The Aberystwith Observer

4&nr ftoiiton CcrrrfsponbEitt. Wl deem it right to state that we do not at all times identif) ,aneftes with our correspondent's opinions.] Perhaps the most importantdebateyet brought before the House of Commons, was that of Friday night, upon the subject of the Belfast riots. It was listened to too by a very distinguished auditor, for this was the first occasion upon which the Prince of Wales entered the House as a mere spectator. Sir H. Cairns, who intro- duced the subject, is known to be one of the most lucid and logical speakers on his side of the House, and in his remarks on Friday night, he reminded me of that old man eloquent," Lord Lyndhurst, both in the matter of his speech, and in the manner in which he delivered it. He is tall, rather thin-faced, and sallow, and of slight build, but upon his countenance there is the impress of thought which years of legal study have induced. He was very well answered by Sir Robert Peel, whose happy insouciance was never employed to better advantage than when ridiculing the ludicrous appearance of an Irish party processioD. His remark concerning the common Irish phrase, "a broth of a boy," when applied to a middle-aged man, waa especially relished by the House, which aJivays composes itself for something good when tie Chief Secretary rises. Mr. Whiteside, who evidently intended to speak earlier in the evening, had a conference with the initiator of the debate before he brought his ac- knowledged eloquence to bear upon the somewhat loose sarcasms of Sir Robert Peel. The debate after all ended in nothing, for no steps can be taken in the mat- ter before the report of the commission is received. The debate on the Public House Closing Bill, opened by Mr. Cox, simply brought out the fact that Sir George Grey is not willing to alter the provisions of the bill for the mere benefit of newspaper men and market gardeners. Seeing that some of the London daily papers are rapidly making fortunes for their pro- prietors, I hope that the latter may 00 induced by the remark of an hon. member, to follow the example of the Times in providing night accommodation for sup- plying refreshment to their staff. The Act has been adopted in many cases in provincial towns, and I think it will require stronger arguments than were put forward by the member for Finsbury to demonstrate the necessity or desirability of altering its provisions. Mr. Darby Griffith sticks to his idea of a threepenny postage stamp for the internal postage of the country, and the announcement of the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer that the postal authorities are maturing a plan to meet Mr. Griffith's views is of importance to the country generally. If we have rates of under half- ounce Id., between half-ounce and one ounce 2d., it is difficult to see why we should not have, on the same principle, a threepenny stamp. I see that a writer in the Court Journal makes the announcement that Mr. A. Layard has not shown up" in the House this session. This, however, is a mistake. He was one of the first to enter the House on the opening day, and has attended almost regularly ever since. The hon. geatleman looks remarkably well, and seems to have been employing his leisure in more healthy pursuits than the antiquarian researches satrically attributed to "the member for Nineveh." The Lord Chancellor has, I see, conferred the office of "reading clerk and clerk of committees upon his second son, the Hon. Slingsby Bethell. Forthwith there is a cry of "nepotism (a very curious word, by the by, in this case); but why, may I aak, should not the Lord Chancellor or any one else do a good turn for his son if it be in his power to do so ? Nay, more, it is our duty to do a good service to our own. If a man high in office is expected to serve his country, surely he may also serve his own son, always provided that his son is fit for the position in which the patron places him. Weare to have, it seems, a royal commission to inquire into the economical facts'' connected with railways. If this commission be properly conducted it will almost of necessity result in great reforms, not before they are needed. Meanwhile the North- western directors are making experiments with a new system of communication between passengers and guard—a tube worked on the pneumatic principle. This bids fair to be a great advance on the windows in the South-Western Carriages, which, while they destroy all privacy, are practically useless. Though rather late in the day I cannot resist re- ference to that grand and encouraging speech which the Emperor of the French recently delivered. It is spe- cially remarkable for the liberal spirit which pervades jt, and which now appears to be the foundation of the external and internal policy of France, the treatment o! the press perhaps alone excepted. The Emperor has de- clared himself clearly on the relations of two great nations, who respect each other—France and Italy. The political and military policy which initiated the trans- ference of the capital of the latter country from Turin to Florence now stands out boldly, and there is no longer any ground for fearing the consequences of the convention with regard to the pontifical territory. In due time the French troops will return to France, while the Italian government engages to protect the frontiers of the Roman States; and in this fact we may hope for the full reconciliation of Italy withCatholicism. Questions of internal policy, however, occupy the greater portion of the speech. The new guarantees which Napoleon offers for individual liberty, in con- nection with the laws of arrest and imprisonment; the greater freedom in forming and carrying on associations for ameliorating the condition of the working classes the evident desire for popular instruction; the removal of impediments to commercial activity and progress— all these matters are re-assuring, and when we find that the leading idea of the Emperor seems to be rather progress at home than conquest abroad, it is not at all surprising that the speech has been well received here, and that imperial policy is gradually ceasing to be the bugbear it has so long been. I have referred to the French press as an exception to the liberal policy of the Emperor. I have several French journals before me as I write, and it is impossible not to be struck with the difference between them and our own papers. I never knew a Frenchman who could read English who did not prefer an English paper. They are in fact totally different. A French news- paper must be called so on the principle of lucus a now lucendo. There is no news in it. And as to political comments, why the lucubrations of a French journalist reminds me of a hornpipe in fetters. But an English- man may well be proud of his press. I see by the Newspaper Press Directory that there are now 1,271 journals published in the United Kingdom. Of these a very large proportion come under the denomination of the cheap press, and the cheap press is the glory of < ur land. Within the last year or two it has made immense strides, not in number only, but in character and importance. Where do we find that "ribald press which it was confidently predicted we should have when the stamp duty was removed, and again, when the paper duty came off ? The middle and working classes of this country owe an immense debt of gratitude to the cheap press, and it is a remarkable fact that this press and the country generally have advanced pari passu. Mr. German Reed, Mrs. German Reed, and the inimitable John Parry, are having another opera di camera arranged for them; These entertainments afford charming amusement for a winter's evening, and they are much frequented by persons who have conscientious scruples with regard to the theatre, though I confess the distinction is rather fine-drawn. Un my last visit to the Gallery of Illustration, I noticed one rather disagreeable fact—that the trio are all older than they were some time ago. Not much of a discovery, perhaps, but it may be worth mentioning, inasmuch, aa one of the three persons named, has not discovered the same fact. However, let us not be too critical, in memory of the many happy hours' amuse- ment that this accomplished trio have given to the public. Mr. Sims Reeve?, I regret to see is still indisposed, or in plainer English, unable to appear, owing to the accident to his eye. What large sums of money has this gentleman lost through illnesses, of a more or less serious character. The finest male singer in the world (scion moi) his organ," as musical critics call the voice, is of the most delicate character, and he is so careful of it, that perhaps he ocoaBionally declines to sine when not the slightest ) disorganization cotdd be perceived. Have you ] observed what an enormous sum has been asked by the director, or manager, or impresario, or whatever 1 else h. calls himself, of Miss Adelina Patti for one 1 night's singing at Bordeaux?— £ 400! It is true this was to include travelling expenses to and from Paris; but what an immense sum for a song or two ? Our ancestors seemed to consider a song almost the synonym for "nothing," and we often hear even now of a thing going for a mere song, while the highest price that our forefathers put upon a song was the price of a supper, "no song no supper;" but we have changed all that, and a few songs will now build a new wing to an hospital, relieve the distress of scores of poor families, or go a long way towards buying a 1 mug villa on the banks of some charming Italian lake. J Great Britain seems peculiarly the land of practical jokes, and the roughs" never stand out so boldly In any country as our own; but who can admire the ( rough blackguardism that we have recently had in London, Liverpool, and Glasgow—and, doubtless, in other places,—during the time that the snow lay on the ground ? That London roughs should mercilessly pelt respectable persons is nothing more than we can expect,—the metropolis always does take the lead in blackguardism but that the pupils at a University should, in a cowardly way, pelt the police, is utterly < disgraceful. <

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Tn the Hnuse of Lords on Feb. 20, Lord Lyvedon drew attention to the official report of Colonel Jervois on the defences of Canada, by which it appeared that this province is almcst destitute of the means of resisting any attack from the American States. It was useless to say there existed no danger of tn attack. There could be no doubt that the ftelii t; = ;inst Great Britain was very strong in America. During the last four years It had been increasing, and recently more Importance than ever had heen attached to what was called the Monroe doctrine He then allnded to late events on the Canadian and American frontier and the hnstile order issued by Goneral Dix, tne Commander of the State of New York. It vas fortunate that this order was cancelled by the Present, but it indicated the existence of feeitngs that might at any time produce hostilities. It was a matter for the serious con- sideration of the Government, which he hoped would avoia a doubtful and ambiguous course in de*flng with tne q tiou. He concluded by asking what erasures were intended to be taken with reg ird to the defences of the province. Lord De Grey and Ripon admitted the importance of the question, but ts to the report of Coionel Jervofs, It really contained nothing that was not perfectly well known to all -;vho had taken any interest in the sub- ject In produe/flg the report he denied that hi had been guil'y of nay official Indiscretion. It was necessary, before askivg the House of Commons fer a vo'e of money for fortifications in Canada and applying to the Canadian Assem- bly ta join In the expense, to lay the information this report contained before Legislatures. It referred chiefly to two questions,—the nature of the defensive works re- quired, aud the measures taken f"r the organization and training of the Ctnafjiat) Militia Her Majesty's Government intended to apply 200.0002. to thefortincttions of Quebec, of which the sum of 50,0002. would be applied to the works this year. The Canadian Government would undertake the works of Montreal. He trusted that in a short time their American possessions would be placed in an adequate state of defence. The E>1rl of Derby would rather have refrafned from touching upon the delicate state of affairs existing between this country and America but the pressing danger which threatened the frontier of Canada, as well as the danger that threatened our commerce hy sea, impelled him to speak. They were told that 200,0002. were required to supplyfortiflcationt for Quebec, yet there was only 50.000J. in the estimates for the defence of Canada this year. They were told that her Majesty's Government were preparing the defence of Canada in case danger should threaten. He asked if dangers were not threatening now. Lord Granville said the preparation of the report was a necessary step to take before asking the Legislature for the funds that might be required. The Government had been charged with having suddenly changed its policy on this question, after neglecting the defences of these provinces for years. But it was only within the last three years that thi Canadian Government would take up the question. Hnr Majesty's Government had necessarily waited till it could come to a better understanding with the Government 01 Canada. The province was bound to bear a fair part in its defence but if it did that, England was bound to assist. After a few words from Lord Lyttelton, Lord Malmsbury thought, if the Government intended to assist Cauada effectually, it should have done more than take a vote for 50,0002. only. If the money was necessary at all, it was necessary at once. But the whole expenditure would spread over a considerable time. Lord Ellenborough thought that Car ada must be earnestly defended by the Canadians. If it were not, the aid of Eng- land would be unavailing. The danger might come at any moment, and it was to be regretted the Government were satisfied with applying 50,0002. to the work- of Quebec. He suggested that the Government should not ie guided by the statements In the report alone, but consr the opinions of the Duke of Wellington, who had studied che question very carefully. Lord Russell defended the Government from the charge of having neglected the defences of Canada for many years, by stating that if the House of Commons had been asked a few yearl ago for a vote of money for the purpose, the necessity of the works would have been questioned and if asked whether Canada itself was disposed to join in the cost of such defences, the Government must have answered in the negative. As to spending the money required, in a quiet and secret manner, where could Buch a sum as 200,OOOt. be found without the knowledge of the House of Commons? He excused the feeling that had been excited in America by the depredations of the Confederate cruisers on Federal commerce, though legally the Americans had no claim on England on acoount of those losses and he rejoiced, though the abolition of slavery was not the object of the civil war, that the recent vote ol the Federal Congress had sanctioned the abolition. Lord Derby asked whether any measures had been taken to meet the increase of the American armed force on the lakes ? The Duke of Somerset saId the increase was notified to the Government only in November, and since that time the navigation of the St. Lawrence had been c'osed by ice. After some brief conversation the subject dropped, and their Lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons Colonel W. Patten, in accord- ance with a promise made on a former evening, moved a new standing order :—" All questions before committee on private bills shall be decided by a majority of voices, and whenever the voices are equal the question shall be resolved in the negative." This practice would be In accordance with that adopted in the House of Lords and on the judicial bench. Mr. Hodgson opposed the motion as being likely to do more harm than good. He thought the odd number of five or three, would be preferable to the equal number of four.' Mr. M. Gibson considered that the argument prevailed in favour of giving the chairman a casting vote. Colonel W. Patten said the Committee of Selection would have the greatest possible difficulty if there were a return to the old number of five on each committee, inasmuch as there were 595 private bills to be disposed of. The motion was negatived without a division. Sir Coiman O'Loghlen asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmenr, if it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to introduce this session any measure to regu- late the law of marriage in the United Kingdom, or to insti- tute any inquiry by means if a committee of this House, or Royal Commission, with a view to future legislation. Sir G. Grey said her Majesty had been advised to Issue a commission to inquire into the law of marriage in the United Kingdom. Mr. Hibbert obtained leave to bring In a bill to permit capital punishments to be carried out under certain quali. fications within the interior of prisons. Sir G. Grey said it would be desirable not to proceed with the second rearlinjt until the commisaioners reported. The Game Licences (Ireland) Bill and the Dublin In- ternational Exhibition (1865) Bill passed the committee. The Civil Bill Courts Procedure(Ire and) Act (1861) Amend- ment Bill, the Election Petitions Act (1848) Amendment Bill, and the Pilotage Order Confirmation Bill were read the second time. Mr. Longfleld (for Mr. Whiteside) moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the constitution of the Court of Chancery In Ireland, and to reduce the number ot Judges In the Landed Estates Court. Leave was given. Mr. Augustus Smith rroved a resolution "That the office of the one Secretary rendered capable of sitting or voting as a member of the Commons' House of Parliament by the ninth clause of the Poor Law Act, lately vacated, ought to be abolished." He assigned his reasons far believing that the office in question was unnecessary, and urged the great EX- pense of the Poor Law Department as an additional reason for the abolition of the office. Mr. VUlers justified the retention of the office, the ex- pediency of which, he observed, had been several times discussed, and no sufficient reason had been shown why this office should be abolished any more than that of the Under- Secretary of any other department. The work of the Poor Law Board had much increased, additional labours having been lately cast upon the department, and if the office in question were abolished it would be necessary to appoint another Commissioner. After a few further remarks Lord Palmerston observed that there was no reason why there should cot be an Under-Secretary for the Poor Law Board, as in other departments, and he hoped the Houte would not assent to the motion. Sir H. Willoughby and Mr. Newdegate made a few obser- vations, and upon a division the motion was neea'ived by 193 to 17. Mr. Villiers moved for le .ve to bring in a bill to provide for the better distribution of the charge for the relief of the poor in unions. Mr Henley suggested certain points regarding which, he thought, information was required. Mr. Locke observed that the bill would be of no advantage to the metropolitan parishes that rating would not meet the evils attending the displacements of population there. Leave was then given to bring in the bill, and the House adjourned, In the House of Lords on February 21, the Lord Chancellor broughtm a bil to confer jurisdiction in equity upon the County Courts in England and Wales. Under the present circumstances a comparatively poor man might die possessed of 120t" or even 150t, and he might leave behlod him a widow and children. Should disputes arise as to the disposal of this pioperty, the parties wiil be unable to get a proper settiementbicause of the expensive nature of the procedure. The noble lord said he would on a future day introduce a bill forbidding any action to be brought in County Courts to recover any beer Icore. He then moved the first r6ading of the bill for amending the County Courts Act. The bill was then read a first time, and their Lordships adjourned. In the Honse of Commons, Mrfc S, Fitzgerald gave notice that on going into supply on the army estimates he woulll call attention to Colonel Jervis's report on the defences of Canada. Mr. Kekewlch asked the President of the Board of Trad.) whether his attention had been called to the large numl}er of wrecks which have lattly occurred on the north-west coast of Devon and Cornwall; and whether it was the in teution of the Government to establbh a harbour of refuge on that coast for the protection of the shipping. Mr. M. Gibson said there had been many wrecks on that coast, but It was not the intention of the Government to propose any vote of money for a harbour of refuge. There were other parts of the coast on which there were more wrecks. Mr. O'Reilly called attention to the present mode of recruiting for the army, and moved an address for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the subject. He urged the expediency of putting the system of recruiting upon a proper footing, looking at the way in which our army was raised, and that the precent was a fit time for inquiring into the subject. He described the existing mode of recruiting by crimps and recruiting sergeants, and the extent of the desertion of recruits, which was carried on by an organised system and he pointed out the vicious manner in which volunteering from the Militia to the Line was sometimes carried on. He made various suggestions for augmenting the sources cf supply to the army a.nd for increasing the inducements to enlistment, by modifying the term of service, by localising regiments— tht TT'hem with particular counties or parts of afte^long service 'and by UlCrea,ing the pay nortance^fe^t,Jf»Mfled Per'onal knowledge to the im- ported toe motton^^D^ ^gimenU with localities. He sup- beUevecf 1he°sald spoke i" favour of the motion. He .j™1 aal»< that recruiting for the armv was almnnr. at a dead lock, and thought manv of Mr » a mo, at were well worth, of consideration SUgge3CtoDS After observations by Sir G Bowver and Bit II tr {-rne The Marquis of Hartlngton denitd that rec' Itl y, at a standstill; on the contrary, it was troty l remarkab e regularity. He admittt d the great fm^riT™ of the subject but he did not think the a|pointSent of a Commission of Inquiry expedient at the present time Th» subject had not been lost sight of; it was under con lideration of the military authorities. He admitted that there were evils intheaysterrrorecrultlng, but he thought the schemes suggested by Mr. OTRellly could not be relied upon. Ee discussed some of these suggestions, and repeated that be did not think it desirable to appoint a Commission to consider this subject. Sir J. Fergusson dilfered from Lord Hartington as to the material of the army, which was, he said, losing some of its t>°Mr aSculiye^d Mr. Whalley having made a few remarks, find Mr. O-RHliy a brief reply, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. Balnes moved for leave to bring- in a Bill to extend the elective franchise in boroughs In England and Wales, the object being to make the borough franchise an occupation of 82. instead of 102. He thought the end of a Parliament a fit time for the introduction of such a measure. After a few remarks by Mr Ayrton and Mr. J. Powell, leave was given. SII C O'Loghlen moved for leave to bring In a Bill to amend the Law of Libel, and for more effectually securing the liberty of the Press. He explained the object and main provisions of the measure. Leave was given. Mr. Whalley moved for leave to Introduce a Bill to reDeal i0 much of the Railway Construction Facilities Act, 1804, as prevents the Board of Trade from proceeding on theaonlica- iion of promoters in cases where any railway or canal :ompany affected in any way by the proposed undertaking may lodge notice of opposition. ° Leave was given to bring in the bill Mr. M. Gibson, in a Committee of the whole House, ob- tained leave to bring in a bill for the protection of inven- tions and designs exhibited at certain industrial exhibitions In the United Kingdom. Mr. Newdegate obtained leave to bring in a Bill for the commutation of Church-rates. The orders of the day were then proceeded with, and th e House adjourned. In the House of Commons on February 22, the notices of motions stood thus Mr. E. Craufurd.—Bill to allow affirmations or declarations ¡.J be made instead of oaths in all civil and criminal nro- jeedlngs in Scotland. Colonel Sykes.— Address for copy of a despatch frem the Secretary or toe ttomnay government m reierenc «« M'Dougall's Disinfecting Powder, &c.. Mr. Scully.—On second reading of Criminal n^se8' pftm~ denee) Bill, to move that it be committed to Select vorn- e*Scullv —On second reading that it^ha demeanonr Evidence and Practice to move committed to a select Commits.

AN AUSTRALIAN MURDERER'S CONFESSION. A man, named Jas. Stewart, was recently executed for murder at Bathurst, in Australia. Before being led out upon the scaffold he wrote the following con- fession I, .Tames Stewart, who am to suffer the extreme penalty of the law on to morrow, make the following true statement I am the man who escaped from the Bernalla watchhouse, In the colony of Victoria, on Jan. 21, 1862, and the money then and there taken from me belongs to the Storekeeper. I am also the man who stole two horses from Mr DIlLn, Livery-stable keeper, Geelong, in the aforesaid colony of Victoria, about ten years ago. And also, about the same time, I ro'bed Dr. Leek, of Portland Bay, in Victoria and aho the same who robbed Mr. Thompson, of Wardlallock, Victoria and Mr Henty, of Portlahd, a little after, of horses, I am also tha same man who s'uck up Mr. Watts, of Fort lalry, Victoria, and who stole Mr M'Law's horses from the same place. I made my escape from Big Dick, the police- man at Horsham, Victoria, and I it was who robbed a man of 40l, at Kennedy's public hou.e, Hopkina River. Victoria, It was I too, who took < ne horse, saddle, and bridle from Mr. Bostock, of Elephant-bridge, Victoria and it was 1 who commit'ed the r bbery between Four Posts arid Horsham. I also robbed Mr. Meredith, of Mount Gambier, Vïc- oria, of a horse, bridle, and saddle, and are- arms. I a'so stole a horse, bridle, and saddle from Brown, Mount Napisr, Victoria, I also broke into Mr. Valere'a store, Violet Town—the same whom I robbed of the money —and stole a revolver, which I left at the Junction public- house, at Ballarat. I stole a horse from Mr. Osborne, of Bendige, Victoria. I robbed Mr. F. Hunter, of Mount Gambler. I robbed Mr. Bowman, of Wakefield, South Ausèralia; and Mr. Collier, of the Murray River, Victoria; and it was I »ho stole a horse from the chief constable of For. Fairy, Victoria. I committed a forgery of lOi. on Mr. Ware, of Spring Creek, Victoria. These an some of the numerous robberies I have committed, and which I now deeply lament. 1. James Stewarf, also humbly and most sorrowfully confess that I am the murderer of Charles Ver ihut), and for which awful crime I now most peni- tently pray the Almighty to have mercy on my SJUI; and 1 do sincerely hope my awful punishment may prove a warning to all.

TESTIMONY OF A FRENCH OFFICER TO ENGLISH BRAVERY. Two letters from a French admiral and a captain who witnessed the burning of her Majesty's ship Bombay, have found their way into print. They show how brave men can estimate brave actions by whomso- ever performed, and how much of national jealousy has been rubbed off by alongpeaceand friendly intercourse. The captain, for instance, says for Captain Campbell what Captain Campbell could not i-a,y for himself-tells how, faint with exertion, and almost nude, he ven- tured his own life with that self same daring which he personally could only praise in his subor- dinates and how, when the ship blew up, he was so near that spectators thought he was involved in the common ruin. The Admiral, on the other hand, moralines—" If," he says, "England has to deplore the loss of eighty-five of her children, and of a fine and formidable 8hip of the line, well armed, wen corn. manded, well equipped, she has at least the consola- tion of being able to pride herself on having once more furnished to the admiration of the maritime world a fina example of one of those trying emergencies to which wo are all exposed, supported with as much calmness and resignation as courage"—praise, which, coming from a rival, is as graceful as it must be well deserved. Here is an extract from Captain Goursiaume's letter of the French vessel Fenelon which rendered efficient services during the disastrous burning of her Majesty's ship Bombay, respecting the conduct of the commander of that unfortunate man-of-wir :— Thetonductofthisoniceracd the services rendered by him during the disaster other Majesty's ship Bombay de- serve the highest praise, and must have called for, h the gratitude and admiration of the sufferers. I kept on tacking, therefore, when suddenly I saw a small boat containing 22 men. I immediately hove to, and a moment later I had the sathfacton of receiving on board the commander of the ship, three officers, and 18 sailors. Toey were in a state of complete, or almost complete, nudity, especially the commander. I immediately adopted all the means at my disposal to clothe and make them comfortable. I then pressed the commander to take a cordial, which he declined in spite of my entreaties, and insisted oo re embarking ing in order to return to the ship wishing to give assistance as far as possib'e uo to the last moment to his unfortunate companions, and to be present, as he conceived it his duty to bó, at the inevitible explosion 01 his sbip. To tht. fine and honourable conduct I gelded, and could only promise him to wait as near the ship a* possible. Four men volunteered to folow this noble example, and embanked with hIm. At 8.40 the explosion took place with a fearful Jlohe and in an instant all was over. Has this g<aud devo- tion of the captain re eived its reward ? This is my most ardent desire However, after having waited more than two hours longer, I did not see the bout returning atid with re- gret I found myself compelled to turn my course to Monte Video. About 15 minutes afier midnight the English gun- boar, hailed me, and, after furnishing her with all the infor- mation I possessed, particularly on the supposed fate of the captain of Ihe ship, she fent to remove from on board all the men I had picked up.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. During the past week 69 wrecks have been reported, mak1ng a total for the present year of 414, The speech of the Emperor of the French consisted 1 710 words. Delivered in Paris at one o'clock, the whole was known in London at half-pllst three. A bill has bten introduced into the Federal senate prohibitirlg the adoption of any bye law preventing coloured people from travelling upon any railroad or steamboat, and rendering any regulation void which treats coloured passen. gers differently from others. On Saturday last Samuel Kniverton and Ann Scrim- shire, both of whom were deaf and numb, wtre married at the church of St. Anne's, Limehouse, London. Au interpreter attended, and responses were made through the finger alphabet. A gieat number were present to witness the ceremony, which excited great interest by its novelty. In a case brought before the Manchester City Police court on Saturday, in which a lad was chaiged with throwing a snowbai; at a railway train, it was stated that, under an act passed in the 14th and 15th yeais of her Majesty, the defendant was liable, at the discretion of the court, to penal seivitude fur life. He was, however, only fined 5s. A new species of petty persecution has been begun at Warsaw. Tnn stedentsin that city having during the seveie cold which prevailed in the beginning of February worn hood-i on their beads, tbe director of the police has issued ord rs forbidding this practice, as beicg l'a'ne to lead to abases. A teetotal lecturer of Newcastle proposed to divert himself on Sunday eventns, by delivering an address upon The Last Days of a Gateshead Magistrate a lesson of instruction and warning." A nephew of the deceased ma- gistrate aimed himself with a newly pu chased h raewhin bnd, lecture hili in hand, sought out the lecturer, to whom: aftf r a sh r catechising by way of form, he administered so sound a thrashing tha, the instrument of eorre :tion we are told, wa9 literally broken to shreds." This feat was performed in broad daylight, in the presence of an admiring to^nterfere.0 '16"' °' wh thought it nec^sa.y to interfere. An K°n7 was performed on Saturday ?/n A t the liiin i °' t'le Clergy Orphan Corpora- Farmer beaueathed Present century Mr. James J „rt twwit. s i 0 society on condition th-it shouM allr J -fon/ t a'llversary of his death the committee considered mnJt v orphan in the school whom they nresentation^ wor'hy of it. On Saturday one of these The fortunat^aS T?6 the Archbishop of Canterbury, j.). recipient of the money is Miss Fayrer, Church CamberwifL6 R°bert Fayr6r' °f ISajmanuel for^»vi^°n^e(^era':e Senate have thanked Mr. Lancaster hound P'am ^emmes and his crew in the yacht Deer- It has been stated upon excellent authority that the cost of the Confederate navy has been eighty million of collars. That navy has destroyed 191 Federal ve«sel«. If the arithmetical reader will calculate he wiil find that it^has cost the Confederates 418,000 dollars each captured vessel, o over 80,000z. At that rate the Federals have nothing'oco- plaln of, and might let the game go on with perfect as- surance that they would not be ruined in the long ran. From an incident which transpired afc. rown Council, it appears that bribery at a ml'" • Is a smaller offence than bribery at » par A town councillor of the borough haa been on; County Court of bribery, and fined; andJ* 7nlted t w ti,01} sf an emijent barrister who had been n Jj ?.at was the legal limit of his punishment. He could not be dig- possessed of his office for the offence. A Board of Trade iWn}rL™ro°lumh}L at Liverpool m Monday Into the loss of steamer, be- longing to that port. The unfortunate yesjel left the Mersey on the loth January, with a crew of 32 men and a passenger. She sunK on the French coast, after encounter- ing a terriffia storm, on the 17th of the same month, and >nlythe steward andtwo firemen were saved. The steward, i irho was examined, brought a very grave charge against the japtaln and officers which, however, the counsel for the jwners said he would be able to contradict if the case were idjourned for a few days. It is stated that there are several steam boilers under lhe floor of the Houses of Parliament, many working at high I pressure and not tested as to their strength for years. It i night create a great deal of excitement, certainly a new itns. °n for the biase, if some morning the reports of the i farliamentary proceedings in the papers were to wind up ] mddenly with, "Here the debate c"me to an end by the < )lowii)g up of all tha members. A new Ministry and Oppo- i lition, with the requiste number of mcmbeis to work both, 1 rill be Immediately required." It is a remarkable fact, as quoted by the Postmaster General from the Reports of the Census Commissioners, that the London postal district, contains a larger of houses, and a arger population than are to be found the whole of Scotland." Seven hundred and eighty-two national banks are In operation In the Federal States, with a capital of 183,093.000 dollars. The total number of persons who arrived by sea iø the colony of Victoria during the [LOftth of November law was 3,308, of whom 1,758 were immigrants from the United Kingdom The number of departures from the colony wal 1,358. The currant rate of wages were from 30Z. per annum for unmarried farm labourers to 601, for married coupler and from 152. to 352. for domestic servants. The extraordinary questions in which the convict Roupell has been mixed up will again be brought before the public at the ensuing Essex assizes. The convict has been detained in England to enable him to be examined as witness. A French paper, the Journal of the Immaculate Conception, promises to aU its subscribers a "month" indulgence" by way of premium. One of the odd things of London life is a lecture nightly, gratis, on pills and potions, at the back of a hand- some doctor's shop in one of the most important West-End streets. The public are invited to enter and listen for a few minutes by an active and zealous porter at the door, and they take to the new idea largely and seriously. A man died at the Manchester royal infirmary a few days ago, from erysipelas, caused by hts having been struck on the face with a basin which was thrown at some- body else in a quarre The north-east coast was visited by a terrific gale on Sunday and Monday, and there will be a story of disaster to tell as a sad sequel. At Shields information* has been received of a great storm In the Mediterranean. Forty vessels were blown ashore at Alexandria, but happily the loss of life was small. The Wurtemburg Chamber of Deputies has just pronounced in favour of the abolition of the punishment of death hy a majority of 56 to 27. Oi 200 petitions addressed to the Chamber on this subject, 260 were for and 30 against the abolition. The Unita Italiana of Turin publishes a long letter (filling 11 column ) addressed t) Pius IX., and dated in Jannary, It endeavours to prove that Papacy has had Its day. and that—both as Pope and King—Pius Ix. has but one thing to do—to reconcile himself with God, for he can never be reconciled to humanity. This letter is attributed to Mazzini. A case of great importance to graziers came before the magistrate at the Clerkenwell Police Court, in London, on Monday. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals prosecuted an Oxfordshire farmer for exposing shorn sheep in open market in inclement weather-a prac- tice which was sworn by Professor Spooner to be cruel In the extreme. In consideration that this was the first offence of the kind brought before him, the magistrate dismissed it, but intimated that in all similar cases he should feel com.. pelled to inflict a fine. The latest novelty is that we are being supplied largely with teeth from the American battle-fields. The 1m. portations are very large, and the price of the article has considerably decreased. Great interest has been excited in the city of London, in consequence of the proprietors of Meriton's Wharf, being charged with a conspiracy to defraud the insurance com- panies of a large sum of money. The charge arose out of ihe great fire at Dockhead, and atnrst it was confined to the servants of the Meriton Wharf establishment, but subse- quently the masters were included in it. A translation of Louis Napoleon's "Life of Caesar will shortly be published at Pesth. On last Monday night, the eve of St. Valentine, 630.000 letters were dispatched from the General Post Office, in London, being an excess of 230,000 over the ordinary number. A most curious scene took place at the Debtors' Prison of Clichy, in Paris, after the copies of the Empe- ror's speech had reached the prisoners. The passage relating to the bill proposed by the Emperor for the abolition of imprisonment for debt created so much enthusiasm among the inmates that a spontaneous illumination of every win- dow of the house startled the gaolers, who vainly remon- strated against this demonstration. The Prince Napoleon's recent ball." says the writer of a Paris letter in the Nord, cost 30,0001, thus dis- tributed Supper, 14,0001., flowers, 6,000f,; lighting and decorations, 10,0001." Mr. Donelly'a agricultural statistics of Ireland for the year 1864 were Issued on Saturday morning. From these it appears that the total area under crops in the year was 5,672,980 acres, or 10,493 acres more than 1n 1863. The extent ot ground under wheat, barley, here, rye, beans, and peas has increased considera bly, but that under oats has diminished also considerably. On the whole there has been a decrease in cereals of 122,437 acres, and also a slight decrease in green crops. A little boy at Aberdeen has died from injury to the head, caused by a blow from a snowball. The Annan Observer says :—" It is rather remark- able that only three deaths have been registered in the parish of Middlesex this year, and these were three sisters. The first died on the 17th ultimo, the second on the 2nd Inst., and the third on the 10th inst. and though these three sisters lived in separate houses, yet they all died tn the same house and in the same bed. The late Duke of Northumberland possessed one- seventh of the county of Northumberland, namely, 168,000 acres. ^uv°i8iDi a retired captain in the custom's ser- vice, at Uayonne, has received the decoration of the Legion of Honour for a translation ef the Bible into the Basque lan- guage This honour has been accorded by the Emperor on the recommendation of his cousin, Prince Louis Lucien Buonaparte, who is himself a distinuished Basque scholar. The Court Journal says that a good story ia told about the pheasant-preserving in Norfolk. When it was recently desired to have sport for an illustrious visitor, it was found necessary to send the head keeper home, as the pheasants interpreted his presence into a premonitory symp' tom of feeding time, and woald sit on his shoulder and drop at his feet. The son of the late Mr. John Leech has been nomi- nated by Kirl Russell to the foundation of the Cba11;erbQllJJ& This will give the boy a splendid education, and a chance of °"f °n/0llr scholarships, for which the competition is among only fifty boys The Queen has expressed herself very much pleased at the result, and at the tribute it implied to the "extraordinary artist" (Her Majesty's own words) in ques- tion. A celebrated physician, occupying a high official position in Massachusetts, giys that since the beginning of the war there ha. been a remarkable decrease in cases of insanity among women, attributed by him to the various charitable and benevolent operations occa ioned by the war, which have excited the sympathy and received the Bupport of women. Esther Moody, a widow, has died in the Portsea Island workhouse in the hundredth year of her age, retain- ing her faculties almost to the last. There is at the present time an inma'e in the same workhouse in the 104th year of his age, who is hale and hearty, and whose recollection is in- deed suprising. The Sheffield Inundation Commifsion have awarded Richard Nesbitt Ryan, actor, poet, publican, and manager," 1' Ol. for losses occasioned by the inundation he laid his c aims at 1,3002. for the loss of noetic effusions, an auto- biographical diary, &c. 9n the site of Sodom and Gomorrah English enter- prise is about to establish a factory for the extracting of bromides from the waters TT Fr'ace Wales attended the sitting of the House of Commons on Friday evening, and occupied a seat in the Peers Gallery, the Earl of Alrlie being on the right hand, and Major Teesdale on the left hand of his Royal Highness The Prince entered the House during the speech of Sir Hugh Cairns on the matter of the Belfast Commission, remained some three-quarters of an hour, and left before the hon. and learned gentleman had concluded. Andrew MacErlone, a lawyer's clerk, has been committed for trial a' Belfast, charged with having, in a drunken spree, cursed the Queen, said he would command 30,000 men who were opposed to the Protestant Govern- ment, and that he would like to be the executioner of the Prince of Wales. One of the novelties of life in Moscow ii the intro- duction of ladies into gentlemen's clubs. The ladies are balloted for, and, we presume, are on the same footing precisely in every respect to the gentlemen. Is there room for this innovation ? Some of the details of the conversation between Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Ssward, and the Confederate commissioners are published, with a reputation of an official character. The point at which the negotiators stuck was recognition. TLe Southern representatives insisted on the independence of the South Mr. Lincoln, on the other hand, said that was totally out of the I}utstion. The national authority must be recognistd and obeyed over the whole United States terri- tory befo e anything else could be conceded. Did I receive a Valentine ? (writes a corespondent). Well, one. A facetious friend sent me the f llowing adver- tisement cut from a weekly paper. — "To ^Novelists — Wanted immediately, a writer for a penny publication. Style, adventures and murders. Address, X. &c. It is said that Mifos Braddon—Lady Audley's literary piient—can write a three-volume Lovel in three weeks, and his done so. The will of the Marquis of Bristol was sworn under 100,0002 To his eldest son, the present Marquis, he has devised all his real estates, and has bequedhed to him the residue of his personal property To each of his younger sons he has left a legacy of 20,0002., and to each of his daughters 10,0002., besides other bequests to them. One of the Paris actresses, Mdlle. P-, is gaJd to wear a dress on the stage which cost 1,0002. A Frenchman was asked his opinion of the" Derby." He spread his palms, shrugged his shoulders raised his eyebrows, and said, Here dey come, dere dey go nav me one hundred pounds." p me It is said that a great emigration of Welshmen to Patagonia is likely to take place in consequence of some negotiations of leading Welsh gentlemen with the Argentine Republic. One especial point is that they are to preserve the language in all its purity of consonants. The picture by Eugene Delacroix, The murder of the bishop of Liege," founded on the scene so powerfully described in Scott's Quentin Durward," was tola on Satur- day last, in Paris, for 1,4002. During a snowball skirmish between toe Glasgow students, one of the police took an inoffensive-looking specta- tor into custody, but was glad to get ridof his prisoner when he found him to be one of the professors We hear (says the Court Journal) that a popular Scotch bishop, who for many years was the respected minh, ter of one of the prettiest market towns in England, Is shortly to be married to a young lady residing not many miles from ti.e town alluded to. The Prince of Wales has become a patron of Turkish bath?. His Royal Highness visited the Ilammam the other day in Jerm) n-street, London, and took a bath. By the return of the Registrar General of Ireland for the year 1864 it appears that 84,586, persons left the country up T,^lng <?n lncrease of 41,080 oq the nuaiber for the previous year. gince t,he first ot May 1851, the total emigration has been 1,499,642 persons, A Canadian paper states that Burley, the St. Alban's raider, the AusSt? '/an away aud J"lned Garibaldi, deserted to the Austrlans, afterwards went to Spain, sailed Amerfca^ where he becSeTclerk 8 Wre<*ed in ailSon?o ^h?°«f Sf,liHbury, reoeptiy ™ade the following allusion to tha' smallness of clerical stipends If somn ard*of sockUrnl°Mfd' "6 ShaHi3e obli8ed to lower thestand- ministrv of 6rtry (luajlflcation for odmiss'on into the prin i Church, and fill our poor living! with badly- <>annnt «„n ?noraIlt' men> in whose hands the sacred office cannot fail to suffer injury." .^ro^e880r Lynn, of Edinburgh, recently performed with success the operation of excision of the tongue. A new invention in France is said to be a pair of musical boots, which have been exhib.ted to the Emperor. At every step the pressure ef the boot produces melody—It may be a waltz, a mazurka, or an operatic air. This arrange- ment would be extremely convenient for a dancing raastep. The exodus from Ireland is still increasing. The Registrar General's return shows that up to the end of July in last year, 84,580 persons left the country, an increase of 41,080 on the number of the previous year. Since the 1st of May, 1851, the total emigration from Ireland has been 1,499,642 persons. The miners of Barnsley are threatening to strike unless the grievances of which they complain are adjusted, rhe miners' executive committee have applied to the colliery Doners to submit the case to arbitration, but no reply has been received, and the opinion is that a strike is imminent. A few years ago some of the facetious sayings and doings ofone Artemus Ward, a Yankee, were copied into the English newspapers, and were found remarkably funny notably one descriptive of au interview with the Prince of tVaiea. These sketches have now been gathered into a volume.catted Artemus Ward, his book," and issued by Mr. Hotten. It is impossible to imagine a better repository jf most genial nonsense, most exquisite fooling Its humour s irresistible, but— ridentcm dicereverumquisvetat l-there B a good deal of shrewd practical truth under Mr. Ward's lonoense.