site of the refuge within the circuit of his own j ark, the necessity has arisen of finding a new home for the oharity; aad the committee feel it is impossible to take upon themselves the xesponai- tility of so important a change. Upon the choice tf a new home may depend tne very continuance of the work. The decision of so vital a question ought, they feel, to reat with the authority to which the institution owes ita existence. The very name of the charity—" the House of Mercy for South Wales and Monmouthshire"— marks the xtent of its designed operation; and the time, they think, has now arrived at which it ought to be ascertained, in the first place, whether the object is worthy of the support of the large district contemplated as its area; and, secondly, in what local position its work can be carried on to the best advantage, in reference alike to ita practical efficiency and to its hold upon the support and sympathy of the public. It may be worthy of consideration whetner a aite might no be aeleotsd more likely to interest in behaif of the charity the sister Diocese of St, David's, than one which may seem (like the preseut) to connect it almoat exclusively with the cathedral, or near neighbour- hood of Llandan. The committee are of opinion that a public meeting, similar to the one at which the institution waa founded, would offer the only suitable oppcrtunity for the settlement of thia important question, and possibly for starting tbe work afresh on a scale more consistent witn ita scope and aim. But, before that step is determined upon they desire, by meanB of thia statement, to elicit from the friends and supporters of tha charity their viewa of itB present position, and their suggestions for its future course. The condition is critical, the committee would earnestly bespeak for it the kindly consideration of all who are in sympathy with the effort to save the lost. Contemplating tho work that has actually been done, and comparing it with the work which might be accomplished if better premises and ampler funds conld be provided, the committee cannot but feel most deeply that an earnest effort ought now to be made for the enlargement and extension of the charity." The secretary, the Rev. J* wnmth, rector of Merthyr Tydfil, will be 81d to receive, and to communicate to the committee, any suggestions which may be made in answer to this expresaio of their feelings and thoughts on the subject.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE AT CTFARTHFA. On Tuesday evening a special meeting of the Vaynor School Board was held at the board-rooai, Cetn, near Merthyr, for the purpose of taking into consideration some half-do z an oases of child-n-raoct of whom were only 11 years old who were employed in tha Cyfartbfa Collieries instead of regularly attending school. The oases were fully considered by the board, which passed a resolution to serve notices upon the parents that they must cause their children to attend school regularly, as required by the fcduoation Act, otherwise proceedings would be taken before the magistrates to compoi tbem to d& so.

CHARGE AGAINST THE GLYN* FACH COLLIEHS. On Wednesday, at Pontypridd police oourt (before Mr. Jackson, Penrhos and Mr. Francis Crawshay), thirty coiliers employed by Messrs. Morris Bros., of the Cly/ifaci Colliery, Rhondda Valley, were charged vnta absenting themselves from work illegally. It appeared that the defen- danta struck wofk in cobse^ne^ce of the agents of the prosecutors nifasuriiig, curiag ♦.heir absence, the work dote by then iu the c r.hery. It wati now stated trat the pwtiaa arrived at ft settlement. The c?.sa tiierefoi'e, diaaiissscU