The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE PIG NUISANCE. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,-I beg to inform Mochyn that I still have orders to summons him and all other animals, equidem generis, when found straying on the principal thoroughfares of the county, as they are considered great" bores." Yours obediently, 1S4. B. LlanEecbell, Jan. 31, 1865. j

DONKEY STRAYING. T,) the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,—Permit a Stray Donkey to have his bray in answer to the grunts of Mochyn Mon, which were heard, but not clearly understood, in your last paper. Presumptuous Mochyn, I can't exactly say at which part of your conduct I am most disgusted—your inso- leflce o- your selfishness. You have the shamefulness to a oplf the term "Philistine" to an Hon. Baronet. It byoyn, that must have been wandering when you said so. The rule by which you measure others is as crooked as your own tail, and you take a low pigs eye view of everything and all except yourself. Worst of all, rou attempt to bring me down to your own degrad- ed grovelling level. You call me of your "kindred and "first cousin," while, at the same time, you cast reflections upon my symmetry, especially my noole ears. I scornfully repudiate all connection with the swine fa. mily, and I can hardly believe you when you said that the Chairman likes you dead or alive better than me. Rut who ever saw a dead donkey 1 Alike, you are an unmixed nuisauce-vou go poking your long snout into every hole and corner-the garden wicket is not left open for a minute but you find it out and go to feast awav upon the potatoes, carrots, omons, and cabbage -you walk into the cottage as if it beloved to nobody but you, and you eat up everytbiu that you can fiiiil on the floor or in the cupboard, or in the n ochan. You think of nothing but eating, and are thoroughly unscru- pulous as to how you provide yourself. N obndy likes you until you ilr. dead, and no wonder, for you do good to no one till then, and yet you are selfish enough to claim the right of the highways to my exclusion. As for me, all the world- from Shanghai to Brynsiencyu- knows that my life is a life of usefulness. I begin when very young to carry coals on my back to no end of poor ottages; then, perhaps I am put in a small cart, and bring all sorts of things here and there, and keep a whole family from starving, or going upon the parish, or into th.. workhon,e. I shouldu t wonder if the "worshipful clergyman" stuck up for me, because I may have brought a half-barrel of ale to his house now and again. And what do I get for all my journeys and labours ? A good many thumps and very little to eat, for I am not cared for as you are selfish, ungrateful pig! Nno. You have a stye aud straw and meat. My mu ?r has neither field nor hovel, as he ought to have for me, in return for my great and good services; so I am only turned out to fight far myself on the sides of the roads and bye-laues, and with my long ears I often hear gentlemen, as they pass, pitying me as a poor half-starved donkey." I am sorry to say that, some Be'its very cruelly give me a cut with their whip- others give me a d -in, which never hurts me and I often wonder what good it does them. But I always try to get out of their way, and crouch as close as I can to the hedge. Sometimes, when there is plenty of dust in summer, I can't resist having a good roll in the middle of the road, and forget to look whether anyone is coming; but I was never, and never will be, run over, as many stupid Mochynsare. Everyone fit to drive a horse is always looking out for stones and holes in the awfully had roads, and is sure to see and keep clear of me. But I wish I had better grass and more thistles than are to be found on the Roadsides, and I hope that the worshipful bench of justices will take my own and all my brothers and sisters' hard ease into their pitiful consideration. If we are starved out, many poor indus- trious people in Anglesey will be worse off than ever, and the poor's rates will be higher too. But I hope that I shall not soon be starved, because when you, those pampered over-fed Mochyns, have become too fat to walk, it will be a revengeful satisfaction to me to convey vou. in my cart, to the slaughterhouse. A STRAY DONKEY.

MOCHYN MOM, AT LARGE. Oh! would the Power some giftie gie U9, To see ourselves as others see us." To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,—I do not much thank you for inserting that im- pudent letter of Mochyn Mon's into your paper of last Saturday because whatever may be the length of my ears or the dissonance of my bray, I am considerably higher up in the world than a pig, and I should be sorry indeed ever to be brought down to his dirty level. I own I have to be occasionally caught luxuriating in a delightful roll on the turnpike road, on a nice summer's day; but who ever saw me wallowing like a hippopo- tamus in black and stinking mud ? I don't much wonder at horses being frightened out of their proper behaviour at meeting with such a filthy beast as a mochyn grunting in their way, nor at Sir Richard linlkeley protesting against it. A pig has no earthly business in a road at all-a midden is his more appropriate place; but I, on the contrary, am often compelled to go on the turnpike, or to be without my dinner. I know I am partial to thistles, and fond of a succulent briar, but these are to be found equally on one side of a hedge as the other-in a field as on a road. Let my owner only put me in a clover field, with or without thistles, and you would never find me trespas- ring or pushing myself in the way of my betters, I can assure you. 1 would wish to avoid offence, if possible, whilst the dirty pig delights to thrust his nasty nose in every hole and corner, until at last he has got it into the columns of the newspaper! But a donkey must dine even when by doing so he lays himself opeu to be im- pounded. That is my master's business and not mine, and I should have no objection to raise a regular hullabaloo if he were to be fiued ever so much by Sir Richard for turning me in the way o[ people on the high-road to live as I best may without his help, and not putting me into a field like a honest man would do. A donkey that does his proper work ought not to be cast on the road for a meal. That pigs possess a good deal of "cheek" we all know, and the "more the merrier" according to the taste of some persons; but when one of the dirty fraternity accuses a donkey with being lazy, he must be evidently ripe for the butcher's knife. Why, a donkey does something for even his scant supply of biau and thistles, quite as much as the horse does, allowing for strength and natural powers; but a pig Why, he is not only the veriest glutton out, but he does not do one single bit of work but eat and grunt from the time he is littere(I tintil the butcher introduces him to the water "turnell." Ha, ha! A donkey has long ears, and is "lazy," is he—what next, I wonder? As to our straying upon the roads, and getting in the way of folks—why, upon my word, I really believe Sir Richard was quite right to put a stop to it, although it appears that the lawyers and the parsons are of a differ- ent opinion. Place me in a field, and I shall not stroll into the road and currycomb my back a bit some- times, aud I will promise never to roll in the dust in order to scratch my back when it itches. As for the gourmandising stinking Mochyn, there is no reason why he should leave his stye until death, in the shape of the village butehei, puts in his appearance, bearing with him a knife and a steel in lieu of a scythe. With kind regards to Sir Richard and self, I Am. sir. vours sonorously. ASYN MON.

THE "TICKINGS" OF THE "OLD CHURCH CLOCK." To the Editor of t North Wales Chonicle. Sir-I'?h?r.Ut?id, Mr.Edttor,th?mMnMMy ta?.'e?ist.svervne?ly akin to our own eKh, Jt3nd StUhat a -Wel—shman suddenly going into that Province could, with?, ut \\Iuch difficuJty, make bimseli UI do ,("1. Well I II few dap since, I received a few Jines f "0;a that ?ncnc?k.encl? Me 3stripe of paper, it run. thus  ?The curi.us in 'Velsh lltonUm "7   Welsh the following advcrt?meut issuec 1 y  of Brittany, relative to his new journal in I: at Jamr Feiz a Breiz, Ke\ou a ?) bro ha Rent?Uou M MR tra digesset bep sul Dagment Christen zo e leon ua0. tregller. Will s()Ille of our old Welsh school scholars read tEs, aiid tell the Bishop of Brittany what they think of it. f see the "Worthy Baronet," who rules over the d?tils of M.Mno, has been r.L.om.nen.h.? -e C?missi.-uer. to form a cricket aad archery gwuwl. He is very kind, but does he m..n by this th_t tlie Mostyn Estate will give the ground, Md that he will subscribe to the funds. Perhaps he would tik-3 a fil-it hn?M with "Wanderer" to bowl overhand. If he ?u?d: I hope the match will take ptac?omewhere near our chur* to that I may see the fun. Seriously, Mr. Editor, its a very good recommendation, but, unless the I "Worthy Baronet" will give the thing a start by more than words, his recommendation will do little more than show the very kind interest he takes in Llandudno, and we all knew this before, and felt duly grateful for it. If he won't give something to promote the move- ment, it seems to me like the old tale. I don't vouch for the truth of it, but the incident is related of Marie Antoinette. It was just before the French Revolution, and some one told the beautiful Queen that her people were starving, because bread was so scarce and dear. "Mon Dieu," replied Marie Antoinette, "why don't they buy cakes then The "Worthy Baronet's" suggestion is about as excel- lent in its way, unless he helps us to carry it through with something more than words; and it is to be hoped that he will be better rewarded for this killrt interest in his people than was poor Marie Antoinette by hers, at least so prays the OLD CHURCH CLOCK.

A POSER. i To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir.-The sayings and doings of our friends in the Principality, do occasionally finlI their way to us, in the heart of England. The Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, of the 21st ult., reports a speech delivered by a Wesleyan Minister, on the occasion of laying the Memorial Stone of a chapel at Wrexham, in which I find the following, to ine, most puzzling words -Il The Sun knows not, nor can trees write upon their leaves the name of their Creator; the Sun knows nothing of the diameter of his own motions, or the laws of his radiated light, but man knows both, therefore man is greater than the Sun." Has then the learned speaker made a now discovery ? and, if so, will he kindly explain the result of his re- searches to us ignoramuses It appears to Ule, that if the Sun's individual motions can be said to have a diame- ter, they must be in all orbit; and if so, does he re- volve round the earth ? Or does he revolve in an orbit round hiiilself ? though, to understand this last supposi- tion is, to me, as difficult as to understand how the Irish soldier of old succeeded unaided in surrounding and capturing a whole squad. Again, the Sun cannot love one of the planets re- volving round his beams." Now, I, Sir, in my igno- rance, always thought that the Sun himself, and not any beam of his, was the centre round which the planets revolved. But to proceed,: "but man can love his fellow- man and can rise until, leaving Suns and planets far beneath, he stands in the midst of heavenly glory, and wraps the Godheaditself around his soul." (Thunders of Applause). Sir, awe stricken do I admire the talent of this gifted speaker—deeply do I foel the intense solemnity of this language—but, were I asked if I understood it, I could but reply in the words of the pious old Scotch woman, who melted to tears by a grandiloquent discourse, and being asked the same question, answered with humble indiguation, Wad I hae the presumption V And oh Sir, how wistfully do I sigh and long after that sublime depth of understanding displayed by those who pealed out tho" thunders of applause" which instantaneously followed this dazzling flash of genius I H owever, Sir, Omne ignotum pro magnifico; and so, with your per- mission, 1 will add my feebli echo to those thunders, in he hope of being some day enlightened, And remain, Your obedient servant, JanU3TY 28, RIGDUM FUNNIDOS. January 28,'[8M.

MURDER ▼. MANSLAUGTER. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,—Amongst certain classes of the community there has sprung up of late years, a strong feeling against capital punishment being inflicted upon criminals for murder or any other atrocity, the persons in question believing or affecting to believe, that the taking away of human life by a fellow human being is opposed to the precepts and principles of Christianity, and to our com- mon dependence upon our Maker for life and existence. For myself, I utterly ignore this rendering of Christia- nity because it is a religion solely affecting the heart and conscience and not civil or political polity. It is not my intention, however, in this letter to initiate a discussion on this point; but to draw attention to certain devices which the advocates of the crotchet sometimes resort to in order to effect their object by a side-wind, as it were. When a murder has been committed, and the crime can only be traced home by a series of facts bearing upon each other—a number of connected links forming a complete chain-this is called in law circumstautial evidence;" and from its very nature it can never lead further thaa to moral certainty. The great majority of our numerous murder trials consist of this species of evidence for men, as a rule, naturally prefer striking their victim not in crowded assemblies, but when alone and in darkuess. If no one is an active witness of the fact, thev know that a certain amount of doubt must exist as to their guilt, and they cling to the hope that somehow or other, they shall reap the benefit of it and so escape. Here then is a fine opening for our no hMgmg-at-My- price advocates, and to do them justice, they seldom fail to take full advantage of it. Hanging is horrible under any circumstance; but to hang a poor fellow upon purely circumstantial evidence—when the crime can only be deduced and not actually proved, why it is simply demoniacal wickedness and is calculated to bring down upon us the just wrath of heaven. Such "martyrs" are sometimes described as being led as a lamb to the slaughter" and so on, and receive all the consolation and Christian sympathy done to innocent and martyred men. They die "happy" and "resigned," and pray for their deceived and prosecuting enemies It occasionally happens, though, that no doubt can be entertained as to the guilt of the accused, as his savage passions may have prompted him to kill his victim in the open street, or under circumstances to preclude the possibility of his escaping undetected. In such an ugly predicament, what course is left open to our mawkish eentimentalists-how are they to screen the murderer from the deadly grip of an incensed and violated public law ? There is only one way open, one loop-hole re- maining, and this they instantly resort to. When a murder can be positively proved, that is, when the evi- dence is of such a character as to dispel the faintest glimmerings of doubt, then murder ceases to be murder, and it at once sinks down into manslaughter, which, of course, is not a capital offence. From this it follows, that if these crotchety gentlemen could have their own way, it would be impossible to convict any man of mur- der for, if the proofs are merely circumstantial, that im- plies a doubt, and this the accused should have the full benefit of; if the proofs are plain and positive, and the deed done in such a situation as to ensure certain detec- tion, then the act could not have been premeditated, and the crime would amount simply to thatof manslaughter. If this is not a convenient rule for the ferocious scoundrels who are to be found prowling about the confines of civilized life, and who for a watch guard or a purse of money, would not hesitate to strike down the first person they met with in a suitable spot, I do not know what would be considered such. If our brutal criminals are not satisfied with it, all I can say is, they must be very hard to please. Your correspondent Fiat Justitia," appears to me to belong to the above alluded to class of morbid mur- der-sympathisers, though I should be glad to be mis- taken in my Burmise. H e seems to feel a good deal of genuine sorrow for the unhappy position of the prisoner Thomas Welsh; and cannot at all understand the stupid obtuseness of the Coroner for Anglesey and the Holy- head Jury, who came to the conclusion that killing a man with a knife at 3 o'clock in the morning in a public street, could be an act of wilful murder." No it was simply manslaughter" as understood in law, and not murder, and this they should have known,—deluded men as they were The act was the resort of a sudden ebulition of furious anger only, and did n"t evince (to FiatJustitia's own personal knowledge, I si, pose) malice prepense. To be sure it was shewn by th doctor that the deceased had seven distinct wounds u ion his body, and that sit out of the seven were giv-i with such strength and determination as not only tg pierce through the poor young man's coat, waistcoat, and shirt, but also above 3 inches into his chest, and between some of the ribs One would suppose that a man, though maddened with liouor and passion, would have had some slight inkling of what he was doing before the seventh blow was given, and that he must have been conscious he was not sticking a calf, nor plunging his knife into a sack of flour. The jury seemed to look upon the matter iu this light, and as it appears to me. because they were men of the world and possessed common sense and then the crime was unquestionably-wilful murder, and their decision was a "just" one. In every respect the attack was of the most ruffianly character, irrespective of the fatal result. Here is a strong, powerfullv-built man, in the very prime of man- hood, fighting with a light stripling of a youth, whom he ought to have beaten in five rounds in the ordinary pugilistic fashion. Instead of this, lie resort3 to the coward's weapon, the knife, and plunges it seven times into the body of his youthful friend. This man is a nice subject for pitying sympathy certainly, and as it would appear from your correspondent's letter, he is likely to meet with it! Never mind a quiet respectable young man being stabbed out of the world at the early MO of 21, and that by a pretended friend never mind the frantic torrow of his bereaved parents and family — never mind him nor them; but grieve deeply for the hard fate of his slayer, who has been incarcerated in the cells of a vile prison instead of living in a comfortable hokel and who, it may be, will suffer an ignominious death b/the hands of the hangman, and be buried in a prison instead of in a comfortable church-yard in his .native islaud. Yesl our sympathies should be with the murderer and not with the victim ndr his family I In the last paragraph, Fiat Justitia" expresses a hope, which, with all due deference, savours somewhat of im- pertinence. He hopes "that Thomas Welsh will have a fair trial" notwithstanding that he is a stranger, and I fancy the hope is a pretty general one. In this country most people are favoured with a fair trial," and if anything the stranger" stands the best chance of one. Muller was not undefended, and if his iuocence could not be proved, it was not on account of any legal ob- structions being thrown in the way. It would be a curiosity to learn why, and upon what grounds, your correspondent deemed it necessary to throw out such a very broad hint. Yours truly, JUSTICE. January 31st, 1865. JUSTICE.

"NATIONAL SCHOOLS AND CONCERT I MUSIC." To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,-In your impression of the 21st ult., and under the following heading National Schools and Concert Music," The Rev. Edward Edwards, of Penegoes Rec- tory, expressed his determination of withholding from the National Society his annual mite, in consequence of some of the National Schools in North Wales being used for concerts, a use not contemplated by the Society. Does the rev. gentleman wish or expect by thus pub- licly expressing his reasons for witholding his mite, that the rest of the clergy will do likewise ? Or does he wish to do away with concerts altogether, and thus deprive his poor countrymen, especially those who live in small villages, of the only treat that they can possibly have during the winter ? for generally speaking Welshmen are, (and to their credit be it said) lovers of music. In Flintshire, I am happy to say, music is making great progress, for the Clergy instead of withholding their mites, encourage concerts all they possibly can, and such concerts are generally held—even in some of the towns, in the National School Room, and the performers generally belong to the Church Choir. Perhaps, the rev. gentleman is not a lover of ntusic- and consequently does not relish the idea of his mite, helping to support schools used as concert rooms, and for the pleasure of Lovers of Music. What brotherly love Does the rev. gentleman know the quotation from Shakespeare respecting people who love not music ? If he would mention the profane and objectionable which have been sung in concerts, he would greatly ob- lige a lover of music and supporter of Village Concerts. The writer would also like to know the value of the mite, as he would willingly subscribe the amount rather than the Society should suffer. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, NORTHOP.

EDUCATION IN WALES. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. I Sir,—Many letters have lately appeared under the heading" University for Wales" and much discussion has been going on, not only in this neighbourhood but throughout the Principality on the subject of Education for the Welsh. Doubtless, a Welsh University is a very desirable Institution, but if some little of the argument in its favor had been turned to the more practical sub- ject of Education for the poorer classes in Wales, it would have been perhaps more useful. The Education of the lower orders has its supporters and its detractors. Education as carried on under our own eyes during the present century in other countries, justifies both the support and the detraction thus afforded it. Let us take two countries to instance this. In France a first rate education is easily and cheaply procured. The son of a carpenter, whose father receives moderate wages, can easily be sent to one of the colleges of France. The word college is not exactly synonymous to ours. It must be taken rather as meaning a large public school under the direct surveilauce of Government, and to which young men who prove themselves worthy are often sent fret of expense. Here the carpenter's son pursues his studies. Here after mastering the rudiments of education he learns Geology, Botany, English, Spanish, German. There is no branch of study which he may not follow out if he desires it, and in a few years he leaves the college a well educated, and aspiring youth. The carpenter's son is launched in the world but trade and commerce are not what they are in this busy land of ours, and the highest professions are barred against him by want of money. In all probability he becomes a soldier, but should he escape conscription he becomes then a car- penter as his father was before him. He sees others moving in the higher sphere of life-wholly below him in powers of mind, in high cultivated intellect, and edu- cation, and still he works on at his bench soured, and discontented. He becomes a communist—a subvertor of social order, ready at any noment to rise against those above him, confident as he feels in his own power 80 to rise, from the sacial class he longs to see, Here is a sad picture, let us now turn to another, for the short space allowed in the columns of a newspaper will permit only of a superficial glance over a momentous subject. Let us turn to the mountain land of Switzerland, the land of Calvin, where freedom equalled only in our country yet exists-the land whose glorious old moun- tains serve as a barrier to the imperialism of France and to the despotism of Italy. This is the land of the peasant and the labourer Here sub-division of property is allowed and the man who toils to till his ground reaps directly the reward his toil gives. He does not work for the stranger or the landlord—but he works for himself and his family, and his children grow up around him to love the land of their fathers—and the stern simple faith of their an- cestors. Yes, but they need education, and they reoeive it. In the Protestant countries of Switzerland, even in that land of freedom, education is compulsory. The father who neglects to send his child to the school pro- vided by the parish he lives in from the age fixed by Government-to that which is supposed to allow of a peasant education—is first warned. If he still persists he is fined, and so the punishment progresses until im- prisonment for the continued neglect at last becomes his lot. No little ones are to be seen there, as, alas: we see them too often in the S witzerlandof England-" Wales" holding up their little hands for the strangers' penny, lisping the word with their ill-taught-lips and asking a charity they do not need, and which their parents should blush to hear demanded. No, the child is at school, and what does he learn there. Reading, writing, the elements of simple agriculture and the like. At an early age he leaves school to become what his education has fitted him for, a respectably educated and intelligent peasant. This is all well enough for those who aspire to a peasant's life, and to nothing higher, but the system which ended here would put a veto on justifiable ambi- tion. There may be many a poor man's son in whose brain the gernyof genius needs but the fostering care of education to spring into life. Is, then, such a one to be condemned to what to him would be the nonentity of peasant life ? No, the aspirer to literary or other dis- tinction has but to declare his wish, and the same Go- vernment which provided for his elementary education now helps him onward on his path. After examination, his country provides for his being sent gratis if he be poor to the best colleges of the land—and if necessary to those of neighbouring lauds, and thus the best education within reach is given him, but, for this he owes a return. Money he has not-how then can he repay the ex- pense gone to Simply thus—he owes a certain number of the years of his life to the education of the youth of Switzerland. The period thus owed varies according to the education he has himself received, and during this period the labourer being worthy of his hire—the means of life are furnished him. The school is his home-the frequenters of it his children, until the hour comes when his debt paid, he can go forth in the world a we'l in- structed and well regulated man. That debt paid, his country benefitted by the education it has given him and he himself—free either to continue his old life, or to strive for the world's honours—with the capital of his brain. Here then are two systems of education very much opposed to one another—neither of them doubtless per- fect and yet both having good in them, and one at least were worthy the consideration of those advocating A University for Wales." WANDERER. (To be con tin ued).

Dr. Livingstone, it is understood (says the Reader), is determined again to devote himself to African disco- very, and he is now planning an exploring expedition from the East Coast of Africa to the district lying be- tween his most northern point on Lake Nyassa and Burton and Speke's southernmost on Lake Tanganyka. Rear-Admiral Porter's share of the proceeds of cap- tured cotton, blockade runners, &c., since he assumed command of the North Atlantic blockading squadron, is said to amount to 200,000 dols. Over 35,000 bales of cotton have been captured, worth 1,500,000 dols. The total value of the captures by his squadron since August last is over 2,000,000 dols.— Washington paper. General Bankes, in a report to the Judiciary Com- mittee, denies that the Federal Government. interfered in the late election of Louisiana. In enumerating the reasons why the number of votes recorded was smaller than at the previous election, he takes occasion to speak of the appaling mortality among the blacks,, who,, haaafe, were reduced from 708,000 to 450,0"

1 RURAL ECONOMY. (JARDENING IN WALES;—JOHN PLiTT; Esq. DRYXYNBUADD, LLANFAIRFECHAN. Horticulture ia the Principality is not making rapid strides, for though we have many very worthy excep- tions, and examples of first-class cultivation, I am sorry to say mediocrity prevails. We can have no better proof of this than the annual exhibitions or flower show" at Bangor and other places, for though newspaper re- porters and small gardeners "talk tall," there is really but very little to boast about. This arises, I think, from very few really clever gardeners being employed, the manage- meut being too frequently entrusted to a class of handy men who hold their situations more by obsequious obedience of orders than any real knowledge of the science and mystery of cultivation. In fact, gardening in Wales is managed by a lot of little Pendlington's amateur and professional, who, to use the expressive remark of Lord Derby on a much more important sub- ject, meddle and meddle," and bring forth nothing As, however, I have remarked above, we have many very worthy exceptions, and among these the garden of John Piatt, Esq., Brynyneuadd, Llanfairfechan, may be cited as one of the most remarkable. Before, however, we enter the garden, we will take a peep at the demesne, and though I cannot describe it as it was and as it is," I can give a brief outline of its original scate. When purchased by Mr. Platt, this property was rather cir- cumscriberl in extent, the high road passed very close to the house, and rendered anything like effective improve- ment impossible. Mr. Platt, however, called in pro- fessional aid, and under the guidance of Mr. I lilley, architect, of Manchester Mr. E. Milner, late of the Crystal Palace, for the landscape and horticultural de- partment; and Mr. Llewelyn Lewis, for the agricultural part, he has now made a place worthy of any nobleman in the land. The first thing to be done towards a permenant im- provement was to divert the main road. To effect this, an Act of Parliament, as well as the consent of the trustees of the road, was indispenaible This difficulty was soon got over, and now a new and excellent road passes several hundred feet south of the original one. Without this diversion, it would have been impossible to render the place what it is at the present time, and though costly as it must have been, it was money well expended. Gradually the small fields so characteristic of the country lost their boundary line, and the general surface being artistically undulated and planted under the direction of Mr. Milner, a very pretty park has now been formed. A new mansion had been commence 1 many years prior to Mr. Platt purchasing the property, but the means having run short, it had grown grey with age, and was still unfinished; indeed we are informed that a considerable portion of the timber and joinery work had been stolen and carried away. Under the direction of Mr. Halley the plans were completed, with considerable additions, and now Brynyneuadd can shew a suite of entertaining rooms of a very superior description, the finishing and enrichments being especially good, The stables, though limited in extent, are very complete, indeed, wherever Mr. Halley has had the direction, as in the farm-yard, entrance lodge, and boundary walls, the work is of the most appropriate and substantial character. The entrance lodge, though too showy at the present time, is a gem, and when the newness gets mellowed down by time, it will be one of the prettiest things in the country. Equally appropriate are the boundary walls, entrance gates and pallisading near this lodge, and from it a handsome carriage drive sweeps to the front door of the mansion. The house is of Gothic design, being built of native stone, with dressings of Anglesey lime stone. It is not large, not large enough, but report says some very con- siderable additions are shortly to be made to it. On the western or drawing room front is a terrace with geome- trical flower garden in box and gravel, a large basin and fountain, and at the extreme end a spacious conservatory. In the flower garden which by the way is by Mr. Mil- ner, some attempt was made at embroidery with coloured gravel, saud, &c„ but it was troublesome and not tell- ing, and has in consequence been abandoned. This ter- race garden and the terrace walk on the north front, is bounded by a pierced wall in Anglesey stone. Surround- ing these terraces is the shrubbery and pleasure grounds, the clumps being principally raised to obtain shelter as well as diversity of surface. The shrubs and trees here for the exposed situation havegrown exceedingly well, and though only planted four years are already affording considerable shelter. To the east of the house, and im- mediately contiguous, are the stables and other offices. A few large trees on this side not only afford a screen to the offices, but are in themselves, especially an immense walnut, fine specimens for the locality. Further east, across the park, lays the forcing garden, and at the southern end of this, the home farmstead and bailiff's residence. The garden contains about three acres within the walls, and is bounded by a stone wall with limestone coping. The inner garden which is also walled in tie same manner with handsome Gothic gate, is devoted principally to the forcing houses and fruit trees. Of forcing houses, there is a lean-to range on the north wall, comprising a fruiting pine stove and cucumber house, a small plant stove, and succession pine house. These houses form half the range, and the other half consists of a peach house with some splendid trees, a plant house and an early vinery, which is also used for young pine plants. At the east end of this range, but facing the north is a fernery, only recently planted. The back of the wall is covered with offices of various kinds, rooms for the young gardeners, mushroom house, fruit room, store rooms, potting sheds, &c., &c. In addition to the forcing houses before specified, there are four ranges of Paxton houses, devoted princi- pally to grapes, peaches, and other fruits, both planted out and in pots. In a cultural point of view these houses are a complete success, but they are not sufficiently strong for the heavy winds, which in this locality, at times press upon them, and in consequence the sashes have siraged, and between them and the ventilators, both the air and rain is too frequently forced in, in un- welcomed quantities. The small glass used in these houses is also subject to objection, as the rain beats through the frequent laps in large quantities, so much so as to completely deluge the plants. The cultivation of fruit trees in pots in these houses is excellent, the crops being abundant, large and well coloured but the trees are treated in a natural manner, and are not tramelled by the everlasting pinching of theyonngshoots which Hivers and his disciples so strennously recommend. These trees are treated as a practical gardener knowing his business would be expected to treat them, and the consequence is, Mr. Eastwood produced crops of the most perfect kind. All these houses are heated upon the one boiler sys- tem" by Messrs. Weeks, of Chelsea. The power is in- sufficient for the work required, and if we had the same amount of frost here as is frequent in most parts of England it would be very difficult if not impossible to keep many of the houses above the freezing point. In addition to this the quantity of soot and smoke thrown off by the fire is immense, and forms quite a nuisance, some of the fruit trees to windward of the chimney being as black as if they had spent a winter in Man- chester, or some other locale of tall chimneys. I was never an advocate for the "one boiler" system, having once, many years ago, paid dearly for my whistle bnt with careful stoking and anthracite instead of the bituminous coal, this boiler might be rendered less ob- jectionable than it is at the present time. Still it would be difficult to discover the economy of the system. In addition to the glass noted above there are some cold pits and forcing frames, and a large hybernatory prin- cipally used for wintering plants for the flower garden. The garden walls are wired and planted with the choicest kinds of fruits-plums, cherries, pears, apples, &c., it being considered imprudent to attempt apricots, peaches, and nectarines, until the belts of trees planted for shelter outside the garden are grown up sufficiently to break the force of the wind. The commoner fruit trees are, however, doing well and producing fine fru\t. The kitchen garden being principally made-ground and fine soil produces excellent crops of all kinds ef vegetables, the early potatoes being marvellously fine. The summer crops of peas are grown in trenches pre- pared as for celery, and are in addition copiously sup- plied with manure water; indeed, manure water, the drainage of the farmyards, is Mr. Eastnood's sheet anchor, and with it he produces crops of all kinds in the greatest perfection. We shall, however, return to the details of cultivation in a future article, and then de- scribe some of the specimen plants. RURICOLA. Jan. 17th, 1865. RURICOLA.

The trial of Terry and Burch, for the Unity Bank frauds, has been postponed till the April Session of the Central Criminal Court. It has been intimated in the Court of Queen's Bench that in the action brought against the Crown by Mr. Feather, for an alleged infringement of his patent for the construction of iron. clad ships, judgment will be given against the plaintiff. A LOT OF COWARDS.—On Friday night three or four of the assistants of Messrs. R. and G. Craig, drapers, Briggate, were retiring to bed, when they began to talk of the exploits of robbers. One of the more timorous said he would look under the bed, and in doing so, observ- ed a man secreted there. The fellow thus discovered im- mediately rushed out, and having a large chisel in his hand, threatened, if they gave an alarrn, to murder them. Before they recovered from the sbeek caused by the sudden appearance of the intended thief, he had rushed out and made his escape. It » supposed that the man lives in the neighbourhood, audi was. acquainted with the habits of the family. II., left a ehisel and jemmy beneath the bedstead, and gftdoubt is au export cracksman.—Ludi Mercury.

I THE OSWESTRY AND WELSHPOOL NATU- RALISTS' FIELD CLUB. I The annual meeting of this society was held in the library of the Public Hal!, Oswestry, on Saturday after- noon last, the Rev. D. Lloyd, incumbent of Trefoneu, in the chair. The accounts of the snciety, for the last year, includ- ing the Conversazione, were presented by the secretary, Vlr. H. Martyn Gwyther, and passed. The following report was read :•— Gentlemen,—We may congratulate ourselves on the [iosition of the Club this year. You will see by the balance sheet that the finances are in a more prosperous itate than they have been since it was established in 1857. Notwithstanding. we have added to the Library the following standard works:- Sowerby's British Grasses" Two Volumes of the Pilseontographical Society Corals of the Silurian Formation and Mountain Limestone Jeffreyzi's British Conchology, two volumes;" -1 Land and Fresh- water Shells, and Marine Shells:" at an expense of X4 9s., we have still a balance in hand of tl7 16s. 8d. At present the annual income of the Society is about ten guineas. The list of members shews an increase of one. Seven have been admitted, while six have left—three under Rule XVI. Two have left the neighbourhood, and one from pressure of business. The number now on the books is forty-two. I hare already the names of three gentlemen to be proposed at our first field meeting. If each member were to try amongst his friends, I have no doubt but that several more might be added before that time. I would take this opportunity of impressing on the members the advisability of attending to the rules of the Club rather more strictly, especially rules IV. and and XII. If the subscriptions were paid at the usual time, we could then calculate, with some certainty, on how much to expend annually. By attention to the latter rule, a great amount of in- formation would no doubt soon be collected. I have to thank two members, Messrs. T. B. Barrettand W. Whit- well, for the notes received during the past season, and hope they may be the forerunners of a series. I shall myself feel obliged to any gentleman who will give me information of any arcient coins found in the neighbourhood. HENRY MARTYN GWYTHER, Hon. Secretary. Mr. D. C. DAVIES proposed, and Mr. GWYTHER se- conded, That the thanks of the club be given to those ladies and gentlemen who so kindly contributed objects of interest to place on the tables for the purpose of forming a temporary museum at the recent Conversazione, whereby its suecess was so materially ensured." The Rev. O. M. FEILDEN proposed, and Mr. WHIT. WULL seconded That the committee most cordially beg to tender their thanks to Mr. Jebb, the Rev. W. Walsham How, the Rev. D. P. Lewis, Mr. A. W. Dum- ville, and Mr. D. C. Davies, for the very interesting and valuable papers they read at the Conversazionie; also to Mr. J. Whitridge Davies, and the Glee and Madrigal Society, for their kindness in supplying the music on the same evening." The Rev. G. E. SHEPPARD proposed, and the Rev. D. LLOYD seconded, a vote of thanks to the sub-committee who so ably conducted the arrangements of the recent Conversazione. Mr. D. C. DAVIRS proposed, and Mr. ASKEW ROBERTS seconded, that the following statement in reference to the affairs of the Club be published :— That this meeting invites the attention of gentlemen interested in any department of natural science to the objects embraced by the Naturalists' Field Club. This Society has already a library of valuable scientific books, including Botany, Geology, Conchology, &c., which it endeavours constantly to increase in according with the various tastes of its members. Scientific periodicals circulated. The members join in three or four excur- sions every season to interesting localities, when papers are read, and every effort is made to make an interchange of scientific knowledge pleasant and instructive. The secretary keeps a record of any discoveries or observations made by individual members, in their private excursions, &c. And when sufficient quantity of interesting informa- tion is accumulated, it is published in a cheap form like the volume now issuing from the press. The terms of subscription are 5s. per annum, entrance fee, 5s., and the names of persons who are desirous of becoming members will be received by T. B. Barret, Esq., Welsh- pool, Mr. D. C. Davies, Leg-street, Owestry, and by the secretary, Mr. H. M. Gwyther, Whittington, near Oswestry. The SECRETARY stated that the report of the doings of the society from the commencement in 1857 (ordered to be printed) would be ready in a few days. This book, we understand, will comprise an outline of every excur- sion, and all the papers on Natural Science that have been read at the meetings. The first excursion for 1865 was fixed for Thursday, June 1st, and Haughmond Abbey, Shrewsbury, the place to be visited.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SURREY I THEATRE. On Monday night, shortly before twelve o'clock, a fire broke out in the Surrey Theatre, London, which result- ed in the total destruction of that building, but fortu- nately without any sacrifice of human life. Another lucky circumstance was that an audience smaller than usually frequents the Surrey was present, and the chances of confusion amongst the people increasing the calamity were therefore much diminished. The per- formances were Damon and Pythias," with pantomime of Kiug Pumpkin, or Harlequin Cceur de Lion." The first piece had been got through, the pantomime was being brought to a close at the usual time, and the clown was delighting the audience with a solo on the bugle, when the trombone player, happening to cast his eyes up to the ceiling of the theatre, saw a strong light reflecting through the aperture over the chandelier. At once suspecting there was a fire, with great presence of mind he left the stage quickly, and communicated his suspicions to Mr. Green, the acting manager. That gentleman at once despatched some of the stage car- penters to see what was the matter, but at the same time a dense smoke became visible to auditors and actors immediately above the chandelier suspended from the roof. This was quickly followed by flashes of flame, which illuminated the interior of the building and caused the utmost alarm. The space in the ceiling above the chandelier was occupied as a carpenters' and painters' room, and in this place the fire must have originated. Immediately on the danger which threatened being per- ceived, some excitement and commotion took place amongst the audience. At this critical juncture Mr. Green, the stage manager, presented himself in front of the proscenium, and implored the people for their own sakea to remain as quiet as possible, and to leave the theatre in an orderly manner. They could see for themselves that it was the ceiling alone which had at that time caught fire, and he appealed to their reason that it must burn upwards, and that there was ample time for them to leave the building uninjured, if they only did so in a calm and collected manner. This well- timed appeal checked the confusion which followed the appearance of the flames, and the audience left their seats in an orderly manner, and reached the street in safety and with very little confusion. The alarm was next given in the several dressing rooms and recesses behind the stage, which were crowded with the persons engaged in the representation of the pantomime, and so rapid was the spread of the flames that many were com- pelled to escape in theatrical costume to some of the houses on the opposite side of the Blackfriars-road. Some trouble had to be taken to get a number of the children who took part in the pantomime off the stage and into a place of safety, but this was eventually effected. Mr. Vivian and others tried to stay the on- ward progress of the devastating element by rushing up the flies and letting the ropes go that kept the scenery up, but it was soon found to be of no avail, as the fire had attained a mastery that proved to be overwhelm- ing. Just as the last few people were leaving the theatre the flames burst with great fury through the ceiling, which was composed of thin laths and painted canvas, and in a very short space of time caught the drapery running round the boxes, the proscenium and stage curtains, from which it at once extended to the scenery, and the whole stage became a mass of 9ame. The scene on the stage and in the dressing rooms of the theatre was almost indiscribable, the numerous actors and actresses who had been engnged in the pantomime run- ning about in the greatest confusion. The screams of of the ballet girls were heartrending. To add to the horrors of the scene, the gas superintendent prudently turtfed off the gas in the back portion of the theatre, which was thus for some time left in total darkness. Mr. Green, Mr. Bowella, Mr. Evans, Mr. Vivian, and a few others kept their presence of mind throughout, and at the risk of their own lives dragged the screaming and terrified women and girls through the burning scenery to the stage door; from, whence they were conveyed to their homes in a, fainting state, in cabs provided by the police. The last persons brought out of the burning building were-several children, who had been represent- ing the characters of fairies in the transformation scene. Messrs. Rowella and Vivian having reported to the stage manager that all persons had been safely removed from the theairej they made their own escape, dressed as they had beou-while playing their respective parts, no persons engaged' in; the pantomime having had time to change their dress, so rapid was the progress of the fire. In lesa-tlhan ten minutes from the first alarm the whole in'»rior of the theatre was one mass of flames. Mr. Shepherd estimates the value of the theatre and ibi contents at tl2,000, and the insurance effected upon r it owing to,the heavy duty charged upon property of this description, was a little more than L2,000, thus I qalsib& tA hmvy direct loss on the letsew.

I IHiswUaufflUis. The Princess Christina, wife of Charles Bonaparte, has died of consumption at Rome, having scarcely at- tained her 20th year. The appael court at Nancy has confirmed the sentence passed on Abbd Bernard of lOOOf. fine for his pamphlet, Christ and Csaitr," with one year's imprisonment. No fewer than 24 million francs have been demanded for a corner of the Grande Hotel, Paris, which will be required in the construction of a new boulevard. The Calcutta correspondent of the Times says an epi- demic fever raging in India is carrying off the natives by thousands, and depopulating whole districts. Thomas Topham, the secretary of the Rotherham Branch of the Amalgamated Engineers' Society, and his wife have been committed for trial on the charge of fraudulently obtaining money from the society. How do you do, Mr Lincoln said some one to the President. "Well," said he, in an indirect way, that reminds me of a story. As the labourer said to the bricklayers, after falling through the roof and rafters of an unfinished house, I have gone through a great deal since I saw you last." It is asserted that a photographer, who has been em- ployed by the Dutch Government to take views of the most beautiful points on the Island of Java, has dis- covered an entire city buried beneath the lava of a vol. cano close by, which has been extinct for several cen. turies. On Monday morning, a man well-known in Sowerby Bridge, having completed his wedding arrangements, marched to the church with his bride elect, and all went merry as a marriage bell. In the afternoon of the same day the couple attended the funeral of the bridegroom s mother.—Halifax Guardidn. On Saturday, just as the Douro had started from the Thames, on her passage for Lisbon, a fatal accident happened to the pilot. He was walking on the bridge of the paddles, giving directions, when he slipped and fell upon his head into the engine-room. The poor fel. low was so dreadfully injured that he expired very shortly afterwards. We fear that the announcement of the termination of the strike in the iron trade in North Staffordshire is premature. Some of the under bauds undoubtedly have gone in, but in a letter just recevicd by a firm ill this town it is stated that there appears very little prospect of the works resuming operations -Birminghayn Post. Turpentine punch is a popular remedy in the wards of the Meath Hospital. It is of especial service in the low stages of fever. The following are the ingredients which enter into its composition :-An ounce of tur. pentine, two ounces of brandy, eight ounces of boiling water, and sugar sufficient to sweeten. Half of this should be taken for a dose, to be repeated, if necessary, every third hour.-Medical Circular. By a private letter from Shetland, we learn that since the recent storms many of the voes (or arms of the sea running inland) have awarmed with the small fish known as sillocks" to a degree unequalled for many years. The natives have been bagging them by the boatload, and building them up on the beach* in heaps, literally like peat sacks in size, preparatory to boiling them down for the oil; and at this process some of the people hav. been making as much as £1 a day. Aberdeen Free Press. An innovation of no small importance as a precedent is about to be attempted by the University of Oxford with reference to the privilego which enables the uni. versities, in the matter of printing the Holy Bible, to overlook the monopoly of the Queen's printers. We are informed that the Oxford authorities have contracted to issue an edition of the Bible without the translators' dedication to King James. The Queen's printers did not feel themselves at liberty to risk their patent by agreeing to a similar demand. -Record. If ex-Governor Wise, of Virginia, who approved John Brown's death sentence, could enter the parlour of his own family mansion on the east branch of the Eliza- beth River, about eight miles south of Norfolk, he would see there a photograph, handsomely wreathed in laurel, of the man whose soul is marching on." Wise's farm has been confiscated by the Government, and several schools for contrabands are located upon it, the teachers occupying the house as a residence and making this appropriate decoration in the parlour.— Anti-Slavery Standard. THB LAnGS BEQUEST TO THE ROM AH CATHOLIC CHURCH IS SCOTLAND.-We mentioned the other day that the late Captain Mitchell of Baldovie had left about X50,000 to the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland; but we now understand that the sum will be nearer £90,000. He has left his estates in fee-simple, and as the reutal is some f 3,000 a year, that 30 years' purchase gives £ 90,000. The bequest is left in the first instance for the foundation and endowment of a retreat for aged priests; and whatever sum may be over is to be equally divided between the three Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland—Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow—to be used for the support and extension of their mission. Captain Mitchell was originally a Protestant, and became a convert to Roman Catholicism in his maturer years.- Dundee Advertiser. SUPPOSED Loss OF A BARQUE, WITH CREW AND PASSENGERS.—A fine barque, named the Gamma, just launched at Bideford, left that place on Thursday even. ing, in charge of the Tartar steam-tug, her destination being Swansea, where she was to complete her outfit for the copper-ore trade. The vessel was in very light bal- last. There were twelve hands on board, as well as several passengers. The weather was threatening, there being strong fitful gusts of wind, and a heavy sea was running over the bar. When the barque reached Bag. gey Point the wind increased, the rain came down in torrents, and it was pitch dark." The Gamma, having so little ballast, was swept before the wind like cork. It is said that the master, on seeing the gale approaching, ordered one or two of the sails to be hoisted. The barque commenced running before the wind at a furious rate, and for the safety of the tugboat it was deemed neces- siry to slip the hauser. The captain of the tugboat stated that when he left the barque she was sailing in a north-west direction. There were no provisions what- ever on board, as the voyage across was expected to take only a few hours. No news had been received of her up to late on Saturday night, although telegrams had been despatched to all the ports to which she might have run for shelter.— Western Morning News. fus OLDHAM TRAGEDY.—On Monday, an inquest was held at Oldham on the body of Joseph Whitehead, who committed suicide after making an unsuccessful attempt to murder his wife.—Isabella Day, who had nursed Mrs. Whitehead during her comfinement, said the deceased had recently exhibited a very unsettled and desponding state of mind, so as to alarm those around him. On Saturday she left the house for a few moments, and was called in by the deceased's son. When she went up- stairs she found Whitehead and his wife kneeling ia bed, facing each other. He had hold of one of her trms with his left hand, and was endeavouring to cut her throat with a knife which he had in his right hand. Blood was flowing from wounds in the woman's face and hands. As soon as Whitehead saw witness he drew the knife across his own throat, and she took hold of his foot and pulled him upon the floor. His wife then ran out of the room. The deceased tried to raise himself, but witness knelt upon him, and struggled to obtain possession of the knife. She ultimately got the knife, and was running out of the room, but Whitehead caught hold of her by the shoulder with one hand, seized the weapon with the other, and, alarmed for her own safety, she ran down stairs. The struggle was witnessed by about half a dozen persons, but no one came to her assistance.—The Coroner said the witness had behaved with great daring and courage, and had, in all hnman probability, saved Mr. Whitehead's life.—The witness added that she saw deceased shortly after this took place, and he was dead.—After heoriag other evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased had killed himself whilst in an unsound state of mind. A BRUTAL WOMAN.—At Dewsbury police court, 8n Monday, a married woman, named Riding, was charged with assaulting Sarah Bulkeley, aged 22, a female de- scribed as of rather weak intellect. Th > case, it may be stated, was adjourned from the previous Monday, in or- der to allow the police to make an investigation and test the statements made by the various witnesses, those for the defence being totally at variance with those made by and on behalf of the 'complainant. On Monday the com- plainant was re-examined. She said that she worked for Mr. Knowles, of Hill-top, Gomersal, as a rag-picker, the defendant being a forewoman over the picking de- partment. On the 16th inst., she was standing near a stove in the warehouse, warming herself, when the de- fendant seized her, put a handful of snuff in her mouth, and subsequently inserted a hot poker beneath her (complainant's) petticoats, and burned her severely. She screamed loudly, but other women that were in the place took no notice. When she complained of the treatment, defendant said, It's not the first time I've done so to her." She could not tell why the defendant so assaulted her; she did not think she meant seriously to hurt her. The defendant examined her person that day, and did so subsequently, when she was unable to attend to her work. The defeudant had promised since the occurrence to raise her wages; she had no power to do so. The evidence of Mr. Robert Iiayner, surgeon, of Birstal, was to the effect that he did not call the wound a serious one, but it would give a great deal of pain when inflicted. The magistrates suggested that it was a ease for compensation, and, acting under this advice, the case was settled, the defendant withdrawing imputa- tions of falsehood she had made against complainant, ex- pressing her sorrow through her attorney, and paying the oomplainant for her Ion of time and all the expenses.