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

OUR MISCELLANY. KING'S DAUGHTERS.—Under the state of man. ners supposed to prevail in the days of the fairies, the road to a matrimonial union with Royalty was not so intricate or so narrow as during more historical periods. Indeed, whenever a king wanted some object to be carried out-a dragon to be killed, or a magical apple to be plucked—his very first expedient was to offer the hand of his daughter to any one who satisfied his wish, without regard to birth or social position. Competition, indeed, was not quite unlimited, a threat of decapitation in case of failure, which was faithfully carried out, exactly answering the purpose of a modern Civil Service examination in thinning the number of candidates for promotion.—" Venetian Tales," in All the Year Round. A LONG PEDIGREE.—This morning the Alvi- zoreh came to pay us a visit, attended by 24 ferashes to clear the way for him. He seemed a portly, good- natured, olive-complexioned man, talking no European language, so that Mr. Abbott kindly undertook the office of interpreter, though our conversation was not marked by any particular brilliancy, beginning with the compli- ments, and merging into the weather and the compara- tive antiquity of English and Persian families Our friend stated that one family, whose title of nobility extended back 3,000 years, was just extinguished through failure of heirs. Something like our Welsh pedigrees "About this time the flood occurred." -Half Round the Old World. By Viscount Pollinqton, M.A., F.R.G.S. WHAT THE ARMY IS MADE OF.—No sensible person can expect a better class of men for our army until better terms are offered them. Raise the social status of the soldier by holding out to him the prospect of a commission, if he can qualify by passing a certain educational test, and exhibit a proficiency in the details of drill and discipline bestow clerkships in the civil service on properly qualified military candidates on terms of equality with civilians; treat the soldier generally with the same respect and consideration you would bestow on any honest, persevering, and intelligent man in the nation; and then, but not till then, will men of a better stamp enter the ranks of the army to risk life, limb, health, and reputation and not till then will the discontent arising out of army grievances cease, and the country feel safe in having again a numerically efficient army to rely upon in any hour of need.-Once a Week. JEFFREYS AND THE FIDDLERS. Though Jeffreys delighted in music, he does not seem to have held its professors in high esteem. In the time of Charles II. musical artists of the humbler grades liked to be styled musitioners and on a certain occasion, when he was sitting as recorder for the city of London, George Jeffreys was greatly incensed by a witness, who, in a pompous voice, called himself a musitioner. With a sneer the recorder interposed, A musitioner I thought you were a fiddler." "I am a musitioner" the violinist answered stoutly. Oh, indeed!" croaked Jeffreys. "This is very important-highly important -extremely important! And pray, Mr. Witness, what is the difference between a musitioner and a fiddler 1" With fortunate readiness the man answered, "As much, sir, as there is between a pair of bagpipes and a re- corder.—JeaffrcsorC s Book about Lawyers. SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.—As for Sara, in her reflections on the subject, it occurred to her as very pro- bable that Mr. Powys was coming early, and she stayed in-doors accordingly. She put herself into her favourite corner by the window-tbat window which was close to the CLmde-and took a little pile of books with her. Sunday afternoon, especially when one is very young, is a difficult moment. One never knows exactly what one ought to read. Such, at least, was Sara's experience. Novels, except under very rare and pressing circum- stances, were clearly inadmissible-such circumstances, for instance, as having left your heroine in such a harrowing position that common charity required you to see her through it without delay. Any real good books-those books which it is a merit to read-were out of Sara's way.—" The Brownlows," in Blackwúod's Magazine. TRICKS UPON RAILWAY TRAVELLEP.S.-By way of speaking a word in due season, let me tell my readers what happened to a traveller on the Brighton line. A year or two back this gentleman had occasion to go to Brighton, and, on arriving at the ticket plat- form, the collector came as usual to the door of the carriage. Upon this the traveller in question, as one often does, received the tickets from the remaining in- mates and gave them to the official. "Only nine here, sir," said the man, and there's ten in the carriage." Oh, indeed; I didn't count them," returned the gentleman. Then, looking smilingly round, he con- tinued- who hasn't given me a ticket ?" A dead silence was the reply. Come, sir," urged the col- lector; "I can't stop here all day." "Well, but, my good fellow," exclaimed the passenger, the nature of the dilemma beginning to dawn upon him, somebody has got a ticket, or else hasn't got a ticket. Did you give me yours, sir ? He repeated this question all round, the collector growing more impatient, and finally bad to pay his own fare all the way from London, besides being suspected of a desire to defraud the company. Some crafty one had speculated on this handing up the tickets taking place, and the unlucky gentleman suffered for his politeness-which, I presume, he has never since re- peated.-Cassell's Magazine. ST. JAMES'S-PARK ON A MAY MORNING.—Two perambulators only were circling round the Ornamental Water the blue-nosed babies scowled at one another as they passed, and the red-wristed propellers gave each other a glance of sulky sympathy, as fellow martyrs to mistresses' insanely insolent oppression. A small per- centage of the usual sad and seedy occupants of the park benches sat upon them as usual in sombre silence —the only expression in their lack-lustre, hopeless eyes, intimating an intention, apparently, of going on sitting there-poor shabby Theseuses-for ever upon one, a pair of idiotic lovers billed and cooed with chat- tering teeth; but otherwise they were untenanted, the sparse representatives of the general public foolish enough to frequent the park on such a day having for the most part, nevertheless, sense enough left to keep themselves warm by taking active exercise. The woman in charge of the wire and wooden chairs, artfully arranged to lure the inexperienced into a belief that they are provided by a paternal Government for the gratui- tous accommodation of its lieges, now lurked in corners, and now made zig-zag dashes like a hungry spider, in faint hope that some weary fly might fall, or had fallen, into her web. Angrily she shook the courier's bag dangling at her side, which returned no grateful clink of clashing coppers. A smoking bricklayer's labourer, a solemn guardsman, a tailor on strike, Mid three small children, hung over the Suspension-bridge, stolidly watching a wherry, eccentrically pulled by two little bare and bullet-headed Bluecoat boys, with alternate strokes, two hobbydehoys in two other boats doggedly fouling each other without the interchange of a syllable, and a Cockney canoeman somewhat splash- ingly playing his paddle and poetically fancying himself —as indeed, so far as climate was concerned, he might have done without any great stretch of imagination-& Red Indian afloat upon a Canadian lake. The other craft, which on bright days skim the dimpled pond like dragon-flies, were all clustered at the hiring- places, chafing their sides as if to keep themselves warm, and giving one another spiteful pokes with their sharp converged noses. The black swans sulked as if they wished themselves back in Australia. The other water-fowl tucked up their toes, and held a meeting of the unemployed" under the lee of the boom that stretches across the pond. A sour-looking old gentleman in muffetees and a comforter was the only one upon the banks who made a show of crumbs, and he was a deceiver. He beguiled the ducks ashore by proffers of biscuit, and then threw it over their heads to the sparrows, who carried it off to the trees in triumph, whilst the quacking waddlers toiled after them in vain. A clammy grey mist hung over the water, the flower beds, and the lawns clumps of trees, only a few yards off, dipped their branches in an upper lake of vapour which covered half their stems.-Argosy, for August.

V, TTHE COURT. 0 THE Queen and the junior members of the Royal Family are at Osborne. Her Majesty has been suffering from slight headaches, but has been enabled to take the customary pedestrian and carriage exercise. The Lancet, in speaking of the health of the Queen, says "When, a fortnight since, we stated that we had good grounds for making public the reasons which prevented her Majesty from appearing at evening crowded assem- blies, the statement was accepted by the vast majority of the press and the public as neither exaggerated nor incorrect. There have, however, been some exceptions to this rule. These would be scarcely worthy of notice had not the writers assumed that they were more or less authorised to impugn the accuracy of the paragraph which appeared in the Lancet. Upon a sub- ject of so much delicacy we spoke with what we believe to have been a becoming and justifiable reserve. Our report was in no respect sensational or over-stated. It was a plain narration of facts, which, in justice to her Majesty and to the source from which we obtained it, we felt bound to make public. The appearance of the Queen in public on a recent occasion was followed by a most distressing attack of sickness and exhaustion, which lasted for several hours. The inner life of the Court is necessarily known to but few even those in immediate attendance upon the Queen are not always in a position to arrive at a correct know- ledge of her Majesty's real condition. The privacy of the Sovereign should be as much respected as that of the humblest of her subjects. There are occasions, how- ever, on which even that privacy may be held too sacred. This is more especially the case when erroneous reports have gained general credence. Then it is right to be known that her Majesty, with the greatest desire to fulfil all those duties which appertain to her dignity or her hospitality, is occasionally prevented from perform- ing them by bodily suiTeriug of a character most difficult to be borne." THE Prince and Princess of Wales are residing at Marlborough-house. The health of the Princess is im- proving, and her Royal Highness lias been enabled to walk in the grounds with slight assistance. The Prince of Wales presided at a meeting of the Council of his Royal Highness, held at the office of the Duchy of Corn- wall, Buckingham-gate, St. James's-park, on Monday. There were present Lord Portman, Lord Warden of the Stannaries; Sir William John Alexander, Attorney- General General Sir William Thomas Knollys, Comp- troller of the Household of his Royal Highness Herbert William Fisher, Esq., Keeper of the Privy Seal; and the Earl of Leicester. Mr. Bateman, the secretary, attended as Clerk of the Council. The same day the Prince of Wales received his Excellency the Austrian Ambassador at Marlborough-house, N,iio presented to his Royal Highness the insignia of the Order of St. Stephen, together with an autograph letter from his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Austria. SEVERAL almshouses were recently erected in Margate to commemorate the safe arrival of the Princess Alexandra off that port prior to her marriage with his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. A bazaar is about to be held in furtherance of the objects of the charity, and her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, in a letter enclosing a cheque for £ 21, wishes "every success to a charity the foundation of which is connected with so interesting an event in her life as her first arrival off England."

POLITICAL GOSSIP. THE John Bull says that the Secretary of State for the Home Department hat appointed Mr. Alfred Sep- timus Palmer to the Inspectorship of Mines, vacant by the death of Mr. Verner. IT is understood that the report of the Marriage Law Commission will not be ready much before the meeting of Parliament next year. THE Chief Registrarship of the Irish Court of Bank- ruptcy, a situation worth about .£800 per annum, is, it is understood, about to become vacant by the retirement of Mr. Cheyne Brady. IN addition to Lord Ranelagh, Mr. W. Dilke, and Sir H. Hoare, already in the field, the names of Mr. Thomas Carlyle and Mr. Goldwin Smith are mentioned as pro- bable candidates for the representation of Chelsea. MR. KERR, member for Downpatrick, has announced his intention to resign. The Northern Whig says that Mr. Keoun (Conservative), brother-in-law of the new Bishop of Derry, will be returned without opposition. MR. E. W. WATKIN, M.P., is to receive the honour of knighthood as an acknowledgment of his services in connection with the Intercolonial Railway. A similar honour is to be conferred on Mr. W. H. Bodkin, Assis- tant-judge of the Middlesex Sessions. A PETITION, signed by a chemist and an oilman, has been presented to the House of Commons, in which it is alleged that Mr. Jackson, the recently returned member for Coventry, was, both personally and by his agents, guilty of bribery, treating, and intimidation. A PROFESSIONAL contemporary states that some of the most eminent shipbuilding firms have during the week sent in tenders for the construction of an armour-clad Monitor for Melbourne. She is to be 2,107 tons burthen, twin screws, and as she is intended solely for coast defence, she should not have any masts, and should be very low in the water. THE Owl says it is generally believed in the lobbies of the House of Commons, that the Government, content with the two majorities they have obtained on the question, and in deference to the wishes of many of their supporters, will remain satisfied, for this session, with the progress they have made with the Public Parks Bill. Ma. WARREN, the Irish Solicitor-General, has received & requisition, signed by the Yioe-Provost of Dublin University and many other distinguished members, call- ing upon him to become a candidate for the seat which is expected to be soon rendered vacant by the promotion of the Attorney-General, and has agreed to stand. THE Hon. H. G. Elliot is to be congratulated on his rapid progress in the diplomatic career to which he has dedicated himself. From being an unofficial resident at Rome, he became Minister at Florence. He is now, it is said, to succeed Lord Lyons as Ambassador at Con- stantinople. Lord Lyons, our readers have been already informed, takes the post so long filled by Lord Cowley, as representative of her Majesty's Government in Paris. LORD H. THYNXE, brother of the Marquis of Bath, and one of the members for South Wilts, has taken the opportunity of unbosoming himself. At the Chippen- ham agricultural dinner the other day he did not hesi- tate to say that every pledge which Lord Derby made when he called his party together in Downing-street has been broken." He further avows his belief that 61 the only principle which has influenced the Govern- ment in this matter has been that of place, pay, and patronage. The result will, he confidently predicts, be to throw the representation into the towns and to annihilate the counties." IT is affirmed, on what appears to be good authority, I that the Emperor and Empress of the French are about to pay a private visit to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Austria. The object of this visit is the manifestation of the deep sorrow felt by their Imperial Majesties in the sad fate of Maximilian, and of the sympathy which they feel with Francis Joseph in his most melancholy bereavement. The arrangement for an interchange of condolences is, under the circumstances, a touching evidence of the high and fine feelings which prevail on both sides. THE negotiations which for some time past have been going on between a deputation representing the majority of the railways in Ireland and a committee of the Cabinet has been brought to a close. The committee requested information on various points connected with the railways of Ireland, and which were distinctly specified. The result of the negotiations has been that at the sitting of the House on Friday-or rather on Saturday morning—Lord Naas moved for and obtained leave to introduce a bill to amend and extend, as to railways in Ireland, the provisions of an Act of the 7th and 8th years of Victoria, intituled, An Act to attach certain conditions to the construction of future railways authorised or to be authorised by any Act of the present or succeeding Sessions of Parliament; and for other purposes in relation to railways." The bill was read a second time on Monday, when its provisions were fully explained. The principal provisions of the bill provide for a complete and searching inquiry into the present condition of the railways in Ireland, it being very properly considered that before any action can be taken in the matter of the purchase or management of those undertakes the Government should be made fully aware of the exact condition of the property.

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &e. t A COPY of the first edition of Burn's poems, printed at Kilmarnock, was sold in London a few days ago for .£13. A LEIPZIG bookseller announces that he is about to publish the works of the late Emperor Maximilian. They will form seven volumes, of which four are already in the hands of the printer. This publication takes place at the express desire of the Emperor Francis Joseph. HANDICRAFTSMEN and Capitalists their Organisa- tion at Home and Abroad," by H. Herries Creed and Walter Williams, is the title of a work republished from the Times, being a series of papers on all-important subjects. Mr. Creed has added a preface to the book, which also possesses a map of the coal-fields of Belgium. "BRUSSELS, Malines, and Louvain," by Charles Sulley, is a little volume for intending visiters to por- tions of Belgium, being a conveniently-shaped guide to the antiquities and works of art they will encounter. Much curious information may be gleaned from its pages. IN music we have The Tender Time of May:" Song. Written by L. H. F. du Terreaux composed by Mr. W. Balfe. Mr. du Terreaux has written some admirable lyric verses, but none better than these. Mr. Balfe's music is worthy of the words, and well expresses their sentiment. "THE Dream of St. Jerome:" Sacred song by Beethoven. Apart from the beauty of its melody, this piece has a classic interest attached to it through being mentioned by Thackeray in his Adventures of Philip." It always sooths and charms me," said the great writer. After this, its absence from the vocal treasures of any household is an omission beyond excuse. LONG Live the Belgians Brave:" Song of welcome in honour of the Belgian visit arranged from the Belgian national air, La Brabanconne." Much cannot be said of the poetry of this song it by no means equals in bathos the famous Bartholomew ode to the Sultan. It serves its purpose well enough, however, which was to wed an English welcome to the Belgian national air. The music is arranged in a spirited style, and, apart from its national character, is by no means deficient in interest. THE Liverpool Academy are holding an exhibition this year at Griffith's Gallery in that town. The 12th of August was the last day appointed for the reception of works. The second exhibition, which has hitherto been held in Liverpool, is now discontinued, so that this will be the only one. It is the 40th under the Academy's management. THE ordinary visitor to the National Portrait Gallery, at South Kensington, will be pleased with the immense variety of subject and of costume, and interested in scanning the lineaments of those whom wit or beauty has made famous. The lovely sisters Gunning, for in- stance, or the dashing Duchess of Devonshire, all of whom played so conspicuous a part in the days of our grandfathers. The portraits, by the way, are not always complimented as we should like to see them, says a con- temporary, and certain "sets" are deficient in their more notable members. This, no doubt, was difficult to accom- plish. Where, for example, is Jean Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon, a contemporary of the Duchess of Devonshire, and a much more charmingly audacious woman ? The same reason is no doubt applicable here as holds good in the case of Gainsborough's famous full-length of the divine Mrs. Graham, to drown the sorrow for whose death her husband, Mr. Graham, of Balgownan, rushed to the wars, and fought his way to title and renown. He died Lord Lynedoch. The committee, we understand, tried hard to obtain this matchless Gainsborough, but could not, and were obliged to rest contented with the present half- length of the gentle beauty by the same master. It is numbered 463. The student of history, aàill, will get more insight here into what manner of men those makers of history were than he will obtain in a whole month's reading at the British Museum. The portraits of the present collection, for instance, begin with 1688, and, with the exception of King William III., there was no man filled a larger or more pronounced space in the public estimation than Viscount Dundee. The unco guid among the Scotch call him the Bloody Clavers;" but the poetic sympathies of Sir Walter found utterance in a truer phrase and in his spirited ballad, the hero of Killiecrankie comes to us as a conquering paladin, under the nom de guerre of "Bonny Dundee." Now the annals of those times scarcely satisfy us as to the immense influence exercised by Graham of Claverhouse. It is true, he served in Holland under William Prince of Orange, and, by the way, saved his life at the battle of St. Neff, and was by the Highland people esteemed a competent soldier. It is true, moreover, that the blood of the gallant Grahams ran in his veins, and in their eyes that was no small matter but, on the contrary, was associated in their minds with much glory, although, a hundred miles farther north than the Braes of Athole, with much shame.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. THE Moons.-The Scotsman of the 5th of August says :—The shooting season opens on Monday, the 12th; but in consequence of the sad ravages made among grouse by disease in the spring months, the pros- pects of sportsmen in many districts of Perthshire have not been so discouraging for a long series of years. The distemper appears to have been most destructive in the Blairgowrie and Crieff districts of the county, and has on numerous moors completely cleared the stock of grouse, and in other places the birds are so scarce that there will be no shooting this season. In Rannoch and the north-west districts of the shire, however, there is a fair stock of grouse, and the young broods are rapidly improving in size and condition with the recent fine warm weather; but complaints are pretty general in regard to many broods being composed of small and late birds, and it will be at least the end of August before shooting can be commenced on several moors. In the Crieff district alone there are about 80,000 acres of unlet shootings. In the month of March one proprietor refused X600 of rent for a small moor, and immediately after disease broke out, and consequently the grounds would not let. Black game are abundant, and have suffered little from disease compared with grouse. The broods, though much later than usual, are improving fast, and, by the time the shooting opens, will afford excellent sport. Plover, snipe, &c., are plentiful, and the birds appear strong, healthy, and in fine condition. All descriptions of low country game are swarming, and more especially partridges, hares, wild duck, roe- deer and if there be a deficiency of sport on the hills this season, the prospects of sportsmen in the low country have seldom been so encouraging. In the pre- serves, pheasants are numerous—the young broods, which number from 10 to 14 birds each, are large and well-grown. In the Blackmount, Glenartney, and Tur- lem forests the herds of deer are numerous, and the animals have seldom at this season been seen in such fine condition. There are already to be seen numerous stags with splendid heads. Previous t8 the breaking out of disease among grouse the greater part of the Perthshire moors were let to tenants, and in many instances at nearly double the former rents but we understand that many of the proprietors have relieved tenants of their leases, for if shooting on many moors is to be prosecuted or persevered in this season the whole stock of grouse will be extinguished. There are good prospects for the sportsmen on the 12th in Caithness- shire. The keepers have seen no symptoms of disease, and report the birds plentiful and strong on the wing. PEDESTRIANISM. Upwards of 2,000 persons were present at the Royal Oak-park Grounds, Manchester, on Saturday, to witness a foot race, distance one mile and a half, between John Fleet, of Manchester, James Sanderson, of Whitworth, near Rochdale, and Robert M'Instray, of Glasgow, for a champion gold challenge cup and X75, the competitors having staked .£25 each. The cup was presented for competition by Mr. Cooper, the proprietor of the grounds, on the 23rd of February last, when it was won by Fleet, who held possession of it until last Saturday. One of the conditions was that the winner must hold possession of the cup for 18 months before it became his actual property, and be prepared to defend it during that period for £ 25 a side, on receiving six weeks' notice. The amount of speculation was not very extensive but Sanderson was the favourite at evens, 5 to 4 against Fleet, and 3 and 4 to 1 against M'Instray. The latter was thought by many to have a very remote chance of winning, having been defeated by Fleet by nine yards, a fortnight since, for the one mile champion challenge cup. An excellent start took place, when Sanderson immediately took the lead, Fleet second, and BlInstray third, about a yard separating each, in which position they passed the stand the first time round. On going down the back of the course the second time, M'Instray passed Fleet and went in pursuit of Sanderson, who was leading by about six yards. A short distance before reaching the turn into the straight, and when about 1,000 yards had been covered, the cham- pion of Scotland went to the front and increased the pace. On going down the back stretch of the course in the fourth and last lap, M'Instray was leading by 20 yards, and evidently running very fresh. About 200 yards from the finish Fleet resigned and when fairly in the straight, Sanderson, finding he had no chance of success, also ceased running, and' M'lnstrav won at his leisure. Time First quarter of a mile; 1m. 4sec.; half, 2m. [ lllsec. three-quarters, 3m. 15sec.; mile, 4m. 30sec. mile and a quarter, 5m. 39sec. mile and a half, I m. 2ilesec.-A race, distance 150 yards, was also run be- tween John Daniel and John Mason, both of Manchester, the latter receiving one yard start. The favourite (Mason) increased the distance as they proceeded, and won by two yards.—At the Copenhagen Grounds, New- ton-heath, J. Eckersley, of Tyldesley, and William Manchester, of Preston, met .to contend in a 440 yards race, for X10 a side. The betting was 2 to 1 on Manchester. Eckersley led until 100 yards from the finish, when Manchester passed him, and won easily by ten yards.—At the City Grounds, Bradford, near Manchester, the deciding heats of Mr. Waddacor s 110 yards handicap were contested, the opening heats of which were run on the previous Saturday. There were thirteen competitors, who ran in three heats. The deciding heat resulted thus J. Lee, Newton-moor, 15 yards start, 1; J. Ashworth, Hyde, 11, 2 W. Burke, Salford, 10, 3; J. Thirsk, Hulme, 13, 4. Betting Even on Lee, 4 to 1 any other. First prize, X5 second, zEl and third, 10s.

FACTS AND FACETIAE. DESIGNING MEN.—Architects. THE flowers of speech spring from the root of the tongue. HAPPINESS is a bird that owns no cige but the pure bosom. PEOPLE who travel into cannibal countries are apt to be turned into Indian meal. THE gas is reported to be so bad in Erie, Pa., that the boy who puts it out has to take a lautern to find the posts. AN Iowa newspaper is printed in red ink. An exchange says that the editor is determined to have his articles read. WHEN is a wagoner like the moon ?—When he's on the wain. WHEN is a shower like a piece of leather?—When it's a driving-rain. IN what head-dress is the wife of a smoker often seen at home ?-In a wreath of smoke. WHY is the early grass like a penknife?—Be- cause the spring brings out the blades. WHY does a bricklayer resemble a bird?—Be- cause he has often raised a wing and flue. WHY is the fish an eccentric animal ?—Because he will have his (s)whim. A SHIPMASTER who takes 44 any port in storm should be compelled to tell where he gets it. SOME people use one half their ingenuity to ger. into debt, and the other half to avoid paying it. THERE'S no knowing one's friends till they are tried," as the warder of the penitentiary said when one of his cousins was placed in his keeping. WHY are you always looking into the glass, madam?" "Sir, the glass I look into helps me to improve my appearance those you look into deg: ade yours." ON hearing a clergyman remark, The wond is full of change," Mrs. Partington said she could ItardJy bring her mind to believe it, so little found its way into her pocket. THE Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, describing his new organ says, "The swell died away in delicious suffocation, like one singing a sweet song under the bed- clothes." Now, then, Thomas, what are you burning off my writing-table?" said an author to his servant. Only one paper that's written all over; I haven't touched the clean," was the reply. THE Scripture says the glory of a woman is her hair," but it nowhere says that the glory of any woman is in any other woman's hair. WHAT is the reason of a blow leaving a blue mark after it ?" asked an inquiring young gentleman. "It's easily accounted for," answered a medical student; "for you know that blow in the perfect is blew." "My lord," said a barrister to a judge, every man who knows me, knows that I am incapable of lend- ing my aid to a mean cause." That's so," said his opponent the learned gentleman never lends himself te a mean cause he always gets cash down." AT a school in the North of England, during a lesson on the animal kingdom, the teacher put the fol- lowing question Can any boy name to me an animal of the order edentata-that is, a front tooth toothless animal ?" A boy (whose face beamed with pleasure at the prospect of a good mark) replied, "I can Well, what is the animal ?" My grandmother! replied the boy, with great glee SCOTCH PUNSTER.—A shoemaker of Aberdeen I had come into a fortune, after having fallen into several I misfortunes, chiefly from feminine causes. He sought to divorce his wife, and she sought to divorce him, and in I the various suits £ 2,000 or -93,000 was spent. Lord I Deas, during a dispute about the wife's expenses, asked, How would this shoemaker have got justice if he had 1 been obliged to stick to his last ? The Lord President instantly answered, He would have required to have 1 spent his awl." ARCHBISHOP WHATELY has remarked, It is no wonder that some English people have a taste for prosecuting on account of religion, since it is the first lesson that most are taught in their nurseries." Some- body expressed incredulity, denying that he, at least, had been taught it. "Are you sure?" replied Dr. Whately. What think you of this ?— Old Daddy Longlegs won't say his prayers, Take him by the left leg, and throw him downstairs.' If that is not, religious persecution, what is ?" A CURIOUS anecdote is told of an eminent judge, now dead. While a junior he had to speak of some questionable proceedings, and said, "Gentlemen I of the jury, the defendant had been amusing himself by flying kites." "Doing what ?" said the judge. "Flying kites, my lord; putting his name to accommodation bills." "Why are they called kites 1" "Why, my lord, there is a connection between the schoolboy's kite and the wind only there, the wind raises the kite, and here the kite raises the wind!" A CITY missionary, who was holding forth in a private circle on the sufferings of the poor in New York, and who dwelt particularly on the hardships to which washerwomen were exposed, was interrupted by a grave- looking gentleman present, who declared that he had no sympathy whatever for washerwomen, because, as a class, they were most unquestionably the cruellest portion of the human race. How so exclaimed the astonished missionary. "Because," replied the grave gentleman, they are always wringing and mangling the bosoms of men I AN ADDITIONAL GLASS.—In some of the crack up cafe saloons the following service is brought in: — Wine-glass, rummer, ice-glass, water carafe, carafon of rum, sugar-basin, cigar-glass, match-glass, and an additional glass, standing tall, with long cut barley and wheat straw. By the uninitiated the straws ¡ are mal-appropriated for pipe-lighting. The use of the I straws is to sip up the punch from the drinking-glass I without raising it from the table. No extra charge is made for straw the luxury of sucking leads to addi- tional consumption, which amply repays the landlord for the trifling outlay he does not reckon "worth a straw." A FEW weeks ago the father of a new-born In babe went to the registrar's office at Alyth to have the child's birth and name duly registered. This was done, and the name of a male child written down. Not long afterwards the mother of the child called upon the re- gistrar and stated that "the gudeman had made a mis- take." What is it ?" inquired the man of books. Jist this; ye ha'e registered a laddie insteed o' a lassie!" There was a fix But the gudewife was soon to rectify matters. "Jist score out the laddie an' put in the lassie To this the registrar could not assent, an Act of Parliament forbidding him, and in that state matters stood until the other day the parent and registrar had to appear before the sheriff and put things to rights. The sheriff expressed his amazement at the man being so stupid, but the latter very laconically replied that the bairn was thrivin' brawly in the name it had." ADULTERATION OF SNUFF.—Those who are in the habit of packing up their nasal organ what they believe to be the pulverised tobacco leaf are to have the consolation of knowing that the Inland Revenue officers are to be instructed not to challenge any snuff which has not more than 30 lbs. weight of the oxide of lime or magnesia in every 100 lbs. weight of what is sold under the name of snuff, and whether these oxides add to the delicious luxury of the flavour, or the pungency of the irritation, we cannot pretend to analyse such investi- gations had perhaps best be left to those who prefer to make themselves stucco images" by plastering up their olfactory organs with this 30 per cent. of calcined material. The compost, at all events, does not present to the imagination any very inviting temptation to use the snuff-box.

HINTS UPON GARDENING. + WORK FOR THE WEEK.—For some time past we have had little to do but to gather the results of our labours and to keep everything neat and trim-a state of mat- ters which will of course go on for a considerably longer time but the time is now arrived when several matters beyond the more routine work must be attended to. The principal autumn sowings of cabbage should now be made, choosing such varieties as the Fulham Early York, and Early Battersea, and Schilling's Queen, and also a pinch of the red variety. Sow also a late crop of endive, and plant out endive and lettuces from previous sowings. Endive is in capital condition in many gardens now, and should be tied up with bass mat as soon as ready for blanching. Sow some Early Horn carrots on a warm bor- der for use in spring, and sow the main crop of winter spinach in rich light ground. Make also sowings of nice eatable turnips, such as the orange jelly and white stone; for these also nice light rich soil is desirable. In some stiff cold soils it is nearly useless to sow them, as they do no good. Sow also small salads if you care for them, and black radishes. Far all these crops the time for sowing may vary with circumstances, soil, and climate, all of which must be judged of by the sagacious cultivator. It should be particularly noted that the Flanders spinach is the best for the winter. It is a round-seeded kind, unlike the common one, and the main crop of it should be sown rather thinly, on light soil and in a dry situation. The propagation of bedding plants should now be carrried out with all possible des- patch. Young vines should have every encourage- ment to make firm and well-ripened wood; plenty of air early in the day; the house to be shut and sprinkled early in the afternoon. Take care that red spider does not get hold of the foliage. If cal- ceolaria and cineraria seeds for next year's blooming are not sown by this time, it should be done at once it is nearly too late. Seeds of biennials should be sown now and as many of them are very showy and pretty, they are worthy of more attention than they usually receive. We particularly allude to such things as the bright rose Silene pendula, the Canterbury bell, Centaurea cyanus, and the wood forget-me-not; while those simple-coloured pansies, so much used for spring gardening of late years, may now be propagated with facility by cuttings.—Field,

AGRICULTURE. INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON FATTING. At a recent meeting of the Hexham Farmers' Club a paper was read on The Feeding of Fatting Cattle," by Mr. H. R. Goddard, from which we make the follow- ing extract A large portion of the food was consumed in the lungs, in order to maintain the animal heat; and, since the temperature of the body remained the same in winter as in summer, it followed that a greater con- sumption of the respiratory compounds occurred in cold weather. Warmth was therefore an equivalent for food. One illustration of this would suffice. On Lord Ducie's farm at Whitfield, some years since, 100 sheep were placed by 10 in covered pens these ate on an average 20 lbs. of swedes per day while another 100 in folds without shelter, but in other respects similar, con- sumed 25 lbs. daily. These, at the end of five months, were found not to have increased by 3 lbs. per head as much as the sheltered sheep, although they had eaten more food. If, therefore, they would economise, they must keep the cattle out of the cold and wet as much as possible. At the same time, they should see that all boxes and byres were well ventilated, though free from draught, or they should incur loss from another cause, for cattle would not fatten so fast if they were continually reeking in sweat. If they wished them to reap the full benefit of the food they supplied, and to lay on as much as possible, they should prevent their moving about more than was necessary, as all motion caused a waste of the tissues of the body, by increasing the rapidity of the respiration. In boxes and stalls these objects were accomplished, and the former possessed this additional advantage over folds-that the manure was kept from being washed and saturated by every shower of rain, and was of much better quality. They knew that in stalls, if not in boxes too, cattle required much less bedding than in folds straw was thus economised, and might be used to more advantage. Cattle in boxes required less attendance than those which were stall-fed, and seemed more at their ease than when tied up by the neck. A good plan was adopted on many farms of tying up the cattle in folds when they were being fed. This prevented all the knocking back which they so frequently saw, and ensured their all receiving alike; whereas when loose the strongest get the most. Two uprights were fixed on the manger, one of which moved, the head was received between them, and they were fastened by a collar at the top. The cattle soon learned to know their places, and they were thus quickly fastened up. In conclusion, he thought too much importance could not be attached to the constant supervision of the master. Men were not always quick to notice or to report if a beast was not going on well, and often careless about keeping the mangers clean and the cattle well bedded, points which materially influenced their comfort, and consequently their pro- gress." TREATMENT OF CURB IN HORSES. Counter-irritants seem to be inevitable in the treat- ment of the ills of horseflesh, and accordingly we may conclude that all the nostrums which are presumed to be efficacious in taking off a curb belong to the list. More ingenuity than is usual appears to have been exer- cised in the selection of remedies for this disease, and we have, therefore, a choice of specifics. The one which is held in the highest favour, and by some is guarded with the utmost jealousy on account of its presumed infalli- bility, deserves to be first introduced; it has no specific name that we remember, but it may be made by dis- solving corrosive sublimate in spirit of wine. The sub- limate should be triturated in a mortar with successive portions of the spirit, and each portion poured off until a strong solution is obtained. The clear fluid will be found sufficiently active if applied to the curb by means of a small brush, both skin and hair being well wetted. A second application may be necessary after a few hours, but generally considerable irritation is pro- duced almost immediately. Sometimes a large vesicle is formed but the great object is to get a thick scurf upon the surface of the skin, and then to leave the part untouched until this accumulation of cuticle and hair, matted together by the exudation which takes place, falls off, and leaves behind only a moiety of the original swelling. This process of taking off a curb is in many cases very effective, because there is first the counter- irritant action, next the pressure of the hard accumu- lation of cuticle, and lastly the rest, which is necessary during the treatment and to allow of the subsequent restoration of the hair which has been removed by the action of the agent. Another plan of treatment, less active, but hardly less effectual, and if well managed pro- ductive of no blemish, consists of the free use of the oil of turpentine (spirit of turpentine). The application may be safely made with friction immediately after the injury has taken place and, contrary to expectation, very little irritation follows, and the rubbing might be repeated daily or twice a day, for three or four days, without any loss of hair following. Under this treatment the en- largement frequently subsides, and the parts are per- fectly restored. The method, however, seems to be best adapted to recent cases of the disease. Biniodide of mercury is another very good counter-irritant, and is most effective when applied in a mild form of ointment daily until soreness of the skin and a thick scurf are produced the treatment may then be discontinued until the scurf falls off, when a repetition of the appli- cation will be proper if the enlargement is not materially reduced, or if lameness still exists. Firing, as a last resource, is often employed in old cases of curb which havebeen subjected to repeated sprains, and are associated with frequently recurring lameness. Whatever form of counter-irritation may be used, it must not, as a rule, be applied until the inflammation which follows the original injury has been removed by fomentations, cold lotions, and laxative medicine the animal being kept at rest, and a high-heeled shoe being adapted to the foot of the injured leg, for the purpose of relieving the tension of the part. In very slight cases this treatment will be sufficient to effect a cure, and in all cases it will remove or lessen the lameness but if much swelling still remains, or if lameness returns after exercise, the employment of some one of the methods of Counter- irritation, of an activity proportioned to the, character of the disease, will become necessary.

THE LEEDS BANKING COMPANY.—A FURTHER CALL.-The case of the Leeds Banking Company came before Mr. Buckley, the Chief Clerk, at Vice Chancellor Stuart's Chambers on Saturday, an application was then made by Mr. Lording, for the call order to be signed. The official liquidator, on Wednesday, asked for a further call of X50, which was opposed on the part of the shareholders. There had already been two calls made of X70 and £40, and the creditors had been paid 14s. in the pound, and it was urged that another call was necessary for the payment of the creditors. Th( Chief Clerk sanctioned'the call, and the order for th6 same had been prepared and only remained to be signed.

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A YOUNG FEMALE. r The inquest on the body of the young woman, Char- lotte Ann Collis, who is supposed to have met with a violent death in a field near Chelmsford, was again ad- journed on Thursday. It may be remembered that the deceased was in the service of a tradesman, and went out for a walk on the evening of last Sunday week. She did not return, and on the following morning her body was found in a wheat field, and there were some abrasions and marks on the upper part of her thighs. Mr. Gibson, the surgeon who examined the body, said the marks on the thighs had the appearance of being caused by finger-nails. The cause of death was congestion of the lungs, which might have arisen from suffocation. Considering the state of her lungs, any person getting his hand over her mouth or any other obstruction to respiration, would be likely to cause death. A report from Dr. Letheby, who ana- lysed the contents of the stomach, set forth that death had not been caused by poison. The boots worn by the deceased were produced, and it was stated that they bore some marks as if they had been trodden on by some person. Alice Bird stated that she met the deceased about seven o'clock on the Sunday evening in question, and a young man was walking with her. They were going up the New-road. He was dressed in dark clothes. The Coroner remarked upon the absence of evidence as to the cause of the marks on the body of the de- ceased, and suggested another adjournment, which was agreed to.

THE TRAGEDY AT LIMElIOUSE. Mr. Richards, the deputy coroner, resumed, on Friday, at the Salisbury Arms, Eastfield street, Limehouse, the investigation respecting the mysterious death, in a room at Temperance-cottage, North-street, Limehouse, of a young woman named Agnes Oakes, aged 22 years. The inquiry had been adjourned for the attendance of John Wiggins, a lighterman, who had stated that the deceased had cut his throat with a table knife and then nearly half severed her own head from her body. When a charge against the latter was entered on Friday at the police-station, the prisoner, who is a dark complexioned man of 35 years of age, made no statement. He is a short, stout, well-built, active- looking man. The Coroner read the following letter from Mr. Detchell, of the London Hospital:—" London Hospital, August 1,-Dear Sir,—On Mr. Hutchinson's visit to-day, he discharged John Wiggins as convalescent. The police will take him in charge to-morrow (Friday) morning. He is perfectly able to appear before the jury." Ultimately the coroner decided upon taking no further evidence until the prisoner Wiggins was present. In the course of the day, the prisoner was brought before Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, charged with the wilful murder of Agnes Oakes. He appeared perfectly recovered, and was quite collected, spoke in an audible voice, and frequently addressed the magistrate. Sarah Martini, wife of Alfred Martini, of No. 3, Rhodeswell-road, on the banks of the Regent's Canal, and the back of whose dwelling is facing the front of the prisoner's cottage, said that at 10 minutes to two o'clock on the morning of the 24th of July she was awoke by screams of murder proceeding from the direc- tion of the prisoner's dwelling. The screams were re- peated. She looked through her window, but could see nothing. She heard some words, and a female voice exclaim, You old you are murdering me." She put the blind down, and went to bed again, and without disturbing her husband. She was sure it was 10 minutes to two, because she looked at her own watch when she got out of bed. Directly after she returned to her bed the church clock struck two. Mr. James Horton, surgeon, of 12, High-street, Stepney, said: On the morning of the 24th of July, about half-past five o'clock, I was called to the prisoner's house, at the bottom of North-street. I saw him seated on a chair on the left side of the street, and with a wound on the left side of the throat. I did not particu- larly examine him then, but hastened on to Temperance- cottage, where he and his wife lived. I went upstairs, and in a room on the right hand I saw the deceased lying on her back on the floor, quite dead. Her head was under a chair, and her head was slightly raised, and resting on a rail of the chair. There was a sheet over the body, which only partially covered it. He first examined a wound on the throat of the deceased, extending below the left ear, of a semi-circular shape, an inch beyond the centre of the throat. It was a jagged wound, between four and five inches in length, and two other incisions in the skin on the left side, one above and the other below the main cut, running into it. The wound was deep, and penetrated as far as the spine on the left side, dividing the muscles, the large vessels extending across the throat, dividing the windpipe nearly an inch beyond it, and also dividing the left carotid artery and the jugular vein. Death might have taken place two or three hours when he first saw the body. He did not think it could be so recent as three-quarters of an hour when he saw the body. That was an opinion he formed by the symptoms he observed. There was a red neckcloth round the neck of the prisoner. His throat was bleeding profusely. In answer to a question by the magistrate, the witness said My opinion of that wound is that there is no doubt it was the cause of the woman's death, and it might have been inflicted by herself under very powerful excitement and determination. It is possible for a person to inflict such a wound on hferself if in a state almost amounting to frenzy. The prisoner, on being asked if he had any questions to put to Mr. Horton, entered into a very long state- ment. He said he lived on very bad terms with his late wife owing to her dissipated and drinking habits. She was continually pawning his clothes and things. On the Sun- day previous to her death she was drinking all day long. He frequently gave her a sovereign or a half-sovereign to procure food and other things for the house, but she spent the money in drink. On the morning in question he awoke at 20 minutes to four o'clock, and went down- stairs and ascertained what the time was. He returned to his room and lay down again, and his wife asked him to forgive her. He was dozing off to sleep, and she began cutting his throat. He raised his hand, and his thumb was cut. He never laid a hand on her. She cut her own throat. The prisoner then made the most solemn protestations of innocence, and concluded :— Before God and man, I am innocent. I hope I may be struck dead this very instant if I am not as innocent as the unborn baby." Mr. Bathurst Dove, surgeon, said he was house- surgeon at the London Hospital when the prisoner was brought there on the morning of the 24th ult. The wound on the throat might have been inflicted by the patient himself, or by another person. The direction of the wound was from left to right. The prisoner's clothes were then brought into court. They were stained with blood. A red neckerchief which the prisoner was wearing when he was first seen with his throat cut on the morning of the 24th July was pro- duced. It had been cut through many folds, but there was no corresponding wound on the neck, and no blood on the cuts in the neckerchief. There was one small stain of blood on another cut. The prisoner changed colour when the neckerchief was produced. Some other evidence was then given, and the prisoner denied having said to the policeman who accompanied him to the London Hospital that he saw his wife with the point of the knife in her throat, and turning it round. He asked to be allowed to attend the coroner's inquest to hear what was said against him. Mr. Paget thought that was a very reasonable request. Inspector Brady said the inquest was adjourned, and the coroner had written to the Home Secretary to allow the prisoner to attend. The prisoner then asked that bail might be taken for him, and said that he was employed by the most re- spectable firms on the river, and could procure bail to any amount but this request Mr. Paget refused to comply with, and remanded him.

NEW CHANCERY ACT.-On Tuesday the Act to make provision for the despatch of business in the Court of Appeal in Chancery was issued. It enables the two Lords Justices to hold separate courts, and Tuesday was the first day of the sittings. Lord Cairns sat as Lord Justice in his own court, and Lord Justice Rolt in the Lord Chancellor's Court. The new statute is to be read as one with the 14 and 15 Vic., c. 88, ap. pointing an appeal court in Chancery. STONE inquest was held in Upper North-street, Poplar, on Wednesday morning, on the body of Thomas Simpson, aged 11 years. It wac stated that on Tuesday, the 23rd ult., a boy named Ellis struck the deceased with a stone. He died on the 28th ult. Ellis denied having thrown any stone, in defiance of the statcments of witnesses to the contrary, and the coroner ordered him into custody. Dr. Bennett said that the deceased expired from the effects of chronic bronchitis, and not from the injury caused by the stone. The jury, with some reluctance, returned a verdict to that effect, and the boy Ellis was then severely repri. manded and discharged.

Triim EMPEROR AND EMPRESS were present on Friday evening at the representation of the American Cousin, with Mr. Sothern as Lord Dundreary. IN a school recently a teacher took occasion to relate an anecdote of the little girl who tried to over- come evil with good," by giving a New Testament to a bey who had ill-treated her. The story was appreciated, for, a few minutes afterwards, one boy struck another being asked the reason, he said he was trying to get a Testament." This was a practical bearing altogether unexpected. FA TALCOLLIERY ACCIDENT.—At Hindley, near Wigan, on Friday morning, three drawers, named John Hart, William German, and William Hart, each about 16 or 17 years of age, were lowered down the shaft at the Low-hall Colliery. When about 50 or 60 yards from the bottom the cage was overturned or disar- ranged, and John Hart was thrown to the bottom. He fell into the dib hole, and was taken out dead. His companions succeeded in retaining their places, but William Hart, the deceased s brother, was very danger- ously injured, and German sustained severe hurts.