The Aberystwith Observer

THE ARMISTICE. e i,several months European society has 11. passed with war's alarms; trade has JUred, and the arts of civilisation have in their progress; and all this by struggle has been terrible, and the 5 j'Sastrous. And now the news arrive that V an armistice. An armistice, we all L8 a definitive suspension of hostili- 'ti0 fche preliminary stage to an entire ed J1 °f battle, founded on terms of peace J° by the contending parties. it^^ation of the present armistice be- US). Ustria and France extends till the 16th iya| and it is arranged that during this t^.cotnmercial vessels under all flags legate the Adriatic, the chief seaboard Per'6atre war' This ^°°^s ^ke peace. *0(i during which negotiation may be of J1 ls sufficiently extensive for proposi- '^Miu06 to discussed and re-discussed; It, 1 be hard indeed if peace be not the L°Uid appear that the Emperor of the uS first one as^ an armistice. WfJ* humour at his success, and on the a°king a venerable and classic city, m aP.0,eou, it is said, suggested to Francis «Ve .etl'er it would not be advisable to as during the Crimean war it ted to spare Odessa.. Be this as it may, there is little doubt that the Emperor of the French has many induce- ments to desire peace. The arming of Prussia tells him there is no certainty that the war will be confined to the peninsula of Italy, and if it spread beyond these boundaries, Heaven only knows where it may stop. The Emperor of the French has now gained, if not all he de- sired on opening the campaign, at least enough to satisfy the ambition of any not afflicted with the insatiable thirst of an Alexander or a— Napoleon. Compared with the latter (we refer of course to the uncle), the present may have well nigh as vast an ambition, but he knows full well that now, even more than in the era of the first Napoleon, there is no hope of that ambition being realised. If military glory be the desire of Napoleon the Third, he has acquired it already. The victories of Ma- genta and Solferino have added a glory to the uncrowned brow of the Emperor which he did f not possess before. He is the conqueror on two battle-fields where struggles unsurpassed for desperation have been fought with the high art of modern refined warfare. He has driven the A ustrians from the plains of Lombardy, and the independence of Italy (the object for which the war was professedly undertaken), lies within his grasp-at least, we may rea- sonably suppose that he believes this to be so. Whether the independence of Italy, however, was or was not the Emperor's real object, we know that military ardour is his characteristic, and military glory his goal. He has gained the prize; and another battle might wrest it from his grasp. The Emperor would probably have the olive branch of peace intertwined with the bays of the warrior's crown. But there may be a stronger reason for the Emperor's desire for peace than this. Louis Napoleon possibly hears already the rumbling thunder of arousing nationalities. Hungary is being inundated with proclamations, and the denunciations of Kossuth against the house of Hapsburg, qre alike applicable to the tyranny of the imperialism of France. And Poland, too, and Italy herself—is it safe to allow the war to rage till its waves surge over the shores of these oppressed countries, fighting for them- selves and their own national power as inde- pendent members of the European confedera- tion? It is possible, indeed, that Louis Napoleon feels that the independence of Italy is too near its accomplishment. He may, having acquired some of Austria's power, be willing to come to a new arrangement by which he is sure to be the gainer, rather than allow Austria to retake what she has lost on the one hand, or, on the other, fulfilling flis avowed purpose of entirely freeing Italy, and to feeling himself compelled to keep his promise to the world. In either case he would be the loser, compared with what may be looked for from an armistice. England destined perhaps to be the arbiter of the fortunes of war, looks on with anxiety and hope. We trust that this hope may not be blighted, and that now the star of peace may return, with honour to France and Aus- tria, and new life to poor down-trodden Italy.

Hocal information. APPOINTMENT.? • John Thomas, formerly Pu- pil Teacher at Pen-y-parke School, near this town, received his appointment as Regimental School- master to the Pembroke Dock 'Garrison on Tues- day, the 5th instant. ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.—On Sunday morning last, a Sermon was preached, at this Church, on be- half of the Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, by the Rev. A. A. Isaacs, M.A., Secre- tary of the Society. The collection at the doors amounted to JE14 9s. 3d. A LECTURE was also delivered by the Rev. Mr. Isaacs, on Monday evening last,in the Infant School- room, upon Palestine and Jerusalem. The Lecture, which was listened to with profound attention, was most interesting, Mr. Isaacs having lately visited the Holy Land. ASSEMBLY ROOMS.—On Tuesday evening last, at these Rooms, Mr. John Roberts and Miss M. A. Roperts, Welsh Harpists, gavfe^an Entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musie. There was a good attendance, and the performance gave much satisfaction. RAT-CATCHINGL,^XTRAORDINAB.Y!We have heard of Rarey taming hofcfcgs, Van-Amburgh and Womb- well taming the wild firsts of the forest, after they have them caged and secured. No less surprising is it that M. T. Arch (game-keeper to Col. Powell, M.P., Nanteos) has succeededan getting rats to fol- low him wherever he pleases. Ope evening, a week or two ago, he went out, and induced 84 of these de- structive animals to follow him into a small room at Nanteos, where they were all slaughtered. It was highly amusing to see the rats follow their charmer, and even climb up his legs.

CORRESPONDENCE. 11Q the Editor of the Aberystwith Observe?, SIR,—Allow me to make a few remarks in respect to the meetings lately held in the Vestry Room of St. Michael's, in this town. Some of your readers may be able to inform me if it is customary to give notice to ALL the Pew holders to attend when any matter is to be brought forward, in which ALL are concerned. When vestries are called, all have the privilege of knowing it; and should it not be the case when meetings of this sort are convened? or are a few individuals, known to be favor- able to thc matter or measure about to be proposed, justified in passing the same into a law, and leave the others, who are as much interested as themselves, in ignorance of the proceedings 1 It would be well for those who act in this way, if they value the peace of the Church, to pause and consider what they are about. At one of the meetings above alluded to, the rents of the pews were raised from X2 to f3 8s a year I Will this be quietly sub- mitted to ? I should think not. At another packed meeting a certain Organist was selected. Have not the pew holders gene- rally to contribute towards the Organist's salary ? and why not have a voice in his selection ? It may be said that notice of the above meetings was given by the bell being rung; but who by that means was to know the purport thereof? I maintain that no public notice mas at all given, of the holding of these meet- ings. I remain, Sir, your humble Servant, A PEW HOLDER.