The Aberystwith Observer

Jonhon (Kormpimknt. --We deem it righj; to state that we do not at aK times i lentify ourselves with our correspondent's opinions.) A few more days, and Parliament will have recom- menced its labours and perhaps it will generally be admitted that our position and prospects just now, • although still rather gloomy, are brighter than they were a few weeks ago. Trade has somewhat revived, and the distress amongst the poor has diminished. Fenianism, though not yet stamped out, is less demon. strative than before, and the Fenians are so rapidly betraying one another that they must all begin to see that Fenianism is a hopeless game. Looking abroad there is nothing very disquieting to be seen on the horizon. France, it is true, is making gigantic rfforts for the increase of her army, and intends to "reform the war materiel and the fleet," but she evidently has no intention of going to war, unless forced to do so, or the public loan, which has been so much talked of, would not be spread over a period of twenty months. The Alabama claims may cause some little ill-feeling between this country and America, but after all it is only ill-feeling on paper, and will probably spend itself in diplomatic corres- pondence. Without entering deeply into purely political matters, it may be stated that Ministers will commence the Parliamentary campaign SBSb a fc"1" araount of public confidence and a toleratjfiSjrflance of success. It is rumoured that Governme»fe>_intend, if possible, to take the wind out of theSBtils of the Opposition, by bringing in an Educajpm-Bill and whether this be true or not it is certaii^ttat not many weeks of parliamentary business w passed without some effort in this direction. May the result be mutual forbearance and ultimate co-operation, so that the people may have the opportunity of educating their children An attempt will be made next Session to amend the present permissive, and therefore inoperative law on the adulteration of food, &c. A bill has been pre- pared by a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and will be introduced by Mr. G. Dixon. The first clause provides that Every person who shall admix and every person who shall any other person or persons to admix, with any article of food or drink any injurious or poisonous ingredient or material to adulterate the same for sale; and every person who shall order any other person or persons to admix any ingredient or material with any drug to adulterate the same for sale, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and be imprisoned for six ealendarmonths with hard labour.' This will not in any way remedy the great evil of adulterating ordinary articles of food, which at present are not mixed with "injurious or poisonous" ingredients. Bone dust in bread, chicory in coSee, and a thousand other materials for adulterating food and drink, are not either injurious or poisonous, but they are simply cheap, and it is because they are cheap that they are used. So far as drugs are concerned, the proposed bill may be of benefit, but as to ordinary articles of consumption, the difficulty to know what to eat, drink, and avoid," will be as great as ever. The proposed compulsory appointment of analysts is also a good step; and a very good clause is that which provides for power to local authorities to direct inspectors of nuisances, tcc., to procure samples of food, &c., and, if they are found adulterated, to initiate proceedings; but still something more than permissive power is required. Another good clause is that which provides that any purchaser of an article may take it to an analyst, who shall give a certificate, and if this is condemnatory, the certificate shall be evidence before a justice, and the 5s. paid for it shall be part of the costs. Perhaps with our present wide-spread prejudice against all Parliamentary interference with "the freedom of trade," we cannot expect a stronger bill than this to have a chance of passing, and even this would be a great advance on the present weak, permissive, and inoperative measure. The public will ere long have the opportunity of reading the second volume of the Life of the Prince Consort," written chiefly by her Majesty, and under the editorship of Mr. Theodore Martin. The sheets are now, I believe, passing through the press, but the progress of the work has been retarded by Mr. Martin's illness, consequent on an accident. The sale of the Queen's "journal" has been so large, that it is whispered that her Majesty has naturally been affected by the charms of successful authorship, and is anxious to enjoy a continuance of its honours. Great interest is manifested in the approaching dis- cussion between Mr. Gladstone and the representatives of trades unionism. It is to take place on the 18th, and it has been arranged that the arguments shall be classified thus The limitation of apprentices; the minimum standard of wages piece-work and over- time the alleged action of trades unions in driving trade to foreign countries; and the practical advan- tages of trades unions. A delegate will speak to each of these points, each one of which is of no little moment to working men, and all of which combined make up a subject literally of vital importance. It is to be hoped that arrangements will be made so as to give a full report of the entire discussion. Mr. Gladstone is known to hold opinions on some points which are opposed to those of the union men, though on the advisability of trades unions existing, provided they are fairly managed, there is no dispute between the two. Here, however, comes the difficulty — what is fair management, and how far have tmdes unions the right to coerce mas- ters or men ? By the way, I wonder whether the subject of trades union outrages will be discussed. Perhaps not, as both parties would equally condemn them though there must be a difference of opinion as to how they are caused, and how they are to be avoided in future. At all events, it seems difficult to have a discussion on trades unions and entirely omit any debate on trades union outrages. The report of the commission appointed to inquire into them at Sheffield shows that out of sixty societies no less than twelve promoted or encouraged these outrages. That is a startling fact which it is not easy to ignore. Mr. George Francis Train has of late done a good deal to make himself look ridiculous. His pompous protest against his arrest, for instance, is laughable, and his claim for the trifling sum of £ 100,000—though the arrest was perhaps just what he wanted—is so stupidly extravagant that not even he could have meant it. But as. if his efforts to make himself a laughing-stock were not enough, some of his zealous admirers come in to his aid. After one of his lectures in Cork, a pair of green silk garters was given him by some ladies, or, as they facetiously call themselves, a few unworthy twigs of the great tree—womankind." These unworthy twigs say they have no gems to offer him, which is more to be lamented for their sake than for his, and they remark:— They'd worthless be to thee Who sways the mighty multitude Of hearts, so bold and free. Thee who sways may be pardonable Irish, but it is not English. But why should gems be worthless to Mr. Train ? He knows the value of money as well as most people, and gems are money. But the unworthy twigs proceed to say that— Old Ireland's sons that nightly throng To worship at thy shrine, Are gems more pure, than e'er were got From out Golconda's mine. I would not say a word against the Emerald gems generally, but it is a great pity that any Irishman should go to worship at Mr. Train's shrine, and thus repeat the old-world blasphemous fallacy, "It is the voice of a God, and not of a man The unworthy twigs then give us a piece of information which the ordimary reports of Train's lectures omit. They say :— Thy twenty-four inch head last eve Was crowned with the victor's wreath. Certainly he has a fine head, but it is scarcely poetical thus to state its measurement. Mr. Train is a man of culture, whatever else & is, and must laugh im. mensely at such balderdash as this. As railway travelling will now be on the increase it may be interesting to point out a new system which has been adopted in reference to the time-tables. Bradshaw's London Railway Guide" has made a valuable innovation on the old plan, in giving tabular and alphabetical arrangements of trains. The second plan is altogether new. It shows the traveller at a glance the times of departure from and arrival at places not ineluded in the tabular arrangement. For example, a person at King's Cross, wishing to go to any place, say by the Great Northern, or to any other place with which this great line can be connected, finds on the same page the times of departure and arrival, with the number of communications daily, the classes of the trains being also indicated. And for travellers coming up to London the same system is adopted. The complication of railway time-tables has long been a subject of joking—and sometimes it has resulted in anything but a joke and though much of the laboured attempts to be funny on this subject have had no true foundation, still the difficulty of understanding many of the ordinary time-tables is so great that it is only fair to acknowledge a successfml attempt to lessen it. The Aeronautical Society intend having an exhibition next June, at the Crystal Palace. A better place could not be chosen, always presuming that the society has something worth seeing. In spite of the long list of failures, the numerous fatal accidents, and the very little progress that has been made in the science (if it be a science) of aeronautics, enthusiasts continue to come forward year after year. There was not long since a notice of application for a patent for a flying machine, or something of that sort—the exact title esoapes me—which was to navigate the air by means of oails aDd rudders. Will this affair be exhibited ?

PASSING EVENTS, RUMOURS, &c. London has once more the prospect of a brilliant season, for it is now authoritatively announced that the Queen will hold a Court at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, March 3rd, to receive the Corps Diplomatique, her Majesty's Ministers, and other official personages, with the ladies of their families, who will receive notifications of her Majesty's gracious in- tention through the Lord Chamberlain. The Queen will also hold three Drawing Rooms at Buckingham Palace, viz., on Thursday, 12th March; Wednesday, 1st April; and Tues- day, 12th May, to which ladies will be admitted under the same regulations as were formerly in force at St. James's Palace. The Queen will be present at each Drawing Room as long as her Majesty's strength will permit, one of the Princesses representing the Queen during the remainder of the time. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will, as usual, hold Levees on her Majesty's behalf during the season at St. James's Palace.

The New York Tribune reports one of those shocking cases which, coming to light from time to time, disclose the horrors of the "middle passage "of the present day. The Hamburg ship Leibnitz sailed to New York with a cargo of emigrants. The food was of the poorest quality; the water scarce and nithy cholera broke out; the sick and dying received no attention from the officers of the vessel; 105 bodies were thrown overboard, and 301 reached New York in a condition bordering upon-lunacy and starvation. For several weeks (the passage lasted sixty days) the amount i of water dealt out to each person was half a pint per diem a specimen of the bread, which was green and mouldy, was exhibited at the Tribune office. The above facts were ob- tained from the survivors by a committee of the German Society. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce held their annual meeting on Thursday in last week. Mr. Bazley, M.P., said the prospects of the cetton industry were brightening. There had been an immense" depreciation in the value, not only of the raw material, but also of goods-the losses in Liverpool alone frem this cause during the past year having amounted to little less than five millions— but the solvency of the district had upon the whole been well maintained. Among the other subjects touched upon in the hon. gentleman's speech was that of the bankruptcy law. He pointed out the gross injustice which creditors suffered under the existing system, and urged the import- ance of pressing for a thorough reform of the law. He was glad to find that Liverpool was taking action in the matter.

The Courrier Francais says America is beginning to take a part in European affairs. The presence of Admiral Farragut's squadron in the Neapolitan waters is meant to comnterbalance the presence of the French troops in the Papal States. Admiral Farragut has had interviews with many of the most eminent men of the party of action, and is said to have promised them his support. A message was sent off expressly tb Caprera, and the answer of Garibaldi is waited for before coming to a final resolution."

A case has just come in the form of appeal before the Im- perial Court of Paris, of a nature to serve as a warning to reckless drivers. In December, 1866, a lady named Boreau, while crossing the Boulevard Haussmann, was knocked down by a hackney carriage driven by a man named Ragache. She was severely injured and the driver, together with his master, Carrols, was condemned by the Correctional Police. Madame Boreau then brought a civil action, and recovered 7,000f. damages. The defendants appealed, alleging im- prudence on the part of the plaintiff and exaggeration of the injury sustained but the court now decided that the facts had been conclusively ascertained by the tribunals below, and in consequence it rejected the appeal with costs.

The returns of special constables throughout the country have just been issued. The total for London is 52,074. The Cityiis at the head of the district lists, with 9,153 men or- ganised under the City Commissioner of Police; St. George's Hanover-square, is next, with 3,414; St. Margaret's, West- minster, 1,785; Paddington, 1,658; St. Pancras, 1,387; St. Peter's, Westminster, has fewest, 33. The total for Great Britain is 113,674. Hull has 3,974 Chatham, 3,098; Bristol, 2,461; Manchester, 2,265; and Ely, Trinity, 3.

The jury at the Clerkenwell explosion inquest are in a difficulty. They want Mullany to be brought before them, and Mr. Hardy says he thinks it is illegal to allow prisoners to be taken to Coroner's Courts. The Coroner is naturally of the jury's opinion, but he thinks it would be better to wait until the legal question can be submitted to Parliament. The jury are in favour of immediate action, and at their request Dr. Lankester is to write t() Mr. Hardy, asking that Mullany may be produced. This is a very old difficulty, but it seems as far off a settlement now as ever. Dr. Lan- kester says the dignity of a Coroners' court ought to be con- sidered a little; if a magistrate, sitting alone, can have witnesses brought before him, why cannot a Coroner who has a jury to help him? The jury admit they have evidence enough before them to pronounce on the cause of the deaths —namely, the explosion—but without Mullany they say they can find no verdict as to the cause of the explosion. They met on Friday, but from these hindrances they could do little to advance the business in hand, and they agreed on an adjournment for three weeks.

Rumours of the resumption of the negotiations for a Con- ference on the Roman question are again circulating in Paris. The chief points of the basis proposed for these ne- gotiations are said to be, the evacuation of Civita Vecchia by the French troops, the arming of the Papal fortifications and troops with French guns, and the protection of the coast against the incursion of Garibaldians by French vessels. It is even confidently stated, on good authority, that this basis was accepted by the Italian Govemment last Christmas Day. Prince Napoleon, alluding to these rumours, is reported to have said of the EmperorWonderful man! it is barely a fortnight since he ceased to conspire with Italy, and now he conspires against her with Austria and the Pope

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Repre- sentatives at Washington have, it is said, come to the deter- mination of introducing a bill declaring that naturalised citizens abroad are entitled to the same protection as native- born citizens, unless such protection shall have been I forfeited by crimes against the Federal laws or against foreign Governments committed within their jurisdiction, or by desertion from actual service, or by enlistment in a foreign army or navy, or by adoption of a domicile beyond the limits of the United States for over one year. By this bill the President would be authorised to demand the release of citizens who might be detained by foreign Governments upon the ground of American naturalisation not absolving them from allegiance to their native country. Should the release be refused or delayed, the President would be autho- rised to cause the arrest of any subject of such foreign Government as an indemnity and reprisal.

On Saturday a lock-out of iron moulders belonging to the trade union took place In Glasgow and in various parts of Scotland. For some time the relations between employers and employed in this important branch of indfistry have been of a very unsatisfactory character. The employers would appear desirous to remove the restrictions which have hitherto been imposed by the trade union, on the ground that these are oppressive and unjust, and the men naturally are anxious to retain their position. The lock-out Is to continue until the directorate of the employers' association are able to announce that the various shops throughout the country have been opened free of all restrictions. It is said that the men are determined to resist this step on the part of the employers, and a protracted contest is expected. Meantime, the trade is not wholly at a standstill, a number of the shops being supplied with non-union men, while in others, employers not belonging to the association are keeping their men at work on such terms as they have been able to arrange between themselves.

On Saturday a deputation from the Church of England and Ireland Temperance Reformation Society waited upon Mr. Hardy, at the Home Office, for the purpose of pressing upon him the! necessity of taking legislative measures for the repeal of the Beer Act of 1830. The Rev. Robert Maguire, Incumbent of Clerkenwell, introduced the subject, and was followedtty the Rev. H. J. Ellison, vicar of Windsor, Arch- deacon Sandford, and other gentlemen, who exposed the evils of the present system. Mr. Hardy coincided with the views of those who denounced the beershop system, but thought as much evil arose from low public-houses. Judging from his experience of late parliamentary efforts, he hesitated to say whether Government would be able to introduce any measure on the subject during the forthcoming session, and he hardly thought the end of a Parliament was a good tiJQe to interfere with public-houses or beershops. He was also of opinion that a small measure would be of no use, and that in any bill that might be introduced, the whole subject should be dealt with. His individual opinion was that they must have a restricted system, or a more extensive police agency. The deputation thanked the Home Secretary for his statement.

Mr. Miles, the Conservative candidate for Bristol, has issued his address. After remarking that he has been actively engaged in business for nearly thirty years In Bristol, and is therefore acquainted with Its best interests, Mr. Miles observes: If elected, I shall be prepared to give a steady support to the present Ministry, who have done well for their country in passing a measure of Reform at once simple and comprehensive, and giving the franchise to many of the working classes not before included In the constituency. In my opinion they have acted rightly in setting at rest a question the frequent agitation of which In the House of Commons has interfered so much with all useful legislation. It will be my privilege, should you return me as your representative, to assist the oGovernment by all means in my pewer to complete their Reform measures for the three kingdoms. It will be my desire to promote efficiency of Government, economy fn all details, education, and improvement in the social condition of the people. In offering myself as a candidate for your suffrages, I have been influenced by the feeling that all well-wishers to her Majesty's Ministers should use every exertion, even at the sacrifice of personal comfort, to support them at this critical period."

THE CLERKENWELL OUTRAGE. On Tuesday, Timothy Desmond, William Desmond, Jeremiah Allen, John O'Keefe, William Barrett, James O'Neill, Nicholas English, and Anne Justice, the persons charged with murder, arising out of the Clerkenwell outrage, were placed at the dock at Bow- street police-court, m London, before Sir Thomas Henry, for further examination. The prisoner Patrick Mnllany, who was formerly charged with the above persons with murder, now stands charged with the minor offence of treason- felony, in consequence of his having turned Queen's evidence. As upon previous occasions, Mr. Crinard, Q.C., and Mr. Poland, were present for the Crown Mr. Edward Lewis defended the prisoners Anne Justice, Barrett, and O'Neill; and Mr. Harper defended the prisoner English. The court was crowded, and its approaches were kept by a strong force of police. Several witnesses were examined, after which Patrick Mullany was recalled, and upon getting into the witness- box, Mr. Giffard said that as Mullany was present, he tendered him for cross-examination. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Harper severally said they should' de- cline to cross-examine the witness. Sir Thomas Henry: Allen, do you wish to ask the witness anything?—Allen: Yes, sir. Allen (to witness): Have you seen me at any of these meetings which you have attended ?—Witnesss: No. Allen; Have you ever seen me before in your life till you saw me in cutody ?—Witness; No. Mr. Giffard then stated he had no further evidence to produce on behalf of the Crown. He should ask the magistrate to commit the prisoners for trial upon the evidence produced, but he wished the prisoners to be further remanded, in order that certain witnesses not in attendance might be present. Sir Thomas Henry granted a remand to Tuesday. Mr. Giffard said he should not withdraw the charge of treason-felony against Mullany, and that prisoner was, therefore, also remanded.

Interesting accounts of the burial of Charles Kean have been published. Intimate friends of the deceased attended from a distance as mourners. Amonethem were the Portsmouth dramatic corps and Mrs. Barnett, the aged widow of the manager of the Chichester theatre in which Charles Kean played on his 19th birthday. The deceased annually distributed alms to the poor of CatheriDgton parish, where he buried his mother, and by the side of whom his body was laid. The inscription on his mother's tomb is as follows:—"To the memory of Mary, relict of the late Edmund Kean (native of Waterford), who departed this life March the 30th, 1849, in or about the 70th year of her age. Angels sing thee to thy rest.' This tomb was erected oy her affectionate son, Charles John Ktan."

m ktllititcmts fiMtgenet, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL, BEQUESTS TO CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.— The Medical Times and Gazette remarks :— A correspondent informs us that an old gentleman named Mus grove, of Bramley, near Leeds, has left a large sum of money to a gentleman, on condition that he adds the name 01. Musgrove to his own, and that he pays to the trustees of the Leeds Infirmary £10,000 to the Eye and Ear Infirmary, £10,000; to the Leeds Fever-Hospital, £10,000; and to the Bradford Infirmary, £10,000. With the latter institution the testator endeavoured to drive a hard bargain. Being above eighty years of age, and having no use for £10,000, he offered to give it to the Bradford Infirmary provided the trustees of the institution would pay him 10 per cent. for it during his life. The trustees very wisely refused, and perhaps were thought better of by the millionaire for so doing, for he left the Bradford, as the other hospitals men- tioned, to be benefitted by his legatee. This is what people call charity. FREEING A SLAVE.—When Captain Faulkner (one of the Livingstone search party) was staying with a native chief, his host offered him a present of a young black lady. He was shown the present, dan asked whether he liked it, and, "for the fun of the thing," he answered "Yes." The captain was then told he must catch her for himself if he wanted her— this was the courtship. They are not quite indifferent to appearances, these African chiefs, but they have strange notions of the dignity of "the service." Fancy a British captain chasing a black nymph as a Cockney chases a housemaid at kiss in-the-ring on Boxing-day. The sight would only be inferior in horror to that of the officers of the Guards alighting at the door of the Crystal Palace from an excursion van, which Punch thought would be worth looking at. The lady did not like the captain, and the captain did not like the chase, so, to make matters pleasant, the present was bound with cords, and brought howling to its white lord. Presents seem all equally hard to please, no matter what the colour of their skins. Then the captain said, finely, he would treat her as the English always treated slaves, whereupon he took his knife out, cut the cords, and set her free. A graceful ending to a pretty story. ABORIGINAL CRICKETERS.—A Sydney paper says the eleven Australian aboriginal cricketers will reach London next May. They were to leave New South Wales for Hong Kong in November last. Three of them are married men; all of them speak English well. They are not only expert cricketers, but they will astonish English people by their expert- ness in throwing the boomerang and spear, and in running and jumping. Their cricketing dress con- sists of white flannel trousers, military red shirts, with a blue flannel sash sewn on from the right shoulder to the left hip. They have elastic belts, white linen collars, and French merino under-shirts. Each man has a separate coloured cap. AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF BURNS.—The following letter (says the Banffshire Journal), in the handwriting of Burns, was given by Mrs. Begg, the poet's sister, when residing at Tranent, to a certain Mr. F., who had shown her no little kindness. This letter, which has hitherto escaped publication, is now in the possession of Mr. F.'s son, who, though of mi- gratory habits, has his homestead within a hundred miles of the capital of Badenoch:— Ellisland, 14th August, 11sg.-My dear William, I received your letter, and am very happy to hear that you have got settled for the winter. I enclose you the two guinea notes of the Bank of Scotland, which I hope will serve your need. It Is, indeed, not quite so convenient for me to spare money as It once was, but I know your situation, and I will say it in some respect your worth. I have no time to write at pre- sent, but I beg you will endeavour to pluck up a little more of the man than you used to have. Remember my favourite quotation— On reason build resolve, That column of true majesty in man What proves the hero truly great Is never, never to despair. Your mother and sister beg their compliments,—A Dieu j8 vous commende.—ROBERT BURNS. A SECRET JOURNAL IN FRANCE.—A second number of the secret journal, La BSpublique, has been seized by the police in Paris, and anonymous letters have been received by the authorities, warning them that if the agents of the police continue their arbitrary arrests one of the principal police-stations will be burnt down, together with all its inmates, by a society of forty persons which has been formed for the purpose of putting an end to police abuses. This society has also notified its determination to prosecute at the assizes the next policeman that ill-treata, a citizen. Great alarm prevails both at Court and in the police depart- ment in consequence of these announcements. La MSpublique professes to be the organ of a secret revo. lutionary government, whose object it states to be the liberation of France from the shameful yoke which has oppressed it for sixteen years." It calls upon the French republicans to avenge themselves on the Emperor, "who has fattened on republican blood," and urges every republican, like a second Brutus, to strike the tyrant wherever he may find him." The old republican device: "Liberte, egalitd, fraternity," appears at the head of the paper, and" Vive la Kepublique" at the end. A PENITENT THIEF.—Some time in the end of autumn last year, the house of a respectable labour- ing man, in the parish of Marnoch, Scotland, of the name of Prize, was entered on a Sunday, when the family were all at church, and a bank receipt for £1l2t with £14 in cash, carried off. A neighbour named Taws was suspected, and made prisoner, but as the main evidence was that of a female of weak mind (who maintained that she had seen Taws enter by the window), and as he gave a plausible account of the mode in which he became possessed of the receipt and money, which had been found on his premises, he was, after examination before the sheriff, dismissed. Taws went home, but could find no rest; and the conse- quence was, that about a month ago he arrived in Banff one evening, obtained an interview with the sheriff, and made a full confession of his guilt. He has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment. EXAMPLE IS BETTER THAN PRECEPT.—Treat- ing of "mistress and maid" in the question of dress, the Saturday Review comes to the conclusion that a reform in the dress of lower-class females," and maid-servants in particular, can only be brought about in one way. The reaction in favour of a neat and simple style must come from above, and not from below in the way of example, not precept. -When ladies of position and fortune cease to lavish their thousands on millinery, their copyists in the nursery and kitchen will cease to spend their wages on a similar object. When every one above the rank of a governess dresses in a manner suitable to her station, complaints will be no longer heard about "unbecoming" finery below stairs. The chief incentive to showy dress among the lower order of females is unquestionably a desire to ape the extravagance of their betters. Remove that incentive, and the evil which a corres. pondent of a contemporary, under the signature of a Clergyman's Wife," so forcibly deplores, will soon cure itself. We hope that she may be induced toturn her reforming zeal into another direction. Instead of indulging in childish projects for-putting the Sunday- school, and the church singers, and maid-servants, and the lower order of females generally into uniforms, let her attack the mischief at its root, and persuade the fine 18,dielLOf the earth to curtail their monstrous pro- digality and'immodest vagaries in dress. Let her add her warning voice to that of the Head of Latin Christianity, who has recently denounced this scandal of the age with the same perennial vigour that characterises his anathemas on the subalpine govern- ment. THE' SUPERIORITY OF ENGLISH WORKMEN.— The Journal de Eoubaix publishes the following peti- tion addressed to the Emperor Napoleon by the work. men of that town :— Sire,—The undersigned come to supplicate your Majesty to be pleased to abolish the Treaty of Commerce concluded with Great Britain. Our experience of it down to the pre- sent day has sufficiently proved eur Inferiority, and only leaves us the prospect of great misery. Our manufactories are without employment, wages are being reduced, aad the price of provisions Is rising every day. The commercial disasters which have just afflicted our country plunge 111 in to the greatest anxiety. We pray your Majesty to con- sider the deplorable position created for us by the treaty in question. At the time of your last visit to Roubalx, Sire, you deigned to promise our employers that you would occupy yourself with this matter in a manner befitting ita importance. For your Majesty to will anything is to be able to do it; and we think that you can scarcely remain indif. ferent to our situation. Our welfare, Sire, ought to coincide with your own, and we wait with an entire confidence for the decision which you will he pleased to take with the view of improving our position. (Here follow the signatures.) A SPANISH LEGION FOR THE POPE.—A letter from Rome says that a legion is being formed in Spain entirely composed of Spanish caballeros, as the Zouave corps is entirely composed of counts, marquises, and dukes of France and of Belgium. With regard to the Spanish legion, I ought to mention to you & rumour which prevails in certain governmental circles, and which, if true, might interest not a little the King's fovernment. It is said then that Isabella II. has eclared her intention to organise this legion in the same manner as the French government organised its Antibes Legion, forming it, that is to say, entirely of regular Spanish soldiers, whose term of military service under the Pontifical banner will be reckoned as though passed under the standard of her Catholic Majesty. A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.—The last ball at the Tuilleries was just as brilliant as the preceding, although with a somewhat more restricted number of guests. Her Majesty wore a dress consisting of several skirts, trimmed with acacia-flowers and green leaves, and looped up by a sort of ch&telaine of pre- cious stones—emeralds, rubies, and sapphires; the front of the corsage was covered with a berthe of emeralds and diamonds, her Majesty wearing a diamond necklace, similar jewels in the hair, with acacia-branches formed of emeralds. The Princess Mathilde had on a dress of yellow satin, with black velvet, and displayed a splendid suite of diamonds; the Princess Murat was in mauve satin; and the Princess de Metternich in white tulle, sprinkled over with sprigs of lilac, diamond necklace and coronet. Their Majesties walked through the rooms more than once, and spoke to many of the guests. Supper was served at a little after twelve, but dancing did not terminate until three in the morning. ANECDOTE OF CHARLES DICKENS.—The Boston Commonwealth relates the following story of the great English novelist:— A lady of Charleston, a great admirer of Mr. Dickens's writings, but unfortunately paralysed in' her limbs from an accident so that she cannot walk, wrote to Mr. Dickens to ask if the doors of the Temple could be opened to her earlier than the usual hour, and that she might be lifted into the hall unobserved by other attendants upon the readings, mentioning to him her infirmity of limbs. Mr. Dickens sympathisingly and gratefully acknowledged the note, gave the requisite order for the lady's accommodation, and claimed the honour of presenting her, besides, with com. plimentary tickets of admission. A CONVICT IN THE PULPIT.—A clergyman of the Church of England was left by the death of his re- latives the last of his family, and, resolving to emigrate to America, took ship, with his worldly effects, to end his days with preaching the Gospel there. A convict, leaving his country for his country's good, in the same ship, concealing his true character, became intimate with the clergyman. On the passage, how- ever1 the latter took sick, was nursed assiduously by the other, and, dying, left all his effects, including his sermons, letters, and testimonials, to the unknown nurse. Upon arriving safe in America the convict assumed the name of the deceased, and, presenting the letters and credentials of the departed to the Bishop, was invited to preach, which he did, using one of the sermons he had inherited, and was called to a. church, where he officiated acceptably for several years. The truth would not have been discovered had not the wretched impostor divulged it on his death-bed. SCAN-MAG OF THE UPPER TEN.—A writer I in a Paris paper speaks of a mysterious affair in these I terms :— The mysterious hints thrown out about society in Paris are curious. The young Marquis of ——— has not married the lady on whom he has bestowed a magnificent hotel, servants, and jewelry. This has caused great trouble in a high family where the daughter was to have married the young nobleman. Domestic convulsions, whilst the young Marquis threatens to commit suicide unless supplied with more money. The young nobleman don't kill himself, but indulges in betting in order to place himself in funds again. Lady of high rank in despair as to her daughter. Prince Napoleon referred to. Lady appears in a mask, and has a long conversation with the mother of the prodigal son. A few days afterwards a beautiful healthy baby is left in a basket at the door of the hotel of the family of the repro- bate nobleman. The Messrs. -——— refuse to advance money to ——— Bey. An agent dt change offers cash to a person who shall be nameless, and the Duchess, in order to avoid an interview with a high personage of the court, pretends she is laid up with chilblains. The grand monde of Paris is now in a state of excitement bordering on an emeute, whereupon the Emperor is applied to. Such is the scan-mag of the upper ten—in the most unhealthy state conceivable. "BAT-BLIND MATERIALISM."—The Emminer says that in France a spirit of bat-blind materialism has got fast hold of the middle classes of the com- munity and they will sacrifice nothing of present ease or enjoyment for sake of those who are to come after them. Love of liberty and love of country dwindle and die under the shade of absolutism. In Austria the people rubbed their hands and sneered when they heard of Konigratz; and there was not a thought or a threat of snatching up arms to defend the country—only the dominions of their despotic lord. How far constitutionalism may change this sullen and resentful feeling time alone can tell. There are JS40,000,000 of gold in the coffers of the bank, which, for the present, it will hurt nobo<ly to have set rolling through the veins of public employment and as to the price which the newly-issued Rentes fifteen or twenty years hence may bring—who thinks of that ? That is the affair of another generation—perhaps of another dynasty. EFFECT OF MUSIC ON COWS.—The Athenceuyn relates the following :— At a residence in this neighbourhood a flower-show was held on the lawn, which was separated byiron railings from afield where several cows wer»grazing. When the band began to play, the cows, which were at a considerable dis- tance, simultaneously ceased grazing and came up towards the lawn, standing in a row, with their heads stretched over the railings, intently watching the band, apparently with the greatest interest and astonishment. When the band ceased playing, they moved away to a distance, where they could graze undisturbed by the crowd, but always returned and watched the band, when it resumed playing, with the same apparent interest and absorbed attention. Of course, allusions to Orpheus and the Beasts were plentiful among the company. The caws certainly seemed the most attentive part of the audience, and the effeot of a row of fascinated cows with heads over the railings was very ludicrous. FOND OF FIGHTING !—The duel between Prince Achille Murat and the Marquis Gallifet is expected to come off thia week, says the Court Journal. They have already fought. The Empress has implored her cousin not to fight, and so have the ladies on both sides indeed it is rumoured that the entreaty of an influential person very close to the Queen has been added. Both combatants have already had to retire from the army, and the Emperor threatens them with greater severities. The cause of the fight is, that the Mar- quis will not believe that the Murats are real Princes, and the Prince says one or the other must die at the next duel, which, it is said, will be fought this time with pistols and outside France. Suppose the Prince kills the Marquis, will he convince the Marquis that the Murats are real Princes ? RECEIVING HIM ROYALLY !—The Duke of Edinburgh stayed three weeks in South Australia, and 200,000 people there kept holiday during that period to celebrate his visit. Twenty-five steamers, containing 10,000 persons, escorted his ship Galatea up the bay, to Melbourne, in Victoria. 150,000 persons thronged the streets of that city to welcome him. The address of the city to him was presented in the presence of 30,000 spectators 11,000 children sang the English National Anthem to him a free public banquet was given to 20,000 persons in the open air in honour of the royal visit. Hundreds of addresses were presented to the son of the Queen of England, expressing loyalty and affection. TLowna and villages filled with Germans and Chinese vied with people of English descent in expressions of loyalty and attach- ment towards the Prince and his mother. Balls, fire- works, and illuminations celebrated the royal visit, and joy-fires blazed on every hill for fifty miles round. The Galatea was to be escorted up Sidney Bay by nearly fifty steamers, containing 20,000 persons. The Prince laid the foundation stone of a public building with a trowel formed of solid gold, ornamented with precious stones. MINING EXTRAORDINARY.—Some remarkable Indian relics have been discovered by a party of prospectors in the district of the Yellowstone, Montana. They found an ancient "cairn," and on opening it they discovered beneath an Indian catacomb. Seated in a single row around the quadrangle were the remains of upwards of thirty warriors, from whose forms the flesh had long since mouldered away, and whose very bones crumbled into dust at the touch of the spectator. On the floor around lay numerous instruments of war or chase, some of iron and some of stone, and the entire apartment was covered with a fine and almost impalpable dust, which was all that remained of the fura and robes with which this abode of death had doubtless, at one time, been carpeted. Lying beside the bones were numerous ornaments, indicating the rank of the dead. What chiefly attracted attention was, however, a massive basin or kettle that occupied the centre of the apartment, and was doubtless used as a sacrificial censer for burning incense, it being two feet high and two feet and a half in circumference. This massive article, wonderfel to tell, proved on inspection to be pure gold, and was so heavy that the party had great difficulty in removing it from its resting-place and bringing it into the upper air. Its value is estimated at 100,000 dols, A PASSAGE OF ARMS !—In Paris, the other day, a duel took place on the raised terrace of the Tuileries gardens, which runs along the quays. The combatants were no lesa high and mighty than the Prince Imperial and his friend, young Conneau, son of Dr. Conneau. The boys had Chassepots, and fired away at each other for half an hour, ten shots per minute. It was intensely cold, yet at least two hundred persons watched the passage of arms as intently as though the fate of empires depended on its issue. Needless to remark that the Chassepots were innocent of either powder or ball. A TEST OF VERACITY.—The Montreal Herald says that in a case tried at one of the police-courts one of the witnesses declared he would not believe one of the parties on her oath. Mr. Justice Coursol, on inquiring the reas'^ ,received the following highly satisfactory reply»—"Shehas a broken window in the glass door ef her house, and won't mend it any way; she keeps a dirty house, and won't clean it; she was complained of for having a pig in the court-yard, and the .police were twice down last summer to her about it, but she won't remove it."—Another witness stated, as an equally valid reason why she should not be believed on oath, that she was an idler, and was fond of sodgers." A FAMILY POISONED.—Five members of a German family named Stang, in Chicago, the head of which is reported to be one of the wealthiest Germans in the city, have been poisoned, although not fatally. A young daughter of the family, aged sixteen, was arrested as the poisoner on the statement of one of the. children that she put the poison into the coffee. The young prisoner charges her mother with the deed, and states that her parents were so avaricious and grasp- ing that they ill treated her when she did not earn sufficient money to suit them. A SOLDIBR "DRUMMED OUT" FOR FENIANISM. On Monday morning the rare ceremony of drum- ming out" a soldier was performed at Walmer Bar- racks, the culprit being John Quin, late a private in the 7th Royal Fusiliers who was tried by Court-martial at Dover, on the 3rd ult., for making use of treason- able and traitorous language towards her Majesty the Queen, and also avowing himself a Fenian. The 6th depot battalion having assembled on parade, were formed in square and the prisoner placed in the centre. The sentence of the court. was then read by Captain and Adjutant Godfrey, after which the prisoner's facings, numbers, buttons, good conduct badge, &c., were cut off by two drummers, and his tunic turned inside out. The men were then formed in two lines facing inwards, and the culprit marched down the centre, followed by drummers and pipers playing the "Rrarue's March" to the barrack gate, when he was h»ed5uffed, and at once removed to the military prison at Canterbury, to undergo his sentence of two years' imprisonment. PreviouB to being drummed out the prisoner was branded on the left breast with the letters "B.C." HONOURS TO A BRAVE MAN !—Last Saturday, at the suggestion and recommendation of Admiral Schomberg, Queen's Harbour Master, Holyhead, the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society presented a first-class silver medal, together with a splendid illumined written testimony on parchment, beautifully fmmed, to Mr. Rowlands, aged 76, coxswain of the Holyhead life boat who by his heroic actions has been the means, during the past half-century, of saving 2iO lives. The presentation was immediately suggested on the occasion of the recent noble services of Coxswain Rowlands and his crew in saving thirty-three lives from the Lidia Williams, of Liverpool, and the Bayadere, a French barque, which foundered at Holyhead on 1st December last. The presentation was made by the Hon. W. O. Stanley, M.P., in the presence of Admiral Schomberg, Rev. T. Briscoe, Incumbent of Holyhead, Captain Caval, R.N., J. Provis, Esq., Hon Mrs. Stanley, Mrs. Schomberg and Misses Schomberg, &c. Suitable addresses were made by the Hon. Mr. Stanley and Admiral Schomberg, dilating on the noble services with which the coxswain was connected and the glorious result of hia exertions—the saving of upwards of 250 lives during his life-time. THE RAID AGAINST BEGGARS IN CUMBERLAND. The magistrates and police of Cumberland have carried out their crusade against beggars with such energy as to necessitate the issue of the following circular to the clerks of petty sessions in the county :— County Gaol, Carlisle, 31st January, 1868. Sir,— I am directed by the visiting justices to request that you will intimate to the magistrates of your bench that, the gaol being full, no prisoners under summary conviction will be received here until a very consider- able discharge has taken place, of which notice will be sent to you.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, T. H. REDIN, Governor. To the clerks of Petty Sessions." The justices are thus placed in a very per- plexing position, and, on Saturday, offenders who would have been sent to gaol at onee were let off on a month's trial, to see if they would do better." THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.—In London, on Sunday morning, the Bishop of Capetown preached after the third collect at morning prayer (which is said as a separate service) at 10.30 a.m., at St. Mary Mag- dalene's temporary church, Paddington. There was an overwhelming congregation, and the Bishop selected for his text a portion of the Epistle of St. Jude, that ye should contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints." Having observed that in all ages of the Church perecution had been the lot of the faithful, he said that what the apostle in. fracted u* to contend for was "the faith," not the superstition Rome had engrafted on it, or the wild speculations of modern freethinkers the faith contained in the Holy Scriptures and enshrined in the creeds. No wonder that men immersed in business and pleasure, in politics or commerce, should care so little for divine things but the Church at the resent had to contend with the aggressions of Rome, and the opposition of political dissenters externally, and with internal dis- sensions likewise. They must be prepared to give up ease, quiet, reputation, property, life itself, rather than yield the faith. With regard to Bishop Colenso, his lordship observed that a complete reply to what had been said by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London would be forthcoming in a day or two. He could only say that the Church at home did not seem to realize the depth to which he (Bishop Colenso) had fallen. He not only denied that the Bible was the Word of God, but said that it could not be relied on as to faith and morals; that there was no reason to believe that our blessed, Lord knew more than any pious Jew; and that He was not worthy of adoration and worship. Fox HUNTING IN ROME.—A correspondent of a contemporary writes:— On Thursday, being a fine morning, the favourite meet of the hounds beyond the tomb of Cascilia Metella on the Appian Way was more numerously attended than any hitherto this season; sixty or seventy carriages full of ladies drew up en the high ground beyond the farm of Santa Maria Nuova, whence they witnessed the finding of the first fox, who, although he afforded only a quarter of an hour's gallop, after which he knowingly got to ground, sufficiently tested the capabilities of the field over the high fences and stone walls with which that part of the Campagna is intersected. There were a good number of English gentlemen in the saddle, among whom was Mr. Charles Knight, who has only recently returned to Rome, and whose experience in the Campagna renders him practically the best master of the Roman hounds. He was mounted on a fine thoroughbred, which he has brought out, with other horses, for the hunting season here, a difficult animal to ride, but which Mr. Knight managed with great'skil and patience. THE CHURCH IN THE WEST.—Mr. William Hepworth Dixon, in his Spiritual Wives, says that all Yankees who go to church delight in singing and in prayer, for which they seem to enjoy some special gifts. The Psalms of David and the Lord's Prayer supply them with the bases of a common service, suited to their simple tastes. A chapter from the Bible read by some farmer, with now and then a sermon from a preacher who chances to come that way, and is willing to oblige, satisfies their spiritual wants. The wanderer may preach any doctrine or no doctrine he may belong to any sect or to no sect; if the people like what he says, they will give him his dinner and a dollar if they like him very much, they may invite him to stay among them, and when they feel strong enough to build, they may raise him a log- church. It is in this simple way, and by this natural law, that churches grow in the great western country; not from the choice of those who make them, but from the pressure of a force beyond man's will. In all these churches, the preacher is of more importance than his book; the man rules in place of the canon hence the widest field is thrown open to personal daring, personal genius, and even personal freak. LIFB IN SICILY.—A letter from Partinico says two crimes have just been committed. A young man named Cormano waø.captured in his field in the midst of his labourers. During the night he was shot because his parents had not hastened to pay his ran- som. A young carter, Giovanni Mazza, being sum- moned to stop by these malefactors, not having been able to do so, as his horse taking fright started off at a gallop, was punished for his non-compliance by a volley. He was so badly wounded that his leg must be amputated. The chief of the rural guard was the only man that was thought to have rendered signal service to the public safety, and now he is accused of the murder of Palazzolo at Palermo before the inn of Pizzuto. Too CRUEL !—Here is the latest theatrical mot, as related by Mr. Edmund Yates, in Tinsley's Magazine:— A manager, who has never yet been accused of humour, wrote to a leading actress, asking her to play an engagement at the autumnal opening of the theatre, and begging her to wrote to a leading actress, asking her to play an engagement at the autumnal opening of the theatre, anù begging her to name her terms. The lady in reply expressed her willing- ness to accede to the proposition her terms were thirty pounds a night. The manager's reply was this:—"Dear Madam,—Make it shillings and it's a bargain." FALL OF AN AVALANCHE. — An avalanche lately fell at four in the morning at Bareges, in the Hautes-Pyrenees. It came from the Turon de Venne by the Gavin Thell, and struck near the officers' quarters of the military hospital. The debris choked up the bed of the Bastan and turned the stream into the principal street of Bareges, inundating a great number of houses, and tearing up the way to a depth of three feet. The inmates in many cases had difficulty in escaping with their clothes. The loss, not yet ascertained, is believed to be considerable. The necessary steps have been taken to remedy the effects of the disasters. SINGULAR CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION.—At the Abergavenny County Court, Joseph Holmes sued Charles Morgan for loss alleged to have been sustained by the slaughter of two cats. The plaintiff is a fish dealer and the defendant a butcher, and the nature of the case appears from the following particulars an- nexed in legal form to the summons :— To damage and-injury done to a cat belonging to the plaintiff, caught in a t^ap set in your slaughter-house, in or near Lion-street, when the left fore-leg of the said cat was broken^nd to compensation in rcspect of the same, JE1. To value of one cat belonging to the plaintiff caught and killed in the trap in the said slaughter-house, £2. The cats were named respectively u Spot," and "Jet," and according to the testimony of the plaintiff's wife, who gave her evidence with amazing emphasis, their value. and more especially that of the deceased co Spot," was not to be estimated by golden sovereigns." Legal gentlemen appeared on either side, and after a lengthy argument, and the submission of a case by the plaintiff s solicitor, the judge ruled that the cats were trespassers, and had come to their deaths by misadventure. The plaintiff was accordingly nonsuited. THE NATIONAL DEBT.—Mr, William Howiit, the author of CasselUs History of England, writes on the subject of the National Debt. Before the reign of Ch&rles II., he writes, these kingdoms knew nothing of a National Debt. At the accession of Anne, owing to the military exploits of William III. and Marl- borough on the Continent, it had swelled to jElC, 000,000. At the accession of George I. it had grown to .854,000,000; at the commencement of the American war to nearly £ 129 000,000; at the commencement of the great French war to a little more than £239,000,000 and that stupendous effort to restore to the French throne the effete Bourbons, with the addition of the Irish debt, brought it, in 1817, up to something more than £848,000,000. Between that time and 1833 the Government reduced the debt JE69,000,000, but since then it has begun to roll up again, and now stands at .8800,848,847. Since the passing of the Reform Bill, it # has increased no less than £20,000,000, and yet in the interim we have had the greatest prosperity, our export trade being now more than five times what it was in 1833. Under what possible felicitous combination of circumstances, asks Mr. Howitt, are we to liquidate the debt ? We have begun to regard it as part of our constitution and its reduction is opposed on the -ground that it would necessitate fresh taxes. True, exclaims Mr. Howitt but merely the* additional interest which we have in curred since the Crimean war would have been enough to wipe off one-fifth of the debt, and the amount paid for the last fifty years amounts to within JB300,000,000 of twice the sum. If we can pay it off, we should about it quickly. MURDER IN A CHURCH.—A few mornings ago, as the Abbe Gouaehe, cure of La Loupe, in France, was receiving the confession of a female penitent, a cattle-dealer, named Rousseau-Linas, hastily entered the church, and demanded that his confession should be heard without delay. The Abbe left the confes- sional to remonstrate with the new comer upon his unseemly conduct, whereupon the ruffian drew a knife and stabbed the priest so severely that he shortly after expired. The assassin, who was captured in a cafe, avers that he was seized with a sudden impulse to commit the crime. In support of this statement it was shown that the prisoner had been subject to fits of mental aberration. THE LARGEST PLANE TREE IN BRITAIN.— The oldest plane tree in Scotland, and perhaps the largest of its kind in Britain, fell in the gale of 1 riday week. It grew by the aide of the river Allan, near Dunblane, and was known as the Big Tree in Kip- penross" as long ago as the reign of Charles II. If some old papers [discovered in Dunblane are to be trusted, it was planted upwards of 46U years ago. Its cubic contents in 1821 amounted to 875 feet; and a measurement in 1841 proved it to be 100 feet in height, 20 in the girth round the smallest part of the trunk, 27 feet where the branches separate, and 42ft. 7in. at the base. The extreme width of the branches wa,a.,114 feet. A small part of the trunk survives the destruc- tive fury of last week's gale, and it is the intention1 of Mr. Stirling, of Kippendavie, to have this relic pro- tected by an iron fence. The rest of the tree will be used for making little articles that may serve as memorials of the fallen monarchs. TRADE OUTRAGE.—The Coventry Standard says F that an attempt was made to shoot Mr. Hitchins, a draper of the town, as he was passing over Gosford- green on his way home to Stoke on Friday night. An anonymous fetter was subsequently received by Mr. Hitchins, informing him that he was mistaken for some one else. It was as follows — Mr. Hitching It was not my Intention of shooting you but Paddy Heart and that—I will shoot and Kendrick and then I shall die happy. So help my God I shall never die happy till then Let him turn his men off that minds two Looms If they don't Come out they may look out has well has that Paddy good Night and god Bless you for your Life Being Spared. The Mr. Hart mentioned has sought to reduce the wages of some of his men, who refused to work on the new scale. He then sent to the workhouse where many weavers are employed breaking stones and picking oakum. As they also refused to work on his terms, the relieving officer refused them all assistance; hence a certain amount of exasperation against Mr. Hart. A MARRIAGE DISSOLVED.—In the Court of Divorce, on Tuesday, Sir J. P. Wilde delivered judg- ment in the cause of Hill v. Hill and Johnson, which was a suit promoted by the father of the husband for a decree of nullity of marriage on the ground of un- due publication of banns. The husband's real name was Johannes de Vere Hill; the wife's, Ellen Johnson. The banns were published at Liverpool in the names of John Hill and Ellen Johnson; and the question in- volved was whether this was done with the knowledge and consent of the wife for the purpose of concealment. The husband, who was a medical student of the age of seventeen at the time of the marriage, alleged that it was the wife, who was a servant in the family, de- clared on the other hand that it was not. # The hus- band's evidence having been corroborated in important particulars by the testimony of independent wit- nesses, his lordship held that the court should give credit to his statement, and accordingly pronounced the marriage null and void. DR. CUMMING'S OPINION. — Dr. Cumming, in a letter to the Daily Telegraph, says he is misunder- stood when people suppose him to be a prophet. I never in my life," he says, professed or attempted to prophesy. All I have ventured to do is to explain and unfold inspired prophecies in the Word of God." It follows of course that the doctor's prophecies have never been contradicted by facts. He challenges the production of an instance. He denies also that he has ever changed his opinion about the interpretation of prophecy. After recommending the editqjr of the Telegraph to read his last new book, of which he gives I the title and the publisher, Dr. Cumming says, On these subjects I have invariably spoken with the utmost reticence and reserve and now, after twenty years' study and writing on the subject, I find nothing to recal or retract. I believe, as I stated twenty years ago, that proximately 1867 winds up the 'times of the Gentiles.' Elliott states 1865 others say 18C8 —these bemginferences from the great chronologies of propheca^Wqgather from inspired prophecy that we are plunB^te times of unprecedented severity and trouble, IHBPthat it is time for every man, while doing his duty to his country, his family, and society at large, to have his loins girt and his lamp burning, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN, Miss Nightingale has subscribed £1,000 to the fund now being raised for erecting an Infirmary at Rotherham. It is stated that the Cork police have succeeded in apprehending one of the men whe took part in the daring robbery of arms and ammunition from the shop of Mr. Allport in that city a short time ago. There is a Smollett-street in Leghorn where the author of Humphrey Clinker" died. The yield of gold and silver in the United States in 1866 is estimated at 80,000,000 dols. in Mexico and South America, at 40,000,000 dols. in Australia, at 61,000,000 doIs.; in British America, at 10,000,000 dols; in Siberia, 16,500,000 dols. and elsewhere, at 7,000,000 dols. Mr. Dumas states in the Pall Mall Gazette that he is preparing a statement of the amounts paid by London underwriters at Rotterdam, Paris, and Hamburg, in order to show that a very large amount of the destruction caused by the Alabama fell upon England and other European countries. The destitution among the poorer classes in New York and Brooklyn is something without example in the United States. A return just issued shows that on the 1st of July, 1867, the number of paupers relieved in the unions of England and Wales was 144,665, being 9,060 more than on the same day in the previous year. In a case heard at the assize courts, Manchester, on Monday, it was shown that the estate of a deceased gentleman, who had died intestate, was insolvent, and the question before .the court was as to the priority of claim of the widow and creditors respectively. The judge decided that the widow was entitled to dower out of the balance In priority over ordinary creditors. Abraham Horseley, formerly a. wire drawer, but now an inmate of the t Halifax Workhouse, aged about sixty years, has been brought before the borough bench for re- fusing to pick hair. He said he had not worked for some time, and he would never work any more-he had done enough. He was sent to prison for six weeks. This was his sixteenth appearance before the bench. The Mark Lane Express says the great question in the corn trade is, what will America do 7 The accounts of her abundance are conflicting, but the first fruits of the season already arrived have exceede1 expectation; and, owing to the late war, the agricultural interests throughout the Union must have less power to hold stock than formerly. According to the South London Chronicle, on the line of the Charing Cross Railway, the abolition of the compounder is made an excuse for an increase of rents, the tenants paying, besides, all rates and taxes. Wretched little houses of four rooms, the rear yards of which were cut off by the railway, and the actual value of which was, therefore, greatly lessened, are now let at £25 instead of as before, j620 a year net. In fourteen years, (from 1852 to '65) 242 deaths were registered in England and Wales from lightning, of which 199 were males, and 4J were females. The numbers in each year fluctuated considerably and indicated the periodical disturbances of the electric tension of the atmosphere. It begins to be loudly asserted that King Victor Emmanuel intends to abdicate in favour of his son Humbert after the marriage of the latter. This step, it is asserted, would be very welcome to the French Government. A man named Lowry and his wife, resident at Dolphin's Barn-lane, were charged at Dublin, on Saturday, with having wantonly neglected a child four years of age in such a manner as to endanger its life. It appeared that the child was found lying on some straw on a board in the prisoners' house, and was almost destitute of clothing. It had become more like a skeleton than a living being. The child was removed to the Meath Hospital. Tne prisoners were remanded. General Grant is said to be very fond of horses. Just at present he appears to be trying to ride two at a time, a feat which requires something more than caution. It re- mains to be seen whether he will escape the not unusual catastrophe."—New York Round Table. A French restaurateur in New York is about trying the experiment of Introducing horse-flesh in that city as food. He says its rivalry may have the effect of reducing the pre- sent exorbitant price of beef. A sad affair is reported from the Isle of Man. On Saturday morning a fire broke out in the house of Dr. Steele, the proprietor- of a boarding school near Douglas. The in- mates, about fifty in number, were in bed at the time, and had to leave in the greatest haste without attempting to save anything from the flames. Three of the firemen were after- wards buried by the fall of a roof, and one was burned to death. During the twelve months ending with November last there were delivered by carriers in New York city 12,009,070 mail letters, 5,137,000 city letters, and 1,666,014 newspapers, and there were collected from the lamp post boxes 18,790,424 newspapers and letters. The journals announce the death, at Paris, aged ninety-five years, of Madame Louis Ducis, née Anna Talma. This lady was sister of Talma, and married the nephew of the poet Ducis. In the painting by Robert Fleury at the Thfeatre Frances, and representing the last moments of the great actor, she appears seated near the dying man, whose hand she holds. Apropos of Mr. Roebuck's recent lecture on Capital and Labour," the Shejjield Independent states that the honourable gentleman took the unusual course of writing his address, that he might ensure calmness and completeness, might ntter DO word that he bad. not well weighed, and might not run the risk of dwelling so long on one part of his subject as to pass too lightly over the rest." During the past year fifteen children between eleven and fourteen years of age committed suicide in the Austrian capital. The Masonic brotherhood of Philadelphia are abo ut to build a granite structure 250 feet iong by 150 feet wide, with a tower 300 feet in height. It will cost nearly 1,000,000 dollars. A Pennsylvania Protectionist" has raised a laugh in Congress by moving a resolution directing the Committee of Ways and Meaus "to inquire into the expediency of so amending the tariff laws as to restrain importations, so as to throw the balance of trade largely in favour of the United States." A Western freetrader suggested that the resolution be modified so as to require the balance of trade to be in favour of the United States, at all events." The resolution was adopted without alteration. The reissue of the regulations for the enlistment of recruits contains but slight modification. It is, however, provided that, in addition to height and chest measure^ ment, no recruit, (boys and lads excepted) is to be enlisted unless physically capable of bearing arms. This condition is found to be necessary, now that recruits may be enlisted at the age of seventeen if their phyrique is sufficiently de- veloped to enable them to bear arms, which is not invariably the case. A telegram from Lloyd's agent at Constantinople reports the wreck, on the 20th ult, on the Roumelian coast of the Bosphorus of the British barque Circasria, Captain Cooper, laden with corn from Varna to England. Nobody was found on board, and the boats had disappeared. The weather has been very severe lately, with frequentjitorms. John H. Surratt is again to be tried for complicity in the assassination of President Lincoln, and the Washington Criminal Court has fixed February 24 for the beginniug of the triaL A list of casualties on the Western and South Western lakes and rivers of America during the past year shows that 128 accidents to boats occurred, 82 resulting in the total destruction of the boats. The loss of life was over 90, and of money 645,000 dollars, on which were insurances to the amount of 612,000 dollars. The Kerry Evening Post says that Dr. Moriarty and his clergy find great difficulty in collecting their customary dues from their Roman Catholic flock, owing to the doctor's recent denunciation of Fenianism. The Indian Department at Washington has set apart a room to be devoted to teaching the Indians who visit that city weaving and various mechanic arts, which they seem anxious to learn. Some recent heavy damages for breach of promise of marriage remind Jones of Spread weasel's precaution. When I courted her," he said, I took lawyer's advice and signed every letter to my love, Tours, without prejudice. By the Atlantic cable we learn that the American Congress has passed a bill repealing the internal tax on cotton immediately, and removing the duty on the importa- tion of foreign cotton after the 1st November next. The Warrington Guardian states that an action is about to be brought against the manager of the Warrington Gas Works, for false imprisonment, by the men who were lately apprehended on the charge of attempting to blew up the gas works. The toy called the "Roman question," Bold a month ago at Paris for If., may now be bought for 2 sous. having been dethroned by another called the "Mexican question. A grave arithmetician, cognizant of the value of time, has calculated that 500,000 persons in Paris alone have spent each half an hour on an average in endeavouring to find out the solution of the Roman puzzle, and that the total would represent about 57 years of the life of a man working 12 hours a day. Among the recent arrivals in Rome is that of the celebrated American Federal General, known as "flghting Joe Hooker." His wife is in delicate health. The general himself is recovering from his attack ot paralysis a year ago. The Post-office department at Washington has in its dead-letter office more than 10,000 photographs of Union soldiers, which accumulated during the war. "The law allows John Smith, trader, with £ 10,000 to the good, to'settle' that sum secretly on his wife and children. He is, in fact, tacitly affirming to every man he deals with every day that he is, for creditors' purposes, JE10,000 richer than he is, and the falsehood is directly sanctioned by the law. Make every 'settlement' by a trader illegal unless published within a week in the Gazette. Spectator. A donation of £ 1,000, for the purpose of founding a medical scholarship in the University of Edinburgh, has been made by Miss Ettles, of Inverness. Mr. William Rathbone, a gentleman who has for a long time been prominent as a Liberal politician at Liver- pool, died on Saturday, in last week. He leaves three sons, all of whom are active in local and general politics. According to the census returns of 1861, of 2,224,743 persons residing in the United States who were born in the United Kingdom, 1,611,304 were born in Ireland. At Glasgow, a little boy reached over the sink in the kitchen to help himself to a drink from the "swan- necked cran" through which the water runs. Having slightly overbalanced himself in the effort, the poor little fellow was unable to recover so far as to get the pipe out of his mouth, and the consequence was that he was choked almost instantaneously by the flow of the water under full pressure. His friends were quite within rea'ch at the time, but the event was so sudden that they could render no assistance. A good story is going the round of the Chancery Bar. An eminent counsel recently spoke for two hours befoie one of the Vice-Chancellors, and the proceedings were re- ported verbatim by a shorthand writer. It appears from his notes that the judge interrupted the barrister precisely one hundred and thirteen times—almost exactly once in every minute. This practice of interruption, at least in two of the Equity Courts, has now reached such an excess, that those tribunals are almost incessantly the scenes of inde- cerous wrangling or K*BS'P> ana the administration of justice is seriously impeded. Although the length of the London and North- Western system Is not at present more than a tenth of the total mileage length of the United Kingdom, Its receipts are a little more than a sixth of those earned by all British and Irish railways. Its income, in fact, is just three times what Lord Macaulay tells us, in the fourth volume of his History ot England, was the total national revenue at the time that William III. ascended the English th: ui.e." -Rambles on Railways. By Sir CunackP. Money. An inquest has been held on the body of Mr. Henry Scott Gresley, barrister, Boyn-hill, Maidenhead. The deceased was married in November, and, accompanied by his wife, only returned from their wedding tour a fortnight ago They took up their residence at the house of the Rev. W. Gresley, incumbent,of All Saints, Boyn-hill, father of the deceased. A medical man who had been called in advised that the deceased should be watched, as his,, conduct1 was eccentric; he managed, however, to get a razor, with which ihe cut his throat. A verdict ef suicide while in a state of TEMPORARY UUMJLTY TTM MFRNIED, J A young man named Smith b..s been fined 20s. and costs (305,) at Manchester for extinguishing a street lamI;" He stated that he was lighting his pipe at the lamp when it went out. The magistrate recommended him to purchase farthing boxes of matches in future as likely to be cheaper in the long run. The farmers in Devonshire are complaining of the increase of the ringdove or wood-pidgeon. These birds visit that country now in large flocks. They feed on beech nuts, acorns, turnip and swede greens, young cloveis, cab- bage plants tares, peas, &e. When feeding they have scouts who give notice of danger. They breed often during the year. They comIDûnce coomg.m March. Many of their early-laid eggs are devoured by jays. They build their nests carelessly, and their young often fall out of them. The Stoneivall Jackson, an armour-plated steam ram, has been sold by the United States Government to the Tycoon of Japan for 450,000 dollars. The Stonewall Jackson was built at Bordeaux in 1864 for the Danish Government, and was subsequently sold to the Confederate States. She is more than 1,000 tons burden, and carries 300-pounder Arm- strong guns. When last heard of she was at Montevideo on her way to Japan she was officered by Americans, but had two Japanese daimios on board. A merchant, who has just arrived from Hanover, states that thaler pieces with the inscription George V. 1S67, are privately circulated in that country. The sweets of Royalty must indeed be great, if they are so hard to re- nounce! In Australia., recently, died a cow at the great n- of thirty-three. A Pittsburgh organ builder has invented a new stop, which, from the accounts in the Pittsburgh papers, is something wonderful. One paper says: "It expresses the touching tenderness of the human heart, and the tremulous, pathetic tones of the violin. Its effect is indescribable and altogether irresistible. Indee 1, the human heart and the nerves which remain unmoved under the influence of its ethereal tones, must be composed of wood and leather A lady recently paid St. George's Hospital, London, a lengthened visit, and upon leaving it placed the munificent sum of £500 iu the hands of the secretary hi token of her ap- proval of all she had witnessed. It is confidently asserted that Alexandre Dumaf the spoilt child of fashion, has made 19,800, OOOf. by his pel What has become of all this gold ? No one knows, especiall not Dumas. How is it," said an author one day to him that you have managed to get through so much money? "Oh," replied the author of Monti Christo, "many of friends helped me The Saturday Rtvieio, in an article on the Caledc- Railway, justifies the making of payments out ef capital the same principle that a man having £10,000 a year from an estate would be justified in spending jei0,000 out of his capital in further developing its resources. A sensation is being caused in the religious world by the preaching of a converted actor, formerly of the London and provincial theatres." He draws great houses," or, as a religious paper puts it, "his marvellous abilities, formerly employed in the service of Satan, are now employed in the service of God." "We recently had twenty shillings' worth of penny postage stamps weighed; with the border all round the sheet, 240 stamps weigh little less than half an ounce with- out the border the weight is a little more than half an ounce. Consequently £32 worth weigh one pound, L3,584 one cwt., £71.6S0 one ton, £716,800 ten tons."—Rambles on Railways By Sir Cusack P. Roruy. The Standard mentions that an Irish Reform Bill ia in preparation, together with a measure on Irish railways, and another on the land question. These are altogether irrespective of the work of the Church and Education Com- m IssioIll. During one week the number of foreign letters received at and despatched from New York were as fellows, viz. British letters, 65,439; German letters, 42,117 French letters, 24,369 and Belgian letters, 809. The number of letters between the West Indies, Australia, South Pacific, and China and New York by united steam ships was 32,308 during the same period. A correspondent sayo that, although it is now car- nival time, Rome is like a tomb; the theatres are deserted, and there are scarcely any foreigners in the city. The President of the United States, Andrew John- son, who in his youth worked as a journeyman tailor, has sent the sum -of fifty dollars as his contribution to the Operative Tailors' Emigration Society in London, with his best wishes for its object. An eccentric baronet, recently deceased, has left the whole of his property to a manservant. A letter from Naples says that the Italian authori- ties have discovered a number of If. pieces, which have- been for some time in circulation, some bearing the effigy of Francis II., King of the Two Sicilies," and others that of "Humbert L, King of Northern Italy," and having on the obverse side the inscription, "Confedereazione Italiana." The month upon which we have just entered (February) contains five Saturdays—a singularity which has not occurred in any February these score of years. It is said that Madame Petipa, the favourite dancer of St. Petersburg, has drawn the great Russian Lottery prize- of 76,000 roubles. The Warrington Guardian announced the discovery of a gunpowder, by a leading gentleman of that town, which will not explode until it is mixed, which is the work of an instant, and the power of which is superior to the- best powder in use, although worth less than 9d. a pound. The inventor has made hia secret known to Govern- ment. The giraffe recently sent to the Paris museum by King Victor Emmanuel has just died. Another is shortly expected, promised by the Viceroy of Egypt. Ten Paris editors have been fined heavily for publish" ing summaries of the debates on the Army Bill, and under the list of game recently bagged by the Imperial party, a paper satirically adds, "Winged ten newspapers. The birds; can still bite, and have very sharp beaks." An Irishman, evidently a native of Germany,, offered the following message for transmission from a town in Eastern Maine Michael murphy, New York. Vy town you sent te coots? Send fisites, unt shaltz.—HANS KRAUT." This was intended to mean, Why don't you send the goods T Send vlsites and shawls." About 500 colliers are on strike in the Poynton dis- trict, resisting an attempt of the employers to enforce a* reduction of one penny in the shilling. The Liverpool pilot boats last year earned £67,8U. The operative slaters of Glasgow have taken advan- tage of the pressure of work consequent on the lato storm to strike for rise of wages. The Sicilian Journal states that M. Anselmo- Gaetano, under secretary of the prefecture of Monreale, has just been assassinated with a poignard. He was eighty years of age. The Berlin journals give an account of a curious ceremony of the burial of the Police Gazette in that city. Letters announcing the decease of that journal were sent to ? number persons connected with the press and their friends. The funeral procession started from the printing office, preceded by a band of music, to the place of inter- ment. Compositors dressed in black paper carried the body. A humorous funeral oration was then pronounced, after which the journal was plunged into a tub of printers' ink and so buried. An old bachelor in New York offered a young lady a pony for a kiss. She gave him the kiss. He refused her the pony. She sued him. He pleaded "no consideration." The court decided that a kiss was a legal consideration, and made him "pony up." It was sometime ago announced that rich deposits of gold had been discovered in Russian America. A despatch to the State Department reports that an assay had been madtf- of the gold ore found there at San Francisco, and it yields at the rate of 13,000 dollars per ton. A respectable inhabitant of Angleur (Belgium)." says the Meuse journal, "a few days ago found that he had been robbed of a bank-note of 1,000f. The most active' researches were made by the police without effect, when, on opening the door of his apartment two mornings back, he' was agreeably surprised to find the missing note nailed ta- the doorl" The following advertisement appeared in the Londora Times the other day: "To invalid, hardworked, and yomig: clergymen.—Six hundred manuscript Church sermons oa sale, by a D.D. lately deceased. Specimen on receipt of thirteen stamps. Apply," &c.—It should have been headed Notice to the Trade." A discussion of an interesting character has taken place among the English residents at Hong-Kong with re- ference to the existence of coal in China. It is said to be available in enormous quantities, although it is unworked. Should these statements be verified they are likely to exert a very important influence, not only on the Celestial Empire itself, but also on English and French commerce in the Eastern seas and ports. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is writing A Life of Christ." Two of the firemen of the Bangalore, which arrived at Southampton on Saturday with the India mail went oat shore when the ship was at Marseilles to have a drinking bout. One of them returned alone at two o'clock in the morning. He did not know what had become of his com- panion, who was afterwards found dead, with his throat cut, in a ditch in the neighbourhood of Marseilles. The deceased; was a married man, with three children. The Queen has sent a letter of condolence to Mrs. Charles Kean. At the Conservative meeting in Bristol the other- night, it was stated that Mr- Baker, in accordance with the wishes expressed by the members of the association, had sent a letter, through General Groy, to her Majesty the Queen, asking that a cheap edition of her beautiful book may be issued and he had received a reply from General Grey, stating that her Majesty had been gracious enough to. comply with the request, and.that "a oheap edition of that; work would be issued for her dear, loving subjects." A fruit farmer in Ohio is planting a mammoth orchard, which will consist of 5,000 apple trees assorted kinds; 10,000 peach trees, 6,000 pear trees (stanit, JT9m dwarf, 2,600 cherry trees 1,500 phims, 20 acres of strawberries, 20 acres of raceme*, eiKht acr^ of blackberries, 18 acres of grapes. A few days since a gardener in trenching some meadow land at Highgate, Middlesex, found. a vase contain- ing nearly 7,000 silver coins, consisting uf silver pennies (London. York, Middlesex, Bristol,<and Canterbury) groats and half-groats, halfpennies, &c. (Irish and Scotch, Vene- tian and foreign, Teutonic), and two gold coins of Edward ILL, also an amber rosary. The coins haw; been partially arranged by Mr. Vaux, of the British Museum. The Sheffield ratteners are coming to the surfaces again. Last Thursday night two brothers samed Marshall, scissor grinders, were rattened, five of their bands having, been taken away. hey had been unable to continue their centributions to their union in consequence of the depreasedi state of trade, and had received warnings that if they did not pay up it would be the worse for them. The place in which they worked was probably secured by the gatekeeper on Thursday night, but the union men contrived to climb up a sort of funnel outside the wall and gain admittance bv onet of the windows. Two troopers, forming an escort, have been murdered near Brisbane. They were found lying on their rugs at their camp, near Mackenzie. 1'jve pigs were lying dead, havmr, it is supposed, eaten ol matter vomited by the men Both men were shot through the head, besides hS been poisoned. The a^hesofthe ga(1dle bags were found in the camp fire. Four tnousanrt pounds m notes, which the escort, were t^iog to Uie branch of the Joint-stock Bank at Cler- mont, are missing. An ex-magistrate has been arrested on suspicion. T Spo^tinn Gazette understands that the whole of Lord Jersey 3 stud will be brought to the hammer at, Tf.tfcer- saU s at an early day. Whether the sale in questio n i& to !>e a weeding out" one only or preparatory to hie lordship's retirement from the turf, to which he haa r.niv recently taken, is not certain. jVlVS recently What was considered an appr0priate presentation was made by a deputation of tb,, ladies o f r.irk to Air Train the other.=tag just ^ore hesat do^tobreikl t h eoi'.alsted of a "Cork drisheen," w £ ^toUrkwv "I" th,,s describes:- -"This famous of Wed sheen's w ,tne ha«S's is to Scotls nd. It consists nnmnressed into r lK'tUeMone(Hvith herbs and spices, and animal It thlv.V' 0Uter "^hraua of- an.. intestine of the to three feet lnn«. °rniS a c'mv°hited tube, va Tying from two "black pudding 111 P'ain EngUsh We ^h0Ultl cal1 St a United ith,J?'nDa*a "of storm"? that vrhich swept the g °TO on Saturday. last, seems likely to occupy a sure^if ir'u8 ^ace- force of the wi nd reached a pres- H oa the square foot, or 61bs more than that of of 1866, when the Royal C karttr and 80 many other phips were lost. The hurricane '5\ rept with impartial iury over land and «ea, and floods came to aid its ravages and we read that villages have been submerge id, furnace fires ex- j 'igui:-hed, mills ucltruimed, and the pi oduce of the farm. L'e furniture of the cottager, the bexp- *3-up stores of the- millowner have been swept away in a con anon destruction. Under the heading of "National. Sports" we find the following brutal incident noted in 1 ,he Illustrated Lon- don Nti ."—"On Tueadav the Quorn lad a run from Barkby Holt. Charles, the second wb ip, got a terrible fall over an ox fence. His horse never ros Ie at the timber, and fell upon him, and there they lay. Sc ime gne Tode by just after, and simply said, Lie still!'and never olferedto get off and help him. The ponr follow was to compl etely under the librae that llü c o.tld not recognize h js friend, which is to be regretted. Sewo time elapsed belt ire he wai found, and it in ført4 hia hip U broken."