The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MISS BLAKE, AT SALISBURY. A great sensation has been caused in Salisbury during the past week, from the allegation that Miss Emily Sophia. Blake, only daughter of T. J. Blake, snrgeon; of Castle-street, had died from the effects of poison. The young lady was only nineteen years of age, and an exceedingly attractive person, and her death occurred under somewhat mysterious circum- stances. The following are the principal facts brought out on the coroner's inquest:—Mr. Thomas John Blake said My daughter's name was Emily Sophia. She was nineteen years old in April. I had an assistant of the name of William John Storer. He left my employ aboat three weeks before the death of my daughter—I think on the 17th of August. He was on friendly terms with my daughter, and professed to be paying his addresses to her, but against my wishes. I discharged him for his irre- gular conduct and habits of intemperance. On Tues- day night I was sent for to go to Harnham, a little after nine o'clock. My daughter had not then gone to bed. She kissed me, and bade me good-bye. She had gone to bed previous to my return, which was a little after ten. When I left home she appeared as oheerful and well as ever she was in her life. She went out for a walk with her mamma in the evening. About half-past eleven I was sitting downstairs talking to my wife, when I heard some one screaming. My wife at first thought it was somebody in the street. Then there was another scream, which I knew to be my daughter's. I at once ran upstairs and found her in a dreadful state. There was no light in her room. My wife followed me up as soon as she had lighted a candle from the gas. I went on without a candle. My daughter was undressed, in bed. I said to her "Oh, my dear, what is the matter ? She said, Oh, papa, I woke up so ill." "I said You shall go and sleep with your mamma to-night, and I will sleep in your bed." I thought she had been frightened, but after the lapse of a few minutes I found that some- thing worse was the matter. I soon gave up the idea V o £ its being hysteria, sue said, «« Hoia me, liolH mo." every moment. We held her, and I asked her mamma if she had ever seen her like it before, and she replied No; do go for Mr. Coates." I at once sent for him. She had had two or three slight attacks of hysteria, but not frequently. Before Mr. Coates arrived I asked her if she had taken anything to cause her illness. She replied, "No, pa, no." I was led to make the inquiry in consequence of the violence of the attack. Mr. Coates came in rather more than half an hour after my daughter first alarmed us, and I took him up to the room. I heard Mr. Coates ask her if she had taken anything, and she said, "No, no." Mr. Coates took up a glass, and asked what it con- tained. I told him it was a glass from which I had just given her a glass of chlorodine. He said, Give her another." I gave her thirty minims; she had previously taken twenty-five. Neither dose appeared to take any material effect. I afterwards went to Dr. Roberts and brought him back with me. This was about one o'clock. My daughter had pre- viously said to her mamma, "What can this be ? What can this be ? I shall die. I shall die." Dr. Roberts pressed her two or three times to say if she had taken anything, and I believed he added "Because you are dying," I pressed her also to tell us, and she then replied "Don't, don't." I said "What have you taken P" and she said "Pills," That was in answer to the inquiry of both Dr. Roberts and myself. We were both speaking together. I asked her how many, and she said Three." I said Who gave them to you P" and Dr..Roberta put the same question. She replied "Mr. Storer." I then said "When?" She said "About three weeks ago; just before he left." My wife came forward and asked Have you any more of them?" She replied Yes, there are some in a box in the clothes drawer." We pulled out the top drawer, in which a box of bills was discovered. I believe my wife took them out. Afterwards we found another box, marked "Digestive Pills." There was no inscription on the other box. The second box contained only three pills. My daughter had been in the habit of taking digestive pills for some years. The first box of pills was shown to my daughter by Dr. Roberts, and she said it was the one from which she took the pills. She was asked by Dr. Roberts for what purpose the pills had been given her, and she replied "To keep me well." She was was shortly afterwards seized with convulsions, and died about half-past one. She had never threatened to destroy herself. I know that Storer wrote to her two or three times after leaving, but those letters were inter- cepted. I read them myself. They were sent back to Storer by my directions on Tuesday, together with everything belonging to him. Mr. Storer had a private medicine-chest of his own upstairs, containing various drugs. I am not aware whether that chest contained strychnine.—A paper was produced and read by the coroner, which had been found in deceased's bedroom. It was as follows:—"Miss Blake, at least Mrs. W. J. Storer, must soon follow, or the consequence will be her husband must go to Salisbury to fetch her sharply." The document was in the handwriting of Storer. Mrs. Elizabeth Blake gave similar evidence, and added: About three weeks before Mr. Storer's leaving I think a packet of Battle's vermin-killer was obtained to kill some mice. A part of it was used. The re- mainder was used a night or two afterwards, and the paper was burnt. We placed it near a hole where we thought a rat came out. The next morning it was gone. That was the only time that Battle's vermin- killer was introduced into the house for some years.— Mr. W. M. Coates and Dr. Roberts corroborated all the main points of Mr. and Mrs. Blake's evidence as to what took place in the young lady's bedroom im- mediately preceding her death. The symptoms were those of tetanus, but the history of the case was not consistent with the effects of disease arising from natural causes. The inquiry was then adj oarned until Thursday week. Mr. William John Storer,, who has been arrested on the charge of having poisoned Miss Blake, was brought before the magistrates at Salisbury on Monday, when, after being duly warned, he persisted in making the following statement, which he read from a writing he had prepared: — "I never made pills of any kind for Emily Sophia Blake, except compound rhubarb digestive pills, which I frequently made for her, and which her father,and mother some- times used. As near as I can remember, nine or ten weeks ago Emily Sophia Blake came to me in the surgery, and said she wanted to consult me. I was busy, and,said 'Nonsense; I can't speak to you now.' ,i She f-aifSj I, must speak to you.' She saicLshawfla Awo or three days over her time;. would I make up two or three pills for it ? She said her mamma was fre- quently speaking to her about it, as if she believedsome- thmg wrong; not that I had had any intercourse with her, for I had not. I made her some pills composed of myrrh and rhubara, and told her to take them at bedtime. I don't know whether she took them the next day, or the day after, but she told me they had the desired effect. I never made pills for her of a different drug. She used to take cough pills, in which there was napthaline, but they were kept in the surgery, ready prepared, and she used sometimes to get them for herself. Of the digestive pills I saw her take one three or four days before I left. Sometimes she took one before dinner. Sometimes I made her twelve pills and sometimes twenty-four. Shortly after my asking her father's consent to our engagement her ma spake to her in the drawing-room. They were rather against it at the time, and said she ought not to make up her mind so quickly. I was outside my bedroom door, and I listened. I heard her say that if she could not have Mr. Storer she would have no one else. I then came away and came downstairs. She told me downstairs what had passed between £ ,anc^ herself. She told me she would have nobody else but me, and that if her pa and ma tried to alter her she was sure to poison herself. I remon- strated with her, and told her that if they objected I would wait till she was twenty-one. She said she hoped to be mine long before that. Since my leaving Salisbury on the 17th of last month, I have never sent her medicine of any description, nor a prescrip- tion to obtain any. As regards strychnine, I never had such a thing in my possession in my life. After leaving Salisbury I wrote two letters to her when I was ill in bed—so ill that I didn't think I should write to her any more. When I left, on the 17th August, it was considered by our- selves and the family that we were engaged, and that we were to correspond. It happened that about a week after it was broken off somehow or other. Does it stand to reason — do you think I should have poisoned who was dearest to me, and to whom I was looking as my future wife ? I swear that I gave her no pills of any kind for five or six weeks before. leaving the place, except the digestive pills. She might have had some previous to that. I declare before God and man that Emily Sophia Blake never received anything poisonous from me during her existence. I didn't know that I was charged with murder until Mr. Lee told me yesterday. Then I didn't know whether I was charged with having shot her or out her throat. If I had thought of such a thing I would have died with her. When Mr. Caldow came, I told him that I knew nothing about it, and that I would willingly go with him. I didn't know, until Mr. Csated stated it, that when she was dying she said she had some pills from me. She formerly had, but certainly nothing poisonous from my hands. I oan't say that she did not say so with the intention of hiding the deed she had done with her own hands. She vowed that if the engagement was broken off she would poison herself, which sjie appears to have done-in what way I declare before God and man I have no knowledge. I shall be most happy to court inquiry. Strychnine was a thing I don't think I ever saw in the surgery, and I certainly never had any in my possession. Where she got the pills con- taining strychnine or any other poison, I can't say. If I had given them to her, why did she not take them before? I had been away from the house three weeks. The prisoner was then remanded.

Liberty.—A Frenchman one day saw a..gentleman walk up to an open snuff-box in the hands of another and take a pinch of snuff; having prefaced the act with the words, May I take the liberty F" On the next day the Frenchman went iiato a "obaeco-shoc. and asked for half an ouasa off liberty.

MR. MOENS AMONGST THE BRIGANDS. Concerning what befel Mr. Moens some particulars are given in a letter from M. Erdan, the clever Neapolitan correspondent of the Temps, who heard them from the lips of the released captiveMr. Moens, it appears, never heard any mention of Francis II. He saw very plainly that Manza and his people had taken to brigandage for profit's sake Their idea, at the outset, was to make a round snm and retire into private life, either in Rome or in Spain. They very cynically avowed themselves greedy of money, and did not even seek to palliate their course by making themselves out victims of injustice. I said to Mr. Moens, "they are warring against society.' 'Against purses,' replied that coot ana matter- of- £ aot gfosationao-n T>„t if the attack upon purses is generally successful an eventual retreat has become much less probable than in those happy days when Cardinal Antonelli gave a passport to the brothers la Gala, with the character of industrianti. Rifle balls have now become the more usual termination. According to Mr. Moens, the bri- gands feel this, and would be glad to make an end of it. Oar Englishman's opinion is that the perspective of the punishment inflicted when they give themselves up is still too alarming. He would advise a sort of half amnesty. By such means he thinks brigandage f might be stopped. Such is the opinion of this matter- of-fact man. He speaks of his brigands without bitterness. Upon the whole he has no complaint to make of their treatment of him during the three months he remained in their hands. He speaks of Manza, the chief, as a man of ability and decision. He was witness to noamputation of ears. The bandits did not appear to him more cruel than other people. His feet having swelled, Manza placed him in a cavern, guarded by five of his men. He remained there a fortnight, and they sent him everything he wanted. Manuteng&lismo (system of agents and purveyors of the banditti) was permanent. All that Mr. Moans required was brought to him next day from the neighbouring town or village. There was only one interruption of five days after the arrest of a number of gentlemen of the town of Cam- pagna who had organised an association for the carry- ing out of brigandage on a large scale. During five days after that razzia nothing came. They had to eat some animals of very indifferent flavour, among others a sheep that had died on the skirt of the wood. Then the supplies recommenced. Mr. Moens refuses to reveal anything that might lead to the detection of themanu- tengoli. Mr. Moens is by no means poor, and is a pho- tographer only for his private amusement. He has at least 30,000fr. a year. It was the English oonsul, Mr. Bonham, who, from the very commencement, cleverly made him pass for poor, sending some small assistance through the manutengoli to his poor countryman. Mr. Moens had the courage to hold out thre-a months in defence of his fortune, of which he has only given a sixth instead of one half, as at first demanded of him. He has paid, or others have been supposed to pay for him, 30,000 ducats, about 120,000fr. ( £ 4,800). The brigands have always been convinced that' the consul and the English at Naples paid for him; the trick has been very well done, and skilful Albion has kept up her reputation. The certainty that, if the worst came to the worst, he was able to pay what was demanded, encouraged Mr. Moens very much; he affirms that he never for a moment; feared for his life; he was playing a game, that was all. He played to keep 25,000fr. a year instead of 15,000fr. The most impor- tant part of this gentleman's souvenirs, but perhaps the least reliable by reason of his ironical tendencies, is that which concerns the repression of brigandage. According to Mr. Moens the means employed are very feeble.. He says that the Manza band, during the whole time of his detention, was never more than five miles from the nearest military detachment, and might easily have been laid hold or The patrols, he says, never leave the beaten paths of the forest, and do not beat the wood, and several times, when surrounded by his captors he saw the soldiers passing at a, short distance. In short, he criticises the Italian police and troops very unfavourably, but his criticisms do not appear to be very demonstrative. As to the pa- trols keeping to the path and not going in among the trees, it would be desirable to hear military opinion. For my part, at Ebeli, in that same district, I have seen the Italian officers and soldiers at work, and my impression is far from re- sembling that of Mr. Moens. Moreover, I repeat it the gentleman is ironical, viewing things, even those which are personal to him—as from an upper window. One cannot very well draw a conclusion from what he says. Mr. Moens is anxious to repudiate the excess of misplaced honour attributed to him by the papers be had never the possibility of escaping, of calling the troops. The attempt would propably have cost him his life. At the moment of his departure lHanza gave him 400fr. for his journey, and a ring as a keepsake and said I have let you off 30,000 ducats, but you must not let the other Englishmen suppose they would get off so easily." —

THE. NEWS BUDGET. The Power of a Waterspout.-An extra- ordinary phenomenon occurred in the forest of Chan. tilly a few days ago. About three in the afternoon a waterspout passed across the forest in less than five minutes, destroying almost everything in its passage for a width of fifty yards and a length of nearly five miles. About 600'trees, many of them oaks of large size, were either broken off close to the ground, or torn up by the roots and shivered to splinters. Four Men. Drowned in the Thames.-A deplorable accident took place on the Thames on Wednesday, by which four lives were lost. It appears that about one o'clock the Zephyr, screw steamer, bound for Rotterdam, was proceeding down the river, and when off Deptford came into collision with a small skiff, which had nine persons on board. The whole party were thrown into the river, and five of them were picked up by ballast lighters, which immediately put off to their assistance. The other four persons were drowned. Railway Officials "Fast Asleep."—A rarity in railway news is an accident without fatal conse- quences. Such an one happened at Chateauneuf-sur- Cher the other day, when the train passed this station without stopping. Several travellers thus found themselves left in the lurch, but they seem to have been good natured folk, who like getting up early for the pleasure of the thing, and whose business is not pressing, for they have not claimed damages from the company. It seems that engineer, stoker, and guard were all fast asleep. They allege that their wine had been drugged, but this has not saved them from dis- missal. The company's customers have been more merciful to it than it could afford to, be to the de- linquents. Fatal Railway Accident-—A shocking acc dent occurred at the Norwood Junction, on Saturday by which Benjamin Winter, aged thirty-six, ganger of th-e platelayers, was instantaneously killed. It appears that the unfortunate man was driving in some keys on the up main line when the express that leaves Brigh- ton at 8.45 p.m. for London came up, and before de- ceased could get out of the way he was struck on the head by the buffer of the engine, and killed on the spot. The deceased was an experienced hand; the engine- driver blew his danger whistle as customary, and the train was to the minute as to its time, so that the cause of the calamity is at present a mystery. The body was removed to the Jolly Sailors public-house, and information forwarded to the coroner, who will, probably, hold the inquest in a few days. Destructive Effects of the Two Fleets.- We offer the following statistics to whomsoever they are amusing. They have gone the round of French papers, and have been much moralised upon :—Mes- sieurs the English and French consumed at Cherbourg 1,200 bottles of champagne, 600 of Bordeaux, 2,000 glasses of punch, 6,000 ices, 1,200 soups, 7 salmons of 451b., 24 galantines of fowls, 24 Virginian hams, 12 roast beefs of England, 24 filets de bceuf, 60 fowls, 36 pate3 do fois, 36 dishes of broth, 36 pine-apple3, and an infinite quantity of small dessert. Two Young Men Drowned.-On Saturday afternoon two young men belonging to Glasgow joined an excursion party to Holy Loch. While on their way to Strone and Kilmnn, four of the party went into the water near Graham's Point to bathe. At this place the water suddenly deepens at a short distance from the shore, and one of the young men not being aware of this fact, got out of his depth and sank. His companion went forward to try to save him, but he also got into the deep water and disappeared. Neither of them again appeared on the surface. Boats were at once procured to drag for the bodies, only one of which had been got. The unfortunate young men were smiths by trade.—Scotsman. Outward Bound Mails.—The Royal Mail Com- pany's steamship Oneida, Capt. Woolcott, sailed from Southampton, on Saturday afternoon, with the mails for Lisbon, St. Vincent, the Brazils, River Plate, &o. She took out 124 passengers, and on freight .£8,000 in bar silver, consigned to, the Minister of Finance at Rio de Janeiro, £100,000 in sovereigns, and .£4,840 in gold coin for Buenos Ayres and for various ports; French gold, < £ 200; jewellery, £ 9,088; and English jewellery, I .£750. Also about 800 tons of French and English merchandise. Amongst the passengers are Count de Torre, Captain Airey, Colonel Ronis, and Sir H. Holland for Lisbon, and Captain Tonkin and Viaoannt Barbacena for Rio. A Bazaar on Shipboard.-The passengers by the ship Swiftsnre, just arrived in London from Mel- bourne, hit upon a novel plan for relieving the tedium of a long voyage. It was suggested by some of them that they should get up a charity bazaar. Accordingly a committee of nine ladies was formed. The ladies worked assiduously, and the gentlemen gave the utmost assistance in their power. The bazaar was held on the 26th July, when the Swifcsure was in lat. 6.24 N. and Ion. 29.23 E, The stalls displayed a variety of pretty articles, which were all readily bought. The proceeds were £54, which amount was divided between the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum at Snares- brook and the Poplar Hospital. Death from a Tobacco-pipe.—Dr. Birt Davies held an inquest on Saturday afternoon, at Birming- ham, respecting the death of Thomas Smith, a builder, fifty-eight years of age, who resided at 299, Bellbarn- road. On the 15th of August last the deceased went out into his garden. He had along pipe in his mouth, and as he was opening the garden gate it came in con- tact with the bowl of his pipe with such force that the end of it which he had in his mouth went through his tongue. The deceased, overcome by the pain, fell to the ground. His daughter, who was in the house at the time, heard the deceased fall and went out to him. She assisted him into tho house, and sent for Mr. Barratt, surgeon. That gentleman was soon in attendance, and continued to attend the deceased. He went on well for a fortnight, when an abscess formed under his tongue, and he died ou the 7th inst. from the effects of the injury. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death." Illness of Lord Falmerston.—Great prepara- tions have been made in Bristol for the reception of Lord Pdlmerston, who had accepted an invitation to that place on Tuesday next, the 19th inst., to formally open the Industrial Exhibition, which is on a very large scale, including the whole of the West of England and South Wales, and some of the midland counties, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and others near. The trades and benefit societies had organised a demon- stration for the occasion, and the principal residents in the extensive districts had invited his lordship to a magnificent banquet. The preparations were all but completed, when all classes were sadly disappointed to hear on Monday morning that the Right Worshipful the Mayor, Wm. Naish, Esq., had received a telegram from his lordship, to the effect that his old eaemy the gout had again attacked him, and that he would in consequence be unable to attend. The disappointment was general throughout the town and neighbourhood. An Extensive Fire in Australia.-By far the largest and most disastrous conflagration which has ever occurred in Sydney happened on the 29th June, and resulted in the total destruction of St. Mary's Roman Catholic cathedral. This ediifce, which is stated to have been one of the finest examples of chnrch architecture to be found in the colony, is now a blackened ruin. The cost of the build- ing, it is thought, could not be less than .£50,000. The cathedral was not insured. There were several most valuable pictures by the old masters, which were hung about the altar, and in other parts, which have not been saved. One painting alone—representing the death of St. Benedict-was valued at £ 1,000. The chalices in the sacristy were got out, as also were all the more valuable vestments; these latter being estimated at .82,000. The arch- bishop's papers, and the other important records and deeds, which were in the clerk's office, were also saved from destruction. Tricks by Travellers.—A Baden correspondent, referring to the difficulty experienced just now in getting accommodation at_ the hotels of the German towns, observes" There is an artful dodge, it is true, bv which you may force a landlord to take you in with the utmost security against any chance of a take in;' but it hs.s been tried again arid again with such amazing success that it has at last been taken up by mere bunglera, and is considered now of comparatively little avail. There was a traveller who went about clad in very commonplace attire, and with most unpre- tending luggage. He never gave himself the airs of a Prince, or affected the bustle of a Queen's messenger He simply wrote the name of 'Basdeker'in large white letters on his black leather portmanteau; and oh, thetalismanic powers of that name Une chambre pour monsieuraaais comment? Si C9 n'est aue difficile, c'ast fa% Si c'est impossible cela se fera.' Bi&dsker^ if thai stay-at-home TBwdes knows nothing o 1B' °.r ra^her was, the name of the clever uthor of continental guide-books—a man who could puil down an hotel, or build'it up in three days." The Cholera.—The Board of Trade have reoeived from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a dispatch from her Majesty's Acting Consul.. ueneral at Venice, transmitting the following trans- lation of a notice issued at Trieste, with respect to cholera r — With reference to circulars of the Jth and 18th instant, No. 790 P., and 7,430, it i6L hereby made known that arrivals by sea from all the ports in the southern coast of France, a3 likewise the ports in Asia. Minor, situated in the Black Sea, are to be treated in conformity with pre- scriptions published with regard to arrivals from ports infected by, or suspected of, cholera." They have also received the following translation of a notice issued by the Portuguese Board of Health with respect to cholera-" The Board of Health of the kingdom, makes known that the Forts of Algiers are not included amongst the ports suspected of cholera morbus be- longing to the French empire, referred to in the notice of the 18th mst." -( Official Gazette, No. 18 .) A copy of a diapatch from her Majesty's consul at Alleppo. announcing that that place has been officially declared to be infected with cholera has also been received. Two Mischievous Youths sent to Prison.- James Cortograsse and Frederick Pimber, two boys, aged respectively thirteen years, but whose heads scarcely reached the top of the prisoners' dock, were charged at the Clerkenwell Police-court with cruelly ill-treating certain sheep. Mr. William Love, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals, prosecuted, and the evidence of several witnesses produced by him went to show that on Friday after- I noon the two prisoners were seen in a field contiguous I to the Cattle Market, in which a number of lame sheep I were placed to graze and rest till the following market day. Prisoners were watched for upwards of an hour, chasing, stoning, and beating the sheep about the field, and several of the animals were muoh exhausted through it. The prisoner Cortograsse drove one sheep, which was more lame than the rest, into a corner of the field, and beat it about the head with a piece of brick,- causing waunds and bruises, whilst the other prisoner was engaged in another corner of the field beating another sheep about the legs with a thick stick. A constable was fetched, and after a smart run the prisoners were taken into cus- tody. Mr. D'Eyncourt said th3 best punishment for such cruel boys would be a sound whipping, but he had not the power to order that, and by way of a warning to the prisoners and others he should commit each of them to the House of Correction for fourteen days. A Lieutenant Dismissed the Service.—A court-martial has been held at Devon pert, on board the Royal Adelaide, guardship, in Hamoaze, for the trial of Lieutenant Henry S. Hamilton, borne on the books of the Indus for servica of sailing reserve. The charges against the prisoner were drunkenness and disobedience of orders. Tne following officers formed the court: — Captains Mason, Grampus (President); F. B. Seymour, C.B., Royal Adelaide; G. L. G. Bowyear, Revenge; S. S. L. Crofton, Satellite; E. K. Barnard, Constance; F. S. Tremlett, Impregnable; and W. Eastlake, Esq., deputy- judge-advocate. The prisoner pleaded guilty, but submitted several certificates of character, which re- ferred to his services, both foreign and at home. Captain Symons also testified to the prisoner's good conduct. It was stated that the prisoner had seen considerable service in China and elsewhere, and had held the rank of lieutenant for nineteen years. The particulars of his offences were, that on the 28th of August last it was his duty to visit certain vessels in the steam reserve in the Hamoaze, according to instructions he had received, but that he failed in performing this duty, and was also discovered to be in a state of drunkenness on the same day. The court adjudged the prisoner to be dismissed her Majesty's service. Harvest Home in Berkshire.— S seallowfieli- park, near Reading, the seat of Lieut-Colonel Sir Charles Russell, Bart., V.0., the newly-elected Con- servative member for Berks, was the scene of much rejoicing last week, the labourers on the estate, with their wives and families, being liberally regaled and entertained by their esteemed employer at the close of harvest operations. The company dined together ouBosita the mansion, and were joined by Sir Charles Russell, Mr. George Russell (recorder of Wokingham), the Rev. J. Kifccat and others, and at the conclusion of the festive part of the proceedings cheers were given for Sir Charles, Lady Russell, and family; also for Mr. Kitcai, and Mr. Mitchell, the steward. In the afternoon there was cricket and other sports, which was watched by Lady Russell, Sir Charles, and party, Sir John and Lady Harrington, and others. A very pleasant harvest-home has also been held at Lockinge-park( the seat of Lieut.-Colonel Loyd Lindsay, M.P. for Berks; and at Maidenhead, Bouston, Faringdoa, Cholsoy, Wallingford, Compton Parva, and Shaw, Newbury, and other places. Discovery of Human Remains at Ryhope Colliery.—Last week a remarkably interesting dis- covery was made at Ryhope Colliery by some workmen engaged in quarrying in the limestone rock. The rock was blasted, and in removing the loosened frag- ments of rack the workmen came upon a large quantity of bones, including several human skulls, numerous skulls of other animals, such as foxes, badgers, &o., and a great number of human and other bones. The place where the boues were found was about twenty feet below the surface, and about thirty feet within the bank. The appearances indicated that there had been a cavity in the rock which had at one time been filled with water, but there appears no means of accounting far the presence of the skulls and bones, except that they were washed into the hollow of the rock many ce'lturiea aga. Three of the human skulls, one of which is remarkably perfect, having most of the teeth in, with several other haman bones, were taken care of by Mr Gibson, the resident engineer of the colliery, but a large quantity of other bones were unfortunately alia we i to be carried away. The discovery will no doubt receive attention from geologists and antiquarians.

THE GREAT FIRE IN CONSTANTI- NOPLE. The Levant Herald gives the followiag particulars of the great fire in Constantinople, some account of which has already appeared by telegraphShortly before midnight last night (Sept. 5) one of the most de- stractivefires whichhas devastate 1 thecapitalforthirty years, broke out on the Stamb -ul side of the Horn, in a house behind Baktche capoussi, and speedily ex- tended to the adjoining buildings. Fanned by a brisk north-east wind, the flames rap dly spread on either side, and in the line of the wind, up the face of the hill towards the Porte As nearly the whole of this part of the city is wood-bailt, the fire spread in volume and intensity, like flame amongst spirits, en- gulphing house after house, and mosque after mosque, till whole aires of buildings were ablaze at one time. In less than an hour from the first outbreak of the calamity the fiery tide had rolled up the entire face of the hill, till the waves of flame reached and for )ke in their lurid sprav against the high wall which buttresses the parterre in front of the Porte. The total destruction of the latter seemed inevitable, when a slight ch oige in the direction of the wind carried the n"ry turrent round past the northern flank of the building, skirting it so closely that the houses immediately outside the gate of the official pile were all destroyed. Then the conflagration rolled on to Zilouglou, Taoak B tzar, Fazli Pasha, and Demircapon, sweeping houses, fountains, mosques, and every destructible thiug before it. Nearly all the ministers and high military ftud police authorities hurried to the scene of the disaster as the night wore on, but all efforts to stem she bUzhig tide were vain. The feeble engines, though hundreds in number, and worked by a whole army .-tf toloutnbajces, mightas well have played upon the crater of Ebna, even had they been well supplied with water, which was nearly altogether wanting. House afoer housa wis levelled in advanca of the destroyer, to stay its progress by cutting off material aId to feed on; but as the fl itnes successively reached the goaDS thus formed they licked up the debris and rolled on as if never a timber had been removed. Whilst we write (September 6, seven a.m.): the fire still rages, having through another change in the wind, turned down the bro id slope behind the Porte, and reached the northern side of the Hippodrome. A rough estimate of the de^truorion already accomDlTshed states tho loss at about 1 500 houses ana ei^hto/ten mosques but this can be o dy a guess. The extent of .the calamity can only be even approxirnalely asr-er- tained when the fire shall have burned itself out. l Happily the police report that, as yet, the disaster has not beem aggravated by loss of life'