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

DEATH OF LORD POL WARTH. We regret to announce the death of this highly- esteemed nobleman, which took place on Friday, at one o'clock, at the family seat, Merton-house, Roxburgh- shire. His lordship had been in but indifferent health for several months, but had somewhat recovered, and was able to take an occasional drive. His last public appearance was at St. Boswell's Lamb Fair a few weeks ago. He was subsequently seized with a shock of paralysis, which resulted in his death. The late Henry Francis Hepburne Scott was the di- rect male representative of the Scotts of Harden, being 22nd in lineal male descent from Uchtred Fitz-Scot, whose name attests the charters of the abbeys of Holy- rood and Selkirk granted by David I. His peerage, however, was derived through the house of Hume the barony of Polwarth having originally been a subordinate title of the Earls of Marchmont, which title became dormant in 1793. The father of the deceased peer, Hugh Scott, 11th baron of Harden, married the daughter of the third and last Earl of Marchmont; and in 1835 claimed, and, after much difficulty, was allowed to assume the honours of the barony of Polwarth, which was thereupon restored to the union roll of Scotland, the long list of which it brings to a close. The deceased peer was born on the 1st of January, 1800, and suc- ceeded to the title on his father's death in 1841. He married, in 1835, Georgiana, daughter of the late Mr. Baillie, of Jerviswoode, and sister to the present Earl of Haddington and to Lord Jerviswoode. By his marriage he had two sons and three daughters, and is succeeded by Walter-Hugh, known as Master of Polwarth," now sixth Baron Polwath, born 1838, and who, in February, 1863, married the eldest daughter of George V. Earl of Aberdeen. The late Lord Polwarth was lord-lieutenant of Selkirk- shire, and in that capacity was honorary colonel of the Roxburgh and Selkirk administrative battalion of volun- teers, a circumstance which led him to take a warm interest in all matters affecting the volunteer service. He sat in the House of Lords as one of the sixteen representative peers of Scotland. During the first two Administrations of Lord Derby he had the honour to be a lord in wait- ing to her Majesty. He was a commissioner of supply in the counties of Roxburgh, Berwick, and Selkirk, and probably he has not left behind him any member of these boards possessing greater influence in the adminis- tration of county affairs. Taking great interest in agricul- tural matters, and being himself one of the most famous breeders of Leicesters in Scotland, he gave great attention to the subject of the recent plague amongst cattle. He was a most active member of the various local authorities of the Border district, and was at great pains to obtain information relative to the character of the disease, for which purpose he put himself into communication with the best authorities on this subject both in Great Britain and Russia, and the knowledge so acquired he put to practical account in devising means for prevention and limitation of the disease. In doing so he interpreted the Privy Council orders in the most liberal spirit con- aistent with faithful administration; and it is not too much to say that to his lordship's energy, sound judg- ment, and wise counsel, much was due for the com- parative immunity from the cattle plague which Selkirk- shire enjoyed. The deceased peer was an elder of the Church of Scotland, and was on several occasions a member of the General Assembly. He was a faithful supporter of the claims of the National Church and a liberal friend to its various schemes. He was a firm Conservative in politics, and a man of high patriotic feeling. His benevolent spirit endeared him to all classes of- the community, and his death will be deeply regretted. As "Scott of Harden," he was head of the Scotts.

CHILD MURDER—A case of child murder has just taken place at Lakenheath, a village in Suffolk. Between twe and three o'clock on Friday morning the police constable was awoke by a woman named Gather- cole, the wife of a labourer, who said, Come down and take me, for I have killed my baby She remained outside while he partially dressed, and upon his going downstairs and opening the door she came in, and said she had put her child in a wash-tub under the pump in the yard' that she had then pumped upon it, and held its head down in the water until it was dead, and then walked off straightway to give herself up. Having left the woman in charge of a man, the constable went to her house, and there found the dead body of a female child, nine months old, as described. It is stated that the woman is suffering from mental derangement. A coroner's jury have returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against her and she is committed to take her trial.

CONVICTION OF A FASHIONABLE SHOPLIFTER. Charlotte Day, a fashionably-dressed young woman, was, on Tuesday, brought before Mr. Burcham, at the Southwark Police-court, for final examination, charged with stealing a piece of long cloth calico, value 15s., from the shop of Mr. Thomas Brooks, linendraper, 105, High-street, Borough also with stealing two children's dresses, and other articles, from another shop in the same neighbourhood. It appeared from the evidence of Edward Callow, a porter in the employ of Mr. Brooks, that on Wednesday evening last he was standing near one of the doors, when he saw the prisoner enter the shop in rather a stealthy manner, and with the utmost deliberation she went up to a pile of long cloths near the doorway, and taking a piece from the top, she rolled it up, and, putting it under her capacious shawl, walked away with it. He followed her and stopped her ten yards off, when he asked her to return to the shop. She demurred at first, but afterwards accompanied him when she saw a con- stable come up and, as soon as they got into the shop, she dropped the piece of calico from under her shawl near the counter. Police-constable 84 M said that the prisoner was searched at the station-house, and two children's dresses quite new, were found concealed upon her. He had since found the owner of those things, which she had stolen from another shop in the Borough, on the same evening. Mr. Burcham asked whether anything was known of the prisoner ? The Constable replied that she had given a false address, and he had not been able to ascertain anything about her. The Prisoner pleaded guilty, declaring that she never committed such a crime before. She therefore hoped his Worship would deal leniently with her. Mr. Burcham observed that, from the manner in which she stole the piece of calico, he doubted very much about it being her first offence. However, as he had no evi- dence to the contrary, he should not inflict the full punishment allowed by law. He, however, sentenced her to four months' hard labour.

ANOTHER SCENE IN THE GLOUCES- TERSHIRE ELECTION. Mr. Octavius Long, steward to Lord Fitzhardinge, of Berkeley Castle, and Mr. Thomas Taylor Pearce, farmer, of Berkeley, were indicted at Gloucester Assizes on Saturday, for assaulting Henry Bailey, and doing him grievous bodily harm, at Berkeley, on the polling day of the late West Gloucestershire election. Mr. Motteram conducted the prosecution; and Mr. Gough and Mr. Stratton the defence. Mr. Motteram said the defendants were strong par- tisans of Mr. C. Berkeley, the unsuccessful candidate at the last West Gloucestershire election, the presecutor being a supporter of the successful candidate, Colonel Somerset. The result of the election exasperated Mr. Berkeley's friends, who were very strong at Berkeley, and as the prosecutor, who was an old man, was leaving Berkeley to go home with other supporters of Colonel Somerset, they were followed by a crowd, when the defendants united to attack them, and Mr. Bailey was attacked, beaten, and thrown on the ground by the defendants. For the defence Mr. Gough set up a very different version of the affair to that presented in the evidence on the part of the prosecution. He alleged that Mr. Bailey had provoked the attack, and had actually struck the first blow at Mr. Pearce, and that then Pearce took his stick from him, and beat him in return. After hearing the evidence, and the charge of the learned judge, the jury found the prisoners guilty of an assault. His Lordship said that being their opinion he was able to pass a lighter sentence than if they had found the prisoners guilty of actually causing grievous bodily harm, and he sentenced them to three months' imprison- ment without hard labour.

AN INSURANCE CASE. At the Croydon Assizes, before Baron Martin and a special jury, the case of Gwynne v. the Royal Exchange Assurance Company was tried. This was an action to recover the sum of £2,150 upon a policy of assurance against loss by fire effected with the defendants. There were several pleas put upon the record by the latter, but the material one was that which alleged that the plaintiff had fraudulently made a claim for property which was not on the premises at the time the fire happened, and that, consequently, the policy was void. This cause was commenced on Friday, and after occupying several hours was adjourned until Saturday, and it appeared to create considerable interest. The plaintiff was a young man who about six years ago set up in business at Colchester as a draper, his father at that time advancing him a capital of zC2,000 for the purpose of enabling him to carry on his business. He occupied premises in the High-street of very considerable extent, and at the time the fire occurred, which was during the night, or rather early in the morning of the 8th of May last, his establishment consisted of two shop- women, his sister, and a niece about six years of age. The plaintiff went out on the evening of the 7th of May to a protection society, consisting of tradesmen in the town, and returned home between one and two o'clock on the morning of the 8th, and he at once proceeded to bed, everything at this time being apparently quite safe. Shortly before five o'clock, however, an alarm of fire was raised, and it appeared that the flames had obtained such a hold that it was with very great difficulty that the plaintiff and the other inmates of the house were enabled to make their escape from the burning premises, and they were only enabled to do so by means of lad- ders from the front windows. The fire appeared to have been of a very serious nature, for before it could be extinguished the premises of the plaintiff and five other houses were entirely destroyed, the whole of the backs, and also the entire stock of property that was upon the premises, as he alleged, being consumed. When sufficient time had elapsed for the purpose, the plaintiff sent in a claim to the agent of the company for the loss he had sustained, which he made to amount to over X2,000, and in this claim he put down large lumped sums for different articles to make that amount. He was told by the agent for the company that his claim could not be entertained in this form, and that he must put down every article separately, but he replied that it would be utterly impossible for him to do this, particu- larly as all his books, and a large number of his invoices, had been destroyed, and after a good deal of ineffectual negotiation, v/ith a view to see if some amicable arrange- ment could not be come to, the company eventually refused to pay the amount of the policy, and the present action was then brought by the plaintiff. The plaintiff was examined and cross-examined at con- siderable length, and he detailed the circumstances under which the fire occurred, so far as they were within his knowledge, declaring in the most positive manner that the stock which was upon his premises at the time of the fire was worth considerably more than £ 2,000. He also stated that he was most anxious to save his books and invoices, and made several attempts to enter the burning premises to obtain possession of them, but was prevented by the police superintendent, who at length took him to the police station until he was more com- posed, and in order to prevent him from running the risk of injuring himself by going into the house. One of the shopwomen was also examined, and she gave similar evidence as to the extent of the stock upon the premises at the time the fire happened and her evi- dence did not appear to be in any way shaken in cross- examination. At this stage of the inquiry the trial was adjourned until nine o'clock on Saturday morning. It was stated that during the night the learned judge was attacked with very severe illness, and he went into his private room, and Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Hawkins were sent for to him, and they had a conference in reference to the case. Both the learned counsel shortly after- wards came into court and had a consultation with their attorneys, which lasted for some time. A communica- tion was shortly afterwards made to the learned judge, and he came upon the bench. Mr. Hawkins then said, that after the evidence that had been given on the previous evening, the defendant believed that there had been some mistake, and he had conferred with his learned friends on the other side, and the result was that he would consent to a verdict for the plaintiff, with XI,650 damages, it being at the same time stated that all imputations of fraud upon the plaintiff would be withdrawn. Sergeant Ballantine, on the part of the plaintiff, said he concurred with the arrangement, and a verdict was then taken for the plaintiff for the amount mentioned- namely, £ 1,650. This case concluded the business of the assizes.

THE PUBLIO HEALTH. The Registrar-General's weekly return is of more than usual interest this week. From it we learn that in the week that ended on Saturday, August 17, the births registered in London and in twelve other large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,144 the deaths registered, 2,862. The annual rate of mortality was 24 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of 1,017 boys and 980 girls, in all 1,997 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years 1857-66 the average number, corrected for increase of popula- tion, is 1,954. The deaths registered in London during the week were 1,391. It was the 33rd week of the year and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1,337. The deaths in the present return exceed by 54 the estimated number. The great and almost tropical heat which prevailed in the early part of last week has not as yet increased the mortality of the me- tropolis to any large extent. It is of the utmost im. portance now that there should be a plentiful supply of pure water in every house, and that the streets, courts, and alleys of this great city should be kept perfectly clean. Some of the towns of Europe are suffering ter- ribly from the ravages of cholera, and it is only by constant and unremitting attention to the purity of the water supply, by the early treatment of diarrhoea, and by sanitary measures that a recurrence of the calamity in this country can be avoided. The deaths of 181 children and 19 adults from diarrhoea were registered last week. 29 cases occurred in the west, 37 in the north, 27 in the central, 56 in the east, and 51 in the south districts. Eleven children and 4 adults died from cholera or choleraic diarrhoea. Thirty-five deaths occurred from scarlatina, 46 from typhus, 37 from apoplexy, and 57 from diseases of the heart. In the cor- responding week of last year (1866) the deaths from diarrhoea were 194, and from cholera, 455. The wife of a bricklayer, aged 56 years, died on the 6th August at St. Mary's Hospital of congestion of lungs, accelerated by the suffocative atmosphere of the Under- ground Railway." Post mort. (Inquest.) Proper steps should be taken for opening and ventilating the tunnels, which are necessarily charged with noxious gases. The deaths of seven persons who were killed by horses or carriages in the streets were registered. The annual rate of mortality last week was 24 per 1,000 in London, 22 in Edinburgh, 21 in Dublin, 17 in Bristol, 24 in Birmingham, 27 in Liverpool, 26 in Manchester, 28 in Salford, 24 in Sheffield, 29 in Leeds, 23 in Hull, 28 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 25 in Glasgow. The rate in Vienna was 23 per 1,000 during the week ending the 10th instant, when the mean temperature was 5 "2 degrees Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London, where the rate was 22. The fatality of summer diarrhoea usually reaches its maximum about the end of July. London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham are the only large English towns in which the mortality has, during the past few weeks, been raised to any considerable extent by deaths from this disease. In Manchester the greatest mortality occurred at the end of July, but has since declined in London, Liverpool, and Birmingham, it is, however, still high, and the 200, 47, and 42 deaths from diarrhoea, respectively returned last week in these towns, give annual rates in the proportion of 3'4 in London, 5'0 in Liverpool, and 6'4 in Birmingham, to 1,000 persons living. This fatality from diarrhoea in Birmingham is the more remarkable from the comparative immunity from cholera and diarrhoea which that town has usually enjoyed. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29'789 in. The barometrical reading decreased from 30*02 in. on Sunday, llth August, to 29'50 in. on Thursday, 15th August. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 66-1 deg., which is 4'5 deg. above the average of the same week in 50 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The highest day temperature was 89-0 deg. on Wednes- day, 14th August. The lowest night temperature was 50'2 deg. on Sunday, llth August. The entire range of temperature in the week was therefore 38-8 deg. The highest reading of the thermometer in the sun was 147-1 deg. on Tuesday, 13th August. The mean of the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames was 64'5 deg. that of the lowest was 62-6 deg. The highest temperature of the water of the Thames was 66'0 deg. on Wednesday, 14th August. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was 8'4 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 75, complete saturation being represented by 100. The air was very dry in the early part of the week, but on Thursday, 15th August, the degree of humidity was 95. Rain fell to the amount of 0'77 in., of which 0'76 inches fell on Thursday, 15th August; during the early morning hours of this day the rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning. The general direction of the wind was S.W. London, according to the returns of the eight com- panies, was supplied daily with 108 million gallons, or 491,998 cubic metres of water, equal to about as many tons by weight; the supply is equal to 35 gallons per head on the population. A considerable quantity of this water, however, was used for other than domestic purposes. There is only one case of Asiatic cholera re- corded, and the sufferer in that instance was a child living in Islington. The majority of cases under this return were "choleraic diarrhoea," There were two entries of English cholera.

« FRIGHTFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. -FouR. TEEN LIVES LOST.—A terrible colliery explosion occurred on Tuesday evening at the Little Delf Mine, Ashton, belonging to Moses Bromilow and Co., by which 14 lives were lost. The pit is that in which occurred a similar fatality in May, 1866. The pit is 460 yards deep, and the workings are upwards of 1,000 yards in extent. The accident is said to have been brought about by firing a shot. The shot was fired by a pitman named Topping. SUDDEN DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN. We have to record the sudden demise of the Rev. Wm. Robt. Browell, M.A., rector of Beaumont-cum-Moze, in the archdeaconry of Colchester. The rev. gentleman had been to Tendring on the morning of his death, and on his return home he complained of a pain in his head, fell backwards, and almost immediately expired. The deceased clergyman was well known throughout Essex as officially connected with many of the institutions (chiefly missionary) of the Established Church. He had just effected the restoration of his own parish church. YELLOW FEVER AT JAMAICA.—Yellow fever still unfortunately exists in Jamaica, though not to such an extent as a few months ago. It has disappeared from Port Royal and Up-park Camp and but few cases have been sent to the Kingston Public Hospital from the shipping in the harbour. A few cases have occurred at the outports of the island in ships which have recently been in Kingston harbour. But, unfortunately, the dis- ease has made its appearance at Newcastle Barracks, a military station for the white troops in the mountains, at an elevation of from 8,500 to 4,120 feet above the level of the sea. Several cases have proved fatal In this epidemic several fatal cases have occurred among those who are natives, and have never left the island. Some of them were coloured persons. Since the com- mencement of the epidemic four medical men belonging to the services have fallen victims—Dr. D'Arcy, Dr. Richardson, Dr. Forbes, and Dr. Duirs, the deputy inspector of the Naval Hospital at Port RoyaL

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. -+- IRISH PRIESTS AND IRISH UNIVERSITIES. What influences some, no doubt, is a motive which, for want of a better term, may be called religious. Men whose profession it is to judge public q f. estions on their merits, irrespective of religious considerations, are found when Ireland is in question to refer to those very con- siderations, as the reasons for their conclusion. They allow their judgment to be warped by a fear that if Catholics are placed on a footing of strict equality with Protestants as regards education, clerical influence and bigotry will be supreme in Ireland. If this fear has any valid basis, the tone of French and American Catholics who have been educated in denominational colleges should be adduced to justify it, but it is little to say, that they are never referred to for the purpose. In particular, the harmony in which educated Catholics in America live with the population around them would not serve the argument; and neither in Canada nor in Australia has the denominational system been declared injurious from any similar point of view. But even supposing that to incorporate the Catholic University of Dublin as a University College, or to charter it as a university, would be to give into the hands of the priests the higher education of the Catholics, what follows ? Would it, as a matter of fact, develop, increase, and extend priestly influence ? It will hardly be denied that half-educated men are more likely to be swayed by external influence than men who have enjoyed all the advantages of the higher education. And an examination of the subject will show that, with trifling exceptions, Catholic inter- mediate education is now altogether in the hands of the priests. Changes such as those proposed could net well, ,,e therefore, develop, increase, or extend their influence they would only render those over whom it is exerted more intelligent and more capable of rightly appreciating it-The Chronicle. THE MARRIAGE MARKET. At this moment some mothers are perhaps believing that the dull virtue of the country will in a few days redress the balance which had been too much discom- posed by the rush and whirl of the town. As if one strong set of silly interests and emotions could be effaced at will by simple change of scene, without substitution of new interests and emotions. Excess of frivolous ex- citement is not repaired or undone by excess of mere blankness and nothingness. The dreariness of the virtue of the villeggiatura is as noxious as the whirl of the mercenary and little virtuous period of the season. Teach young women from their childhood upwards that marriage is their single career, and it is inevitable that they should look upon every hour which is not spent in promoting this sublime end and aim as so much subtracted from life. Penetrated with un- wholesome excitement in one part of their existence, they are penetrated with killing ennui in the next. If mothers would only add to their account of marriage as the end of a woman's existence-which may be right or it may not-a definition of mar- riage as an association with a reasonable and reflective being, they would speedily effect a revolution in the present miserable system. To the business of finding a husband a young lady would then add the not less im- portant business of making herself a rational person, instead of a more or less tastefully decorated doll with a passion for a great deal of money. She might awaken to the fact, which would at first startle her very much no doubt, that there is a great portion of a universe out- side her own circle and her own mind. This simple dis covery would of itself effect a revolution that might transform her from being an insipid idiot into a toler- ably rational being. As it is, the universe to her is only a collection of rich bachelors in search of wives, and of odious rivals who are contending with her for one or more of these two wary prizes. All high social aims, fine broad humanising ways of survey- ing life, are unknown to her, or else appear in her eyes as the worship of Mumbo Jumbo appears in the eyes of the philosopher. She thinks of nothing except her private affairs. She is indifferent to politics, to litera- ture-in a word, to anything that requires thought. She reads novels of a kind, because novels are all about love, and love had once something to do with marriage, her own peculiar and absorbing business. Beyond this her mind does not stir. Any more positively gross state one can- not imagine. There are women who are by accident more degraded physically. ftdatis mutandis, there are none more degraded, morally and intellectually, than those whose minds are constantly bent upon marriage at all eost, and with anybody, however decrepit, however silly, and however evil, who can make a settlement.- Saturday Review.

—♦- A FATAL FiGHT BETWEEN W ORKMEN. UN Monday two men, Finnis and M'Hugh, employed in a cigar manufactory, in Manchester, quarrelled and went into a field to figh-t. After several rounds Finnis received a violent blow behind the ear, when he fell and expired. During the confusion that prevailed M'Hugh escaped. t,

DEATHS FROM SUNSTROKE. The extremely hot weather of last week proved fatal to three persons engaged in harvest work in Essex. The sufferers were Mr. C. Almond, of Great Bentley; Flack, Witham; and W. Moore, Tolleshunt d'Arcy. Another man is also reported to be now lying in an un- conscious state from sunstroke. At Swaffham, Norfolk, several labourers were al-so compelled to suspend work. An inquest was held on Friday evening, at the village of Birchington, near Margate, on the body of George Redwood, who had been struck down by the heat of the sun while working in the harvest field on the previous Wednesday, and after remaining in a state of uncon- sciousness for a little more than 12 hours had expired. William Knott, a fellow-labourer, said that they were employed in cutting wheat, and commenced work at five o'clock in the morning. During the whole of the forenoon the sun shone upon them with intense heat. About 11 o'clock the deceased complained of feeling ill, and feared that he should be obliged to give up working. He had complained of the heat the day before, but on resuming work on Wednesday morning he seemed very well, and remarked that he had never felt better in his life. After complaining to Knott the deceased tied up eleven or twelve sheaves, and he then left the field and went under the shade of a tree, where he sat down. He afterwards came and sat beside witness while the latter ate his dinner, but after a while he crawled away on his hands and knees. Before resum- ing work witness went to see how the deceased was getting on. He found him unconscious, and all he asked was that he might not be imposed on, as he was but a poor labouring man. Mr. Neame, a surgeon living in the neighbourhood, was called, and gave it as his opinion that the deceased died from sunstroke. He had no other ailment; and from the evidence of the other wit- nesses he appeared to have been a man of exceedingly temperate habits and in robust health. The jury re- turned a verdict in accordance with the medical testi- mony.

ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF EDIN- BURGH AT RIO. A telegram by Reuter's express reached London on Monday, which states that her Majesty's ship Galatea, commanded by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, entered the port of Rio Janeiro on the 15th of July. Upon crossing the bar the frigate hoisted the Royal standard, which was immediately saluted by the forts and the men-of-war, with yards manned. His Highness the Count d'Eu and the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs immediately went on board to visit the Prince, and next merning his Royal Highness went to visit the Emperor at the Palace of Saint Christopher. On his return the Prince received, at the City Palace, where apartments had been prepared for him, a deputation of the British residents of Rio de Janeiro, who presented the following address :— To his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.—May it please your Royal Highness,—We, the deputation of the British residents of Rio de Janeiro, come to congratulate your Royal Highness on your arrival in the capital of this hospitable country, and to assure your Royal Highness of our loyalty and attach- ment to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and to all the members of the Royal Family. We hope that the voyage which your Royal Highness has undertaken may be attended with every comfort and enjoyment, that your Royal Highness may return in safety to our native country, to fill the exalted position to which your birth and merit so justly entitle you, and that your name may become renowned in the annals of the British empire. We desire individually to present to your Royal Highness our most respectful homage.—Rio de Janeiro, 16th July, 1867.-James Andrew, sen., chair- man Andrew Steele; Jordan Crewse Thos. S. New- lands John Gallop Charles Henry Lowe." To which his Royal Highness replied in the following terms Gentlemen,—I thank you for your kind address of welcome to me on my arrival here. I feel very sensible of your attention, which, however, does not only address me, but expresses those true feelings of loyalty to your Sovereign and her throne, and of attachment to your native country, entertained by all Englishmen. Thank- ing you once more for your good wishes, I assure you I shall not fail to inform the Queen of the sentiments you have expressed towards her Majesty and the family." On the 18th the Prince and the Count d'Eu visited the naval arsenal, and examined the five ironclads which are now building, and the dry dock at Cobras Island. In the afternoon his Majesty the Emperor visited the Prince on board the frigate. On the following evening Mr. Thornton, her Britannic Majesty's Minister at this Court, gave a grand ball in honour of the Prince, at which their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and the Count and Countess d'Eu, were present, besides the Ministers of State, many officers of the army and navy, and Brazilian and foreign residents. The Imperial family and the Prince only retired between two and three o'clock in the morr-iiig. On the 20th the Prince dined with the Emperor at the Palace of St. Christopher. The Ministers of State, Mr. Thornton, and the English, French, and American admirals were also honoured with invitations. On the night of the 21st, the British residents of Rio de Janeiro offered his Royal Highness a splendid ball at the magnificent rooms of the Cassino. The Imperial family honoured the ball with their presence. His Royal Highness twice danced the Scotch reel, the first time with Mrs. Thornton, and the second with Mrs. Gunning. The Prince retired at half-past three in the morning, and the Imperial family immediately after, amid enthusiastic cheers. The ball broke up at four o'clock.

THE TRADES' UNIONS AND THE "BLACK LIST." In the Leeds Nisi Prius Court, on Monday, the case of Gillatt v. Glencross was tried. This was an action for libel, brought by an operative filecutter of Sheffield against the chairman and secretary of the Masters' Association, for publishing the plaintiff's name in what is commonly called "a black list," and was partly heard on Saturday evening. His lordship then strongly re- commended an amicable arrangement between the parties, and the defendants' counsel expressed the willingness of their clients to take all the cutters and grinders who had turned out into their employment again forthwith. The plaintiff's counsel, however, said the men required an explicit understanding that the black list" should be withdrawn. On Monday morning his lordship, in taking his seat, said: Is this case disposed of? Mr. Seymour I can only repeat what I said on Saturday as to what the plaintiffs want. The Judge: I know what they want, and they cannot have it. I must direct the jury unless you have settled it. Mr. Seymour All they want is a direction. The Judge I will direct them. Mr. Seymour then summed up the plaintiffs' case. The learned Judge then directed the jury, saying that whether this was a libel or not was entirely a question for them. Messrs. Turton and Sons' men were on strike, and, inasmuch as the men struck, he (the judge) sup- posed the men could not object to the masters com- bining too. It was a voluntary act on the men's part, and he did not suppose there was anything dishonourable in publishing their names, or that it was a libel to publish merely that they were on strike. Even if there was a libel, tfie truth of the publication was pleaded, and nobody could doubt that the plea was established, because the men were on strike. The second count in the declaration was altogether novel in form. It was substantially that the plaintiff, carrying on his trade as a filecutter, the defendants, intending to injure, ruin, and annoy him, and to restrain him in ex- ercising his trade and to prevent him obtaining employ- ment, printed in the newspapers, and caused to be cir- culated, a circular, whereby Firth and Sons and others refused to employ the plaintiff. It was necessary to take into consideration the whole transaction, and see whether the masters had done anything more than the men had done, and whether they had done more than defend them- selves against acts the initiative of which had been taken by the men. The jury must determine whether this was done maliciously; and if not, there was an end of it, and the verdict must be for the defendant. If it was done maliciously, then the verdict should be in favour of the plaintiff, and then the jury would look further and say whether the plaintiff had suffered any damage by it.. The third count charged the masters with having conspired maliciously for the purpose of injuring the plaintiff. Had they done that from any wrongful motive, not to say malicious, or had they done it in self-defence ? Upon that was there any ground for special damage, the circumstances as to this being the same as under the second count ? If they found for the plaintiff on the second and third counts, the question would be whether all that was published was perfectly true, and if so they (the jury) must find the issues for the defendants. The jury, after a few minutes' consultation in their box, found a verdict for the defendants. In answer to his lordship they said they were of opinion the plaintiff's name had been published without malice, bonâ. fide, and in self-defence also that the con- tents of tht document complained of were true.

THE SESSION AND PARLIAMENTARY > CHANGES. The Session of Parliament which was prorogued on the 21st of August was opened in presence of the Queen ] on Tuesday, February 5, and will, therefore, have lasted, Sundays and Easter and Whitsuntide holidays t included, exactly six months and 16 days-a period j somewhat about a week longer than the Sessions of late c years have extended to. During that time the Lords J sat on 93 days, or for ,219 hours, being on an average about two hours and 20 minutes at each sitting. Their lordships divided 35 times. The Commons sat on 127 1 days, or for 928 hours, being on an average upwards of seven hours and 20 minutes at each sitting. There were 154 divisions in the Commons during the Session. The "counts-out" were unusually few in number, being limited to seven in all—1, on March 21, when 40 were not present at two o'clock in the morning 2, on May 29, the first day of the morning sittings held to facili- tate the progress of the Reform Bill; 3, on June 24, upon a motion for adjournment; 4, on July 16, on the third reading of Sir C. O. Loghlea's Libel Bill; 5, on July 23, when Captain Vivian was about to call atten- tion to the service of the troops in New Zealand 6, on July 25, on the Lords' amendments on the Offices and Oaths Bill; and, 7, on July 30, when the House re- assembled for the evening sitting. Since August 15, 1 1865, numerous changes have taken place in each branch of the Legislature. To take first the House of Lords, it is found that 35 peers have died as follows :-The Marquises Camden, 67 Exeter, 71 Lansdowne, 50 Waterferd, 52. Earls Bathurst, 76; Beauchamp, 37; Brownlow, 24; Camperdown, 54 Chesterfield, 61; j Craven, 57 Donoughmore, 43 Gainsborough, 84 Har- rington, 21; Kingston, 69 Kinnoul, 81; Lauesborough (Irish representative), 71 Limerick, 53 Mayo (Irish re- presentative), 70 Pomfret, 42 Rosslyn, 64. Viscounts Clifden, 41 Gort (Irish representative), 75. The Bishop of Rochester, 69. Barons Bayning, 69; Clinton, 74; Feversham, 69 Gray of Gray (Scotch representative), 68; Glenelg, 83; Llanover, 64 Monteagle, 76 North- brook, 70; Plunket (Bishop of Tuam), 74; Ponsonby, 59; Rivers, 56; Vernon, 62. Five peerages have become extinct, namely, the earldom of Pomfret and the baronies of Bayning, Glenelg, Llanover, and Ponsonby. The successors to the titles of Donoughmore, Clifden, and Monteagle, are as yet minors, while, on the other hand, the Duke of Hamilton, the Marquis of Ormonde and the Earl of Eldon, have attained their majority since the Parliament was called. The representative Peers, who have been elected to fill the vacancies caused by death are Viscount Powerscourt and Viscount Templetown, in the peerage of Ireland, and the Earl of Lauderdale in the peerage of Scotland. The successor to the late Earl of Mayo has not yet been chosen. The see of Rochester has been filled by the appointment of Dr. Claughton. Nine new peerages have been created. Sir Charles Wood has become Viscount Halifax Sir E. B. Lytton, Lord Lytton Sir Francis Baring, Lord North- brook Sir W. Jolliffe, Lord Hylton Colonel Douglas- Pennant, Lord Penrhyn Sir Hugh Cairns, Lord Cairns Lord President MNeill, Lord Colonsay; Sir John Romilly, Lord Romilly Sir Hugh Rose, Lord Strath- nairn. Six Irish peers have been granted peerages of the United Kingdom Lord Athlumney has become Lord Meredyth Viscount Boyne, Lord Brancepeth the Earl of Dunraven, Lord Kenry Lord Henniker, Lord Har- tismere Viscount Monck, Lord Monck while Lord Clermont retains the same title. The Earl of Caithness is now a lord of Parliament as Baron Barrogill, and thus one of the peerages of Scotland has been merged into that of Great Britain. Two barons have received earldoms Lord Dartrey is now the Earl of Dartrey, and Lord Wodehouse is Earl of Kimberley. Of the 18 new titles which have been added to the roll of their Lordships' House, ten are due to Earl Rus- sell—viz., the earldoms of Dartrey and Kimberley, the viscounty of Halifax, and the baronies of Barrogill, Claremont, Kenry, Meredyth, Monck, and Northbrook, and Romilly. Eight stand to the account of the Earl of Derby-namely, Lords Brancepeth, Cairns, Colonsay, Hartismere, Hylton, Lytton, Penrhyn, and Strathnairn. The average age of the peers who have died is 61 years, as against 67 during the Parliament of 1859-65. In the six years of Lord Palmerston's rule during the last Par- liament, ten peerages were created, as against 18 in the two years' existence of the present. The House of Com- mons has lost only 12 members by death-a number far below the average. The proportion of deaths has been nine Liberals to three Conservatives. Liberals —Mr. G. R. Barry, 41 Mr. J. B. Dillon, 52 Hon. J. C. Dundas, 57 Mr. R. C. Hanbury, 43 Right Hon. Colonel Herbert, 50 Mr. F. D. Goldsmid, 53 Lord Palmerston, 81 Mr. Scholefield, 58 Colonel Lloyd Watkins, 63. Conservatives :—Sir Minto Farqu- har, 57 Mr. Lort Phillips, 55 Mr. Morgan Treherne, 64. Fourteen have become peers-nine by succession and five by creation. The M.P.'s who have gone to the Upper House by succession are the Hon. T. G. Baring, the Earl of Brecknock, Lord Burghley, Hon. A. W. Cust, Hon. W. E. Duncombe, Hon. F. Lygon, Lord Stanhope, Hon. C. Trefusis, and the Earl of Tyrone. The five who have been called to the Upper House by patent are Colonel Douglas-Pennant, Lord Henniker, Sir W. Jolliffe, Sir E. B. Lytton, and Sir Charles Wood. Eleven are Conservatives and three are Liberals. Ten M.P.'s who were returned at the general election have resigned their seats. Seven are Conservatives—Major Cust, Mr. Ker, Sir E. Kerrison, Mr. Humphery, Mr. Leslie, General Lindsay, and Mr. Taverner Miller. Three are Liberals—Sir David Dundas, Captain Gridley, and Mr. Poulett Scrope. Two Conservative members- Mr. Dowdeswell and Sir Stafford Northcote-have gone to other constituencies. Eleven members have vacated their seats on being appointed to office. Of these 10 are Conservatives, and they have been raised to the Judicial Bench. Thus-Sir W. Bovill is Chief Jus- tice of the Common Pleas; Sir H. Cairns, Lord Justice of Appeal in Chancery Mr. George, Puisne Judge of the Irish Court of Queen's Bench; Sir F. Kelly, Chief Baron of the Exchequer'; Mr. Miller, Judge in the Irish Court of Bankruptcy Mr. Morris, Puisne Judge in the Irish Court of Common Pleas; Mr. G. Patton, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland; Sir J. Rolt, Lord Justice of Appeal; Mr. Walsh, Master of the Rolls in Ireland Mr. White- side, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. Only one Liberal appointment has been made, and that was when Lord Clarence Paget obtained the command of the Mediter- ranean Fleet in May, 1866. Seventeen members were unseated in the first Session of this Parliament, in the proportion of 12 Liberals to five Conservatives. The Liberals were Sir J. Acton, Mr. R. Campbell, Sir R. Clifton, Mr. E. M. Fenwick, Sir H. Hoare, Mr. G. W. Leveson-Gower, Mr. Labouchere (since returned for Middlesex), Mr. Morley, Mr. Parry (since re-elected for Boston), Mr. Pender, Mr. Schneider, and Mr. A. W. Young. Conservatives :—Mr. Ferrand, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Westropp. Of the 56 new members of the House of Commons 32 are Conser- vatives, and 24 are Liberals. Besides these 48 re-elec- tions have taken place on the acceptance of office-39 Conservatives and nine Liberals. The Conservative party has lost seven seats-viz., Aberdeenshire, Devon- port (two), Bridgewater, Petersfield, Waterford, and Coventry. The Liberals have lost four-Brecon, Bridg- north, Helston, and Sandwich. Twenty-five contested elections have taken place in the two years-19 in boroughs and six in counties. -4>

STAMP DUTIES.—The new Act on stamp duties just issued provides that all letters of allotment in a company, or proposed company, must now bear a penny stamp, as also all scrip and scrip certificates. Any per- son signing or issuing any document chargeable with the duty, before the same is duly stamped, is to be liable to a penalty of £20. AN EX-M.F. A BANKRUPT.—In the London Bankruptcy Court, on Monday, the case of John Orrell Lever, described as of Cannon-street, general agent, and formerly M.P. for Galway, was again brought before the Registrar. The case has been before the Court on several occasions, and a meeting was now held for the purpose of electing a new assignee, the late assignee, a gentleman named Tennant, having resigned on account of ill-health. The meeting was attended by Mr. Davis, of Cork-street, Mr. Crowther (from Messrs. Lawrance, Plews, and Boyer), and Mr. Venus (from Messrs. Link-- later and Co.). Preofs of debts were admitted, and by consent of all parties Baron Thierry, described as of Eccleston-square, was appointed assignee Messrs. Law ranee and Co. being the solicitors under the proceedings. EMBEZZLEMENT BY AN ODD FELLOWS' TREA- SURER.—At the Shropshire Assizes, on Saturday, Joseph Lee, late treasurer of the William Watkins' Lodge, in the Shrewsbury district of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, was indicted on numerous charges of forgery, embezzlement, and obtaining money under false pre- tences. The prisoner, who seemed to feel his position very acutely, pleaded 11 not guilty on being arraigned, but subsequently withdrew his plea and pleaded guilty" to all the charges except those of forgery. These were then withdrawn by the counsel for the prosecution, and the prisoner was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment. Several witnesses were called who had known the prisoner for more than 20 years, and who gave him a high character as a sober, honest, and industrious man and, in passing sentence, Mr. Justice Mellor said this circumstance had inclined him i to inflict so slight a punishment. t

CHE LATE VISIT OF THE BELGIAN RIFLEMEN. On Tuesday afternoon a general meeting of the Belgian Reception Committee was held at Willis's Rooms, St. James's, for the purpose of submitting the accounts of ;he committee, to take into consideration the proceed- ings of the committee during the late visit of the Bel- gians, and to ascertain the amount of the expenditure luring their stay in this country. Lieutenant-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, V.C., occupied the chair. The treasurer read the report, which stated that the total amount of subscriptions received amounted to f,6,983 18s. 7d., and the total expenditure j £ 6,333 Is., leaving a balance of X605 in hand, but there were still some small bills to come in. It was expected that after all the claims were settled there would be £ 150 in hand. The chairman said this would be the final meeting of the committee. After all the claims against the com- mittee were discharged there might be X200 left. Some claims were coming daily, some for lodgings for the Belgians. Fresh remittances were also coming into the committee, being balances collected for the Belgians since the departure of the Belgians. The work of the committee had been of a complimentary character. They had forwarded engrossed votes of thanks to the City of London, Miss Burdett Coutts, and to all the railways, particularly the London, Chatham, and Dover, for carrying the Belgians free. Thanks had also been voted to the theatres and places of amusement. The King of the Belgians was highly pleased at the reception given to his subjects. Colonel Gregory moved that the best thanks of the general committee be presented to Colonel Lindsay, of the Volunteer Corps, for the successful manner in which he had carried out the reception of the Belgians. The motion was carried, and the proceedings termi- nated with a vote of thanks to the committee generally.