The Aberystwith Observer

(Due foukt Comspntat. doom it right to state that we do not at all times indentif" OUTSJIVCS witl1 ollr correspondent's opinions.] The visit of the Queen to the Princess of Wales is not only a pleasing trait in her Majesty's character, but it adds some little to the hope so generally enter- tained that ere long the Queen may mingle more with her people than she has of late done. Her Ma- jesty, it will have been observed, still wears widow's weeds, which it is now scarcely probable she will ever abandon. When the Prince of Wales was married we all re- member how addresses of congratulation poured in from every quarter of the kingdom; and though there wa a strong family likeness in these addresses, newspaper edi- tors liked to give them and people liked to read them. The hirth of a Prince has alio given rise to numbers of congratulatory addresses, but comparatively few of these have seen the light. The loyalty of the people has, however, suffered no diminution, and I hear that -his has been in some instances manifested in a way which, however honourable to one side and gratifying t.<* the other, is contrary to etiquette. To people about to make presents to the Royal infant it may be said, d'.m't, for the Prince and Princess cannot in strict etiquette receive them. In fact, it is necessary to attach a. price to anything submitted to the Royal family, and this quite destroys its character as a present Our aristocracy and memfcera of Parliament are coming up to town pretty rapidly, preparatory to the meeting of the Legislature, and everybody is looking forward with more or less interest to the approaching session. What are the prospects of Legislation, is a topic that is eagerly discussed in political circles. For myself, I pretend to no prophetic glances at what we may, still less, what we shall have but I think, nevertheless, that there are one or two signs which in- dicate coming events. From the tone of the speech of the President of the Board of Trade, I think we may look forward to some measure on the rights of neutrals and belligerents in reference to the building and equipping of ships. I think, too, that there has been NO much discussion lately, as to the treatment of Townley and Wright, in reference to the law of the several cases, that we may reasonably look for Bome measure as to the bearing of ourcriminallawsonalleged lunatics while the oases of both Wright and of Townley seem to point to an attempt to establish a Court of Criminal Appeal, an institution which has long been ad vocated by an influential portion of the public. There have also been discovered so many flaws in the re- cently-passed Bankruptcy Act, that an amendment of that measure is very likely to be brought forward byGo- vernment, if only to forestal the Opposition. This latter word reminds me that the Conservatives claim to have gained strength during the recess, and it is said they will not be slow to try that strength. A dissolution during next session is confidently looked forward to by many, but I would remind my readers that there is no necessity for this, as the Parliament does not die a natural death till 1865. It is pretty certain, however, that the natural course of events tends towards a dissolution. Should Government be defeated on any very important measure, this tendency will be all the stronger. Foreign topics—America, Germany and Denmark, Japan, &c.—will necessarily occupy a large share of the attention of Parliament during the coming session. We seem destined indeed to be nearly always discussing the affairs of other nations. We shall, however, soon see what we shall see. The Parliamentary dinners, which will shortly take place, are the overture, and then the curtain will rise for the great legislative drama. Meanwhile, it is pleasant to hear that the Premier has all but re- covered bis severe attack of gout. It ia said that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have a surplus, and there are pleasant rumours of consequent reductions in taxation—in income-tax, malt duty, fire-insurance duty, &c. But much will depend on the war-like or peaceful attitude of the Continent when the House meets. The prevailing topic of the day is the rupture between Germany and Denmark, especially as war has now been resolved on, on the part of Austria and Prussia, who decline to accede to the request of England to retard the entry of troops into the disputed Duchies. If anything were wanting to make the Germans more unpopular, and the Danes more popular in this country, it is this hot haste on the part of the former. England merely urged Germany to accede to a fair request, on the part of Denmark, that the eruption of German troops should be delayed until the Danish Parliament could have time to consider the proposed modifi- cation of the November constitution. But Ger- many will not wait—so says the last news at the time I write—and war is resolved on. There is but one hope. Austria and Prussia cannot, for two or three weeks, pass the Eider, and by that time our Parliament will have met. I hear that the very first question that will be discussed, after the Address is passed, will be this Austro-Prusso-Danish war, which everybody deprecate?, and which England most heartily desires may be avoided. Perhaps the voice of the English Parliament may do something to preclude Austria and Prussia braving the entire opinion of this country. Meanwhile our Ministry will not wait for the voice of Parliament, and there are rumours of a most pressing dispatch having already been sent to Berlin and Vienna, subsequent to the receipt of the news of the last exhibition of German fury and obstinacy. The so-called National Shakspeare Committee is in a very bad way, and has not yet recovered—some say it never will recover—the blow inflicted on it by the resignation of nine of its best members. As to the proposed 30,000?., the prospect of ever getting a quarter of it by the 23rd of April is very dim. Mean- while, the Stratford committee seems gaining strength, and the opinion begins to prevail here that it will be best for the London committee to allow itself to become absorbed in that of Stratford. To speak in sporting phraseology, the betting is 3 to 2 on Stratford. The appointment of the Rev. Harold Browne, B.D., to the bishopric of Ely, gives pretty general satisfaction. The new bishop is a tolerably High Churchman, but not very high. The best feature about the appointment is, that there are no Colenso proclivities about him. An inquest has been held here on a servant who committed suicide. The tale may be summed up in three words — seduction, desertion, suicide. The cowardly miscreant who drove this poor girl to self. destruction was one of our country's brave defenders —he was a soldier. The coroner, addressing this de- ceitful coward, said, I shall send the letters written by you, and found on the deceased, to your command- ing officer to see if something cannot be done to put a. stop to your prowling about this neighbourhood for the purpose of seducing young women." As well might the coroner have said he would send the letters to the Pacha of Egypt. The commanding officer can do nothing. The fact ia, that the law should be al- tered. Admitting that in all such cases the fault is equal, the punishment is unequal. The seducer goes wholly free, except, perhaps, of the sting of conscience. Alas it is as true now as when Goldsmith wrote the lines :— When lovely woman stoops to folly, And finds too late that men betray, What charm can soothe her melancholy. What art can wash her guilt away ? The only art her guilt to cover, And hide her shame from every eye, To bring repentance to her lover, And wring his bosom, is to die. It is far from cheering, however, to think that, during the century or so smce this was written, we have still left our laws on this matter as one-sided as ever. TTiere was much discussion, some time ago, on the cru«l danger of sensation performances. One of our managers, at whose gardens a "sensation" perform- ance terminated fatally, thereupon promised that no performance endangering life should ever again take place under his management, and he has kept his word. But I regret to say that both at the Alhambra and the Agricultural Hall there are nightly perform- ances of the most dangerous character, and that the public seem to relish this risk of life as much as ever. It would be too much, perhaps, to expect that Par- liament should step in to prohibit such performances but I sincerely hope that, in case of any fatal accident, the jury will bring it in "manslaughter" against the manager of the place of entertainment where the "accident" occurs. This would bring managers and performers to their senses. On dit that the old copper coin is to be called in. being made an illegal tender. I believe an Act of Parliament is not required for this, but it may be done by an order in council. Be this as it may, the sooner it is done the better. Lycurgus made the Spartan money very heawy and cumbersome, to prevent people hoarding itwp. At one time, our copper coinage was hoarded up, on the other hand, for its actual value in copper. That time has gone by, and it is to be hoped that ere long we shall lose all vestiges of the late cumbrous copper coins. The present is incomparably superior; but I confess I should like to see even an improvement here. I do not see why we should not have nickel pennies and twopenny-piecas, like the Belgians. A five-shilling gold piece, too, tow that crowns are no longer coined, would be a great conve- nience. But the chief want is undoubtedly three- penny and fourpenny-pieces. The demand is in- finitely greater than the supply. On the whole, I do noUthlnk our coinage is equal to the French for con- veniencej but great credit is due to Mr. Gladstone for*what he has already done in adapting it to our want*

THE HORRORS OF BEDLAM. Whilst Samuel Wright has gone beyond the reach of earthly compassion or human hate, and the prison earth is pressed upon his dishonoured ashes, the assas- sin Townley has been transferred to the home of madmen. We have not hesitated to remark upon the process, by which for the present at least, grace was procured for the Derbyshire assassin; but yet let no one suppose that a life of pardon on the plea of im- becility is one of ease (remarks a contemporary). No object is more familiar to Londoners, on the south side of the river especially, than the cupola of that edifice which is vu'garly styled "Bedlam." But few interiors, so far as the incarcerated criminal subjects are concerned, are more jealously guarded. The lofty iron railings, the trim shrubberies, the quiet, clean, respectable men and women, passingto and fro, suggest little of the terror within. Not that the old- fashioned ideas of a madhouse are realised to the visitor. lie Bees no manacles, strait-waistcoats, whips, gags, or whirling chairs he listens to no shrieks or groans yet he beholds in the criminal ward —not only a Bethlehem, but everywhere else—a som- bre monotony, an aspect of seclusion, an utter iso- lation from the world of action, and hopes, and independence outside, which will seem terrible indeed when he remembers that for the inmate whom the mercy of the Crown has spared thoje doors will never open, except when the bearers wait to carry his body to the dead house. The" brazen, brainlessbrothero" of Cibber have seldom kept watch over a more for- lorn crew than the criminal inmates of a lunatic asylum. The worst examples of frenzied guilt howl and fret away their days and night behind thick iron gratings. Their faces. are hideous, their voices in- human degradation is exhibited in their every action and gesture. The worst punishment of a. man who fscapes the gibbet on account of feigned or inferred insanity is, that he must live beneath the same roof with these brutalised monsters that he must be treated, in his degree, as one of them that, like the man in the iron mask, his identity is for ever effaced that he must not be named or pointed out to any visitor that he must be hidden and forgotton by the society he has outraged and that under no circum- stances, whether his reason be sound or diseased, can he again see the daylight of life. He may rave, he may plead a restoration of sanity, he may brood over the past and gaze in despair at the total blank of the future but there he is, unless the case bo very ex- ceptional, once for all, and he will never, upon this earth, be anywhere else. Moreover, it is a remark- able fact, that nearly all criminals who are in fact, and not theoretically, lunatics, are possessed by decided homicidal tendencies. Should a man have im- posed upon the Home Office a belief in his irresponsi- bility, it can be no luxury for him to be thrust among thirty or forty murderers who are also madmen, and who restlessly pace their prison ward like wild beasts in a den, and amid whom the stranger may not pass unless one or more giant warders be in close attend- ance upon him. Of course there are varieties among these melancholy captives. There are 11Jen of culture and refinement who, under the fatal infliction of insanity, have perpetrated deeds of bloodshed afterwards to be, in lucid intervals, remembered with indescribable anguish. There are, again, illiterate and humble creatures, who, after com- mitting the crime which brought them there, seem, by an immediate transition, to become the meekest and least offensive beings on earth, though always childish, helpless, and irrational. These unfortunates play at billiards, bagatelle, and chess, read books, makesketches, work upon simple tasks of sculpture, delight in tame birds and mice, and own to their demented condition, if questioned kindly. But, apart from them, wander nervously the morose assassins, conscious that they de- served the gallows, knowing themselves to have been responsible when stooping over the corpses of their victims, pronounced mad by human mercy, and suf- fering an incessant moral torture in the cold routine around them, from which they are never to be delivered except by death. It is true that they no longer fear chains orscourges," baths of surprise," orwhirling upon a wheel in a dark room, or deprivation of food, air, and light; they are comfortably lodged, clothed, and fed; they may, if well conducted, engage in light occupa- tionsand amusements; but they are treated as rebellious children in a penal nursery; they are no longer men, but puppets, and their control over their own actions has ceased for life. It is a strange population—that of the criminal lu- natic ward. "Here," wrote a keenly-pointed pen now lost, "is the last step of a terrible progression. Animal indulgence, slavery to passion, ungovernable fury or appetite, crime, imprisonment, insanity—restoration to reason, and, thenceforward, companionship with the vilest of the vile." We have thought it useful to ex- plain so much of the truth concerning a convict lunatic's existence, because in the fervour of the discussion oc- casioned by Townley's escape a somewhat exaggerated view has been taken of the advantages to be derived from being, if a murderer, a madman also. Let no one think that the felon ward of Bethlehem Hospital or of any kindred institution is a desirable retreat. It is, on the contrary, an abode of bitter shame to those who are not insane, and of a sorrow which is a mystery for us all not thus afflicted, to those who are. We re- frain from particularising individuals, in accordance with a very salutary official rule but there are men now in custody as criminal lunatics whom 20, 30, and even 40 years of merciless seclusion have cut off from association with their species; and, though in physical health, normally cheerful, and anxious to conceal their misery from strangers, it is impossible to glance at their faces, wearing a mask of gaiety upon their de- spondent remorse, without agreeing that the great philanthropist was right when he exclaimed, "The dead are not more awful to see ?"

A VIOLENT LOVER IN CAMBRIDGE. A case somewhat analogous in its circumstances to the memorable Townley case has been progressing for some time in Cambridge and its vicinity, and was brought to a climax—happily far less terrible than Townley's—on Monday. It should be premised that all the parties interested are highly respectable and opulent:— Charles Traylen (the offender) is the son of an opulent farmer and brewer at West Wickham, Cambridgeshire, occupying under the lord-lieutenant, the Karl of Hardwicke hh age about 24. His threatened victim is a young lady of great personal attractions, and his cousin. Her name Is Harriet Leeds, and her general residence is with her brother, at St. Ives, in Huntingdonshire. For a long period Charles Traylen has professed an affection for Miss Leeds, an affection not reciprocated or encouraged. It would seem that in .Tune last Traylen and Miss Leeds met at the house of a mutual friend, and Traylen seeking an opportunity' when he met Miss Leeds alone urgently pressed his suit. She, being" fancy free," and having a knowledge of Traylen's violent character, informed him that she never intended to marry. Whereupon Traylen put his hand in his pocket, on her demurring to his suit, as if to draw a knife, and threatened to murder her if she did not accept his advances. She being, according to her own state- ment, terrified, made an appearance of assent, and since then, as the relationship gave Traylen the privilege of entree at the house of Miss Leeds' brother at St. Ives, he has beeip most persistent in his suit, till Miss Leeds wrote him, firmly declining hia attentions. Nothing further occurred till Saturday last, when Miss Leeds accompanied to Cambridge a gentleman with whom she was staying on a visit at Imping- ton, about three miles from Cambridge. This gentleman, Mr. Batterson, had driven Mias Leeds to Cambridge and there left her in order to attend to his commercial pursuits, on the understanding that he would call for her at the house of a mutual friend where Miss Leeds was going to take tea. In the course of Saturday afternoon, Mr. Traylen met Miss Leeds in Cambridge, got into conversation with her, ascertained that she was going to the neighbourhood of Castle-end (or Iluntingdon-road) turnpike, and pressed his company upon her thither. He renewed his suit, and was again rejected, whereupon he told Miss Leeds—he being in a state of great excitement—that, if he could not have her, "He would swing for her—he would have her life—he would walk the gallows for her." So they parted for a time, but shortly after tea had been partaken of, Mr. Traylen again presented himself at the house, and was admitted. In twenty minutes or so Mr. Batterson arrived, and at once; removed Miss Leeds in his gig to Impington. Mr. Traylen remained behind for some time, but between nine and ten o'clock presented himself at Mr. Bafterson's, at Impington, and being admittcd to the presonce of Miss Leeds, agnin became violent and excited, and Mr. Batterson, as a mea- sure'of precaution, called in a neighbour, Mr. Torter, of Histon. Mr. Batterson, thinking from Mr. Tray len's demon- strations that he had a pistol, threw himself between Traylen and Miss Leeds, and secured the retreat of the latter, j Next Messrs. Batterson and Porter persuaded Mr. Traylen to accompany them to Cambridge, and left him safely lodged, as they thought, at an hotel." This was between eleven and twelve o'clock. TQ Mr. Batterson's great surprise, however, Mr. Traylen again presented himself at his house on Sunday morning, renewed his threats, and said that he would not leave the place alive—that he would do some mischief, too, before he went. Mr. Batterson, seriously alarmed, calJcd in the assistance of the police, and gave Traylen into custody. The constable conveyed his risoner to Cambridge and before Mr. Deputy Chief Constable Strettcn, who reasoned with Traylen, and in consequence of suggestions by other parties immediately concerned, offered to release the prisoner with- out any formal charge being entered against him, if he would place himself in the hands of and adopt the ad- vice of his friends. Traylen refused, and therefore was nccessarily locked up. On Monday morning he was brought before Thomas J. Ficklin, Esq. (surgeon, and magistrate for the county1. Miss Leeds and Traylen were neces- sarily both present, accompanied by friends, but neither had legal assistance. Mr. Traylen exclaimed, for God's sake, Harriet, have mercy OIl me;" hut in answer Miss Leeds said, with sobs and hysterical weeping, that she felt that her life was not safe unless Traylen was put under the restraint of the law. From the testimony of Mr. Batterson and others it appeared that Mr. Traylen is of a most excitable disposition. Traylen offered to the magis- trate that if he would let him go, he would leave the coun- try;" but Miss Leeds replicated that she was certain that her life would be taken before such a consummation would be arrived at if he were allowed to depart. Mr. Fickliu said that lie had no alternative other than to call upon the defendant to enter into sureties to keep the peace. He could see that the defendant was not mentally in a tit state to be at large, unless under proper restraint. He must therefore find sureties, himself in 4001. and two others in 200l. each. Several of the defendant's friends, who could have been pecuniarily responsible to many times the amount required were present, hut refused to tender the required bail, evidently thinking that it waK not pru- dent so to do till the defendant's temper was mollified, and the excitement under which he laboured had sub- sided somewhat; they appeared to entertain the belief that if the defendant were allowed to go at liberty directly, he would attempt the execution of his threats. So he was removed in custody to the county gaol.

THE END OF A POLISH PATRIOT. Colonel Bechi, a. Tuscan officer, who had taken part in the Polish insurrection, was shot last month by order of General Berg. The evening before his execu- tion the portraits of his wife and children were sent to him. He was heard to say:— Toor Juliet, I am about to leave you for ever. You will soon have to don the raiment of the Polish women. Row well the dark clothing will suit the fair tresses of my bright- haired girl. I leave to my boy and girl a stainless and un- blemished name—a heritage of honour unsullied, but nothing more. Poland will protect you, and adopt you as her own. He hoped-that his wife would forgive him for having brought such sorrow upon her. Writing to his wife, he said: — My poor Juliet,—When you receive this letter your poor Lao will bo no more. He will have been shot by the Rus- sians. I bless you, together with my beloved children. Death has no terrors for me. It is hard, however to die in a foreign country, far away from all thosc whom I love, and unable to embrace them once more. You will now soon be a widow. But I advise you not to many again, unless, indeed, you are led to do so through consideration for the imperious interests of our children. Soon will those chil- dren be orphans, and thh through my fault. May God have mercy upon my soul I I forgive all my enemies with my whole heart. My Juliet, my _Guido, my dear Elisa, I shall see you no more. Farewell, farewell! Embrace Fanny, our mother, Arthur, Massimo, Fanny's children, and your father; and bid all kind friends a farewell for me. I die because I have stood firmly at my post, when nearly all the other chiefs had dispersed abroad. I have given my blood for Poland, May Poland not abandon my family to destitution I I send you a lock of my bair, which is damp already with the dew of death. I hope you will receive my watch, my ring, and the locket I wear with your hair in it, which I leave as an heir-loom to my dear Guido, together with my military decorations. I have now but three hours to live. Take courage, my Juliet; we shall doubtless meet in heaven, Meantime, pray for my soul. My tost thoughts are with God, and with yourself. May the blessing of an innocent man bring you happiness. Farewell, farewell; a thousand and a thousand tender kisses to you, my dear Juliet, to my darling children, and to all my relations."

THE LANCASHIRE DISTRESS. Tlnere is still a "downward tendency" in affairs at Preston (writes a correspondent), and during the past week there has been a very serious increase in the dis- tress. At present there are about 1,000 more persons in the receipt of relief, either charitable or parochial, than last week. A great increase is apprehended this week. A few ol the mills in the town have extended their hours of labour, but for every move in this direction there are two in a contrary way. Manu- facturers appear to be in a fix they want to open their mills fully, but dare not; prices are irregular and dangerous; stocks rise and fall and continuously fluc- tuate in quantity, equality, and value the basis of operation is superficial; and until prospects become clearer and cheaper, better, fuller in supply, and less subjected to the whims of speculators, no practical amelioration will ensue in the condition of the ope- ratives. Just now cotton buying, and selling, and manufacturing seem to constitute a game rather than a trade. In Preston there are 28 mills entirely closed, and 11,299 operatives totally out of work. The num- ber working full time is ;),119; the number employed short time 7,006. In the whole union of Preston there are 5,344 cases of pauperism, including 14,367 persons, whose weekly relief costs upwards of ooOl. This week, as compared with last, there has been an increase of 152 cases, 420 persons, and nearly 30l. in expenditure. A circular has just been issaed by the Preston Weavers' Association, which shows what the opera- tives of the town in connection with the body named think of affairs generally, past, present, and prospec- tive. The circular says :— Weare emerging from a calamity Buch as the world never witnessed, and we hope will never witness again; and we rejoice to know that, as a body, we have borne the affliction without any external aid from any quarter, and have s'ood together through the dire calamity with a fortitude and patience that shows the va'ue we set on our trade union; but we have, for some time back, seen a ray of hope, and that ray is gradually expanding. and ere long will, no doubt, shine conspicuously. We have had this depression in our trade to contend with now some three years, and we find that some of our em- ployers have taken advantage of that depression to lower our wages, and we think the time is fast coming when we shall be enabled to bring those employers up to the standard list of prices, which list h'ls been adhered to by the general body of masters faithfully; but we cannot command lan- guag-e strong enough to designate the conduct of those em- ployed who toofc advantage of us in our hour of need to eurich themselves out of our humble means, thereby enabling them to sell their productions at a less price than their neighbour who scorned their example. Aft honour then to those employers, and when trade resumes its wonted progress, Our intercourse with them will be the better in consequence. We have lately seen some en- couraging statistics issued by several eminent firms in the cot- ton trade, all predicting an improvement in our trade, and this, coupled with the fact that large numbers of our body have emigrated—some across the Atlantic, others to the Antipodes, and it is well known to you all that there have not been many taught the last three years. These three causes combined must soon make themselves felt in our department, and will tend materially to prevent the recurrence of such a calamity as the one through which we hope we have nearly passed. We have had an Emigration Society at our institution for some time, but we are sorry that it has not had that measure of support we anticipated it would have received but when we reflect on the difficul- ties of your position, the wonder is that you have been enabled with your scanty means to exist at all, but we have it in contemplation to commence collecting weekly, and thereby enabling us to use our surplus money, to remove such of our members to other lands as should desire it, thereby benefiting both themselves and us by making them customers for cloth instead of producers, and also by lessen- ing the labour in the market, enabling us to avoid the ne- cessity of resorting to strikes in future we, therefore, hope that you will coincide with us in this matter, and pay the subscription cheerfully and willingly, and we have no doubt it will repay you a thousandfold. We also learn from Blackburn that in the Black- burn relief district there has been an increase of 595 recipients of parochial relief during last week, 4,956 persons having been relieved with 264l. 4s. 6d., against 4,361 persons with 22U. 15s, in the preceding week.

MR, BRIGHT EXPLAINS THE REAL CAUSE! Mr. Bright, M.P., and Mr. SchoIeBeld. M.P., at- tended a meeting in the Town-hall at Birmingham, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of addressing their constituents on public affairs. The hall was crowded in every part. Mr. Bright made one of his usual effective speeches, from which we give our readers the following extract:— You know, of course, living in Birmingham, as well as we know, that, contrary to what exists in some countries, we have three great classes connected with land-the land- owner first, who is always becoming richer, that is, if he does not spend too much his land is always becoming more valuable you find him living in a better house, with more gorgeous fittings and with more splendid equipages. (A Voice.—" And so is the cotton owner.") No doubt, if you pursue it further, you will find the tenant farmer occupying larger fatms, and with much greater apparent wealth but If you come to the labourers who cultivate the land, by whose toil and whose sweat your tables are furnished with bread and with beef, and with many other things that they produce, you find those labourers at this moment, I believe, at a greater distance from the landlord and from the tenant probably than they were almost at any former period. (Hear, hear., A Voice.—" No.") There is a gentleman in the body of the hall who evidently differs from me. I am very glad he is in the meeting. I would ask you whether in past years you have ever read any letters in the Times newspaper signed "S. G. O."? Those letters were written by a gentleman of rara intelligence and of great benevolence, and his description, I believe, may be entirely relied upon. If any of you happened to read, some three or four months ago, letters written from parts of Buckinghamshire and published in the Star newspaper with regard to the condition of that population, you will know what it is that I mean. But if you are unwillingto take their evidence, let us take that of a witness that nobody here will call in question, and that is the evidence of the Saturday Review. [Here Mr. Bright quoted from the Saturday Reviexo of the 26th of September. He then proceeded- ] They tell you your agriculture is far better than the agriculture of any other country that you produce-a larger quantity of wheat than any other producer from a given surface. We know that there is the greatest market in the world close at our doors, and the means of conveyance to eve'y part of the kingdom. Then, I want to know, why it is that the labouring population on the farms of this country are in the condition in which they are described. Is it so in the most civilised countries in Europe? Is it so in the United States of America ? I could give it to you—only that reading evidences from Cooks is not suited to a meeting like this—from the highest in rank, from thtl most culti- vated in mind, from those most extensively known in public affairs, and I could prove to you beyond all con- test that in all those countries of Europe where the land is divided, and the people have the chance of having some of it—at least, those who are industrious and frugal—that the condition of the agricultural peasant population is infinitely superior to anything to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland. Well, then, you may ask me very reasonably what is the difference between the laws of these countries and the laws of ours, and what changes do you propose? I will tell you in as few words as I can. In the greatest portion of the Continent of Europe, in France, in Germany, in Belgium, in Holland, in Norway, and it Is likely to spread over Europe, the state of the Jaw is this. It follows what I believe to he the natural law of 1 affection and justice between parents and children, that a large portion of the property of the parent mmt be by will, or, if not by will, the law will order it to be equally divided among the children. That is the case with] respect to all property but land. All the property of the parent, according to the number of his children, must be divided among them, except what may be given by will. You are not to be frightened by this law of bequest, as if it was something very dreadful. Why, it only follows the rule which merchants and manufacturers and aU other people in the world have followed in latter days in treat- ing their children with equal affection and equal justice. Go to the United States, and you will see a different state of the law from what you will find in this country. There a man may leave his property as he likes among his children. Because the United States' law believes that natural affection and justice form of themselves a sufficient law in the majority of cases, and, therefore, that it is not necessary to enforce them by any statute. If a man dies without a will, the law of the United States takes hh property, and, looking upon his children with equal affection and equal justice, makes that distribution which it believes the just and loving parent would have made. But if you come to this country, what do you find? This/-that with regard to all kinds of property, except that which is called real property—the land of the country and the houses upon it—our law does exactly the same. It divides it equally among the children, because it knows that that is what the parent should have done and would have done if he had been a good parent. But when it comes to the question of land, then, contrary to the European law, which mattes a statute according to natural justice, con- trary to the United States' law, which, when there is no will, makes a law in accordance with natural justice, our law does exactly that which natural justice would forbid. I should like to know if anybody is prepared to deny this. Personalty,—that is, property which is not land, —is divided equally the property which is tand is not divided equally, but is given to the oldest son in a lump. Now, tell me whether the principles which the law of Europe for the most part wishes to enforce, that which the law of America enforces when there is no will, that which we enforce" hen land is out of the question-^tell me if that is not a more just law, approving itself to the hearts of men and before the eye of Heaven, than the law by which we send as beggars into the world half-a-dozen children in order that we make one rich ill the possession of the land ? What are the reasons? These things are not done without reasons. Ask anybody what arc the reasons, for they are high political reasons. Now, these reasons are very curious in some countries. In Turkey it has been the custom a long time—it is hardly broken down yet—that the wielder of the sceptre should even destroy his younger brothers, lest they should become competitors with him for the throne. What would you think if the law of this country doomed the younger children to the want of free- dom and the want of education, and conferred freedom and education on the elder son, leaving the rest to go into the streets ? But it would be just as reasonable to cut off all the younger boys andgili: from education, as it is to cut th m off f; om their fair share of their fathel's property. The hon. gentleman then discussed the effect of primogeniture as it existed in America and as now altered by law, showing how the possessors of land there, as in other countries, must be the possessors of political power. He also showed the clfecb of emi- gra'iononthe laboui ir.g classes and what it did in respect of "taking off the scales" from their eyes con- cerning the English property and other laws. He believed, too, that the present landed proprietors were anything but an intelligent class, and that there was some trouble in teaching them even how to benefit themselves, as he found in advocating the corn laws, many years since and the great evil of the time was that property was coming more and more into fewer hands. He finished his speech by referring to what was going on in Ireland and elsewhere and though he advocated emigration, he said he did not wish his own country to be anything but great and free.

THE REPEAL OF THE MALT.TAX. • The agitation for the repeal of the matt-tax is kept up as a timely warning to Mr. Gladstone. On Satur- day a "repeal" meeting was held in Leicester, at which Lord Berners, Lord John Manners, M.P., and Mr. Packe, M.P., attended. A considerable number of the county gentry and farmers were also present. Lord Berners expressed himself strongly in favour of total repeal, and the resolutions adopted by the meet- ing took the same course, but Lord John Manners was not so sanguine. He thought if the farmers got half of the duty they would do well. A county meeting was also held in Warwick, at which Mr. Newdegate spoke, and the high sheriff occupied the chair. Hero the tax was viewed not only as an injustice to the farmer, but as an injury to the beer-drinking com- munity. The resolutions advocated repeal, and Mr. Newdegate promised to present a petition in its favour to the House of Commons, but declined to give it his support until he saw what could be substituted for the six millions raised by the tax. An anti-malt tax dinner wai held in Nottingham, at which a delegate was elected to attend the meeting of the Central Association, held in London on Monday last.

The leading journal, in remarking upon the agita- tion for the repeal of the malt tax, says :— With, all due respect to these gentlemen, we cannot see that the malt tax is substantially at variance witUhe principles of free trade. It is not meant to create a dSfar- ence in favour of any one class of manufacturers and pro- ducers, nor does itreally create any such difference. It does not affect the current of trade. In these respects it is just like any other Excise duty, and surely these gentlemen will not go to the length of maintaining that all Excise is contrary to free trade Who is it that is protected ? We are quito willing to admit, and to maintain, that all Excise is trouble- some and indirectly productive of inconvenient and mis- chievous results. Hut so long as we have Customs, and ex- pect to maintain a revenue-upon them, we cannot possibly avoid laying an Excise duty on those home manufactures that come into competition with the foreign article. How shall we keep up the import duties on alcoholic liquors when the malt tax is abolished ? So this is a question not merely of a malt tax, but of all Excise; and not merely of Excise, but of all duties whatever and not merely of duties, but of revenue, army, navy, national credit, and all our establishments. If any of the gentlemen who speak at these meetings could put the matter into another groove, or en another line of rail, as we ought now to say, we should be delighted to hear them. Thsn, as to that other point one has heard so much of—the use of malt for fatten- ing cattle—the agriculturists at Market Hosworth were very mealy-mouthed upon it. The very utmost hazarded by the bold speaker who led the front of the attack was that a small quantity of malt mixed with their other food idound to have a beneficial effect in inducing invalid cattle to feed, If that be all, we will hope that the proportion of cattle off their feed is not large; and in that case, if malt only comes in just as a sweetener or a relish to coax the interesting patient, we do not see our way to a large consumption of this kind.

INSTANCES OF HIGH CIVILISATION. Truly we have, as a people, reached a high point in refined civilisation when such facts as follows can be told of New York men and New York women. That they arc facts, and that they are not exaggerated we know (remarks the New York Post) :— Last week two young ladies were thrown from a light car- riage near the arsenal, and both were seriously hurt. One of them lay unconscious and apparently dead in the road where she was thrown; the other, blinded by blood from herforehcad, tried to do soinethingfor her companion. Two ladylike persons stepped from a carriage, went to the suf- ferers, looked a moment, and turned and drove away with- out a word. Ladies and gentlemen, riders and drivers, crowded by, but no one stopped. After some twenty minutes, a kind German physician came up and, with a gardener and two of the police, carried one and assisted the other into the arsenal, where they succeeded in restoring the one to life, if not to consciousness, and where their many wounds were carefully dressed. Of all who saw the accident not one offered any assistance. In the summer two young men, riding in a light waggen, in the Park, were thrown out. A gentleman drove up, and, after a considerable delay" one of the young men, who was hurt, was sent home In a car- riage. The Park was thronged with riders and drivers, but not one of the passers stopped to ask after or aid the man lying by the road. In the same month a carriage, in which were two Cuban ladies, was upset, the ladies thrown out and so injured as to be unable to rise. A gentleman I rom California, riding on horseback with his young daughter, left his horse, a spirited animal, to care for the sufferers. The daughter left her seat to secure her father's horse, and stood for more than half an hour at the roadside holding the horses. Hundreds of people rode by. Three men stopped at intervals and inquired of the young lady why she was- holding the horses. She replied that her father was assisting the injured ladies. No one offered to assist her. No one stopped to help the sufferers or the kind Californian.

A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY IN CUMBER- LAND. The quiet village of Oughterby, near Carlisle, has been the scene of the following sad tragedy, the like of which it is not often our duty to record:— A farmer's son named Thomas Wills was proceeding along a. road leading towards Kirkbampton, about five o'clock, when he found the dead body of Mr. Brown, a respectable young farmer, lying face upwards, the clothes covering his chest in names, and a gun resting upon his bowels, the muzzle pointing towards his face one end of a string was looped upon the trigger, and at the other end was a loop a few inches in length, by means of which he had discharged the gun with his foot. Wills gave an alarm, and on the arrival of some neighbours it was discovered that the unfortunate man had shot himself in the left chest. It appeared on the inquest on Friday, that his young wife had died on Wednesday, three weeks after her confinement of their first child, and, so great was the afflicted husband's grief, that his reason was eclipsed, and him- self driven to the desperate extremity of self-destruc- tion. He resided at Oughterby with his wife's rela- tions, and on Thursday he went to his mother's at Kirk- bampton, where he got the gun from a rack in the byre. Several witnesses spoke of the exceeding warmth of his attachment to his wife and on the day of her death he repeated again and again that he could not live without her. In his pocket were found a powder-flask and some shot, as well as a small copy- book, containing the following pathetic lines, traced in trembling characters :— I hope that the Lord will forgive me. Without my Maggie I cannot be. You need (not) mourn me, because I must go. You will all look after our darling boy. The little sum that would fall to my darling wife and me will make him com- fortable some time alter. My wish is that we may be laid in one grave, This is the end of eight or nine years' courtship Now the shot must pierce my heart. Oh, happy shall we be LOn another leaf'were the words ;] The old dog Wattie met (me) at the Croftfoot, Kirkbampton. Put me with my love Maggie on Saturday. From a phrase or two in this melancholy epistle, it was evidently written within a short period of his sad end. The verdict of the jury was, Suicide while labouring under the effects of temporary insanity." His last wish will be observed he will be laid beside his love Maggie."

A ROMANCE IN LOW LIFE. An old man named John Dolan, the keeper of a plovision shop in the village of Primatestown, county of Meath, has, a few days ago, been made the victim of a.most extraordinary hoax, by which he has lost a sum of nOl., all the cash he possessed in the world, under the following eircumstances:- A man who gave his name as Morgan, and who was known in the rural district as a "bowther," or watch- maker, had for some eight months past been carrying messages between Dolan, who had the reputation of being wealthy, and a young woman styling herself Miss Reilly. who, Morgan stated, lived at Donore, where she bad eight or ten acres of land, which she was about to sell and reside with an aunt at Ardee, in the county of Louth. About six weeks ago Morgan informed the old man that Miss Reilly had sold out the farm, for which she received 200L, and had already gone to Ardee, after depositing the money in the bank; that she wanted a steady, staid man, and having; heard that he (Dolan) was a good dealer she believed they would act a wise part in putting their money and themselves together, and opering a shop in Ardee. On Tuesday in last week Morgan again paid Dolan a visit, and brought him the happy tidings that Miss Iieilly had consented to meet him next day, the fair day of Drogheda, at a Mr. Graham's tavern, in the tatter town, when all matters connected with the marriage were to be arranged. Miss Keilly had also requested that Dolan should bring all his money with him on the occasion. Morgan was now received more kindly and hospitably than ever, nor would Dolan per- ooit him to leave his house that night. On the next morning the old man harnessed the horse, and having closed up his shop (as he lived alone), he proceeded with Morgan on the car to Drogheda, taking with him 11(M., and two days' provender for the horse, being determined to go the length of Ardee. At Graham's, in Drogheda, they met Miss Iieilly in company of a young man who was understood to be a relative, and who on a previous occasion had paid a visit to Dolan at Primatestown. The meeting appeared to be a very joyous one, at least on the part of Dolan, as the female was a bouncing ani rather hand- some girl of twenty years of age. It would appear that several half pints of whisky were consumed in the course of a few hours' conversation, and so fasci- nated had old Dolan become with Miss Reilly's ap- pearance and agreeab!e conversation, that he took out all the cash in notes and gold, threw it into her lap, and desired her to take care of it. Some time afterwards, and when further libations had taken place, Dolan proceeded to Mr. Graham's yard to pre- pare the horse and car for the journey to Ardee, and when he returned, his astonishment was great to find that the party had decamped, except the man Morgan, who seemed to comm:serate Dolan's position very much, and assisted him in making search for them about the place. Giving up all hopes of tracing the young coup'e, he returned to his home, and gave information of the cir- cumstances to the constabulary at Kilmoon, when the sub-inspector despatched Constable Atkinson to Drogheda, accompanied by Dolan. Through informa- tion received from Mr. Graham, the publican, who is a respectable man, they next proceeded to Ardee, but with no better result. No such person as a Miss Iieilly or her aunt was known thpret and all the tales pre- viously told to Dolan tqfaiea'out to JL>e fabrications, None of the patties are kno^

'"9"= EXTRACTS FROM "MANHATTAN'S" LETTER. Manhattan," writing from New York on the 12tli, to the London Standard, ventures to assert that Charleston will never be taken by less than 200,000 men, so long as Lee has an army to support it. He pooh-poohs the plan to raise a million of soldiers men- tions the probability of the seat of covernment being removed from Washington to New York informs us that our American cousins would delight in seeing Europe at war with itself, as the fox who had lost his tail desired a similar event among his fellows notes the contemptuous indifference with which regiments returning from the war are regarded by the grateful New Yorkers and, among other matters, shows that the war is not so near wearing itself out by sheer ex- haustion as is thought in many quarters. We give our readers a few extracts:— The same old news comes from that gallant place, Charles- ton. They are holding their own, though Gilimore is burn- ing the city by his tons of shells. It seems that he has got his shells to carry Greek fire safe into the city. He may succeed in burning It, and destroying the pleasant homes of unhappy and helpless women and children. When he has done this he will be further from the capture of Charleston than ever. It cannot be taken by less than 200,000 men. It cannot be taken while General Lee has an army to go to its support.

The plan to raise one million of soldiers will not be en- dorsed by Congress. Many of the members are sufficiently wise to see that such a host of raw recruits would become manure for Virginia plantations within six months.

It seems probable that the capital will be removed from Washington to this city. A committee have been -here two days for the purpose of hiring dinner halls for the use of the Senate and its committee, and to procnre the Cooper Insti- tution for the use of the House of Representatives. Both houses are frightened at the spread of the sm aU pox. Fifteen thousand have died in Washington of this disease. Several members have died. Congress can change its seat to any place it chooses. It does not necessarily follow that the President and the various departments should follow it.

We have had a death in this city this last week that, if it had happened a few years ago, would have made a sensa- tion. It is that of Mrs. Coles. She was Miss Brown, the daughter of George W. Brown, the eating-house man. She was a beautiful specimen of female humanity. She was for years the belle of the city, and the toast of all the young men. Duels were fought about her. Young Hayward, of Charleston, shot August Belmont, and crippled him for life because he spoke slightingly of Mrs. Coles. Of late years she has been shady, and now she has gone where beauty is not appreciated by the Greenwood worms. As Archbishop Hughes said, "Bury me in the sunshine." So said the beauty, and she was buried in a spot where the sun always shines, when he is up and around, and It is not cloudy.

Negro Fred Douglass will make his great speech to-morrow night on the mission of the war, and its certain blessed result, the amalgamation of the white and black races. It will take some time to bring about this result. It will not be done until the rich people make it fashionable. African perfume is now the principal objection, though if there is I money on either side, that can be got over. I should not be surprised if a negro candidate for the Presidency should bo seen at the next election—if we have any election.

We have now two distinct police organisations in the city, the old and the new. Eventually there will be a contest, but I hope it will be confined to the courts of law. The Assembly at Albany is very anxious about the matter, and a bill has been introduced, making four commissioners, and to take two of each of the present boards, and of the two great parties. The idea is not to have politics introduced into the police. It will be impossible to accomplish this.

There is as much excitement among the Germans in this city about Schleswig-llolstein as in Europe. Meetings are .held every night. Some nights as much as nine dollars is raised and ordered to be remitted to London to buy arm3 (at present rate of exchange about I-. "rvenope that you win all get into a war In Europe. We are like the fox who lost his beautiful tail in a trap, and we would like to see the European nations cut off theirs to keep us com- pany.

A resolution has been introduced into the Senato by Senator M'Dougall, declaring that if France does not with- draw her troops from Mexico by the 15th of March, war shall be declared to exist with France. I should not be sur- prised if this resolution should pass bothhouses. If it docs, Mr. Lincoln will sign it, and we shall have another fearful war on our hands. It may be that this new war will aid us to close up the civil war, though I do not see how it can happen.

Abraham Lincoln is proving by his recent nomination that the pen is mightier than the sword." His pen has created a vast quantity of generals, more than their swords have done for themselves.

Many regiments that have served for nearly three years are now returning to the city. They and their members are objects of the most contemptuous indifference. No one notices them or seems to care whether they get a reception or not. In the early part of the war it was very different. Crowds thronged the streets whenever the soldiers moved.

Wendell Phillips, while making his fierce onslaught upon the President, the other night, stated he should not be cer- tain that slavery was dead until he saw it buried. From the accounts published, he need only to go to the freedmen's camp, along the Mississippi, and he will see it buried at the rate of 2,000 a day.

You can have no idea of the intense satisfaction causcd in this city by the news that the Judge and the Advocate General in Halifax have decided that the seizure of the Chesapeake was an act of piracy. This ends all danger in that quarter, and the cloud has blown over.

Dr. Lowenberg, who murdered an inoffensive neighbour last year, will be hung, after being confined in the State prison a year. There have been military fairs all over the States, but the greatest of all is to be held in this city on the 28th of March next. At least 10,000 young ladies are working constantly to make proper articles for it. Charles H. Russel, a large merchant, has given up his house, corner of Broadway, at Great Jones-street, for the reception of articles for this fair.

Newspapers find their way South with as much re- gularity as in the olden time. It is fortunate that it is so, as the minds of many persons on both sides are relieved by it. The Daily News has a column of articles like these To Katie Wynkoop.—Dear Sister,—We received your ad- vertisement. We are all very sorry to hear of Charlie's death. Is there any possibility of your coming on--? We are anxious to see you-also Maggie. How is little Mai ? Answer through the Daily News. Richmond, Va., papers please copy. JANET AND MARY. It charges as follows :— COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH.— During the existing troubles the New York Daily News offers the best means, through Personals," to persons who wish to communicate with each other in regard to their health and whereabouts. Short notices of this naturo will be charged 1 dollar, which will cover the charge for the reply when received. The Southern papers copy the "P rsonals of the New York Nexus. Old Abe cannot stop such communications. They are always answered in the Southern papers.

The Negro minstrels now sing this prophecy in their regular programme In sixty-one the war begun, In sixty-two it was half through, In sixty-three the niggers were free, In sixty-four the war will be o'er.

HOW to DISPOSE of TWO MILLIONS The Times has a very clever article on the surplus of our national income over our expenditure, with references to other nations, and what they would do under the like cir- cumstances. From this we select the following, especially commending the last two paragraphs to the notice ef our readers:— A little return, comprised in a dozen lines, from the National Debt-office, informs us that in the year ending last September 30th the Revenue of this kingdom exceeded the expenditure by 2,041, 168l. 14s. 6d. Ac- cordingly a quarter of that sum, with a trifle besides, was applied to the reduction of the National Debt. The whole proceeding is formal and statutory, and, as it would take we know not how many centuries to pay off the debt at this rate, we must not attach too much value to the announcement. But there is no reason why we should not accept the plain statement that for the year ending last Michaelmas the State actually received two millions more than it actually spent, and was therefore two millions better off so far as regarded its pecuniary liabilities and assets. As the State has not had the opportunity of spending more since or contracting more debts, and as the Revenue keeps up in spite of reductions, we may conclude that in due time we shall see a return to the same effect for the year ending last December 31st. OUR EXPENDITURE ON THE TURN. Into the future we presume not to pry. For aught we know, the assembly which is to meet next Thurs- day week will launch into fresh expenditure and repeal more taxes. Few will quarrel with it for doing so. But as long as it lasts we will do all honour, and show all gratitude, to the present happy state of things. It is pleasant to see the tide of expenditure on the turn, and to know that we are not absolutely speeding on with uniform and irresistible force to national bank ruptcy. Perhaps the broadest and most natural way of putting it is that at a period when we are going to an unusual expense upon almost all heads, after abo- lishing an immense quantity of taxes pressing on in- dustry and the middle and lower classes, and, above alL during the collapse of our principal manufacture, we can show in one year two millions received more than spent. WHAT THE FRENCH WOULD WANT Just imagine howany one of our neigbbours or cou- rdns, near or far, would receive such an announcement! What new wings they would take to their ambition what buoyancy to their hopes, what new fields to their enterprise, what inexhaustible credit I New boulevards, new squares, new edifices, one more magnificent than another, new railways, more ironclads, more docks and I harbours, more fortifications, more rifled ordnance, new frontiers, new empires, would rise up by magic. Could a man suddenly find himself treading the waves or mounting the air, he would hardly feel more eman- cipated from earth's vulgar laws. WHAT SOME POTENTATES WOULD DO If some potentates should cast their eyes on this little fact, we may imagine their reflections, What a magnificent army would I have were I there What a glorious fleet! I'd have something to say to every- thing that goes on. The Germans shouldn't cross the Eider for nothing. Wouldn't I square a few ac- counts with my neighbours? I'd soon restore order in Europe, and open a few thoroughfares out of it." WHAT THE AMERICANS WOULD DO At Washington they would immediately double and triple the bounty, order fifty more Monitors, tentimas as many gunboats, a million pairs of boots and suite of uniform, and buy half a million more horses, to be used up by the cavalry at the rate of a horse to a man a month. WHAT THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN WOULD DO TheEmperor of Russia would immediately construct a railway three thousand miles long into Siberia single line, trains only in one direction,—vcstu'jia nulla rctrorsum. The Sultan would order ten new palaces and five acres of cut-glass mirrors. WHAT THE ENGLISH MIGHT DO, BUT WILL NOT For our part, representing as we do the ordinary cravings of an average Englishman, we must candidly confess that we know not what to choose among the variety of tempting offers that present themselves. We should like to see the metropolis made straight, but, as the railways will throw it into worse disorder than ever the year after, we give it up as a bad job. We only half like seeing the population of Ireland reduced and its inhabitants becoming American citizens. Could not something be done with money there ? All has been done that money could do, and more money would quicken the exodus. Witness the Galway job. Well, let us spend a little on ourselves, and have a few more fine buildings in London—a really good National Gallery, for example. But that involves, at the least, a ten years' battle between all the schools of art, in the House of Commons, and a result abused by nine people out of ten. WHAT THE ENGLISH WILL DO So, after all, like the clubman who, after hearing out all the waiter has for lunch, orders bread and cheese, we fall back upon the remission of taxes. Income- tax, malt-tax, tea duties, and a few other duties, are all, at least, capable of reduction. There is still left the capacity for being less. Every dwelling-house pays three distinct taxes to the State, besides no end of rates. It pays income-tax, inbabited-house-tax, and a duty on its insurance from lire that duty we say it pays in effect, for, if it is not actually insured, it ia only running a risk to avoid the duty. But the pro- foundest wisdom that an Englishman is capable of is to keep his cake, and not eat it. So we revert to the old conclusion. Let us reduce our taxes one by one, and spend no more money than we can help. ENGLAND LIVING WITHIN lIEU INCOME 1 England has some right to commend her financial state to the attention of her neighbours. She is omitting nothing necessary to self-defence she is not enjoying unqualified good fortune just now; she does not levy one single tax on the produce or the work- manship of her neighbours which she does not levy on her own, and yet she is keeping within her income. It costs her many an effort, and many a piece of self- denial, yet she does it. Englishmen can spend, yet England spends less, according to her means, than any other nation. TEMPTING BAITS Our own neighbours, and they who are only our neighbours in the most inclusive sense, are fishing for loans in our market. Not a day passes without seeing a financial angler trolling for tbe British capitalist, offering all sorts of tempting baits. Some of them must succeed, for there is a never-ending supply of people credulous enough to grasp at six per cent, on any security. One would thmk that fish were wiser by this time, but the baits still take, and our tables are still supplied. A WORD TO THE WISE! But how is it that all other States are borrowing and we not? It is worth a thought, we beg to assure our readers who, with a few hundreds to invest, are look- ing out for a chance of bettering themselves. This perpetual talk of war, and the inflammable state which talk of this sort comes from and goes to, have some- thing to do with all this borrowing. There is a general misgiving that if money should by any chance be wanted, it may not be obtainable on such easy terms next year or the year after as now. None so prompt as financiers to make hay while the sun shines but when they are making hay with more than usual activity, we may look for a change of weather. A European war once fairly set in would soon put a few governments in that downward course whence there is no return, and compel them to offer the pleasant sort of compromise with which Greece is said to be consoling her creditors. But why should any Euro- pean State be borrowing except for war ? If, however, it is borrowing for war, who C3n doubt that its stock will be purchasable on cheaper terms two or three years hence than now ?

LAYING CLAIM TO AN ESTATE. In the Vice-Chancellor's Court in London, the cause of Selby-Lowndes v, Bettle" has come on for hearing. The ob- ject of the bill was to restrain the defendant from cutting down trees or sods on the plaintiff's estates. The facts, which aro of a singular kind, arc sufficiently stated, in his honour's judgment, as follows :— The Vice-Chancellor said this was a bill by Mr. IiOwndes and those entitled in succession, asking for an injunction to restrain the defendants from cutting down the timber on his estate. The facts were these —in 1768, one James Selby, who was the owner in fee of the property, could not ascertain who was his heir, and prior to his death he made a will in 1768, by which he devised to his own right and lawful heir to his estate, all his manor at Wootton, &c., to hold to his heir-at-law, charged with payment of his debts; but in case he had no heir, he appointed William Lowndes his lawful heir, on condition that he should take the name of Selby. He gave his personal estate elsewhere. He died unmarried in 1772. Shortly after his death advertisements for his heir- at-law were issued, and many persons claimed, but none were able to make out their title. In 1773, a I bill was filed to establish the trusts of his will. The same year Mr. Lowndes himself filed a bill to have his rights ascertained, and soon after that he took the name of Selby, having obtained alicence so to do. In March, 1783, the two suits came on to be heard, and a decree was made declaring the will of the testator proved and that the estates were to be considered as belonging to Mr. Lowndes, and that Mr. Lowndes should be let into possession. He accordingly entered into possession, and he and his family have enj oyed the estates ever since, i. e. for 80 years. William Selby, the plaintiff, is the grand- son of the first William Selby. It appeared that among the persons who have from time to time alleged themselves neirs-at-law of the testator, were persons of the name ol HettIe," the same name as the defendant, who now claimed to be heir-at-law, but no legal proceedings have ever -been taken, and the defendant might as we'lhave laid Claim to Chatsworth, as to this, after an enjoymentof 80 years. In Sep- tember, 1861, Bettle,the defendant, sent notices to the tenants requiring them not to pay rent to the present trustee," Mr. Selby-Lowndes. He also threatened litigation, which he had a perfect right to do. In May, 1861, the defendant wrote to Mr. Selby-Lowndes himself, stating that his family had at stated periods made nominal claims to the estate, cutting down trees, &c., but for want of means, not for want of evidence, had not prosecuted the claim. The letter went on to threaten to do some mischief, not wantonly, but in order to bar the statutes, meaning the Statute of Limitation. In reply, Mr. Selby-Lowndes's solicitor (Mr. Appleyard) wrote to warn the defendant not to trespass, and intimating to him that if he did trespass, proceedings would be taken against him. The defendant, in reply, wrote to Mr. Lowndes, stating he persevered in his intention, and would dig up trees and cut sods, and further stated that the statutes were bound by law, proceedings having been taken by Mr. Selby- Lowndes himself. He stated it was a member of liis family who some 40 years ago took forcible possession of the hall with a file of men and kept it some days. The defendant also reminded the plaintiff of certain alleged acts of aggression, and stated that when he was reduced to beggary he would suffer justly for the iniquities of which he was guilty. The two letters together, putting aside the vulgarity of them, amounted to this, that he (the defendant) was heir, and that the statute was barred; and that it was his intention when he pleased to cut down trees in order to assert his right. The bill stated these facts, and alleged that cutting down these trees would be a permanent detriment to the estate. An injunction had been granted nearly in the terms of the prayer of bill, and he had since put in an answer laying claim to the estate, but not making any attempt to establish his title as heir-at-law; but while the injunction was pending he said he did not intend to do the acts com- plained of. At the hearing of the cause it was con- tended that this Court in a case of this kind would not interfere, but he (the Vice-Chancellor) had gone through all the decided cases, which presented a very un- satisfactory state-partly arising from the change of practice in these courts, by which more facility was shown in granting injunctions in case of trespass than formerly. Lord Eldon even in his time observed a change* His honour then said, there was a distinction between cases where the plaintiff was in possession and where the defendant was in possession. His honour then quoted at some length cases which had been cited as to trespass, and said lie might refer to many dicta of the learned judges as to the in- justice of making the distinction between trespass and waste. The question now was what ought to be done here. If the defendant sought to do any act to support bis title, this Court would not restrain him, but these acts would not assist him, though the de- fendant evidently thought they would. Now, assum- ing that he claimed title, he threatened he would cut down what trees he pleased at his discretion. This came within the class of irremediable damage, and he felt he ought to make a dccree for a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant from cutting down timber and sods, the defendant to pay the costs of the suit.

THE MURDER NEAR LEOMINSTER. An inquest was held at the Leominster Union Work- house on Friday, on the body of Mary Ann Watkins. who was found murdered on Monday night under circumstances which our readers are doubtlessly well acquainted with The accused husband was present in custody during the Inquest David Lipscombe said As I was going home about 10 o'clock I heard a very strange sound as I was pass- ing through an orchard. It was a moaning noise, and seemed to be the other side of the hedge. It ceased for a time, and I stood still th-jn I heard it more dis- tinctly, and I went in the direction of the noise, through a gate in the fence. I there saw a woman lying on her face, near the path. I went close to her, and found she was covered with blood, and could not breathe freely. I put her head on her arm so that she might breathe more freely, and then went and called up Mr. Lane, at Strawberry Cottagev about 400 yards distant, who returned with me to the body with a lantern on our way he said he suspected it was Mary Ann Watkins, and holding the light to her face, he said, "Yes, it is." Lane then went to t deccased's lodgings and told George Smith, the ten- ant of the house, about her. He said he had often guarded the deceased home, as he feared that her husband might kill her,^ James Lane, a gardener in the employ of Captain Stevenson at Strawberry Cottage, gave confirmatory evidence. He s:1;d that the deceased had told him that her husband had threatened to take her life, because she would not live with him, and that het reason fer not living with him was that he Would not work to earn a livelihood. The prisoner said he wanted to know how the last witness knew he was going to kilt his wife The coroner replied that the witness had not said that he did know it. George Smith deposed that the deceased lodged at his house, and had one room upstairs and one down. She had three children. Her husband often came to see her, and they sometimes quarrelled, but he had never known them to come to blows. He had heard the prisoner say he would be the death of her and of two others, by whom he understood prisoner to mean the two children. > She had often said she did not like being out at night for fear lie should attack her. On the Friday before the murder, when he last saw the prisoner, he noticed he had on a pair of patent clogs, round-toed, and tipped with iron. On the day fol- lowing the murder he traced clog-marks from near the body to a considerable distance. Thomas Jones, a mason, said that the prisoner called at his lodgings about 10 o'clock ou Monday night, and begged a pipe jaf tobacco, which he smoked there. The prisoner talked about his wife and seemed much con-1 fused and put about. When he was leaving hf1 «aid< Good night, Tom Perhaps I shall never see you anf more. I have a mind to go and drown myself." Superintendent Alexander, of the borough police, said, after attending to the deceased at the workhouse, he went to the spot where the body was found, and there saw certain clog-marks. Suspicion fell on the prisoner, and he tracked these marks for several miles. He found the deceased's bonnet, the strings of which appeared to have been torn off, and also her hair net. After following the clog-tracks about the fields for thrt e days, he came upon the prisoner at Haven, six miles from Leominster, talking to a farmer's wife at her.door, where he had gone begging. He had just told her that he had heard that the man who had committed the murder had drowned himself. His clogs corresponded exactly with the cleg-marks near the body, and he had sevoral spots of blood on his trousers. Eugene Goddard, surgeon, described the wounds the deceased had received. He had made a post-mortem examination, and had no doubt whatever that the wounds he had described were the cause of death. They appeared to have been inflicted with some blunt instru- ment. A kick from a clog like those produced would probably do it. Mr. Chattaway, another surgeon, and other witnesses gave corroborative evidence. The coroner summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Thomas Watkins, The prisoner Thomas Watkins was brought up on Tuesday morning at the Town-hall, before the Mayor, and was then committed to take his trial at the en- suing assizes on the charge of Wilful murder."

O'KANE v. O'KANE AND LORD PALMERSTON. This famous case—though famous only in its scandal —of which everybody has heard, although no names were mentioned at the time that it was being referred to in nearly every paper throughout the country, came on in the Divorce Court on Tuesday as O'Kane v. O'Kane and Lord Palmerston." It was an ap- plication on the part of the accused wife, Mrs. O'Kane, that her husband should either proceed with his suit or that it should be struck off the file :— Mr. Seymour said he was instructed to apply to the Court for 1\ rule to compel the petitioner to show cause why be had not proceeded with his suit, or otherwise why his petition should not be struck off the file. The learned counsel said an order had been obtained from that Court on the 17th November last to oblige the petitioner to furnish the co-respondent with further particulars 11.8 to place and time and so forth. The petition was filed on the 19th of October, citation was served on the 21st October, appearance was put in by therespondeut on the 23th October, answer was given in on November 13th. It was evident that the petitioner had not med reasonable expedition in proceeding with hill case, and his petition might be struck off the file if the Court saw just ground for so doing. There was an affidavit in which it was stated that this suit altogether was little else than an attempt to extort money from the co- respondent. His Lordship: This is an application on behalf of the re- spondent, and I cannot hold the co-respondent to be iden- tical with the respondent. There is certainly fust ground for complaint when a petitioner drags a person into a court, more especially that court, to the sacrifice of reputation and so on, and the other side had a right to know why all reasonable expedition had not been taken. The co-re- spondent in this case had applied for particulars, but the respondent had neyer made any such application. It WIU, therefore, not for her to complain that she had not obtained what she had not asked for, but at the same time she had a right to ask why a suit, in which certain charges were made against her, was kept hanging over her head, whether she had the particulars or not. I will, therefore, grant the application for a rule to show cause OR the next motion (lay why the suit has not been proceeded with. As to the dismissing the petition, that is a subject for a special ap- plication. The Court never allows a petition to be taken off the file unless on motion for that particular purpose. His Lordship accordingly granted the rule to show cause.

The following is a copy of the petition:— In Her Majesty's Court of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes. In the matter of Timothy Joseph O'Kane of No. 21, In- verness-road, Bayswater, in the county of Middlesex, gen- tleman, dated the 19th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1803. Sheweth, 1. That your petitioner, on the 2nd of October, 1851, was lawfully married to Margaret Matilda Augusta Morris, of No. 2, John-street, Sutton-street, Commercial- road East. in the said county of Middlesex, spinster, at St. George's iu-the-East, in the said county of Middlesex. 2. That after his said marriage, your petitioner lived and cohabited with his said wife at No. 2, John-street, at Graves- end, in the county of Kent, at Dingle, Killarney, andTMtee, all in the county of Kerry, in Ireland, and at 26, Grove-place, Brompton, in the county of Middlesex, and that there was issue of the marriage, viz., one son and four daughters. 3. That onor about the 16th day of June,1863, and at divers other days and times, at Cambridge Home, No. 04, Pic- cadilly, in the said county of Middlesex, and at divers other places, the said Margaret Matilda Augusta O'Kane com- mitted adultery with one Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, K.G., First Lord of her Majesty's Treasury. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that this honour- able court will be pleased to decree and declare the said mar- riage of your petitioner and the said Margaret Matilda Augusta O'Kane to be dissolved. And that your petitioner may have such further and otherreUef in the premises as to this honourable court may seem meet. And your petitioner claims twenty thousand pounds damages against the said Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, K.G., first Lord of her Majesty's Treasury.—And your petitioner will ever pray, &c. TIMOTHY JosEra O'KANE.

THE PARISIANS OFFENDED! The Parisians are greatly offended at the manner they were spoken of, the other day, in the Legislative Corps. The Parisians, who are keenly alive to the ridiculous and laugh at everything and everybody, are, perhaps, of all people, the most sensitive. During the debate a distinction was drawn by some speaker between the elections of Paris and those of the provinces, and much stress laid on the fact of the centre of civilisation and of enlightenment, the seat of Government, the capital par excellence, so unmistakably declaring itself against the Govern- ment, and beating from the field ita most favoured candidates. These pretensions were met by cries from the provincial Deputies that if Paris, as was alleged, be the head of France, the departmentswerethe heart: and the President of the Chamber, adopting this view, added on his own account that France had a good heart, but a bad head." True enough Paris has done many foolish and some wicked things. It has been too often capricious in its affections, inconstant, and restless; not knowing when it was well off, reckless of its own interests, and on groundless imaginary mo- tives, and from mere love of variety, ready to plunge into revolution. But, while confessing and deploring their past sins—their sins of omission as well as of commission—the Parisians contend that the men who have reaped so much profit by their eccentricity should not be the first to taunt them with it that those who certainly would not exchange their position in 18C4 for that in which they formerly were, have but little right to sit in judgment upon them and that no one heard of these sarcasms so long as Paris elected otlicialcandidates to the Legislative Corps. For ten years those same persons were holding up Paris as the city of cities, the capital not merely of France, but of the world, out of which it was impossible to live, and in which it was happiness to die. Bad as it is now described, yet during these ten years Paris has been feted, pampered, embellished, aggrandised by the an- nexation of a vast suburb, enriched, beautified, and fortified. Engineers, architects, sculptors, painters have exercised their talents upon it. Workmen by hundreds of thousands, the very best that France could produce, have been employed in raising those stately mansions which adorn it, opening streets, boulevards, and squares, erecting fountains, planting gardens; and immense treasures have been lavished to make Pirns in a few years what it would take any other leas favoured capi- tal a century or more to grow to. If Paris deserves the character given of it by the President of the Legis- lative Corps, it is no compliment to the rest of France that her millions should be wasted on an undeserving and thankless population. "What can Paris be re- proached with?" asks the paper most widely circulated among the Parisian bourgeoisie :— Is it for having been always penetrated with the sense of municipal and of national rights, those two great elements of French civilisation ? Is it for possessing that inimitable taste which distinguishes its products from those of aU other cities, that universal aptitude which makes it a manufac- turing city like Lyons and M commercial as South- ampton, industrial as an English factory, learned as a German university, and artistic beyond compare T Is it the fault of Paris if, through your more excessive centralisation, it has an exuberance of life. that reaches even to plethora, while the greater number of other cities and of other com- munes drag on a sickly existence ? Two elections are soon to take place in Paris, and it is feared the electors will but too well remember the words spoken in the Chamber.

AN ILLUSTRIOUS VISITOR! In a late number of Bell's Life there is the following notice of Heenan:— Wo had a visit from Heenan on Friday, Jan. 22, and were sorry to liad that he was still suffering from severe illness. He has been so much reduced in weight, that he now barely weighs 12st. 71b. ,He declares that, beyond the first two or three rounds of his match with King he has no recollection whatever of anything that took place, nor can he in any way account for the extraordinary falling off in his fighting. He felt, on entering the ring, fit to light for his life, and he looked upon victory as a foregone conclusion but. in a very few minutes a giddiness came over him, for which he cannot account, and beyond this ho remembers nothing as all, and he declares he has never felt the same man since. His looks on Friday certainly bore out his statement as to Ills health, and it will evidently require great care on his part to get himself round. He intends taking a benefit in London shortly, a thing he has never yet done, and he hopes thereby to raise sufficient funds to take a trip to some warmer climate for the renovation of his health.

On the subject of the recent fight betwixt King and Heenan, Manhattan writes from New York :— It has been ascertained in this city that our representa- tive, Heenan, lost the fight with King In consequence of a conspiracy between Jack M'Donald, Tom Mayers, and the friends of King. The papers say that M'Donald while train- ing Heenan treated him foully. Absurd as this story ia, there are thousands who believe it, and who would stake their last dollar upon Heenan now if he were to engage in another fight.