The Aberystwith Observer

LOCAL- THE COLRSING MATCH.—The deciding course between Mr. Job Jones's dog Leamington and Mr. Tustin's dog Lexicon was run on Wednesday, when the judge decided in favour of the latter dog 1 he match had been made some ten days previously, and 011 Tuesday week the first course was run and won by Lexicon. Several courses, as well as that upon which the judge pronounced, were run on the first day of the match, upon which it was not found pos- sible to decide. Darkness coming on, it was agreed to postpone the deciding courses to a future day, and that day was Wednesday last. The weather was line, and the ground in excellent order, but a long time elapsed before a hare could be started. At leiigth a puss appeared about a mile, from the gate, which put the mettle of those two really splendid dogs to the utmost test. After one of the severest and longest courses (lasting eight minutes) we ever beheld, the dugs lost the hare, and she certainly deserved to escape. At the start Leamington shot with the velocity of a cannon ball from the slips, and up the side of the hill had the hare to himself. He succeeded in turning her twice before Lexicon worked up. but as the hare began to descend the hill, the latter gave his rival the go by. and flew after the game at a speed that might puzzle Blair Athol. The hare taking the road, two tremendous jumps occurred at which both dogs were seen in the air almost ai the same moment. Again the hare took the hill and then Leamington showed his superior strengtl bv giving Lexicon the go, and kept the lead unti the hare once again turned for the valley, when thE latter cleg in his turn gave Leamington the go by As the hare did not take to the hill again, Mr Tustin's dog kept the advantage he had gained ir the descent. It must have been clear to every observer that the fate of the match depended on the course the hare took, as up-hill Leamington was a> far superior to Lexicon as the latter was to the for. mer down-hill. Indeed even now we should hesitate to hazard on opinion as to which is the better dog- the points made, as stated by the judge, being foi Leamington 6, and for Lexioon 8. At the conclusior I ',r the course it was found that both dogs were ter. ribly injured about the legs by striking fences ani gates which occurred.

THE PETTY SESSIONS. It is our pleasing duty to record the fact that there was no case to be heard before the borough magistrates this week. This, however, is the less remarkable, because the assizes in Cardigan drew several legal gentlemen from our town, and a few private individuals whose absence from the Town Hall in a petty sessions' i meeting, would be, to say the least of it, singular as well as edifying.

THE NEW ORGANIST.—At a special meeting held in the vestry-room on Tuesday, Mr. [nglis Bervon, of London, was unanimously elected to the above office, vacant by the re- signation of Mr. Young. The Rev. E. O. Phillips, Vicar, who presided at the meeting, passed a bigh and deserved encomium on the efficiency and skill of Mr. Bervon. The ap- poilJtment wiJl meet wIth the unqualified ap- probation of the congregation generally. LLANBADARNFAWR.—A tea party was given on 'he 2nd inst., at the schoolroom of the above place, II by Miss Richardes and Miss Louisa Richardes, of iJPenglais, and Mrs. Pugh, of the vicarage, to the pupils at the infant school, when there were present nearly 200 children. The ladies provided them with abundance of cake, and that of a superior .1 kind. After the removal of the cloth, eloquent 11 speeches were delivered by several of the gentlemen 1 present. The Rev. the Vicar (the chairman) pro- posed that Miss Richardes would preside at the pianoforte. A. S. Richardes, Esq., played on the cornopean The Last Rose of Summer" and The Cottnge by the Sea," in a superior manner. II. G. Atwood, ESQ., sajig .Hen wlad fy Nhadau" with taste. Miss M.A. Edwardes, the governess at Pen- s glais, and Maggife, her sister, sang a duet, "The Silvery Brook/1 when Miss Richardes played some i of the classical works.of Handel and Beethoven with the greatest ease*Mr. K. Williams played several r pieces of the oraioiiCF- Sffc&.Fgwceit- ia a masterly i| manner. The Misses Tho|ia £ fiif ^|LBi'jjfi9h School, Penpark.au, struck off the Natio^w^rtitiem, and I played it to the satisfaction of all,.rrJThe meeting then broke up at an early hour. then broke up at an early hour.

Hocal information. TOWN'S IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION. A meeting of the Town Commissioners was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday. The commissioners present were John Davies, Esq., mayor Messrs. Thomas Jones, John Roberts. Hugh Hughes, J. J. Atwood, George Fossett, G. T. Smith, Jonathan Pell, Charles Hackney, John Williams (43, Terrace), Edward Ellis, John Davies (harbour master), David Jenkins, John Rees, Benjamin Hughes, Richard Morris, John Watkins, Edward Rowlands, E. W. Jones, John Jones (Great Darkgate-street), John Hughes, David Williams, David Roberts, and Jones, John Jones (Great Darkgate-street), John Hughes, David Williams, David Roberts, and Thomas. H. Jones. Being the first meeting of the month, the usual bills were passed. The meeting then proceeded to discuss the question of the day, the ELECTION OF TOWN SURVEYOR. Mr. Atwood proposed clearing the room of the general public. Mr. Thomas thought that it would be only neces- sary to request the candidates to retire and this view was adopted. Mr. Roberts rose and said he should propose if any one had anything to say, that such person should stand on his legs and say it; that he should address the chair, and not be interrupted whilst he was speaking. This proposition was received with every evidence of gratification on the part of the commjssioners present. Mr. Thomas said there was an application from a Mr. Thompson, of Holyhead, and that application was accompanied by printed testimonials. Mr. Atwood read those testimonials, which were most complimentary. There was also an applica- tion from Lewis Edwards. Mr. Thomas said that in the application from Holyhead there had been no salary mentioned, but that was rather the fault of the advertisement than of the applicant, as the former did not by its first insertion stipulate that the salary expected was to be mentioned in the application. Mr. Smith said that as no salary had been men- tioned by Mr. Vaughan, he was authorised by that gentleman to state that the lowest salary he could accept would be £60 a year. Mr. Vaughan's testimonials were of the most flattering description, and were from the following gentlemen:—Captain Pryse, M.P., Lord Lieutenant, Peilhyll G. W. Parry, Esq., Llidiarde, Chairman of the County Koads Board; Sir Thomas Lloyd, Bronwydd; W. P. Lewes, Esq., Llsnewydd Capt Jordan, Pigionsford; John Evans, Esq., Loves- frove; J. G. W. Bonsall. Esq., Fronfraith; Pryse 'ryse, Esq., Gogerddan Rowley Lascelles, Esq Pencarrig; William Jones, Esq., Llwynygroes; Rev. Rhys Jones LloJd, Troedyriw Rectory; J. R. P. Wagner, Esq.; Major-General Wortham, the Govern- ment Inspector of the South Wales district; R. D. Jenkins, Esq., Mayor of Cardigan Thomas Davies, Esq., Cardigan; and Thomas Edwards, Esq., Cardi- gan. A testimonial signed by the members of the Lower District Roads Board was also produced. Mr. Smith then proposed Mr. Vaughan as town surveyor and inspector of nuisances. In doing so, the proposer referred to Mr. Vaughan's general fit- ness for the offices, as was proved from the long list of testimonials, which had been read, from gentle- men of the highest standing in the county. These testimonials referred to his general fitness for the office, and he might remind the meeting of Mr. Vaughan's special fitness also as inspector of nuisances. He was independent, being in receipt of an income which placed him above the control of all local and family influence of such persons as those to whom Mr. Fossett had referred on the last day of meeting. He would do his work fearlessly, and therefore honestly, and to the satisfaction of his em- ployers. Mr. Smith proceeded to say: If you appoint him to the office, you must give him fair play, and not allow him to be ordered about by every individual member of the board, and so shackle all free action on his part. Although in a multitude of commissioners there is wisdom, with a multitude of masters there can be no order. Let the wishes of the board be conveyed to Mr. Vaughan by the com- missioners' clerk, Mr. Thomas. The speaker then referred to the state of the streets, which, he said, were little better than a ploughed field, which was most disgraceful, especially for a place of fashion- able resort. The board should not expect too much of Mr. Vaughan, if he was appointed, in the way of remedying the evil at first. To reduce order out of chafts was not a very easy matter and that was the task which would fall to Mr. Vaughan, if the town was fortunate enough to secure him. If he suc- ceeded in patching up the streets for the coming season, it was all that could be expected of him. For the Terrace alone some fifty loads of stones were re- quired, and lie could not get labourers to break them. At present the stones were not broken suffi- ciently small, and men could not be procured to do the work properly against the coming season. In conclusion, Mr. Smith proposed Mr. Vaughan to the Board as the most fitting person for the office, at a salary of JE60 a year. It the hoard thought well of giving him £10U instead, he did not believe that Mr. Vaughan would object to accept it. (Laughter.) Mr. Rowlands enquired how many days in the week Mr. Vaughan could devote to the duties of the office. Mr. Smith could not answer positively. He was certain that he could give two days fully every week the whole year round, and many weeks much more time. He would have an efficient staff under him, who would be overseen by a head man of Mr. Vaughan's. Mr. Vaughan was on the spot, how- ever, and could answer any such questions per- sonally. Mr. Fossett said that as they understood Mr. Vaughan to be in attendance, it would be better for that gentleman to answer for himself. The time that Mr. Vaughan could give to the town was cer- tainly a most important consideration. There was no question but he was a very able man, but the ques- tion was whether he could devote sufficient time to the duties of his office in the town Mr. Atwood's complaint of Rice, at the last meeting, was that the two offices he filled did not allow him sufficient time to attend properly to either. Rice had been cut into two, and now they were going to cut the new surveyor into three. This was a most important consideration, and the character of the board would be much implicated it the new appointment turned out a failure. That Mr. Vaughan was competent no one questioned, and if he satisfactorily answered certain questions, he certainly ought to have the appointment. Mr. Vaughan was here called in. In reply to Mr Rowlands, he said that he was always two or three days a week in the town. He bad a foreman under him, who was a workman also, and who had been with him for twenty years. Mr. Fossett remarked that Mr. Vaughan had the highest testimony of his ability as road surveyor but there would be other duties in connection with the present office. The duties of inspector of nuisances would also fall to him. and those duties he must do without favour or affection, although some against whom he might have to proceed were gen- tlemen in the town. Mr. B. Hughes asked what the salary of the foreman was. Mr. Vaughan said he paid him about 2. 6d. a day, but he should Iiketne to«« I-<.> ejve him an additional.' sixpence. n To Mr. Thomas Jones He is a working man, and has been under him for twenty years. Mr. Fossett said he had great pleasure in second- ing the appointment of Mr. Vaughan. Mr. Benjamin Hughes enquired whether Mr. Vaughan wonld undertake the levelling and sewer- age of the town, in addition to the other offices ? Mr. Vaughan replied that Mr. 1 aul filled that position at present. Mr. Hugh Hughes asked whether there were any more questions to be put to Mr. Vaughan. Mr. Thomas Jones remarked that one of the most important features in this appointment had been alluded to by Mr. Smith, in reference to Mr. Vaughan's being independent of the town. For the remedy of the crying evil alluded to at last meeting by Mr. Fossett, that was a most important qualifi- cation. He would- be called upon to extend no favour to any one and not being a native of the town, as well as being independent of it, he was most likely to carry out the office satisfactorily. Mr. Atwood should support Mr. Vaughan for the office, as he believed he possessed that moral courage which was so necessary to such a position. There was no comparison between him and any of the other candidates. John Humphreys' testimonials were here read, and bore flattering evidence as to his ability in mine works. Mr. Benjamin Hughes begged to propose John Humphreys as a fit and proper person to fill the vacant office. A town and a road surveyor were very different persons. The surface of the roads and of the streets was not the same. John Hum- phreys was a most competent person for town sur- veyor. He understood the masonry, the sewerage, and the flagging of the town; and he had the advantage over the last candidate of being here six days in the week. The speaker considered it most important to have the person who should fill the vacant offices living in the town and always on the spot. Mr. Morris seconded. After some further discussion, the question was put to the vote, when the numbers were—for Mr Vaughan, 16; for Mr. Humphreys, 8. The an- nouncement was received with applause. Mr. Hughes Hughes suggested that Mr. Vaughan's head man ought to live in the town. Mr. Vaughan replied that it should be so. Mr. Atwood said he should like Mr. Vaughan to have his instructions direct from the board, and no individual to interfere. There were more cooks than councillors, and too many cooks spoiled the broth. M r. Vaughan proposed getting two scraping machines for the use of the town, and for the road to South- gate. It would be a great saving, ne said. Agreed to. Mr. Vaughan said that the roads were In a very bad state, and there was not a shovelful of stones to put upon them, and there were no men to break stones. The Mayor advised sending for some men. Mr. Hackney asked Mr. Vaughan to lend some stnnes. Mr. Vaughan replied that he could not lend the county stones to the borough. He begged to thank the board for appointing him, but it was his duty to inform them that he accepted the office subject to the approval of the County Roads Board. TURNCOCK'S SALARY. On the motion of the Mayor, which was seconded by Mr. John Hughes (Prince Albert), Jesse Mor- gan's salary was increased from 25s. to 30s. a week. Jesse Morgan thanked the board, and promised not to apply for a further increase at any future time.

MACHYNLLETH FIRST FRIENDLY SOCIETY. On Thursday was held the 30th anniversary of the above society. The association was established at the Swan Inn, and its monthly meetings and annual festivals have been held at that well-conducted house ever since. The management of its affairs being always entrusted to the care of persons of integrity and experience, the result has been such as to en- sure its continued success and prosperity. Great credit is due in the matter to the gratuitous and va- luable services of the active secretary of the society, Mr. John Thomas, chemist, who from the com- mencement has devoted his time and energies to ensure its success and continued prosperity. Owing to the severe illness by which this gentleman has been afflicted for some months, the annual statement of accounts of receipts and expenditure of the society have not been circulated among the members, hut this will be done as soon as Mr. Thomas is sufficiently recovered as to be able to attend to these matters. The members having assembled at twelve o'clock, perambulated the town in the usual manner, headed by the town brass band, and proceeded to the parish church, where an excellent sermon was delivered by the Rev. G. Griffiths, the rector, from the words of the apostle-" Bear ye one another's burdens, and toO fulfil the law of Christ." The company at two o'clock sat down to dinner at the Vane Hall, which had been kindly lent for the occasion. The chair was kindly taken by the Right Hon. Earl Vane, and amongst the company we noticed Colonel Apperley, Morben Lodge, the Hev. G. Griffiths, the Rectory, Rev. W. Jenkins, curate, J. O. Jones, E^q.» Bronygog, Hev. D. Evans, incumbent of Corris, S. Phelps, Esq., E. Morgan, Esq., Captain Llnyd, Dr. Lloyd, 11 Gillart, Esq., R. Anwyl, E-q., Llygwy, Dr. Owen, Mr. J. Morgan, Master Apperley, Mr D. Jones, Herbert Arms, &c. Grace having been said by the Rev. G. Griffiths, His Lordship rose and proposed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, which were received with great enthusiasm by the company. His Lordship then proposed the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese, coupted with the names of the rector and curate of the parish, and the Rev. D. Evans, Corris. He spoke in eulogistic terms of the good qualities of our venerable diocesan, and of the active exertions of the clergy in this parish and throughout the country in general. He hoped the church would ever stand forth as a piller of truth in the land, and that her ministers would shine forth as burning lights and faithful witnesses of the gospel among men. (Applause.) The Rev. G. Griffiths observed that he felt truly obliged to his lordship for the kind manner in which his health and that of his brother clergy had been proposed, and them all for the enthusiastic reception he had received. Ever since he had been entrusted with the spiritual charge of this parish, he had ex- perienced nothing but kindness at their hands. He assured them that this gave him great encourage- ment in fulfilling the duties of the sacred trust com- mitted to his care. He wished them every success, both temporal and spiritual, and he trusted that this and all other kindred institutions which were established for the benefit of the town and neigh- bourhood, would continue to prosper. (Loud cheers.) His Lordship then proposed the Army, Navy, and Volunteers of Old England, coupled with the name of Colonel Apperley, Captain Lloyd,and Mr.Phelps. (Cheers.) His lordship believed that the army and navy were in as efficient a state at present as they had been atany period in the history of our country. Englishmen were naturally of a peaceful disposition, and never took up the sword except in self-defence, either in repelling the aggressive assault of an enemy upon our own shores, or in maintaining order and peace at home, and the rights and property of our colonists abroad. (Cheers.) They had ample cause for mutual congratulation in the peace and pros- perity which they at present enjoyed. He was sorry to find, however, that a good deal of money had been expended in useless experiments about the re- lative value of certain guns to be used ill the service. Above three millions sterling he believed, had been spent in testing the relative qualities of guns pre- pared by Whitworth and his brother inventors, the result of which he feared would be of little advan- tage to the country. If this money had been devoted to the reduction of the national debt, all the country would have felt the benefit in the relief from taxes which press heavily upon all in the country. Hit lordship in an able and eloquent manner dilated at length upon the qualities of the different services, and then sat down amidst loud applause- The toast was abfy responded to by Col. Apperley and Capt. Lloyd. His Lordship again rose to propose the toast of the evening, "Success to the Machynlleth First Friendly Society." This society had been estab- lished (under most favourable auspices and had maintained its credit and popularity to the present day. The object of this and kindred societies was of the most commendatory nature—to teach the poor lessons of forethought and economy. In the period of health and prosperity they were prudently securing to themselves a fund to fall back upon-in the time of sickness and old age. Added to this was the great benefit of having the kind attention of their excellent medical officer in the time of ill- ness, as also an allowance liberally made towards the funeral of themselves or their wives. He was happy to find that notwithstanding the heavy pres- sure upon the funds, in consequence of the almost unexampled severity of the past season, their reserve fund amounted to the respectable sum of £937. (Cheers.) He felt truly sorry that their excellent secretary, Mr. Thomas, was so enfeebled by a long and continued affliction as not to be able to be pre- sent among them that day. His services had been of incalculable benefit to the society. (Applause.) He had just been informed that (luring the period ot its existence to the present time, which included the space of thirty-one years, Mr. Thomas had not been absent from their annual festival, and had been mis- sed only four times during that time from the board at its monthly meetings (Hear.) Mr. Thomas was a tenant of his lordship's and from accounts he heard of him he believed that he stood high in the estimation of all classes as a man of probity and active benevolence. (Hear.) He would conclude by wishing them all success and prosperity. (Applause.) The toast" as coupted with the names of the offi- cers of the society. At the request of his lordship the toast was also given in tbe Welsh language by Captain Lloyù, for the benefit of those who did not sufficiently understand English. The gallant cap- tain said he took great interest in their prosperity, and was generally present at their monthly, and always at their annual feasts. He bore ample testi- evening Qreror^V personal observation, and Iromtbe teMTmony "C^. ««IB- medical attendants he believed that there were strong hopes of his recovery. (Hear, hear.) He would advise them to persevere, as he doubted not that there were many present who could speak well of the benefit they bad experienced themselves from the society. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Lloyd, in responding to the toast, said that from his experience as their medical adviser for so many years, he had ample opportunities of seeing the advantages that-resulted to the labouring classes from the practice of Saving something against a rainy day. The difference between the domestic comforts of a member of a benefit society in the time of sickness, and that of another who had not pru- dently used the same forethought, was plainly ma- nifested. In the one case, there was a weekly al- lowance to be realised, and there was the medical attendance gratuitously given; while in the other there was nothing to fall upon but parish relief. He could not speak too highly of the beneficial re- sults of the establishment of these societies, and the judicious manner in which they were managed. He hoped they would continue to prosper. He thanked his lordship for his kindness and good wishe«. Before siting down he begged to propose the success of the sister society at the Herbert Arms, coupled with the name of Mr. D. Jones, the respected land- lord of the above named inn. (Much applause.) Mr. Jones, in the course of a few sensible and suit- remarks, responded .to the toast. The Chairman proposed The Town and Trade of Machynlleth. Mr. John Morgan, merchant, responded. Col. Apperley then rose to propose a vote of thanks to the noble Earl Vane for his kindness in presiding on the present occasion. Since the establishment of the society, he had been informed that no less a sum than JE200 had been subscribed by the noble family to the funds of the society. It was the first time he had himself the pleasure of dining with them, and he had previously no idea of the number of its members, or the magnitude of its cause. He would call upon them all to show their gratitude to the noble earl for his kindness by standing up on the occasion. (Pro- longed applause.) His Lordship in feeling terms replied to the toast. He hoped his friend (Colonel Apperley) would take a hint from what he had heard and seen, and become an annual subscriber to the society. (Laughter.) He would assure the company that Lady Vane and him- self would be happy to assist in any undertaking that might lead to the benefit of their town, and especially that of the labouring classes. (Applause.) His Lordship then retired amidst the loud and hearty cheers of the company. The company separated highly pleased with the evening's entertainment.

The Anglesea Central Railway was opened on Wednesday. A new Welsh Wesleyan Chapel has been erected in Liverpool at a cost of £6,000.

THE SATURDAY REVIEW ON THE POWELL BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. There are certain problems which are in their nature insoluble. The ancient jest about the dis- tance from the first of August to the top of St. Paul's represents the normal type of inscrutable questions. But it really seems as if the British jury had occasionally to tackle mysteries of equal pro- fundity. When a railroad has broken a man's leg, it is rather difficult to turn the damages into pounds, shillings, and pence. The perplexity is even greater when you have to investigate the pecuniary value of a smashed husband. When we ascend a step higher in the scale, and attempt to estimate a purely sentimental injury, any ordinary mind shrinks from the task. There is a school of political economists which includes immaterial products under the defi- nition of wealth. Musical talent, or learning, or professional ability, should, in their opinion, be reckoned as part of the proprietor's capital. But even the most transcendental thinkers have never, so far as we know, brought mere sentiments within their sweeping definition. The most prosaic of thinkers would hardly endeavour to compare mate- ria I wealth with the pleasures of friendship or flirta- tion. The mind refuses even to make the attempt. We can imagine no substance in creation which can be converted into a common measure of value. We can construct from our inner consciousness no tariff to regulate the process of supply and demand. We feel as if we were under an exhausted receiver, with no medium to sustain our mental activity. Tired by the attempt to form any rational standard of comparison, we naturally turn to the Palladium of the British Institution. We shall probably dis- cover that men in a jury-box imbibe a certain extract of wisdom which enables them to solve these knotty points. They find themselves in pos- session of calculus of mysterious efficacy. There must be formulae which, expressed in terms of love, friendship, and esteem, will bring out an answer in coills of the realm. Although the a priori method fails in our weak understandings, we may, by in- specting the results actually obtained, deduce some faint idea of the process employed. We therefore felt much interest in observing the verdict in the case of Lewis r. Powell. The damages which Captain Clarke had to pay a few days before had considerably perplexed our minds. It did not seem eazy to trace backwards the logical chain which had resulted in levying upon him a fine of f2,000. But the case was entangled by some em- barrassing circumstances When a gentleman takes to quoting hymns and Scripture, one never knows what may be the consequences. The mere sight of religious phraseology seems to exercise a specific effect upon the minds of a jury. They have a general impression that a defendant who uses, not merely poetry, which is bad, but religious poetry, which is infinitely worse, mnat hDV" 80methinll wrong about him. Now Colonel Powell appears to have carried on his negotiations without the least appeal to poetry or to religious considerations. The question was reduced to its very simplest terms. We might hope that the verdict in this case would lead to some trustworthy result. By discovering the precise value of a breach of promise com mitted under no aggravating circumstances, we might gain a clue for tracing out the rationals of the more complicated cases. We confess that our expecta- tion has been totally disappointed, and that we are as much at sea as ever. Colonel Powell is an elderly gentleman, of good property, suffering from paralysis. Notwithstanding his affliction, Miss Lewis had consented to marry him. She understood, however, that she was to be "rather a nurse than wtfe. Such a marriage naturally seemed objec- tionable to Colonel Powell's friends, and they appear to have persuaded him to break it off. His resolution was communicated to Miss Lewis with sufficient delicacy. The only question was, there- fore, what was the pecuniary value of Miss Lewis's disappointment. By some amazing process of reasoning, which we do not affect even dimly to understand, they decided that it was worth £ 2,000. The most obvious remark to be made is that £2,000 would have been a small price for Miss Lewis to have patd to be rid of the engagement. The pros- pect of being rather a nurse than a wife does not seem specially attractive to the non-judicial mind. The misfortune of not living with, and not attending to, a paralysed old gentleman can scarcely require £ .4,000 to produce resignation. If Miss Nightingale had been prevented from visiting the Crimean hos- pitals, she would no doubt have much regretted the interruption, but a jury would hardly have put a large pecuniary value upon the frustration of her benevolent intentions, One would have supposed that the position defined as "rather nurse than wife" would combine the inconveniences character- istic of both situations. A lady must be endowed with remarkably sensitive feelings when a griev- ance so infinitesimal that most people would mistake it for a blessing requires to be so generously com- pensated. But one hardly feels disposed, without further proof, to attribute an excess of delicate sen- timent to a lady anxious to occupy the peculiar position in question. The disappointment which arises from an expected share in a handsome fortune is certainly more serious. If, however, a man voluntarily offers to present some one with an annual income, and afterwards withdraws the offer, it is not usually understood that he incurs any lia- bility, unless the expectant receiver has been put to some definite expense in consequence of the expectation. Driven from every other speculation which can account for the eccentricities of twelve reasoning beings, we have only one further expla- nation to allege. Colonel Powell had been rash enough to plead some imputation upon Miss Lewis's character. Although he fully withdrew the imputation before the trial, and apologised for having made it, the fact that it had once been made probably kindled a glow of virtuous indignation within the jnry's breasts. They resolved to make the unlucky Colonel smart for having dared to cast unjust insinuations on a British female. Whatever their motive may have been-and perhaps it is rather a loss of time to indulge in a speculation, whose accuracy can never be verified—they have certainly given us food for serious meditation. It seems that neither age, nor infirmities, nor position ean fully protect a man from the dangers that beset a rash engagement. If you have once agreed, under any circumstances, to perpetrate a marriage, you must carry out the engagement under the penalty of a retribution which is all the more a" ful because it is perfectly vague and indefinable beforehand. You can never account for the possible results any more than you could tell what would tie the con- sequences of smoking a cigar in a powder magazine. Although you may be pursuing the most sensible course both for yourself and.the titular object uf your affections, you are liable to a severe aud arbi- trary punishment. You have the pleasing alterna- tive of marrying a woman for whom you don't care, or of allowing a jury to take a slice at random out of your estate.

"WILD WALE S." We extract the following from a lecture lately delivered in Edinburgh by a Muster of Arts of Oxford. It will il.ustrate the estimate placed upon us by the more ealighteneJ of our northern kinsmen: There can be no doubt, however, that the Welsh- man has his admirers, some of whom even go the length of asserting that he presents a pleasjng em- r, "*«»nce, and ™ion estimate, „. cultivated country, inhabited by a race*"Sf people barely within the pale of civilisation, who use a language almost entirely composed of consonants, and quite unpronounceable by ordinary tongues. Upwards of twenty years ago, I enjoyed a charm- ing tour of six weeks through the greater part of Wales, when I must confess my juvenile mind was not very agreeably impressed with respect to the character of the natives. They appeared to me intensely slow and undemonstrative, exhibiting seve- ral of the bad features of both the English and the Scotch, and not very many of the good ones. In certain parts of the country, every second person seemed to be a Methodist, and the women of that persuasion—many of whom were rather comely— certainly did not heighten the effect of their beauty by the use of men s hats. In approaching Aber- ystwith, a beautiful town on the coast of Cardigan- shire in a four-horse coach, we happened to meet a laro-e'cavalcade of male and female Methodists. One of the horses of the latter shied as we were passing, and made an unaccountable rush almost in front of one of our wheels, throwing the rider to the ground. The gentlemen of the party pulled up in the most leisurely manner possible, and coolly looked on without ever condescending to dfsmount, while some of the coach party acted the part of good Samaritans, and set the trembling female on her steed again I only hope that this was not a specimen of ordinary Welsh gallantry. It cannot be denied that the inhabitants of the Principality have long been most creditably dis- tino^uished for their loyalty and orderly deportment, and, notwithstanding the serious reproach in the couplet already quoted, their comparative immunity from crime is the most praiseworthy feature in their character. It seems, moreover, to be generally considered that they are a pre-eminently religious people and if, like many of our countrymen, they are somewhat shrewd and cautious in their business transactions,, they appear to be fully entitled to the reputation which they have acquired for good faith and honesty of purpose. We ought to bear in mind that it is now upwards of 320 years since the W elsh received the finishing stroke to their independence by the Act 27 Henry VIII. c. 26, by which they were put upon the same footing, and made fellow-citizens with their English neighbours and during that period it can- not be doubted that many ot their national charac- teristics must have beeli materially modified. For ages they had continued a brave and independent people, under their own princes and laws, and they were never entirely subjected to the Crown of England till the reign of Edward I., when Llewellyn ap Gryffith, Prince of Wales, lost both his life and his dominions.

The Right Hon. LArd Llanover take the chair, at a conversazione, in connection with the metropolitar Welsh church, on Tuesday last, at St. George's Hall, Gray's Inn Road, London.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. JAMES DAVIES.—Your namesake, commonly called the village benefactor," was born in the year 1765, in Monmouthshire, till lately included in the county catalogue of Wales. He died at the age of 85, in the year 1849. He devoted the greater part of his life to practical benevolence, by promoting knowledge and piety in some neg- lected districts of his native county, particularly the Devonden. James Davies, in the humblest position of life, with a very small stock of know- ledge, and still less pecuniary means, conferred on his neighbourhood the most durable good, and has left to the poor an example well worthy of their imitation. He manifested the meekness of his disposition and purity of heart, and practised the severe virtues of the primitive Christians. By the observance of a very frugal diet, he preserved his body, naturally feeble, in health and useful- ness beyond the allotted years of man. By unremitting attention to the duties of bis calling, by assigning to every hour its appropriate em- ployment, and by the exercise of a strict economy and a rigid self-denial, he obtained the means of contributing largely to objects of Christian be- nevolence. He bestowed upon others wine and clothing supplied for himself, when, at an advanced age, he seemed to need them, and books given him as tokens of affection and re- spect were either lent or given away, where they could do good. His delight was to train the young the work and ways of godliness. As a pedlar walking from house to house end town to town, there was about him an elevation of character, the result of Christian principle. The first strongly marked act of his life was the abandonment of a calling which promised worldly success, and the choice of the humble vocation of a weaver. When lie offered his services as school-teacher at Usk, with a stipend of JE30 a year, he resigned the busi- ness of his shop. When, again, he proceeded to the Devonden, he relinquished a certain stipend of JE30 to accept one of £20, raised with difficulty, and often irregularly paid; and at the close of his life he quitted the Devonden for his last charge at Llangottock. where he laboured with- out wages, and out of his scanty income provided books and coals for his school, as well as books for circulation amongst the poor. "The primal duties shine aloft like stars; The charities that soothe and heal and bless Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers; The generous inclination, the first rule, Kind wishes and good actions, and pure thoughts; No mystery is here! Here is no boon For high, yet for the low; for proudly grand, Yet not for meek of heart." BRONTES.-Your observations are personal, and we cannot, consequently, print them. The errors you point out are such as have crept in from in- correct information.

OUR NAVY. THR annual statement of Lord Clarence Paget upon the condition of the English navy is of the greatest importance, but this state- ment does not always receive that amount of attention which it should command. When it is stated that within the past five years no less a sum than fifty-eight millions sterling has been placed at the disposal of the government for the improvement, and in many cases the reconstruction of our ships, it will be seen that this is a vote which should be thoroughly ex- amined by the people. The subject is one which, by reason of the changes which are continually being made in the science of ship- building-changes, be it remarked, not always for the best-is very difficult for those un- acquainted with its minutes details to under- stand. The rival claims of shipbuilders; the rival views of naval authorities, and the intri- cacies of the terms used by seamen, tend to complicate it, and the consequence nearly always is that the general public don't care to grasp the question, and so let it pass unchal- lenged, and are satisfied to pay some twelve millions annually. But is it true, as Sir John Pakiegton stated, that should we become involved in jvar our navy is not in a fit condition to put to sea? Is it true that, in the event of such a calamity as a maritime war, we have not the supply of ships necessary to the protection of our own commerce, or for the destruction of that of our enemy? This is certainly a grave question, taken in connection with the figures above quoted. Is it true that the Admiralty persist in employing a man who, however great his general ability may be, has not the talent to fit him for the post which he thus holds to the detriment of better men, and the injury of the interests of the country ? Lord Clarence Paget I:) says not; but the fact remains that Mr. Reed has made several conspicuous failures since he filled the post of chief constructor to the navy. Everybody seems to bear testimony to his ability, but it is the government alone that upholds him as the model of a chief con- structor. Critics adverse to the goverment declare that the latter have only two disagree- able courses with their ships—either that of plating their vessels so as to render them unfit to go to sea, or that of uncovering them so as to render them unfit to fight. This certainly is a disagreeable alternative, and 3t so far borne out by Lord Clarence Paget as to say that vessels plated have" a tendency to pitch." On the other hand, the Lord of the Admiralty states that the service is in a better condition now than it has been for some years, as evi- denced by the fact that there is a proport:on of six continuous service men to one aon- continuous service man. This certainly s^OWs> if the returns be correct, that it is no dlttlcult matter to get men to serve in the u,'Vy, as has sometimes been the case. The Conservative ex-Firs* ,he Ad- miralty states that wlien 11 "as J^IS to for the grants for "'e ™vy,he thought it right to apologise to •« Ho°8e an^ the c0,1"tr>' tar what was, 1 J cons,dered» a larSe amount in time o«*«ace' was ^ien uPwarc's of nine .Ninons sterling, but for the past years the estimates have exceeded that sum by two or three millions. This fact is calculated to awaken surprise, when we consider that the country is at peace but we must also consider that great improvements are continually being made in the various defensive ports of the country, and that it may be true that improve- ments are also being made in the quality of our ships of war.

TEMPERANCE HALL.—An address was delivered on Wednesday evening in the above hall, by Mr. John Rees, of Swansea, in connection with the Society for the liberation of religion from state patronage and control." The hall was well filled on the occasion with a highly respectable audience. The speaker was introduced to the meeting by Mr. Matthews, Trefechan. Mr. Rees then delivered a lengthy and able address, in which he enlarged upon the evils which the society he represented believed to exist, in the present state of church government, and the good that would accrue from a change of regime. The speaker warmly advocated the total abrogation of all laws that innict disability, or confer privilege on ecclesiastical grounds and the discon- tinuance of all parliamentary grants, and compulsory exactions for religious purposes. At the conclusion of the address, which was most favourably received, the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Edward Rowland and seconded by Mr. Matthews, was passedThat this meeting, whilst offering its thanks to Mr. Rees for his visit and address, begs to express its hearty approbation of the principles and object of the society he represents, and engages to do all it can on its behalf. Also, that the meeting recom- mends that the friends of religious equality in this town, should send a person or persons to London to represent them in the Triennial Meeting of e Society, which will be held on Tuesday Wednes- day, the ind and 3rd of May next, at the f Hall. A vote of thanks was then passe '• Rees, and the meeting separated. • r?TrA. 6F"S"'rf^S'arketh^se m Market-street, oppoMte nine o'clock on Saturday morning last J Wa a cart ot Messrs. Savin »» H; v laden with bricks for dhe <Castle Hoise was about to turn from Market-street,]into Little Dark-gate-street, when the street suddenly gave way beneath one of the wheels, wlji^ ,unk down to the axle-tree. The cart w- im- n)ediately unloaded and lilted from position, l when it was found that the aCClrknt had occur- red in consequence cf one tbe water-pipes having been displaced- Jesse Morgan was at t, 1 once upon the spot who set labourers to work, and the damage was remedied within an hour from the time.the accident occurred. i.

AN IRISH DIRGE. 1 DARK, dark was the hour, my poor country, And evil for ever the cause, That brought to thy shores the invader To bind thee a slave to his laws. In vain fought thy sons for their freedom, In vain did thy daughters implore The God of the battles to banish The fierce Saxon host from thy shore. On, on came the desperate foemen, To deluge thy valleys and plains With the blood of thy bravest and fairest, And to load thee, poor Erin, with chains< But thy day of triumph approaches, When in beauty and strength thou'lt arise To burst the vile bonds that now bind thee, And lift thy free voice to the skies. A Celt-

THE CONDITION OF IRELAND. The woes and wants of the Sister Island have agaiii been laid before Parliament and the public-the 010 appeal made to Government to come to the rescue. What is it, then, that would cure the ills under which the Irish suffer ? There are various panaceas offered by the representatives of that unhappy land. A Only drain the Shannon—continue the new mail1 contract, but build new docks—and all will be well. « We believe that all this might be done—aye, an<f 'M doubly done—and there would still be some griev-; ance left unremedied. Is it true, then, that the Gaef is only happy when under a paternal rule ? Is it true that this race, so brave, so witty—nay morej clever and industrious, though impulsive—is quite, unable to shift for itself ? Has it not yet arrived at that age when it can do without leading strings ? One would think so by the appeals made for State aid-for works to be carried on by Government# d la mode Francaise. There was a time when Irish suffering could be but too truly ascribed to English misrule and oppression; but that day has passed, and at the present Ireland is as free and well- governed as any portion of the United Kingdom. All the offices are as open to the Irishixan as to an1: subject of the Crown, and his religion need not be ? bar to his advancement. Taking all these things into consideration, where are we to look for a remedy for her ? It is not in the power of any legislature to stop the stream of emigration flowing^ forth to higher wages Jand freedom from his old domestic tyrants. The remedy must come froc" within. She must diligently search into the causes4 of her distress, and then herself seek for the remedy. And when she does so, we shall soon have an end of these chronic complainings, which are not now made without cause, and we shall see that beautiful island smilincr in nrn<m<>1";t", Tot .0 r" Irishman put his own shoulder to the wheel, and then call on Hercules, and he will most assuredly come to his aid.- Communicated.

J LAW OF STORMS.—Colonel Sir W. Reid's theory, f which regards tropical tornadoes as cyclones, or re- volving masses of air travelling along certain curved' t lines, as been rarely so strikingly exemplified as by Captain Handley, of the Svltany. The edge of tire cyclone referred to was 30 deg. at least from Bom- bay, Calcutta, and Aden and its effects were felt at th; distance of 2,000 miles. The course of the ship Sultany was south-west, when, overtaken by the storm, Captain Handley says in his log, I furled the topsails and foresails, and rounded the ship to, with her head to the eastward, as I have every reason to believe I am on the N.E. edge of a hurri- t cane." The storm passed on to the S.W.; and thus, by laying to and steering to the eastward, Captain Handley no doubt saved his ship and the 300 coolies on board. This is a triumph of scientific observation. AN AFRICAN MERCHANT.-Is all the money spent by Great Britain in the suppression of the slave- trade lost ? Let the following fact reply. Years ago, a little black boy was stolen from his home in Africa, and carried away captive into the Yeruba country. After enduring much suffering, and nar- rowly escaping being offered as a human sa.crince/ he was, when about sixteen years of age, sold as a slave to the Portuguese. No one can describe the' horrors of the slave-ship into which the young African was forced, with hundreds of fellow-slaves. After being some days at sea, the sJaver was seen by a British man-of-war, and, after a good chase, secured as a prize. The vessel was taken to Sierra. Leone, and the slaves were liberated. The poof boy to whom we refer was apprenticed to a European inereiant. By diligence, attention, and perseverance, he proved a valuable servant, and, on the expiration of ir'g apprenticeship, he was employed in various stations of trust by English merchants. Step bf step he advanced. He sought and found Diving help and guidance. Through the kindness of th^ | Rev; Thomas Dove, he was enabled to begin business | on his own account, and God has prospered the work of his hands. He is now one of the most if" flut/ntial of the sierra Leone merchants. He is "a0 of England's best customers, importing into Africa as lie does many thousands of pounds' worth of our manufactures. John Ezzidio, Esq., of Sierra Leone, for sSwch is the name of the gentleman whose career we ,have briefly sketched, is not only promoting comP3erce> but, we rejoice to add, is using his infl^1106 and his money In extending the blessing9 of the Gospel amongst his countrymen. Let America emaPciPate her slaves' and we feel assured that, ev€fn in a commercial point of view, she will be the gainer. jb-itish Workman. PATAGONIANS—Scandal says that the people of J?ueS° are so fond of their dogs that, in the event of ;>eing compelled by famine to cook and eat the « neW and dear," they observe the following order:— old *,vomen, young wives, dogs. Captain -Snowr» how«:v.er' says he heard nothing of such practices. Capi^?n Snow also discredits the stories told about the ',Ilant statures of the Patagonians. Their ave- rage he?ght, he says, is about that of our Life Gu./dsmen. (If this be true of the entire people, they are' as a race, gigantic.) The Patagonians are natnra^y a race of wild hunters. Polygamy is prac.'ised' ancl thieving held in such estimation as to fornl a consideration in the necessary qualifications f t le intended husband, who is looked upon as in- difl^rently capable of supporting a wife unless he is an udept in the art of stealing from a stranger. Th(ir government is in a great measure nominal, ke;iig under the rule of caciques or chiefs who have attained a certain degree of notoriety, but whose p0*er is soon lessened unless they can maintain the jnfjuence which first gave them the title- ficroR HUGO ON CAPITAL PUFISHMENTS. In France Polizzioni would have been condemned for murder without premeditation to a temporary punishment. The English sentence is wanting in this great corrective—extenuating circumstances. Let England in her pride reflect on this. At present her criminal legislation is inferior to'that of France; imperfect as this may be, in this matter England is behind France. Would England regain in an in- stant all the ground that she has lost, and leave France in the rear ? She can do so. She has only to take this one step-abolish the- punishment of death. This great act is worthy of a great nation* I invite her to it. The punishment of death has lately been abolished in several of the republics of North and South America. It is about being abolished-if it have not already been-in Italy, in Portugal, in lioumania, and in Greece. Belgium will not be long before she follows these noble ex- amples. It would be admirable far England to take the same initiative, and show by the suppression of the scaffold that the land of liberty is also the land of humanity.

"T — — T, TRE RAILWAY STATIONS—We regret to learn that the Cambrian aad Great Western Railway Companies have failed to arrive at any arrangement with regard to the mutual use of the present com- modious station at Oswestry, belonging 10 the former company, and that on Wednesday the directors of the latter company gave orders foir plans of a separate station to be prepared and sub- mitted to the board on Wednesday next, when steps are to be taken for the immediate erection of the building. Towrn.—The annual spring cattle fair was held on Tuesday,, but the ilipw was very meagre, and the attendance small, in consequence of the scarcity of fodder,, toariy fawners were obliged to, part with cattle very early-this year. Prices were- rather high. Three-year-old bullocks fetched f.9 10s. to £ 10, according to quality; milch cows, Y,9 to £12. PERHAPS HE WooLD.Tbe other day a lady fell from off the Ramsgate boat into the Thames. A poor Irishman sprang overboard- and rescued her* When she wa9 oD t'eck again, her husband^ who had been a calm spectator of the accident* handed the bravfi fe a 'hilling. Upon some of the bystanders creasing tndtgnation, Pat said, as he pocketed llle money, Arrah, don't blame the jintleman—be keows best; maybe if I hadn't saved l.er, he'd have given me a guinea. THE Austrian Government has just issued an order wh'j hjiw exc.ted great i„dignatjon amon? tbe Protestant inhabitant* of the Empire The order relates to Hungary, Gallicia, and Croatia, and enacts that no Koman Catholic who has studied in 8r ^tantfibllege wi^out'the special permission ot the Government shall be allowed to pass an examination in a superior college. Hollon-ay's Ytfh.— Merit Rewarded.—This famous fatnil r ieine 'las withstood the test of time arid the most unrelenting opposition. ThBiie pillo' are a direct purifier of the blood, and all the other fluids of the humsin body. During the winter, and indeed throughout the year, no house or home should be without the meins of arresting disease at its onset. Such '"J'&ns are safeljAud surely presented in these excellent pil 6, they are tjken according to the direction accompanying "Hoke's medicine removes indigestion, promotes a nealthy digeoj.it, an<i ficts as a mild and effective aperient, These pills are ^ighly recommended to those persons who are c tnstit-.nojiallyj^eait. and whose nervous systems have been I' um ort. Comfort." 'sees. To such they will confer indescribable

THE ABERYSTWITH QBSERVERT 1 CARDIGA^hire GENERAL ADVERTISER f ^TK'NKINS^^ 0k. U|!>-llS1 £ <3 ky the Proprietor, DAVII> street, Abe%twith ne?al Printilie-°ffice> Pier* i Sburdays March Uth, 1865 1 J *'V: I