The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

EXTRACTS FROM PLtjSTCII & "FUN." Greek Fire on Charleston. Bomba, when he. lost his crown, T^ishetl to shell Palermo town, Gilmore would have knocked it down, He rains Greek Fire on Charleston.. Fear restrained King Bomba's wrath From an act of savage scath, Nothing stands in Gilmore's path; J He hurls Greek Fire on Charleston. General Gilmore found it hard To come over Beauregard, So he played a Yankee card, And poured Greek Fire on Charleston. Asked to let the townsfolk go, c., Gilmore bravely answered No or And proceeded, noways slow, To pitch Greek Fire on Charleston. Gallant Gilmore, warrior stern, Babes and women, thus to burn! What a deathless name he'll earn, That threw Greek Fire on Charleston Nana Sahib rest unsung, Let none speak of Badahung, Since bold Gilmore bombs has flung, And cast Greek Fire on Charleston. Do but think what shriek and yell .0.' Rose where dropped his Parrott shell, When lie dies you'll sav, Ah, well! He threw Greek Fire on Charleston S-VBBATABIAN PERSECUTION.—The recusant hay- makers of Leigh, some of them poor labourers, have been distrained upon for the penalties inflictod upon them by the Atherton representatives of Midas, for the offence of saving hay on a Sunday. We have not heard that any of them have been set in the stocks yet, as they were condemned to be, failing distraint by reason of no effects. In the meantime they have appealed against what appears to be an illegal convic- tion, and if that is quashed what will become of the Atherton Justices ? Will their long ears be permitted by Government to vibrate any longer on the Atherton Bench ? THE SHOOTING SEASON.—Our sporting readers will be delighted to hear that the preserves are in ex- cellent order. We opened one pot last night. It proved to be apricot—and delicious. Birds are pretty plentiful. We counted no less than twelve sparrows in our street yesterday morning. As for hares, an intelligent footman informs us he heard a hare from Hill Trovatore hon a horgan in the square just now." 'This is the only hare we can place under the head of game. A SIGN OF THE TIMES.-Thc Lord Mayor has been publicly complaining that prisoners, knowing he is a Mason of the Ancient and Accepted Order, will make signs to him. We cannot help thinking the case would have been better laid before the authorities of the society. If ill-doers may claim exemption by proving themselves masons, the builders are going on a wrong foundation. If not, there is no necessity to bother the public with a grievance which does not concern them. The Lord Mayor having been a mason before he arrived at the chief magistracy, ought to have known that his office would be no "sign-ecure." WONDERFUL WINKING.-According to the Tablet another picture has been rolling its eyes in a church near Rome. We wonder if a photograph of the Pope would wink. It should, if it were taken just now, when, according to the report published by the Italian Parliament, the Holy Father himself is winking at Bourbon brigandage. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. We learn from a con- temporary that the Aztecs are in Paris." We have long been under the impression that these wretched little beings had ceased to exist. Perhaps our con- temporary's informant was not aware of this, and fell into a very natural error. Mr. Disraeli is very likely in Paris on the look-out for an original funeral oration on the late Lord Clyde, to be delivered next session. A RIDDLE FOR THE SANDS.—Why is the isle, of which Bamsgate forms a part, evidently one of the finest in the world P—Because there is no better Than it to be found. CRUX FOR THE CRITICS.—We, in the interests of true science, beg to inform Critics of the Rationalistic and Materialist Schools, that it was only last week there came before our notice the extraordinary fact of a gentleman who went to Brighton, and there stopped the day and night. REMARKABLE FACT.-The other day, a lady, whose name for obvious reasons we forbear to mention, was supplied by an eminent dentist with a false set of teeth, and, curious to relate, she has ever since spoken in a falsetto voice. VERT STRANGE.-The extraordinary facilities for locomotion in the present day are the cause of strange sights. Only the day before yesterday, at a quarter- past four, we saw Bolt-court running into Fleet- street A JOG FOR THE JOGRAPHERS.-What is the dif- ference between the county of Lincoln and the Lincoln Administration ?-The former is noted for its fens, the latter .for its flats. On !—When a house has been burnt down, may it be said to have be«n blazed to the ground ? A HINT TO LAW STUDENTS.—The book-worm fre- quently changes to the silk-worm. AN ILL-LOOKING SERVANT.—A plain cook. A STEADY REIGN.—Victoria's. RASH PROVOCATION.-The nettle-rash. SLIGHTLY APPROPRIATE.—A shareholder in the Great Eastern Railway last week had an addition to his family. Singular to relate, the child was born with a caul. BOSOM FRIENDS.—The Federals are very angry with the Emperor, who, they declare, is a confessed ally of the South. But there is no reason that he should have the Confederate cause at heart because he has a Confederate cruiser at Brest. So IT APPEARS.—Professor Pepper is able to give such unmixed pleasure to large numbers by his ap- parition, that he may be looked on as quite a (g)host in himself. WHO'S WHo?-Who!

SENDING A THREATENING LETTER. Andrew Forster, of Bishopton, near Ripon, rope- maker (a youth aged fourteen years, but in appearance two years older), was charged at the Court-house, Ripon, on Wednesday (before Mr. R. D. Oxley and Captain Smith), with having sent a letter to Mr. Thomas Waite, of Bishopton, demanding money to the amount of £3, with menace, and without reason- able or probable cause. The following is a copy of the letter:— Sir,-We write to you to inform you that we are go'ng to Australia next month, and that we are zC3 0. Od. short of our expences so we want you to give us it; and when we come back if we are successful we will give you jESOO 0. Od. back for it. There is a hole again your and a sod again it so you can lap the £3 0. 0. up in a bit of cloth put in the hole and put the sod on it it is the stack again that Garden we are three Villians and stick at Nothing so if you do not put it the to night by heaven we will murder you we will cut your Throat from Ear to Ear And if you speak a word to any body about this Letter we will stab you but you do what we have told you no harm shall come to you but if you do not our revenge will overtake you We remain JAMES COT-FIN, DICK MARKHAM, JOHN WICKS put in this afternoon or else by God we will barn you to death Say not a word about it Our knives are sharp and our pistols sure. Mind we only ask you to lend us it. The perusal of the letter very naturally caused great alarm, and Mr. Inspector Kane, of the West Riding constabulary, was communicated with. Acting under Mr. Kane's directions, three farthings were put in a stocking, which was placed in the hole indi- cated by the letter, and the sod, which exactly fitted the place, Put over it. Mr. Kane, a police-constable, Mr. Waite, jun., and another person, watched the field from about half-past seven in the evening until about four o'clock in the morning, when Mr. Kane and the police-constable were left alone. Between half-past five and six o'clock the prisoner entered the afield, looked round, went in the direction of the hole a 1ew yards, looked round a second time, then went into a stooping posture for five or six yards, and after- wards straightened himself up, ran to the hole, and with his right hand lifted the sod. Seeing the imagined prize, he clapped his hands together, then 'gave an exulting leap, took up the stocking, and the next moment was in the custody of Mr. Kane., He .subsequently admitted that he wrote the letter, saying that he did it to get a pair of boots to go to York with the band. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next gaol delivery at York. The prisoner has resided within a hundred yards of Mr. Waite's house for the last, four years, and has been considered a quiet, well-behaved youth. He is a mem- ber of the Yorkshire Hissr Band,

Hostility against France. There is no military news. You will be startled to find the President's confidential letter contains not one word about France. The knowing ones all understand that. There' is not one of the 100,000 workmen at the ship yards that does not know that his work goes to Mexico, or on the ocean. My own idea is, that war has been decided upon at Washington already, and that before many weeks the storm will burst, and France will find her hands fully occupied. Mexico-Milian is a wise Dutchman to postpone a year. His only chance of ever seeing Mexico is to hurry into it now, before our fleets reach Mexican ports. Before a year is over he will find that 600,000 Frenchmen with muskets cannot place him on that throne, or keep him there. The rebellion will not alter the "Monroe" doctrine. It will be fully maintained while we have a man or a dollar. Tens of thousands will go in for this war as soon as it is publicly announced, as hundreds do every day at the recruiting offices where they are quietly told Mexico is their desti- nation, and to fight Frenchmen. I should not be at all surprised if a declaration of war, or rather, the proclamation of the President, announcing z, that "war exists with France," should be made this month. I think that the 44,000 veteran troops now in this city will be embarked some Sunday morning for Vera Cruz in the fleet of 160 vessels quietly congregating here, and that certainly can have no use in any of our Southern ports. If the President should play that deep game, and go'to war with France, he will not need another man for this rebellion. States will quietly go on and elect con- gressmen, and resume relations with the Union with but few words, glad of the excuse that a war with France will give.

Proposed Withdrawal of the American Minister from Paris. I think Mr. Lincoln should authorise our Minis- ter to quit Paris, or give some signal of what is to happen, so that American citizens now in France may leave that country, and not be entrapped as English citizens were in the time of the First Napoleon. There is fun ahead. Anything but a civil war. A war with France will be child's play, unless the puppet of France in London should be ordered by his master, Napoleon, to plunge England into war with us, in which case Lord Palmerston would do it, and we should have a double war;, but even a war with all Europe will not be so serious, so costly, or so painful as our own civil war.

Doings at New York. Our city is absolutely crowded with strangers. Go where you will, you cannot find a room in an hotel, unless you make application a week in ad- vance. The streets are crowded. All our places of amusement are making fortunes. The country is getting deserted. Our citizens are flocking back to Broadway.

Uncle Sam's Webb Feet. The naval officer's have had a meeting in refer- ence to the President's late letter. You recollect he said, "Nor must Uncle Sam's web feet be for- gotten." It is charged that he meant to call the officers and men of our navy geese. If so, it was insulting, and it is hoped that resolutions of a stringent character will be passed and sent to the President.

Popularity of War Candidates. Our Democratic State Convention 'comes off on the 9th inst. at Albany. There are sixteen dele- gates from this city from Tammany Hall. If Tammany Hall unites with the peace Democrats the party will be beaten out of sight. The war is popular, and only the party that upholds it in the most powerful manner can have the ghost of a chance in any State in the North. There is no use in lying about the matter. I do not think that Vallandigham will come within 50,000 of being elected in Ohio. Somehow the administra- tion are managing very adroitly. It does not miss a figure, or lose a chance. Even in Nevada territory the Abolitionists have swept all before them in the recent local elections.

Why Charleston Does not Fall P Great surprise is felt here that the forts in Charleston do not fall. I can pretty well under- stand how it is. That precious humbug Beaure- gard, who has not a dime in the world, or a dollar at stake, does not care how soon the city is burned. The people of Charleston do care, and they have sent to Gilmore, begging him not to destroy the city, and say they will surrender it. This makes him pause. I have no doubt but that is the true solution of why Charleston is not shelled out, and you will soon hear that the city has surrendered without reference to the forts in the harbour. Such will be the result, unless Beauregard is master of the people of Charleston.

Completion of the Draft. The draft is finished, and soldiers are being sent away in small squads every hour. The large force of 40,000, or such portion as was in this city, has been ordered out of the parks and squares. They have not yet returned to the war; in fact their movements are kept very quiet. If you could be here and see how completely cowed is this city, you would agree with me that forty troopers would keep us under without the need of 40,000!

The Addition Taxes. Our City Councils have appropriated 3,500,000 dollars to pay for soldiers drafted. It is not re- garded as legal, and very likely there will be no money advanced by the capitalists. The Mayor and Supervisors have already appropriated two millions of dollars. The Comptroller is actino- with them, and there will be no difficulty in getting the money. Ours is a rich city, and we can afford to pay taxes. We have several kinds. The old city tax is one; the county tax is another; the State tax is another; and now we have the United States tax. If we go on, our taxes will be very heavy eventually. Property, however, will stand it. It does not seem fair, though, to pay a tax (as we shall have to do) for these millions raised to save men from going to the war.

War with France. The news that we are likely to have a brush with Japan is exciting, but not alarming. The prepara- tions for a war with France -are going on on a grander scale than ever. Workmen in our navy yards, and at many private yards, work night and day. France is a foe worthy of our steel. Still the contest will be a short one. Old Slidell is sharp, and will very likely make Louis Napoleon believe the moon is made of green cheese but it will be a bitter pill for his race to have a war with the North. He will not have 1,000 men in the South as allies. If either party permits an outside nation to meddle with our quarrel I shall be surprised. We have all adopted the Monroe doctrine, that no European state shall change a government on this continent. What dastards and wretched cowards we should be were we to permit Louis Napoleon to set up an emperor in Mexico! I have an idea that the earth will fall before it will be permitted. One thing is quite certain, three months have fully prepared us for a war with France, and it can be carried on without interfering with our home quarrel. We shall have no English seamen on board French vessels, as is the case with Confederate steamers.

Tactics of Lincoln. I am beginning to doubt whether Lincoln, who is the ugliest as well as the tallest specimen of the z, human race in America, is not also the cleverest. He acts like an old player in politics. Two years ago he exhibited traits of a most remarkable character, that made me halt and wonder whether we had not got by mistake a great man or a great manager in power. I am now startled in the same manner. Lincoln is of some account, or he has wonderful luck. I do not know what to think. The religious people have a theory that he is favoured by Divine Providence, who is using him as a tool to extirpate slavery. If so, I suppose slavery will go down. It is well known that Mr. Lincoln consults the spirit world before he makes any great move. He has several mediums. All I have to say is, that if he has been acting under such advice in order to be re-elected, such medium is smart, and Mr. Lincoln had better reward him with a high office.

Re-election of Lincoln. It is almost wonderful how my words are be- ginning to be verified. You will notice that the Cabinet, all the leading Republican statesmen, and all the Republican press, are in the field again for Abraham Lincoln to bere-nominatedand re-elected., It is now a matter of certainty that he will be the Republican candidate. He is their only hope. He is the only man that can keep that party in power and their men in office. It is curious how it has all come about. I am amazed at the game as it now stands. Unless Lincoln and his advisers are all fools they have the game in their own hands. y They cannot lose. I say this with deep regret, for I counted with certainty upon eating cherries at the Hague as American Charge d'Affaires in 1865, when the present Veracious Pike, of the Tribune, would be obliged to leave and come here to do his reporting. But to return to the Presidency. Lincoln must be re-elected unless he throws away his game. There are several Republican States North which will vote for him. He can overawe New York, and frighten Seymour out of his stock- ings, as has lately been seen. He is sure of the forty-six New England votes in the Electoral Col- lege, and he is sure of Mississippi, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. He can order the elections in the South—North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas. Of course, the loyal men will all vote for him. His Congress will declare those votes legal, and whether so or not he can declare them, proclaim himself elected, and, as he has 800,000 soldiers, can keep in for four years after 1865; and I must say he is a great fool if he don't do all this. So far the public is relieved, and the shrewd ones are pretty well satisfied" who will be the next President."

Opinion of the Archduke Maximilian. In a postscript dated Sept. 9, he says :—" The ip steamer sails at nine o'clock on account of the tide. By the Scotian, arrived last night, we have dates to the 29th ult. The news seems to be pleasant. The Austrian Archduke does not seem to be willing to become the French puppet in Mexico, to dance when Napoleon pulls the wires. I really think a great deal of good of old King Leopold, and I hope his declining years will be spared the mortification of hearing a son-in-law cursed by millions, until after a long and bloody z, war he is either driven disgracefully from the con- tinent or murdered by his incensed subjects.

CAMP LIFE OF THE INSURGENTS IN LITHUANIA. To give some ever so slight idea of the camp life of the insurgents of Lithuania we insert an extract from the private letter of a volunteer, a mere private, whom fate had thrown at first into the voivodship of Kowno, and subsequently into the corps commanded by the late Abbe Mackiewicz. The letter was written to the parents of the author, who have communicated it to us; and although the contents may appear rather ro- mantic, they are nevertheless corroborated by facts: "After long inquiries, confrontations, and cross-ex- aminations, I was at last brought to a gentleman who was to facilitate my getting to the corps. I must confess that this evident mistrust rather vexed me, but when I saw during my few days' stay at Kieidany how unmercifully the Muscovites tortured the people, I became aware of the necessity of utmost caution, and thought to myself, well, it cannot be helped, I got into the fray, and must get still deeper into it. The intro- duction to this gentleman, whom I do not know to this very day who he was, but imagined him to be a dis- trict, or some other functionary of the National Government—was so peculiar and impressive, that I consider it deserving description. Imagine a very tiny room in a cottage of one of the villages of the neighbourhood, with two small windows looking into the garden; the floor strewed with sweet flag to sweeten it. On the wall a crucifix on a piece of black cloth, under it a wooden form covered with a rug; in the middle of the room a plain wooden table, upon which a few books and again another crucifix, a tallow candle, and a couple of wooden chairs consti- tuted the furniture of the room. When I entered, after u having knocked at the window, as I was instructed, the occupant of the room bolted it without saying a word, showed to me a chair, and for some time pierced me in silence with his penetrating look. He was an emaciated, short man, with a consumptive colour on his cheek. In his uneasy features a feverish excite- ment was perceptible. His look was bold and pene- trating he had a high but already wrinkled forehead, though he did not appear more than thirty years old. After a while he addressed me Citizen! who are you ?' I toldhim my name. He smiled, and said Of what use is the. name ? I want to know who you are.' I replied with the watch-word, and related to him all my adventures from the expedition to the forests of Kampinos in January. "'The past is uiiblameable. But what did you come here for ? Are you aware of what awaits you P You shall be every day hungry; yon shall sleep on the bare ground; you shall walk more often barefooted than in boots. When wounded you will be caught by the Muscovites; and, if you do not stand your ground, the commander will have you shot." I know all this, and am prepared for it.' "'Have you any relatives ? If so, write to them to bewail you beforehand. You may never see them again, because from our corps no one gets a leave of absence except to the grave. Tell me, brother, did you make your peace with G-od ? For I will not deceive you, you are going to meet death. Say, with- out any swagger, whether you are at any time ready to die for the country or not. Think well over it. There is yet time to withdraw. I will facilitate to you the return beyond the Niemen. The service is there less hard.' Citizen, my determination is irrevocable. When, last January, we were leaving Warsaw without arms -without adequate clothing, we knew what awaited us, and yet no one wavered.' You seem to be hurt, citizen, but unjustly, for no one, I am sure, listened with greater admiration to the accounts of your heroic devotedness-your sublime patriotism-which did and does achieve wonders but also no one could have.grieved more profoundly than we when we heard that the very same men who were fighting the foe with mere sticks were, a few months after, flying with muskets into Galicia. These were heart-rending, dreadful tidings for us. There is, indeed, an enormous amount of devotedness and ardour with you, but there is a lack of perseverance; you forget that Moscovy cannot be overcome in a few weeks— that in this gigantic struggle a whole generation of us must be laid low, to redeem the sins of our fathers, and reconquer the right of existence for future gene- rations. Therefore, do I ask you once more, are you ready to go to fight, with the certainty that you must perish ? are you sure that weakness will not overcome you, that yearnings after Warsaw, your relations, that unimaginable hardships will not cool your ardour and cause despondency ? Reflect, for the moment is decisive.' When he spoke thus the calm resignation of the former Christian martyrs was depicted on his coun- tenance. I instinctively felt that these were no mere words, that this was his faith, and that only men penetrated with such faith were fit to join the order of combatants for independence. These words invoked in me an involuntary confused inward struggle. Scenes of my childhood, images of my dear relations and friends, and our cottage at Praga, and former dreams of a peaceful industrious future flitted across my mind, whilst at the same time rose, as if it were in reproach, the visions of our martyrs, the remembrance of the horrors of Muscovite murders, the groans of widows and orphans, the stifled sighs from dungeons and Siberia, seemed to strike my ear, and overpowered my feelings. I blushed with shame that I could think for a moment of myself, and waver, when thousands had signed with their blood the act of future liberty. I started, therefore, from my seat, looked, with tears in my eyes, at our crucified Redeemer, and in a silent prayer made a sacrifice of whatever was dear to my heart. I turned then to my host, and said: 'Brother, I am ready.' I believe you. Take the oath, and let us go.' "The oath being administered, we left the cottage by the gardens at the back, and soon reached the fields. It was a still July night. The aroma of the ripening corn was delightful. I felt light and full of confidence. After an hour's walk through corn fields and bushes, we perceived a light flickering in the window of a hut, close to the border of a forest. My guide gave the signal by repeating three times a plain- tive shriek, representing that of the kite, which was answered from the hut by a similar cry, and in less than half an hour we heard the cautious steps of an old man, in the garb of a peasant, with a straw hat on his head, who greeted us with the usual 1 God be praised.' After a short, subdued talk between my guide and the old man, w& went into the hut, where we found ready-prepared coarse linen, boots, peasants' dresses, and caps and, having changed our dress, we set out for our further journey. The old man led. us across the fewest, murmuring something under his nose. We groped along through close-set thickets, holding almost a&ths skirts of the old man's dress, and in such darkness- that I could not see the grey garments of the man, who preceded; and I cannot conceive by what the old Lithuanian could have been guided in suaft a glteomy, starless n'tght. • Our journey lasted for about a couple of hours, may be more for I only know that when we arrived at a pretty extensive glen the day began to dawn. we will stop here,' said our guide 'in about half an hour they will be here.' Saving this he went a few steps away, knelt down, ani" began to sav his prayers. In/ess than half an hour we heard,'on the opposite side of the glen, the rustling of branches, cautious steps, and a peculiar cry, which served us for a signal. The old man replied, and very soon after that we per- ceived men making their appearance from behind the trees, forming evidently the vanguard. They were all dressed iu grey coats, reaching a little below'the knee, fastened with a leather belt, and had on their heads square caps. Each had a double-barrelled gun, a hatchet stuck in his belt, a good sized bag of coarse linen across his shoulders, and a bugle horn. "The old man and my guide approached them, and they said something to one another, whilst I was standing at a distance. They gave after that a short signal with their bugles,'and went across the glen to the other side of the forest. Soon after a chain of rifle- men pushed forward out of the forest, and took up in silence their position along the very edge-of the forest. They were similarly dressed as the first ones, and were commanded by an officer in a' braided but rather worn coat. They were followed by pretty close columns of riflemen, numbering at least '300, and 100 scythemen. They had neither wagons nor baggage, but I merely saw boxes carried on poles, which, as I afterwards ascertained, contained powder and cart- ridges. All located themselves in groups all over the glen; fires were lit, kettles were put on, and they were evidently preparing for a rest; but in such silence and quiet that one might have taken them for a camp of mute men. Being used to the noise of our camps I was rather astonished at it. Last of all came the Abbe Mackiewicz, the commander of the corps, in a cassock with tucked up corners, a sword, and a revolver in his belt. He was surrounded by a few young officers in braided coats, evidently constituting his staff. All were on foot, not a single horse was to be seen in the camp, nor had they any store of provisions, except- what they carried in their bags. "My guide brought me before the leader, and pre- sented me to him. He related to him all my previous adventures, and concluded by saying— In short, commander, he appears to me a smart, vigorous Mazovian.' "1 had, during the conversation, an opportunity of studying the expression of the features of the Abbe Mackiewicz. His swarthy complexion, prominent features, long dark beard, thick eyebrows, and furrowed forehead, formed a rather gloomy ensemble, full of energy and vigour, which involuntarily penetrated with respect. Do you know how to shoot and to listen F' asked he, laconically. I do.' 'Do you know how to pray? My mother has taught me that.' Can you die ? 'I did not try it as yet.' Very well.' He then turned to one of the officers, and said, Take him to the sixth Decuria; there a gun is left after poor Manulis, eternal peace be with his soul, let them receive him there to the common kettle.' The officer bowed, and took me to my Decuria, who were all sitting' round the fire and talking together in a low voice. Citizen, this is your colleague, a Mazovian, from the banks of the Vistula love him,' and then turning to me, he said, in.:presenting me to an enormous big man, dressed like the others, but merely with a revolver in his belt, This is your Decurion.' They began to question me about Warsaw, about Langiewicz, and other leaders. The conversation became very lively, and I felt very comfortable among them. My Decuria consists of four peasants of Ig- natsov, three townsmen of Poniewicz, the son of a wealthy landowner of the district of Szavle, a school- master from Kowno, and me. I learnt that they are making all sallies and attacks at night, and rest during the day, if the Muscovites are not upon their heels. Last night they made about four Lithuanian (22 English) miles, and proposed therefore to remain the whole day in the glen. The sun had just risen when, at the signal of a whistle, the word of command, To prayers/ was re- peated in every Decuria. The sight of these several hundreds of man inured in battle and kneeling, uncovered in devout prayer, was very solemn and imposing. Before us, before a cross and the effigy of the Blessed Virgin on the camp standard, the Abbe Mackiewicz was kneeling, and struck up the sublime chant, When the morning dawn is rising.' "All around were our native forests, our present strongholds, and over us Grod and our future. Observer.

CURIOUS ACTION FOR DAMAGES. At the Sunderland County Court last week a case was heard^ in which Robert Taylor claimed £ 50 as compensation for injuries he had received at the hands of a companion named John Atkinson. The men are both savsyers, working at Southwick. and residing in the adjoining viliage of Hylton. On the morning of Monday, the 29th of June last, they left their work about ten o'clock, and went into the public-house kept by Edward Brown. They had a good deal of beer, and sat conversing about feats of strength until Atkinson said he would bet a quart there was not a man in the house who could lift him. Taylor said he thought he could, but did not accept the bet, and while they were at the door between twelve and one, Atkinson said, "Can you lift me now?" and upon that Taylor undertook to carry him into the house. In his evidence the plaintiff said:— I put my back against him, in a stooping position, to lift him by the thighs, but he said, That's not the way, I'll show vou." He then shoved his arms up through under mine, and fetched them on the back-side of my head. Then he pressed my head down into my breast, and I felt something give way in my neck. I fell down at his feet, and said, You have done me." He said, Can you carry me now? I said, "No, you've done me." He ?aV!' .Come, get u:), it's only the rirink. and you'll soon be better. But I cou'a not stir, and George Young carried me into the house. Dr. Horan has since attended me. I am now very weak in the small of my back, and have very little use of my hands, being unable to lift anything. We were both under the influence of liquor. Margaret Barwick, plaintiff's sister, deposed to conversing with the defendant about the affair. He offered to show her how it was done, but she declined, thinking that for one of the family to be lame was qu;te enough. She asked him why he did not allow her brother to carry him in, to which he replied, "That's my catch." He afterwards said he had been done in a similar way himself once before by a man at the Three Horse Shoes Inn, and he was not clever for eight or nine weeks after. Dr. Horan deposed that the spinal marrow was injured, and said he found plaintiff completely paralysed, and without power to move or assist himself in bed. There was great tenderness about ttie region of the neck, and in his opinion it would be a long time before Taylor recovered the use of his limbs. He might recover somewhat, but would never be the man he was before the occurrence. He did not think he would be able to work as a sawyer again. There was no substantial defence to the action, and his Honour found for the plaintiff, with £ 25 damages and costs. He remarked that though the men had agreed to a trial of strength in lming, defendant had used unfair means. He would have given judgment for the whole sum of £50, but the defendant being only a working man, and having a family to maintain, would not be able to pay more than £ 25. + (

Mr. John Carruthers, tobacco manufacturer, was returning the other night from Ormskirk fair when, turning a corner a short distance through the Burscoagh tollbar, he was thrown from his horse. His head struck the ground, and he was picked up dead. A Baronet's Daughter in the Folice-celL— The Glasgow police apprehended a woman last week named Margaret Lindsay or Cowan, on a charge of uttering base coin. When she was brought to the police-office on this charge two detective officerB went 'to her lodgings in Alison-street, with the view of making further inquiries regarding her. In the course of their investigation they discovered, in the. posses- sion of her mother, who occupied the same lodgings, two pawn tickets—one for a table-cloth and the other for a sheet, pledged by her, while they were the pro- perty of her landlady. The owner, unaware of this transaction until this discovery, at once committed her to the officers. Her name is Phillis Fettes or Lindsay, daughter of the late Sir William Fettes Bart., who, it is said, omitted to make a suitable pro- vision for her in his will, when arranging for the endowment of an hospital at Comely Bank.; The trustees on Sir "\Yilliam s estate, however gave her an allowance from the funds under their control: but it is said that after the decease of the late Lord Ruther- furd this was discontinued. At length, after enduring several privations, and disposing of all her marketable property, she, in a state of utter destitution, pledged these articles for a few coppers. She pleaded guilty to the charge, and was sentenced to thirty dave' im- prisonment.

EXTRAORDINARY FRAUD. The walls of the metropolis and the suburbs have been placarded during the week with large bills offering = £ 1.000 reward for the apprehension of a person named Dietrichstein, a Hungarian, who is described as a young man of thirty-three years of age, with a young wife and one child, and it now appears that the Lord Mayor has issued a warrant for the apprehension of the aforesaid Sigmund Dietrichstein, who stands charged with having absconded, and taking with him 11 z;1 no less a sum than = £ 10,000 in Bank of Eng- land notes, which had been obtained by means of fraud and conspiracy. It would appear that Dietrichstein carried on business in the City for some years, his ostensible occupation being that of a merchant. Very little is known of his ante- cedents, except that about three years ago he was a bankrupt, a fact that does not seem to have at all impeded his subsequent operations, or to have prevented him from carrying out the fraud now imputed to him to a successful termination. The result of the information already obtained leaves no doubt that a most deliberate plan was con- cocted, in which Dietrichstein was the principal agent; but other foreigners who had possession of considerable means, and who used them in further- ance of the common object, were concerned for the purpose of carrying out a most gigantic fraud; 71 11 for although only the sum of = £ 10,000 was ob. tained, there is no doubt a much larger specu- lation was intended. The manner in which he carried out his fraud was of a very daring cha- racter. Having obtained a recommendation to an influential firm of brokers on the Stock Exchange, he has during the last six months operated exten- sively in time bargains upon different foreign stocks. He always paid his differences when the account went against him, and by this means j succeeded in obtaining the confidence of the par- ) ties with whom he was dealing, and thus paved the way for the robbery. Dietrichstein purchased very largely for the account ending the 29th of August, which was on a Saturday, the arrange- ments of the confederates being completed by that day. According to the custom of the Stock Exchange, when foreign bonds or other securities are taken up by the parties who purchase them, a cheque is given when they are handed over. Upon the stock purchased by Dietrichstein, consisting of .£11,000.. worth of Egyptian and Brazilian Bonds, and which are a description of security as widely negotiable as Bank of England notes, being handed to him, he paid for each security a cheque upon Messrs. Drummond's, which was one of the two banks at which he did business, the other being the City Bank. He took care not to pay over the cheques upon the Messrs. Drum- mond until after the usual banking hours, which on Saturdays cease at two o'clock. By this dodge he evidently calculated that the cheques would not be paid in until the following Monday, by which day he would have ample time to decamp. This part of the scheme, however, failed. The parties to whom the cheques were given, knowing that Dietrichstein also kept an account at the City Bank, paid the cheques into that establish- ment, and through their clerk the cheques upon Drummond's were sent to the clearing-house; but it would seem that the large sum for which they were drawn, taken in connection with the state of Dietrichstein's account at the City Bank, created some' suspicion, and this and other cireumstances were considered amply sufficient to, justify an application being made, by a, confidential party to Messrs. DruiiimorA to know whether there were any assete sufficient to meet the two cheques that lad been drawn upon them by Dietrichstein. This led to a dis- covery of the faafe that there :was. onJjr about £ 25, or at all events some very small sum, standing to his credit. The fraud being found out, steps were of course immediately taken to endeavour to regain possession of the property, but it was too late. It was ascertained that immediately the bonds had been obtained they were tali en to two of the City banks,-either by Dietrichstein or by some one on his behalf, where they were deposited as security for the advance of nearly £ 10,000. The value of the stock was over = £ 11,000, but a small margin, as usual, was kept for the protection of the bankers making the advance against any fluctuation that might take place in the market. The money was all obtained in bank notes, namely, two of £ 500, six of £ 200, thirty-two of £100, thirty of £ 50, and fifty-one of £ 20 each. It is believed the moment the money was received Dietrich- stein made off, and he has not since been heard of. No clue has been obtained to the bulk of the money, a small portion only having been traced to one person, who states that he received the notes from Dietrichstein in the ordinary course of business. It is almost unnecessary to say that not the slightest blame is attached to the bankers with reference to the advance of the money upon the deposit of the stock, as this is a proceeding of every-day occurrence, many firms of the highest position frequently finding it necessary to obtain temporary accommodation; and, consequently, the persons who will be the sufferers by this fraud are the brokers who delivered the stock. The fugitive is described as of sallow complexion, and wearing- a small moustache and whiskers.