County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

RITUALISM AT LLANVACHES.—A correspondent to a contemporary says the parishioners have adopted a novel system of showing their hostility to their clergyman by reason of the Rev. Mr. Lindsay's ritualistic propensities. For some years past Mr. Lindsay has represented his parish as Poor-law Guardian at the Newport Union with general satis- faction to his parishioners but, finding a better method of showing their hostility, than that of setting up Dissent and leaving the Church services to ritualistic practices, they set up and successfully carried Mr. Price as guardian for the parish in oppo- sition to the Rev. Mr. Lindsay. Well done, Llan- vaches

BOARD OF HEALTH. —The fortnightly meeting was held on Tuesday in the Council-chamber, Mr. T. M. Llewellin in the chair. In reply to questions, it was stated that the memorial in support of the inclusion of the Alexandra dock site, had been presented to the Secretary of State, and also that communication had been had with one of the county members but Mr. Hardy had replied that he could not name a day for an interview, and Colonel Somerset's letter had not been acknowledged. The Town-Clerk was in- structed to write again to both parties. A memorial to the House of Commons in favour of a measure providing for the holding of separate markets for foreign cattle was read, and several members signed it; but no action was taken by the Board. Pursuant to a suggestion by Alderman Brown, the Town-Clerk was instructed to write to the tallow-chandlers of the town, calling upon them to "render" their grease without the public nuisance now caused, which it was stated could be done at a nominal expense.

THE RAILWAY COMPANIES AND SMALL PARCELS. — The petition signed by the merchants and traders of the town and neighbourhood, recently forwarded to the Duke of Beaufort for presentation to the House of Lords, against 15th clause of the Railway Regula- tions Bill, which is intended to prevent the inclosure of parcels to one consignee, has been productive of great good. A letter has been received from the Duke acknowledging the receipt of the petition, and that he had since been in communication with the Duke of Richmond, the promoter of the bill, who has promised to withdraw or amend the obnoxious clause. Great credit is due to Mr. Charles Trubey, the agent for Messrs. Sutton and Co., for the zeal he displayed in getting up the meeting and obtaining signatures to the petition.

DEATH or, THOMAS WAKEMAN, ESQ. —We regret to have to record the demise of this gentleman, which took place on Thursday, the 23rd of April. He had been in a delicate state of health for some time, which prevented his attending many of the meetings connected with antiquarian researches, in which he took the most active interest. In August last, at the annual meeting of the members of the Monmouthshire Antiquarian Society, at Trelleck, he was unable to be present, but a paper on "The Antiquities of Trelleck," which he had prepared, was read by Octavius Morgan, Esq., M.P., who prefaced the valued contribution by passing a high eulogium on the writer, whose absence they all regretted. Mr. Wake- man was a man of great industry, and displayed much perseverance in any work he took in hand. His notes on the architecture of, Caldicot Castle, the ecclesiastical remains of Runston, Sudbrook, and Dinham, the ruins of Castle Troggy, Llanvair Castle, Pencoyd Castle, and the ancient domestic residences of Pentre bach, Crick, Tymawr, and the Garn, and his antiquarian researches in the neighbourhood of Monmouth, in all of which he displayed much study, acuteness, T and r learning, are known to many of our readers. No man, we believe, possessed such a vast amount of papers relating to the county, and up to his death he was engaged in preparing a most important topographical work, which, had he lived long enough to complete, would probably have proved the chef d'aiuvre of his antiquarian studies. Up to the time of his decease, which took place, as before stated, on the 23rd instant, he appears to have had all his faculties unimpaired, for on the evening of the 22nd he had written a letter to this office, asking for some particulars respecting a place called Hodelhaard or Hodelhay alias Graig Thomas, in the neighbourhood of Usk, and also a place in the town called The Sanctuary of St. John of Jerusalem," formerly forming a part of the possessions of the Knights of St. John. He like- wise mentioned that he had found in a document in the reign of Charles I., The Procurators of Pont y Clevion," named as owners of an orchard, near the town, but that he had not been able to discover who the Procurators were, or to what purpose the rent of the property had been applied. This was probably the last letter he wrote before his death. His notes on the antiquities above-mentioned were generally published with those of Octavius Morgan, Esq., M.P., F.R.S., V.P.S.A., and President of the Monmouthshire Anti- quarian Society, and presented to the subscribers. Mr. Wakeman was of a kind, friendly, and socia- ble disposition, and many of the poor in his neigh- bourhood have lost a good friend. He was a Justice of the Peace, acting for the Skenfrith division, and died at his residence, The Graig, near Monmouth in the 80th year of his age. Lineage.—JOHN LE WAKE, or WAKEMAN, according to the pedigrees preserved in the family, was living at the Norman Conquest, and rn. the dau. and heiress of Malcolm de Vuseburne, or Visberye, a king's thane, and settled at Ripon, in Yorkshire, the chief magistrate of which town was called the Wakeman, but whether the family took its name from the office, or the office from this individual, is uncertain. From him descended WILLIAM WAKEMAN, of Drayton, who m. a dau. of — Godespane, and had issue, i. WILLIAM, his heir. n. John, last abbot of Tewkesbury, and 1st bishop of Gloucester, who had a grant of the present arms of the family. He d. 1549. III. Thomas, of Southwick, in the parish of Tewkes- bury. iv. Richard, of The Mythe, near Tewkesbury. The eldest son. WILLIAM WAKEMAN, m. a dau. of — Clerke, and had issue. His 2nd son, RICHARD WAKEMAN, of Beckford, co. Gloucester, younger brother of Roger Wakeman, Esq., of Drayton, had a grant of the present arms in 1586, being the same that had been previously granted to the bishop. He m. Joan, dan. of William Thornbury, Esq., and d. in 1597, leaving issue by his said wife (who d. in 1598). The eldest son, JOHN WAKEMAN, of Beckford, a barrister of the Inner Temple, m. Margaret Lewknor (widow), daughter of Edward Nevill, Lord Abergavenny, and had issue, a dau. who d. in infancy. He m. 2ndly, Ursula, dau. of Edward Gifford, Esq., of Chillington, and by her had issue. He m. 3rdly, Ann Rogers (widow), nee Ward, and by her had issue, one dau,, Jocosa, who m. Edward Napper, Esq., of Oxfordshire, The eldest son, EDWARD WAKEMAN, Esq., of Beckford, a barrister of the Inner Temple, m. Mary, dau. of Richard Cotton, of Warblington, co. Sussex, and by her (who d. 17 July, 1676) had issue. His second son, SiR GEORGE WAKE- MAN, a physician, was created a bart. in 1660, and in 1670 was appointed physician to the Queen; he d. s. p. Mr. Wakeman d. 9 Sept, 1659, aged 67. His eldest son, RICHARD WAKEMAN, Esq., of Beckford, a major in the royal army, temp. CHARLES I and II, suffered severe losses in the civil war, and at the battle of Worcester was seriously wounded. He m. Ann, dau. of Benedict Hall, Esq., of Highmeadow, co. of Gloucester, and d. 31 Aug. 1662. His 2nd son, HENRY WAKEMAN, Esq., m. Frances, dau. of William Higford, Esq., of Dixton, co. Gloucester, by Dorothy his wife, dau. of Robert, Viscount Tracy, and had issue. The 2nd son, HENRY WAKEMAN, Esq., 111,. twice; and dying 1787' left issue only by his 1st wife, Mary, dau. of Edmund Bracy, Esq., ofBeoley, co. Worcester, viz., six daus. and five sons. I. William, of Beckford, d. unm. 1836. II. Edmund, whose only dau., Teresa-Appolonia, m. William-constable Maxwell, Esq., of Everingham, co. York. III. Henry, M. Frances Baily, and d. 7 April, 1820, leaving issue. His eldest son, Henry, of London, m. Mary Bowyer, of Kempsey, co. Worcester, and d. 1814, having had issue. Walter, who m. Sybilla-Philadelphia, dau. of — Passmore, of London, and has issue, William- Plowden, b. 1829; Walter, b. 1832; and Sophia Sybilla, who d, 1839. Mary. Elizabeth, who is married. iv. Walter, who died without issue. v. CHARLES. The 5th son, CHARLES WAKEMAN, Esq., b. 1 June, 1753; m. 24 Feb. 1784, Anne. 2nd dau., of Thomas Davis, Esq., of Chepstow, and co,heiress of her brother, Thomas Davis, junior, and by her (who d. 23 Jan. 1839; left at his decease, 17 March, 1836, one surviving son, THOMAS WAKEMAN, Esq., of The Graig. « THOMAS WAKEMAN, Esq., of Graig House, co, Mon- mouth, b. 1778, d. 23 April, 1868. Arms—Vert, a saltier, wavy, erm. Crest-A lion's head, erased, vomiting smoke and flames. Motto-Ora et labora. Seat-The Graig, Monmouth.

To the Editor of the" COUNTY OBSERVER," SIR, —In justice to my keeper, Perrott, as to the evidence he gave in The Cat Case," I must trouble you with this letter, to say that I thoroughly believe every word Perrott said on his examination in the County Court; from the fact that he told me, upon each occasion when Mr. Bromlield had spoken to him about destroying all cats that he found trespassing in the woods and plan- tations and on one occasion complained that Mr. Bromfield had accused him of not taking any trouble in the matter, or he might have got rid of a good. many of the cats." Mr. Bromfield has more than once written to me on this subject, before I came to live here, and- has since personally urged upon me the necessity of giving my keeper strict orders to shoot all cats lie found trespassing, as well as other vermin, the place being quitt 3 over-run with them, and he even furnished my former k eeper with a gun for such purposes. Yours truly, E. LI STER. Cefn Ila, 30th April, lsGS.

To the Editor of the COUNTY OBSERA FHR." "THE QUONDAM LAWYER AND HLS CAT." SIR,—I heard the gamekeeper give evidence upon oath, and state that he was encouraged by M Lr. Bromlield to shoot the poor cottagers' cats. I believe he was the witness of truth, the denial of the pseudo "Poor Man's Friend" notwithstanding. G. R. GREENH OW-RELPH.

THE GOLD TOPS FOOTPATH.-The dispute between Mr. Blount, Mr. Herbert, and the ratepayers with respect to the illegal diversion of a public footpath on the Gold-tops, and which was the subject of a trial at the recent assize at Monmouth, has been arranged. A vestry meeting has sanctioned the liversion of the footpath from the point on Lord Tredegar's property at Gold-tops to the road oppo- site Mr. Evans's gardener's house, provided the road to the west of the wall erected by Mr. Blount be widened, including the footpath, to thirty feet, and these terms have been accepted. Application will be made in legal form to two justices of the peace to carry out the alteration.

THE^LBERCARN COLLIERS.- W e understand that the proceedings instituted by the Ebbw Vale Com- pany to obtain warrants of ejectment against a number of colliers on strike, and who had refused to give up possession of the tenements held by them ifter notice served, have been abandoned. Mr. Brad- gate, who conducted the case of the men, had raised objections, which proved to be valid, against the tormality of the notices; and the cases, after the tssue of fresh notices, were again to be brought for- ward. Meanwhile, however, Mr. Colborne, solicitor, has written to Mr. Bradgate, intimating that they will accept his (Mr. Bradgate's) offer, viz., to give the men their legal discharge from the employ of the Ebbw'Vale Company, so that they may have the chance of getting work elsewhere, the men under- taking to leave within a reasonable time," which is, of course, understood to mean within a month.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS. —On Saturday, a deputa- tion presented a memorial from the ratepayers of the borough of Newport and parishes of St. Woolos and Christchurch to the guardians of the Newport Union, praying that the representatives of the press might be admitted to their meetings and to the meetings of the Assessment Committee. It was understood that an answer would be given that day three weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT. —It will be seen by an advertise- ment in another column this (Friday) and to-morrow (Saturday) evenings are fixed for Professor Du Cann's entertainment. We understand that these perfor- mances have been lately drawing large audiences in the neighbouring towns. The Professor will be ac- companied by Madlle. Florence, the celebrated pianiste and vocaliste, who will, in the course of the evening, play and sing several popular airs. Dr. Como, the phreno-mesmerist, will also perform several experiments in electro-biology. If report speaks true, there are few entertainments of this class where a more enjoyable evening can be spent than with Professor Du Cann. CIRCUS. —On Wednesday last this town was visited by Holbrook's United Circus, when two perform- ances were given, one at at 2.0 in the afternoon, and another at 7.30 p.m. The afternoon performance was but thinly attended, but in the evening there was a very good house. The performances in this circus, which are usually rather better than those in the generality of travelling circuses, were on the whole very fair. The principal clown, Mr. Fagan, kept the audtencefor a time in a roar of laughter. but the songs and jokes of his predecessor, Croueste, were much missed. Amongst the riders who performed their parts with an amount skill, grace and daring, there was but one female who took part. There was scarcely sufficient variety throughout the performance, but this, we under- stand, was on account of the incomplete state of the arrangements, the company having but lately left Cardiff, their head quarters for the winter months, several of the company having not yet joined. THE DRILL, CRICKET, AND RECREATION GROUND. -It is gratifying to state that at length some de- cisive steps are being taken towards improving the "Island" near the bridge. During the past week some half dozen workmen have been employed in filling up the holes, levelling the very rough portion nearest to the bridge, and cutting out the water course, under the supervision of Mr. Oliver Davis. Some of the subscriptions have been paid in to Mr. Kynch, and if sufficient funds can be raised, it is proposed to level the whole piece of land, which, if accomplished, will give the public between six and seven acres of land for sports and recreation. CRICKET CLUB.—A meeting of the members of the town club was held at the Armoury on Tuesday evening last for the transaction of some preliminary business. We hear that the club is in a prosperous condition several fresh members having joined this season. Play will shortly be commenced. THEATRE, —This place of amusement continues to receive a fair share of public patronage. On Mon- day night "Rob Roy" was produced, to a very good house, the characters in which were very well sustained throughout, Mr. Walton, the proprietor, taking the part of the Highland Outlaw, which he performed apparently to the great satisfaction of the audience. On Wednesday, on account of the counter attraction at the circus, the theatre was closed. PETTY SESSIONS, FRIDAY, before G. R. G. RELFH, F. M'DoNNELL, and E. LISTER, Esqrs. CONSTABLES. — Messrs. Hart. Satchel), Rogers. R. Lucas, jun., W. Jones, and Wm. Davies were sworn in as parish constables for Usk. The chairman remarked that in those cases where the constables were not allowed the 2s. 6d. fee for coming t here to be sworn, if they applied for such allowance, and brought a memorandum to the effect that the parish was willing to allow it, the Bench would put it upon their appointments afterwards.—Gwehelog Thomas George, "William Mayo, Richard Jones, and William Howeils.—Gvvernesney: Robert Rogers and John Edward Williams.—Kemeys Commander: William Window and James Arthur,—Bettws Newydd: Thomas Blake and John Lewis.—LUnbaddock: George Watkins, Charles Merriman, John Jenkins and Edward Price.- Llangwm Isha Thomas Arnold and Francis Hawkins.— Llangwtn Ucha Thomas Turner, Henry Jones, David Williams, and Charles Vaughan.—Llanllowell: Henry Jenkins and Edward Pritchard.—Llantrissent: Thomas Roberts and William Daniel. Moakswood: Thomas Morgan and 'Richard Boice.Trostroy William Baker and Thomas James.—Liangeview John Hayeox and Thomas Jones.—Hansoy (Did not ,attend to be sworn) John Blayton and John Prosser. CATCHING SALMON FRY.-Chaples Blake, attorney's clerk, Newport, was summoned for having in his posses- sion six pink, on the 10th of April. The informant was Thomas Parry, and Mr. Roberts appeared to prosecute on behalf of the United Usk Fishery Association. Defendant admitted the offence, stating that he had been fishing all day and had caught nothing else, and wished to take some fish home. He was sorry he had broken the law. He was fined a shilling for each pink he bad in his possession, and 8s. 2-i. expenses. ANOTHER CAsE.-Alexandlw Wade, schoolmaster, Usk, was similarly charged, he having had eight pink in his possession. Mr. Roberts prosecuted. Defendant admitted having the fish in his possession, but did not know they were pink. He bad written to Mr. Lyne, the secretary for this district, and he replied that Actison had written to him, saying that he bad been cautioned previously. This Mr. Wade denied. Mr. Wade, ip reply to the Bench, said he had only taken out his ticket the latter part of last season, and that that was the first time he had been en- gaged in angling. His hours for recreation were very limited, being confined to the evenings, when it was dusk, and he had been told by fisber men far more experienced than himself, that the pink changed a great deal this season, and that it was difficult even for them to tell thedifference between them and trout. He had thrown in a great many during the day which he thought were pink, and he was sorry that he had broken the rules of the association. Mr. Relph: It is not simply the rules of the association, but the statute law. This case was dealt with in a simitar manner to the preceding one, viz.: Is, for every pink-Ss. and 6s. costs. DRUNK AND RIOTOUS. — Thomas RIOTOUS. C. Hallen and Adol- phus Parker were summoned for having been drunk and riotous in Usk, on the 9th inst. Mr. Roberts appeared for Parker. Hallen pleaded guilty. P.O. Pettit stated that on the day in question, between six and seven o'clock, he saw the defendants stripped and fighting on the turn- pike road by the Naphtha Works; when he got there they parted; Adolphus Parker returned to Usk in Mr. Hay- cox's trap and Mr. Hallen went into the Olway inn; they were both drunk, but not very. Cross-examined Mr. Parker had his coat off by the Walcheren, but he had his coat on when I got up to them; I heard bad language; did not know the beginning of it they went away with- out any trouble; Mr. Parker said nothing wrong to me: I really believe he was under the influence of drink; he was not incapably drunk; he had his senses about him; he was too much in drink there are different degrees of drunk- enness; I believe he was drunk, but not so drunk but that he could take care of himself; the first thing I saw was the fighting; I don't remember Mr. Parker telling me how this occurred I don't remember anything being said about self-defence. Mr. Roberts, in addressing the Bench for his client, said he had been instructed that morning by Mr. Parker to appear there to explain this matter. Although Mr. Parker could not be sworn to give evidence, Constable Pettitt had given his evidence in a very proper manner, and he (Mr. R.) would merely state what he was instructed were the facts of the case, and leave it in their hands. Mr. Parker wa's at the sale at Cefntilla and Mr. Hallcn was there also. Mr. Parker left the sale, walked across the fields, and came out opposite the Naphtha Works at the stile. There had been some words at the sale. At the Naphtha Works he met Mr. Hallen and somebody else, when Hallen left his horse and commenced an assault upon Mr, Parker, and be merely did what he was seen doing by the constable in self,defence. tie would ask the Bench to look upon the conduct of the men, as they never used a contrary word when requested to go home by the police. He did not think this was a case of drunken and riotous conduct. It appeared that there had been a breach of the peace, and it would be folly for him to attempt to show them that there was not, as Pettithad sworn that they were fighting. He would ask them not to fine his client for being drunk, although he was very much excited, and if he had been put in the box he would have distinctly sworn that he was not drunk. He should suggest that it would be sufficient for them to bind the parties over to keep the peace towards one another and not fine them in a case which he did not think was hardly proved. After a few more remarks from Mr. Roberts, the Bench said ii was very sorry to see two men holding respectable positions as they did, demeaning themselves in such a manner, and there was no question about their being riotous. They were severally mulcted—Parker in fine and costs, 8s.; and Hallen in fine and costs, 6s. 8d. EVADING PAYMENT OF TURNPIKE TOLLS. — TimothyTOLLS. Haines was charged with forcibly passing through the Monmouth turnpike gate without paying the toll. This was an adjourned case. lVIr. Roberts for the defendant. William Lewis stated that on the 2nd of April Haines came to the gnte and wanted to go through, and com- plainant said he would not let him through till he paid him for some tolls due, and tor the horse and cart then going through; defendant said he would break the gate if he did not let him through, and said he would pay Satur- day night complainant told him he had too many of his Saturday nights, and defendant then got a stone, broke the lock off the gnte with it, and passed through; he was the worse for drink. By Mr. Roberts: I went to the Four Ash gate and Thomas did not tell me he had given him a ticket; I had been to Mr. Richards, the Naphtha Works, and Mr. Richards said he would pay the arrears of tolls if witness would bring a bill; I stopped him because he would not pay me for the horse and cart; he did not say he had a ticket from Mr. Thomas; he had been through once before; the sting was that they were trying to "juggle" me of my money; Mr. Richards paid me once; I give credit to some tidy farmers who are likely to pay. By the Bench I am quite sure I said I would not let him go through without either showing the ticket or paying the money; he did not offer the money for the toll that day. Mr. Roberts contended that complainant had no right to stop the man for the toll as he had been through once before that day, and it then became a debt, recoverable only in the county court. He said this case had arisen from the gate-keeper not knowing his duty. Mr. Roberts called Mr, Thomas, keeper of the Four Ash gate, who said defendant came through his gate on the 1st of April, and on the 2nd he came up and said he was going to stop at the Greyhound, and he charged him for the four days, for which he paid him on the Saturday night. Mr. Roberts having to leave for Monmouth, the case was adjourned. TRESPASS. —Arthur TRESPASS. Williams was summoned by Major M'Donnell for having committed a trespass fur the pur- pose of destroying game in the night time, in the parish of Gwehelog, on the 7th inst. Defendant pleaded guilty. Major M'Donnell did not wish to press for a heavy penalty, The Bench admonished him, and ordered him to pay 7s.; in default seven days. Allowed a fortnight to pay in. RATES AGAIN. —Richard AGAIN. Freer, Usk, laborer, was summoned for 2s. 9fd. poors-rate. He said he had not had it in his power to pay before. He had a wife at home and four children; the wife was not capable of looking after them nor herself, and he was obliged at times to stay at home for that purpose. When he worked a iuil week he earned 15s.-2s. 6d. a day. He said he could pay it by the following Saturday evening, and he was allowed the day to pay, and also the cost of the summons was not charged to him. OBSTRUCTION.—Hugh Martin was charged with leaving a timber carriage on the high road in the parish of Llan- gwm Ucha. He was fined 4s. and ccSts 7s., it being his first offence. Supt. Llewellin, bv whom the information was laid, saw the carriage there on the 13th of April. ALEHOUSE OEJFENCE- —William OEJFENCE- Davies, of the New InD, Llangeview, was summoned for having kept hishouss open during prohibited hours on Sunday, the 5th of April, P.C, Gardner and Supt. Llewellin proved the case, and it was adjourned in order that the Bench might consult the decisions of the superior courts in cases of appeal, the defence set up being that the parties seen in defendant's house represented themselves to be travellers. The decision will be given on the 8th of May. "¡n..I!Jf.I,I\j,"

<!Ka?etteer af :f oitmouttribirr. No. 10. CHEPSTOW Continued. The manor of Chepstow is mentioned in the statute 27 Henry VIII, c. 26, as a Lordship Marcher. These lords enjoyed peculiar privileges, Jura Regalia, &c. The town charter, which was granted eleven years before this statute shews that their power was not a nominal one, When the charter was granted, the government of the town was vested in bailiffs with their subordinates. Chepstow is one of the polling places at county elections, at which the voters from the parishes of Caerwent, Crick, Chapel Hill, Chepstow, Dinham, Howick, Itton, Kilgwr- rwg, Llanvair Discoed, Mathern, Mounton, Newchurch East, Penterry, Portskewitt, St. Arvans, St. Pierre, and Shirenewton attend to record their votes. Petty Sessions Courts are held here, the acting magis- trates are— W. M. Seys, Esq., G. Ormerod, Esq., A. B. Savery, Esq., Rev. F. Lewis, Capt. Lewis, Rev. R. Wil- liams, John Lawrence, Esq., Thomas Brown, Esq. The following parishes are comprised in the petty sessional division, Caerwent and Crick, Caldicot, Chapel Hill, Chepstow and Hardwick, Dinham, Howick, Itton, Killgwrrwg, Llanvair Discoed, Mathern, Mounton, Newchurch East, Newchurch West, Penterry, Ports- kewitt, St Pierre and Runstone, Shirenewton, St.Arvans, and Porthcasseg, and Tintern Parva. The Workhouse, under the Poor Law Union, is erected here, and the parishes comprised within the union are Caldicot, Caerwent, Crick, Chepstow, Chapel Hill, Din- ham, Howick, Ifton, Itton, Kilgwrrwg, LIanvihangel- nigh-Roggiett. Llanvair Discoed, Llangwm Isha, Llan- gwm Ucha, Llansoy, Llanvihangel Torymynydd, Mathern, Mounton, Newchurch East, Newchurch West, Portskewitt, Penterry, Roggiett, St. Arvans, St. Brides Netherwent, Shirenewton, St. Pierre and Runstone, Trelleck, Tintern Abbey, Undy, and Wolvesnewton in Monmothshire, and Alvington, Aylburton, Hewelsfield, Lydney, St. Briavels, Tidenham, and Woolastone, in Gloucestershire. The Wye at Chepstow forms the boundary to the coun- ties of Gloucester and Monmouth, the middle of the centre arch of the bridge being the division. The erection of the Castle though ascribed by some antiquarians to the age of Julius Cassar, has been more properly fixed to have been built at the Norman Conquest by William Fitzosborne, Earl of Hereford, who erected it to defend the vast possessions granted him in this and the adjoining counties, by his relative William the Conqueror. History speaks of him as vice-regent of the king, the chief and greatest oppressor of the English, who cherished an enormous cause by his boldness, where- by many thousands were brought to miserable ends but he was rewarded according to his deserts, as he slew many by the sword, so he suddenly received his death by the sword. In those days, possessions could only be se- cured by sword and stronghold. His son and successor, Ro-er de Britolio, taking up arms against his sovereign, was deprived of his vast inheritance, and Chepstow Castle was transferred to the great Norman family of Clare; and the old Earls of Pembroke, of the House of Clare, became the hereditary lords of the town and castle, the last of whom was the renowned Richard Strongbow, Earl of Striguil, Chepstow, and Pembroke, who died in 1176, leaving a daughter Isabel, by whose marriage the estates passed into the family of Marshall, and after- wards, by a similiar union, into that of Herbert. In the reign of Edward IV, the castle, manor, and lordship of Chepstow were possessed by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who was beheaded after the battle of Ban- bury, in 1469. By the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William Herbert, Earl of Huntingdon, and Lord of Chepstow, Raglan, and Gower, it descended to Sir Charles Somerset, who was afterwards created Mar- quis of Worcester, and is now vested in his descendant, the Duke of Beaufort. In the wars of the Commonwealth, the castle was garrisoned by the king's troops; but in 1645, Colonel Morgan, Governor of Gloucester, at the head of a small body of horse and foot, entered the town, and, on the 5th cf October, sent the following summons to Sir Robert Fitzmaurice :— "SIR,-I am commanded by his excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, to demand this castle for the use of the King and Parliament, which I require of you, and to lay down your arms, and to accept of reasonable propositions, which will be granted both to you and your soldiers, if you observe this summons; and further, you are to con- sider of what nation and religion you are; for if you re- fuse the summons, you exclude yourself from mercy, and are to expect for yourself and soldiers no better than Stinchcombe quarter. I expect your sudden answer, and according thereunto shall rest your friend, THOMAS MORGAN." To this summons the Governor answered:— "Sir,—I have the same reason to keep this castle for my master, the King, as you to demand it for Gen- eral Fairfax; and, until my reason be convinced, and my provisions decreased, I shall, notwithstanding my religion and menaces of extirpation, continue in my resolution and in my fidelity and loyalty to the King. As to Stinchcombe quarter, I know not what you mean by it; nor do depend upon your intelligence for relief, which in any indigence, I assure me of; and in that assurance, I rest your servant, "ROBERT FITZMAURICE." "P.S. —What quarter you give me and my soldiers. I refer to the consideration of all soldiers, when I am constrained to seek for any." <.n this answer being given, the seige was commenced and carried on with such vigour, that in the course of four days the castle surrendered, and the governor and his soldiers were made prisoners, It was afterwards surprised and taken by a troop of Royalists under the command of Sir Nicholas Kemys, whereupon Cromwell directed his whole force upon, it, and reduced the town, but found'the castle impregnable; but at length the garrison, exhausted with fatigue, and on the verge of famine, was forced into a parley with the beseigers^ and in the surrender of the castle, Sir Nicholas Kemys was "killed in cold blood." Colonel Ewer, who commanded the attack, on the reduction of the fortress, made the following report to the Hon. William Lentell, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir,—Lieutenant-General Cromwell being to march to- wards Pembroke Castle, left me with my regiment to take in the Castle of Chepstow, which was possessed by Sir Nicholas Kemish [or Kemys], and with him officers and soldiers to the number of 120. We drew close about it, and kept strong guards upon them, to pre- vent them from stealing out, and so to make their escape. We sent for two guns from Gloucester, and two off a shipboard, and planted them against the castle. We raised [razed] the battlements of their towers with our great guns, and made their guns unusefull for them. We also plaid with our shorter pieces into the castle. One shot fell into the governor's chamber, which caused him to remove his lodgings to the other end of the castle, We then prepared our batteries, and this morning fin- ished them. About twelve of the clock, we made a hole through the wall, so low that a man might walk into it. The soldiers in the castle, perceiving that we were like to make a breach, cried out to our soldiers that they would yield the castle, and many of them did attempt to come away. I caused my soldiers to fire at them to keep them in. Esquire Lewis comes upon the wall, and speaks to some gentlemen of the county that he knew, and tells them that lie was willing to yield to mercy. They came and acquainted me with his desire, to which I answered, that it was not my work to treat with par- ticular men, but it was Sir Nicholas Kemish, with his officers and all his soldiers, that I aimed at; but the gover- nor refused to deliver up the castle upon these terms that Esquire Lewis desired, but desired to speak with me at the drawbridge, while I altogether refused to have any such speech with him, because he refused Lieut. General Cromwell's summons but being overpersuaded by some gentlemen of the county that were there pre- sently I dismounted from my horse, and went unto the draw-bridge where he through the port-hole spake with me. That which he desired was, that he with all his officers and soldiers, might march out nfV„ rqqtle without anything being taken from them to which I answered, that I would give him no other terms but that he and all that were with him should submit unto mercv, which he swore he would not do. I presently drew off the soldiers from the castle, and caused them to stand to their arms; but he refusing to come out upon those terms,' the soldiers deserted him, and came running out at the breach we had made. Ai y soldiers seeing them run out, ran in at the same place, and possesst themselves of the castle, and killed Sir Nicholas Kemish, and likewise him that betrayed the castle, and wounded divers, and took prisoners as followethEsquire Lewis, Major Lewis, Major Thomas, Captain Morgan, Captain Buckes- well, Captain John Harris, Captain Christopher Harris, Captain Mancell, Captain Pinner, Captain Doule, Captain Rosstree, Lieutenant Kemish, Lieutenant Leach, Lieutenant Codd, Ensign Watkins, Ensign Morgan, with other officers and soldiers, to the number of 120. These prisoners we put into the church, and shall keep them till I receive further orders from Lieutenant-General Cromwell. This is all at present, but that I am your humble servant, "Chepstow, May 23, 16iS. ISAAC EWER.

garden, and wished him to go up and ask Mrs. Alder's pardon; he said he was very sorry. The prisoner was further charged with stealing a bat, the property of Mr. Pritchard, publican, Llanvetherine. For the larceny of the brocoli defendant was sentenced to two months' im- prisonment with hard labour.