The Welshman

HOUSE OF 4. SLAVERY IN LOUISIANA.—Lord Brougham called attention to the fact of a man having been condemned to death in Louisiana for having assisted a slave escape. He hoped that this public mention of the case would be sufficieut to present so gros a violation of every principle of humanity and justice. NATIONAL EDUCATION.—IRELAND.—A lively con- versation, as it is described by the Morning Chroiticle- deadly alive, we should think, seeing that it extend s over four of our contemporary's colunins-ens tied upon a petition presented by the Marquis of Normanby complaining of the appropriation of an educational be- quest to exclusively Protestant purposes in Ireland. The amount of the bequesi was E7 10s.. per annum; it was left for the endowment of the parochial school of Baihsax, and as there were few Protestants in the parish, its obvious appropriation was to the purposes of the nati- onal system.—The Duke of Wellington promised to call the attention of the government to the subject, after which the petition was laid on the table. TUEESDAY, MARCH 5. The Royal Assent was given by commission to the horse-rncing penalties bill. The Earl of Devon presented a petition from some place in Somersetshire against any alteration of the corn-laws. In reply to the Marquis of Normanby, the Lord Chancellor stated that as soon as judgment was finally given respecting mixed marriages in Ireland, he should immediately maveffor the re-appointment of the com- mittee which sat for the consideration of the question in the last session. In reply to a question from the Marquis of Clanri- carde, respecting the objects of the Landlord and Tenant Commission of Ireland, The Earl of Devon said, according to the terms of the the commission, the commissioners were directed to in- quire into the laws affecting the temporary occupation of land, and also into the nature of the burdens on land and the manner in which they were respectively borne by landlords and tenants. After a few words from the Marquis of Clanriearde, in reply, the subject dropped, and the house adjourned to Thursday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY, MARCH 4. RAILWAYS.—The new resolutions proposed to be adopted with respect to all future railway bill;?, which huve been recommended by the select comfnittee on railways, "ere introduced by Mr. Gladstone, whu was seconded by Mr. Labouchere. The first of the: resolu- tions was then proposed, when a debate ended in its ailinnation as well as of all the others. CL-EKKS AND PETTY SESSIONS.—Lord -Worsley give notice of a motion for a select committee to inquire into the dirties and emoluments of clerks to the justices of the peace at petty sessions in England and Wales.. POOT-LAW AMENDMENT.—Mr. Borthwick complained of the delay in carrying forward the Poor-law Amend- ment Bill, and censured the general neglect evinced for the interests of the labouring classes.—Sir James Graham thought that the best course to be pursued with respect to the interest of the labouring classes was first to carry the Factories Bill, and then he- WOil ld urge forward the poor-law Amendment Bill for both of which he hoped there would be ample time. SUPPLY.-Apmy ESTIMATES—-On the motion for going into a committee of supply, in order to consider the Army and Ordance estimates, Mr. Williams commented on the general amount of these estimates, complaining that in reckoning the police and the embodied pensioners, in addition to the regular military force, we had a standing army of no less than 3G3,1S8 men, which was upwards of 33,000 more than on an average of the last 21 years. In the course of his speech, Mr. Williams touchcd upon the Yeomanry Cavalry. Really this force was the laughing-stock of t:ie country. He happened to be last year at Harrowgate where one of ;hose regiments was stationed, and it was truly ridiculous to see green-grocers and other shop- keepers serving their customers, and at the same time rubbing grease into their moustachios. (Mnch laughter.) A gentleman told him that in one particular regiment it was necessary to caution the men against cutting off their horses' cars. (Renewed laughter) This force had never been of any use, nor could they expect it would be in future. The government had the good sense never to use them for a long time back. [A Member: They were in Staffordshire last year.] Oh, yes, they were, but the government took good care to keep them at a distance from the people, or things might have been in a worse state there than they were. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman commented generally on the constitution of the army, and asked if he kept up so large a military force, how could Sir R. Peel fulfil his pledge of taking off the income-tax in three years. To this Sir Robert Peel exclaimed, I made no such promise Mr. Williams proposed that the estimates should be referred to a select committee. After a few words from Sir Henry Hardinge, the amendment was withdrawn. Dr. Bowring complained of the apathy of the house and the haste of the government regarding votes of such vast amount, every one of which should undergo calm and searching scrutiny. Mr. S. Crawford adverted to the unconstitutional na- ture of the vast standing army which we are now called on to maintain. Its necessity arose from no disaffection of the working classes towards the monarchy or the constituted authorities of the country, but because we noglected their interests, robbed them of their rights and oppressed them with an undue share of our heavy taxation. He admitted, however, that there was no such feeling, either in the country, or within the house, as would justify him in persevering with motions ob- structing the supply, though, to mark his own feelings and those who concurred with him, he moved a resolu- tion condemnatory of the principle of maintainitig a large standing army, as being subversive of constitu- tional right and liberties of the people.. Dr. Bowring and Mr. Fielden supported the amend- ment, which, on a division, was rejected by 87 to 8. The house then went into committee of Supply, and Sir Henry Hardinge proposed the Army estimates. Military events during recent years—insurrection in Canada, wars in Afghanistan and China—had caused a large accumulation of our forces abroad, many regiments of which had far exceeded the legitimate period of for- eign service, and required relief. To afford that relief on a sufficient and effective scale, a large force was re- quisite at home; and this was the true reason for the increase, and not, as had been alleged, the desire to maintain a large standing army. In order to prove this he entered into details respecting the stations and amounts of our military throughout our colonies, as in Australia, where the convict population required an ade- quate force to control them and also stated that during a series of years there had been a progressive reduction of the non-effective establishment, from which there was now a saving of upwards of a million sterling. Run ning over the different votes, with explanatory comments he concluded with asking a grant for the land service, exclusive of the East India Company's service, of 1)0,202 men, the total sum required for the army esti- mates being £ ■>.984,000. Captain Layard put a variety of questions on profes- Bioaal topics, which were answered, with a compliment M to the intelligent interest which they exhibited, by B r Henry Hardinge. Mr. Williams, not being satisfied with the reasons assigned for the increase of the army, moved a reduction of 20,000 men. Our Chinese and Afghanistan wars were concluded, and there was, therefore, less occasion for so large a force. Some conversation followed, in which Lord Howick, Mr. P. Howick, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and other members tOI,k part. On a division Mr. V. illiams's amendment was rejected by 111 to 12 The first vote, after another discussion respecting the enrolment of the Chelsea pensioners, was passed, as was one "oi- £ 3,431,71)4 to defray the. charges of her Majesty's, land forces at hornc and abroad, when the committee suspended its labours,not without a vehement sally from Col. Sibthorp, who was very indignant that the whole evening should be spent in criticising the details of the. estimates. •- = TUESDAY, MAP.CH 5. Mr. Ward gave notice that on an* early day after the Easter recess, lie should nitrve for a committee of the whole house on the subject of the temporalities of the I i-ish Church. (Hear.) MIDNIGHT LEGISLATION.-—Mr. W. Williams rose to move li That no mot ion if opposed, shall be brought on and discussed in this liotiqe after iiii 'tk;" The general fiystem of transacting public business was in many respccts most objectionable, and important alterations ought to be made—and, in fact, must be made, before the business could be conducted in a manner beneficial to the country. On referring to the proceedings of last session, he found that the house had sat 119 nights. During those 119 nights the house had sat 10-H hours after midnight, ù(ini ncar1y one hour after midnight for each sitting. At one or two o'clock in the morning, sometimes even later, he had seen, in defiance of every remonstrance, measures brought forward which affected most materially the rights, the liberties, the lives, and tiie property of the people of this country. lie had also seen, in defiance of all remonstrance, millions of the public money voted away without any consideration whatever, as to the existence of any ne- cessity for such amounts being voted. At these unseasonable hours he had seen gentlemen coming in to vote on important questions, from their balls, their theatres, their operas, and their parties, auJ voting without any knowledge whatever as to whether those measures wero good or bad, with regard to the interests of the country. Laws were passed when honourable members were fast asle?p, or in such a state of drowsiness that they hardly knew what they were about. Since he had had a seat in that house, from four to five months of the session had been wasted. In the session of 1840, gentlemen on the other side of the house con- sumed nearly the whole of that session in the most idle and, as regarded the public interest, the most worthless; ;notions-not worthless to them, because their object was to get hold of place, power, and pelf. How had f.pB time ef the house been consumed during the last r session? Parliament had met on the 3d of February, and during the months of February, March, April and May they had passed 10 bills and during the month of July 20 hills, while in the three first weeks of August 44 bills had been sent up to the other house. Was that a proper mode of conducting business ? Mr. Brotherton seconded the motion the Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed it and it was rejected by a majority of 147 to 16. A motion of Mr. Tufnell's for a select committee to inquire into the mode and rate of assessment of the metropolitan police rate was opposed by Mr. Manners Sutton, and negatived without a division. POOR LAW UNION CHAPLAINS.—On the motion of Mr. S. O'Brien, returns were ordered of the number of unions in England and Wales in which chaplains had been appointed up to January last, and the number of inmates in such unions to that period. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned.

COST OF PROSECUTIONS AT QUARTER SESSIONS. I TO THE EDITOR OF "TlU; WELSHMAN." SIK,—Some alteration is required in the law regu- lating the costs of prosecutions at Quarter Sessions. The trials at the Carmarthenshire Adjourned Sessions last Tuesday, arc instances of the justice of my assertion. On that day 13 prisoners were tried for such minor offences as stealing stockings, leggings, cotton shirts, potatoes, shoes, pieces of rope,&c. the va lue of the articles stolen being in each case not more than a couple of shillings, if s,) much. Yet, Sir, for each of these pro- secutions the rate-payers of the county of Carmarthen will have to pay from 1:20 to £ 40, making a total of from 1:400 to E-500. Is there not a possibility of devising some plan by which to get rid of this heavy expense, and at the same time to retain the power of punishing offenders against the laws ? Can no justice be obtained without cramming gold down the throat of the insatiate demon—Law ? It strikes me that if the county magistrates, instead of cutting down candle ends and cheese parings were to strike at the root of the evil, and petition the Legis- lature to effect an alteration in the law as regards the costs of prosecutions, they would be conferring a great benefit on the country at large. Petition for an alteration in the Law. Why should the attqrneys be allowed to pocket at least a sixth part of the county rates every year ? Every trumpery case that is preferred at the Sessions costs at least £20. One case.at these Sessions ought never to have been sent for trial..1 allude to the charge against a man named John Navies, committed by Mr. W. Chambers to take his,. tfiaL-for stealing a piece of rope a?.'M? ?Me??? and a A(?/'7cw. The Grand Jury vt?y properly -ignored"' the tulC and I assert that such a case ought never to have been.sent IVi trial. En passant I may as well ask-is it for such:" intrepid con- duct." a6 this tuat 'he is to have-a present—and from the PEOPLH—the people with wljom.he:.is- so popular But, Sir, I contend that the systeni of prosecuting now in vogue is bacl. Aiiv person, with however trum- pery a case, if he can get an attorney, caiV bring his case on for trial at the Quarter Sessions and- get the costs. It is no matter whether the man be fonnd guilty or declared innocent. The attorney is sure to get paid, and of course he docs not care much whether the prisoner be condemned or acquitted. All he loofcs to is the amount of costs he is likely to get out of the rate-payors It is a pity that the system is allowed to exist, and I should feet glad if these few lines have the effect of draw- ing forth from some of your readers more verged in the law than I am, a suggestion for a new mode of conduct- ing the prosecutions of petty offenders. OLIM ULTRA-TORY.

WASTE LA-, D.-The bill for facilitating the enclosure of Waste lands, which Lord Worsley has just obtained leave to introduce, will probably pass through the House with a secrecy and celerity inversely proportioned to its importance. As it ostensibly proposes to swell the domains of those who have much, by taking away from those who have but little, we can hardly expect that the hon. House will offer anv strenuous opposition to its progress. But, independently of this consideration, when we recollect that it embodies a favourite crotchet of those very clever folks, the political economists, we fear that there is but slight reason for hoping that it will be earnestly, and still leas that it will-be successfully, resisted. When the selfishness of individuals coalesces with the selfishness of a sect—the abstract with the concrete-the odds are, we fcarrtoo hard to fight ,aàínst. concrete-the odds are., we ?ear,,too hard to fight nst. CALAMITOUS CONSEQUENCES OF A CROP."—rLotiis ■ VII, at the command of his bi>hpp, had his he-ad cropped and his chin shaved. Uis consort, Eleanor. "could not bear the sight Of him," all shaven and shorn," and consoled herself in the company of a favourite. Her husband divurcing -her, she married the Count of Anjou, after wards Henjf II. of England, llcr marnae-dower eomlst, 0,£ Aif?r?,e and Poitou—which were the cause of war be.?'peu.E?land.and France ?r" 300 years! • :• MORF, FLYING MACHINES.-—Among the petitions recently presented to the united States Congress, was one from Mr. John Wise, of Lancaster, Philadelphia, aeronaut, soliciting an "approbation" for the construe- I non and outfit of an" arostadt, 100 feet diameter, made of substantial cotton drilling," Ac., with which he p!edges himself to navigate the globe generally in thirty or forty days I ECCLESIASTICAL COUtTS BILL.-The Lord High Chancellor of England, has introduced in the Upper House of Parliament a bill entitled, "An act to conso- lidate the jurisdiction and improve the practice of the Ecclesiastical Courts of England & Wales, and for other- wise altering and amending the law in certain matters ecclesiastical. It consists of as many a 101 clauses, and appears to be founded on the report of the Ecclesiastic Commission. By the provisions of this bill, all peculiar jurisdictions are abolished, and merged in the respec- tive archdeaconries and dioceses. The Archidiaconal Courts (with the exception of Cornwall, Leicester, Not- tingham, and Suffolk) are deprived of the power to grant probates or administrations and marriage licenses. The diocesan cOllrty, however, cu e allowed to retain their full poteen, it being optional with the judge or either of the parties to the suit to send to the Court of Arches, Licenses are abolished; and compensation is provided for loss of emoluments, &c. Acting deputies are to become principals, and to be paid by salaries, to be fixed by th" judges of the respective courts, out of a fee fund to whiih all fees, &c., are to be carried. 'I'l I e smount of Salary is subject to the approbation of the Lords of her Majesty's Treasury. The aet is not to extend to tithes within the City of London. Lord Melgund, eldest son of Earl Minto, has declared himself in favour of a total repeal of the corn laws. Ilis uncle, the late member for Roxburghshire, has sent in his adhesion to the tie, Chronicle.

SUMMARY.—The taking of Gwalior, and the notice of Government to pay off the 3i per cent. Annuities, are events that have just come to hand most opportunely f-r our weekly summary; since without them we should have been constrained to confess that there had only been a good deal of talking in Parliament on matters for the most part in which the public take no great in- terest. And we should then have wound up by referring to other columns of our present publication for an epi- tome of all that has been passing elsewhere, and which has claims on our readers' attention. But an important financial announcement at home, and a glorious victory abroad, cannot but be regarded as most interesting; they are, indeed, quite a god-send. As to the conquest of Gwalior, a very important citadel, its glory is attested by two battles and one thousand men the former was gained by us the latter were lost by us. Then, it is con- solatory to reflect that the enemy's loss was six times as great as our own. We publish all the details of this affair that had reached London last Wednesday, amongst our Latest News," and to that collection we refer the reader. As we have already intimated, the proceedings in Par- liament this week are not of the most interesting des- cription, for the House of Lords remains in a state resembling inanition, while the Commons have been almost exclusively occupied in voting the Supplies—an operation which has been pretty promptly performed' in spite of what is conveniently enough called the "Crawford crotchet," and also in the teeth of Coventry economy and Coventry member's protests against pro- fligate expenditure, and his motion against midnight legislation. Millions of the public's money, said the hon. gentleman, were voted away at midnight, when members were either in such a state of semi-exhaustion or of somnolericy, that discussion was quite out of the question. Out of doors the O'Connorite Chartists have been identifying themselves with the Corn-law-Conserratives. We wish the anti-leaguers joy of their union. Between the fierce and foolish chartists and the bigoted protec- tionists, the work goes on merrily. The latter hire the former, and the former wprk like devils." Between them both, more "injury to the liberty of the subject" will be probably done than a Tory government could have done in ten years."

There is a letter in another column about the costs which the county of Carmarthen pays for prose- cuting trivial cases at Quarter Sessions. It is written by a gentleman, who, from his position, possesses the best possible means of knowing all the bearf of the subject to which he has called public attention, and what he says, therefore, claims at least some consideration. With the lower grade of country attornies our corres- pondent "Olim Ultra-Tory" can expect little favor, but the Public will probably think with him and us, that the Ratc-Payers of this and the contiguous counties have a right to a less costly administration of criminal justice in our minor Courts. At present, the industrial classes of the provinces appear to be periodically fleeced. They are pretty much in the condition of their flocks and herds, being either shorn like sheep, or treated as milch cows, with a never- failing "stock." The discretionary power of Justices of the Peace is a quite distinct question from what our correspondent reprehends, but at the same time he supplies an in- stance of recent occurrence, in which a Justice at Llanelly is concerned-it has prima facie a by no means pretty appearance. But the cure for the impro- per exercise of summary commitments and convictions must of course be sought in an improved magistracy. Our mode of manufacturing Welsh magistrates is the oddest in the world. We sceptically sneer at the bar- barians who made their gods of stock and stone, and we ourselves make magistrates of any stuff that first comes to hand. The only qualification" throughout Wales being the real or colorable possession of a small amount ofproperty-of property too positively insufficient to set up a public house, or a well stocked chandler's shop-is it to be wondered at, that we should often see men in the seat of justice with mental and legal qua- lifications hardly superior to a stable-boy's ? As we have on former occasions said, the petty and corrupt pro- fligacy which sometimes presents itself to the observer in petty cases, at petty sessions and elsewhere, is one of the causes of that convulsed state of our disturbed dis- tricts" from which we are now happily relieved. But like causes, it must not be forgotten, produce like effects, and if the magisterial mass be not a little leavened by the lessons that are now passing in the world before their eyes, the embers of national discord will again be seen bursting forth, and in a state of ignition a hundred- fold more dangerous and destructive than any we have ever witnessed in this country. But the more enlightened portion of the magistracy, it is to be hoped, will neu- tralise the mischief which the mass of unconscious igno- rance arrd preposterous pretension of the other portions is calculated to produce. Above all, let them discoun- tenance JOBS and REDUCE THE RATEPTYERS' BURDENS to the lowest point consistent with the proper adminis- tration of their affairs and the public service.

There is no class of subjects so little likely to weary I Welsh readers generally as that which has any relation to religion. Irrespectively then of the great intrinsic importance of the Irish Church question, in a national or political point of view, we may safely recur to it. And having already well nigh exhausted the ordinary channels of information" we are fortunate in finding Eraser on our table; for the last paper in the num- ber of that magazine just published, entitled The Country v. The League" supplies abundant mate- rials. The first use we shall make of this treasury of Conservatism is to take from it a piece of Captain Rous's speech, as it affords additional evidence of the' existence of that Democratic or improved Conservatism, to which we have on recent occasions alluded- Captain Rous said, that perhaps the sentiments he was about to express would be found to differ very much from those of the hon. gentlemen near him, and many of his constituents. The noble lord (John Russell) wished to do all lie could for Ireland, but his hands were tied up by Presbyterian bigotry in Scotland, and Pro- testant bigotry hi England. (Loud cries and much ex- citement on the ministerial benches, and cheers from the opposition.) The noble lord brought forward the ap- propriation clause, and that was all he could do. He pacified the Agitator, and the Agitator pacified Ireland and, thank God! we enjoyed many years of tranquillity. But when the government was changed, Scotch bigotry and English bigotry tied up the hands of the present government more than tile last, for their supporters were on the side of bigotry, and what was the consequence ? Ireland was more than ever agitated. The present go- vernment equally desired to do justice to Ireland, but thev could not, because their hands were tied up and, so long as the opinion of Scotland and England remained unchanged, their tenure of offiee would not be worth twenty-four hours purchase, if they expressed the opinions which he was stating, or brought forward any great measure of relief for Ireland. (Hear, hear.) With regard to Roman Catholic emancipation, many statesmen supported that measure on the ground that it was the extreme demand which the Irish would ever make (Hear, hear, from the ministerial benches) but whoever acted upon such a principle were totally ignorant of human nature, or something akin to a natural fool. It was as ifheowedajE:1000, acknowledged the debt, paid an in- j stalment of 1:500, and expectedhis creditor to do without the rest. Had the debt been altogether refused, Ire- land might say, Yoti act like a common bully but, if it were not now paid, she might add, You act like a com- mon rogue. (Hear, hear, from the opposition benches.) There were certain ecclesiastical revenues in Ireland ap- propriated to religious purposes, amounting to about- L.500,000: but this sum, instead of contributing to the religious instruction of the 8,000,000 inhabitants of Ire- land, was deyotcd to the religious instruction of 8-50,000 persons belonging the Church of England. Such a thing was reallv too glaring; it would not bear argument. (Cheers from the opposition benches.) What was the crv of hon. gentlemen on that (the ministerial) side? 1 Ab popery, and Protestant ascendancy' but notwith- standing this cry, the proportion of Roman Catholics in Ireland had vastly increased since the Union. The cry, therefore,, had failed but still there were plenty of men in England anff Si Otland ready to go t»<battle for the foolish cry of No Popery, and Protestant ascendancy;' and even some respectable gentlemen talked about having fair play, and of the Boyne running down with blood. He could as soon listen to the howling of wild beasts. (Cheers from the opposition.) What would be the feelings of Protestants if placed in the position of the Roman Catholics ? Would they not act the same ? Human nature was the same all over the world. (Hear, hear.) Let him, then, make an observation which embodied the pure spirit of Christianity,—let them do unto others as they would be done by themselves. (Hear, hear.) What the Irish would now accept as a boon from the English they might hereafter wrest from their fears." Our readers will bear in mind that the above remarks are Conservative, that they were made by the Conserva- tive member for Westminster, the most enlightened constituency in the kingdom; and having noted that fact, they will not forget any of the other Conservative declarations which we have called attention to during the progress and at the conclusion of the great debate on the state of Ireland and its anomalous Church establish, ment. Sir Robert Peel himself, as we have before shewn by his own words, does not contemplate keeping up for ever the ecclesiastical establishment of Ireland. He is, of course, too shrewd and far-seeing a statesman to contemplate an impossibility. The Irish Church, like restricted commerce, is little more with the minister than a question of time, dependent or. circumstances and the growth of public opinion. Does he not plainly say that potent as compact and authority are, at the present moment, they may give way to higher claims ?—nay, does he not declare in Parliament, that he for one considers thesocial claims of the Ppople oflreland paramount to the maintenance of nn ecclesiastical establishment ? i

Is the public mind at present in a state of transition ? Have Right and Reason and Religion reclaimed any portion of that sovereignty over the public which ought to be supreme ? Has public opinion, in short, made any advance in reference to the appropriation of the re- venues of the Irish Church ? for that is the question before us, in the present article, which, indeed, is but a continuation of the one immediately preceding it. We have then, recently on more than one occasion, shown that some advance has been made we have proved, that even since last August, when Mr. Ward brought forward his motion on the subject, considerable progress in the right direction is perceptible. We see proofs of this progress of public opinion everywhere even in, as well as out of, Parliament; on the ministerial benches themselves, and on the other side of the house, where- to say nothing of Lord John Russell's motion,* or of the more decided tone adopted by the noble Lord's party- we find Lord Howick distinctly and boldly taking up a new position, and urging a redressal of those grievances which have formed for many years the subject of recorded complaint, and remonstrance be- tween the two countries—amongst the most prominent of which, is the law, by which the whole Ecclesiastical Property of Ireland is assigned to a small sectionFof the population," to a seventh or at most a sixth of the Irish people. Proofs of the progress of public opinion on this question, we repeat, are perceptible everywhere; they present themselves to us from the ranks of both Tories and Whigs, and the organs of either party, each in its own way, supplies them. In Eraser, for example, in see its political paper for March begins by the avowal of alarm and regret at the state of moral, not less than of political, anarchy into which society in this coun- try seems rapidly to be passing." The rapid- ity of transition acknowledged to be seen is not to the taste of the ultra, old-fashioned Tories, A of course, it is called names, and the natural progress of public opinion, as a matter of course, is spoken of as an anarchical movement, and is quite logically laid at the door of the Reform Cabinet of 1831. Again, the same organ, "most musical, most melan- choly," bursts out into a passionate flood of regrets at the progress of public opinion. There was a time," dolefully urges the writer in Fraser, when any lord or commoner, who might have stood up in his place to pro- pose that a moiety of the Protestant bishoprics in Ire- land should be repressed, & a fourth part of the property of the clergy in that country taken away from them, would have been met by something more than the stern rebuke of the government. There was a time when to speak of pensioning the Popish priests, or otherwise providing for them by law, would have raised against the unlucky advocate of the scheme a perfect storm of vituperation. There was a time when barely to hint at the entire dis-establishment of the Protestant Church in Ireland would have incurred for him who should have been insane enough to utter it, the chance, at least, of three months' residence in the Tower." Yes, there was a time when the terrors of Toryism and the Tower" gagged millions, and in sooth, so en- slaved the minds of free-born Britons, that they durst not open their mouths about so sacred a subject as the Temporalities the Irish Church. The sacra fames auri was not stronger then than it is now, but mo-' dern civilisation makes the difference. Alas those times have fled!—they have gone, with the age of chivalry, never to return and members of Parliament and Noble Lords, Right Hon. Baronets, and members of the Cabinet-Ministers, nay, even Ministers of the Crown, no longer merely hint at," but they positively propound, with certain shades of difference only, such a settlement of Church Property in Ireland, as in the terms of the motion made last session will remove all just ground of complaint, and give satisfaction" to the united kingdom. "What horrid impiety! What shocking spoliation! The wretches! The good old times of the; stake and the blaze when Bartholomew burnt heretics into a due respect for apostolic pence were the days They were the times ———— The Hon. Gentleman on Tuesday last gave notice that on an early day after the Easter recess, he should move for a coinmittee of the whole house, on the subject of the tempo- ralities of the Irish Church.

In the Country versus The Leagtie," the same political paper that has just served us as a peg to hang a word or two on, we find the League appropriately, politely, and altogether very properly described as the most selfish, dirty, chandler-shop combination of designing men which modern times, fruitful as they may be in abomination, has yet brought together Oh these odious modern times, with their modern civilisation, and that yet more odious law of this same modern civili- sation which ruthlessly dooms to a lingering death everything that will not bear discussion. Modern times alias naughty times fruitful in abomina- tions" you declare against an ecclesiastical system which it alike repugnant to reason and to the practice of a christian country, and (horrcsco referens) condemn as 'I contrary to common sense and common honesty restricted commerce. Modern times, we see quite clearly, according to the writer in Fraser, are monstrous bad times—the anti- corn-law times are as bad as the copper or brass times were. And the worst of it is, that he, even he, the perfection of political sagacity, and of ultra old-fashioned Conservatism, cannot discover any plan for making them better. How (he asks in his impotence and per- plexity) is the case to be met ?" And echo answers how ?" He sees the evils that attend it in the present, and is "not blind to the consequences that may be expected to follow", but HOW is a disease" (!) to be dealt with "which overspreads the whole of the patient's frame, and seems to have struck its roots into the very pith of his constitution? How, indeed! Mo- dern times are past all melioration, they're too bad for anything, they spare neither Irish steeple, nor English sliding-scale. The case seems hopeless, modern times must be given up, they are irredeemable, incorrigible. The only thing that stands even the slightest chance to arrest their farther progress is, as Fraser frankly and sorrowfully says, to throw a cold blanket on them. Discountenance the offspring of modern times. Not only refuse" says he, "to become a Leaguer yourself, but mark the disapproval of the whole League system by ceasing to hold with such as support it by any further communication than you can help:" whether in public or private life discountenance" the leaguers. Endeavour to kill them with coolness; that's the only chance left for us of the olden times against the men of modern times. But if, like certain ducks renowned in history, they will not be killed, and they prove too much either for coolness or kindness, depend upon it, we shall witness the cala-r mity of cheaper food, of more employment both for capital and labour, and altogether a crisis in the con- dition of the country quite different from that state of bliss and full-bellyism which every free-born Briton at present enjoys.

Blackwood's" political paper this month is "Free Trade and Protection." So we have the same subject taken up at precisely the same time by the two most eminent Monthlies of the same party. Whether this simultaneity, this identity of design and contempo- raneousness of effort, this fellowship in a corn-cause now obviously a desperate one, come within the category of "curious coincidences," we leave the learned to decide. But curious or not curious, it is unquestionably a coincidence of some sort; nor docs it stop at the point we have just mentioned. Both writers appear to have built with precisely the same materials, "Porter's i Parliamentary Tables," being the avowed props of Blackwood's as well as of Eraser's fabric. Now, these tabular things are probably no worse than others, but to make out of them an argument for crip- pling commerce would baffle the best brains, and defy the cunning of the most industrious of the corn-law 1 craft. We cannot therefore but think that both the writers who have been set to this work are very ill-used gentlemen. The Egyptian task of making bricks from straw was scarcely a harder or less practicable one than that imposed by this pair of periodicals on the pro- ducers of the two pieces of political sophistry under observation. To say that they have both signally failed in the task assigned them is simply to affirm that they could not accomplish impossibilities. A child might turn the Tables upon them, covering them completely with confusion. We don't think it worth the trouble, and we have mentioned the coincidence" partly as a curiosity showing that country bumpkins who spout the thrice-slain fallacy at anti-league gather- ings are not quite alone in their glory, and that they can still get their cleverer friends to draw a lance for them in a falling cause. If anything else led to our desultory doings, we suppose it was a wish to let our readers see what the ad vocates of restricted commerce can say for themselves. At all events, we will do so. What Eraser has furnished forth in this line we have already glanced at; Blo-ekwoo(I-nei-or behind-h:in(Vwhen the object is to put in good humour with themselves portly old gentlemen whose wits have beer. hankered out by dainty bits,"—begins by sneering at reciprocity, telling us that it is nonsense for England to expect anything of the sort, and after making good use of the hacknied quotation rl Rusticus e.rpcctut," <yc. pressing into its service a particularly bad joke, the point of which it would puzzle any one to discover, Porter's Parliamentary Tables are patronized and made use of. This sort of thing is spun out through some pages; but the staple commodity seems to be what our Carmarthen literati call the Latin tongue." There is a load of Latinity employed by old Ebony to prove what a shocking bad thing free trade and cheap food is. Pliny, Tacitus, Ammianus Marcellinus, and we know not how many more Roman writers, are brought for- ward as authorities for retaining the sliding-scale and perpetuating protection As we said before, we have no time to throw away on fallacies that have been re- futed over and over again in our columns-we leave them to do justice on themselves. Blackwood, after having gone through the foolery just alluded to, winds up his plea for protection in the following words —" It is in vain, therefore, to say, cheap prices are a blessing in themselves, and the consumers at least are ever benefitted by a fall in the cost of grain. Cheap prices are a real blessing if that effect consists with prosperity to the producer, as by improved methods of cultivation or manufacture, or the benignity of nature in giving fine seasons. But cheap prices arc the great- est of all evils, and to none more than the consumers, if they are the result, not of the magnitude of domestic production, but of the magnitude of foreign importation. It was that sort of cheap prices which ruined the Roman empire, from the destruction of the agriculture of Italy; it is that sort of cheap prices which has ruined the In- dian weavers, from the disastrous competition of the British steam-engine it is that sort of low prices which has so grievously depressed British shipping, from the disastrous competition of the Baltic vessels under the reciprocity system. It is in vain for the con- sumer to say, we will separate our case from that of the producers, and care not, so as we get low prices, what comes of them. Where will the consumers be, and that ere long, if the producers are destroyed ? What will be the condition of the landlords if their farmers are ruined ? or of bond-holders if their debtors are bankrupt ? or of railway proprietors if traffic ceases ? or of owners of bank stock if bills are no longer presented for discount ? or of the 3 per cents if Government, by the failure of the productive industry of the country, is rendered bankrupt ? The consumers all rest on the producers, and must sink or swim with them." We beg our readers to remember that these are the best arguments in defence of the corn law, of the law, which one of the present ministers, Sir J. Graham, justly des- cribed as cruel and insane. Blackwood begs bread- eaters to believe that a cheap loaf, a loaf at such a price as will enable the greatest number of the population to purchase one, is an evil, if the flour of which said loaf is made be brought to them from any of the corn grow- ing countries in the world. WAy cheap food is an evil, the writer, it will be perceived, is unable to say; and, therefore, in the hope of mystifying the matter, he again resorts to the Roman or robber empire, whose founder was suckled a Wolf. As for the changes which are rung upon producers and consumers, Railway proprietors, Consols, and we know not what besides, we must be permitted to say that if such sheer nonsense is all that can be said for protection & against free trade, the former must soon be given up as worthless, and the latter, with certain safeguards, established. The dis- tinction attempted to be set up, separating the con- sumers from the producers, is an absurd one it has no existence. We are all consumers and producers- all consume-and all produce, with one exception not worth naming, the nati consumere fruges.

Proofs of the hon. member for Shrewsbury's striking position that Conservatism is the natural ally of Demo- cracy multiply daily. As we have already more than once affirmed, we find them everywhere notD,-they're as plenty as autumnal blackberries. It is only the other day, as will be seen under the St. David's Day record, that his Grace, the Conservative Duke of New- castle (no longer the do-as-I-like-with-my-own" duke) said that Governments had not yet paid that attention to IVales which it was entitled to receive. And the Hon. Col. Trevor, who shares the representation of this county with Mr. Saunders Davies, intimated his belief that there would, in future, be no cause for his Grace of Newcastle's complaint of Government's neglect-adding, what we ourselves have all along said, that great delu- sion had gone abroad as to the extent of the evils which prevailed. Great delusion did go abroad: molehills were made mountains of, and the taking down a trumpery turnpike gate by a few frolicsome fcols in masquerade dresses, was magnified by the Welsh press—that is, by the small Welsh shopkeepers who manage the pambynamby and venal papers of which in these parts they are the sole proprietors—into an insurrectionary movement on the part of the population of South Wales. Well was it illustrated in the case of these clever personages that lying is easy. They filled column after column, and con- tinued the lying game week after week, for months toge- ther—enormous lyingand nonsense of course came "quite I natural like" to some of these gentry. Col. Trevor, however, who was a constant reader of The Welshman, we are persuaded, will do us the justice to admit that (whatever were our faults, and of course we had faults) during the reign of Rebecca, we never dealt in the absurd exaggeration which was so prevalent at the period we refer to. The real character and extent of the evils which made such a noise some months back are illustrated in the course adopted by the Government. Not a man-not a single individual, man or boy, woman or girl-has the government thought it right, or worth while to try. There has not been even one trial for gate- breaking or Rebeccaism," we repeat. But this is a digression—we congratulate all Con- servatives who have come to their senses. Is it not matter of congratulation to every man in the country ?

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING. MONEY.—Consols for Acc. closed at 97. Span. Bonds, Acc. 25j. REDUCTION OF THE THREE-AND-A-HALF PER CENTS.-In the House of Commons to-day the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer rose and said, "Sir--I wish to give notice, that I will, on Friday next, in a committee of the whole house, submit a proposition, for the reduc- tion of the 3 per Cent. Annuities." CORN.—Monday s prices are with difficulty main- tained. Barley goes off badly, so do Oats.

OVERLAND MAIL. I TAKING OF GWALIOR. A telegraphic dispatch from Marseilles, anticipatory of the Overland Mail from India, received this morning by Extraordinary Express (exclusively) at the office of the Morning Herald, announces the capture of Gwalior, after two battles. Since writing the above a second Extraordinary Rx- press has been received at the office of the Morning Herald, bringing the remaining portion of the tele- graphic dispatch from which it appears that the loss on the part of the enemy was 6000 Gwalior has been designated, in reference to its strength, the Gibraltar of the East. It extends along the summit of a hill for nearly two miles. The sides are very precipitous, the whole range is narro*, and the highest part is 342 feet above the surface of the plain. The rampart runs along the brow of the hill; the area being full of buildings, reservoirs of waters, and cultivated land. The town is situated at the foot of the mountain. It is 68 miles south by east of Agra. The British took it by escalade in 1780. (From the Second Edition of the Morning Herald.) We have just received (nine o'clock) by Extraor- dinary Express, from our Paris correspondent, the conclusion of the important Telegraphic Dispatch from Marseilles (the former part of which appeared in the whole of the Second Edition), announcing the arrival of the Indian Mail, and the result of a severe action, with the taking of the important citadel of Gwalior. We now give the whole of the Telegraphic Dispatch, which we have received from Paris, dated yesterday. MALTA, FEB. 28. MARSEILLES, MARCH 3. PARIS, MARCH 4. The Indian Mail of the 1st of February announces the taking of Gwalior, after two combats, in which the British lost 1000 men in killed and wounded. [Interrupted by the night.] The loss upon the side of the enemy was GOOO. No news of importance from Scindc, the Punjaub, or China." Gwalior, the fort taken by our troops, is, from its strength, called the Gibraltar of the East. It covers the top of a hill, nearly two miles long, but narrow the sides are very precipitous, and the highest part, which is at the north end, is 342 feet above the sur- rounding plain. The rampart conforms to the brow of the hill all round; and the area within is full of build- ings, reservoirs of water, wells, and cultivated land. At the foot of the mountain, on the cast side, is the town, which is large and well-built. It is 68 miles south by east of Agra. The British took it by a nocturnal esca- lade in 1780. This description will account for the severe loss described in the despatch. MURDER.—QUEEN CHRISTINA OF SPAIN.—Her Majesty arrived at Figueras on the 28th ult. on her way to Barcelona. Accounts have been received of the mur- der of the Spanish Consul at Morocco, and that an im- mediate demand for satisfaction will be made to the Emperor. The I'hai-c of Bayonne, however, informs us that the siege is not sufficiently advanced for any thing serious to take place before the 7th or 8th inst. BHISTOL SUGAR MARKET.—MARCH 6, 1814.—The rates pre-riouslv establishen. are fully maintained for the few parcels of sugars sold since our last., hut we can only give general quotations, the market being so badly supplied; the stock in first hands beinj not more than 500 hogsheads aud 2000 bags. The stock in London is -5000 hogsheads and 8000 bags.—Brhtol Gazette, Town COUNCIL.—At the meeting of the Carmarthen Town Council last Monday, there were present:—The Mayor, Aldermen Webb, J. G. Philipps, J. Jenkins, and C. Jones Councillors J. Morse, John Adams, Thomas Jones, Geo. Davies, Geo. Phillips, W. G. Thomas, E. B. Warren, E. Morris, John Lewis, Evan Evans, &c., &c.—Mr. Webb, as chairman of the Com- mittee appointed to examine the Testimonials of the different candidates for the schoolmastership of Sir Thomas Powell's school, handed in the report of that Committee. He stated that the Committee had paid the greatest attention to the subject. At first starting on the investigation, they had agreed to limit the number to be chosen from the great mass of candidates to 5. They had therefore selected 5 of the best qua- lified; he did not mean to say that there were not many others having excellent testimonials in their favour, and showing proofs of great ability, but the five named were considered by the committee to be the best qualified. The report was then read it recommended Mr. F. B. Ribbon, Edgbaston, Birmingham; Mr. Francis Askin, Second master at the Cathedral and Diocesan school, Bristol; Mr W. Clay, Grange House Academy, Gron- field, Derbyshire; Mr. Edward Baker, Dulwich; and Mr. Floater, Tooting, Surrey. The testimonials of each of these gentlemen were read to the Council. A me- morial was then handed in by Mr. John Adams, from Mr. J. P. Brodribb, begging the Council to appoint him in preference to a stranger; he being a ratepayer and having a family of 7 children. Mr. Morse said that Mr. Brodribb did not come up to the mark as regarded the requisites named in the advertisement. One qua- lification was wholly wanting. If that memorial was taken into consideration the labours of the Committee would amount to nothing. The Mayor said that Mr. Brodribb's memorial was most respectably signed. Mr. Morse was of opinion that the two best qualified can- didates were Mr. Ribbon, and Mr. Askin. He had seen and conversed with Mr. Ribbon and was very well satisfied with that gentleman. Mr. Askin, and Mr. Ribbon, were each proposed and seconded in due form. The votes were taken, when there appeared for Mr. Ribbon, 12 for Mr. Askin, 4 Mr. Ribbon was there- fore declared duly elected. The surveyor's estimate for gravelling and repairing the parade was then read; it amounted to £ 17 18s. 8d. Tenders were ordered to be got for the work. Capt. J. G. Philipps said that the wall on the parade in course of erection in front of Mr. Morse's houses, which had been the subject of so much conversation in the Council, had been pulled down during the night. Mr. Simons said that the alterations and the building of that wall had been done without an order of Council, nor was there even yet an order on the books to sanction the performance of work. It might be said that as the Council had sanctioned the payment for the work that they had thereby counten- anced the building of the wall, but he denied that pro- position. The right of the Council to build the wall would be contested, and as there was no order for the work, it would be more strongly contested. It wai a question for the Council to consider whether it would involve itself in an expensive law-suit to support the building of a wall to gratify 1 or 2 individuals. If they did, it would be a voluntary law-suit. Any one could pull the wall down, and the magistrates had no power of punishing the offender if the act was done under an assertion of right. Capt. Philipps said that if he caught any one at it he would not hesitate to punish him. Mr. Simons then asserted that it was Mr. R. Gardnor who pulled the wall down, and who avowed having down so. Mr. Morse asked why if Mr.Gardnor asserted his right to pull the wall down, he had not done it in the day time, and not in the dark. Had he done it in the day time he would have been brought before the magistrates, and severely punished. He should certainly raise his voice for prosecuting Mr. Gardnor if it could be proved that he had destroyed the Corporation property. If Mr. Gardnor wanted a law- suit, he should soon have one. Mr. Simons moved that no more steps be taken with reference to the wall on the parade. Mr. Morse moved as an amendment that the wall be re-erected forthwith, and that the person who pulled it down should be prosecuted. The Mayor said that the matter had better be left for the surveyor to report upon. These continual squabblings about Jrifles interrupted the transaction of business of im- portance. It had better be left to the surveyor to report at the nest meeting who pulled down the wall and whether he recommended its re-erection. Mr. Simons said that Mr. Gardnor would give a written paper avowing the act, if the Council was inclined to prosecute. The Mayor said the surveyor should call on Mr. Gardnor for it. Mr. Simons then moved that a committee be appointed to ascertain whether or not Mr. Morse in building his houses upon the parade had encroached upon the property of the Corporation. Mr. Geo. Davies seconded the motion. Messrs. Morse and C. Jones opposed the nomination of a Committer. The votes were taken, and there appeared for a Committee 8, against it 7. The Committee was accordingly ap- pointed. Mr. Fowler attended to explain the deduc- tions he proposed making in the plans of the New Markets. The lowest tender had been £:j874. He had deducted £631, which would leave £ .51.53 as a balance. This deduction in the sum was caused by the substitution of pitching for paving in the centre between the ditferent stalls, by the removal of parapets and gutters, and by making only one room instead of two for the oiffces in the centre of the market. Since he had made these deductions he had received a communi- cation from the Trimsaran Iron Company stating that they could not do the ironwork, of the best ifon, for £750 but must tender to do it for £ 1000. This being the case he had applied to the next lowest tender, which was from Messrs. Adams & Co. of London their tender for the ironwork was £859, but they had since written to him to say that as there had been a rise in the price of Scotch iron of 10s. per ton there would be an addi- tional JE90 to their tender. Mr. Thomas Jones denied the rise in the price of iron, and said there might h: ve been some few fluctuations in the price, but there had been no such advance. The contract should be given to a tradesman of Carmarthen, if possible, and if the article could be made here at the same price as it could be made elsewhere, surely the town ought to have the advantage. The iron that would have been sup- plied by the Trimsaran Company would have been perfectly unfit for use. He should like to know how Mr. Fowler could ascertain the quality of the iron if the articles were made in London ? Would he visit the foundry from time to time and inspect the work? It was evident to all that it would be a great advantage to have the iron work made here.- The Mayor said they must in a great measure rely on the characters of the parties contracting. ——— Mr. Fowler objected most decidedly to putting up the work for fresh contracts. He had been to every iron-man in Carmarthen, and not one had sent in a tender. It was unfair to put them up again, as the custom was always to give the work to the second lowest tender, if the lowest did not take it. It was a point of honour to give it to Messrs. Adams & Co. Mr. Jones said that the giving of the contract to either Messrs. Adams or any one else did not rest with Mr. Fowler, but with the Council. Mr. Fowler was exceed- ing his duty; he ought to listen to the suggestions of the Council, and not make the Council listen to his. The Mayor wished to know whether it would be fair to put up the work for contracts again. He doubted whether it would. Mr. T. Jones said that the Council was in duty bound to spend the money of the rate payers in the town if possible. The reason why the ironfoundcrs in Carmarthen had not sent in tenders was because they knew that such inferior iron would be used by the other parties who tendered for the work that, as their own iron was so much better, the price would seem much too high, and competition would be useless. The town was entitled to have the very best materials that money could procure. The Mayor said that the time for receiving tenders had been extended a month m order to give the Carmarthen tradesmen a chance of offering. Not one had made a tender. Besides this there were two large contractors in the council and they said it was a point of honour to give the contract to Messrs. Adams. Mr. Thomas Jones said that if points of honour were to be stuck upon, Mr. Fowler had engaged to erect the whole of the Markets for less than £5000, and why was he not kept to his engagement. He did not see why they should be so strict on one point and so lax on the other. The Mayor said that he thought the Council entitled to an explanation from Mr. Fowler. Mr. Fowler had certainly said in his Remarks on the de- sign for the New Markets," that the cost would be less than the sum named by the Council, which was £.5,000. Mr. Fowler said that the market is now 13 feet wider than in the first plan, there are also four pairs of gates additional. He could do the work for the sum named according to the first plan, but several expensive alter- ations had been made. The Mayor:—But why did you alter the plans at all ?——Mr. Morse was sorry that it had been necessary to alter the plans at all. He could not understand the cutting down of a plan to suit the lowest tender. A plan should be fixed on and it should be the plan; fresh tenders should then be advertised for. This was the way in which government offices managed business. He defied Mr. Fowlcr to say that he ever heard of a private communication having been made to a person who had given in a tender. The town would be much more satisfied if fresh tenders were advertised for. Mr. Fowler said that one reason of the increase in the sum required for building was the rise in iron, and the several alterations he had alluded to. Mr. T. Jones again denied that iron was higher in price now than when Mr. Fowler made his first plan. The Mayor said he could not see why the plans should have been altered after they had been approved of by the Council. Mr. Fowler had certainly misled the Council. He (the Mayor) had quite forgotten that there had been a promise from Mr. Fowler until he saw it alluded to in a letter in the Welshman newspaper signed Fair Play;" he then recollected that Mr. I1 owler had promised. Mr. Fowler was here understood to deny having promised. The Mayor then said that he would read the clause. It was this:—" The cost of finishing the market, according to the plans herewith submitted, will be under the amount named by the council, including architects and all other expenses, and the architect will be willing to undertake the same, and that the most part of the workmen em- ployed shall be of Carmarthen or the neighbourhood." The Mayor then said that this clause could scarcely be worded more strongly. Mr. Fowler said that he had never intended that clause to run so it was a misprint. Mr. Thomas Jones then moved that fresh contracts for the iron-wot k should be advertised for. This was se- conded by Jtr. John Adams. Mr. George Davies moved !lID as an aíúendme that the contract should be 8ivettf Messrs. Adams: On ?drvM?m, ?here appeared ?r ygj, Jones's motion 7, against it, 8. The contracts^ then ordered to-.be executed?The whole atnouO ft, quiredforbuHd?g ttw..mnrkè(s win be £ 5,423. IVI Mayor announced that the mbney' e?uld be had ever it was required at .4-per cent. interest. &Rer some other unimportant business, the uncil [We are requested to state that MT.'?rodnbb.ofB?. Vue, was stron?y recommended to the Council. A document was laid before the Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors, setting out that "the undersigned dering Mr. Brodribb fully qualified for the mastersbipa Sir Thomas Powell's school, beg to' recommend h's £ pointment to the situation, as they think his long  sidence in the Town, and his having a family of children entirely dependent on his profeson fof support, entitle him to a clahn over a stranger. *?. recommendation we are further M?hested to state signed by two magistrates resident in the parish, clergymen of all the churches in the parish, and a jority of the respectable tradesman in "ihe;.town.) REWARDS TO INFORMERS, &C.—At the CARMARTHEN shire Adjourned Quarter Sessions "field last Tues<M the different rewards offered by the Government for 08 apprehension and conviction of Rebeccajtes were portioned by the magistrates- No less than F Hundred Pounds were distributed. Part of the rewo in each case was given to the infornjfer, part to ty witnesses, and part to the metropolitan police. 00, man, Richard Williams, who, it will be remember' was tried at the Borough Quarter Sessions in June., (Of obtaining money under false pretences," and esca p-d conviction in consequence of a flaw in the. indictmeI1^ received the sum of £ 120 as an informer against varioo parties supposed to have been concerned in the Rebec; "disturbances." • FRESH CONTRACTS (THIll DAY.)--THE adjourn meeting of the Carmarthen Town Council was held tbo morning. The subject of the alteration of the plans >° the New Market by Mr. Fowler, the Architect, after tbeif having been approved of by the Council, was broug under consideration. After a long and rather WOO discussion, Mr. Fowler suggested that he had betttf send to London for the original plans, and the alterea ones, in order that the Council might have an opportune of judging of their respective merits. This suggestion was deemed a proper one, and It was Ordered- that tbo plans be sent for, and that fresh eohtracts.fof the whole 0* the works for the Markets be entered ilito so soon the Council shall have determined whiclv plaa is the best. Apropos of the Architect, it has been saggcsW* to us that his" bill" will be no trifle delivered" there will be a deal of dissatlsfactiou. Tb* Council ought to bear in remembrance, this pointà very important point to rate-payers, fot it" is., they who will have to pay the piper. There" are other poio" also. Rate.payers! look to them—h>ok" to the mateer. A pay-day will come. J, STRANGE AFFAIR. — The following tiaVratlv* ho been communicated to us:—" On Sunday the I&th ult" about three o'clock in the afternoon, luipecw Tierney of the London police and another called at the house of a farmer named Wm. ThonWo living about four miles from Llanelly,it r-jjie j>ari*& of that town, and required him to The man and his wife asked what they had done, and the reply was that he had attempted to^shoot Mr. Chambe1*' The wife immediately said that that could- not be the case, as her husband was one of the most harmless IDea alive. The inspector approached the husband in orde' to take him into custody, when he caught up a plough* share and defied them to take him as he had done nO harm. On a little further enquiry, it appeared that the old man was not the person they were in search of, but that it was his son against whom the warrant had been issued. They then civilly begged Thomas's pardon, an after having been told that the son had been absent some days, they left. About midnight, the old couple were awakened by hearing a loud knocking at the doof- Thomas told his wife not to open it as the police were there again. The police were there, eight or ten la number, headed by Mr. Chambers, junior. They de- manded admittance, which the old woman refused, end they then, without telling her that they had a search warrant, or in fact, any other warrant, burst window. Mr. Chambers then came to the window and asked her if she knew him. She said she did, but did not know what he wanted there at that time of the night. He replied that he wanted admittance. She again refused to let him in, and one of the party theO held a pistol at her head, and threatened to blow her brains out unless she opened the door. She still reo fused, when Brown, the constable, of Llanelly, sprang ÍJ1 through the window, followed by one or two others, and knocking the old woman down, proceeded to open the door to allow Mr. Chambers to come in. They then proceeded to search the house for the old man's soot but could not find him. It appears that the only roolu in the house that has a lock to it is the dairy. In this room, on a shelf, the old couple kept their money in teapot. On the Saturday night, the old woman so- lemnly asserts this teapot contained 14 sovereignop and two half sovereigns, besides 2 income tax receipts and a lime burner's bill. During the time that the police under Mr. Chambers's directions were searching the house, one of her daughters saw a man climbing up to the shelf on which the teapot was placed. She gave an alarm and the man after having attempted to escape was secured and proved to be one of Mr. Chambers's party. They immediately looked into the teapot and saw that the £ 15 had been taken from there. The old woman then demanded that the person who was de- tected in attempting to escape should be searched. Mi- Chambers laughingly replied Search him yourself. She then said that she should expect Mr. Chambers to repay her the money, upon which he again laughed and said Very well." The party then left after having been in the house about an hour and a half. During the whole of the time they never intimated that they had a search warrant. Thomas is a tenant of Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Stephenson, of Stirling Park, and has brought up 16 children respectably. They have never seen their money since. [This is the poor people's story, and a strange one altogether it is. It is indeed too strange to be believed by us and as for the fact of the search warrant having begn withheld from the old woman, the threat to blow her brains out and the knocking down-all that we cannot credit, attributing it to the confusion caused by the woman's fright. But the fact of the money having been missed we suppose is a fact; and as the poof peoples' loss appears to have originated in Mr. Cham- bers's search after a person to whom it seems he was led to attach the suspicion of having some time back entertained a design of shooting him off, he cannot do less than make good the loss-a very serious loss, let us tell him, to such poor people.-The Welshn&an.) THREE INQUESTS.—A coroner's inquest was held on Monday se'nnight at the Cross Hands, between Car- marthen and Swansea, before William Bonville, Esq., coroner, on the body of Thomas Williams, who was killed by the crab of the steam engine at the Tyisse Colliery, in Llanon parish, on the preceding Saturday evening. Verdict—" Accidental Death."—Last Friday an inquest was held in Pembrey parish, on the body of Walter Morgan, who was accidentally killed at the Caerpant Quarry, belonging to the Trimsaran Iron and Coal Company, by a large stone which fell down from a part of the quarry. The deceased lost his footing and was unable to get out of the way consequently the stone and rubbish fell upon him and killed him upon the spot. Verdict—" Accidental Death.Last Saturday an inquest was held in the same parish, upon the body of Thomas Roberts, who was killed at the Trimsaran Colliery from an explosion of fire damp* Verdiet-" Accidental Death." LLANDOVERY DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.- On Wednesday, the 28th ult., the annual ploughing match of the above society took place on Diflyn farm, near Llandovery, the tenant, Mr. D. Edwards, having kindly offered his land for that purpose; although the announcement had only been issued a fortnight before the day, it excited the liveliest interest in the district. Ploughs, ploughmen, ploughboys, and horses were all on the alert in constant training for the contest. The morning was very propitious-fine, without frost; and soon after 10 o'clock 30 ploughs started, amid the encouraging cheers of the assembled populace. The prizes were ably contested for, and the wholq was con- ducted with order and regularity, under the superin- tendence of Mr. F. Lewis, of Gilvach, and Mr. H. Jones, of Cynghordy, the stewards of the day, and the honorary secretary. When the ploughing was over and the ground cleared, the judjfes, Mr. J. Evans, of Alltycadno, and Mr. L. Jones, of Derwydd, entered upon their difficult task of deciding upon the relative merits of the competitors. The company retired to Llandovery to enjoy the comforts of the good catering of mine host, Mr. Powell, at the Castle Inn the chair was taken by John Morgan, Esq., Mayor of the town, and the vice- chair by Frederick Lewis, Esq.; both gentlemen were ably supported by the society's friends, as was evinced by the rapidity with which the numerous loyal and appropriate toasts were given and most warmly responded to hilarity and enjoyment were the order of the day." In the course of the evening the worthy chairman read the report of the judges, and the pre- miums were awarded accordingly, viz.:— First Prize.—A complete suit of clothes, to William Thomas, servant to the Rev. D. Jones, of Cnwctailog. Second ditto.—Coat, waistcoat, and hat, to Edward Ed- wards, servant to Daniel Jones, Esq., 1'enybont. Third ditto.—Waistcoat, small-clothes, and gaiters, to Row- land Williams, of Tylhvydhin. Fourth ditto.—A smock frock, to William Morgan, servant to D. Jones Lewis, Esq., Gilvach. Bo)-g.-First Prize.-To Evan Evans, son of Mr. D. Evans. Dolauhirion. Second ditto.—To Thomas Clansy, servant to Mr. D. Lewis. Oilwen. Third clitto.-To John Jones, son of Mr. William Jones. Gwernvgwynne. [ 1 he following were reported as deserving of merit David Davies, servant to Mr. James Havard, Llandovery. John Junes,servant to Mr. W. Jeffries, l'auteg. John Williams, servant to Mr. D. Price, Tynewydfl. The successful candidates were loudly cheered upon being presented to the chairman, and congratulated upon their success the announcement of the names of new subscribers was also received with much cheering- The progressive improvement in cattle, and in all the various branches of agriculture within the district since the establishment of this society is very apparent, and it only requires further encouragement from the landed proprietors to rcuder it still more beneficial to thelul ii well as to their tenantry.