The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

EXTRACTS FROM" PUNCH "& "FUN." -+- ¡", Mr. Bull to his American Bullies. "J Iloy, I say you two there, kicking Up that row before my shop -Do you want a good sound licking > Both ? If not, you'd better stop.. i Peg away at one another, ;ji|, ) ,'i If you choose such fools to be: n't. But leave me alone; don't bother, ,f "e' Bullyrag, and worry me i; Into your confounded quarrel M-. ,v' Let myself be dragged I'll not r. l j By you, fighting for a Morrill <• • ■•■} Tariff; or your slavery lot What I want to do with either v.-■ Is impartially to trade: iiv.r Nonsense I will stand from neither Past the bounds of gasconade. You, North, roaring, raving, yelling, Hold your jaw, you booby, do; What, dy'e threaten me for selling Arms to South as well as you ? South, at me don't bawl and bellow, That won't make me take your part; So you just be off, young fellow: Now, you noisy chap, too, start To be called names, 'tis unpleasant; Words, however, break no bones I control myself at present; ■ But beware of throwing stones! I won't have my windows broken, H Mind, you brawlers, what I say, See this stick, a striking token; Cut your own, or civil stay. ATSTOTHEK WATER-LOO.—Col. Cruikshank's Corps, the 48th Middlesex, or Temperance Volunteers, were observed not long since marching solemnly to the sound of pipes (not tobacco pipes, for they are total abstainers) and drums and trumpets in a terrific shower of rain. There can be no doubt that each of the so-called teatotallers must have taken several drops on this occasion. The gallant wet-eran who led them ought to have known better than to have made such a water-colour exhibition of his corps. We have no desire, after the damp that was cast on them, to decry the regiment's valour—we simply question the wisdom of such a parade—twenty-four rank and file, not in- cluding the band, or the colonel, or the colonel's cele- brated groggy charger Of course, in case of invasion, the twenty-four teatotallers would draw-like pumps -in the defence of their country. A MAN OF LETTERS.—Old Abe has been penning such an epistle It is difficult to guess how he came to be trusted with a pen and ink. His friends might have been sure he would have committed himself, as well as what he had to say, to writing. He has managed to put his webbed foot" into it, with a vengeance. The funniest part "of his letter is the finish. Let us be quite sober," he says. Well, it would be better to be sober, for it is a double evil when a man is drunk as well as a fool. VARlUM ET MUTABILE.—Woman is always a variable and changeable thing. Our authority for this statement is pretty widely known, and as a particular 'example to this general rule, we give the following re- markable instance :—The other day a young lady, whose antipathy to all dangerous gymnastic exhi- bitions is proverbial among her own immediate friends, actually made a speech on the tight rope. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.—Violence appears to be the order of the day. Only last week a nurseryman was charged, at the instance of the Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty, with striking some young gera- niums, the property of his master. Strange to say, he was discharged, although in his defence he admitted having just about that time slipt into" the green- house. BOUND TO ADORE.-—-We are repeatedly told that "Love laughs at Locksmiths." It is true to a turn, for there are instances on the legal books of Cupid not only laughing at the locksmith, but actually taking his pick of all the wards in Chancery. NOTE BY A KITCHEN DRESSER.—In the days of clock-pattern'd stockings, their wearers always went on tick. A NOTE FROM THE SCALES OF JUSTICE. — A concert-singer having murdered a tune, subsequently tried his voice, and with ease acquitted himself. A. BARBAROUS KACE.—When rival 'buses run over people in their competition. FANCY FAIRS."—The ever-varying fares of our street cabs. AMERICAN POLITICAL CAPITAL.-Abuse of Eng- land.

RIOT NEAR GUILDFORD. A disgraceful disturbance took place in the neigh- bourhood of Guildford on Sunday night, which resulted in serious injury to upwards of thirty persons, at a small village about a mile from Guildford, known as St. Catherine's, being at the foot of a high hill on the Guildford and Portsmouth road, on the summit of which is situated the ruined church of St. -Catherine. It appears that on the 4th October will occur the annual fair of the village, and that on that day, by virtue of an old charter, the landlords of the village publics are allowed to draw beer during prohibited hours. The Sunday before the fair is known as Tap-up Sunday," and a similar privilege is accorded. The village swains usually turn out in great numbers, and some little license is taken by them in throwing chestnuts at passers-by, which generally creates a good deal of merriment among the rustics, and has been good-naturedly borne by those who have been so treated. This year the larking" has been carried on in a most inordinate manner. Upwards of 400 young fellows assembled in the village, lining the road on either side in formidable phalanx, and, when any peaceably-inclined passenger approached, they allowed him or her to get into their midst, when they closed in and inflicted both indignity and injury. Mr. Pigott, dyer, and his wife were driving, and were seriously hurt, Mrs. Pigott having her bonnet literally torn from her head. A Mr. and Miss Bailey had to go through a heavy shower of missiles. The young woman is still suffering from the effects of fright. Mr. Ellis, of Farneombe, and two other gentlemen were roughly handled, one having some bad wounds on his leg from kicks, and the others having their hats completely crushed and their coats torn. Miss Chortres, of Brighton, and other females were rudely assaulted, the person just mentioned having her eye cut out by a stone and the -others losing their shawls and other articles of wearing apparel. Things got worse towards evening. Several members of the county constabulary force made their appearance on the scene, but this was the signal for a more riotous demonstration than before, and it was deemed advisable to leave the mob to their own course, and to place themselves at distances from the village to caution persons against going on the turnpike-road, and to induce them for their own sake, to pursue their journey by the river bank, though more circuitous. Several fugitives were pursued, notwithstanding this precautionary measure, and many cases occurred in which parties who were pursued down the lane from the village were forcibly pushed into the water. At night nothing could restrain the demoniac fury of the crowd. Mr. Shrubb, a resident in the Portsmouth- road, was incautious enough to appeal to the better sense of the crowd, but he was at once assailed with a perfect shower of stones. They then proceeded to his premises, pulled up the whole of the wooden inclosures of his x>roperty and conveyed it to the top of St. Catherine's, whence they went to the cutting between the two tunnels on the London and South Western line of railway, where they carried off all the wooden fencing they could get at, and afterwards lighted a huge bonfire. Much injury, which has not yet been officially reported,, was done to both persons and property to a great extent. The county constabulary, under Mr. Superintendent Harr, are making every inquiry in order to bring the ringleaders of the dis- turbance to justice. ♦

The King of Greece.A letter from Vilna, dated 20th September, says:—"To-day his Majesty George I., King of the Greeks, arrived at the Vilna railway station on his way to St. Petersburg. His Majesty entered our city at six p.m., accompanied by Count Sponneck and two officers of the Danish navy; he wore the costume of a Danish admiral. General .Mouravieff II., Commander of the districts and of the governments of Vitebsk and Mohilew, accompanied by his staff, waited upon the King. At dinner the King proposed the health of our august Sovereign, while the nationalhymn struckup. General Mouravieffresponded by proposing the health of the King, a toast which was received with loud cheers. A large multitude had assembled at the station to get a glimpse of his Majesty." to

Anticipated Cessation of the War. You will be surprised at witnessing the cessation of the war as to how we shall treat the South now that the rebellion has ended, and the bitter con- troversies to which it gave rise, not only among the newspapers, but among private individuals- Shall we admit them in without slavery, or with it ? What shall we do with their slaves?" We now find that the animal is not caught, and that there is no necessity for rules how to ccok him.

The Council Refusing to Pay Expenses. At one of the Council meetings lately we had a very spirited debate in reference to paying the bills for the expenses incurred when receiving the regiments which had been at the war. The bills of the Astor-house amount to about 13,000 dollars for food alone. The Council refused to pay. One member stated that he understood that one member alone made 1,500 dollars-if the Astor bill was paid.

Trial of Steam Fire-Engines in London. The Manhattan steam-engine people declaim bitterly against the people of London. They claim that they did not have fair play, and that Lord Palmerston was so fearful that the British engines would get beaten, that he himself, while pretend- ing to examine the American engine, stuck a file on the sly in the nozzle of the pipe! This accounts for our defeat. No more American steam-engines or prize-fighters will go to London to be ill-treated and get foul play. It is worse than the suspension of the What ye call it" as Abraham Lincoln calls the habeas corpus, by the President.

Value of Gold. Gold went a few days since to 1 dol. 42c., and I think it will keep on up until it reaches 2 dols. of paper. Still, the Government cannot be thwarted in its measures for want of money at any such rates. It has now machinery that can make 100 millions of greenbacks a day. Our expenses are now only about two millions of gold dollars per day, so that a dollar in gold may be worth 2,000 dollars in greenbacks, and yet the Government will still Le able to prosecute the war vigorously, for the real cost of greenbacks is only about 2c. a bill of 5,000 dols. Still it costs as much to make a dollar greenback. It is lucky for the Go- vernment that rags have not advanced, or the old paper, out of which new bank treasury paper is made. This time last year I sold some old books to the rag dealers at eight cents a pound. Recently I did the same, but received only four cents a pound; but all this is in favour of the Government, for 'so long as it can get paper and ink it can make a currency. Of course the idea of ever paying this enormous indebtedness of ten or fifty thousand million of dollars (exact numbers are not important) never entering into the brain of any body, unless it was largely idiotic- particularly if the South, the great producing section, got away from us, and fairly effected its ] object. Even in such case it has always been conjectural to my mind whether 5,000 dollar green back bills would not be sold by the barrel at so many copper cents the pound in 1870. Time alone can tell, but meanwhile we must rub along as well as we can.

Conduct of Rosecrans. There is one mystery that cannot be solved this day. It is ,talked about in every grog-shop and in every parlour. It is this: How has Rosecrans been permitted to get into such a fearful scrape P "Why was not the Government wide awake?" The fact is, we are so far off from Georgia and Tennessee and the scene of the late battle, that no one here has any real idea of the distances, the localities, or what was contemplated by the Government. Still, all feel that there is some- thing wrong". Our glorious car of victory, with its long train of results, was running full sixty miles an hour, the highest speed the law allows, when it hit something at Chattanooga, and we are all fetched up standing. I do not doubt but that the result will occasion as much rejoicing in the South as it has despair in the North. We are a very excitedable peoples," as old Kossuth used to say when he was a great lion among us. Those new American birds, the two hundred pound Parrots, will cease to crow any more, unless it be in Charleston; but even in that quarter the mili- tary horizon looks black and squally. I should not be at all surprised to hear that Gilmore had been attacked and driven into Charleston, or on board the fleet of iron-clads and Monitors. What is the matter at Charleston P" Has anything broke ? If he can shell Charleston, why don't he do it?" Has the Greek fire all burned out ? These are questions you can hear at every corner in this city. It is much more easy to ask than to get an answer to them.

Yankee Jokes. We have our jokes, too, in spite of bad news. You recollect a few weeks ago the rebel organs proposed killing off the millions of dogs in the Southern Confederacy. From the recent growling and howling it is said the rebels must have com- plied with the request. Somebody, too, in spite of the bad news, has got up a good American pun about Prince Alfred. It is this: "Why would not his Royal Highness Prince Alfred have anything to do with foreign Greece ? The answer is, Because his Royal English Highness preferred his own domestic and native Ile." "Unbleached Americans" is the new title of coloured men, in place of the vulgar word Niggers."

Love for the Emperor of Russia. We have become quite admirers of Alexander of Russia. We wish to get on the blind side of him in case of a war with France, which is certain. One would think from the gorgeous newspaper notions that the Czar gets that they were paid fer, or that he, in truth, was about to establish a republic. We have the same sights in New York that y ou can get in St. Petersburg. To-day I saw twelve freemen, good-looking fellows, marching down Chatham- street towards the City-hall in chains. They were handcuffed together two by two, and a middle chain running down the line and connecting all together. They were deserters, and incurred the penalty of being shot, which they will probably undergo. This is freedom—over the left. I should say that six of the party were pure-blooded Americans from Yankeedom. The others were Irish and Germans. This is nothing to what will occur if we keep on. Still one would like to know what old George Washington would say to such sights.

Old George Brown, the Eating-house Keeper. I do not suppose an Englishman has ever visited this city, or that there is an American abroad, who has not heard of old George W. Brown, who kept an eating-house in Water-street, near Wall-street. He had formerly been a mer- chant, but 40 years ago failed, and then he started an eating-house. Such success attended him, that he paid off 40,000 dollars that he owed when he failed. He has been a very remarkable man as the keeper of a restaurant. He has made half-a- million of dollars, and his family consisted of the most beautiful daughters in this city. One was the occasion of the duel between Rothschild's agent Belmont, and Henry Hayward, of South Carolina. Old Brown was a true American. He slept on the American flag, and also used it as a coverlid. His death was caused by grief, at the failure of the success of an attempt to take Fort Sumter. He had set his heart upon its capture, and felt the disgrace of the failure of the bottt farce. Although aged, yet the last failure was the immediate cause of the turning up of the toes of George Washington Brown, whose very name made him patriotic.

ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIANS REPLY TO THE MEXICAN DEPUTATION. The Mexican deputation has just been received by the Archduke Maximilian. Don Gutierez de Estrada spoke in the name of the deputation. The Archduke, in reply, said: The wishes of the Mexican Assembly of Notables have touched me deeply. It cannot but be exceedingly flattering for our house that they have turned their eyes to the descendants of Charles V. Although the mission of maintaining the inde- pendence and welfare of Mexico on a solid foundation, and with free institutions, is a most noble one, I must nevertheless, in complete accordance with the views of the Emperor Napoleon, declare that the monarchy cannot be re-established on a legitimate and firm basis without a spontaneous expression of the wishes of the whole nation. I must make my acceptance of the throne depen- dent upon a plebiscite of the whole country. On the other hand, it would be my duty to ask for guarantees, which are indispensable to secure Mexico against the dangers which threaten her integrity and independence. Should these guarantees be obtained, and the uni- versal vote of the nation be given in my favour, I am ready to accept the crown, subject to, the approval of the Emperor my brother. In case Providence should call me to this high mission, I must at once declare that it is my firm intention to open the path of progress by a constitu- tion, as was done by my brother, and, after the complete pacification of the country, to seal the fundamental law with an oath. By such means only can a new and really national policy be called into existence, by which all parties, forgetting old disputes, will co-operate with me in raising Mexico to a prominent rank among nations. Carry back with you these frank declarations to your fellow-citizens, and act in such a manner that it may become possible for the nation to declare what form of government it desires to have." It is believed that the conditions of the Arch-. duke's acceptance of the crown are the same as those named in October, 1861-according to which he considers the co-operation of France and England to be the only means by which order can be re-established; and that a free manifestation of the wish of the whole nation is absolutely necessary. The Archduke stated, in conversation with the members of the deputation, that he would only accept the crown if all these conditions were ful- filled, and that he would now await their fulfilment.

PARRICIDE IN BLACKBURN. A shocking case of parricide occurred in Blackburn last week. The father—the unfortunate victim in this affair-was a joiner, named John Barber, eighty-three years of age, residing in Moor-street, with his wife and grand-daughter, in whose presence the crime was committed. His son, Jonathan Barber, a man of fifty- three years of age, had for some time past led a very profligate and abandoned life, and, in Company with a depraved woman, who lived with him as his paramour, was recently committed to the House of Correction for three weeks, for stealing two shawls from his father's house. They completed their term of im- prisonment on the 17th ult., and returned to Black- burn. On Tuesday afternoon Jonathan repaired to his parents' house, and demanded half-a-crown to enable him to complete a bet which he had made. His mother furnished him with the money, and he immediately left the house, returning in the course of an hour and a half in a state of intoxication. He struck his mother on the face for remonstrating with him, and taking some money from his pocket, gave it to his niece, the daughter of his only sister, and told her to fetch him some more beer. She fetched him a quart from a.n ad- joining- beer-House, wh.icii lie Jianded to his father, bidding him drink. The old man refused, and the son, becoming irritated, seized him by the throat and pushed him backwards. Eventually the old man escaped from his son's violent grasp, and walked from the front to the back room, where he fell on the floor. His grand-daughter tried to lift him up, but failing, cried for assistance, and the son came, followed by some men who were passing the front door. They conjointly placed him on the sofa, and a doctor was called in. Soon afterwards the old man expired. The son was detained in the house, the police called in, and after due inquiry had been made, the offender was conveyed to the lock-up, much to the annoyance of his mother, who begged them not to imprison him again.

SCANDALOUS OUTRAGE ON A LADY. A disgraceful scene has taken place at Biarritz, where the court at present resides. Among the nume- rous foreign visitors there are a great many Russians and Poles, who naturally look upon one another with great hostility. As the sympathies of the French visitors are all for the Poles, they, too, are not regarded with very friendly feelings by the Russians. Among them was a French lady, who having just arrived from Leniberg, where she had had opportunities of closely observing the Polish character under great trials, was particularly demonstrative in her expressions of at- tachment to and admiration for that long-suffering nation. These demonstrations were very unpalatable to a certain Russian lady of high rank, who deter- mined to put a stop to them by inflicting a punishment worthy of her countrymen in Poland on the enthu- siastic Frenchwoman. Meeting her in the open street, and in view of the imperial carriage, which was driving past, she struck her in the face with her parasol. The result of this brutal act was that the Empress struck the name of the Russian lady and several other Rus- sians out of her visiting list. The Russians were ex- tremely dissatisfied at this, especially as the Countess Przediecka, who, although a Pole, is a subject of Alexander II., was retained on the list. A fresh revenge was determined upon. As the countess was returning from an official soiree, a man accosted her with a letter, requesting her to read it immediately. The countess took the letter to her room and broke the seal. Immediately some detonating powder, which was in the seal, burst with a loud explosion, and the countess's head-dress was on fire. Luckily her cham- bermaid was near, and extinguished the flames, which had already burnt her eyebrows and part of her hair. The letter contained the following words :— Wretched little Polishwoman, do you think we do not know that it is by your intrigues and your degradation that you have succeeded in being- admitted to the intimacy of that miserable little French court ? We care very little either for it or for you. Do not be too proud of those miserable distinctions which wo shall know how to stop when we like. Let not your bare-footed compatriots imagine that they will triumph through you. You are now warned, and they will be also." This affair has caused great and universal indigna- tion, and it is said that it will be brought forward in a court of justice.

THEFT OF TWENTY TONS OF IRON. At the Wolverhampton Petty Sessions, on Wednes- day, Joseph Whitehouse, an ironfounder, of Tipton, was charged with receiving twenty tons of pig iron, the property of the New British Iron Company, knowing it to have been stolen, and a youth named Cornelius Wood, boatman to the company, was charged with stealing the iron. Mr. Kennedy said he appeared on behalf of the New British Iron Company. They had been for some time past in the habit of selling pig iron to Messrs. Barrows, ironmasters, of the Bloomfield Works, Tipton, and it was usually sent in quantities of twenty tons at a time. Wood's father was a boatman in the employ of the company, and the younger Wood, the prisoner, was in his father's service. On the 15th of September twenty tons of pig iron were sent in the usual way to Messrs. Barrows and Sons. It was entrusted to young Wood, who, instead of delivering it to Messrs. Barrows, sold it to Whitehouse for the nominal sum of o £ 65; but Wood really received only about half that amount. When arrested, he said he had bought it from Wood, who had received it as wages. But young Wood had made a confession, aad would plead guilty on that occasion. With the magistrates' permission he pro- posed to have WoQ;J]: convicted and sentenced under the Criminal Justices' Act; and then to produce him in the witness-box to give evidence as to the nature of the transaction with Whitehouse. The case against Wood was then gone into, and he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The charge against Whitehouse was then proceeded with, and the prisoner was committed for trial, bail being refused.. :?v.

SINGULAR CONFLICT AT ROME. A communication recently received from Rome gives the following details of a recent affair at Ce- prano, which has led to much conversation :— A rather serious conflict," the writer says, "has just oc- curred between the commander-in-chief of the French army of occupation and the Pontifical pro-Minister of War, in consequence of the conduct of the latter in shielding from punishment a Pontifical gendarme named Samorini, who had fired on two Italian officers while bathing in the Sacco on their own territory. After firing the shots Samorini ran away, but was arrested by a French patrol, and detained in custody by the officer commanding the post at Ceprano, who immediately sent a telegraphic dispatch to his general asking for instructions. The commandant of the Pontifical gendarmery also sent a dispatch to the pro-Minister of War, and received a prompt answer, ordering him to 'prevent the transmission of the French officer's dispatch, and to demand the surrender of the prisoner. The French commander receiving no answer, went to the telegraph office to learn the reason, and was told that his message had not been sent owing to the tele- graph being under repair. Meanwhile the Pontifical officer de- manded the surrender of Samorini, and showed the order from his minister. Having waited till night without receiving any instructions, the French officer'gave up the prisoner, who was at once sent off to Rome by railway. After his departure the French officer was informed that the telegraph had been repaired, and he accordingly sent off a report of the whole affair to his general, who instantly addressed a dem- nd to the Minister at Arms for the surrender of Samorini within three days. At the expiration of that time the general received a very laconic answer, informing him that the man he wanted no longer formed part of the Pontifical gendarmery. In consequence of these facts the Count de Montebello issued the following general order of the day, dated from head-quarters at Rome, on the 2iad Sept.: On Thursday, Sept. 10, on the banks of the Sacco, at 200 metres from a French post, the Pontifical gendarme Samorini fired, without any provocation, two musket shots on inoffensive Italian officers. The general commanding the division having for its mission, at the frontier, to prevent any attack from one territory on the other, decided that the gendarme should be sent before the military tribunal of the division. This was his right and his duty, but the offender has been withdrawn. He has, therefore, a duty of honour to fulfil, which is to publicly stigmatise the act which lie has been prevented from punishing, and to disavow all connivance at its impunity. Such is the object of the present order, which will be read at Rome on the 24th, 26th, and 28th of the present month, at the eleven o. clock roll- call of the infantry, at the morning roll-call of the artillery, and three times in the detachments, on alternate days after its re- ception. COUNT DE MONTEBELLO. This affair has caused a great sensation at Rome.

HOW THE POPE WAS CURED. In the special correspondence of the Independence Beige, under the heading Courrier de Paris," appears the following amusing statement:— The journals have all spoken at a certain period of the state of health of Pius IX. He had, in his leg especially, a disease which inspired the greatest uneasiness I can assure the con- sciences so loyally disturbed that the disease is healed, and the Holy Father is saved; and, what is still more curious, he has been saved by a freethinker. The facts are these. Recently a French physician, M. le Docteur G., was at Rome. He had not gone there to seek for relics against fever or madness. He tra- velled there simply en savant, as a lover of antiquity, and he visited ruins and museums much more than the churches. Chance placed him in contact with a personage connected with the one of those honest courtiers such as courts can pro- duce (even the court of Rome), who are devoted to the person of the sovereign rather than to the institutions which he represents. This personage confided then to Dr. G his feeling of alarm at the state of his Holiness's leg. What savs his physician ?" asked Dr. G-. The courtier, shaking his head, said that the Holy Father leceived very few visits from physicians. "Why so ? Does he mistrust the science?" "No," said the courtier, "it is not that. Our Holy Father does not ask anything better than to be healed, but he dares not hope for a cure." How is that ? His friends see with pain that he is following a certain treatment, and he himself is resigned to live or die. He looks forward to a miracle only for a cure, and in the meantime he wishes that his illness should aid him in simplifying the Roman question, by withdrawing him from a melee in which his friends defend him with so much ferocity." Hotvhorribleexclaimed Dr. G——. "Cannot I see the Holy Father? I will undertake to heal him." "To see him alone is very difficult; but I will go and try to obtain for you a tete-a-tete," replied the good courtier, "and perhaps we shall arrive at a successful result." The next day Dr. G- was privately informed that an audience with the Pope would be granted him, but that he should kiss his slipper, and receive his benediction. Behold, then, a freethinker being compelled to present himself at the Vatican, in the humble attitude of a young member of the confraternity of St. Vincent d" Paul, or of an orator of the Congress of Malines. Dr. G-, finding- himself face to face with the chief of Christianity, pros- trated himself before the Holy Father—(I do not know whether the hypocrite did not even hand him a rosary to bless). The Holy Father, however, assisted him to rise, and, drawing him as-ide, exoosed his diseased leg. What is the matter with me ?" asked he, in a low voice. The doctor shook his head in replying "Erysipelas." Is it mortal ?" added the Pope, with a tranquil smile, and a? resigned as the first martyr of Catholicism. "It may become mortal if the disease is not arrested." "Can you cure me?" demanded he again. "Without any doubt, and I shall now write a prescription." "No, don't "write anvthing here," interrupted the Holy Father, "but prepare the medica- ments yourself, and give them to me with your own hands. You will be introduced into my presence." The audience was con- cluded. The attendants approached the doctor, and the Holy Father had only time to bless the fIeethinker who was rendering so great a service to orthodoxy. According to the orders given, Dr. G- prepared the necessary ointments, and every day, under the pretext of having a new amulet to be blessed, or of J obtaining a more complete absolution, he rubbed secretly the leg of his Holiness. The remedy operated; at the end of a few days the Holy Father was getting rapidly well. His leg being- nearly healed, to the astonishment of the cardinals he walked with a light step. They were rejoiced at the unexpected cure. They knew well they could not attribute it to the Italian phy- sicians. It was therefore supposed by them to be owing to a miraculous intervention. But no miracles take place at Rome unless the sacred college consents to them. Now, their permis- sion was not at this time demanded; the miracle was therefore contraband! The Holy Father is, however, a man of spirit, and to the astonishment of all around him, he avowed with a playful irony that it was a physician, a French physician a freethinker of a physician, who had cured him.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of Sir John Walter Pollen, Bart., of Renden- ham, near Andover, Hants, was proved in London on the 17th ult. by his relict, Lady Pollen, the sole execu- trix. The personal property was sworn under £ 14,000. To his relict, Lady Pollen, he bequeaths a life interest in his estate and residence at Rendenham, with the lands thereto, and directs that certain portions of the plate, &c., shall be held as heirlooms with the succession to his estates and title, which has descended to his nephew, now Sir Richard Hungerford Pollen, Bart. The testator also leaves to his relict, Lady Pollen, the interest arising from his personal estate, which, upon her ladyship's decease, is to be applied to the renewal of the leases of the advowson and tithes of Andover. The will of the Rev. John Russell, D.D., canon of Canterbury, rector of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, was proved in the London Court by his sons and executors -Francis Russell, Esq., barrister-at-law, and the Rev. William Russell. The personal property was sworn under £ 35,000. Dr. Russell executed his will in April, 1862; it is attested by the Revs. James Bell and William Gill, curates of St. Botolph's. He bequeaths to his wife a life interest in his property, saving an annuity of = £ 250 to his daughter Mary;' and upon the decease of his relict leaves to each of his daughters, Augusta and Mary, such a sum as with other securities will make up £ 8,000 to each. The remainder of his property to be divided equally between Ms two sons, his executoin., Some liberal legacies are left to servants. Tltte will of Major Eeamois Wingrave Piukney, C.B., late a commissioner of Jhansee, in Central India, a major in her Majesty's Indian Forces, was proved in London by John Rees Withcombe, Esq., M.D., one of the executors—power being reserved to Lieutenant H. P. Laae, of the Madras Artillery, the other executor and trustee nominated in the will. This gallant military officer executed his will a few months before his decease, devising his freehold estates in Glamorgan- shire to his eldest son. and di viding his personal property amongst his children.-Illvstrate-il Nev.-s.

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY IN SWITZER- LAND; A few days ago a report reached the detective police- office in Liverpool that two men named Henry Bolgier and Louis Grudier had absconded from Basle, in Switzerland, carrying with them 12,000f., the property of their employer, an extensive cotton-spinner at that place. Detectives Laycock and Smith were instructed to keep a look-out for Messrs. Bolgier and Grudier and these indefatigable officers were soon on the trail of the wanted ones. It appears that the men im- mediately after absconding with the money from Basle left Switzerland for Paris, where they spent a con- siderable sum of money in the purchase of a quantity of wearing apparel of the most fashionable description; in fact, soon after their arrival they so transformed their exteriors as to pass completely for a couple of Parisian dandies, and were bent, no doubt, on seeing "life" in that gay capital. After a brief sojourn there, however, it appears that they became tired of Parisian society, and betook themselves to London, where, being unacquainted with the English language, they engaged an interpreter to accompany them to Liverpool. They arrived in that town by an early train on Wednesday morning from London, and en- gaged berths on board the City of Baltimore, which was about to leave that port for New York. But the detectives mentioned were close upon their track, and apprehended them just as they were rising from break .fast at Sterne's Hotel, Paradise-street, where they were putting up for the time being, and removed them to the police-office, where they were charged with robbing their employer (whose name did not transpire) of 12,000f. On being searched = £ 44 in gold and twenty- seven £ 5 Bank of England notes were found upon Bolgier, the notes being sewed up in the lining of his overcoat. On searching Grudier £ 24 in gold, 60 dols. in American money, and twenty-five X5 Bank of England notes were found upon him, the latter being stitched up in his clothing. On the charge being stated to the prisoners, through the medium of an interpreter, Bolgier said in reply that he was sent to the bank with 12,000f., and that as his master did not require it, being worth millions, and he (Bolgier) wish- ing to go to America, consequently took the money. He also added that the money found upon the other man he (Bolgier) had given to him. The Swiss consul at Liverpool (Mr. Zwilchenbart) was communicated with, but there being no extradition treaty between this country and Switzerland the prisoners could not be surrendered to the authorities at Basle. The con- sul, however, took the whole of the money and new clothing from them, and then allowed them to go in the City of Baltimore for New York, thinking, no doubt, under the circumstances, the best thing he could do was to allow them to "leave their country for their country's good."

A GHOST IN THE BLACK COUNTRY. The Wolverhampton correspondent of a contem- porary gives the following story For the last few days the inhabitants of Wednesfield-heath, a village suburb of Wolverhampton, have been thrown into a state of considerable excitement by the following ex- traordinary incident. It appears that during last 11 week a report obtained circulation in this locality, to the effect that a ghost had been seen near the shaft of a certain coalpit. Some twelve years since an artisan, in the hollow-ware trade, fell down the pit unknown to any one, and his body was not discovered until a year ago, when his corpse was recognised by the teeth in the upper jaw and a metal fastening to one of his boots. The ghost in question was alleged to be the spirit of the unfortunate man, who, when he was last seen alive, was under the influence of drink. The curi- osity of many was aroused by this report, and an in. habitant, whose name we refrain from giving, but whom we will call Jones, anda. blind man, decided upon visiting the pit. Thither they proceeded on the night of the 21st ult., at about eleven o 'ojock. They did not return until after midnight, when in reply to general inquiries as to what they had seen, Jones related a story of most ghostly hue. They had, he said, proceeded to the place in question, and on arriving had commenced singing a hymn, after which they knelt down and prayed. While thus engaged a voice behind them said, in tones solemn and commanding, Follow me.' They rose and discovered the ghost! Fe9,r took posses- sion of Jones, and his blind friend becoming excited, exclaimed, What trouble hast thou r' To this the ghost replied, 'I am a lost spirit!' and led them to an adjoining hovel. On entering the hovel, the shade at- tempted to light a fire, but failed. Praver was then suggested. The ghost fell in with the idea, and prayer was commenced, exclaiming at intervals 'Glory,' 'Hal- lelujah,' Amen,' &c. They also sang a hymn, and then left the hovel, the man with eyes quite satisfied that what he had seen was a real ghost, and the man without eyes persuaded that what his friend had seen he had heard. The three then went on to the main road, and the two men having ascertained that his ghostship was generally to be seen between eleven at night and two in the morning, they shook hands with him and parted. His hand, of course, felt clammy and death-like, and gradually wasted from the grasp, and on wishing him good night he vanished, leaving in the two men standing in the road, appalled by the vision. The news of this marvellous adventure soon spread, and, au flight be expected, when Jones and his companion asserted that the apparition was genuine, they were much ridiculed. But their credulity was not shaken in the least; and in order to prove the truth of their previous assertions, they decided to pay another visit to the haunte-I hovel on the following night, and suggested that a third person should accompany them. The invita- tion was accepted by an incredulous friend, and by him the curate of a neighbouring church was induced to consent to accompany the nocturnal expedition. This was about seven o'clock on the night of the 22nd ult., and it was arranged that the party should call upon the curate, and together they should proceed to investigate the affair. Mr. however, deeming it advisable to make a personal inspection of the locus in quo, with a view to pick up any necessary informa- tion, he, with Jones, went before to the mysterious hovel. Entering, they saw the watchman eating his supper. With him they entered into conversation; and, while talking, he made such admissions as made Jones so closely to scrutinise his appearance that soon to his own discomfort and his friend's merriment, he saw in the corporeal being before him the shadowy ghost of the previous evening! On subsequent in- quiry, it appears that the watchman inhabited the hovel; that having had some beer, ind while going to his watch-house, he saw Jones and the blind man praying, and that, on being accosted, he presented himself as an inhabitant of another world-a lost spirit, and carried out the deception so successfully, that the ignorant superstition of his victims can scarcely be credited." 4

A great deal of corn remained ungathered in the north-west of Ireland last week, chiefly oats, some of which were not even cut. The late potatoes, too' had suffered much from wet, but it was hoped their abundance would be a compensation to farmers. Wild Boar Hunting in France.-A letter from Cannes, in the Journal cle Nice, says:—"The Duke of Somerset and the Duke of Norfolk, who have been here for some time past, formed a party a few days since to hunt wild boars in the forests of Mandelieu-les-Cannes. Early in the day the Duke of Somerset fell in with an enormous wild boar, which he fired at and wounded in the shoulder. The infuriated animal rushed on its assailant, who, having fired a second time without effect, coolly awaited the onset, and, thrusting the bayonet of his gun down the monster's throat, killed him on the spot. After bagging a considerable quantity of partridges and other game, the noble sportsmen and their party went to the summit of the Pic du Grand Due, where a copious lunch had been prepared. The boar was afterwards cut up, carefully salted, and sent off to England." Some depredations having been committed by a wild boar in the neighbourhood of Courcelles-sous-Moyen- court (Somme), a hunting party was organised, which was joined by the Counts de Conifer and de Chassepot, Viscount de Forceville, and some sportsmen of the neighbourhood. After an absence of two days the party returned to Courcelles. bringing with them the animal, weighing 2301b.