The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

r: TOWN TALK. BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. -+-- Our readers will understand that we do not "hold ourselves -respon- siNe for our able Correspondent's opinions. SINCE the close of last session a rumour has been current at the clubs that Mr. Denison would not be a candidate for the Speaker's chair in the next Parliament. In lieu thereof he was to take a viscount's coronet and a Thus, the right hon. gentleman's recent announcement to the constituency of North Nottinghamshire that he intends to stand again has puzzled the knowing" in such matters not a little. Now, as the before- named elevation has been so often :and so posi- tively stated by Mr. Speaker's own friends, some people opine that the right hon. gentleman has changed his mind. For my part, however, I can't give him credit for any such self-denial. No.; the nolo episcopari element is not so common among rich commoners; besides, a little bird- may be a very little bird—has been whispering about lately that, as there happens to be in exist- ence already an ex-Speaker with a viscount's coronet and a pension, Ministers, with a wholesome fear of the press before them, would scarcely like to propose that the two P.'s—i. e., a peerage and pension-should be given to the right hon. gentleman after a service of only nine years. Nevertheless and notwithstanding, I am tho- roughly of opinion, with a certain weekly print well-informed in such matters, that, should Mr. Denison desire to retire, Government will not be over squeamish as to those same two P.'s. Apropos of pensions, here is an interesting bit of statistics for you. We have just now four ex- Lord Chancellors, each of whom is receiving £5,000 a year, and during the past thirty years the country has paid in salaries and pensions to Lord Chancellors at least a million of money, which is over £ 33,0*00 a year. I wonder whether, in this particular instance, a reformed House of Commons would echo Earl Russell's cry, Let us rest and be thankful ? Now, Lord Chancellors are, as a rule, learned, wise, good, and valuable public servants; but then none of us can forget the story which taught us that it is possible to pay too dear even for a whistle. Another little bird-a very weak-minded little bird, I should think—has been whispering about that next session the Bishop of Oxford will intro- duce a bill to enable existing bishops to nominate two suffragan bishops, from whom the Crown is to choose one as a successor to the bishop of the diocese. Now, I happen to know that this ambitious notion has long been floating through the minds of the lawn-sleeved lords; but it is simply absurd—indeed, the force of absurdity could scarcely further go—to imagine that a British Parliament would sanction so dangerous a principle. Still, such is the talk, and it is my duty to record it. Well, on Monday there was quite an ovation at Exeter-hall. The spacious building was crowded with men, women, and even children, whose faces Ix-spoke the pride and self-gratification within em. And with reason, too; for the audience assem- bled were chiefly the exhibitors of the late North London Exhibition of the Working Classes, then and there present to receive their prizes at the hands of the Earl of Shaftesbury. Satisfactorily enough, the result of that exhibition at the Agricultural-hall, at Islington, which was so modestly and carefully set on foot, resulted, to the surprise of its own executive committee, in a surplus. Now, in some instances, a surplus is almost as great a difficulty to deal with as a deficiency; and so it happened in this case. The "executive," however, proved themselves as capable in this as they did in the whole manage- ment of the exhibition, for, after careful delibera- tion, they resolved that the aforesaid surplus fund should be applied to the production of a volume, giving a concise history of the origin, progress, and ultimate success of the enterprise; an account of the opening under Earl Russell, and the closing by the Chancellor of the Exchequer; with a catalogue of the prizes and certificates, and por- traits of Lords Shaftesbury and Russell, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and Mr. Watts, the hon. secretary. Now, as it had been announced that this volume-which, by the way, was elegantly printed upon toned paper by Messrs. Petter and Galpin, of Ludgate-hill, and handsomely bound under their direction—was to be presented to each of the exhibitors, ay, even to the smallest boy who had exhibited the smallest toy, you can imagine the anxiety depicted upon the faces of tfieaudience; but imagine also, the hue of anxiety that tinged those same faces, especially the more juvenile, when, after the prizes had been given, it was announced that, in consequence of a fire which took place at the binder's, many of the books were destroyed; nevertheless, those that were saved were given to the exhibitors as far as they would go, and the remainder received forms to enable them to have copies on the 1st of March. I was glad to see, however, that few were disappointed, for I should think more than 700 were given away in the room; and it was pleasant to note the smile of the recipient, and to hear the hearty cheer of the lookers-on when a child or a female came to receive their copies from the hand of the philanthropic Earl. That plain, outspoken English gentleman, the true friend of the working-classes, S. G. 0. of the Times (i.e., the Rev. Lord Sidney Godolphin Osborne), delivered a lecture the other evening in the temporary church of St. Michael, St. Leonard's-road, Bromley-by-Bow. A friend of mine, who was present, tells me that the reverend lord's oration -for oration it was was so practical, so much to the purpose, that it had a visible effect upon his audience, send- ing them away better and wiser men. The theme was the dignity of labour." But two para- graphs are worthy of note. First said his lordship, It is wrong to call you the working classes,' inasmuch as the idle men are the hardest workers, for they have to work incessantly to enable them to get rid of their time." Next he said, Let me earnestly advise those workmen whose skill has placed them in such a proud posi- tion, to look about them, and when they see amongst their fellow workmen a tendency to abuse the life for which they were created, to tread the drunkard's path, and to become-what all drunkards do become—blasphemers, to reason with them, prove to them what may be achieved by honest industry, and what great advantages may be gained by the legitimate use of their skill, honestly and soberly directed." Surely there is much sound philosophy in this and all honour, I say, to this reverend and noble scion of the duke- dom of Leeds. Z.

OUTLINES OF THE WEEK. -+-- FROM America we have nothing but I- wars and rumours of wars." The taking of Savannah by the Federals was not succeeded by the surrender of Wilmington, as was anticipated by New York papers. General Butler is blamed for cowardice in this affair, for when the Federal fleet attacked the fort, which is the key of the Confederate gar- rison, and poured such a torrent of shot and shell in it that the men were driven from their guns to the casemates, and though the advanced guard of a division of Butler's troops, which had landed under cover of this fire, actually succeeded in gaining the glacis on the land side, this general ordered them to re-embark, on the plea that the fort was impregnable, and thus made a retreat whilst victory seemed in their hands. Let it not be supposed for a moment, however, that the Con- federates did not fight with courage; and perhaps, after all, Butler took the most humane course he could adopt, for the South have as good military tactics as the North, and doubtless had the Federal General forced his way into Wilmington it would have been attended with fearful loss of life, and the victory would have been dubious. It is very sad to reflect upon the length of time this civil war has lasted, and how much longer it might be carried on. Even brother is fighting against brother, and uncle against nephew. A very touching scene was depicted when the Federal army passed into Savannah. As one regiment marched along two young men fell out from the ranks to assist a wounded Confederate soldier; he was at his last gasp, however, and he could only be eased by pillowing his head on the bosom of one of them. A Federal officer called them to their duty, when one exclaimed, Alas this is my brother;" and the other, This is my much-loved cousin; we were the same age, and schoolfellows." THAT vast undertaking of connecting America with England by means of the electric telegraph will be again tried this year, and, we believe, with every prospect of success. The whole 2,500 miles of cable will be ready to pay out from the Great Eastern in June next. There are 800 miles of it ready now, and this is to be taken to the great ship to be placed in one of the three large tanks which are on board for its reception, as the gutta- percha that surrounds the cable must always be kept damp. There are few that will not wish a hearty "God speed" to the undertaking, and join us in the hope that it may be the means of uniting the old and new country together in closer bonds of friendship, and enabling us to form a more profitable alliance with each other than formerly. THE German papers state that there is a proba- bility of a fresh outbreak on the part of the Poles, and Lithuania and Samogitia are spoken of as likely to be the primary points of eruption. A landing in the Baltic of refugees is also antici- pated. We cannot but admire the persistent energy of these patriots; but as there cannot be the faintest prospect of success, their proceedings are culpable, as they bring misery to thousands who would willingly keep aloof from strife, and not subject themselves and their families to the only issue which can follow such a proceeding- viz., further and severer oppression. IN the political world there is little to be recorded, as every one waits patiently to hear the Queen's speech and the new budget before they offet an opinion upon the policy of Government. There are not a few, however, who speculate upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer's surplus, and there ars those who absolutely fix the amount at two millions sterling. Then, again, it is pleasant to find rumours of reductions in the army and navy suggested, and these rumours are said to be supported by persons high in authority. By many it is doubted whether a reduction in the navy will be carried out, but we may reasonably expect a considerable reduction in the estimates as far as the army is concerned. Considering the enormous amount of money that has been shot away, and frittered away, and jobbed away for several years past, and that the great guns (human as well as metallic) are still in a most unsatisfactory state, it is high time that Parliament should take the matter in hand, and not allow the public money to be wasted in useless experiments. IT is a great source of gratification to the Christian world to find that the gross superstition of the East is giving way under the mild and iudicious rule of the English. Many of the Indian princes have come to England, and have set aside their idolatrous worship. A singular instance of this came before our notice last week. The mother of Dhuleep Singh, who was the widow of a mighty prince, died in this country, and she desired that her body should be sent to Bombay to be consumed according to Indian rites. The Shadhee priests, however, refused to reduce the body to ashes unless a very large sum of money were given to them. A reference was thereupon made to Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, whose reply has just been received. It was to this effect-a My mother is dead; her body is simply nothing, and to spend a large sum of money for the purpose of burning nothing would be a piece of folly which I am not prepared to perpetrate. I trust in God alone." WE are at all times anxious to give every in- formation that may be likely to conduce to the advantage of our readers, and we therefore append an extract of a letter from the Secretary to the Victoria Emigrant Assistance Society, published last week in a London paper. As we have not, however, seen the rules or regulations of this social,?, we should advise every intending emi- ,<t: -.it to examine them well before taking any ) aec- d step. We also feel the importance of 1 impressing upon all who may contemplate emi- gration, the (necessity of .subjecting .themselves to a carefid examination as to their quali- fications, amd the real nature of the induce- ments that may be held out to them to take such a course. The life of an emigrant is one which, in many cases, doubtless, offers peculiar advantages; but, on the other hand, it presents many difficulties, and often demands strong physical power, together with a disposition to brave all dangers and endure all hardships. Thus, only a conviction that the chances of prosperity at home are considerably against him can justify a man in exposing himself and his family to the risk of serious difficulty and trouble, which often attends the emigrant's career. The following is the extract we allude to:— At the present time, when many benevolent persons are anxiously seeking to benefit poor and deserving people, will you permit me to state, on behalf of the committee of the above society, that they have at their disposal a number of "assisted passages" to Mel- bourne, which are available for suitable emigrants who can pay the sum of X7 11s. 6d., the full cost o the passage being made up by the society. Ia many cases where the emigrants are unable to pay the sum required, the difference is met by those who have the means and the will to help them to Australia, and so affording them a good chance of bettering their condi tion. The committee have assisted 1,200 people to Melbourne during the past eighteen months, amongst whom were twenty-one youths from "the refuges for homeless and destitute children," who have just sailed in the ship Elphinstone.-R. R. ALEXANDER, Sec.- Offices, 27A, Bueklersbury, London (E.C.). A GREAT deal has been said lately about the education of the middle classes, and during the past week fifty guineas has been offered for the best essay on the great importance of an improved system of education for the upper and middle classes of the community, with suggestions on the best means of effecting and securing its continu- ance. These essays are to be dedicated (by permission) to the right hon. the Earl of Clarendon, President of the Pablic Schools Commission, and sent to the umpire, the Rev. Dr. Emerton, Han- well College, Middlesex. Professor Blackie has also, in the course of the week, said that—" The education of the middle classes of England was in a state altogether unbecoming the people and the age. It must be altered—be the subject of legis- lation-or Great Britain would fall from her place among the nations. It had been pronounced by Matthew Arnold, Professor of Poetry at Oxford, in his book, The French Eton,' to be c the weak point of England.' It was the strong point of Germany, Holland, and France. It was one of the practical absurdities of this country, which stood upon routine and tradition." Now, we scarcely know what is meant by the middle classes; we have an objeetion to put class against class; but if by the middle classes are meant persons of independent means, we appre- hend that such persons have the best opportunities afforded them of educating their children, and whatever law might be passed, pater or mater- familias would not like, in a free country like England, to be enforced to bring up their children accord;ng to Act of Parliament. The best and surest way Df. advancing education is to give the masses of the people a full opportunity of in- structing their children, and as they improve in the soc "I scale so must those better to do, in a worldlj pace with them; emulation is at last the Jõudstone by which the whole world will be .ttnsted. Educate the poor and the rich will educate themselves. "Give the masses of the people," in the language of the Earl of Shaftesbury when presenting the prizes of the North London Industrial Exhibition, noble, joyous, healthy recreations which will cause a larger development to those powers which are most dignified in their character. Improve the social life of the working classes, and induce them to keep to their own homes and exercise their minds upon matters that have a moral tendency. Encourage them in studying works of art to bring out their original genius, and the hours spent in such occupations will be so much loss to the gin- palace and the pot-house, and so much gain to the interests of society and the social happiness of the people." ==-

CRUELTY AND IMPUDENCE. Michael Hagan, of- King Edward-street, Mile-end- road, was charged at Worship-street Police-court, at the instance of Mr. William Love, chief officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, under these circumstances :— Sinclair, one of the society's constables, said This morning I was passing along Tliomaa-street, Bethnal- green, when my attention was attracted by the evi- dent lameness of a brown mare in the shafts of a cart laden with brick and material the animal was also shivering about the neck.. Feeling certain that a wound was there, I stopped it, and made an examina- tion. There was a large raw sore near the shoulder, and a lump near that; altogether, it was totally unfit for any work. I asked him whose horse it was, and he told me he was the owner. He was driving the animal at the time, and when I took him into custody he said that by right he should have been cautioned before he was stopped in that way; he also asked me to let him go, promising that if I did so he would work the beast no more. Mr. Ellison: What have you to say to this ? Defendant: Why, I gave M for the horse a month ago; it's at the door, go and look at it if you like, and if it's unfit for work, as he says it is, you can have it killed if you like; that's all I can say. The Magistrate immediately left the bench, and on returning remarked-I have seen the horse, and must say I have scarcely ever looked upon a worse sight; independent of the sore on the shoulder there is a large swelling, upon which I could not put my finger without manifestly occasioning intense pain. I need not speak of its lameness and its clearly used-up con- dition. Before I examined this horse I proposed, upon the constable's evidence, fining you 20s.; but now, seeing its deplorable state, I shall fine you 40s., or m default, an imprisonment of three weeks. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Defendant could not or would not pay the amount, and was locked up in the cells.

Mr. T. B. Hubbell writes to the London papers, stating that the grand jury, at the Central Criminal Court, ignored the bill preferred against him for falsifying a registry. Mr. Hubbell considers it only right that the leading journals which chronicled his committal should also acknowledge his acquittal. An Australian Scandal-—The Melbourne com- munity, says the Argus, have been greatly scandalised during the last week by the domestic revelations at. tending the case of Molesworth v. Molesworth," a suit for a judicial separation, brought with the view to secure alimony, and tried before the Chief Justice and a special jury of twelve at the Supreme Court. The petitioner was Mrs. Henrietta Molesworth, the wife of one of our puisne judges.. The ground of the petition was cruelty on the part of the husband; and the respondent, in his answer, alleged adultery, both in Victoria and England, on the part of the wife. The trial extended over five days. The issues which the jury had to determine were fourteen in number. On twelve of these, the jury found for the respondent. The petition will therefore be dismissed. John OosnéU and .nl,3 Cherry TOTNTTO Paste., pEi<M IS. 04. Decidedly the best preparation to)- oleMBMM and (jeservics the teeth.

MIDNIGHT MEETINGS. Another of these periodical gatherings wag held on Thursday evening last at the Victoria Hall, Friar- street, Blackfriars-road. Acting up to its established rule, the Midnight Meeting Society chooses a different part of London for each meeting, and on Thursday had secured the assistance of Mr. William Carter, a master chimney-sweep, of some celebrity as an ener- getic preacher in the theatres and other unconven- tional places of worship. With Mr. Carter were a small band of friends, amongst whom were an ex- prizefighter, an ex-burglar, an ex-street-conjuror, and others, who were all stated to be tried men and true in the important work he has at heart. We saw but very few of the gentlemen who were at St. James'- hall, and it would seem that the society had availed itself of the machinery and local influence ready to their hands, and that they had for the night amalga- mated with Mr. Carter, on the understanding that he and his friends should do their utmost to rouse the fallen women present to a sense of sin, while the society provided means of escape to those influenced by their pleadings. The proceedings commenced by a short practical address from Mr. Carter, during which there were here and there whisperings andfurtive smiles, but these were not evoked by a spirit of mockery, but were rather slight efforts at relaxation during unwonted tension, and were indeed little more than would be perceptible during a close scrutiny of the congregation of any fashionable church. The women, who were nearly all young, were far better representatives of the district we were in than were those assembled at St. James's-hall of the locality about it. The common harlot of the low neighbourhoods and by-places of London, the young girl whose shabby clothes seem shabbier from being picked out with a little cheap finery, who is half-work-girl half-prostitute, and whose earnings at both callings are miserably small, was here. Common gaudy beads, hair nets of vivid hues, bonnets decorated with the cheap, coarse flowers we sea on fire-screens, and shawls and dresses that a servant of all work would despise, in many instances made up her attire. On the other hand, there were very few painted cheeks, and, though the red and gloveless hands frequently bore paltry rings, they had on them traces of work, as if their owners knew the hardships, without tasting the so-called luxuries of vice. During the process of the meal, the various leaders were distributed amongst the girls, some sitting with them at the tables, others strolling about the room-a spacious, lofty, and well-lit one, fitted up as a chapel with roomy galleries, but the ground-floor of which alone was occupied-throwing in a timely word or interchanging a pleasant greeting as occasion allowed. The perfect familiarity with which the most solemn mysteries were spoken of struck curiously on an un- accustomed ear. The speakers were obviously earnest and sincere, but their jubilations on the spiritual con- flicts out of which they had come victorious, the calm business way in which their own regeneration was spoken of as an accomplished fact, and their constant use of Biblical symbols in, ordinary conversation, made their talk peculiar and exceptional. There was so cant. Everyone was cheerful almost to conviviality. The sentiment, "Look at me, see how happy I am; why won't you be happy to ?" ran like an undercurrent through all the tea-table discussions. After ample time had been allowed for conversation and refreshment, Mr. Stabb, the honorary secretary, offered up a simple and effective prayer, after which a hymn was given out. "William Carter's Gospel Hymn Book," and a thick pamphlet on the results of theatre-preaching, had been freely distributed in the room, and the women stood up in orderly fashion, such of them as were not able to read being especially particular in having the place found for them, and in joining lustily in the chorus as announced from the platform. During the singing a considerable disturbance was occasioned by a low fellow, who claimed to be pro- prietor of one of the unfortunate women, the mark of his ownership being stamped on her face by a black eye and a bandage. Qaiet being at length restored by his forcible ejectment, and her voluntary (or fear- induced) withdrawal, Mr. Carter commenced his address, in which he forcibly appealed to the sympa- thies and instincts of his audience. They were assured of welcome, spiritual and temporal, if they would but accept it, and many an eye was wet, and many a. face troubled as he drew with powerful hand, and in the strongest possible colours, the terrors of pordition and the imminent dangers 01 iieii. It would be easy to criticise both tho taste and doctrine of this preacher, but it accords more with oilrpresent purpose to dwell upon the effect of his denunciations and appeals. Surrounded by men of his own class, who, in every variety of working dress —shirt-sleeves, blue jersey, and fustian jacket—knelt devoutly round him, and hung upon his words, it was impossible to doubt the stirring effect of his ministra- tions. It was a common nature speaking earnestly to the common natures around it, and in the faces and demeanour x>f the girls might be read how strongly, if transiently, some of them are moved. None of them left the hall without a printed invitation to call in Red Lion-square, and it may be fairly concluded that the meeting of Thursday will result in several young women being trained and put out to domestic service. It would be impossible to find men better calculated to speak familiarly to and with such prostitutes as we saw assembled than Mr. Carter and his adherents.

VICTIMISING A POSTMISTRESS. The special correspondent of the Morning Post writes from Dublin as follows :— Some cases of successful imposition practised upon unsuspecting persons by sharpers pretending to be officers of justice, or otherwise in authority, have re- cently appeared in the English newspapers, but the following clever and (except to the parties victimised) amusing rus4 probably rivals any of them. The post- mistress of Cuff's Grange, a village near Kilkenny, was startled a few days ago by a visit from a pompous, showily-dressed gentleman, who announced himself as an inspector from the General Post-office, specially sent down to investigate her accounts, &c. Having first expressed some disapprobation of the arrange- ments of her office, he proceeded to make a minute ex- amination of the books; bat, in the course of the scrutiny, to the great delight of the postmistress, the stern expression faded from the official countenance, and at its close he complimented her highly on the neatness and accuracy of her records, and wrote in the daily ledger a most complimentary report, re- commending her an increased salary. Delighted with this gratifying result of the dreaded inspection, the postmistress invited her supposed official su- perior to luncheon—an invitation which was most condescendingly accepted. After doing justice to the repast, the "inspector" prepared to leave, but, pre- tending to recollect that he had seen in the letter-box a registered money letter enclosing < £ 5, directed to a constable at the neighbouring police station, he re- marked that its speedy delivery would doubtless be very acceptable, and kindly offered to take it himself to the barrack. The postmistress, not daring to dis- obey such a potent personage, gave him the letter, and he proceeded straight towards the police barrack, but it is hardly necessary to say that he never delivered it, and nothing has since beea heard of him or it. In a couple of days afterwards, the postmistress saw the person to whom the letter was addressed, and con- gratulated him on receiving snch an acceptable New Year's gift. An explanation ensued; the authorities of the General Post. office were communicated with, and disavowed all knowledge of the soi-disant inspec- tor and the duped postmistress is liable to a prose- cution for knowingly delivering the letter to a person not entitled to receive it.

A Soldier Killed by a Kick from a Horse. -An inquest has been held at Manchester on the body of Thomas Smith, a private in the 14th Hussars, aged nineteen, who died from the effects of a kick received from a horse. The deceased had been on furlough from Aldershot, and had come on a visit to his father in this city. On Saturday morning his' father was saddling a horse for hi3 use, when the animal reared its hind legs and kicked the young man in the stomach. The deceased walked home and retired to bed shortly after, but he died from the effect of his injuries on Sunday night. The deceased was quite sober at the time of the occurrence, and had not been annoy- ing the horse. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

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TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. -+- AMEBIC A, The Bombardment of Wilmington. NEW YORK, DEC. 30. Admiral Porter reports that his whole fleet bom- barded Fort Fisher, Wilmington, on Saturday, having previously exploded a large powder ship under the walls of the fort, the shock doing no damage. In one hour the fire of Fort Fisher was silenced, two maga- zines exploded, and the fort fired in several places. On the afternoon of Sunday about 3,000 troops, under Weitzel, landed under the fire of the fleet, some entering the outworks and capturing a flag. Weitzel captured two batteries, and advanced within fifty yards of the fort. Finding an assault impracticable, however, he re-embarked his troops the same evening. About 1,000 remained ashore on Monday, being unable to re-embark on account of the surf. On Sunday night General Butler informed Admiral Porter that the assault of Fort Fisher was im- practicable, the fort being substantially un-njared as a defensive work by the navy fire, and that nothing but a regular siege would reduce the fort. Butler has re- embarked his troops, and resolved to return to Fort Monroe as soon as the transports are ready. Savannah advices to the 26th report that an effort was being made to intercept Hardee's retreat before he could reach the Broad River. Hood's infantry is reported to have crossed the Tennessee on pontoons placed above reach of the Federal gunboats. Prisoners state that Hood had 110 cannon. The steamer North America, from New Orleans for New York, has been wrecked.. 200 soldiers on board were drowned. NEW YORK, DEC. 31. Nashville despatches assert that Hood has not crossed the Tennessee. A doubtful report is current that the remnant of his army has been captured. In reply to the demand of the Brazilian Minister for explanations and reparation for the seizure of the Florida, Mr. Seward states that the president would disavow and express his regret on account of the pro- ceeding at Bahia. Captain Collins would be suspended and tried by court-martial. The crew of the Florida will be set at liberty. NEW YORK, JAN. 3. General Butler's military expedition has arrived at Fort Monroe from Wilmington. Richmond papers as- sert that Admiral Porter's fleet has left Wilmington, and that since its departure three vessels had run the blockade. The New Yorh Times asserts that the Government will sell the cotton captured at Savannah, reimbursing claimants if they prove their ownership in the law courts. NEW YORK, JAN. 5. Admiral Porter's fleet is said to have left Wilming- ton. Hood is believed to have crossed the Tennessee River. Thomas's whole army is moving. Rumours are current of the resignation of Mr. Se- ward and Mr. Fessenden. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to open the Dutch Gap Canal. The earth fell in and closed up the channel. A meeting of the inhabitants of Savannah has been held, under the presidency of the mayor. Resolutions were passed to the effect that the inhabitants desire peace by laying down their arms and submitting to the Federal constitutional authority. The Richmond Sentinel says the South would sacri- fice slavery for European recognition. If the South surrenders her independence she would prefer to sur- render to England, France, or Spain, rather than the North. The message of the Governor of New York to the- Legislature recommends a vigorous support of the war for the Union. French Canadians have resisted the enforcement of the militia draft. Volunteers have been dispatched to enforce it.

6 A Singular Libel Case.—An aetion for libel, brought under singular circumstances, has been tried in Dublin before the Master in the Court of Common Pleas and a special jury. The defendant had allowed judgment to go by default, and the only question was as to the amount of damages that should be given. The plaintiff was a niece of the defendant, who, it appeared, had received some application from the plaintiff on behalf of her family, and, in reply, wrote a letter to her, which was the subject of the action. It contained imputations of a gross kind upon the character of the applicant and her family. Damages were laid at £ 1,000. Witnesses were examined in support of the plaintiff's case. Defendant's counsel produced no witness, but addressed the court in miti- gation of damages. The jury ultimately found a verdict for X60 damages, and 6d. costs. The Italian Polizzioni, who is charged with the murder of a man named Harrington, on Saffron-hill, was brought up at the Clerkenwell Police-court on Wednesday. Several witnesses were called for the defence-their evidence being to the effect that the prisoner was not the man who stabbed Harrington. Polizzioni was, however, committed for trial. General Garibaldi has, it is asserted, accepted an invitation to Liverpool, and will become the guest of Mr. J. R. Jeffery, in the course of the ensuing spring; and there can be no doubt that the reception accorded to him will be such as to deepen and strengthen the impression which he has formed of the hospitality of Englishmen. A Rev. General Killed.—The Washington Star says:—"The rebel Brigadier-General Granberry, re- ported by General Hood killed at the battle of Franklin, will be remembered here as the Rev. J. C. Granberry,, of the Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South, He was formerly pastor of the Church South' on Eighth-street, served two years in Washington, and was then appointed to the college at Charlottesville, Virginia, where he was officiating as chaplain when the rebellion broke out. As a minister he was highly esteemed while here, both as a pastor and a pulpit orator. He was about thirty-eight years of age when he died, and his numerous acquaintance in Washington will regret his death in an unholy cause."

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