The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

-ce. V ARIETI ES. What roof covers the most noisy tenant ? The roof of the mouth. When is a sermon like a round shot? When it comes from a canon's mouth. SOMETHING VERY Lil, ELY.-Tli-,tt the flowersof speech spring from the root of the tongue. An American aptly described a gentleman's park as Nature with her hair combed." A Boy's IDEA OF PULLING A TOOTH.—The doctor hitched on to me, nulle I his best, and just before he killed me the tooth came out. Never set yourself up for a musician just because you have got a drum in your ear nor believe you are cut out for a school teacher merely because you have pupil in your eye. PERFECTION OF GREAT AliNDs.-Fortitude in adver- sity, and moderation in prosperity, eloquence in the senate, and courage in the field, great glory in re- nown, and labour in study, are the natural perfection of great minds. THE Two ROADS. Dar are," said a sable orator, addressing his brethren, two roads tro dis world, De one am a broad and narrow road, dat leads to per- dition, and de oder am a narrow and broad road dat leads to sure destruction, If dat am de case," said a sable hearer, dis cullered individual takes to le wood." MISTAKEN IDENTITY.—Old Mary descries an ac- quaintance on the opposite side of the street, she shouts across, and on attracting attention telegraphs with her umbrella for her friend to wait. Waddling across, after a quite critical look, she observes "Ye thout it was me, and aw thout it was ye, and, gosh, cab, it's nowther." EACH HAS His OWN PLEASURES.Tis a wrong way to proportion other men's pleasures to ourselves, 'tis like a child's using a little bird (oh, poor bird! thou shalt sleep with me), so lays it in his bosom, and stifles it with his hot breath; the bird had rather be in the cold air, and yet, too, 'tis the most pleasing flattery, to like what other men like. THE Two GHOSTS.-Sir Walter Scott, used to tell with much zest a story of a man who tried to frighten his friend by encountering him at midnight in a lonely spot which was supposed to be the resort of a ghosily visitant. He took his seat on the haunted stone, wrapped up in a long white sheet. Presently, to his horror, the real ghost appeared, and sat down beside him, with the ominous ejaculation, ''You are a ghost, and I am a ghost; let us come closer and closer together." And so closer and closer the ghost pressed, till the sham ghost, overcome with terror, fainted away. At a club, of which Jerrold was a member, a fierce Jacobite, and a friend as fierce of the cause of Wm. the Third, were arguing noisily, and disturbing less excitable conversationalists. At length the Jacobite, a brawny Scot, brought his fist clown heavily upon the table, and roared at his adversary, "I tell you what it is, sir, I spit upon your King William The friend of the Prince of Orange was not to be outmast. ered by mere lungs. He rose, and roared back to the Jacobite, "And I sir, spit upon your James the Second Jerrold, who had been listening to the up- roar in silence, hereupon rung the bell, and shouted, "Waiter, spittoons for two! COUNT D'OKSAY'S COAT.-The name of DrOrsay was attached by tailors to any kind of raiment, till Yes- tris tried to turn the Count into ridicule. Applica- tion was made to his tailor for a coat made exactly after the Count's pattern. The man sent notice of it to his patron,, asking whether he should supply the order, and the answer being in the affirmative, the garment was made and sent home. No doubt D'Orsay imagined that some enthusiastic admirer had in this way sought to testify his appreciation, but on going to the Olympic Theatre to witness anew piece, he-had the gratification of seeing his coat worn by Liston as a burlesque of himself.—Hon. Grardley Te)-ke'ey's Life A collection of errors of the press of the malignant type would be amongst the curiosities of literature. Bayle records several curious specimens. In the loyal Courier of former, days it appears that his Majesty George IV. had a fit of the gout at Brighton. We have seen advertised a sermon, by a celebrated divine, on the Immorality of the Soul, and also the Lies of the' Poets. Lies is indeed more dangerous, a single letter more or less making a lie. Glory, too, is liable to the same mischance, the dropping of the- liquid making it all gory. What is treason, asked a wag, but, reason to a t ? which t an accident of the press may displace with the most awkward effect. Imagine an historical character impeached for reasonable practices. NEWS FOR THE NURSERY.—We are informed that an enterprising American publisher is about to bring out a volume of nursery literature,, in which the stories and rhymes of the exploded old country' will be adapted to the tastes and understandings of young America. To-illustrate this we shall venture on a version in prose of Humpty Dumpty. "Hump- ty Dumpty sot hisself on a tall rail. Humpty Dump- ty dropt off his perch—ker-squash. And all the equi- pages, and all the livered menials of an effete monar- chical system was just a one-hoss affair as regar led the sottin' of that unfort'net cuss on that evcrListin' rail agin Moral :-The skreekin bird of Freedom what roosts on the zenith, with his head tied up in the star-spangled banner, rather kalklates that monar- chy is played out—some !"—Fan. "Never," said Theodore Hook, "let a man andhia wife play together at whist. There are always tele- graphs and if they fancy their looks are watched, they can always communicate by words. I found out that I could never win of Smigsmag and his wife.. I mentioned this one day, and was answered I No, you never can win of them.'—Why ? said 1. 'Because,' said my friend, they have established a code. Dear me said I,, signals by looks?'—' No/ said he, "by words. If Mrs. Smigsmag is to lead, Smig- smag says Dear, you begin." Dear begins with. "d," so does diamonds, and out comes one from the lady. If he has to lead, and she says, S., my love," she wants a spade. Harriett, my dear, how long you are sorting your cards." Mrs. Smigsmag stumps down a heart, and a gentle Come) my love," on either side, produces a club.' Of all the queer stories about morbid scrupulosity-the queerest is told of a certain Spanish abbess and one of her nuns, when proceeding on a journey which it was a matter of life and death to complete with the utmost speed. The man who drove the mules of their carriage was urging his beasts to speed with the usual profuse oaths and blasphemies which are in vogue with Spanish muleteers in general, and the pious ears of the two nuns were so shocked at what they heard that they insisted upon the man's abstaining from the offensive words. The mules, not hearing the accus- tomed objurgations, speedily slackened in their pace, and the driver informed the ladies that nothing but strongswearmg would make them move quickly. The nuns were at their wits' encl. Every half-hour was most precious but, upon the other hand, their con- sciences revolted at the idea of authorising such blas- phemies as they had been hearing. At length a happy thought struck one of them. The most odiously profane phrase is, of course made up of words which, I ta.ien singly may be of a perfectly innocent description. They, therefore, agreed to divide the muleteer s curs. ings into their component parts, and so, by assigning one word to the abbess, another to the sister, and a third to-the muleteer, and pronouncing their series in their proper order, the complete anathemas were made to reach the ears of the mules, while not one of the speakers could be considered guilty of uttering any- thing wrong. A GOOD STORY.—Of Peter Drummond, "minister's man" to a Rev. Mr. Gillies, the former incumbent of St. Monance parish, is told the following droll story: "At one time, when the coals in the manse were getting scarce, Peter had a horse yoked early in the morning, and was ready to drive off to the coal hill, when the minister came down to see that all was right-an interference which Peter who hadlongbeen his faithful servant, did not like, for he thought that he might have been trusted to go unheeded on a work of this kind, besides, the minister always threw in some "off put," and so it happened in the present instance. When the cart was just about starting, Mr. Gillies asked Peter if he had said his prayers. Deed, no sir,' answered Peter, remarkably honestly, vl had nae time, and was just, gaun to say them on the road.'—'Hout, tout,' said the minister. 'Go into the stable and say them before you go, and that will make it sure work.'—'Weel, then, said Pe er, very dryly, 'will you be so good as to haurl me the horse, an' then I'll gang in-bye an' pray.' The morning, which had been dull and showery, was still fair when Peter went into the stable, but he had not been there many minutes when the rain began to fall in torrents. Peter was in no hurry he seated himself on a sack of straw, from which he was eying the minister from a bole-window, and was loth to go out in the rain. Mr. Gillies at last lost patience, for be was nearly drenched to the skin, and cried out, Peter, are you no through yet ?'—'Very nearly sir,' answered Peter, 'but I hae twa or three sins to confess stili, which, perhaps, I may-do on the road. -Ay, jnst^o,' said the minister, who was glad to get riu ofjiis charge on any terms, and Peter got his own way."

Miss Charlotte Rano has left 5001. free of lagacy duty to the Windsor Royal Infirmary.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—MAY 27. THE CONVICT BURKE. Lord Derby, replying to a question from Lord Clarendon, announced that, in deference to a strong nml ccncr.l expression of opinion, the Government had advised Her Majesty to remit the capital penalty in the case of the Fenian convict Burke, and the Royal sanction to the exercise of mercy bad been received. ADMIRATTT, DIVORCE, AND PROBATE JUDGES. Upon the motion for the third reading of the office of Judge in the Admiralty, Divorce, and Probate Courts Bill, Lord Cranworth renewed his objections to an in- crc sc in the number of the judges, which, he contended was not needed if a proper distribution of the duties was made, and concluded by moving to defer the third read- ing for six months. The Lord Chancellor repeated the arguments he had advanced at an earlier stage in support of the Bill, which he declared to be necessary in the public in- terests, dwelling particularly upon the weakening of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in conse- quence of the compulsory non-attendance of the Judges of the Admiralty and Divorce and Probate Courts. The Bill was ultimately read a third time, after a division in which 86 voted in favour and 40 against that course. j HABEAS CORPUS SUSPENSION ACT. I Lord Derby having moved the second reading of the II M be as Corpus Suspension (Ireland) Act Continuance Bill, which he described as a necessary measure for the safety of the loyal and well-disposed in Ireland, Lord Russell admitted the necessity for the measure, and gave credit to the Government for the manner in which they had exercised the extraordinary powers con- ferred upon them. He also expressed satisfaction that the capital sentence upon Burke had been commuted, but imputed to the Premier an injudicious precipitancy in announcing that the final decision of the Cabinet had been adverse to a merciful consideration of the case. Reprobating insurrection an: armed attacks upon the defenders of the law, Lord Russell observed that the discontent existing in Ireland was patent and chronic flic causes of which he assigned to be the land question and the Church establishment,—matters which, he urged, should, for the interest of the empire, receive speedy consideration and decision. Lord Kimberley also enforced upon the Government the necessity of dealing with the questions, which occa- sioned persistent dissatisfaction in Ireland. Lords Clanricarde and Bandon supported the Bill, and, differing from the last speakers, denied that either the Land question or the Church question was the cause of the Fenian outbreak, which they attributed to foreign incitement and encouragement. After a few remarks from Lord Granville, who thought the social state of Ireland required immediate attention, and from Lord Bath, who attributed Irish discontent to persistent hostility towards the British Government. Lord Derby vindicated himself from the charge of precipitancy in stating the decision of the Cabinet in re- speet to the convict Burke, and, in refutation of the criticisms passed by Lord Kimberley upon the declared hope of the Government that a renewal of the Suspension Act might not be required, showed that at that time the number of prisoners under that Act had been reduced from 33y, the number they found in confinement when they assumed office, to 70; but a subsequent impulse from had rendered necessary the renewal of ex- ceptional legislation. He declined on that occasion to enter into the Church or the Land questions, and taunted Lord Russell with not having attempted to settle mat- ters which he regarded as so important during many years in which he had been a member of the Govern- ment. The Bill was then read a second time.

HOUSE OF LORDS-MAY 24. LONDON PARKS. Lord Redesdale introduced a Bill applying to the London parks the same regulations in respect of public meetings as were imposed by Sir F. Crossley in his grant of a park to the inhabitants of Halifax; upon which Lord Derby observed that the Government entertained no doubts as to the rights of the Crown over the Royal parks, and the only difficulty was as to the enforcement of penalties for the violation of those rights. The Bill was ultimately read a first time, Lord Redesdale declaring that he had only desired to bring the subject under the notice of the House and he had no desire to press the measure. CONSECRATION OF CHURCHYARDS. Lord Redesdale next moved the second reading of the Consecration of Churchyards' Bill, the object of which was to extend the benefits of consecration to any enlargement of already-consecrated grounds. The Archbishop of Canterbury having suggested an amendment to the first clause, Lord Ellenborongh raised the question whether con- seciation meant anything beyond the devotion to reli- gious uses of a particular building or place, and the ascertaining by the bishop that the legal conveyance was sufficient. The Bishop of Oxford, admitting the legal effect of consecration to be as thus described, observed that the religious feelings of the people had given a deeper mean- ing to the cereuionv of consecration. Afrer some further conversation the Bill was read a second time, after a division, in which 53 Peers voted in favour, and 12 against that course. Lord Derby having announced that the House would meet this day to read the Suspension of the Bafbeas Corpus Act in Ireland Bill a first time, The sitting was closed at 6 o'clock. ¡¡¡.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-MAY 24. THE REFORM BILLS. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (answering a ques- tion from Mr. Baxter relating to the Scotch Reform Bill) stated that, with the exception of matters of State exigency, the Government did not intend to proceed with any business whatever until the English Bill had passed through committee. Mr. Hodgkinson gave notice that he should oppose Mr. Disraeli's new clauses, and should in substitution move a clause absolutely abolishing the compounder without reference to any agreements, but giving facili- ties for recovering rates already assessed, and for the access to the register of compounders under unexpired contracts. Lord W. Hay, in calling attention to Sir S. North- cote's despatch relative to the claims of the Rajah of Mysore, entered at length into the circumstances of the original treaty of partition, arguing that it was a purely personal treaty, and in support of this theory he quoted from some contemporaneous memoranda which he had discovered among the Wellesley papers in the British Museum. He complained that Sir S. North- lote's despatch bad not touched on the question, but left it open and, adverting to Lord Cranborne's state- ment that Mysore was to be handed over to the young Rajah, to be administered on the same principles as at present, he drew attention to the extent to which European officials had been introduced into the country, insisting that if the country was to be restored we pught to revert to the old system of native agency under the superintendence of a handful of Europeans, which was the most popular form of government in India. It was not so much our disposition of native Princes which made us unpopular as the substitution of European officials, which deprived the natives of all opportunities of distinction in the public service. Mr. Smollett characterized Sir S. Northcote's des- patch as the most honest and straightforward which had issued from the India-office on this subject, though it was not in entire accordance with Lord Cranborne's language, and did not condemn in sufficiently strong language the unscrupulous views of the Indian officials who bad contemplated the annexation of Mysore. The original treaty, he maintained, was intended to be per- manent, and after the Queen's Proclamation, abandon- ing for ever the policy of annexation, the absorption of Mysore would be regarded n India as a gross breach of faith. He protested against the interpretation of the treaty being decided by an arbitrary Governor-General, backed by a crotchety Secretary of State; it was a legal question which ought to be decided by an impar- tial legal tribunal, and he agreed with Lord W. Hay that the system of native agency, which was more popular in native States and infinitely more economical ought to be restored. Sir H. Rawlinson expressed unreserved approbation of Sir S. Northcote's despatch, and argued that the treaty was permanent and dynastic, the mere fact of sovereignty involving the right of heritable succession. Adverting to a rumour that the Secretary of State had acted against the opinion of the majority of his Council he asserted that with one exception all the councillors who had had experience of native States were in favour of this policy, and he defended the part he bad taken in calling the attention of Parliament to the master. Colonel Sykes and Sir E. Colebrooke also spoke in warm approval of the decision of the Government and the dynastic character of the treaty. Mr. Laing, without intimating a decided personal Opinion as to the treaty, pointed out that hitherto all the weight of authority was against its dynastic character, and dilated on what he described as a mis- fortune—that the decision of successive Governors General and Indian Secretaries should be overruled by a Secretary just new to office, who could not be considered an Indian authority—on the tendency to concentrate the Government of India in England, qnd, on the importance of consistency in our Indian policy. Though not an advocate of annexation, he gave some reasons for concluding that Lord Dalhousie's policy had been beneficial to India. Mr. H. D. Seymour criticized the vagueness of the despatch, and insisted that Sir S. Northccte ought to give some opinion on the character of the treaty and after some observations from Mr. Stansfeld, Sir S. Northcote defended the decision of the Government and explained the steps he had taken, intimating that his object had been to avoid as much as possible entering into minute inquiry into the character of the treaty (which was open, no doubt, to argument on both sides). In coming to a decision he had been guided not so much by the language of the treaty as by a reference to the spirit of the arrangement Lord Wellesley intended to make and on the grounds le of general policy, and he canvassed minutely the trans- actions of 1799 with the view of showing that, though Lord Wellesley's idea was to hold Mysore in a depend- ent and subordinate position, he did not necessarily contemplate a future annexation. He defended next the policy of making arrangements for the future government of the country at once, in preference to leaving them open, enlarged on the importance of endeavouring to dcvelope the native talents for self- government, and disclaimed all idea of overriding the policy of his predecessors. Lord Cranborne cordially approved the action of his successor in overruling the majority of his Council, not only because he agreed in the policy he bad adopted, but because he noticed in the dissents of some councillors a tendenev to trench on the functions of the House of Commons. The despatch substantially carried out his own views and embodied the general opinion of the House of Commons, and he commended the wisdom of its silence on the law of the case, though his own opinion still inclined to the personal character of the treaty. With great power of language and felicity of illustration, he explained his reasons for advocating the maintenance of a few well-governed native States, which afforded opportunities for the development of the moral qualities of the natives, and in their simpler form of government might often produce more salutary effects than our complicated system. After some observations from Mr. Kinnaird the sub- ject dropped. The Attorney-General, in reply to Mr. Milner Gib- son. "-avc some explanations as to the state of the law resrc'tin0- the securities which arc required from the proprietors of small newspapers and other publications, assuring him that r.o new directions had been given as to prosecutions by the present Government, and declin- ing to bring in a Bill this Session for the repeal of these securities. Mr. Avrton mentioned that he had passed two Bills for the purpose through this House, and the rejection of tthe, last in the Lords had been brought about entirely 'by the management of the so-called Liberal Govern- ment then in office. Some conversation took place, started by Mr. C. Fortescue, and followed up by Mr. 0 Beirne and Dr. Bradv, on the inconvenience of delaving the introduce tion of the Irish Reform Bill until after Whitsuntide. The Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledged thit there had been delay. for which he took the responsi- bility. hut urged the pressure of public affairs, and promised that the bill should be brought in directly after Whitsuntide, and that ample time should be given before the second reading. Mr. Esmonde complained with some bitterness of the contempt with which Ireland had been treated and the O'Dotioghue asked whether the bill would be based on the same"'principles as the English bill, but received no reply. In Committee of Supply, the remaining votes in Class 3 and a vote of 1,700,000/. to payoff Exchequer Eonds were agreed to. The Habeas Corpus (Ireland) Suspension Act passed through Committee, and. the Standing Orders having been suspended, was read a third time and passed. Some other business was disposed of, and the House was "counted out" at a quarter to 2 o'clock, on a division taken on the motion for the adjournment of the debate on the question of the appointment of the ) Select Committee on Ecclesiastical Titles Act.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MAY 27. THE CONVICT BURKE. The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated (answering a question from the O'Donoghue) that the Queen, acting under the advice of the Government, had been pleased to remit the sentence of capital punishment passed on the Fenian convict Burke, and the ground of the advice given by the Cabinet was that within the last few days the divided state of public opinion had become so manifest in both countries that the punishment would not secure the deterring effect which it was their object to accomplish. This announcement was received with loud cheering. MORNING SITTINGS. The alterations in the Standing Orders necessary to- carry out the new arrangement for morning sittings were agreed to, the Chancellor of the Exchequer assent- ing to a suggestion of Mr. Bouver e to limit the experi- ment to the month of June, and arguing, in reply to a faint protest on behalf of private members, that their rights were rot being infringed, but would be made more efficacious, THE REFORM BILL, The House then went into committee on the Reform Bill, the actual business being prefaced by a preliminary statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, referring to his new compounders' clauses, expressed his surprise at the imputations of breach of faith made by Mr. Mill and others against the Government, and went through the incidents of the debate on Friday week to show that Mr. Hodgkinson had contemplated the sup- plementing of his amendment by some proviso for volun- tary compositions, something like the rider which. Mr. Childers had then given notice of, and that Mr. Glad- stone had strongly approved that rider as a great improvement on Mr. Hodgkinson's amendment. The Government draughtsman had been instructed to carry out the understanding the House had ar- rived at, and he contended that the new clause did embody both the letter and spirit of that under- standing—section 3, which had been so much objected to, being neither more nor less than Mr. Childers's rider. The Committee would have an opportunity of considering the clause, and if they rejected this particular part of it, he insisted that they would be re- jecting their own policy, and not that of the Govern- ment. Passing to the county franchise, Mr. Disraeli intimated that the Government distinctly refused to accept Mr. Kinglake's amendment (repealing the section of the Reform Act which provides that no person shall be entitled to vote for a county in respect of a tenement which would confer on him the right of voting for a, borough); and he earnestly warned the House to pause before accepting a proposal which, he hinted, would lead to very embarrassing consequences but with regard to the figure, being only desirous that the county fran- chise should be a. real county qualification, if tbe consent of the Government to Sir E. Dering s £ 12 line would facilitate the settlement of tne controversy, it would not be withheld. Mr. Mill denied that he had brought any charge o breach of faith against Mr. Disraeli at Saturday's meet ing, acknowledging that if any such charge had been made he had now completely acquitted himself. He was- quite aware that the objectionable part of the new clause was borrowed from the Liberal side, and from the first, he had strongly condemned Mr. Childer's rider. Mr. Childers disclaimed the credit of having sug- gested the objectionable section 3, reminding Mr. Dis- racli that he had boasted that the abolition of the com- pounder was the original policy of the Government, and pointing out various points in which his rider differed from the section. Mr. Gladstone acquitted-Mr. Disraeli completely of a preach of faith, maintaining that the undertaking of Friday week left him free to propose this arrangement for voluntary compos;tion, as all that; he had accepted was to carry out Mr. Hodgkinson's amendment without reference to Mr. Childer's rider. But he strongly ob- jected .0 the clause as it stood, for it would disturb the relations between landlord and tenant by introducing into them the consideration of the franchise. There ought to be a complete severance between compounding and the franchise, though he admitted that hereafter it might be necessary to sanction arrangements-for volun- tarv compositions,. Mr. Hodgkinson denied that be had ever assented to- Mr. Childers's rider and the Committee then proceeded with the consideration of Clause 4, commencing at the point on which two conflicting decisions were given last Thursday on Sir E. Colebrooke's proposal for the sup- pression of faggot votes, omitting the origiual words of the clause, premises of any tenure," but refusing to insert the word" dwelling-house." After a short con- versation Mr. Hardy's proposal to fill up the gap with the words lands and tenements was carried by a majority of 1—255 to 254. Sir E. Colebrooke then moved the insertion of the words with a dwelling- house," but the Committee rejected the proposal by 264 to 254. Mr Locke King next moved his amendment, fixing the county franchise at £10, which he said was an honest, well-understood line, which would be permanent and would obviate fresh agitation. Mr. Liddell opposed the amendment, on the ground that it would throw the county representation into the bands of the country towns. Mr. Bright urged that the adoption of the lower line would remove the feeling of inequality which must exist after the borough franchise had been lowered so exten- sively, and would prove the more permanent settlement, Mr. Pugh (speaking from the Conservative benches) uid Mr. Pease supported the £10 line, which was opposed by Mr. A. Egcrton and Lord Galway. The Chancellor of the Exchequer repeated that the Government would accept the X 12 line as a compromise, which would satisfy all moderate men, and urged the oinmittee, in terms of grave significance, not to throw serious obstacles to the future progress of the Bill by rejecting this settlement. Mr. Gladstone concurred with Mr. Bright that £ 10 would be the more permanent line, and intimated that be should vote for it if it were to a division but, as the 1 difference was hardly worth insisting on, he recom- mended Mr. King to accept the proffered compromise. Mr. L. King, following this advice, withdrew his amendment, and £12 was then inserted in the clause in | lieu of £ !5. Mr. H. Baillie moved an amendment requiring that half, at least, of the county occupation qualification shall be in land, but withdrew it after a short conver- sation, and Clause 4 was then declared to be agreed to. The intervening clauses up to 34 were postponed, and the committee proceeded to consider Mr. Disraeli's amended clause for the extinction of the compounder. Mr. Denman maintained that the readiest mode would be the simple repeal of the Small Tenements Act and all the local Acts, to which the Chancellor of tin Ex- chequer replied that it was impossible to do this, as many of those Acts embraced other purposes besides rating. The first two sections of the clause were agreed to, but the third and fourth, to which so much objection has been taken, were struck out on the motion of Mr. Ayrton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer jocularly re- marking that, though his respect for Mr. Childers bad not allowed him to give up his proposals without a dis- cussion, he could not insist on them further. I Mr. Ayrton moved the addition of a section providing that for houses held weekly the owner and the occupier shall both be rated, and the owner shall be liable if the occupier does not pay within two months after demand. It was supported by Mr. Gladstone, but opposed by Mr. Bright, Mr. Mill, M>. Hardy, and others, and was ulti- mately negatived without a division. A long conversa- tion followed on the best means of continuing the liability of owners of houses let out in separate apart- ments, and in the end a proviso, the joint composition of Mr. Ayrton and Sir R. Palmer, was adopted. Some verbal amendments were made in the other sections, and Clause 34 was declared to be agreed to amid consider- able cheering. On Clause 35, which relates to the first registration of the new voters, and which, owing to the changes in the other clauses, has been entirely re-drawn, the Chairman was ordered to leave the chair, the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer intimating that the bill would be taken again at two o'clock.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY.. MAY 28. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, the National Debt Bill and the Habeas Corpus Act Suspension (Ireland) t Bill were read a third time and passed. The House resumed the consideration in committee of the Increase of the Episcopate Bill, and considerable" discussion took place upon clauses proposed by Lord Grey, providing for the temporary appointment of assistant bishops, which with trifling alterations were agreed to. The Lord Chancellor then moved the second reading of the Statute Law Revision Bill, the object of which he stated, to be the continuance of the work of revision re i (ly partly executed. Lord Cranworth approved the Bill, which was read a second time.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TOTSDAT. THE REFORM BILL. In the House of Commons, the committee on the Re- form Bill was resumed at the morning sitting. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought up his amended clause 35, which, after considerable discus- sion, was agreed to, and the committee reverted to clause 5, which relates to the educational franchises. Sir E. Palmer, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Goldsmid op- posed the clause, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, reminding the House that the lodger franchise was not in being when these franchises were proposed, intimated that lie would not divide the committee on it. Clause 5 was then negatived, Mr. Fawcett and' Mr. Wyld complaining that all the proposals for restricting the enfranchisements of the Bill came from the Liberal side. Clause 6, which contains the pecuniary qualifications', was also opposed by Sir R. Palmer, and, after a short conversation, The Chancelle- of the Exchequer gave it up, remark- ing (in reference to the complaints of Mr. Wyld and Mr. Fawcett) that if he did not persist with it, it was ma inly in deference to the-influence of the reactionary part y." Clause 6 was then negatived, as was also Clause 7— the dual vote clause and the committee, having thus completed all the franchise part of the Bill, WaS ad- journed until Thursday. In accordance with the new rule the sitting was sus- pended at seven o'clock, and on rc-assembling at nine the 1'Iouse was counted out (after one unavailing at- tempt) without proceeding to business-. There were thirty-eight members present, of whom the principal members of the Government furnished a considerable proportion. The Opposition benches were conspieuous by their vacancy.

THE FENIAN CONVICTS M'CLURE AND KELLY. The Speeches of the. Fenian convicts M'Clnre and Kelly, in Cork, before sentence was passed upon them, differed but little from those of Burke and M'Cafferty in Dublin. The expectation that MICIure would acknowledge regret for his crime was disappointed. He refused to express a sorrow he did not feel with regard to his well-meant exertions for this oppressed land." He was satisfied with the righteousness of his every act in the late revolutionary move nent; he had been actuated by the holy desire to assist in the eman- cipation of an enslaved but generous people, and he had derived more pleasure from having done what he could for that purpose than from any event which had occurred to him during his eventful though youthful existence; He wished it to, be distinctly understood, standing as he did perhaps on the brink of an early grave, that he was no filibuster or free- booter, and that he had no object or advance- ment to gain in coming to Ireland; he came solely through love of the country and its people. If he- bad forfeited his life, he was ready to abide the issue. If devotion to a distressed people was- a crime, he was willing to receive the penalty, knowing, as he did, that the cause was just, and that what he had done was to aid a people who would appreciate and honour a man, though not a countryman of their own, who was ready to suffer in defence of those divine American prin- ciples of the right of self-government." McClure had committed this speech to memory, and had several times a difficulty in recollecting it. Kelly, on the other hand, spoke fluently. He thanked the jury for their re- commendation to mercy, but knowing what that mercy was, he hoped it would not be acceded to. Why should he fear death? What was death? The mere passing from this life into the next. He trusted to have pardon of his sins, and he left dread of death to such desperate wretches as Corydon and Massey-" Corydon, a name once so suggestive of sweetness and peace, now represented by a loathsome mass of filth." Chief Jus- tice Monahan having arrested the convict in this line of remark, he went on to say that remembering that since England had obtained a footing in Ireland every generation in Ireland had risen to protest with their blood against the occupation of our native soil by the English, surely that is a reason why sentence should not be passed upon me." He believed that in the insur- rection he had done right. Next to serving his Creator, there was no more solemn duty than to serve his country. The judge said tha jury had humanely recommended them to mercy, but the court bad no power whatever in the case. The recommendation would be forwarded to the Lord-Lieutenant, but no hope that it would be attendod to could be held out. In the 1(, case of James Walsh, alias Colonel O'Brien, next tried in Cork for high treason, evidence was given of the meeting of 2,000 Fenians near Cork, at a place called Prayer-hill, on the 5th of March. They marched under command of the prisoner, and of a Captain Mackey, to attack Ballyknockayne police barrack, tearing up the rails and breaking the telegraph poles as they passed on. At Bottle-hill, when the military were seen, a Fenian fired upon them the military returned the fire, and then," added the witness, an approver named McCarthy, | « we all ran away as fast as we could."

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO HIS' ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE CONSORT. The foundation of the secon metropolitan Memorial to his Royal Highness the Prince Consort having been laid with a degree of pomp and splendour calculated to throw into the shade the National Memorial nich is quietly rising on the opposite side of the way, a few details of the progress of this stately monument may not be uninterestiner to our readers. It will be remembered that on the abandonment of the intention to raise a vast monolithic obelisk, which was the first ideal form for the Memorial, several of the most eminent architects were invited to submit designs, and that of Mr. G. Gilbert Scott, R.A., was selected. Mr. Scott's design, though in some sense a "memorial cross," differs widely in type from the form usually described by that term. It is, in fact, a vast canopy or shrine, overshadowing a colossal statue of the personage to he commemorated, and itself enriched throughout with artistic illustrations of or allusions to the arts and sciences fostered by the Prince, and the virtues which adorned his character. The canopy or shrine which forms the main feature of the Memorial is raised upon a platform ap- proached on all sides by a vast double flight of steps, and stands upon a basement or podium rising from this elevated platform to a level of about 12 feet. Upon the angles of this podium stand the four great clusters of granite shafts that support the canopy, which is itself arched on each side from these massive pillars, each face being terminated by a gable, and each angle by a lofty pinnacle, while over all rises a jieche or enriched spire of metal work surmounted by a gemmed and floriated cross. Beneath the canopy, and raised upon a pedestal, will be placed the quasi- eii thron ed statue of the Prince Consort. Having thus hastily sketched the simple idea on which the monument is framed, we will proceed to describe the objects of art and decoration with which it is to be clothed, beginning, however, with a few words on its structure and materials. Tha idea of the architect in his desigii of the canopy, as stated in the printed paper which accompanied his first drawings, was this :-The first conception was a shrine. The exquisite metal and jewelled shrines of the 12th and 13th centuries arc nearly always ideal models of larger structures, but of structures of which the ori- ginal type never existed. Their pillars were of gold or sil-, er-gilt, enriched with wreaths of exquisite pattern- woik in many-coloured enamel. Their arches, gables, and other architectural features were either chased in beautiful foliage cut in gold or silver, or enriched with alternate plaques of enamel pattern work and of filigree studded with gems. Their roofs were covered with patterns of repousse work or enamel, and enriched with sculptured medallions; the crestings of roofs and ga- bles were grilled with exquisite open foliage in gold or silver, while every part was replete with sculpture, enamel paintings, and jewelry. The architect's aim, then, was to reproduce in some degree at full size the ideal structure which these wonder- ful old jewellers represented in model. This idea could not, of course, be literally carried out, but it has deter- mined the leading characteristics of the monument, and, at least so far as the metal work is concerned, is being faithfully acted on, while in the more massive parts of the structure i! cannot be carried further than to give its tone to the decorations. The four pillows which support the canopy consist each of eight shafts of polished granite, grouping round a central core." Four of these are of the beautiful red granite from the Ross of Mull, and are each two feet in diameter at the foot, but slightly tapering upwards. The other four are of a fine, dark grey granite from the Castle Wellan quarries in the north of Ireland. These are somewhat less than a foot in diameter. The bases are in two heights, the lower one being of the Ross of Mull granite, and the upper' being another variety from Castle Wellan, of a colour' almost approaching to black marble. The latter arc in' single stones, each of which, when unwrought, weighed about 15 tons. The working of each employed eight men for about 20 weeks, and is probably one of the most highly-finished and costly pieces of work executed in granite in modern times, every moulding being wrought with the utmost precision, and brought to the finest polish. The base and capping mouldings of the podium are of two-varieties of the Ross of Mull granite, also highly polished. The structural parts of the canopy, such as its arches, &cr., are of Portland stone, and the capitals of the great pillars are carved out of vast blocks from the quarries of Mr. Whitworth, Darley Dale, in Derbyshire. The stonework will be richly carved, and; the carved surfaces gilt and enriched by studs of coloured enamel and polished-stones, as will the surfaces of the pinnacles, the cornices, &c., polished granite again from time to time appearing in conjuntion with the stonework. The pedestal which will support She statue of the Prince is polished granite and marble. In this part alone appears the exquisite pink granite from. Corrennac, a mountain some thirty miles from Aberdeen, where, in the absence of any quarry, the most beautiful of all British granites is found in the boulders which are strewed upon the mountain side. The dado of the pedestal, which is of marble, will be richly carve l, gilt, and gemmed, and will in front display the armorial bearings of the Prince. The steps, with the large pedestals which will support the groups of sculpture at the outer angles, are of-finely- wrought, but unpolished granite. The space which they occupy is 134 feet square. It should here be men- tioned that the whole of the works hitherto described have been executed by Mr. Ivelk, M.P., who at the outset chivalrously volunteered to undertake the execu- tion of the memorial without any profit. This he is doing to the letter, taking upon himself the responsi- bility of not exceeding the estimate even for works not strictly speaking his own, but returning so the fund any. profit which may be found to accrue. The whole of the granite and. stonework has been done on the building-ground under Mr. Kelk's director of the works, Mr. Cross, and more admirable work was probably never executed. The machinery* by which most of the granite-polishing has been executed was most perfect and interesting, though all the more intricate parts have had to be worked by hand. The work had been much delayed by the difficulty in procuring from Ireland the blocks for the bases of the columns, but is now advanced to the height of the cornice of the main structure, while the metal work of the fleche, -See., is nearly complete, and the sculpture steadily advancing. The central statue is being executed by the Baron Marochetti, R.A.. a sitting figure, about 13ft. 6in. high, in: bronze, gilt, and: in parts enamelled. The groups of sculpture at the outer angles of the steps are intended to have reference to the International Exhibitions and their contributors from all parts of the world, symbol- ical figures of the four quarters of the globe being introduced, seated on characteristic animals—as the bull, the elephant, the camel, and the bison—and surrounded by representative- figures of different coun- tries. These are being executed by Mr. M'Dowell, R.A., Mr. Foley, R.A., Mr. Theed, a Mr. Bell; each group will be about lift, high and 13ft. 4in. square at its base. On projecting counterforts at the angles of the po- dium will be found other groups representing allegorically Agriculture, Engineering, Commerce, and Manufacture. These will be by Mr. Weekes, R.A., Mr. Calder- Mar- shall, R.A., Mr. Thorneycroft. and Mr. Lawlor. The dado of the podium itself will present a continuous range of sculpture in altro-reiievo, containing in the manner of the Eemicycle des Beaux Arts, by Dalaroche, grouped statues, life-size, of the prin- cipal professors of Poetry (with Music), Paint- ing, Sculpture, and Architecture, the two former by Mr. H. H. Armstead, the two latter by Mr. J. B. Philip. Each of these sculptors has now modelled one side, a work of vast labour and study, and promising much success. The actual sculpture is in hand, and (as is the case with all which has yet been mentioned) is to- be executed in an intensely hard variety of what is vulgarly called Sicilian" marble, but known at the Caira quarries, where it is procured, as Cam- panella," from its. ringing like a bell. This marble, though harder than any usually imported into this country, has. been selected to ensure durability. All the groups of sculpture enumerated are in a state of considerable advancement. On the angles of the monument will be eight statues in bronze, parcel gilt, representing the sciences of astronomy, geology, chemistry, rhetoric, philosophy, physiology, and medi- cine. These are to be by Mr. H. H. Armstead and Mr. J. B. Philip. In the tympana of the gables and in the spandrils of the arches will be mosaic pictures relating to the arts whose professors are represented below, those in the gables being allegorical figures representing the Arts, and the spandrils illustrating their practical opera- tions. These will be executed in mosaic by Signor Salviati from cartoons by Mr. J. R. Clayton. The vaulting of the canopy will be enriched with mosaic. The architectural carving is being executed by Messrs. Farmer and Brindley, the well-known artists in that de- partment. The ornamental mctalwork comprising the fleche (rising to 160ft. from the ground), the roofs and gables, and the bands round the great pillars, are being executed by Mr. Skedmore, of Coventry. Thcjlèehe consists of an internal framework of iron clothed with a highly enriched exterior of lead and copper, and pro- fusely enriched with gold, enamel, inlayings, and polished stones. Nearly the whole of the metal work is already executed, and is probably the richest and most extensive piece of artistic work in metal which has ever been effected. It is here that the architect's thought of producing at full size the ideal structure which the ancient shrines represent in model has been most fully carried out. It is, in fact, an enlarged carrying out of the jeweller's work of the 13th century, such as is seen in the well-known shrines at Aix-la-Cliapellc, Cologne, Marburg, Tournai, &c., an idea which, if abnormal, may be excused by the fact that those works professed to be reduced models of a larger original. In the ornamentation of themetalwork will appear the armorial badges, mottoes, &c., of the Prince, and in niches in thejleche will be figures repre- senting the moral and Christian virtues, angels, &c., the whole surmounted by a large and highly enriched cross. The dedicatory inscription will surround the structure immediately below the main cornice. It is hoped that the main structure will be completed within a twelvemonth from this time, though the sculp- ture and mosaic pictures will occupy a longer period. It may he mentioned that the architect is most desirous of introducing into the gemming of the structure as many richly-coloured polished stones as may be possible, should such be presented during the progress of the works. None, however, will preserve their polish but such as are of a siiicious nature, as cornelians, crystal, porphyries, amethysts, and stones of a like nature. The management of the works, under her Majesty, is in the bands of an Executive Committee, consisting of the Hon. General Grey, Lord Torrington, Sir Thomas Bid- dulph, Sir Alexander Spearman, and Mr. Layard, M.P. The late Sir Charles Phipps and Sir Charles Eastlake were also members. The latter was associated with the architect in especial reference to matters of art not directly architectural, and has been succeeded in this charge by Mr. Luyard. It may be mentioned that the site on which the Memorial is being erected is, as nearly as may be, at the intersecting point of the central lines of the two great International Exhibitions originated by the Prince Consort.

1 THE NEW HOLBORN AMPHITHEATRE. Again we have an equestrian theatre—not merely an enclosed circus, but an edifice including both a stage and a ring, after the fashion to which the whole of the present generation, children of tender years excluded, have been familiarised by what we must still consider the normal condition of Astley's. Nevertheless, it was not at Astley's that the combination began, but at the present Surrey Theatre, when it was first opened as the "Royal Circus." Philip Astley, the founder of the house at the foot of Westminster-bridge, had for some years contented himself with performances in a ring, which he improved from time to time, and it was the licensing of the Royal Circus" with the ring and stage in 1783 which first prompted him to adopt the principle of his competitor. The combination continued at the Royal Circus" till 1809, when Mr. Alliston, after the destruction of Drury-lane by fire, took the house, and calling it the Surrey," covered over the ring. and con- verted it into a pit. At Astley's a stage looked down upon a ring until within the last five years or so, when Mr. Boucicault, naming the theatre the" Royal West- minster," performed an operation similar to that of Mr. Ellis-ton, and though the old name Jias been since re- stored to the edifice, the ring has not reappeared. At Crcmorne the combination was revived last year, but the Chelsca gardens lie beyond the reach of the mass of steady amusement-seekers, who like to find their plea- sures close at hand. The amphitheatre, therefore, opened on Saturday under the auspices of Messrs. M'Collum and Charman, is the sole equestrian theatre in London. The new house stands on the site of the former Metropolitan Horse Bazaar," close to Messrs. Day and Martin's blacking establishment, and nearly opposite the Inns of Court Hotel Its length is said to be 130 feet, the width being 68 feet from box to box. The private boxes form an important part of the interior, and are on a principle similar to that of the so-called family boxes" at the New Adelphi—that is to say, they form a semicircle in front of the house, a row of stalls, called the, -I Grand Balcony," being ranged imme- diately before them on the same tier. Above them is a gallery called the "Amphitheatre," containing the cheapest places in the house, the front row being parted off for Amphitheatre stalls." The ring is, of.course, surrounded by seats, but those which are called "Pit stalls" arc numbered, so that there is no ordinary Pit in the establishment. The decorations are of a very light and tasteful character, and the house, well filled on Saturday night, had a gay and brilliant appearance. The business of the ring at present constitutes by far the most important portion of the evening's entertain- meut; though in the case of the horse Zamor," which is seen surrounded by fireworks, the stage is used as an auxiliary to the ring. The only dramatic perform- ance is a short farce, called Grim Griffin Hotel, which concludes the whole, and. chiefly serves as a vehicle for some of Professor Pepper's admirable optical illusions. The depth of the stage is- at present very small; but we understand that if the enterprise proves successful it will be enlarged by the purchase of additional ground; at the back of the house, and rendered appropriate for dram atie spectacle. The equestrian and gymnastic company has- been selected'with great discrimination. The feats are of the most varied kind, and every one of them is executed to perfection. Mr. A. Bradbury, who, attired as & jockey, leaps on and off a bare-backed horse at full speed, fre- quently allowing it to [get the start of him by several feet;M. Gerard, who leaps through a large hollow cylinder of considerable length, and alights safely in his saddle; and Mdllc. Lambert, whose performance is of the so-called "Haute Ecole." are all first-rate eques- trians of their kind; the Delavaoti Family are known proficients in the most elaborate tumbling. A new artist, Captain Austin, works wonders with a musket, which he tosses about with frightful recklessness, the bayonet to all appearance, perpetually thrcatening-the occupants of the pit stalls and a number of efficient clowns, including Lcs Freres Daniel," a clever couple, who make eccentric use of the violin, display every quality proper to wit, brevity alone excepted. There is no doubt that to a very large section of the public the opening of the new Holborn Amphitheatre, even if it be regarded as aimere circus, supplies an im- portant omission in the list of amusements. Not long ago the Alhambra Palace seemed about to become a permanent equestrian establishment, but its occupation by Mr. F..Strange, as the head of a limited company, and the brilliant ballets produced under his management, have banis-bed horses from Leicester-square beyond the probability of a return, and an occasional visit to the Agricultural Hall, Islington, by some itinerant company, has of lato afforded the Londoners the only opportunity of seeing.their favourite horsemanship.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE. After an absence of seven months, and air a time when preparations for the resumption of the cattle traffic throughout the country ware just completed, the rinderpest has made its reappearance in Shropshire in a very malignant type. The farm. on which it has bioken out is one in the occupation of Mr. John Ravenshaw, situate at Ash, near Whitchurch, a portion of the county where the rinderpest originally made its earliest appear- ance, and where it proved the- most destructive. On Fridav one of Mr. Ravenshaw's cows, a strong two- year-old heifer, suddenly manifested the well-known symptoms of the plague, and; on the arrival of Mr. Cartwright, the Government inspector for the district, he pronounced it to be a very bad case, and. ordered the immediate slaughter of the beast. Mr. Cartwright communicated the facts to the local authority, and on Saturday last a special meeting of that body was held in Shrewsbury, when it was- decided to direct the im- mediate slaughter of the rest; of Mr. Ravenshaw's stock, consisting of twenty-five head of cattle, and to declare the district in which his farm is situated to be infected, thereby strictly prohibiting any movement of cattle across'the border. The occurrence of this outbreak at the present moment will inflict considerable loss and in- convenience upon all connected with the cattle trade of the district, as only so lately as Tuesday last permission to hold sales of cattle by auction was. received from the Privy Council, and announcements of tje resumption of this long-suspended traffic in all parts of the county are advertised i.4 the current issues of the local papers. These will now, however, have to be withdrawn, the magistrates having requested the authorities in London to cancel their licence. The last case of cattle plague in Shropshire was reported on the 18th of October, and it occurred on a farm only about four miles from the one on which it has now reappeared.

ROEAL COMMISSIONS AND THEIR COST.—A return issued on Saturday shows that 47 Royal commissions were issued from 1841 to the present time, the expenses amounting to E75,953 14s. 4d. The total aggregate expense of commissions of inquiry since 1830 amounted ito Y,971,699 ts. lid. SCHOOLS FOR POOR PARISHES.—The finance com- mittee of the National Society for Promoting the Edu- cation of the Poor in the Principles of the Church of England have just set apart the sum of Y,5,000 to enable them to increase their ordinary grants for build- ing schoolrooms whenever applications come from the poorer parishes in thinly-populated districts of England and Wales. There are some parishes the population of which is too small to require separate schools, and these are often united with others for school purposes but doubtless there are yet many places which need schoolrooms, and could support schools when once established.. SOMETHING LIKE BANKRUPTCY.—There is at this moment under adjudication in the Bankruptcy Court at Birmingham, the case of one Cresswell, late of Tipton, ironmaster, also concerned in the Rhos-hall Iron Company. It was stated in the court on Friday by Mr. Griffin, who appeared for the official assignee, that the present liability is Y,174,000, whilst the "only I', property" is put down at £ 375. QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF CHURCH- WARDEN.—The Venerable Archdeacon Greenall held his annual visitation at the parish church, Stockport, on Tuesday. Mr. Tinker coinpl ined that his colleague, the vicar of Mottram's nomine although otherwise a respectable man, could not wri his own name. The archdeacon decided that as the office of churchwarden was of great antiquity, and established at a time when learning was very sparse, it was not a necessary qualifi- cation that a churchwarden should either read or write.