The Aberystwith Observer

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, The House of Lords sat for only half an hrmr on March 6, and read the Registration of Writs (Scotland) Bill a second time. In the House of Commons, on the order for going into committee of supply, Mr. Lefevre directed attention in a lengthy speech to what he termed the failure of the negocia- tion with the United States Government, for arbitration of the Alabama claims. Lord Stanley assured the House that he was most anxious to settle the dispute for England could have nothing to Rain hy keeping the question open, but rather much to gain by bringing it to a close; and he believed that it was equally the wish as It was palpably the interest of both sides to remain on amicable terms. What we had to do was to state our case temperately and fairly, to do justice as far as we could, and to appeal to a corresponding spirit on the part of those with whom we were in controversy. Happily, as the case now stood, the controversy was reduced to the narrowest possible limits. Upon all doubtful questions of fact and Jaw upon which the two Governments could not come to an agreement they were of one mind, so far as this, that they were prepared to abide the decision of any impartial arbi- trator; and the whole question at issue was whether the English Government would consent to include in the re- ference the question whether we were right or wrong in recognising the belligerents? But with regard to that Point, as at present advised, he could not forhlmself see what bearing the two things had upon one another. No human being could eontend that at no time during the.,f0*lr.ye^P> struggle the Confederates had not become entitled to tne rights and position of belligerents. If ever they were belligerents they must have been so from the time o battle of Bull's Run, which took place in July, 1861, ana ■Alabama was not built until the April foli°wing-_ interval they had maintained an immense force in tiong and had won several battles. Throughout the the he had treated the question as one of interna t' an(j decision of which would be the creation of*tPwa8 irrelevant the ground he had rested upon wa?.^a„f p0Hsy and not of to the inquiry; th^ a question o PWe o{ receivj legal obligation, and was, therefore, sfcateg them a legal solution, awl th« £ the and T GoveramenlT^a'd'siro^l^decls^6on the 13th o^May.Vhat a pprtftin state of things was civil war, and this was no more than a renetit on of what Mr. Seward had asserted in official documents laid before Congress nine, twelve, and sixteen days previously- If negociations had for a certain time been suspended it should be recollected that the suspension had not been the act of the British Government. They had made their offer, and it had been declined. Political parties, he knew, ran high in the United States; but he could not imagine that any party would be so reck- less or insenRihle to their own interests as to engage in a quarrel, possibly leading to a great and costly war, for the eake of enforcing in a particular way claims which it was in their power to settle, and possibly in their own favour, without appealing to war. Even if negoci itions were not resumed upon the former basis, the means of bringing about an amicable settlement would not be exhausted, for there was still the alternative of a mixed commission, to which the claims of each side might be referred. After some observations by Mr. W. E. Forster, Sir. G. Bowyer, Mr. Sandford, and Mr. Mill, Mr. Gladstone expressed his satisfaction with the statement of the Foreign Minister, and the spirit of equity he h&d displayed in treating the question. He had no doubt that the country would endorse the poliey that had been pursued. Mr. C. Fortescue inquired whether the Irish Reform Bill was to be introduced on Monday; and Mr Disraeli replied that the Scotch bill would be taken on that day, and the Irish bill on the Monday following. Leave was given to Sir W. Gallwey and Mr. Wyld to bring in a hill to establish county financial boards: and to Mr. C. jrorster a bill relating to the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Courio The select committee of last session, to inquire into the duties performed by the British army in India and in the colonies, was re appointed, on the motion of Major Anson; and the select committee on House of CommoRs arrange- ments was nominated by Mr. Headlam, after which the House adjourned. In the House of Lords, on March 9, the Duke of Argyll gave notice that on Friday next he should call the attention of their lordships to the inconvenience which has ocisen through the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act, and should at the same time make some observations on the remarks of the Premier on tile question of Reform. The Duke of SomHBet moved for a return relative to iron ballast sold from the Royal dockyards. Agreed to. The Registration of Courts (8cot1ano) Bill passed through committee, and their lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons Mr. Ward Hunt took the oath and his seat upon being re-elected for North Northampton- shire, on accepting the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Thengnt non. sjentlemaii was greeted with a general cheer as he advanced to the table to be sworn Mr. H. Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department w het her, ashad been publicly stated, either the government or the chief commissioner of police had infor- mation previously to the commission of the crime of a design to blow up or otherwise attack ClerkenweU Prison and, if so, whether there was any objection to state what precautionary or preventive measures were taken in conse- quence. Mr. G. Hardy replied that on the 12th of December infor- mation was received that it was intended to rescue Burke, in custody at the Clerkenwell House of Detention, by blow- ing up the wall The right hon gentleman narrated the details taken by the authorities as they have appeared 111 the newspapers. It did not strilre those who had received the information that the attempt was to be made in the manner in which it wasi-made.. Lord Stanley explained, at the invitation of Mr. Osborne, that the appointment by the Chinese Government of Mr. M'Leavy Brown, assistant Chinese Secretary of the English Embassy in China, to the post of assistant colleague of Mr. Burlingame, the new Chinese ambassador, had been made with the concurrence of the British Minister in China. He was not aware what were the instructions given to Mr. Burlingame but if that gentleman arrived in this country, us it was presumed he would, duly accredited as the repre- sentative of the Government of China, he should be rue- pared to negociate with him on all matters affectinn the interests of the Chinese empire. 'The Scotch Reform Bill having been moved on the second reading by the Lord Advocate, Mr. Hadfleld proposed, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months, on the ground that he was opposed to increasing the aggregate number of the House of Commons, and that additional seats ought to be provided for Scotland by means of the disfranchisement of the smaller English boroughs. Mr. Rearden having seconded the amendment, Sir W. Scott spoke in snpIJOrt of the second reading, and thanklnR the Government for proposing an increase in the Scotch representation, suggested that that increase should be carried still further hy t'hree additional seats being conferred npon the burghs, thus getting rid of the invidious distinction which at present existed between town and county. Mr. B Cochrane concurred with the hon. baronet in think- ing that seven new members for Scotland was an inadequate number; but he was not inclined to look agitt horse in the mouth, and was thankful for small mercies. As to increasing the number by the disfranchisement of English boroughs, there was not the remotest chance of any such being carried in the face of the violent opposition proposal of the sort would be sure to evoke. Ilis H the Scotch members, therefore, was, not to throw away the present bill without being sure of getting a better. Mr. Smollet gave his support to, whilst proclaiming his dislike of. the bill 4 x, Mr. M'Laren regarded the proposed extension of the fran- chise as satisfactory, hut pointed o'it hat ht. considered defects in several portions ^llese, however, could be remedied in committee, and for that reason he ap- pealed to Mr. Hadfleld to withdraw his amendment. Mr. MoncreitfinqUJred whether the Government adhered to the proposition they made with respect to additional members for Scotland, or intended to concede any larger number. Sir J. Fergusson (in the temporary absence of the First Lord of the Treasury) said that he was not sufficiently acquainted with the intentions of the Government on this point to return an explicit ai swer but he reminded the house that when the bill was introduced, his right hon. friend stated that the number of additional seats was not fixed upon any arbitrary rule, and that it was rather for the members from Scotland to point out the places which they considered to require separate and additional representation. If a better oiatribution scheme could be set before the house by hon. members, It had never been asserted that the details of the measure were not open to amendment in this respect. Eventually, Mr. Hadfleld withdrew his amendment, and the bill was read a second time. The Sea Fisheries Bill passed through committee. The Railways (Extension of Time) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Metropolis Subways Bill was read a second time. The Lord Advocate biought in bills to improve the system of registration of writs, the procedure in regard to ecclesias tical buildings and glebes, and for the consolidation of titles to land in Scotland. Sir W llutt re-introduced his mil for the better audit of railway accounts, and a bill was brought in by Sir S. North cote, to enable guaranteed Indian railway companies to rane money on debenture stock, alter which the House ad- journed. The House of Lords sat for a very ™ **arch JO, and the business disposed of was of no public interest. In the House of Commons Mr. Fordyce Advocate whether, in consequence of the great house accommodation for agricultural labourers in he will consider the expediency of extending J? Classes' Dwellings Act, 1SC6" to entailed properties, an grant facilities for obtaining permanent building lees such properties. The Lord AdVocSfle said a bill was under his considera- tion referring to the latter part of the hon. member's ques- tion. Mr. Maguire rose to move that this House should resolve Itself into a committee, with the view ot taking the con- dition and circumstances of Ireland into immediate con- sideration. The hon. member asked the indulgence of the House while he addressed them on this important subject, which had become above all others the question of the day. Barely the time has come when they might consider the position of Ireland apart from all party spirit—in a broad, liberal, generous, and comprehensive spirit. Tne townsin Mi at country were now ocoupied hy troops, and it was more like poland under Russian rule. Their very police, too, were drilled like regular soldiers, and were supplied with deaBy weapons while their stations were anned like forts. Gunboats were suriounding the coast, looking out for suspicious craft; houses were attacked, streets ransacked for iwms, and the constitution was taken away, so that anyone and everyone Was at the mercy of a spy, an informer, or a perjurer, and anyone who was free spoken was immediately an object of suspicion. What was the material position of Ireland? Was eheprogressins or was she standing still ? Tne prosperity of Ireland Gould not be proved hy the comparison of periods. In 1851 the country had not recovered from the famine, und no less than 300,000 people permanently left the country and yet because the position is better now than it was then in some respects, it had been stated that the country was pro- gressing; Xhe formers were beginning to lose heart, and so *aa becoming more unproductive. The country towns were gradually sinking and mouldering into decay he Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford and lh0 sh k tr3 were despairing, and th'nkinK w, emigration. If he were to say the feeing oi discontent pervaded the whole Irish PeP'e((, 'Wng a mild term; if he were to say Cl.s.nection It ""old be nearer the mark. But even men who iu«ti]?»ac<.e' and progress were be- ginning to despair of th ] .tice of Parliament, the honesty of statesmen, mul 1 OT1„ ™ whU r- land-. What was the cause of the alien*existed in the heart of the people against Eg no't I?,ent were re- sponsible f,r a great <.eal, not a]l: thfre w;l8 much owing to the nf England had attempted to blot out the h v a«d in the schools the students were not. &Uo^.ed, b,0(0^ which would raise the bitter memories ot tne p.. J'*d> any 0{ those present read ihe penal laws of irelan U wa. cniy ninety years since-not a long time in the wl»^ « a nation-it was penal to bi-eak the law, and *a» PJ1' by imprisonment for life, while priests •we.e no ed to celebrate the Mass. A Protestant might the Catholic with impunity. What had they laws for the country? Did not writers call tne 1 1 idle? and did not England once even do all it email i °wn the manufactories? How had England » charged the duties she had undertaken? The history the legislative union was one of the deepest and darkest P,a^a lather let the Irish govern themselves, or govern tain na? t y wou,li govern themselves. he U'.inn was ob- Tipfitatii, "'Justice, and false promises, and he had no fh«t » !i 41 '"8 so in that House. It w»s premised ov pi jK ui-m? iWas dawning lor Iielai d, and docks and wrn nromiwil °„'e ''ui.It; amongst other places in Cork. They til Vwentv-niip^rU:11>at'oli—how was it redeemed? Not thpri onl v hpi"ara a'ler the arrangement had been made, ftnd then only because the Duke of Wellington said it was unsafe to w.hhold it any longer. The state o £ our Imh peasantry th et'ln America, and was fortunately not to he seen in the fc,„ghsh provinces. It had been said that the Irisli members made speeches but not proposals. Such was not a fan statement, for some time ago he, together with some other members, brought forward a measure which, however, it was stated as soon as it was introduced, would be a prelude to universal notice to quit. Unless they had some system hy which the tenant was placed on a mere necure footing, they must not expect to see the Irish people contented. He trusted that the noble lord (the Earl of Mayo) would bring forward a generous and advanced mea- sure, lor unlets he did so it would not satisfy the nation.

I An AMERICAN ADMIRAL and ELEVEN I MEN DROWNED. The Shanghai Recorder of Jan. 23 says" The I Sylvia crossed over from Hiogoon Jan. 7 with Admiral Xeppel and Captain Stanhope of the Ocean on board, and the whole party, including Captain Brooker and » nearly all the officers of the Sylvia, went up to the Legation. The day following (8th) it set m a ^eavy o-ale and thev were unable to cross the bar. On t evening of the 9th the Adnriral detained to ta, bar towing the Sylvia s steam cutter out. Ihey we mendous sea running and they werebothnearly swamped. The admiral s boat, deeply laden with Capt. Stanhope, Commander Brooker, ^ieut- Bull Mr Mitford of the legation, and some officers of the »tc, ]ust succeeded in getting hold of the Laplace, French man- of war where for five hours they held on astern, up to their middles in water and expecting to go down every minute. The sea was so heavy and the wind so furious that though hanging on astern of the ship, bo one SSd £ got out ot tb. b«t. At lajt, in Ml, they made a dash for the Salvia. The officer commanding her had in the meanwhile been obliged to get the ship under weigh and steam further out, as she was too close to the shore. Providentially they succeeded in reaching the ropee veered astern for them from the Sylvia; the lifeboat was then lowered and with great risk of life the whole party was got on board, nearly paralysed with cold and hunger. The admiral showed the greatest pluck the whole time. Next morning the other boat was soon inside the bar. On Saturday the 11th American Admiral Bell determined to cross the bar, and started with his flag lieutenant, and a boat's crew of eleven. The boat was upset on the bar, and the admiral,- his flag lieutenant, and eight men were drowned."

AN EXTRAORDINARY WILL CASE. At the Court of Probate, in London, the cause of "Hall v. Hall" has been tried. The plaintiff propounded the last will of her husband, John Hall, late of Nottingham, farmer and land valuer, who died at the age of 65 on the 6th of April last, leaving an estate variously estimated at from £14,000 to J&0.000. He had executed three wills. By one dated in 1852 be had given everything to his wife but on the 14th of June, 1864, during her absence from home, he made another, by which he bequeathed to her his house and furniture, the whole of his property for her life, and a power of appointment over two- sixths of it afterwards the four remaining sixths he left to his brothers and sisters or their families. On the 21 at of the following month he executed another testamentary paper restoring the status quo ante, and probate of this was resisted by his brother William, on the simple plea that it had been obtained by the undue influence of the widow. On his behalf Mr. Deverill, the testator's solicitor, deposed to having been sent for and directed to draw up the third instrument; that Mrs. Hall appeared greatly disturbed, and said to him, that black-looking thief has been altering his will—he always was a thief, at least to me." Mr. Deverill stated that he had made the will as a matter of kindness, and to restore peace between the parties, but that he doubted at the time whether it would stand, and cautioned Mrs. Hall against parting with the second, or the just will" as he termed it. Mrs. Deverill (his wife) stated that Mrs. Hall had come to her in great agitation and disorder—that she had taken her into her room, soothed her, bathed her head and brushed her hair. Afterwards Mr. Hall thanked Mrs. Deverill for paci- fying his wife, and told her that he had been obliged to alter his will, or his wife would have cut his throat or her own. The testator's farm bailiff deposed that when his master was talking about his property, he said to him jocoselv, "I should like to be put into a corner of your wilL" The testator replied, It would do you no good. I made a will leaving my brother William and the rest of them something, but it dis- pleased Mrs. Hall, and I had to alter it." The bailiff said, Then Mr. William will have nothing. 1 am very sorry for him." The testator said, "So ami," and burst into tears. Mrs. Hall gave an entirely different version of the matter. She said that her husband had told her of his second will, and taken her to Mr. Deverill's to hear it read. She said that it was a just disposition of the' property, and that she was perfectly satisfied with it. Afterwardspe told her that he had made the alteration because he had heard that, if she survived, she in- tended to bequeath the whole of the property to a dis- tant cousin hut that, having seen this cousin, he was convinced that the story was false, and that he would reinstate matters upon their old footing. No explana- tion was, however, given of the circumstances deposed by Mrs. Deverill, whose evidence was not in any rn^lne^ impeached. Under these circumstances, ■ 11 e inry, without hesitation, found that there had >een undue influence and the court, avowing its per- tect contentment with the verdict, pronounced against the will, and condemned Mrs. Hall in the costs.

THE ARTFUL DODGER WITH THE '"ART" DISEASE! There are se many urgent and rightful claims pressing on the charity of the public that I think perhaps you may feel disposed to give publicity to the following, as a warning against indiscriminate chanty (writes N." in The Times) One day last week I had a letter brought to me with an intimation that the bearer was waiting for an answer. On opening it I found it purported to be from an orphan boy (George Murray), who, educated at the Chelsea Orphan School, and having delicate lungs, had been to the Brompton Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, whence he had been discharged two months since, the chaplain, Mr. Allen (I give the names as the "orphan "gave them), furnishing the tooney for the lad's journey toTeignmouth, in the hope that he might be able to earn a livelihood in a southern country but, his health again failing, he was about to return to Brompton, Lady Scarlet, of 16, Kensington-gardens, having promised him an admission ticket. Before his re-admission it was necessary that he should have a few articles of clothing (which were enumerated in the letter) that several kind friends had contributed till only 5s. more were required to complete the necessary sum. To the letter was appended the names of several people I knew in Teignmouth (the writing of one or two being familiar). I went to the lad ann found a tidily-dressed delicate- looking young man, with so plausible a tale that I believed him. He felt very ill, was anxious to start by the two o'clock train he wanted just 5s. more he had severe heart disease as well as lung complaint Dr. Steele (whom I knew) had examined him, and endorsed his starting without delay, &c. I have nearly enough money," concluded the lad, opening his hand and innocently displaying a little mass of half- crowns, "and if I can get 5s. more I shall go by the two o'clock train." A few questions more. The lad would go to the Chelsea School for the night, the secretary, "Mr. Bright," having offered to receive him at any time. If too late for Chelsea, he would go to a Refuge. For the last two months he had supported himself by doing odd jobs" for the Red Lion inn. I was very sorry for the poor orphan, and went to the drawing-room with the tale. There I found a medical friend. Two o'clock train ?" said he, there is none nor is there any Red Lion inn. I will go and see the boy. A little examination ;—no heart complaint, no lung disease. I am as glad," said the poor orphan, with uplifted eves, "as if the gentlemen had given me money. They told me I had art disease." Then I spoke. "You have, said I, not money enough to take you to London, setting aside the buy- ing of clothes. Give me all you have. 1 will keep you in lodgings for a few days, buy the clothes, get your hospital ticket, and pay your fare to London if I prove your story true.' Ah, no the lad was so anxious to lose no time he thanked me kindly for my offer, but he would beg just 5s. more and be off to-day. „ You are a liar and an impostor, said my friend, I shall give you to the police. The lad demurred. Then he gave me 10s. He was a true lad. The*trentleinan hurt his feelings, &c. To bring my story to an end, the Jad was an im- postor. A mother appeared, and while the police- man was getting evidence, mother and orphan" de- camped, leaving me with 16s. (( On inquiry, it has been found that the orphan" had raised a considerable amount of money in Teign- mouth, and he is doubtless at this moment adding to his stores in some other town where charitable ladies have less time to inquire after truth. p g_—Will you kindly advise me how to dispose of the money so strangely acquired ? I greatly fear that it will be considered hy my orphan friend and his associates as gained by myself under rather false pre- tences.

DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH BURGLARS. ?"h7th^ <r ,7er:S the house of a Mr. ? hp accosted the iutiuder, asking bn imnertinent stvl ° there whea the man replied in an Impertment style, "Whit are vou doing here?" ltlu constable was about to turn his lamp upon this when the latter whistled, and two ,other men 'ished from the direction of the parlour win e, and they all made a murderous attack upon the con- stable. They felled him to the ground, and then, leaning over him, commenced beating him about the head. He offered every resistance in his power, and grappled with one of the ruffians, but three power- ful fellows proved too much for him. J-hey tore his cape from his back, and both his over and undercoat were ripped up and taken on him His staff was wrested from him, and with this his assailants managed to inflict some severe in- iuries upon the prostrate constable. In raising his arm Jo protect his head he received a blow with the weapon which reuderedthe limb useless. One of the cuffs,Bwhich'were slipped upon thethatch°d locked with a dexterity which showed that these ruffians were not altogether unacquainted wi h the mechanism. Having secured the poor fellow s limbs, and rendered him quite incapable of making further re- sistance, they rifled his pockets, taking his purse, which contained i4a. or 15s 1 his whistle, knife, and other small articles from him. The officer then saw the men lea\e the garden, and tried to raise an alarm, but his strength ga.ve way and he became insensible. He did not recover unr.il about two in the morning, when he found he had been divested of all his cloth- in.' except his shirt and trousers. He was securely h'mdcufftd, and it was with considerable difficulty that he managed to rise to his feet. The spot is very lonely, and knowing that it was useless to attempt to raise an alarm, he made the best of his way a*H-SrTti, 1 "«h«d about ha ^anhemr afttrw ards lhe bloo,i was stream- birr from his mouth, Iiobe, aniineaa, and he was covered ltig trorn l ,i- r was at once despatched for with mud An officer tQ Mr medical aid, and a otl (,fficer"s clothing torn to house, where he foun g and "hat were strewn shreds. His whistle, k pariour wlndow about the garden. On ™mang t' had been of the house it was found that an aw, I made to enter the apartment. Ihe garue been drawn up to the window-Bill, upon wtucn waa found a jemmy. Dr. Fitzpatrick, of the Old Swan, attended the injured constable, and found him in a very exhausted state. His right arm was much swollen, and the doctor believed the collar bone had been fractured. No trace of the burglars has yet been obtain

SENTENCED TO DEATH. At the Lancaster Assizes George Nuttall, weaver, has been indicted for the wilful murder of John Daxbury, at Haberg- haia Eaves, on the 17th of February. It will be remembered that on the day in question, the parties had been drinking together at a beerhouse, when some angry words ensued respecting Nut tail's sister, with whom deceased had for two years been co- habiting. Upon reaching home in the evening prisoner said, Now, Jack, thou shaltnot stop here all night." Deceased replied, "Art thou master, then?" and prisoner said, Yes, and intend to be." As deceased was leaving prisoner followed him and struck him twice on the neck with a butcher's whittle. Deceased cried out, "Oh, I'm struck," and shortly afterwards expired trom loss of blood. The men had frequently quarrelled when in liquor, and prisoner had been heard to use threatening language towards deceased. The knife was used in the house where they lodged for cut- ting bread with. The surgeon, who examined the body of deceased, stated that the jugular veins were cut across, as well as the right subclavian artery. The knife had passed through the lungs, and struck the vertebrae. The cause of death was the dividing of the veins and arteries. The blade of the knife had been bent by the force of the blow. For the prisoner, a plea of insanity was set up by his counsel, Mr. Gorst. It was shown that prisoner was the illegitimate sob of a black woman, and that his father died in a lunatic asylum that he had been "goamless as a lad, and that, although he had im- proved since he became a man, he was very like a mad- man when under the influence of liquor. Mr. Smithwaite, a surgeon, of Burnley, said he had examined the prisoner's head and found a depres- sion on the skull, as if inflicted by a mason's trowel. I It had been a violent blow, and would no doubt injure his brain, as well as affect his reasoning powers. W hen in drink, or under any excitement, he would be subj to paroxysms of passion, more especially if he was p disposed to lunacy. Mr. Gorst argued that it would be inconsistent convict a man of that class of the crime of murder malice aforethought. The judge, in summing up, said—If they were sav fied that the prisoner had committed murder th, would have no alternative than to find him guilty. The Jury, after a short consultation, returned verdict of Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. The Judge then put on the black cap, and said George Nuttall, you have been found guilty of th crime of murder. Every person who has heard th, evidence must be satisfied that the jury could come ti no other conclusion. The punishment for the crim* which you have committed is that you should die. recommend you to apply for mercy to that God wh can alone judge infallibly of the motives for youi crime. The recommendation of the jury shall be for- warded to the Home Secretary, but I can hold out n( hopes that your life may be spared. His lordshi; then pronounced sentence of death in the usual form The prisoner, who had displayed a stolid indifferenct to what was going on, was then removed.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE, At Nottingham assizes, the cause of "Reynolds v. Topham" has been heard, and was an action of breach of promise of marriage. The plaintiff is the daughter of a farmer and butcher at Warsop, Nottingham and the defendant lives with bis grandmother and manages a farm for her at the same place. It ap- peared that towards the end of 1865 the defendant got introduced to the plaintiff, who was then only fifteen years of age and was at school at Warsop, and persuaded her to walk out with him. In February, 1866, the plaintiff's father became aware of what was going on, and spoke to the defendant ab«ut it at Mansfield market. The defendant said that his intentions were honourable, and thereupon he was permitted to visit her, walked out with her, and was received upon the footing of a suitor. In July, 1866, the plaintiff had scarlet fever, and during her illness the defendant expressed great solicitude, and when she was recovering pressed very much, and at last succeeded in being allowed to see her. After this she left her home in October to visit her grandmother, for the more perfect recovery of her health, and remained with her at Lowther until fihe returned home on the 20th of December, 1866. On that occasion the defendant asked the permission of the parents to escort her home. This was granted, and the mother, as she gave him a shawl for her daughter s use, said with tears in her eyes, "I have lost my boy and very nearly lost my daughter. I put her m your charge. Will you take care of her?" The defendant replied, "You may depend on me, Mrs. Reynolds. In accord- ance with this permission the defendant went to meet the plaintiff at Nottingham and brought her in the train to Mansfield, and thence to Warsop in his own carriage. After he returned home his attentions continued till July, 1867, when her parents discovered she was in the family way. The defendant was thereupon sent for and expressed his sorrow for what had taken place. He was pressed to fulfil the promises of marriage he had made to the plaintiff, but made excuses and ultimately it became necessary to bring this actior. The child was born on the 20th of last September. For the defence a great number of pleas were put upon the record, and among them a plea that the plaintiff was an unchaste and immodest woman. Two witnesses were called in support of this last p|ea, but after hearing them, the learned counsel for the de- fendant abandoned this line of evidence, withdrew all imputations on the plaintiff, and admitted that the only question was one of damages. Upon this head it was shown that the defendant's grandfather was a man of very considerable property, and had left him property of the value of £4,000 or £5,000. This will, it was said, he had no power to make, as the disposi- tion of the property lay with the grandmother but it was shown that she was worth some £lO,OOO, that the defendant lived with her, managed the farm and drove his carriage. In summing up, his Lordship observed that the iurv had heard from the plaintiff's father and mother a very simple, plain, aTid touching story. It was no.t disputed that the promise wasmade, and the incidents of the courtship were those ordinarily preceding mar- riage in persons of that class of life. His Lordshi;* commented with great severity upon the plea of unchastity which the defendant was so utterly unable to substantiate, and told the jury to give the plaintiff reasonable and substantial damages for the loss she had sustained by the breach of the defendant's promise. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for £1,000,

COMMITTAL OF A LECTURER. On Saturday, at the Rochdale Police-court, George Mackey, anti-_Popery lecturer," was placed at the dock, charged with shooting, on Thursday n%ht, at Police-constables Halstead and Wood, with intent to do bodily harm. Halstead stated that on Thursday night he was on duty in Acker-street, when the prisoner came up with about 300 men. They were ordered to leave, but they refused, and attempted to break open the Public Hall door. Superintendent Pickering then ordered the constables to charge, and he and others drove the prisoner and about twenty other men behind a cart. Mackey then drew a revolver and shot at witness. The bullet went through his belt and topcoat, and lodged in the lining of his coat. The prisoner next fired at Police officer Wood. Police-constable Kenney stated that he too was pre- sent and heard the prisoner say, Where is your cowardly Mayor and magistrates ? Why are they not here?" at the same time pointing a revolver at Mr. Superintendent Pickering, when the prisoner and his followers were driven back. Witness then heard a revolver fired. Cross-examined by Mr. Whitehead When they ordered the prisoner to stand back, he said he would not, and would go into the hall dead or alive. He told witness that if he prevented him he would shoot him. Police-constable Wood said the prisoner fired at him after they had driven him back, and the charge went over his head. Mr. Hodgkinson, chief constable of Oldham, gave evidence to searching the prisoner at the Rochdale Police-station, and finding upon him a revolver, with two chambers discharged and four loaded. Mr. Su¡.¡e1Íntendent PickerilJg corroborated the previous witness's evidence. The prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes, bail being refused.

A SCOTCH SCHOOL. Mr Fearon, who, as an assistant commissioner engaged in the recent inquiry into the st: te of middle-class schools, visited the Scotch burg (secondary) schools, gives a sketch of a schoolmaster and tschoolas seeu by him at work; it may be premised that must of-the niasters in these schools are graduates ot a Scotch university, and the Scotch have a natural aptitude for teaching: — The school is crowded with 60 or 100 boys and girls, all nearly of an acre, seated in rows at desks or benches, but all placed in the order of merit, with their keen, thoughtiul faces turned towards the master, watching his every look and every gesture, in the hope of win- ning a place in the class and having good news to bring home to their parents at tea time. The dux is seated at the head of the class, wearing perhaps a medal the object of envy and yet of pride to all his fellows fully conscious both of the glory and the insecurity of Irs position and taught, by the experience of many falls, the danger of relaxing his efforts for one moment. In front of this eager animated throng stands the master, gaunt, muscular, and time-worn, poorly clad and plain in manner and speech, but with the dignity of a ruler in his gestures, and the fire of an entliu-iast in his eye, never sitting down, but standing always in some commanding position before the class full of movement, vigour, and energy so thoroughly versed in this author or his subject that he seldom requires to look at the text-book, which is open in his left hand, while in his right be holds the chalk or the pointer, ever ready to illustrate from map or black board, or, perhaps, flourishes the ancient taws' with which in tormer days he used to reduce disorderly new-comers to discipline and order. The whole scene is one of vigorous action and masterly force." But outside the schools there is a power at work which supplies them with life and vigour, and this is the extraordinary- interest which the parents take in the progress of their boys. What place in the class to day?" Mr. Fearon found to be the first question asked when a boy west hom.; and then would follow questions as to what he had Bead whether smch a neighbour's son was above or below him, and, if above him, why so; how he had gained, and why he had lost a place and did he think he had & chance of ever being dux—every word showing the importance which the whole family attach to his success. In short, the schools are practically in the hands of the parents; they pay the full cost of the teaching, and the system in operation gives them the power of controlling the instruction, and a strong sense of responsibility is thus fostered in their minds. The result is that they give their hearts to a task which in many respects none others can do so well. The Com- missioners remark that the system is the growth of nearly three centuries, and it would not be possible to transplant it exactly as it stands but that to catch something of the same spirit would undoubtedly be worth much.

SOVEREIGNS IN ABYSSINIA. The Blue-book recently presented to Parliament tells the story of an unfortunate mishap on an interchange of presents between Her Majesty and the late King of Shoa. The young King, to whose father we had sent a mission on an extensive scale, despatched to Aden some elephants' tusks and rhinoceros' horns as a present for Her Majesty, with a complimentary letter, in which, however, he complained that the Queen had not sent to him on his accession, and asked Her Majesty to send him 1,500 dols. or, if she had gold at hand, he would wish the same amount of gold, and also that Her Majesty would send him" persons who could make a crown and cannon and paint pictures and J-n,i i T r s .u zioys- sinia, attacked and subdued Shoa its ruler took refuge in the forests, and there sickened and died.

MURDER IN NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE A man named John Rogers, an Hlnerent potseller, living at Burslem, is in custody at Kan^ey' c"arged with the wilful murder of Mary Durwin, an Irishwoman with whom he had cohabited for several years. The circumstances, as at present known, are briefly these:— On Thursday night the prisoner and the murdered woman were seen together in several public-houses in the neighbourhood of Burslem. At the village of Milton they had a violent quarrel, the woman up- braiding her paramour with wasting the money which she earned, and the latter telling her that as she was not his wife she had no claim upon him, and that he did not care how soon she left hIm, He was proceed- ing to violence, when the landlord of the house in- terposed and protected the woman. At a late hour they left the house together and went through several fields in the direction of Hanley. They were met by two colliers, who, before ^ey?ame up to them, had heard a woman screaming Murder and who, on seeing them, were satisfied from her appearance that the woman had been grossly ill-treated, but they do not appear to have interfered. The deceased and Rogers were not again seen together, but at half- past four o'clock on Friday morning a collier going to his work reported to two men whom he met coming from a pit that he had passed a woman lying on the canal bank, and that she appeared to have been in the water. He asked them to look after her, but they contended that as they had just left work, while he was fresh from sleep, it was more reasonable to expect that he should charge himself with this act of humanity. The wrangle ended in all three of the men going about their own business with the most perfect indifference as to the fate of the woman. Nothing more was heard of her until seven o'clock on Saturday morning, when her dead body was accidentally dis- covered in a disused colliery engine-house a few hundred yards from the bank of the canal. The body, when found, was lying across a wheelbarrow, and a subsequent examination of the locality showed that in all probability the murderer had first of all endeavoured to bury the body in the shale lying at the mouth of a neighbouring coal-pit, but had abandoned that idea for some reason or other. ami had then wheeled it straight to the engine-house. 0 A post-mortem examination of the body has been made by Mr. Oldham, surgeon, of Burslem, who is of opinion, from appearances presented by the woman's throat, that she was strangled. In addition to marks of violence on the throat, there ara bruises on both arms, caused apparently by the tight grip of a man's hands. The prisoner, on being taken into custody, said that as he and the woman were walking along the bank of the canal she fell into the water through being very drunk, that he pulled her out at the risk of his own life, and then left her.

STATE OF EDUCATION IN BIRMINGHAM. Mr. George Dawson, in the course of a lecture on national education delivered in Birmingham, said :— What was the state of education in Birnlinryham- the centre of civilisation, the chief town of Democracy the town from which liberty radiated to all the world &c. ? They ought to have seen in the newspapers a report by a gentleman whose honour was above all question, and whose reputation for ability the report admirably maintained. He examined children in manufactories. He did it openly, and with the con- sent of the manufacturers. Of 100 males 42 could read well, 18 moderately, by which he meant badlv 40 not at all. Writing 34 could do it decently, 32 moderately, which meant badly 44 failed, or wrote so wretchedly that they could not be said to write at all. Most of the writing that was done, and most of the education given was beneath contempt. Some of these poor people who were supposed to be able to write did it with a physical agony. They put out their tongues, their eyeballs glased, and they squared a bit, and the result was called writing. 'Spelling: 18 did it decently, 11 moderately, and 71 inde. cently—entirely wrong. Arithmetic 8 out of the ]00 were good at it, 8 moderate, and 84 knew nothing at all about it. And these people were sent out into the world In that state to spend their three score years and ten and this was in the centre of civilisation, chief town of democracy, and so on. In general knowledge> had got some, 19 bad got a little, and 74 had no knowledge at all. (Laughter.) These were the children, that they had now the Factory Act to protect, and who had to go out and slave before they had become men at all. and whose poor undeveloped nature had to be launched into the world to earn their weekly wages. Let them see how the girls fated. Of course, they would say, they would do worse. For even sensible men had not come to their senses yet with reF?r<i the education of women. Barbarism still looked upon woman as a convenient drudge, a useful slave, or an inferior help- mate. Well, 28 of the girls could read well, 24 moderately, and 48 not at all, or so badly as not to be worth calling reading at all- That was 72 girls who could not read a letter froth a lover. For, if they could not read a printed book it would go hard with a letter. IJet them look again at the capacity ot these angels for writing. (Laughter.) 16 of them could write well, 20 moderately, and 64 could not write at all. As to spelling, Ladies' spelling was always pretty feeble. (Laughter.) Ninety-five out of a hundred educated ladies would spell "independent "with a "dant." (Laughter.) Four of the girls could spell well, 5 moderately, and 86 not at all—that was licentiously— (laughter)—they did it according to the sound. In arithmetic there was one girl—he would not mention her name or she would have too many suitors (laughter)—who could sum well, four moderately, and 95 not at all. In general knowledge, again one girl— perhaps the Rame-.had good general knowledge, 10 moderate, and 89 failures, Let them look at that bill. It was a bit! of shame, a bill to make an Englishman blush and hide his head,

CRIMINAL AVIARIES. Mr. C. P. Measor makes the following remarks n a letter to the London Times: Strange and almost silly as it may seem, there exists as much a fashion in the style of prison construction as in the recent monstrous developments in ladies' chignons," although one is supposed to be built for use and the other constructed on the plea of ornament. Jack Sheppard s "stone jugs are now out of fashion, and light iron and wiry stiuctnres take their place, in which gaol birds are caged in human aviaries. The external walls are of brick, the inner partitions of corrugated iron, and there are three or fonr tiers of cells in these dovecots, fronted by pretty balconies, which are supported by iron spandrils and ornamented with wirework. The general effect is certainly very light and lively, particularly on a large scale, such as was to be seen at Chatham Prison, whttre there were 1,100 of these little cageR, or four tiers, in one undivided building; only when the birds took to singing, each in his own peculiar note, it was not quite Se) pleasant. That prison, with others. has been subsequently sub- d vided, in consequence of the strong evidence given hy myself and others before the Royal Commission; but the balconv system is still in full force. The wonder is that the warders are not continually pitched over those places when they venture to differ with the convicts in their charge in such lofty and perilous situations. Prisons, to y mind, should be so built as to afford no facilities for executing sudden temptations to suicide or murder. 1 rom a balcony of this kind the wretched Townley committed at Pentonville his rash act of self-destruction. Not contented, however, with maintaining such an arrangement in the main body of the prison, punish- I ment cells for the refractory have even recently been t f built upon this many storied balcony principle and ) at Portland Prison, a few days since, a violent convict, sentenced to punishment, in a fit of frenzy threw him- self over the railing from the top floor, and broke his neck. Surely, the dangers of bad arrangements in prison construction need not be added to those which it otherwise falls to the lot of prison officers to encounter in carrying out the punishment of desperate cnenders ? Common sense is alone required in ihe plan and de. tails ef a prison.

EXTRAORDINARY MARRIAGE CONSPIRACY. A case of a very singular nature came before the magistrates at the Birmingham Police-court on Saturday. A respectable-looking middle-aged woman dressed as a widow, was charged, with a man not in custody, with having conspired to solemnize a mar- riage, in which the man personated a gentleman since deceased, for the purpose of afterwards raising a specious title to his property. The circumstances, as detailed to the Court, were as follows :— Mr. George Brittan, the gentleman now deceased, was an ironmonger and general merchant, who had for many years carried on business at Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. Mr. Brittan was a bachelor, and for a number of years the pri- soner, whose name was Mary Ann Shaw, alias Osborn, lived with him in the capacity of housekeeper, there being no other inmates of the cottage in which they resided. On the morning of the 23rd of October last Mr. Brittan died very suddenly, at the age of seventy-five. He had just completed the act of shaving, when he fell back in his chair and as once expirel. Tne relatives were called in, and began to make some arrangements respecting the disposition of the property of the deceased, who was worth several thousand pounds, and had died intestate. To their surprise, in the afternoon, Mr. Roland Price, a local attorney, came into the house and coolly proposed that the 'f'ftlves should take the freehold property of the deceased and the half of the real estate, and that the other half should go to his widow, and the relatives were perfectly astounded when the housekeeper claimed this relation to the deceased, and in support of this claim produced a marriage certificate, which purported that she had been duly married to the deceased at St. Andrews Church, Bordesley, Birmingham, about a year before, by the Rev. J. Hilt, the incumbent, in the presence of dhara Fisher, the sexton, and a woman named Susannah Kingdon, who was said to be her sister. The relatives at once entered a caveat at the Worcester Court to PFeve.n„tie"^ °,1irt ministration being granted to the alleged widow, and caused inquiries to be made respecting the alleged marriage. A register of such a marriage was found in the register of ht. Andrew's parish, in Birmingham; but when the Rev. Mr Hill and the sexton were taken over to Stourbridge and shown the corpse of the deceased they both affirmed that he was not the man to whom the prisoner had been married, and the incumbent positively declared that no man like the deceased had been married in his church. A photograph of the deceased was also shown to the clergyman and the sexton, which further confirmed them in their opinion. It was also stated that on the morning after Mr. Brittan died the prisoner met a man named William Shields, to whom she showed the marriage certificate, upon which Shields re- marked, "So it appears you got some one else to go in his name, although you could not persuade me and the two afterwards went and had something to drink together. There was also indubitable evidence to show that at the time when the alleged marriage took place Mr. Brittan was in Stourbridge, and had not been able to leave it for some weeks previously, in consequence of infirm health. The solicitor for. the prisoner stated that she had only been taken into custody on the previous night, and, as there had been no time to prepare a defence, he applied for a remand for a few days. This was granted, and the prisoner was accordingly remanded.

THE BISHOP OF LONDON ON ESTABLISHED. CHURCHES. On Sunday afternoon the Bishop of London preached at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, in London, one of the Lenten sermons, which, during his lordship's episco- pate, have become so famous. The bishop selected for his text the 24th chapter of the Book of Joshua, verses 14 and 15, Choose you this day whom ye wiU serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. He ex- plained the nature of church and state as it existed in Jewish times, and spoke of other times when church authority was repudiated—when a declaration of religion, however tolerant, was considered to be an interference with the rights of individual conscience, and argued that it was necessary that there should be a national religion, as the foundation of national strength. In this country there was doubtless a tolerant spirit, whether we owed it most to Cromwell, to Locke, to William of Orange, or to the principles which flowed out of the reformation. Be- cause they had suffered from evils in the past it would certainly not be urged that they were bound to aban- don corporate religion altogether. The complicated questions connected with this union of church and state were not to be discussed in a single sermon but he held that such a union might be sustained in a large and comprehensive spirit without sacrificing one jot or tittle of Christ's truth, or abandoning one of the smallest rights of Christian citizens. A notion seemed to have got abroad that national progress would on some day or other put an end to the profession of a national religion. If this were so, he must remark that the progress must be in the wrong direction. It was no doubt greatly to be desired that a national re- ligion should be accepted by a majority of the people but it could not be maintained that what was to be good for a nation was to be determined by show of hands. When, therefore, the church had allied itself with the state, for the good of the state, with the deliberate sanction of all that was best in the state, it was not right that its doctrines should be tested in a manner which would be repudiated by any other body. If, for example, there could be a community in which the majority of the people were rogues, thatcoaldbeno reason why an dtective system of government should not be established, or wby an effective system of police should not be maintained. He believed that all modern European experience taught that the main- tenance of a national state religion was in no wise inimical to wise toleration or to the rights of individual conscience. On the whole a national established church was more likely to be tolerant than any independent body. The church of Christ undertaking to aid the ruling powers of a gteat nation in guiding and tending the various ranks of its multi- tudinous people could not well lose the largeness of Christian principle in the narrow disputes which oocupied so much of the time of other Christian bodies. Then, again, there were many doubts and diffi- culties which the state had to meet, and which the state could not effectually overcome without calling in the aid of the church of Christ. For example, in all civilised countries how large a portion of modern legislation was concerned with the arrangement and distribution of charities, and the management of the poor--with education, with the prevention of crime and the reform of criminals. How could all these matters be managed except on Christian principles, and how could Christian principles be applied unless the state allied itself to Christ's church? Doubtless the state was benefited by an alliance with the church, and the church would not suffer from the union. Of course, the time might come when the state repudiated gospel teaching, and the church might stand apart, as it did in a heathen land but there was no such symptoms of apostacy in this country at present, nor was it likely there would be while all the learning and thought of the country were at command, to adju t the difficulties of the church as they arose. The church of this country opened its doors to all classes of the community, and he trusted that no unwise exalta- tion of church authority on the one hand, or any undue craving for liberty on the other hand, would tend to the destruction of those privileges which England now enjoyed. His lordship dismissed the congregation with the benediction.

STRANGE SCENE IN A CHURCH. On Friday there was an extraordinary scene in the parish church of St. Edmund the King, Lombard- street, in London. The Rev. Joseph Lycester Lyne, Brother Ignatius," had been announced to preach to men only, and at the time appointed for the com- mencement of the service there was not to all appear- ance a seat to spare, and yet large numbers of men came flocking in until the whole area of the church was densely packed. The Litany service was intoned by the curate, after which Mr. Lyne ascended the pulpit. At this time there was a complete panic in the church. Some three or four hundred persons who had been quietly waiting outside, in the hope of some time or other gainingadmission, made a desperate rush, knocking over, without any ceremony, those who had occupied forms in the central aisle. Two or three fights ensued at the we-tern end of the church, and there was a good deal of exclamation of "Popery" and Puseyism," but no intended violence (so it is believed by those who witnessed the whole of the proceedings) was for a moment meant. Indeed, with the exception of this slight interruption, Mr. Lyne was treated throughout with the greatest possible respect. Mr. Lyne selected for his text the words of the 21st chapter of the Book of Revelation, verse 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and 1 idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." His doctrine 1 was of the wildest character, his denunciations of such of the wicked as were included in the text most awful; hut his eloquence was very great, and bis persuasive powers remarkable.

SHOOTING AT A CHIEF CONSTABLE. An attempt was made on Saturday evening to assassi- nate Mr. Fox, chief constable of Derbyshire. Between five and six o'clock Mr. Fox was walking towards his office, at the top of Station-street, Derby, when he was met by a man named James Connor, who was recently discharged from the county force. Connor said, "Is that you?" and became very abusive. At length he said,_ D you, I will shoot you," and pulling from his pocket a pistol presented it at Mr. Fox's head. Air. Fox tried to persuade the man to go towards the office; but the fellow said, "No sir I shall not go with you I will shoot you at once," and thereupon fired the pistoL The pistol was heavily charged, and Mr. Fox was wounded in both hands and legs. Mr. Fox, after he was shot, rushed at his would-be murderer, and the two struggled together. Mr. Fox at length succeeded in wrenching the pistoi from Connor, and dragging him to his office. Mr. Fox's injuries are not dangerous. There is no doubt it was the position in which he held his umbrella that prevented the shots from entering his head. The umbrella is completely riddled with shot. At the Derby County Police-court on Monday, James Connor, alias O'Connor, was brought up in custody, charged with attempting to murder Mr. Willoughby G. Fox, chief constable of Derbyshire, on the Saturday evening previous. Fmx said that at a quarter to seven o'clock on Saturday evening he was passing along Station-street, Derby. He had gone about half-way up the street when he heard a, voice call out, Is that Mr. Fox?" He said, Yes," and turned round in the direction in which he beard the voice. He was at this time on the footpath. It was raining fast, and he had an um- brella in his hand. On turning round he sa.w a man in the middle of the street with something in his hand. The man immediately shouted out twice, j"Ill shoot you." He knew the voice, and siid. Connor for what?'' He then saw what he believed to be a pistol aimed at him. He kept the umbrella moving up and down. The shot was then fired by the prisoner, he being about six > or seven yards dis- tant. After the shot was fired Connor came towards him, and he seized him, took the pistol out of his hand, and brought him to the lock-up, being met on the way by Police-constable Millington, and he delivered the prisoner into his custody. After the pistol was fired, he received the contents in his legs and right band. His wife afterwards sent for Mr. Gisborne, surgeon. Mr. Gisborne examined the marks, but no shot was extracted. The prisoner had been in the police force from 1857, and was discharged on the 30th of January, 1867. After he was discharged from the force he made complaints against the superintendent of the Chesterfield division and also against the witness. Those complaints were inquired into by the County Police Committee, but they were found to be untrue. Henry Francis Gisborne, surgeon, Derby, said the aho.t"i had penetrated the skin, but no doubt by the action of walking they had fallen out. The wounds were not dangerous in the legs, but they might have caused death if they had been in the face. It was small shot. Joseph Tomlinson, a moulder's boy, deposed that he was in Station-street about seven o'clock on Saturday evening last, when he saw prisoner and Mr. Fox there. The fiist words he heard were spoken by the prisoner, who said to Mr. Fox "I am going to shoot you." Mr. Fox said, Come up here a bit, and I will have a little talk with you," and prisoner said Oh no," and then pulled a pistol out of his pocket with his right hand and fired it. Police-constable Millington and Mr. Thomas Wheeldon, superintendent of police, Litchurch, gave confirmatory evidence. The latter stated that after the prisoner was removed to a cell he became much excited, and said, "This affair will go all over the world, but it has been caused by Mr. Wheeldon, of Chesterfield, for I was never properly dismissed from the force. I might as well be on the hulks as be here a ruined man." Edwin Davis, detective officer for the county of Derby, said that on Saturday last he was at the Derby railway station about half-past six in the evening, and saw Mr. Fox leave it. He saw prisoner on the platform at the station about a quarter before six the same time. At that time the chief constable was at the book-stall and the prisoner stood near, behind one of the pillars upon which the gas lamps are put, and he appeared to make it a place of concealment while he was watching Mr. Fox. He then went from the platform and stood outside the railway station, when prisoner came up, and began talking to him. He said, I am a poor distressed creature, Davis; my wife and family are starving, and Mr. Wheeldon, of Chesterfield, and the chief constable have been the cause of it." He further said he appre- hended a man, who broke out of Montgomery gaol, for a burglary at Heath, and it was the worst thing he ever did for himself; for through that case Mr. Wheeldon wrote to the chief and got him dismissed, but he should have satisfaction, for Lord Edwara Howard and Mr. Bright were going to take up his case for him. At the time the prisoner left the force he was stationed at Brampton, and the superintendent at Chesterfield was Mr. George Wheeldon. The prisoner, having received the usual caution, said, I have nothing to say." The Bench then committed him for trial at the next assizes at Derby on the charge of attempting to murder Mr. Fox.

THE PRINCESS OF WALES AND THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHILDREN. The Princess of Wales has been graciously pleased to accept a Bible presented to her by the Sunday- school children of Great Britain and Ireland. Her royal highness's state of health not allowing her to re- ceive a deputation, Mr. H. N. Goulty, the originator of the movement (who was introduced by Lord Harris), presented the Bible, with an address, to which her royal highness returned the following answer: — I accept the very beautiful Bible which you present to me with, I hope, a full appreciation of the sentiments you ex- press concerning its inestimable value as the Word of God. I am very sensible of the exertions which you have made to supply nae with this proof of your interest in my welfare and of your loyalty to the throne. I offer you my very sincere acknowledgment, and will only add that the gratifiestion with which I receive your present is enhanced, when I regard it as a token of the Christian union subsisting between those who have joined together to give it to me. The schools uniting in the subscription numbered 1,514—1,238 English, 146 Scotch, and 130 Irish. In regard to the religious communities to which they are severally attached, the English schools are thus classified Church of England, 546 independents, 16G baptist, 123; Wesleyan, 95 primitive metho- dist, 23; united presbyterian, 8 j Jews, 3; unclassed, 274.

The FENIAN PRISONERS in NEWGATE. The three Fenian prisoners, Burke, Casey, and Shaw, against whom the grand jury for the county of Warwick returned true bills on indictments charging them with treason-felony, and which indictments have been removed by certiorari to the Central Criminal Court, in London, have arrived at the prison of Newgate, where they will remain until and pending their trial. They left Warwick at eight o'clock on Friday morn- ing, in the custody of twenty of the Warwickshire constabulary, travelling to London by the Great Western line. On arriving at Paddingtoothey were placed in a prison van and escorted thence by a. strong body of metropolitan mounted police to N ewgate, which they reached about noon. There are consequently now ten Fenian prisoners incarcerated m Newgate, awaiting their trials, including the seven who stand committed from Bow-street on the charge of murder in connexion with the affair at the Clerkenwell House of Detention. The prison is guarded outside, night and day, by a picked body of the city police, who are armed with cutlasses and revolvers, and of whom there are so many that no two of them are said ever to be out of sight of each other. They form, in fact, a complete cordon lound the whole building, and addi- tional precautions are understood to have been taken inside to insure the greater security of the prison. At the Old Bailey an opinion prevails that at the next session, which will commence on Monday, the 6th of April, all the ordinary criminal business, which usually occupies the greater part of, and oc- casionally the whole week, will be disposed of before the Fenian prisoners are put upon their triaL Ordinarily great trials do not commence there before the Wednesday of the session, when the judges at- tend but, as the trial of the Fenian prisoners will be necessarily most protracted, and as, if begun on the Wednesday, it might not terminate on the Saturday evening, in which case the jury would have to be kept together over the Sunday, which this year will be Easter Sunday, the probability is that it will not commence until the following Monday, the 13 th of April

THE ATTACK ON CLERKENWELL PRISON. In the House of Commons, on Monday night, Mr. Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as had been publicly stated, either the Government or the Chief Commissioner of Police had information, previously to the commission of the crime, of a design to blow up or otherwise attack Clerkenwell Prison, and, if so, whether there was any objection to state what precautionary or preventive measures were taken in consequence. Mr. Hardy thought it very natural that the hon. gentleman should wish for such information as it was in his power to give in reference to the lamentable oc- currence at Clerkenwell In answer to the first part of the question, he might state that on the 12th of December last a report was received at the Home-ofEce at about twelve o'clock in the day, or a little after, to the following effect. He would not give the name of the person who sent the report because he did not think that would be advisable :— December 11, 1867. I have to report that I have just received information from a reliable source to the elfect that the rescue of Rickard Burke from prison in London is contemplated. The plan is to blow up the exercise walls by means of gun- powder the hour, between 3 and 4 p.m-; and the signal for "all right," white ball thrown up outside when he is at exercise. That information thus received, and coming, as was thought, froma source on which reliance could be placed, Mr. Liddell, the Under-Secretary for the Home De- partment, immediately sent to the Chief Commissioner of police. Sir R. Mayne was not at the office at the time it arrived, but Captain Labalmondiere was there, and the report was at once put into his hands that he might see it. At the same time a letter was written by Mr. Liddell to Mr. Powell, the Chairman of the Visiting Justices, and despatched by a messenger, and was delivered to that gentleman that afternoon. He did not know whether he need go through the cir- cumstances which had appeared generally in the newspapers, as to the promptitude with which Mr. Puwnall acted; the careful precautionary measures he took in order, if the walls of the prison were injured, to prevent an attempt at escape by the prisoner Burke; the extra. warders employed to afford additional protection, and the alterations made in the usual time and place of the exercising of the prisoners so that, as fa.r as Mr. Pownall was concerned—though he had not time to assemble the magistrates—action was taken with that care and promptitude which were calculated to prevent any attempt at rescue which might be made. Captain Labalmondiere was at the Home-office between twelve and one o'clock, because the order which he wrote to the Superintendent of Police was dated 12.45, which showed that Captain Labalmondiere had then received the information in question. He would read to the House the instruc- tions which Captain Labalmondiere gave on receipt of that report. They were handed to Superintendent Gernon, and before he left the office the Chief Com- missioner came in, when that document was handed to him and he gave instructions to Superintendent Geruon to the like effect, only they were more specific, stating the force of police which was to be used :— Superintendent Gernon,—Acquaint the Governor of the House of Detention that information has been received of an intended rescue of the prisoner Burke, to be effected by blowing up the walls of the exercising ground during the hours he is at exercise. Have the external walls carefully examined to ascertain that there has been no attempt to mine, and arrange for strict observation to be kept on them.-12 45 p.m. In his report on the occurrence Sir R Mayne stated :— The police arrangements made by Superintendent Ger- non, in pursuance of my directions, were to post a doubls patrol of two police-constables, and three police-constables were employed in plain clothes, all of whom were strictly instructed, together with section sergeants, to keep close ob- servation '011 all persons loitering round the prison walls, and to give immediate information to the inspector on duty at King's-cross station should anything suspicious arise. There were also five police-constables iu unitorm and three in plain clothes on duly round the prison walls. At the same time Inspector Thompson was sent by Sir H. Mayne to communicate with the Governor of the prison and tell him what they had heard, and that communication was made in the course of the after- noon of the 12th of December. Precautions were taken as to the protection of the walls outside but So'e hi. rnemb.?. who had no. »1^— made by the witnesses might not ife, dweription'to that very afternoon a cask of a similar description to ii.„ (Vn(, that exploded on December lo w as seen by a woman in the neighbourhood of the prison walls, and that as far as could be + W1? WaS ma,de £ ° light it. If it had been lighted at that time, no doubt there would have been destruction of life, not only outside of but within the prison, for it was then the hour of prison exercise and, further, about the time that the cask was seen there, a white india-rubber ball was thrown over the wall, which was afterwards picked up by one of the.warders, who, having no idea ot what it was used for, kept it for his children. At the same time it was noticed that the prisoner Burke fell out of the ranks and went to a different part of the yard, apparently to take something out of his shoe. But the cask was taken away and did not cause any suspicion among the people living in the neighbour- hood. He should mention that at the part of the wall which was broken down there was formerly a small wicket, and when Captain Labalmondiere wemt back to the Police-office he inquired whether that wieket was there, because it was thought that gunpowder might be used to force it open; but it did not appear to have struck him or any one else that it would be used to blow down the wall, as was aetually the case; for, although the information that had been received was communicated to the officers on the spot, the caak was placed close to the wall without anybody sup- posing that there was any cause to apprehend mischief from it. It appeared that that mode of carrying out the design of which they received information did not strike those who were set to watch the outside of the prison, because the policeman Moriarty walked along by the side of the wall when the cask was there, and nearly all his clothes were blown off in consequence of the explosion. What their attention was apparently directed to was the undermining of the wall; they thought it would probably be blown up from under- neath, and had no conception that it would be blown down in the way it really was done. That was all the information he had to afford on the subject.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND LORD RUSSELL. The following letter has been addressed by Mr. Disraeli to each of the London papers :— Sir,—Lord Russell observed last night in the House of Lords that I boasted at Edinburgh that while during seven years I opposed a reduction of the borough franchise, I had been all that time educating my party with the view of bringing about a much greater reduction of the franchise than that which my opponents had proposed. As a general rule, I never notice misrepresentation of what I may have said but as this charge against me was made in an august assembly and by a late first minister of the Crown, I will not refrain from observing that the charge has no foundation. Nothing of the kind was said by me at Edinburgh. I said there that the Tory party, after the failure of their bill of 1S59, had been educated for seven years on the subject of parliamentary reform, and during that interval had arrived at five conclusions, which, with their authority, I had at various times announced, viz. ;-1. That the measure should be complete. 2. That the representation of no place should be entirely abrogated. 8. That there must be a real boundary commission. 4. That the county representation should be considerably increased. 5. That the borough franchise should be established on the principle of rating; and that these five points were accomplished in the act of 1867. This is what I said at Edinburgh, and it is true..—I am, sir, your obedient servant, B. DlSR^BU. Downing-street, March 6th.

CONVICTION FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER. A young man named Verdoya, aged 23, a Piedmontese by birth, who had for some time worked as a mason at Apprieu, France, has just been tried at Grenoble for an attempt to murder a widow named Garin, at St. Blaise de Buiss. The woman, who occupied with her son and a ser- vant an isolated cottage, was alone at home on the evening of the 19th December last, when the ac- cused, who had on a former occasion assisted her in some garden-work, entered and seated himself by the fire. After some minutes' conversation he rose as if to leave, and then suddenly ordered the widow to give him what money she had. On her refusing, he said You are a dead woman and knocking her down he inflicted on her not less than 39 wounds with a stiletto in different parts of the head and body. Mdme. Garin remained motionless to induce the belief that she was dead, but through her half-closed eyes was able to see the man take a light and go and search all the cupboards for money, twice returning to see whether she stirred. Finding nothing, he seized the widow by her clothes, and although believing her to be dead, dragged her across the yard and threw her down a well, and then made off. The water was at about 13f eet from the top, but the woman was able to climb up the chain, and get over the brink of the well, when ahe fell on the ground insensible, and remained in that state for more than two hours. On recovering she made her way to a neighbour's house, where her wounds were dressed, and, information having been given to the police, Verdoya was arrested. The ac- cused was also proved to have only a few days before attacked a man on the high road at night, and, by menacing him with the same poignard, had forced him to give up what money he had. None of the wounds received by Mdme Garin were very deep, and. she haa now recovered and appeared on the trial, in court, where the impassioned manner in which she gave her evidence created a great sensaton. God," she said in terminating her account of the crime, has spared my life that the guilty may not go unpunished," and then with a gesture of indignation she pointed to the prisoner, who quailed before her look, although until then he had manifested a cynical indifference to the proceedings, simply opposing a denial to the charge brought against him. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, without the admission of extenuating circum- stances, and the judge passed sentence of death. On hearing the judgment the prisoner turned pale, and sank back on his seat, completely paralysed with terror, and had to be assisted from the court.

THE NAILERS ON STRIKE. The cry of the' wrought nailers has waxed from a feeble plaint into a loud wail, and the "strike," which commenced in such an unpretending way, is now assuming very large, if not serious proportions (says the Birmingham Post.) The disturbance is at present chiefly confined to Kate's Hill, The Lye, Gornal, Old Hill, and Sedgley. At each of these places open-air meetings have been held during the last few days, and energetic though ungrammatic utterances have set forth the wrongs of the nailer and the alleged injustice of the factors. Ay, lads," said one of the patriarchal nailers, amid the plaudits of the multitude, "but ain't it a burnin' shame as we poor men, and our wives (God bless 'um!) and our children should be starvin', while the gaffers livin' on our labour have bread enough and to spare? (Cries of Ay, ay !") Down with the "foggers," says I. ("That's it, Jerry," and applause.) Down with the tommy shops, says I. (More cheering.) Ay ay, lads, but these are evil times to live in. We've got ne'er a friend to settle these matters now poor old Badger's gone. (" Right again, Jerry.") But are we to have these" drops" for everlastin'? (Loud cries of No.") I'd rather go to the parish, and so would all of us, I'm thinking. (Much cheering.) Other speeches followed of like calibre, and ultimately the crowd dis- persed, muttering the burden of their wrongs. At Old Hill a half-starved group were singing, in plain- tive chorus:- Pity the poor nailer, Christians, kind and true Pity the poor nailer, Who's got no work to do. Pity the poor nailer, Begging in the street; We cannot live at the price they give. We've got no bread to eat.

The death is announced of M. Mateque, formerly juge de paix at Argeies (Pyrenees Orientales), at the age of 100 years and eight months. We (Times) are informed that the Prince of Wales will visit Ireland for a week at Easter. The principal object of his visit is to be installed Knight of St. Patrick. A Dublin correspondent, writing on Monday night says The an. nouncement here this evening, in a third edition of the Evening Mail, that tne visit of the Prince of Wales to Ire- land has been definitely decided upon,' gives the greatest satisfaction. It is understood that his Royal Highness will be the guest of the Lord Lieutenant, and preparations have already eommenced to render the occasion brilliant. No time is mentioned for the visit, bnt the belief seems generally to exist that it will be during the third week in April, when the Punchestown rases take place."

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE, MONDAY. About an average quantity of English wheat was on sale here to-day, but the general quality of the samples was by no means first-rate. For most kinds there was a fair, but by no means active, inquiry, at last Monday's decline in the quotations. The supply of foreign wheat was good. For the most part sales progressed slowly, neverthelesa last week's prices were supported. The transactions In floatinll cargoes of grain were by no means extensive. The number on sale was large. Malting barley was in good request, at very full prices but grinding and distilling sorts moved off slowly, at late rates. Malt, the supply of which was tolerably good, realised full quotations, although the trad,$ was inactive. Oats were quite as dear as last week, owing tCi the moderate importations trom abroad. Beans were steady in price, with a slight improvement in the demand. W& have no change to notice in the value of peas. The business doing was limited. The sale for flour was inactive, at last week's prices. Seeds and cakes met a dull inquiry. Pricey however, were supported. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MAHKET, MONDAY. The show of foreign stock here, to-day, was limited, but in fair average condition. The demand ruled steady, and prices were flrmly supported. From our own grazing districts the arrivals ot beasts fresh up this morning were moderate, and of full weight. The receipts from Scotland were rather more extensive, from Ireland limited. Nearly all breeds met a steady demand, at prices quite equal to Mondaj last. The best Scots and crosses realised 4s. 10d. per 81 tx the supply from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridge- shire, comprised about 1,100 Scots and crosses; from other parts of England, 450 various breeds; from Scotland, 60& Scots and crosses; and from Ireland, 120 o*ea, cows, &c, With sheep we were tolerably well, but not to say heavily, supplied for the time of year. There was a decided improve- ment in the demand for most breeds, at an advance in the quotations of 4d. per SIb. The best Downs and half-breds in the wool realised 5s. 4d. per Sib. The best shorn sheep were inactive, at 4s. 6d. to 4s. 8d per SIb. The general quality of the supply was good There was an improved sale fot lambs-the supply of which was moderate-at from 841. to 40s. each. In calves very little business was transacted, on lower terms. The supply was limited. The inquiry for plg» was heavy; but no quotable decline took place in prices. POTATOES. These markets are heavily supplied with potatoes. The, trade has ruled heavy, at our quotations. The imports into London last week consisted of 28 tons from Boulogne, 39,. Caen, 36 Havre, 216 Rouen, 130 St. Faloux, 113 Dunkirk, 41 Dahouet, 2 Antwerp, 83 Delfzyl, and 60 tons from Portrieux, Regents, 120s. to 160s.; Flukes, 130s. to 170s. fiocks, 110s. to 130s.; French 9os. to 105a per ton. HOPS. Since our last report the hop market has presented a more animated appearance. There has been an increased attend ance of brewers, and large quantities of Kent and SiWv" qualities have been disposed of at enhanced rates rnn tinental and American markets are firm. The import into London last week consisted of 129 bales fr^m viV io from Rotterdam, 19 from Hamburg Dunkirk. Mid and East Kents, 51 5s t^sz £ wi n Kent., 41. 1>8. to 10s. Sussex 41 J^ to fii 10, hams, 71. OS. to 9, 0s. and Yearlings,4^. 0°s.^If per ^t." WOOL. byTbuye^lMtheFiiir0v?niai ^?o1 ^ave 1)6611 wel1 attended tions bidding* v, an(* Continental. In all descrip- nrnvi-mpMf have progressed steadily, and the opening im- rmitro £ ? keen supported. English wool, by private contract fias changed hands to a moderate extent, on former verms. Ihe import into London last week consisted of 6,602 bales from the Cape, 3,118 from Geelong, 3,4n5 from Adelaide, 3,936 from Melbourne, and 4,879 from Sydney. Current prices of English wool:—Fleeces.—Soutnuown hoggets, Is. 2d. to Is. 2R; half-breds, Is. 4d. to la. 6d. t\ tHo t fleeces, Is. 2d. to Is. 2Jd. Southdown ewes and wethers, Is lid. to Is. 2Id.; and Leicester ditto is. 1!i. to Is. 2d. per lb. S rts: clothing, is. 2d. to Is 5id.; and combing, Is. Od. to Is. 6d. per lb. TALLOW. The market is quiet, at 42s. 9d. for P.Y.C., on the tpot; towc tallow, 41s. d. nett cash.