The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE BUDGET. Mr. GLADSTONE was enabled to bring forward his budget on Friday. evening and certainly we do not think the public was at all prepared for the financial developement which the speech of the right hon. gentleman contained. For 1859, he estimated that the various taxes would produce £ 69,460,000 the real anlount raised was X70,578,000, then the expenditure was estimated at ;C69,270,000 -it amounted to £ 68,953,000 leaving a balance of income over outgoings, oftl,625,000, the unexpected renewal of the China quarrel rendering the preparation of another expedition to that country necessary, has absorbed £ 1,170,000 of that surplus; but still there was an excess of Y,455,000, independent of £ 250,000 which Spain has repaid to this country at present, independent of £ 250,000 more in bills, not yet due. Mr. GLADSTONE estimates a loss from the customs revenue, arising out of the treaty with France, of £ 640,000, but still there will be a surplus—though a small one-on the 31st of March. But what will be the cares according to Mr. GLADSTONE'S estimate for the next year ? Why, notwithstanding the falling-in of the Long Annuities requires the changes on the funded debt, for I860, to Y,26,200,000, instead of upwards of 128,000,000, the expenditure will amount to £70,000,000; and the revenue to only X60,700,000, leaving a deficiency of £ 9,400,000. In this estimate, the income-tax is taken at one-half-year's produce, at 5d. in the pound, producing £ 2,400,000, instead of £ 9,844,000, which were paid into the treasury last year under that head; and the customs, omitting the war duties on tea and sugar at £ 22 700 000, instead of R24,750,000, the a- mount of the receipts of 1859. In this state of thincs. Mr. GLADSTONE contends, that the country is quite fit to go through more com- mercial reforms; in fact, that we require them. It is the reform which have already been made, that have enabled the country, as he contends to bear the burthen of high taxa- tion, to whichithasbeoiisubjected'to in the past; and it is only new reforms that will enable it to bear such taxation for the future. Therefore besides the reduction of the duties on French wines and brandies, and the abolition of the duties on all articles of manufacture, hijourterie, and rcrtu, introduced from France, he pro- poses to abolish the import duty on butter, tallow, cheese, oranges and lemons, eggs, nuts, nutmegs, paper, liqurice, and dates, and vari- ous other articles, amounting in all to £ 382, 000 to reduce the duties on timber, currants, raisins, figs, and hops,—the latter from 45s. to 15s. per cwt., by which £650,000 will be lost to the revenue. This is a gross total of £ 1,032,000,—but he thinks the increase of consumption of the articles on which the duty is only reduced, not abolished, will cause the loss to be 'not more than £ 910,000. He pro- poses, besides, to repeal the excise duty on paper; to reduce the duty on hops from 19s. 7d. to 14s. 7d. per cwt.; those on game certificates in various amounts; and that upon agreements from 2s. 6d. to 6d. To supply the loss which there changes must occasion, the right honourable gentleman proposes a species of what he calls "penny taxation. A new tax, which he terms a registration, due," is to be levied, of Id. per package, on all goods imported and exported, and a proportionate sum on all goods in bulk. These taxes will produce, he calculates, 23POi 000. Another charge, expected to produce zC120,000,, is to be made on any change which may take place in warehoused goods. A duty of 6d. per cwt. on chicory will produce, it is calculated, £ 90,000. Then he proposes a stamp duty of Id. on notes of rate on foreign and colonial produce of 3d. on stock warrants; a duty of 2s. 6d. on agreements for leases; to repeal the exemption from stamp duties now in force in relation to building societies; to impose a license duty of 10s. on all coffee and eating houses of the annual rent or value of Y,25, and of ;C I for houses above that Sum; to allow keepers of such houses to take out licenses to sell beer at the rate of £ 3 for R25 houses, and £ 4 10s. for houses of a higher value; and licenses to sell wine at £ 5 and £ 8, with permission "to keep their establishments open all night, if they pay double that sum for their licenses. It is also proposed that the duty on malt be payable in 6 instead of 12 weeks after the 1st of October and that tne hop grower shall pay his duty on the 1st of January in each year, instead of having credit till May. The war duties on tea and sugar will be continued; and the income tax is to be raised to lOd. in the pound upon incomes above zCI50 per annum, and to 7d. on incomes below that sum

THE TREATY WITH FRANCE. From Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S speech on Fri- day night, and some papers laid on the table with a copy of the treaty concluded with France, we learn, in fact, the history of that transaction. Lord JOHN RUSSELL tells us that when, some months ago, Mr. COBDEN was going to Paris, he had a conversation with him, in which the member for Rochdale said, that he had several friends in France one of them a person well known throughout Europe, M. MICHAEL CHEVALIER; and that he was anxious to converse with them, in order to see whether there was any chance of a commercial treaty being entered into by France. The Foreign Secretary appears to have encouraged the idea; and told him, on the part of the Government, that they would be quite ready to empower their representatives to negociate such a treaty. —Mr. COBDEN went to Paris he saw not only M. CHEVALIER, but M. ROUHER, the Minister of Commerce and, by a despatch from Lord COWLEY, dated the 23rd of December, it ap- pears that the confidential communica- tions" between the latter and Mr. COB- A m'1 DE-T continued tor some weeks, me ob- jects sought to be attained in these inter- views were with regard to exports from Great Britain" to France, to obtain "the sup- pression of the prohibitive system of commerce which prevails in respect to certain articles of British production and manufacture," and" a modification of the tariff in regard to others;" and with respect to exports from France, the admission into the United Kingdom of various articles of French manufacture free of duty, and the reduction of other duties now levied on French productions." The noble EARL, on the 22nd, had had an interview with Count WALEWSKI, who told him, that neither the, EMPEROR nor himself had overlooked the ad- vantages which might result to the two coun- tries by increased commercial facilities, as no- thing would tend more to allay the irritation which unfortunately prevailed on both sides the Channel;" and, added Lord COWLEY, I cannot doubt, from various conversations with which I have been honoured by the EMPEROR, that his Majesty is sincerely bent on accom- plishing this commercial reform. He further said, that if her MAJESTY'S Government de- cided upon pursuing the negociations, it could not be entrusted to better hands than those of Mr. COBDEN. The merit of whatever was ef- fected would rest solely with him, and it was but fair he should have the satisfaction of put- ting his name to the final arrangement." The noble Lord assured the Foreign Secretary that he should feel no jealousy on the occasion;" and we are very sorry for the sake of the no- ble Earl's character, that he and Mr. COB- DEN were appointed joint-plenipotentiaries,— as the document, since it has been published in its entirety, fully confirms the opinion we expressed last week on the supposition that the abstract given in the Paris and Brussels papers, was correct. The benefits of the treaty, for the present, will all be on the side of France. Mr. GLAD- STONE says, that this was not made a point of by the French Government, who he believes would have agreed that the changes in Eng- land should have been detained till those in France take place; but her MAJESTY'S Go- vernment thought they had better take place at once. We think they were wrong; for the merchants, and manufacturers, and producers of France may send what they please here,— every article with the exception of a very few, upon which the. present imposts will be greatly reduced, will be allowed to be imported free of duty; whilst on all English goods and mer- chandize, except coal and coke, sent to France, the present duties will continue to be levied for some months longer and then there will be no equality; but a 30 per cent. ad valorem dutv for three years, and one of 25 per cent. subsequently will be levied, for that the duties will be reduced below those rates we do not think very probable. Now we ask any impar- tial man whether it can be for the advantage of England that she should be inundated with French silks, French artificial flowers, French bonnets, French millinery, French gloves, French hats, French bijouterie, and every spe- cies of French manufacture, all free of duty, when upon every article of her produce or ma- nufacture, except one, a duty is to be levied, first of nearly one-third, and then of one-fourth their value? But there is another instan in which Lord COWLEY and Mr. CODDEN have suffered them- selves to be over-reached by the French, or have betrayed a great indifference to the claims and the interests of their countrymen. The shipping interest is suffering very severely from the competition to which it has been ex- posed since the repeal of the navigation laws. One of the, difficulties it has to contend with springs out of the" differential duties" levied by many counties on goods, as they arc im- ported in foreign or native vessels. The French make a difference of 10 to 12 per cent.; and the third article of the treaty provides, that the rates of duty fixed by the treaty are to be independhnt of the differential duties, which are not to be interfered with. Thus articles which will pay 30 per cent if imported in French ships, will pay 40 and 42 per cent when imported in English vessels. The treaty löught to have sanctioned n6s p?0- I vision, unless they had also stipulated that goods ooming to England free, in English Sups, should pay 10 or 12 per cent duty when brought over in French ships. The EMPEROR S object in this proviso is obvious. He wants to improve and increase the demand for French shipping, and to augment the means of em- ployment for French sailors. We cannot blame him; but we do think those English negociators are very much to blame, who evinced so little regard for the shipping inter- ests of their own country; as are the ministers who advise their royal mistress to agree to a treaty containing such a provision. The stipulation with respect to coal is, also, most injudicious. That article is to be allowed to go to France, on and after the 1st of July next, at a small fixed duty; and the two contracting Powers engage not to prohibit the exportation of coal, and to levy no duty upon such exportation." This is an engagement that, ostensibly binding both parties, really affects only England, as France has no coals to export. Mr. HORSMAN called attention to the article on Monday evening; and we think it is sufficient to shew the main end of the treaty, which is to secure a supply of a mine- ral now so much wanted in every industrial pursuit, and which is almost as necessary as gunpowder in time of war. If the treaty is not meant essentially and especially to secure a supply of coals, why is it that there is no such provision, as the 11th article above quoted applies to coal, made with regard to any other product or mauufacture. The more we examine the treaty, the more objectionable do some of its specific agree- ments and the tendency of the whole appear, and we certainly cannot desire that its provi- sions should become part of the commercial code of the United Kingdom.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. LONDON, Wednesday. "London is itself again." The Court has arrived at Buckingham Palace, and to day Her MAJESTY holds her first levee, which pro- mises to be numerously attended. Re-unions are now held almost every evening in the bouses of the fashionable leaders; and at those assemblies, you would not suppose that either political duties or private ones nad any influence over the destinies of the numerous guests who attend them, all appear so gay and happy, and every thing breathes so vividly of cheerful contentment. Amongst the men, however, there is, just now, whether they be- long to the inns or the outs, a strong under- current of anxious expectation. It is difficult to account for the different views which people take of the same subject. There are the most opposite opinions now entertained of the com- mercial treaty with France, and the "budget" of Mr. GLADSTONE, which is, in a great measure, framed upon it. The inns speak in most glow- ing terms of both. The outs, on the contrary, finding something to approve in each, condemn the measure as a whole; and as their acceptance or rejection must have a most important effect upon the fortunes of the nation, those who have the decision in their hands naturally feel a weight of anxious care, whichever way their opinion turns, and however they may endea- vour to conceal their real feelings from the casual observer. Intense anxiety was evinced on Friday even- ing to hear Mr. GLADSTONE'S statement. All the peers and strangers' galleries were crowd- ed to excess, and the members filled every corner of the room. There was a constant buzz of conversation till the right hon. gentle- man rose then the silent and earnest atten- tion with which his auditory lietonod to him, shewed, I am informed, the interest they took in the subject. His speech is highly praised. To read the ministerial and the Bright papers, we can only suppose that Demosthenes or Cicero had come amongst us, and that the most palmy days of Pitt, of Burke, and of Sheridan were excelled. The Conservative papers also praise the speech, whatever they may think of the measures propounded. I did not hear the speech delivered, but I have read it in the Times, and I must confess that I am most exceedingly disappointed. It contains many eloquent passages, but it requires ar- rangement and clearness. It requires the ut- most attention to collect the scattered ele- ments of repeal and imposition which we find in different parts of the harangue; and in more than one instance the speech differs from the "Resolutions to be proposed in the.Com- mittee of Ways and Means," which were laid on the table the same evening. One of those differences relates to a very serious subject. Mr. GLADSTONE, in his speech, said that it would be proposed to continue the income tax at loa. in the pound on incomes above Y,150, and at 7d. in the pound on incomes below that, amount.. In the Resolutions there is no mention of the 7d. rate the I Od. one appears ;to apply to all incomes. Whether the right hon. gentleman has not been in the House since Friday, or whether the attention of the members has not been called to the subject, I do not know, but no question has been asked upon it, and the difference remains un- explained. Une oi the most eloquent passages in iij r. GLADSTONE'S speech was that in which he praised the commercial treaty with France, and the EMPEROR and Mr COBDEN for con- structing it. Of the former he said—" he has given the most unequivocal proofs of sincerity and earnestness in the progress of this great work; a work not .merely prosecuted for the purposes lof the English alliance, but with a view to commercial reforms at home, and to the advantages and happiness of his own peo- ple." Of Mr. COBDEN he spoke as follows Speaking as I do, at a time when every angry passion has passed away, I cannot help expressing our obligations to him for the la- bour he has, at no small sacrifice to himself, bestowed upon a measure, which he, not the least amongst the apostles of Free Trade, be- lieves to be one of the greatest triumphs Free Trade has ever achieved. It is a great privi- lege for any man, who, having 15 years ago rendered to his country one important and sig- nal service, now enjoys the singular good for- tUne of having had itin his power-undecorated, bearing no mark of rank or of title from his Sovereign, or from the people,—to perform another signal service in the same cause, for the benefit of, I hope, a not ungrateful peo- ple." That people having fourteen years ago, subscribed zE 80, 000 for Mr. CODDEY-and now, on learning that he had invested his money abroad, instead of employing it in any way to the improvement of British industry, and had lost it, having subscribed 140,000 more, can- not, I think, be deemed 11 ungrateful," even if the Member for Rochdale had achieved for them benefits as great as Mr. GLADSTONE thinks he has. But with respect to the treaty with France, it is impossible that it can bene- fit England, except in a slight degree, even if it benefits us at all; while it must confer immense advantages on France and it con- tains two specific provisions which prove Mr. COBDEN to have been so far overcome by the attention he received at the Tuilleries, that he has had his feelings as an Englishman completely put in abeyance, and has not given due attention and consideration to the agree ment he was making on behalf of his country, or he has suffered his feelings for France com- pletely to absorb his regard for his own country, and the interests of his own country- men. These articles are the 3rd and the n th. The 3rd is as follows: It is understood that the rates of duties mentioned in the pre. ceding articles are independent of the differen- tial duties in favour of French shipping, with which duties they shall not interfere. By the 11 th, The two high contracting parties engage not to prohibit the exportation ol coals, and to levy no entry upon such exportation." The first of these articles will favour French Ships at the expense of British. There are duties of 10 and 12 per cent. imposed upon goods, which are permitted to be imported into France, when they are on board foreign ships, in addition to those which are paid when the importation takes place in vessels of the country. If British products or manufac- tures are sent to France, they will, if sent over in our own vessels, have to pay this 10 and 12 per cent. in addition to whatever duty may be imposed on the aticles themselves-whilst French goods (except brandies and wines) will be imported into England without paying any duty at all, either upon goods or vessels. If this is not completely one-sided Free Trade it is impossible to say what is. The other ar- ticle, though written as if to apply to the "two high contracting powers," applies only to England, France having no coal to export. Thus our neighbour will be at liberty to supply himself with that valuable mineral now so important in war, even up to the very hour of his declaring war with us, should he be inclined. Even the Times is compelled this morning to admit that these articles require modification. I cannot conceive how any one can imagine that great benefits are to flow from this treaty to England, when we are to be inundated with French goods, sent here free of duty, to com- pete with our workmen and workwomen in every branch,—and we can only export our produce and manufactures to France, on pay- ment of 30 per cent. from 1861 to 1864, and afterwards of 25 per cent., if taken in French vessels, with 10 and 12 per cent. additional, if sent over in British ships. The exclusive advantages of such an arrangement to France are so obvious, that it is difficult to imagine how any Englishman could be induced to agree to it. The first idea of the commercial treaty, we find, was suggested to Lord JOlIN RUSSELL by Mr. COBDEN, when he was on the point of going to France last year; and he told his Lordship he should see M. CHEVALIER, the well-known political economist, and other friends, to converse with them, in order to see whether there was any chance of a commercial treaty being entered into by France. The Foreign Secretary told him, that if there was a disposition, on the part of the French Go- vernment, to negotiate such a treaty, he could assure him of a corresponding disposition on the part of HER MAJESTY'S Ministry. From a despatch of Lord COWLEY'S, of the 22nd of December, we learn that 1fr. COBDEN had had many interviews with M. ROUPER, the minister of commerce; and that he (Lord COWLEY) had seen the EMPEROR and Count WALEWSKI all of whom were favourable to further connect the two countries, and allay the irritation which unfortunately exist on both sides of the Channel, by commercial reforms; and his Lordship suggested that Mr. COBDEN,—with whom the merits of whatever might be effected would solely rest-should be entrusted with the negociation. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, on the 17th of January, wrote to Lord COWLEY, stat- ing that HER MAJESTY had appointed him and Afr- COBDIJIT joint plenipotentiaries to ne- gotiate a commercial treaty; and he closed his despatches with submitting the following prin- ciples as those on which such treaty should be founded The rule of the French tariff is, high duty in general, with a large measure of absolute probibition. The rule of the British tariff is, low duty in general with a nu;nber of articles absolutely free and, likewise with a small number of most important exceptions, of articles upon which high duties are imposed for fiscal purposes. Taking these as the respective points of departure on the two sides, her MAJESTY'S Government are prepared to admit, m appears also to be the opinion of the French Government, that the proper basis of the operation will be, on the side of France, a general transition, so far as British commodities are concerned, from prohibition, or high duty, and duties at a moderate rate; and on the side of England, the total abolition of customs duty on French productions where fiscal considerations will permit it and reduction to the lowest practicable points, together with the entire abandonment of any protective impost on behalf of a British and against a French commodity, where fiscal regulations will not admit of' total abolition. I deny that these are the principles on which British negotiators ought to have pro- ceeded whatever the rule of the French is, when entering into a commercial arrangement, our plenipotentiaries should have contended for mutual advantages: and it is ridiculous to contend that mutual advantage can arise where one country pursues her traffic free and unshackled, and the other is subjected to du- ties of one-fourth-and under some circum- stances more than one-third—the value of the goods. Whatever France does now, she should, if she wishes her goods to come to England duty free, admit English goods on the same terms. It is the grossest injustice to those manufacturers and tradesmen who make the articles which will be imported from France,—should the treaty be accepted,—to let Frenchmen send their goods here free of duty, while English goods have to pay such imposts as I have named. I believe that the basis of the treaty was laid down in France, and not by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, though in his letters of the 17th ult. it would appear as if it was. I think so be- cause, for more than two months Mr. CODDEN was conversing with M RONIIER and others in France; because the letter in which Lord J OIIN lays that basis down is dated the 17th ult., and the treaty itself was signed on the 23rd. I do not believe that in five days—and there would be no more even if the despatch was sent off the day it was dated, and the plenipotentiaries worked on the Sunday-that such, a treaty would be considered, put into form and engrossed, ready for signing; indeed, we were told that it was ready for signa- ture on the 21st. The treaty was concluded, therefore, there is no doubt, from the sugges- tions of the French negociators; an<f the despatch of the I I th, I fear, is intended more as a blind than anything else, to lead the public to suppose that our ministers were leaders when they were really led. Mr. GLADSTONE'S budget recognizes the treaty, and its reduction and abolition of du- ties; reduces other customs, which produce near three millions of revenue, and the excise duty on paper; imposes various stamp duties which, those they will affect say, will provo very vexatious and continues the income-tax at lOd. in the pound; as also the war duties on tea and coffee, imposing a tax on chicory, which is so largely mixed with the latter. The ardent ministerialists, and the Manches- ter men, are in raptures with the scheme; and to read the Star you would suppose everyone to be in its favour. I have not been fortunate enough to meet with any one, as yet, who ap- proves of it,; though many are ready to swear by Mr. GLADSTONE, and take it for better for worse," as he proposes it. There was a meet- ing of Conservatives yesterday at the MAR- QUIS OF SALISBURY'S, at which it was resolved, that an amendment to the budget shall be moved; and there is every prospect of success. The clauses I have mentioned in the treaty as so objectionable will also be objected to; and it will be endeavoured to retain the indirect taxes, and not increase the income tax. I heartily hope it will succeed. I see there are rumours of divisions amongst the Conserva- tives on the subject. It is even said, that so far had the split proceeded, that it was proposed to displace Lord DERBY and make Lord MALMESBURY leader. This is » mere canard, like the asserted coalition with the Ultramontanes.

7 1- BIRTHS, XARMAOM, ?? J°*??:  be a"thenll. C-t b)' the name d atidfe?s of the en 'den, or tran.mitted to us through our accredited A?ente.] BIRTHS. On th.Uthin.t.. the wif. of Mr. Edward J.ne..T..nC?-. office, Beaumaiis, of a son. mm 0" the  Stanley Crelcent. Holyh.a, the wife of  cotumander f the CLty Of Dublin Com- Ri??h3rd %N'illiams. U Pripce Arthur,' ?, of a len.   Jame. M. Wim?.. a?r. Mona t Terrace, Amlwch, ??''?*?' OnthelHhinst, the wife of Mr. Owen B. Morgan, Mona Foundry, Amlwch Port, of a on. On the 5th lost., at Dol?elley, the wife of Mr. Ow.n Bees, printer and stationer, of a d.uxhter-.t.U-b.rn. On the 2nd inlt., at Bronfair. near Harlech, the wife of Mr. EllU Pughe, of a ion. wife of Mr. John Ohmthf. Ph.tirion, On the 6th i.?t., the wife of Mr. Jobn Griffiths. Plaitinon, Llanberis, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. On the 10th inst., at St. Eleth's Church, Amlwch by the Eer: John Bichardl, P.O., Mr. Rowland Jones, mate of the U Robin Hood," of Amlwch, to Miss Elleu Williams, both of this parish. On the 7th inst., at the Independent Chapel, Bangor, by the R ev. William Thomas, Beaumaiis, Mr. Robert Thomas, (EoI Peuilyn), to Miss Catherine Edwards, Beaumaris. On the 10th inst., at Llanbeblig Church, by the Rev. D. Lewis Tvilliama enrat" Capt Hnry Jant's. of tne snip oiacn-waier,01 the port of Carna?on, to EUen, eMe.t daughter of Capt. Robert ,h. Cro ,n C. nr, On the 10th inst by licence, at Moriah Chapel, Carnarvon, by the Rev. Griffith Parrv, Mr. Owen Jones, Pant Caehaidd, Waen- fawr, to Miss Margaret Williams, Castle-ditch, Carnarvon. On the 6th inat. at Lhnbebtig Church, by the Rev. D. Letm W,, ..?, %fr. ?vi 1ili?. Owen, mariner, Snowdon-street to Miss Ellen Eliza Roberts, of Henwalia, both of Carnorvon. On the 6th inst., bv licence, at the Register Office, Festiniog, district, before Mr. Thomas Jones, registar, in presence of Mr. 8. Vaughan, 8uperintendent registrar, I fr. Owen Pritchard Jones, mariner, Poltmadoc, to Miss Ellen Jones, Criccieth. On the Uth inst., at Llanwnog, Mr. If. Williams, jun., New- town, to Miss Jane Smith, Llanwnog, Montgomeryshire. DEATHS. On the Uth inot., at Caerhun, near this city, aged 83, Margaret, On the Ilth ins?,, R.?l.nd., of thf .b.ve place, and mother of if? of r. T,c,. the Itev. W. Rowlands, Weslejan minister, Aberystwyth, On the 12th inst Eli, b,l h' wife of Mr. William Lewis, Bone Tal(i w, Lianeiii.?tn, n,?:r Amlwch, aged 70. o the 12th inst., most deeply and deservedly lamented, aged 31 years, ?lry the beloved wife of Mr. John V. Owen, Llawr- penegoe ear ??hyniith On the 11th in.t., at Brjnllwydjn, near Machynlleth, aged i years, Louisa, the only and beloved daughter of Thomas Ellis, Esq., of the above place. On the 13:11 inst., Mrs. Ann Davies, the beloved wife of Mr. Jonathan Davies, Groes, near ltuabon. On the 5th inst., aged 14. Jane, second daughter of Mr. Roger Jones, Record-street, lluthin. On the 3;d inst., aged 17, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. William Bellis, Rhosllanerchrugog.

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.—At this dreary seaion of the year many residing in this locality will no doubt be delighted to see the announcement in another part of our paper of a Vocal and Instrumental Concert, to be given at the Baths Assembly Room, on Tuesday evening next; when they will have an opportunity of sliewing their appreciation of local talent, and of the national and popular airs of the country. RINGING THE CHANGES. It is curious to note the number of changes which may be rung on different peals. The change on seven bells are 5,040 on twelve bells, 479,001,600, which it would take ninety-one years to ring, at the rate of two strokes in a second. The changes on fourteen bells could not be rung through at the same rate in less than 16,575 years; and upon four-and- twenty, they would require more than 117,000 billions of years. WELSH RAILWAY BILLS—On Monday, Mr. Frere, the Examiner, declared the standing orders of the fol- lowing railways to have been complied with.— Vale of Glwvd Extension. To make a railway from the Vale of Clwyd Railway to Rhyl. Conway, Ltanrwst, and Bet- tm-ycoed.—To make a railway, and to use the stations of the Chester and Holyhead. Denbigh, Ruthin, and Cor wen.—To make a railway from Denbigh to Ruthin and from Ruthin to Corwen, with powers to use the sta- tions of the Vale of Clwyd and Chester and Holyhead Railways. DENBIGHSHIRE IVFIRMARY. —We have the pleasure of announcing that the Marquis of Westminster has offered to present this Institution with the handsome donation of £50 towards the heavy deficiency in its funds, as appearing in the Report of 1859, on the under- standing that the remainder of the deficit is forthcoming from other sources, before Midsummer. We hope shortly to be ableto announce that the charity is in a position to avail itself of the liberal offer, by publishing a list of other donors. BANGOR COUNTY COURT. This Court was held on Monday last, before J. Winston, Esq., Deputy Judge, when the following and other cases, numbering 29. came on for hearing. QUrTTING SERVICE WITHOUT NOTICE. The plaintiff in this case, Elizabeth or Betsy Hughes, Llangefni, who had lived as servant of Mr. Hulse, Upper Bangor, hut six weeks, and who, as it proved, left her employer's service without giving the usual notice, to the great inconvenience of the family, made a claim for a half year's wages, £2 10s. lhe plaintiff attempted to show that she bad been turned away.. No credence, however, was attached to her statement. The JUDGE,—to the surprise of defendant's advocate, R. D. Williams, Esq., who contended that she was not entitled to any wagcs-awarded her 12s., being amount of six weeks' service, his Honor intimating to defendant that he had his remedy against plaintiff for unlawfully quitting her service by a cross action. THE ADJOURNED PIG CASE. D. O'Brien v. John Hughes.—This case was ad. journed from last Court, and wax an action to recover the value of a pig sold to defendant, nearly two years ago. The defence set up was, that the meat was unfit for human food, which was proved by defendant's ser- vant, and another witness, who had bought and paid for a portion of it to defendant. The plaintiff's advocate (Mr. E. G. POWEll.) shewed that defendant saw the pig previous to being bought, and agreed to buy it in the state it was then in. He made no complaint to plaintiff until the time arrived when it was to be paid for, and then offered 30s. on account. His HONoUlt gave judgment in favour of plaintiff for £ 2 10s. H "SBAND 8 LIABILITY. John Jones v. John Roberts. — The plaintiff in this case sought to recover a certain amount of money from defendant for the maintenance of a child for three years aud a half, which the defendant's wife agreed to pay. The husband and wife had since separated, by mutual consent." The child was (lie niece of defendant's wife. His HONOUR said the piaintiff must be non-suited, as proof could not be adduced that the wife acted as agent of the husband, nor was it all attempted to be shewn that he was a party to such an agreement. WIFE'S LIABILITY. Thomas Jones v. Elizabeth Williams.—This was an act ion brought to recover £6 5s. 8d. from the widow of the late Owen Williams, painter, for provision., &c. The liabilities of defendant's late husband were stated to he tSO, to meet which the assets were laid down at XI3. All the creditors (except plaintiff) agreed to ac- cept, under the circumstances, so much in the 9. A committee had been formed to raise a fund for the sup- port of the widow and the children, which, however, had not been handed over to her. His HONOUR decided that the plaintiflfs demand was to be satisfied, and ordered the administratrix to dis- charge this debt forthwith in preference to any other.

SONNET ON THE FIRST 6NO W-DROP AND CROCUS SEEN BY THE WRITER IN 1860. Born 'neath the hurtling of the sleety showers, Ye rear'd your beauteous heads amid the snow, Foretelling that, ere long, the genial hours, Will come again, and gentle Zephyrs blow, And cause the frost-bound rills again to flow f The landscape clothing o'er with other flowers To perish, as ye will-first buds of spring And they, the now mute warblers, soon shall sing Above ye, and enlivening all the hours With sweetest melody around. Each spray Shall pour its music from the leafless bowers j The Thrush and Black. bird sweet from far and near Shall chorus join, and hail, throughout the day, Your advent, so prophetic of the opening year. GABMON. Banks of the Conway, Feb. 4,1860,