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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords on March 13, the Earl of Devon laid upon the table a bill to further amend the law relating to the relief of the poor. The Duke of Argyll, having directed attention to the incon- veniences arising out of the ratepaying clauses of the Reform Act of last year, turned aSide to refer to the terms 11l which Iiord Russell had lately spoken of the Government as un- Worthy of confidence, and which, he remarked, were fnay deserved. The only reply to this noble friend was a letter signed by the Premier, and published in the newspapers two days subsequently, and he thought the Conservative party were entitled to the cred it of being exceedingly good natured in enduring the process of education to which they had been subjected, and especially in forgiving the speech of Mr. Disraeli at Edinburgh. The Lord Coancellor, having explained the nature and effect of the ratepaying clauses of the Reform Act, ad- ministered a rebuke to the noble duke for occupying the time of the house with criticisms upon what after all was oniy a postprandial speech. He then animadverted with considerable force upon the charges which had been brought by Lord Russell en the occasion referred to against the con- duct of Lord Derhy's Government, and denied that these charges had either point or accuracy, and indignantly repu- diated the conclusion which had been drawn by Lord -"•Ussell from his own unfounded and unsupported premises. Earl Russell characterised the speech of the Lord Chan- cellor as emillelltly ingenious, though it had altogether onutted to answer the charges of the Duke of Argyll- Ihe ltoble earl justified his charges against the Government, ana "eclared that their conduct with respect to Reform had Been unworthy of high-miuded statesmen. „,«+«>*(• The Earl of Malmesbury complained that, under the p^ a question with resnent. t.() ronmnnnnrtn. J.wl" me encouragement, oi a »»» — proprietary, which he explained at length. If it were right to lend money to tenants for improvements, as Lord Majo's Bill proposed, WAY not lend money to tenants to buy land? Protesting that he had no desire to interfere with the rights of property-for he would not apply his plan except where landowners were willing to Bell—iie showed that, without paying more annually than hIS present rent, a tenant in a little over 30 years might become the oymer of his farm. His object was to create in Ireland some few score thousands (If a steady dass be ween the large landowners and the landless—a class which would be thoroughly loyal and would be the zealous eIHllllY of Fenianism. lie admitted that the time would never come when Mr. Mill's remedy would be necessary for Ireland, but heheldthaf-in every country where there was no cla-s but landlord and tenant, with no manufactures to absorb the population, the condition of the cultivator of the swn must infevitably be degraded. On the Church question, Mr Bright described the Ministerial proposal to add another buter&ss in the shape of a bribe as grotesque and imbecile. The establishment of a Catholic University could have IlO effect on Jb'euianism it had been received with general disfavour; and, like the dual vote of last year, when itimd served its object would probably disappear, But Protestant ascendancy in Ireland, as represented by a State Church, was doomed, and perfect religious equality on the voluntary principle must be estahlished in its place. There might be difficulties in carrying out this change, but they must be faced; and, condemning Lord Russell's pamphlet as 40 years too late, Mr. Bright developed a plan of his own for the pur- P<)Be- ■He would, of course, disestablish and disendow all Churches alike the liegium Donum must go as well as the Maynooth grant. But as the lite interests of the Protestant bishops and priests must be preserved, 1i0 must the hfe interests of the Presbyterian ministers and of Maynoo h Cul- lege he provided for. Where the congregations of existing Protestant churches would undertake to repair them and the parsonage-houses they might be left in possession of them. Of course, no more bishops, except on the footing of Scotch Bishops, would be created; and if the State granted any provision at the out-et to either of the three religious bodies, it must become its absolute property entirely free from the control of the State. The whole of the Church property being Irish p.operty, it must be disposed of in entire accordance with the desires of the Irish people. Though not sanguine that Mr Disraeti would be able to deal radically with it Mr. Bright protested that he should be delighted to co-operate with him in settling this question and in one of his finest and most enthu- siastically applauded perorations, he appealed tc the mode- ration, the justice, and the upright and Christian feeling of all c'asses to remove the dark cloud now resifJg on Ireland. Sir S. Northcote, summing up, or taking stock, as he said, of the debate, was of opinion that It would put the House in a better position to deal with the Irish question. For in- stance, the real character of Fenianism could be more v,Ut ,RPPreciated, and the delusion that Ireland had not ner lair share in the councils of the Empire was dispelled, ■ine problem before Parliament was, no doubt, a difficult one but the first thing to do with a disease which might be said to be on the nerves was to give hope and comfort, and not to disturb any healing process which was going on. He claImed for the Irish Government, not limItmg It to the present Administration, that it had administered Ireland with impartial justice, and the conviction of this must in time come home to all classes. He defended the Land Bill which Lord Mayo would introduce, expres- SÎl1g a strong conviction that the landlords of Ireland would net object to a restriction of their rights if it could be shown that the public interest required it. But it was not intended that this Bill should necessarily be the be-all and end-all of the Government policy, and for that reason, and not for delay, the Government had appointed a Commission of Inquiry. As to the Church, Sir Stafford said that if he believed its maintenance to be unjust he would consent to sweep it away immediately, but he was unable to see that it was except oil a principle which would be destructive of all establishments. The property of the Church was not national property, but the £ °Perty °f the Church; and though the State ™igM hare a:right to inquire how the Church was using _vp, ?p^lvs her ot it without a violent necessa healiritr nonrv* breach of statesmanship. Ireland req\_rit«.tine and confiscation would be unjust and lr »■ M r hl(, Mr. Mouse 11 adjourned th# debate until Monday, March 16. In the House of Lords, on March l^, the caU borough gave notice that next Tuesday week elementary the attention of their Lord-hips to the state yn that education in England and Wales, and bring in a ui "Vart Rusiell had given notice that he should call attention to the Commission on the Neutrality Laws, and ask t. the repoit of the Commission will be laid before Parliament,, but the noble earl did not bring forward his motion. Their Lordships adjourned at an early hour. In the House of Commons, Captain Vivian asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the estimate of the probable expenditure on account of the Abyssinian expedi- tion, which was presented to the House in November last is likely to be exceeded and if so, whether he is prepared to say to what extent, and what are the circumstances which account for the same. The Chancellor of the Exchequer deprecated the course ol putting these questions in such a manner. But he could ill- form the House that at present he had every reason to believe that the expenditure would bll covered by the lowest estimate viz three millions aud a half. Air Monpell rose to continue the adjourned debate on the Irish question. He thanked the right hon. baronet (Sir Stafford Northcote) for the way in which he had treated the matter in his speech on Friday night. There had been, m lndew"med at thetotal perversion of was a great amount of discontent, vergig0>d^cUon indeed, there was much more of the latter U of Feniauism. He acknowledged the sj mpat jeit the Irish in the House of Parliament, and stated that th^y they were governed more by English and Scotch than by iris opinions. He reminded them that, although the people were quiet from 1S48 to 1865, nothing was done to do avvay the wrongs from which they were suffering. He thanked the Government for their proposition with respect to tne Roman Catholic University, but he awaited the decision of the people on the subject, for he should not be satisfied until the University of Ireland was a National University. He doubted the statements of the noble lord that education in the United States and Germany had progressed consider- ably affirming that in the former country education had me„t with regard to the tants monopolised the whole ofth lerated m England and Whether such a grievance would ere ever alienated Scotland. He btlteved that no Wfairly th^ by justice, and if they only treated tne f He com would not have to complain of their u j uje(1 agaj,)3t batted the various arguments which hart aIl(j assured the dis-establishmeut of the ProUstant Chur th(;re wag the House that there never could be conten granted perfect religious equality. When that wad as ready they would find the Irish people as loyal and ljsh iZ MUpport tho Constitution as their Scotch or bret iren. He entreated them nflt t0 let th.s sense ol m £ haVn;<Lconvu,se the nation, as it was the last link in tne chain of conquest which now remained. there Joh»stone, after a short introduction said greatest of 0 e ^reat subjects for legislation, and the tSs of°the HoeU8:awS theJa',d "»e3ti0n- Jle'h';fv minster for rp™! re due to the hon. member for rcspect to ffifeHntin? th° gravity of the crisis with to compare that argued that it was absurd had been mentioned With niai,y othe?'s wllR'h i h r MaiesU's Cnvli thought the propositions made that they had thrown awa'^a^reat^on UI,*alis'act0[,y' eked the speech of the Ear*! ofCyotTd policy then in expressed might be^ a -Trulv liberal'' but was not a state-manlike one. If they wotetrvi.iJbv their proposals to conciliate, the Roman Cathol.es they would not succeed; if they wanted to conciliate Ireland thev must bold 1 j face the problem they had to solve. Mr Gregory, admitting the geneial accuracy of Lord Majo's picture of the progressive condition of Ireland, and allowing that Fenianism was confined to one i.art ot the country, aud was utterly impracticable in its aims main- tained that there WHS much discontent afloat which o'usrht to he dealt with immediately and it ought to be dealt with as nearly as possible in the same spirit as an Irish Parliament would handle it in. On the land question, stability of wnuro wm th# first thing to b« obtained, and if Mr. Bright'* plan could be accompanied by some proTision against suth division it might confer great benefits on Ireland. On tne question of education, replying to Mr Horsman s ^mark he denied that the Roman Catholic la^y required pr t<ectio againsD their h critchy, and showed that in8 l]ire(j minational education, primary and university, Jrst^,bjec- no more than was claimed by Protestants l tions to the mixed system of education camefromth testant clergy, and though the Roman C^ Colleges were | condemned tne principle on which the Q greater! has ;d, they had not cariried/hew opposrtlon to g thp length. But at the bottom of all Irish d^^?erecommended State Church, and, speaking as a Protes protestauts. Mr. Bright's scheme to the consnierauc. the three Personally he was in favour of '^e en- that pUi,jic denominations in Ireland hut he <t■ {0 sweep away the opinion was against endowments. P and must Church would be an Looking to leave much bitterness and a u{,cstion, its settlement the great difficulties which beset the item of that must be attaine £ fcto be the conveyance to each denomina- 1 compromise ou0ht t^a b condition in the case of Roman tion of a lump sum> .f gv,0uld be applied to the purchase Catholics that a par jje exhorted the enemies of the of glebe lands an^ lth jig-establishment, and avowed Church to be c stion should be deferred until the new his wish that ttie ques^^ wUh u ((U ]arger ba5ig. Amnn^other remedies he suggested direct diplomatic rela- ^vith the Pope, moderate loans of public money for improvements, and an improved administration of ^Mrf^Conolly augured much good from the practical turn of the debate, and while maintaining that Irish Protestants were not indisposed to a calm and just settlement of the Church question, intimated that he should oppose Lord Mayo's Land Bill if it was like that of last year. As Mr. Conolly sat down more than a score members sprang up to continue the debate in all parts of the House, but chiefly on the Liberal benches, and the Speaker called on Mr. W. H. Gladstone, who, in a very successful maiden speech, argued that the circumstances of Ireland required a bolder treatment than the Ministerial programme. Fenianism, he held, was not so dangerous as he subdued and smothered^ feelmgs of .iiscontent, which prevailed extensively, and on niiberal policy of this discontent he defined to he the ill °era^ P°llcy we had Dursued towards the Irish people, notn as cultivators of the soil and as Roman Catholics He cultivators ° f erta;n an,i liberal compensation forV°hnprovements, and this he would substitute for the tenant-right Custom, which he did not altogether approve. Deeply regretting that the Government had no policy m regard to the Church, he insisted that no time should be lost by Parliament in pronouncing for the principle of religious equality, and he combatted the plea that to disestablish the Irish Church would strike a blow at the English Church showing in how many circumstances the two differed. Ihe one was an insult to the vast majority of the population while the other was in entire accordance with the feelings of the people among whom it was established. On the question of education, though he should have preferred a fusing of all educational establishments into one University, he did not disapprove the plan of the Government to charter a Catholic Lord Castlerosse complained of the timidity of the Govern- ment in not dealing with the Chui ch. He expressed a strong opinion in favour of a measure for compensation to tenants, and predicted that Parliament would not consent to the plan of a Catholic University. The discussion was continued on the same side by Mr. De la Poer and Mr. Synan by Colonel Bruen, who argued against the establishment of fixity of tenure bylaw, and ap- proved the endowment of a Catholic University and by Mr. Kendall, who justified the course of the Government on the three points-Laud, Church, and Education. Mr Gladstone, who rose just before ten o'clock, and was loudly cheered by the Opposition, pointed out that, numerous as had been the blots hit in the Ministerial programme, their greatest error of all was that they bad failed to realise the grave fact that we had reached a crisis in the Irish question. Ireland had an account with this country which had endured for centuries, and in the opinion of every enlightened nation in the world, much as we had done, we had not done enough to place ourselves in the right. The most recent proof of this failure of the Governmenb to grasp the gravity of the occasion was Sir Stafford Northcote's speech, for the impar- tiality of the Executive Government, to which he trusted, was not sufficient to counterbalance the injurious effect of unjust laws. Time, his second palliative, had been tried some centuries, and of the third palliative—justice—he re- marked that Sir Stafford's idea of it included the main- tenance of the Irish Church. Admitting that Lord Mayo's account of the state of Ireland was, on the whole, accurate, he argued that the co-existence of material progress with widespread discontent was a proof that some unsatisfied necessity still existed, and in enforcing the gravity of the political crisis he pointed to the depletion of Ireland by emigration, the repeated suspension of the Habeas Corpus, and the invasion of England by Fenianism. Mr. Gladstone next discussed at length the adequacy of the Government policy to the exigencies of the case under six heads, viz :—Parliamentary Reform, the Repeal of the Ecclesiastical Titles Act, Railways, Education, Land, and the Church. The first three he dismissed very briefly, and on the question of University education he remarked that the Roman Catholics had a real grievance. He defended the action of Lord Russell's Government in 1866 on this subject, and in discussing Lord Mayo's suggestion he insisted, with much emphasis, that Parliament had never voluntarily undertaken the support of denominational Universities and school* but, on the contrary, of late years it had been sedulously endea- vouring to get rid of all votes of a purely denominational charactpr. Mr. D'srae i must know as well a» anyone that such a scheme as this could not be carried into effect; it was a mere idea la fact, which in reality was dead before it had lived and in the absence of any information as to the views of the Roman Catholic bishops it might be described as another leap in the dark." But it was impossible to give a final opinion on the University question until the view of Parliament on the Irish Church was ascertained, for if a sweeping policy were adopted it would be necessary to con- sider how far Trinity College could be made available. On the land question Mr. Gladstone asserted that the fed grievance of the Irish people had been acknowledged by the Devon Com- mission which had recommended a measure of compensation for imnrovementP. A just land law he laid down to be one under which?in the absence of any contract between land- lord and tpnant the improvements effected by the tenant should be his propCTty, arid he preferred to tru,t rather to the operation of Such a security than to any measure for fixity of tenure, /rhe suited 'thatif th! pointed out some difficulties to n,, i» ° Government took possession of the Irish Church pr ptr y^ the experiment could be tried there 1^8,8'n« question! Mr. Gladstone congratulated the House on the rapid advance of public opinion, as shown, perhaps, more forcibly in the defence of the Church than in the attack. After condemning strenuously Lord Mayo s hint at an jncrea«e in the R><gium Donum and a subsidy to the Roman Catholics from the Consolidated land, and ridiculing the Government pleas for delay, he an- nounced, amid loud cheers from the Opposition, his opinion that the Church, as a State Church, must cease to exist. Religious equality must be established, dif- ficult though theoP-tjonm,ght be^ toeth"e level of the Church by grants from the Consolidated j",nd! and the plan for redivid.ng her revenues among the flersv of different denominations Those plans had long passed the point of practical possibility. On the whole, he agreed very much with Mr. Bright's mode of effecting this great operation. He recommended Mr. Magmre to with- draw hb motion, hut he intimated that unless Mr. Disrae speech differed altogether from the speeches of his col- leagues, it would be th« duty of the Opposition to as cided opinion from the House on this question an not be a mere empty declaration, butTt id by some practical step which would show the Irish people Parliament was no w in earnest. cheered, commenced Mr. D'^aeli, who was also y fate which made by ironically bewailing the Millfgterial career coinct- the commencement or nis eggjty cf immediately dent with the imPerI°^Li.nrjea old. Examining the settling an account seven c gtatei by Mr. Glad^- elements of the Irish <c .'hem },a t existed while he stone, he showed that all oL. t hali been made to deal was in office, and that noa thoPuniversity project, he de- withthem. Commencing with > v The ohject o{ the fended the Ministerial pro^amme [rjfh Boman Catholics proposed Charter was to d ire(j 0f giving their children the opportunity they haddlu0ng.on the ir,fluence o{ thelr the benefits of a hign garca,m of Mr. Horsman that it was own priesthood, iw"r,t montani>m was absurd, as he showed meant to concd'ate lactsrelating to the Queen's College, by a recapitulation d totally misrepresented, which Mr. Horsman he wua^ o/tb(( Goveriimenti He vindicated 1 d all other points the Government premising that in thisi» wag theoretically perfect, but had proposed, not that Y„TH(,ticable. They had picked out which was practical and P a „eI1eral agreement that all those points on which t referred to a C»m- legiilation was possible, wgre not rjpe jor decision, mission those points only w tjiat the object of the and he characterized the jegg al)d re,Use of factious Commission was delay as rhnrcii question, and admitting insinuation." Passing to tn position he should wish that the Irish Church was n mmunt0n the majority of to see her, having in h and defellded the princi- the people, Mr. Disraeli discuss ]Ie deni#d that the pie of ecclesiastical endo el,do»ments, as had been spirit of the age was oppoted to with the aid of laid down by Mr. c01lverted Mr. Glad- the philosophers, had app&'e" ^j.ned the House that it stone to the same opinion. issue of the Irish Church was not the comparatively endowments, an entire rebuff e pn''cllde of eccles.aftic^ character) which wag at stake n" ln the natioiial h-.j^ benches loud and con- bmmna f^rawin^ irom ths ^al c.mp.tence of the tinuous cheering, he denied the mow F t House to decide that Issue without a". o,lld decide ftr It was a question which the country alone 'could^decWa For JO years the Liberal partv had been in power, but wMt Had Ihey done to prepare the public mind for a This Parliament, he held ought not to decide it, it ought to he reserved f#r the new and enlarged constituenciesg personally in favour of ecclesiastical endowments, he strongly objected to the destruction of the Irish Church. ine violence and confiscation with which it must De accom- panied would be a great detriment to Ireland, wl?ere tnere had already been violence and confiscation enough; but ne reserved to him«elf the right of considering the labours of thP commission now sitting, and at the same time he ex- r.rp«sed a decided opinion that the moment had arrived w, there mnst be a considerable change in the condition unendowed clergy of Ireland whi«h would e eva e of the une u a,i3 he dld llot mean what wa, vulgarly their iuflue»ce- he iests," making them the stipendiaries called p»>i' » ..strongly disapproved. Referring of the State, of ^{ lg44^ ile maintained that, to his oft-quoted »P th{J heedies, rhetoric which though expressed, per p g who Bat below the gang_ appeared to be the sPP' bwag ri^ht, and he concluded by way, the sentiment ol l Mi i t8riai programme was the avowing his belief that ithe MiIre|an(i commencement of a new p y withdrawn, and the The motion and amendment debate came to a close. c,1T,„lemental votes in the Civil In Committee several supplement Service Estimates were agreed to. d the jjouse ad. Some other business was disposed ol, an journed. A1arch 17, the Marquis | >f In the House of Lords, on Ma mjttee to inquire Clanricarde rose to move for a select procedure of the into the constitution, jurisdiction, and pr^eaur their Quarter Sessions Courts in Ireland, wit improvement and to the further as»l" nd and Wales. Bill Courts to the County Courts of England ana^ The noble marquis explained that. his o J j Ireland hild was that part of the administration of the la nronosed been neglected, and he believed that the alteration proposed might be made without any increase of expense. the Civil B d a bill embodying the views that he had expressed the Government would ofter no opposition to t. hr -vrth>t h..h.«M ax'i'ts tss1vis's if his attention had Deeii lagt for the purpose of Lion Inu, Cambridge, «n Sl)Ciety, at which the forming a Conservative iieg ]lt tor Cambridgeshire, &arl of Hardwicke, the LordI be ghouid inquire if and a peer of the realm preside 0j a representative such conduct was permitted on the p °'J?.er Thursday next he Ihe karl of Mayo gave notice that o Peoole should introduce the new ltepresentation of the p (Ireland) Bill.
.... DEATH OF LADY TICHBORNE.
DEATH OF LADY TICHBORNE. nnje difficulties which surrounded the settlement of rmestiou of succession to the Tichborne baronetcy ri-Jv to become still more complicated by the are jih.t ,r unexpected death of Lady Henrietta sudden .horiie, upon whom an inquest was held lelicite i,v Dr. Lanktster, in London, at the re- on SaUirdaV „nt to the family estates, who made quest of the atjj from which it would seem that a statement upou :> jiave been caused by unfair he suspected the dei* |)e necessary, for the purpose means. It may, pwhaP j te, to recall attention to nf rendering the case suddenly appeared hJ f c that recently a ^n.tk, er Charles Doughty I i^Ensta" to the title Tichborne, tenth baroiilet, hborne faiDlly' estates connected with the 1 misfortunes con- stated that after meeting wit muierUken ^venty" sequent upon a voyage Australia, and had r seven years ago he reached for England mained there up to the t deceaeed lftdy to I lMt year. He wa« admitted by be her eon, and was in immediate and friendly relation with her up to the time of her death but his identity was denied by the other members of the family in- terested in the disposal of the property and the case yet pends the decision of the Lords Justices. Upon the opening of the coroner's oourton Saturday, Mr. Locock Webb stated that he appeared on behalf of Sir Roger Doughty Tichborne. Mr. Alfred Seymour, sworn and examined, said I am half brother to the deceased. I believe she wa. born in 1804, and was at the time of her death sixty- four years of age. She was the widow of Sir James Francis Doughty Tichborne. She has been in very good health lately, but I have no reason to suppose that she came to her death by any other than natural causes. Coroner: I believe the son of the deceased is present. Mr. Dobinson, of the firm of Dobinson & Geer, Lin- coln's-inn As the agent of the estate, I dispute that this gentleman is her son. Coroner: That does not matter, so far as this inquiry is concerned, if he swears that he is her son. The gentleman in question, who had only been re- ferred to by gesture, here stepped forward, and having been sworn by the coroner, said My name is Roger Charles Doughty Tichborne. I am the son of de- ceased. I saw her last alive this day week. She ap- peared to me to be in good health. I heard of her death about ten minutes past two on Thursday last, or rather, I was summoned to come to London from Croydon immediately at that time. I found her dead a little after four. Coroner Do you know how she came by her death, or do you suspect any one of causing her death ? Witness (after a long pause, during which he seemed struggling to control his feelings) I do not know how she came by her death; but I wished tbe post mortem examination to be made, because I am fully aware that one of my servants was offered £1,000 to put me out of the way. At the request of a juror this statement wal re- peated. Coroner: We cannot go into that question here, although if you can bring evidence in support of what you can state you can take action in another court. The next witness was then called. Edward Hurst, a waiter at Howlett's Hotel, deposed: Her ladyship had been living here for five months. She had been in general good health all that time. I found her dead on Thursday morning at twenty-five minutes past eleven, in her room, with her body on the floor, by the fire-place, and her head on the sofa. She had her dressing gown on. I had not seen her till then since the moruing before, when she went to Croydon. Her maid and her footman were both with her the morning sbe died. Catherine Barrett: I was her ladyship's maid, and saw her on Wednesday night. She was in her usual health. Shli got up at half-past six on Thursday morning, and went into the drawing room, and said to me, "You have not yet lighted my fire." She ap- peared in her usual health still. She went back to her bed-room, and slept till seven o'clock. She came into the drawing-room again, and took two cups of tea. I was called to her about half-past nine, and had some conversation with her. I saw her again at a quarter- past eleven, when she had a newspaper in her hand. I never saw her again alive. She was not dressed. She never dressed till twelve. Mr. Henry Times, M.R.C.S. I was called to de- ceased at half-past eleven on Thursday morning. She was quite dead. She bad been dead a very few minutes, and was quite warm. I could not detect any- thing in the room like poison. Her body wa. moderately nourished. I found extensive congestion of the brain. There was a little fluid, but not enough to-account for death. There was some also in the ventricle. I opened the chest and found the lungs congested and there was evidence of long-standing There was very little fluid in the pericardium. The heart was very small and shrunken. The right wall was very thin. The left wall was thicker but the fibrous substance was easily broken in. There WM fatty degeneration of the heart. Ihe right cavities were full, and there was a slight quantity of fluid blood in the left. The valves were healthy. Ph. stomach had a little fluid in it, which I have preserved. I did not perceive any indications of poison. Mr. Tiernan and several other medical gentlemen who wer. iithme when I made the post mortem examination Seed with me. Mr. Tiernan said all the organs wer. healthy except the heart. The cause of death was fatal svneope from a feeble heart. The Coroner said that was a very common cause of death in persons of from 60 to 70. ihe heart gra^ uaily shrunk from its natural size, and suddenly failed alto- gether There were circumstances connected wuh the case that might lead them to suspect unfair f^y but there was an ^tire want of evidence to support anv Knsnicion Everything seemed to De going «n proper J in the hotel, and they could not suspect de- ceased^ servants. If, however, thejurythough there was the slightest reason to suppose that she had taken, or had administered to her, any poison, they must adjourn, and send the contents of the stomach to undergo a careful analysis. After some conversation °n i medical evidence, Mr. Lewis, M.R.C.S., corroborated the evidence of Mr. Times. r „ Mr Times, in answer to the foreman of the jury, said the death might have been hastened by ab- stinence from food. Deceased was a strict catholic, and mieht have been fasting He had often given her medical certificates in consequence of her unfit- ness for fasting, but she had not asked for certificates lately. After a short deliberation in private, the jury re- turned a verdict, That deceased was found dead, and that death was caused by atrophy and fatty degenera- tion of the heart."
AN EXTRAORDINARY SWINDLING…
AN EXTRAORDINARY SWINDLING CASE. The Paris correspondent of a London contemporary sends over the following account of an extraordinary swindling transaction, as related by the Fiyaro, a Paris paper :— The romance of swindling has seldom been more racily illustrated than by the story I am about to relate. It ig coll. Jensed from the Figaro, and, though rather long, I have 110 doubt your readers will find it entertaining. You may re- member that a paragraph went the round of the paper* a week or two ago to the effect that the police had just ar- rested at Brnssels an individual who had succeeded in selling to the branch office of Messrs. Rothscnild in that city 2 000 forged obligations of the Orleans lUilway Company The forger is one Sebille, and this grand coup was not by any means his first exploit. He has been-several times convicted in France, and is about to undergo his trial before the Astize Court of Paris for a series of ortences which for their romantic, almost incredible, character, throw all that Balz*c, Eugene Sue and Ponson du Terrail ever invented completely mto the ahade. n en e At the beginning of the year 1867 a foreign nobleman residing In Pans, Baron Francois d'Espeleta, took into his service as steward, secretary, and general superin- tendent of his household, one Kiauthauien, who had been strongly recommenced to him for activity, industry, intel- ligence, but above all for honesty. He was a large, power- ful man, about forty-five, and his manners gave you that in definable impression that he was a man who had seen better days, and who had fallen into adverse circumstances through no fault of his own. He enjoyed his master's un- limited confidence, and was loolseu upon as a model—a perfect treasure You may imagine the grief and indigna- tion of this honest fellow, when, soon after he entered the house, a series of robberies successively took place of money, jewelry, and portable valuables belonging to the baron and his three brothers. They were probably careless, but money mysteriously disappeared from their pockets, jewels from their dretstng-cases, and a certificate of l,200f. of rente to bearer vanished equally suspiciously. The E»peletas had a great many servants, and a strict mrveitlance was imme- diately organised. That pearl of honest men, Krauthauien, specially distinguished hinuelf by the activity he displayed in trying to find out the thievea. His employers were quite touched at the Mal he showed for their interests, and gave him substantial proofs of their gratitude. The thieves, how- 8TeT, were not only not discovered, but they continued their operations with a regularity and system which revealed a practised hand. A few servants were sent about their business; othera were taken on but the robberies continued all the same. On the 3rd of June Baron Francois d'Kspeleta requested his stockbroker to sell various securities, repre- senting a sum of 75,000f., or £ 3,000, and in the course of the day handed the stock to Krauthansen to take to the broker's and bring back the money. Krauthausen left the house and never returned. It so happened that the baron only came home next morning, and quietly went to bed, feeling quite assured that so long as his obligations were in the hand* of his trustworthy steward they could not be other- wise than safe. However, the trustworthy steward tailed to make his appearauce, but in the course of the morning a dashing joung fellow, of excellent addrass, called at the Hotel d'Kspeleta, and asked to see the baron. He was immediately introduced. "M. Ie Baron, your steward, on returning home yellterday, re.eiTed a tele- graphic deapatch telling him that his father was at door, and wished to see him. He immediately started for Aix la Chapelle, and as soon as he ha* rii*charged his filial duties he will return, and aik your pardon for navinf; gone WIthout leave. He will probably be back to-morrow, 111 the course of the evening I promised my friend Krauthauien that J would. wait upon you, M. Ie Baron, and make you acquainted wIth the state of the case. That office being fuifilled I now have the honour to take my leave." Thereon the stranger bowed himself out, with the be»t possible grace, and M ri'E*pel«ta felt athamedof the su>picions which had btgun to flash upon him to the detriment of the model steward. A few hoursll!;er thi* visit, the Bole object of which appears to have been to gain time, the atockbroker sent on. of his clerks to M. d'Kspeleta's for the securities which h. had been commissioned to sell. So that after all M. Kraut- hausen had not taken the atock to the broker al he had been commissioned to do A glimmering of tho truth began to force itself upon the confiding mind ef M. d'Espeleta. He rushed off to the police. Krauthausen's private reom was searched, a few worthless papera were 1111 that was found, hut the proof was obtained that this pattern of stewards was an escaped convict, and that the distinguished stranger who had waited on the baron that morning was an old "pal" of Krauthausen's and an escaped convict too, by name Sebille. Whilst the police were actively hunting out this precious pair, Sebille, who imagined that he had laid to rest any suspicions the baron might have had, wrote to him, making an appointment at a solitary house *t St. James's, in the Hois de Boulogne. "Above all," wrote Sebille "come alone, I have communications to make of the most important character, but strictly confl- dential." At nightfall M. d'Espeleta kept the appoint- ment. He found Sebille in tears. lie gave him an inkling of the truth implored him not to give up the unfortunate steward to' the police, and pledged himself that he (Sebille) would undertake to procure the restoration of a portion of the stolen securities, provided the baron would promise to abstain from prosecuting his friend." But M. d'Espeleta had taken his precautions this time, and aftw Sebille had told his story the police stepped in and collared hUll. He was brought back to town in safe custody. A search instituted at his residence led to the discovery of some worthless scrip—mostly forked, which Sebille pretended Krauthausen had given him. Addressing the Commissary of Police, Sebille gave out that he was the impersonation of in- jured innocence—the victim of adverse circumstances and bad antecedent*. "Believe me, he went on to say, I know appearances are against me, but in reality I am the dupe of Krauthausen. Let me circulate freely about Paris- two pulicemen in plain clothes can follow me as closely as you think fit M. Ie Commissaire. We will all hunt after Krauthausen together. When he sees J'am free, aud when I tell him M. d'Espeleta won't prosecute him, you will see he will soon return~to Paris and we can then pounce upon him." The commissary declined to entertain this proposal, but said he would transmit it to the l'rocureur Imperial. At this stage of the proceedings Sebille had been showing symptoms ot great faintness, and on being asked the reason said he had taken no food for twenty-four linurs, and begged the com- missary to allow him to proceed under such escort as he thought fit to the nearest restaurant. Tlle commissary absented, and sent one man with him. Alter a substantial meal Sebille asked the detective to allow him to go to the water-closet, and, whilst the policeman stood sentry at the door contrived to escape through the window, a narrow aperture two feet square. Of course nothing more was s-en of him on that occasion. The police moved heaven and earth to llnd him, but without success. They then bethought themselves of stopping the payment and advertising the numbers of the securities stolen by Krauthausen, but a great portion of them was found to have been already dis- posed of through a moneychanger in the Palais Royal, and this leads us to one of the most curious chapters of this curious story. Those securities had been taken to the moneychanger's and *old by the porter of what the Figaro describe# as "md** plus grands palait to Pwrit," meaning, | I presume, either the Tuileries or the Palais Royal. Of course the porter gave his real name and address, equally of course the moneychanger had not the remotest suspicion that all was not correct, and he duly complied with the pre- scription of the law, and paid the seller of the stock at his residence—to wit, the porter's lod^e in the palace, which "desmotifiJ de haute cenvenance," quite inexplicable to me, prevent the Figaro fcom specifying. It seems that the stock had been sold on Sebille s account. That worthy had, under a feigned name, made himself acquainted with the porter in question, whose wife, it appears, buys up the cast-off toilettes of ladies of rank, and in the course of her professional avocations has access to the best houses in Paris. Sebille appears to have swindled her out of a good deal of money, and had given as a security a bill of exchange for lOO.OOOf. (£4,000), payable the day after his marriage with a "Polish princess," of whom, if we are to believe the Figaro, it may be said— She was not old nor young, but at the years Which certain people call a certam age and was so smitten with the accomplished and persuasive Sebille that after one single interview she suffered him to wheedle her out of a number of obligations of the Midi Railway Company, and the subsequent investigations of the Procureur Imperial elicited the curious fact that sebille, the swindler, the intimate friend of the palatial porter, was firmly looked upon by his princely but mediaeval innamorata u. one of the leading functionaries of the Imperial house- hold. The marriage was actually on the pomt of taking place when the robbery at M. d'Espeleta's set the police on the track, and broke off the contemplated wedding of Princess de P and the accomplished swindler. Krauthausen, the model steward, had taken leave of an ungrateful country, and all trace of him appeared to be lost. As for Sebille, he was actively hunted down by the police, but nevertheless found time to send, every now and then, a letter to M. d'Espeleta, in which he vowed and swore he would surrender and take his trial, when his innocence would Ije fully established. Thi Sebille is not only a clever- fellow, but has evidently a keen sense of dry humour. All his letters to M. d'Espeleta were dropped into the letter-box of the Prefect of Police. Nevertheless he had left the country, and in Belgium had found means of selling the remainder of the securities stolen from 21. d Kspeleta. His modus operandi was ingenious Thus, he went one day to the counting house of a general merchant at Antwerp, whom he knew to be out of town. Of course he exhibited the greatest surprise at his friend being away, and not a little disappointment. "Is it anything I ca,n do for you? ask' the cleik, anxious to oblige his masters swell iriend. "Why, no," retorts Sebille, "I don't think you can. I wanted Mr. —— to advance me £800 on tbh stock. I want the money immediately. I am quite unknown at Antwerp, so can't sell these shares at a money-changers and your master's out of town. What a confounded borei Clerk admits it is a bore—but then he (the clerk) is well known in the city—he can go with his master's friend to a money- changer's, and he will get ready money for his scrip. Capital idea," exclaims Sebille, as though a new light dawned upon him—and the little transaction actually takes place. It was thejwindle which this accomplished chevalier d'indultria attempted on Rothschild's branch house at Brussels that brought him to grief. Sebille wanted to sell 2,000 bonds of the Orleans Railway, and left 20-al1 he had about him- that their authenticity should be ascertained, they were sent te the house in Paris, who wrote back, "Buy the bonds, they are all right." But the remaining 1.SS0 bonds were for- geries. Sebille had them manufactured by a Brussels en- graver, who imagined that the order came from the Orleans 4 Company, and was congratulating himself on obtaining such an excellent customer. In the innocence and simplicity of his heart the engraver printed his name and addres* at the bottom of the sham shares. A portion of the money had already been paid to Sebille, when a telegram came from Paris, and Messrs. Rothschild's correspondent handed over the unsuspecting Sebille, when he came for the remainder of the cash, to the Brussels police. He ili to be tried at Brussels, and afterwards it is believed transferred to ParIs under the treaty of extradition. Such is the "t0IX .7t an,'i though Inglish readers cannot take the local interest in it Parisians do, I think they will admit that even in the matter of swindling there are things which are managed in France at least as cleverly as in England.
---THE SUNDAY LIQUOR TRAFFIC.…
THE SUNDAY LIQUOR TRAFFIC. Mr. Disraeli received a deputation an Saturday, at the official residence in Downing-street, consisting of the Rev. Dr. Garrett. Archbishop Manning, the Revs. Newman Hall and G. M. Murphy, with Dr. Ellis, Mr. Robert Rae, and Mr. Thomas Hudson. The Rev. Dr. Garrett explained that Mr. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., and many other gentlemen of in- fluence would have attended it ^as ^e^t to be necessary. He (Dr. Garrett) had the honour to present to him as Prime Minister an address which was originally intended for presentation to the Earl of Derby, that it had been signed by 6J mayors of large corporation towns, by 31 chairmen of benches of magistrates, and by 148 justices of the peace in all parts of England and Wales. The address was as follows :— We, the undersigned justices of the peace in England and Wales, having considered the provision* of the bill intro- duced into parliament for regulating the sale of Intoxicating liquors on Sunday, beg leave to state that we believe the measure to be sate and good for the country, and we hope your lordship will secure the assistance ef the government tor Mr. John Abel Smith, Mr. Bayl«y> and Mr. Baines, that their bill may be speedily passed into law. Dr. Garrett added an earnest appeal that the Go- Ternmemt would give effect to the wishes of so influen- tial a body of the magisterial bench of the kingdom. The Rev. G. M. Murphy said that, the memorial representing the upper classes of society, he begged to state that, moving amongst the workip# classes, he knew that the passing of Mr. J. A. Smith's bill would be looked upon by them as a great boon. The Rev. Newman Hall said the promoters did not ask the government to support it as a religious but as a social measure. He also was certain that if the votes of the working classes were taken there would be an overwhelming majority in its favour. Archbishop Manning said that he had recently attended a large meeting of working-men in Exeter- hall in favour of the bill. The public-houses on Sunday were a greater temptation to that class than on any other day, from the fact that they had both time and money then at their control. Mr. Disraeli said it afforded him pleasure to hear so influential an address supported by gentlemen well acquainted with the wants and wishes of the working classes, and that they might rely upon his laying the memorial before his colleagues in a manner which would command their best and most careful considera- tion. The deputation, having thanked the right hon. gentleman for his kind reception of them, then with- drew. On Monday evening a well-attended meeting of working men and others was held at the Lambeth Baths, in London, in support of Mr. Abel Smith's bill. The Rev. Newman Hall, who presided, said the promoters of the bill disclaimed any idea of thrusting religion down the throats of the people or of making them religious by act of parliament, but they thought they had a right to ask parliament to interfere for the social benefit of the people, on the ground of health, civilisation, comfort and happiness, which he contended would be secured to the people by the passing of the bill. The Rev. Mr. Garrett, during the course of a long address, endeavoured to show that the Working classes, as a body, desired the bill to pass. If they succeeded in passing the measure tbey would then go in for the total abolition of public-house trade on Sundays. Mr. George Murphy moved a resolution pledging the meeting to support the bill, and adopting a petition to parliament praying the legislature to immediately pass the measure. Mr. Jewell seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr. Parker and carried unanimously. Mr. Lester moved a resolution denying that public-houses were the clubs of Working men, but the original motion was carried, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.
THE RETIREMENT OF MR. ADAMS.
THE RETIREMENT OF MR. ADAMS. On Saturday afternoon a deputation from the British branch of the International League of Peace and Liberty waited upon his Excellency the Hon. C. F. Adams, the United States' JUimster, for purpose* of presenting him with an address previous to his departure from England. Mr. Edmond Beales M.A., president of the branch, introduced the deputa- tion, and among those who composed It were lwlr. T. B. Potter, M.P., and Mr. Candlieb, M.P. Mr. Brales, in presenting the address, said that the League consisted of members belonging to almost all European nations, and had for its president the great patriot, General Garibaldi. It had been formed to assist in establishing universal peace. They looked upon war as a great crime, waged too often by poten- tates at the cost of the happiness, the property, and the lives of their subjects. They regarded war as the greatest infliction on the human race and the natural ally of despotism, while they looked upon peace as the natural ally of freedom. They thought it was their imperative duty to do all in their power to promote the blessed cause. In so acting and thinking they believed they were acting in accordance with the feelings and sentiments of the majority of their brethren aud kinsmen in the great Republic of the United States of America. They derived that belief from the wise and noble example which had lately been set before the world. Immediately upon the terminatiom of the gigantic struggle into which they had been driven by the slaveholding rebels the Government of the United States disbanded their vast naval and mili- tary forces. This spectacle was the more forcible when contrasted with that which they beheld at this moment on the-continent of Europe. There they saw Kings and Emperors rivalling, each other in establish- ing permanent and large standing armies, armies which were maintained by impoverishing the people. Enter- taining these views, they thought it right to wait upon him (M r. Adams) and present him with an address; because while he had been the representative of the great Republic of America in this country he had not only exhibited a singular combination of talents, but had shown a most moderate, sound, and calm judgment in matters of grsat difficulty. They (the members of the League) deprecated above everything a war be- tween England and America—a war which would be most frightful and fratricidal. They could not allow him to leave these shores without expressing their deep regret at his departure, their great estimation of him personally, their deep interest in the prosperity and the welfare of the country to which he belonged, and their earnest desire that the closest possible alliance should be established between the two nations. In con- clusion, Mr. Beales said that but for the expressed wish of Mr. Adams the deputation would have been a very large one. Mr. Adams I have no doubt of it. Mr. Beales then read the address, which said :— You are about to return to your country from this king- dom, where, by a rare union of statesmanship, firmness, and courtesy, you have so long discharged the duty you owed to your own Government, and manitested the regard you enter- tained for the Eut'li*'1 nation, louring a term of unexampled diplomatic exigency y°n have laboured untiringly, and with deserved success, to maintain those peaceful relations which should ever exist between the klnareij people of America and England. But a graver matter than that of expressing our esteem and good wishes brmgs us into your presence. You depart, leaving unarranged a question which is the evil legacy of the partisanship shown by some few among us for the slaveowners who sought the destruction of your Republic. Under her wise and high-hearted President, Abraham Lincoln, she vanquished the insurrection, and you will return to find her stronger and more secure than ever—consecrated by the blood of her martyrs, and famous to all time for the clemency with which she crowned her splendid victory. Better than any other American you will be able to tell her how many hearts beat here in Jtnglaud with joy for that grand tiiumph of right and freedom over a) med and rebellious wrong and the hatetul principle of human bondage. You will assure her, as you truly can, that by millions here the safety of the free aim united KepuWic is regarded as their safety, and her interest and prosperity are identified with their own. You will, however, have to add that) ou leave unsettled this one perilous question which, after much discussion and fruitless mutual approaches, survives to threaten mankind with the possibility of the curse of such a fratricidal and unnatural struggle as that must be which should array England and America in aims against each other. We venture, therefore, to charge you witti this message to all your countrymen who feel with us the horror of that awful menace. Tell them, Sir, that the people of this land had no part or lot in the despatch of the piratical rovers which preyed upon your commerce. The blunders of official personages and the frauds ol unscrupulously speculative tradesmen cannot surely be called the acts of a nation. Tell them that, so far as the newly-acquired power of the English people can control legis- lation, it is in the mind of their brothers here to do them perfect justice. If in your country—as, unfortunately, in ours—there be mischievous men who will dare to say that such language savours of fear, answer, Sir, as we answer, that the capacity of our common race to fight in the cause of country has been proved by too many sad and heroic passages of history to need at this day more proof. Chal- lenge them for us, Sir, to a new rivalry in a nobler man- hood and a happier strife of honour Bid them be patient, so as to allow us the opportunity of showing that we are just and equitable. Mr. Adams, who received the address with a very pleased manner, made a very brief reply. He said that he was very happy to have it, and to hear the sentiments which it expressed towards his countrymen, and also towards himself. It was no part of his pro- vince, nor was it his wish, to draw any line of distinc- tion between individuals or classes, nor yet to enter into questions which might be unsettled. It was enough for him to be assured of their goodwill, and to have reason to believe that it was one generally enter- tained. As for himself, having had the satisfaction to receive the full approbation of his countrymen for the action, which they likewise commended, it naturally followed that the compliment which they had been pleased to pay him was more deserved by that autho- rity, without which he would have been powerless. If such was the ruling spirit on both sides he was at a loss to perceive the reason of their alarm about unsettled questions. Where the will was good some way to an arrangement was sure ultimately to follow. In his belief the sum of all true diplomacy was to be found in the Christian maxim of doing unto your neighbour that which you would he should do unto you. If all IlAtions were to carry t:L1at into practioe there would be no wars to follow controversies and disputes. He begged them to accept his most earnest wishes for the health and happiness of each of them. Several members of the deputation were then per- sonally introduced to Mr. Adams, shortly after which the gentlemen composing it withdrew.
THE WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL…
THE WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. A numerous meeting to consider this question took place at Halberton, Devon, on Saturday. Sir John Bowring presided, and on behalf of 2,000 labourers and working men of the county presented tàe Rev. Canon Girdlestone, of Bristol, a silver dpergne value £40, "in grateful remembrance of his successful efforts to raise their wages." It was stated that many of the subscribers had given the name of "A Hare," A Rabbit," &c., as if known to support the Canon they would be turned out of their situations. The Chairman said parliament was beginning to feel that there were wrongs to be redressed, tbat the con- dition of the vast majority of her Majesty's subjects was not what it ought to be. Canon Girdlestone, in acknowledging the testimonial, strongly urged the labourers to form unions among themselves for the raising of their wages, for he had found that there was a clique of farmers who were determined if they could to keep wages down, to keep the labourers in a state of thraldom. He gave instances of tyranny on the part of the farmers. One of them had threatened to turn a labourer out of em- ployment and out of his cottage if he ever rang the parish bells again for Canon Girdlestone. He had been told that it was outrageous for a clergyman to step out of his pulpit to take an interest in the welfare of his people, but this he did not believe, and he was determined to assist the labourers in getting more wages.
PRINCE NAPOLEON'S VISIT TO…
PRINCE NAPOLEON'S VISIT TO BERLIN. The Memorial Diplomatique has the following :— It is incontestable that Prince Napoleon left for Germany with the decided intention of observing a strict incognito during his journey. On arriving at Berlin he was received at the railway station by M. Benedetti only, and then conducted to the Royal Hotel, where apartments had been retained for him, as he had declined to stop at the French Embassy. The next morning H.I.H. was surprised by the visit of the Prince R>yal of Prussia, who, in the name of King William, came to compliment the visitor and place the court equipages at his disposal. The Prince was soon followed by the other members of the royal family in Berlin. Considering these spontaneous acts of courtesy, which were evidently addressed to him in his quality of member of the imperial family of France, the august traveller could not, without failing in politeness, keep his incognito. He was, therefore, obliged to go in his official character as prince of the blood to thank King William and return the visits which he had received. The incognito once abandoned, Prince Napoleon could no longer avoid attending the fetes organized in his honour at the court of Berlin. Such is the natural explanation of an ap- parent contradiction."
THE RECENT IRISH PRESS PROSECUTIONS.
THE RECENT IRISH PRESS PROSECUTIONS. The unfortunate circumstances in which the pro- prietors of the "national" journals find themselves placed are still, natural enough, the chief subject of observation in their editorial columns, and tinge with the same feelings their reflections upon other topics (remarks the Dublin correspondent of The Timu). The Nation, as well as the Irishman, contrasts the treat- ment which Messrs. Sullivan & Pigott receive under the prison regulations new in force with that of press prisoners in France and England. A Continental correspondent of the former journal gives some details as to the French prisoners, which are thus summed up They amount to little more than confinement within the space of ground enclosed by the prison walls. There is no question of the treadmill or of oakum picking, or other de- grading employments, such as are required from ordinary criminals; there is no question of placing them on the ordi- nary prison rations; they are free to assemble and spend their time pleasantly together; they read and talk, play their favourite games, walk in the prison gardens whenever they choose, and receive the visits of their friends and ac- quaintances. They even write for their newspapers just as usual, only, perhaps, with increased industry and spirit. These liberal regulations are contrasted with the treat- ment of offending journalists in Ireland :— Offending against the press laws in Ireland are liable to the treatment of the most degraded criminals. By a mere accident, as it might be termed, Mr. Sullivan and Air. Pigott are exempted from wearing the convict garb and living on the ordinary prison dietary, but in other respects they are subject to the meat oppressive and degrading restrictions. For twenty-two hours out of the twenty-four they are kept in solitary confinement, in small ceUs, cold and cheerless. Their friends are not at liberty to visit them, nor are the prisoners at liberty either to write or to receive letters, even though the commu!1ications be confined t. business affairs exclusively. This treatment is simply barbarous. In any other country worthy of being called civilised it is unparalleled, and we appeal now not only to our countrymen to Judge of it, but also the press of other countries, especially to that of France and America.
SENSATIONS IN ABYSSINIA.
SENSATIONS IN ABYSSINIA. A correspondent with the expedition states that in Abyssinia the elephants are considered very wild and untameable by the natives, who positively refused to believe that it was possible to reduce them to a state of subordination to man. In order to impress Prince Raia, two of the elephants which have been brought for the carriage of guns have been brought on to Attegrath for the use of the commander-in-chief and his staff at the meeting. Their passage through the country has been followed by crowds of won- dering and awe-struck Abyssinians, who formerly thought that anyone who told them an elephant could be tamed was dealing in the most flowery romance. A sensation, second only to that caused by the elephants, was created by the arrival of Murray's battery of 12-pounder Armsttreng guns. It was almost doubtful whether it would be possible to get guns over the very difficult road across the mountains between Senafe and this place. The gunners, however, achieved their task, though not without incurring considerable difficulties, and marched into Attegrath looking as smart and as well as if they were on Woolwich Com- mon. As soon as the guns appeared on the brow of the gentle slope over which the road falls into the Talley of Attegrath nearly the whole camp turned out to greet them, and to congratulate the artillery on their success in bringing them safely through all the dangers of the mountain road. The Abyssinians, of whom there is always a large crowd in the neighbour- hood of the camp, rushed across to meet them, and to see what stMmge things we had so much trouble in drawing with many horses over an almost impassable country.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISONING…
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISONING IN FRANCE. At the Court of Assixes, held in this town on Friday, three persons are indicted for having caused the death of Pierre l'eyier, a *!ngle man, in possession of a fortune of £ 12,000 («ay* the Niert <XIrrespon¡1ent or the Standard, writing on March 10). The prisoners are: the widow Teyier. 11 Chariot, sister-in-law of the victim Frances Richard, his servant; and Francis Chariot, father of the widow Teyier. It i. a singular circumstance that Francis Chariot was th. partner of Martin Reau in land speculations. Reall was sentenced last year by the same Court of Assizes to the galleys for life for wilful murder by poison. M. Lachaud, of the Paria bar M. Ricard. a barrister at Niort: and M. Thibaudiere, of the Parthenay bar, are counsel for the pri- soners. The Procurator General of the Court of Appeal of Poictiers will be the public prosecutor. The following particulars of the crime will be read with Interest:— The crime was perpetrated at the Chateau de la Meilleraye, in the arrondissement or district of Parthenay, department of the Deux Sevres, the ehief town of which is Niort. The poisoning seems to have been conceived and perpetrated with a slowness and a perseverance implying a well-combined plan but it appears, notwithstanding, that the authorities were on the alert even before the death of Pierre Teyier. Pierre Teyier had always enjoyed remarkable good health, but in the middle of 1867 he complained of having an inexplicable weight on the chest, a burning thirst and nausea, and he vomited frequently. He emitted a foetid odour, and succumbed at the end of one month. A post-mortem examination took place, which resulted In the ùlscovery of arsenic, and death was declared to be the result of that mineral. Arsenic was found not only in the viscera, but also on the boards of the floor on which he had vomited. Who were the poisoners ? The only persons who had constantly at- tended upon Pierre Teyier during his illness were hu servant Francis Richard, and his sister-in-law, the widow Teyier. They alone prepared and gave to feitii his food and drink and if, by chance, another servant attended upon his master during the night, he received the potions ready made which he was to give him. The j udicial authorities had visited the patient's house several days before his death, and were able to take his depositions. Madame Teyier, it appears, had had some dlfferellces wlth her brother-in-law relative to her husband's succession, but the quarrel had been smoothed over, and at long intervals she visited him. Her two daughters were the presumptive heirs of Pierre Teyier, their uncle but the inheritance was not to come to them soon, considering the health of the uncle. M. Teyier had, it seems, a hatred of mar- riage, and had his sister-in-law married again, he would probably have left his property to his first cousin, with whom he was friendly. The act of accusation implies that Madame l'eyier, who was only 35 years of ane, had some idea of marrying again, were it only to get her future husband to take a share in the management of her farm. On the 2nd of July, 1867, she paid a visit to her brother-in-law, then suffering from an attack of gout, and spent the evening with him. Next day Dr. Ganne, the same who played so important a part in the trial of Reau— was sent for by Pierre Teyier, and he found him suf- fering from diarrhoea and stomach-ache. Madame Teyier returned to la Meilleraye on the 15th of July, and installed herself there with her servants, her two daughters and their governess. From that time Teyier became worse. Dr. Ganne always asked for the vomit of the patient, in order that he might examine it, but he was always told that it had been forgotten. The physician at last obtained some, and when in the act of pouring it into a glass bottle to take it away, the widow Teyier came in and asked with much surprise, what he intended to do with it. She afterwards insisted upon the experiments being made at once in her own presence, but the physician declined to do so. The vomit, when analysed, revealed the presence of arsenic. The act of accusation even asserts that Dr. Ganne was kept in ignorance that the patient had vomitings till he detected the fact himself, and Teyier invariably vomited after having taken the broths prepared either by his servant Frances Richard or the widow Teyier. The act of accusation narrates the conversation which supports the material evidence. On the 11th of August, while strangers' hands closed the victim's eyes, the widow Teyier said she had no interest whatever in the death of her brother-in- law, and that his succession would cause embarrass- ment to her instead of being advantageous. After all," continued she, I don't know a single poison. I know well that there is one called arsenic, but I never saw it." At those words the servant girl Richard also said that she did not know any poison, and repeated that it was very surprising that people should suppose that her master had died from poison. As to Francis Chariot, Madame Teyier's father, the act of accusation says that if he did not pour the poison with his own hand he had at least participated in the crime by the assistance he gave to the guilty parties whose projects he knew and aided. He had a direct and personal in- terest in the prompt death of Pierre Teyier, because he was his debtor for a sum of 30,000fr., t0 be paid Sept. 29, then close at hand. The act of accusation reproaches the widow Teyier and her father with having failed to unite their efforts with those of the magistrates to discover the poison, and apply the proper remedy. As to the prisoners' system of defence, the act of accusation says that they began by asserting that if Teyier had been poisoned the crime was to be laid at the door of the physicians themselves. Sir," said the widow Teyier to Dr. Ganne, it is you who put him in such a case. The drug you gave him last Thursday did not come from the chemist's; vou took it from your bag; you committed a mistake; since that moment my brother-in-law became worse and worse." But seeing that such a system could not be supported, Chariot and his daughter had recourse to another de- fence. They summoned to the house of Teyier several physicians, with the view of destroying, by means of the confusion and the opposed diagnoses hastily made, the authority of the conclusions of the doctors who had attended the patient. Such is the act of accusation its perusal will suffice to show that the La Meilleraye poisoning trial is one of the most grave and delicate cases which a jury had ever to decide upon.
MURDER OF A SCOTCH LADY IN…
MURDER OF A SCOTCH LADY IN INDIA. The widow of the late Major-General M'Dougall, one of the Dunolly family, Argyleshire, of the Bombay army, who for some years was a resident on the hills, and who died in 1865, resided at W oodbourne, near the Lawrence Asylum, Ootacamund. The other evening a chokra, who had been away from the house, had his suspicions aroused on his return by finding the horse- keeper in the dining-room, with a thick stick in his hand, and carrying one of the bedroom lamps. The deceased was found in bed, partly dressed, and blood about the head and clothes. She was quite dead. The magistrate of Ballochgyle, Argyllshire, and Dr. Furnell arrived soon after the police. Suspicion was at once directed to the horsekeeper, who with his wife had decamped, leaving the remains of his half-eaten rice in the godown. It seems likely that the deceased, who had had some trouble with the horsekeeper during the day, on account of his having been drunk, and to whom she had refused an "advance" for market pur- poses, had gone into the godown to quell some dis- turbance, and had there met her death. An inquest was held on the body, and a verdict was returned of "Wilful murder" against Moonian, the horsekeeper of the deceased. He was apprehended, having been discovered somewhere in the vicinity of Dewa Shola.
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT…
THE PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT TO IRELAND. The arrangements in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to Ireland are still (a correspondent writes) in a daily changing state, and no complete pro- gramme can be presented but certain points are un- derstood to have been decided upon, as, for instance, that when the Prince leaves for Dublin (it is expected on the 13th of April) he will not travel in state, ln Kingstown he will be received by a guard of honour, and at Westland Row Terminus the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Dublin will welcome his Royal Highness. A suite of apartments will be prepared for the Prince in Dublin Castle, and he will proceed there without pomp. On Wednesday, the 15th, an address from the Muni- cipal Council will be read to the Prince, and his Excellency will give a banquetin the evening. Thursday will be the day of the Punchestown races, at which his Royal Highness will be present, accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Hamilton (it is believed), and Count F. Lagrange. Already vehicles for the day can only be hired in Dublin by intending visitors at a high premium. Friday is appropriated for a visit to the seat of Viscount Powerscourt, in the county of Wicklow and on Saturday the Phoenix Park, according to present intentions, will be the scene of a grand military review. The principal feature of the visit will be the installation of the Prince as an extra Knight" of the Order of St. Patrick on Mon- day, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is capable of accommodating nearly 3,000 spectators; and in the evening, following the precedent of 1821, the Lord Lieutenant will preside at an Installation Banquet in St. Patrick's Hall, in Dublin Castle. On Tuesday the Spring Cattle Show of the Royal Dublin Society will open and the Prince will visit it, and some of the pub- he buildings of the city in the afternoon. Wednesday is still an open day, but on Thursday the Royal Horti- cultural Society hope to be honoured with the Prince s presence: and Friday will bring the visit to a close. Balls wilf also be given during the stay of his1 jya Highness at the Castle and at the Mansion House. King George the Fourth, when in Ireland in 18-.1, was present at the then principal Irish horserace at the Curragh.
HORRIBLE MURDER.
HORRIBLE MURDER. The village of Winscombe, lying under the Mendip-hills, hall Just been the scene of a murder, probably committed durin" insanity. On Friday a lad thirteen years of age had been em- ployed by Mr. Hancock to keep birds from off a field that has recently been planted with corn. At about six o'clock in the evening, from a rumour that was in circulation, his friends went to the field in question, a.à there found the lifeless body of the lad, about ten yaict from the gateway leading to the high road, with a. rightful gash in the throat extending nearly from ear to ear. About the same time tho body was discovered a young man named Hojmes called at the lodgings of Acting-sergeant Hancock, at Banwell, and stated that he had just killed a boy. The constable was at 'the time out on duty, but Holmes remained with the old landlady of the house until the parish constable arrived, by whom he was taken in charge, but was subsequently handed over to Police-constable Bur- rington, who conveyed him to the Axbridge police- station. Prisoner stated that he was a son of Colonel Holmes, a retired officer of the 12th Lancers, now residing at Roscrea, Ireland that he had for some time past lived with one Edwin Godfrey, at Edington, near Bridgwater, Somerset, where he had been placed by his friends. He further stated that he felt he must kill some one, and he wondered how it was that he had not killed more, as he had passed several persons on the road. On coming to the field where he saw the unfortunate lad at work he could no longer resist the temptation so, opening the gate, he went up to him, and, without speaking to him, dealt him a heavy blow on the head with a stick that he had in his hand, and afterwards took out a knife, and nearly severed the head from the trunk. The police, on making a search, found a heavy stick, marked with blood, about ten yards from where the body was found, and about six yards further on they discov8red a knife by the side of a small brook that runs through the fields, at which place prisoner stated he washed his hands. There are several stains of blood on prisoner's clothes. The atrocity of the deed has caused the greatest ex- citement in the neighbourhood, and some hundreds of persons have visited the scene of the murder. The prisoner watconveyed to the petty sessional court at Axbridge, and charged on his own confession with having committed the murder. He was remanded. From the appearance of the prisoner it seemed pretty clear that he is not much better than an imbecile. It may, however, be stated, on the authority of the police, that he converses sensibly, and partakes of his food with manifest enjoyment.
[No title]
The inquest on the body of the boy Wilkins was held on Monday. The prisoner's confessions were amply substantiated. Medical evidence showed that, although the prisoner was of weak intellect, yet he was a responsible being, and accountable for his actions. A verdict of wilful murder against Holmes was returned.
DAMAGES AGAINST A FRENCH RAILWAY…
DAMAGES AGAINST A FRENCH RAILWAY COMPANY. Viscount de Saint-Romain, a leading man on the French turf, has just appeared as an appellant before the Imperial Court of Paris against a decree of the Tribunal of Commerce awarding him 300fr. damages only against the Paris and Mediterranean Railway Company for a delay of four hours and a half in the arrival of an express train by which he travelled from Paris to Marseilles. Viscount de Saint-Romain, who had several horses engaged to run at the Marseilles race last autumn, had calculated according to the time- bills on arriving at Marseilles at noon on Oct. 27, the first day of the running, but he did not get there till half- past four, when the sport was all over. The delay he alleged to be greatly prejudicial to him, and his counsel urged that personal superintendence of his stables on a race-course was a prime necessity for every sporting man. The defence of the company was that a heavy g between Paris and Lyons prevented the train lnqiies- tion from keeping time. It was ^nutted by the plaintiff's advocate that this, as cons £ major, was a good answer to the aeti' n as far as it went. But the fog, which last-d only as far as Lyons, caused but a delay of two hours lhe company, in- stead of sending on the express tram at accelerated speed which might very well and safely have been done 'tacked it on to an ordinary train which stopped at a great many more stations. The Tribunal of Commerce held that by this con- duct the company had wilfully broken its contract with Viscount de Saint-Romain, and awarded him 300fr. in consequence. His counsel, on appeal, said the damages were too ridiculously small as to be illusory, and claims 15,000fr. M. Peronne, for the respondents, argued that £12 was a very substantial compensation for a delay of four hours and a half in a journey from one end of France to another, and that if the company were called upon to pay so much to every passenger, their case would be a hard one. It was not reasonable that a contract made merely byM. de Saint-Romain taking a ticket at the Paris station for Marseilles should fix the company with such a heavy liability. If his arrival with rigorous punctuality was of such great importance to him he should have made a special con- tract. The truth was that he expected the company to compensate him for turf bets which he fancied he might have won had he arrived in time. That was a pretension which no court of justice could sanction. The court took this view, and, stopping M. Peronne in the midst of his argument, dismissed the appeal, with costs.
UNWILLING EMIGRANTS!
UNWILLING EMIGRANTS! In the Record Court, in Dublin, a singular case has been tried, which lasted two days. A shoemaker, named Howe, who resides in Mallow, went to Queenstown with his wife to see off his brother, mother, and three sisters, who were emigrating to New York, in the City of Antwerp, one of the Inman steamers, in November last. He lingered so long on board taking farewell of his relatives that the tender which should have brought him ashore went off without him, and he found the vessel irrevocably under way, and himself and wife involuntary emigrants, with the prospect of a month's voyage f«r which he had made no provision. He appealed in vain, when too late, to the captain and crew to put him ashore, and was obliged to complete the voyage, with the additional mortification of being charged as a stowaway" by the tars on board, who in answer to his appeals, as he alleged, committed him to vt-ry uncomfortable quarters. After some difficulty at New York he got back, and on his return found his business, as he stated, considerably injured, and then brought the action for false imprisonment and deten- tion. For the defence evidence was given that repeated signals were given to warn the persons on board that the steamer was about to start, but that they were dis- regarded by the plaintiff. Baron Deasy, in charging the jury, said he thought no blame was attributable to the officers of the company. The jury found for the defendant on all the issues.
THE FAMINE IN ALGERIA.
THE FAMINE IN ALGERIA. An incident (says the Courrier de VAlgdrie) took place lately at the market of Affreville, near Milianah, which might have been, attended with deplorable results. A great number of Arabs, supposed to be as many as 1,000, all at once made their appearance there ostensibly for the purpose of buying. They were ragged in their attire, but each man carried under his burnous a matrak (a species of large knife). They soon crowded all the avenues of the market, the only representatives of European authority and public force on the spot being the deputy-mayor, the garde- champetre, and two gendarmes. About ten in the morning, when business was at its height, the Arabs, acting like one man, suddenly precipitated themselves on the stalls of the persons selling articles of food, and in an incredibly short space of time bread, meat, vege- tables, fruit, and grain disappeared before this famished horde. The European dealers took to flight, whilst those of the Arab and Jewish races manfully defended their property as best they could, using their tent poles, and resisting the assailants bravely. The deputy-mayor and the few men at his disposal aided the dealers, and at length succeeded in quelling the disturbance, and even made some arrests. The band of strange Arabs disappeared as suddenly as they had come, and avoided doing anything more than seizing on articles to eat.
SINGULAR FREAKS OF A LUNATIC.
SINGULAR FREAKS OF A LUNATIC. The inhabitants of Small Heath, a suburb of Birmingham, were greatly alarmed on Friday by the strange conduct of a man who had possessed himself of a six-barrelled revolver, and shot at several persons, fortunately without producing any fatal result. The unfortunate man is named Thomas Smith, and is twenty-eight years of age, lodging with Mr. Clark, in Wright street. Smith was formerly in the army, but suffered from sunstroke, and was discharged. About three months ago he came to Birmingham, and obtained employment at the Small Arms Factory. For some time past he ha.s been strange in his conduct, and in consequence of his irregularities he was dis- charged on the previous Wednesday. On Thursday his conduct became so strange that two medical men were called in, and gave a certificate as to the man's insanity; and the parish officers were sent for, but they did not attend to the order. The unfortunate man retired to his room at the usual hour on Thursday evening, but through the night he was heard stamping and raving, Lord Jesus have mercy on me 0 On Friday morning Clark went to Smith's room to see how he was, when the latter presented a revolver at Clark, and threatened to shoot him. Mrs. Clark shortly after met with a similar reception. Four policemen were sent for, anti. while they were con- sulting in the room under Smith, the latter fired through the ceiling, the bullet passing between them. Other constables were sent for, and on their arrival the door, which Smith had barricaded with the bedsteads, was partially opened, when Smith fired at the officers, the bullet taking P. C. Walker's right thumb off, and grazing P. C. Thompson's little finger. Various attempts were made in the course of the day to secure Smith, but he kept up a continual firing on any attempt being made to enter his room either by a door or window. This state of things continued up to three o'clock on Saturday morning, when Smith evidently became exhausted, and retired into a closet in his bedroom. A number of police officers, aided by some labourers residing in the neighbourhood, then made an onslaught upon him, and after a desperate struggle he was secured and taken to the asylum.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SIMPLIFIED..
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SIMPLIFIED.. The following remarkable story is related by Le K ord, of Brussels On Sunday, February 23, the election of Bavarian Representatives to the Customs' Parliament was to be made. Upon that day the cure of a parish near Erbendorf, after concluding his sermon, addressed the congregation in these terms, My very dear brethren, We have to-day to vote for what is called the German Customs' Parliament. Two candidates are before us—the banker of Munich, Albert Wild, and M. de Schlor, Minister of Commerce. W^hich shall we choose? Let us address ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and pray that he may touch our hearts and enlighten our understandings, so that in a matter so important for our country and our Church we may make a right selection. See, I have here two cards, one bearing the name of VV lid, and the other that of Schlor. I will place them in my cap, and turning my head away will shake them together. And now to your knees, dear brethren, and pray with nae. An interval of silent prayer followed, after which the curé, looking away, drew forth one of the cards from the cap. It bore the name of Wild. Ah, my brethren- he exclaimed, this is the man who is recommended from Heaven, and you know how you ought to vote. The result was that the banker Wild was returned to the Customs' Parliament. The Times publishes an account of a cricket match played on the 10th of March in the Villa Borghese, between eleven of the Papal Zouaves and eleven English visitors at Rome the Papal eleven being entirely composed of English- men and Irishmen. The match, on account of the badness of the weather, was not pIa) ed out, and for the same reason the Holy Father, who had intended to grace the event by hia presence, was absent.
THE MARKETS.
THE MARKETS. KARK-LAJvE, MONDAY. The arrivals of wheat from Essex and Kent fresh up to our mark8t to-day were only moderate and In but middling con- dition. The attendance of millers being limited, the demand for both red and white qualities was in a sluggish state. Compared with Monday last, however, no change took place in the quotations. We were tolerably well, but not to sar heavily, supplied with foreign wheat, in which the transac- tions were limited, at unaltered currencies. There was a full average business dene in floating cargoes of grain at late rate*. There was a fair sale for malting barley at full prices. Grinding and distilling lorts moved off slowly, at about stationary prices. The malt trade ruled steady. In the quotation!, however, no change took place. The supply was seasonably good. Oats, the show of which was only moderate, moved off steadily, at last week's currency. The sale for beans was inactive, nevertheless prices were sup- ported. The show ef samples was only moderate. No alteration took place in the value of peas, the supply ot which was rather,l1mlted. The flour trade was very taae- tive, at last weak s currency. The transactions in seeds and cakes were somewhat lisaited, at late quotations. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, MONDAY. There was a very moderate show of foreign stock here to- d*TA-,bUt ltj,& 8eneral quality was good. Sales progressed steadily, and last week's prices were fairly supported. About an average supply of beasts, in excellent condition, was re- ceived fresh up this morning from our own grazing districts. The arrivals from Scotland were tolerably guod from Ire- land limited. For nearly all breeds there was a steady demand, at prices quite equal to Monday last. The best Rcots and crosses sold at 4s. 10d. per Sib. From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, we received about 1,200 Scots and crosses from other parts of England, 500 various breeds from Scotland 380 Scots and crosses and from Ire- land, 140 oxen, cows, and heifers. About an average number of sheep was brought forward. Those in the wool moved off steadily, at full quotations, but shorn sheep were a dull inquiry, at late rates. Downs and half-breds in the wo- sold at from 5s. 2d. to 5s. 4d., out of the wool 4s. 6d. to 4s. 8d. per Sib. The quality of the sheep was prime. Lambs werd in moderate request, at from 32s. to 40s. each. The suj ply was by no means extensive. Prime small calves were tne turn dearer. Inferior calves commanded very little attention, at late rates. The top figure was 5s. 2d. per SIb. We have to report a dull sale for pigs. In prices, however, very little change took place. They ranged from 3s. 4d. to 4s. 2d. per Slb" POTATOES. These markets are heavily supplied with potatoes. For all qualities the trade has ruled quiet, at our quotations. The imports into London last week consisted of 46 tons from Boulogne 185 Caen, 1S4 Rouen, 45 Havre, 30 Dunkirk, and 40 tons from Harlingem Regents, 120s. to 160s.; Flukes, 130s. to 170s. Rocks, 110s. to 140s., French 85s. to 105s. per ton. HOPS. Choice growths of hops have moved ofl freely, and full prices have been paid for such. Other qualities, however, have been neglected. lhe Continental markets have con- tinued firm, tmt business in America has been slack. The imports into London last week consisted of 39 bales from Boulogne, 124 Dunkirk, I1 ill an, 111 Rotterdam, and 25 bales from Breman Mid MdEMt Keuts, 5r 5s to 8l Os Weald of Kents, 4t. 10s. to 61. 10s.; Sussex, 41. 4s. to 6i. 10s. Farn- liams, 11. Os. to 91, Os.; and yearlings, 42. 0s. to 5i. 0s. per twt. WOOL. There has been a ^ood attendance of buyers, both English and (' nitiiientai, at the public sales of colonial wool. In all descriptions biddings have progressed steadily, and prices have been well maintained. English wool has been rather quieter, at late rates. The import into London last week consisted of 2,705 bales trom the Cape, 619 from Mossel Bay, 3,435 irom Melbourne, and 284 bales from Brussels. Currci prices of English woolllaeces.—Soutnuown •■otgets, la. 2d. to Is. 2b-rl. half-breds, Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. Ket t fleeces, Is. 2d. to Is. 2td. Southdown ewes and wethers, Hd to Is 2 d.; and Leicester titto Is. ljd. to Is. 2d. per lb. Sorts: clothiug. Is. 2d. to Is 6JcL; and combing. It. Od. to ls.M..perlb. TALLOW I The market is firmer. P.Y.C. on th# snot Is 43*. Cd.; town tallow, 4as. ttd. nett cash.