The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. --+- SOME of our readers may be interested to hear an account of sport in Moravia, from January 15th, 1864, to January 15th, 1865. It was as follows :—853 stags, 641 fallow deer, 207 wild boars, 2 capercailzies, 13,129 pheasants, 6,495 roes, 232,266 hares, 216,119 partridges, 18,607 different feathered game, 78,477 birds of prey, 66,269 vermin (quadrupeds). The year preceding 129 fallow deer more were killed, and 6,266 pheasants. The value of the whole amounted to 346,240 florins 68 kreutzers. A PRELIMINARY meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a racquet court in Manchester was held at the Clarence Hotel last week. Mr. J. B. C. Alexander presided. After some conversation, Cap- tain Palin proposed, and Mr. Henry Langton seconded, the following resolution, which was agreed to unani. mously :—" That the object of this meeting is the building of racquet courts, with a subscribed capital of £ 3,500; and that, should the scheme be well supported and a larger amount subscribed, the addition of gym- nasia be entertained." The meeting was adjourned to the 14th inst. Captain Lathbury is the honorary secretary. GOOD PROSPECTS FOR SALMON FISHERs.-For nearly a whole week the footpath of the bridge at the Bridge of Allan has been occupied by persons witness- ing the efforts of the salmon to get over the dam. They seem to be running in shoals. It is many years since such a number has been seen ascending within a similar period, and gives good promise of a reduction in the price of this fine fish from what has been ruling for many past seasons. The local commissioners have issued printed circulars calling upon all millowners, under a penalty of < £ 5, to provide a ladder at each dam. If they enforce this bye-law far fewer foul fish will be captured in future, whilst there will no longer be witnessed the unsuccesful and painful efforts made by the fish to ascend. At many places at present they are so weakened by these efforts as to become an easy prey to poachers. THE first of a series of twelve competitions for the new gold champion badge of the West Middlesex Rifles, and for the silver champion cup, has just taken place at Wormwood Scrubs, the conditions being seven shots each at 300 and 600 yards. Wimbledon targets and scoring, &c. After a spirited competition during a shower of rain, the gold badge was won by Ensign Garner, A company, with a score of 32 marks; the silver cup being won by Private C. Hall, after shooting off a tie with Lieutenant Marriner, 30 marks each. These prizes have been established by the shooting committee of the corps for the encourage- ment of rifle practice throughout the year, the con- tests to take place on the last Thursday in each month, and the prizes to become the absolute property of the members who win them the greatest number of times in twelve months. WHILST a terrier belonging to Mr. John Stuart, Bridge of Allan, was running along the banks of the Allan, the other day, near Allan Vale, the dog came in contact with a large otter concealed in a crevice, to which the spirited terrier immediately gave battle. After a desperate struggle, the weary otter managed to make his escape, having severely wounded and out his antagonist, especially about the legs. The otter would most probably have met with a quick dispatch had another terrier been on the ground. The dog is of the Dandy Dinmont" breed, and of the Old Durk," the famous Dandy Dinmont," the property of Major M'Bean, of the 92nd Highlanders. By order of the executors, Mr. Shakell, of 71, Park- street, Camden-town, offered for sale at his rooms the whole of the trophies and other effects, animate and inanimate, of the late Tom Sayers. Great interest was manifested on the occasion by a numerous com- pany, who were admitted by a shilling catalogue, the proceeds of the sale of which, we understand, are to be made over to the father of the deceased. As may be readily imagined from the nature of the company assembled, much "chaff" and badinage fell to the share of the auctioneer's man when exposing the differ- ent lots; but, on the whole, good humour prevailed, and as the biddings were keen and in many cases some- what extravagant, there can be no doubt the family of the deceased will be substantial gainers. The articles in gold and silver, comprising thirty-eight lots, were put up first, then followed the household furniture, among which was a heterogeneous collection of pictures of sporting subjects in oil, water, line, and photo- graphy, these being followed by the live stock, &o. We subjoin a few of the lots to which most interest attachedLot 13. Solid gold "Cross of Valour," with appendages, presented by the officers of her Majesty's ship Marlborough (2oz ldwt.)—< £ 10 10s. Lot 14. A solid gold medal, presented by a few friends in New York for gallantry while defending the "Belt"— £ 8 15s.-Lot 15. A silver medal, Model of Prize-ring," presented by Mr. Levy, of Glasgow, for bravery and endurance at FarBborough- £ 4. Lot 16. A crystal portrait of the late Tom's well- known dog "Lion," set in gold-mounted soarf-pin — £ 6. Lot 20. A diamond shirt brooch (11 stones) —< £ 17. Lot 24. A silver cigar- case, richly ornamented, the gift of Mr. S. Abrahams (7oz. 6dwt.)— £ 7 7s. Lot 25. A silver pint tankard, presented by a few friends visiting Mr. Joe Phillips, Islington, for "bravery and skill" (10oz. 19dwt.) — £ 9. Lot 26. A hunt cup, the gift of Mr. Charles Goode, of Bristol, for manly conduct in and out of the ring," August 16, 1860, lloz. 18dwt.) — £ 10. Lot 27. A silver cup, the gift of Mr. M. Phillips, as a token of admiration for manly courage on April 17, 1860" (lloz.)— £ 9 9s. Lot 28. A silver cup, with two handles, by Hunt and Roskell, presented to the late Champion by Captain Webster, for his gallant conduct on the occasion of his fight, in 1857, with Aaron Jones. This was a really beautiful article, it weighed 19oz. 13dwfc., and bore on the obverse side the quotations, Courage; fight it out! A crown or a glorious tomb!" It was knocked down for £31 10s. Lot 29. A two. handled silver cup, the gift of Mr. T. Foreman, for "gallant conduct in the late encounter"—Farn- borough (34oz. lOdwt.)— £ 27 69. Lot 30. A silver wine tankard, the present of a few friends at Montreal, June, 1860 (25oz. lOdwt.)— £ 17 7s. 6d. Lot 31. Tom Cribb's Champion Cup (76oz. lOdwt.)—. £ 35. Lot 32. A ram's horn, mounted as a snuffbox; a gift— £10 10s. Lot 33. The Champion Belt, presented on the occasion of the International Prizefight, de- signed by Hancock, and presented by Mr. Wilkes, of New York — £ 33 12s. Lot 34. Tom Cribb's Champion Belt-£18 10s. Lot 36. A silver mail- horn, the gift of Mr. Henry Distin, of Newport. street— £ 5. Lot 103 was the now well-known English mastiff "Lion." for whom evidently many gentlemen had come to bid. After a keen fire from the first bid of 20 guineas, the hammer fell in a few seconds for 39 guineas to the nod of Mr. Warner, of the Welsh Harp public-house, Hendon, where, no doubt, the animal will become a great favourite among the numerous visitors to that place. Lot 104, the performing mule Barney," brought .£13. Lot 105, and the last, the dun mare, realised < £ 23, bringing the total amount of bhe sale, we believe, to .849916s.

Extraordinary Sagacity of a Horse.—An instance of the sagacity of animals is given by the -Propagateur du Nord. In a farm near St. Amant was a colt, three years old, of a very high temper, but peculiarly gentle with a little boy who had been in the habit of bringing him bits of bread. One day a servant of the farm heard a cry from the yard, and, looking out of the window, perceived that the child had fallen into a water-cask. She lost no time in rushing to th'e rescue, but on arriving below found that she had been anticipated by the horse, which had caught up the child by his dress and withdrawn him from the water. The owner now declares that he will never part with the animal.

THE COMING REFORM BILL. The Globe of Friday evening says:—"Our readers S will have observed, from the reply of Lord Russell to the deputation from Bradford which lately waited g upon him on the subject of the Parliamentary f franchise, that the Government is anxious to fulfil I the expectations of the Liberal party by dealing with that question, after due inquiry into several points in f connection therewith, upon which it is necessary to e have detailed and complete information. It is possible j that the reservation implied in Lord Russell's lan- ( guage may be misunderstood, even by those who do not desire to misunderstand it, while among those whose hostility to the Government leads them to 1 take hold of anything apparently tending to its disadvantage, we shall have strong comments upon what will be called a policy of delay, a desire to tide over the next Session by means of an inquiry, and an unwillingness on the pirt of ministers to undertake the duty of dealing with the question upon their own responsibility. Any impression of this kind is entirely erroneous and directly contrary to the truth. The Government are most anxious to have the question settled in a manner that will be satisfactory to the country, and they are ready to undertake the task. There is no intention of handing it over to a commission, or having it dealt with in any way save that which becomes the dignity and importance of the subject, namely, by a well-considered measure sub- mitted to Parliament by the Government upon their own responsibility. But in order that such a measure should be so complete and well arranged as to ensure the best support in its passage through the legisla- ture, it is necessary that inquiries should be made upon several incidental points. These inquiries have already been set on foot, and are now being carried out through the public departments. It is possible that, in order to make them full and efficient, some more formal means of conducting them—a committee or commission-may be thought advisable. But of this we can assure the public, that the ministry are addressing themselves to the work, not in the reluc- tant spirit of men who are forced to an irksome duty by political necessity, but in a way which becomes those who have worked so long in the cause they now seek still further to advance. There will be no unne- cessary delay, and it is one of the prime objects of the ministry of Lord Russell to effect a settlement of the question in a manner which may be recognised by the country as lust, reasonable, and fairly fulfilling the an- ticipations of their political supporters.

THE (MSB OF MADAME VALENTIN. In the London Bankruptcy Court, before Mr. Com- missioner Winslow, an application for release from custody was made by Charles Dubois, formerly of Great Portland-street, and of 16, Percy-street, Totten- ham-court-road, described as a commission agent. Mr. Gould, of Long-acre, appeared on behalf of the bankrupt, and Mr. Reed and Mr. Griffiths for the opposing creditor, Louisa Valentin; and Mr. Reed for Mr. Brunei, another creditor, on a detainer against the bankrupt in prison. It appeared, from the examination of the bankrupt taken in gaol, that the amount of his debts were about Xl,600, and he had shares in a railway company of the value of £ 1,600. His Honour said he much doubted his power to grant the release, a superior court having declined to inter- fere. Mr. Griffiths said the case of Madame Valentin was well know in this country. She had obtained a jadg- ment against the bankrupt. His Honour: And by that judgment I shall be bound. Mr. Leverson, of Bishopsgate-street, said the bank- rupt was a foreigner, and would probably abscond, if he did not keep out of the way. Mr. Gould said no such advice would be given the bankrupt. The Commissioner said he should not be inclined to release him unless he found sabstantialb t; E The bankrupt was then examined through Mr. Gould, as interpreter, at considerable length. He admitted his name was net Dubois. His name was C. F. Coppin. Mr. Commissioner Winslow: He has not been stating already what is true upon his oath. He had better be sworn. Mr. Griffiths said they had received a communication from General Fleary, at Paris, upon which he should have to ask the bankrupt a. few questions (to the bankrupt): You were tried and convicted in PsSris. Is your name Emile Charles Coppin ? Bankrupt: Yes. Mr. Griffiths: Is that the name you have used in England? Bankrupt: No :that of Dubois. Mr. Griffiths: What did you call yourself for the last ten or twelve years ? Bankrupt: A notary. Mr. Griffiths: How much did you owe when you left Villeneuve ? Bankrupt: From £100 to £ 200. Mr. Reed: Don't you know you then owed £ 10,000. Bankrupt: No. Mr. Reed: When you left Villeneuve did you leave behind you any property ? Bankrupt: No. In consequence of losses he left there abruptly. He did not know whether, when he left, he was in debt X10,000 or not, as he was entitled to a considerable sum from debtors as a notary. Mr. Reed: Can you tell us where a note of these moneys is entered ? Bankrupt: No, as Lafpurcade held a security on the account. He had no correct means of ascertaining after he left. Mr. Reed: I believe you were charged with ab- sconding with a large sum P Bankrupt: Yes. The Commissioner thought this hardly affected the question. Mr. Reed said that this man had been sentenced to penal servitude for life, and a fine of 20,000fr. for forgery in France, but had found his way to this country. The bankrupt, in examination, said he owed .£500 in England, beyond .£1,000 to the detaining creditors. He knew stock had been sold to the amount of £2,000 through H. Sulliottaud Co., Water-lane, Tower-street. He entered into a long explanation to the effect that Dr. Lodorinski had the money, and he resided in Cran- bourne-street, Leicester-square. He had no property beyond the debts due to him. His Honour said he should allow a lengthened ex- amination of the bankrupt to be taken before the registrar of the day. No benefit would arise to the estate from his release, and he should make no order until after the first meeting, fixed for the 6th of December.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MURDER. On Saturday evening, about five o'clock, a. most determined attempt was made to murder Mr. Henry Hus, a manufacturer of moderator lamps, carrying on business at 40, Princes-street, Stamford-street, by a young man named Shirley, who had been formerly in his employment. It appears that Shirley, being of a wayward, restless turn of mind, left Mr. Hus's ser- vice some time ago and went to sea. He returned to London, however, and went back to his former master and worked for him up to six months ago, when, for some reason or other, he left, and, as far as is known, has since had very little to do. On Saturday afternoon, at the time mentioned, he entered the factory of Mr. Hus, in Roupell-street, New-cut, and asked him to give him a character, stating that he was about to obtain employment on a railway Mr. Hus offered to give him a character in the usual way-viz., to fill up a form that might be sent by the company, who were, as he said, about to employ him, adding that he (Shirley) might return to his work and he would be glad to receive him. This pro- posal did not seem to meet the views of Shirley; on the contrary, he requested Mr. Hus to write a character to his dictation, but this the latter refused to do, and at the same moment observed the colour to rush into Shirley's face, which assumed a determined aspect. In a moment the latter drew from some part of his dress a six-barrelled revolver, presented it at the left side of Mr. Hus's head, and, firing off one of I the barrels, lodged a ball in his throat, underneath his jaw. Mr. Has, though much shaken by the shock, obeerving that Shirley was abou te shoot at his head a second time, involuntarily put up his left hand to save his face, when a second ball passed through the palm of his hand. Finding that he had nothing but a death struggle before him, Mr. Hus grappled with his murderous assailant, and, being a powerful man, he managed to force him down on one knee, and while in this position he wrested the revolver from his grasp, and turning it against him, with a view to the preser- vation of his own life, he discharged one of the barrels at his head; but his arm being rather elevated, the ball i&arely entered tbeftesby part of Shirley's neck, on the left side, and passed out obliquely on the right. The cries of "murder" by Mr. Hus, and the report of the three pistol shots, at length brought assistance, and a man named Garman, going into the place, met Shirley in the passage bleed. ing profusely from the wound in the neck. When asked by Garman what was the matter, he said his former master, Mr. Hus, had shot him. Police-con- stable Scully, 113 L, at this moment came up, and on going into the factory found Mr. Hus bleeding from the throat and hand, and he at once declared that Shirley had come there armed with a revolver, and fired two shots at him, wounding him with each. Both parties were removed in cabs to the Tower-street Station, Waterloo-road, and were promptly attended to there by the divisional surgeon, who. on nrat examining the throat of Mr. Hus, extracted a ball, which, strange to say, was as flat as a sixpence, having, as is believed, come in contact with the jaw. On next examining Shirley's wound it was found not to be at all dangerous, the ball having merely passed through a portion of the neck. When the charge was taken, Shirley denied having been the aggressor, stating that Mr. Hus first fired at him, ad- ding that the pistol belonged to his late master. Mr. Hus admitted the fact, but said that it had been stolen from the factory about six months ago, while Shirley was employed there, though another person was suspected of stealing it. This fact, Mr. Hus added, could be proved by several witnesses. After the prisoner had been locked up, his lodgings were searched, but nothing material to the charge was discovered. Shirley has a wife and one child, and the room in which they live bears evidence of great destitution and misery; a number of pawnbroker's duplicates were found there. Mr. Hus was attended by Dr. Blades, and is going on remarkably well. Shirley, who is also going on well, was brought up for examination at Southwark Police-court on Monday, and remanded.

SUNDAY OPENING OF MUSEUMS. A meeting of the above League was held last week at the office, Beaufort- buildings, Strand. The chairman drew attention to the recent interview of the members of the league and the trades' delegates with Earl Gran- ville in reference to the removal of the cartoons from Hampton Court to South Kensington. He complained strongly of the conduct of two hostile deputations who waited on the noble earl on Thursday, alleging the deputation of the league had no authority to speak on behalf of the working men of London, and did not represent them. It was the object of the meeting to refute this false statement. Mr. R. Morrell, secretary of the league, in reference to the league deputation, said that it represented upwards of 200 of the trade societies and other organisations of working men, combining in the aggregate about 50,000 working men, and every dele- gate held a duly-certified credential from his society. The so-called deputation from the working men of South London represented themselves only, and con- sisted of City missionaries, persons connected with Dissenting chapels, and members of Young Men's Christian Associations, all, no doubt, respectable men in their separate spheres, but not working men in the commonly-understood acceptation of the term. One of the members of the deputation, who described himself as a working hatter, informed Lord Granville that the hatters had never authorised any one to act for their body in oonnection with the Sunday League; but it so happened that the duly certified dele- gate from the Hatters' Society, numbering 1,000 men, was now present in the room. Mr. Micheson, the delegate. «iww said he held his credentials in his hand, but, to place the matter Deyona L. would at once proceed to his society house, where the committee was then sitting, and bring back another credential, dated that day, with him. Mr. Micheson then left, and in about an hour returned with his new credentials, duly signed by the officers of the society. A long discussion ensued, and it was ultimately re- solved that the society should communicate with Earl Granville, and place before his lordship the original credentials of the delegates from upwards of 100 trade societies, as the best way of refuting the erroneous statements made by the Sabbatarian deputations on Thursday last.

THE CHETWYND DIVORCE CASE AGAIN. The case of Chetwynd v. Chetwynd was again brought before the Judge Ordinary in the Court of Probate and Divorce on Taesday. The matter now in question had been heard at Chambers, and had refer" ence to the custody of the children of the marriage and the permanent alimony to be secured to the peti- tioner, Mrs. Chetwynd. His Lordship now delivered judgment on the two 'p subjects which had been brought before him. Rival claims, he observed, had been set up to the custody of the children of the marriage-a girl ten, and a boy eight years old. Both parties professed anxiety to have that custody, and there was no reason to doubt that that anxiety was genuine. The respondent, it was proved, was very fontl of his children, and, on the part of the petitioner, the mother, there was nothing to impeach the sincerity of her desire to have the custody of them. By law the custody of the children was always with the father, but the court had power to infringe on that right, and had fre- quently exercised it in favour of an injured mother. In all such cases, however, it had been an invariable element in the decisions that the wife had been free from blame. In this case it could hardly be contended that the conduct of the petitioner had been free from blame. The singular life she had led, the company she had kept, and the persons of whom she had not been ashamed to borrow money, could scarcely be urged against her, for the respondent had permitted, and perhaps encouraged, it. Bat the indiscretion, to give it no harsher term, of her conduct in seeking the society of the gentlemen with whom criminality was charged against her, and the avowal contained in her own journal that she had surrendered her mind and affection to one of them, was the greatest matrimonial offence but one of which a wife could be guilty; and he, therefore, would net abrogate the rule of the law in her behalf. She might urge, under these circumstances, that the re- spondent was not a fit person to have the custody of the children, and that for their sake they should be placed in other hands. He was disposed to give weight to that representation. The gross vice of the respondent, coupled with the incredible absurdity of his letters, satisfied the court that that was the case, and that some asylum other than the respondent's house should be sought for his children. Sir George Chetwynd and Lady Hanmer, their uncle and aunt, had come forward and offered to take charge of them. The court ac- oepted the offer. The children would be committed to their charge, the petitioner and the respondent to have free acoess to them at all proper times. Then there remained the other question, the perma- nent alimony to be secured to the petitioner; and on entering on that head of the inqairy the respon- dent very justly complained of her extravagance. He swore her debts at .£3,000 and more, and that he had been called upon to pay them. They comprised no fewer than sixteen jewellers' bills, one for £ 427, another for £ 96, and a third for £ 67. There were seven bills for fancy goods and Berlin wools, one for £ 212, besides five from photographers, and ten from stationers. All these bills and the costs of the suit amounted to a considerable sum, and required to be taken into consideration. On the other hand, he estimated the respondent's iaoome at .£1,159 a year, and out of that he would order that £ 200 a year be paid for the maintenance of the children, and .£250 a year, being the whole prooeeds of the money she had, part settled, and £ 1 £ 0 in addition to the petitioner, dum sola et casta mixerit. In conclusion, his lordship said that it was not without much anxiety he had endeavoured to do justice to both parties, and that, nevertheless, it might be that his decree would please neither. «

Capture of a Fenian Pike" maker in London.-Timothy Hegarty, a blacksmith, residing in Moss-alley, Great Guildford-street, Southwark, was brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt, at Marlborough-street, by Dawson, 301 A, by whom he was taken into cus- tody on a warrant (signed by Mr. Richard B. looker, one of the justices of the peace for the county of Cork, and basked by Mr. Knox), charging him with while in the county of Cork for several months past being engaged in making pike-heads for an illegal society called Fenians," and for treasonable practices, and for leyving war against the Queen. It having been proved that the prisoner was the person named in the warrant. Mr. Tyrwhitt told him that he would be handed over to the proper officials* and taken to Cork, whence, no doubt, he would be committed to Dublin. The prisoner was sub. sequently taken away by two of the Irish constabulary.

FACTS AND FACETI-Æ, The only wax-work that's of any account is got up by the bees. Burgess.-Yes; a raoon-icipal council must be a lunatic body. My first I do, my second I do not; my whole you are ?—Love-ly (lie). Why is matrimony like wash leather ?—Because it often polishes a spoon. Is there any connection between killing time and instant execution ? Why is divinity the easiest of the three learned professions ? Because it is easier to preach than to practise. A Missouri paper announced a short time since that the wife crop in Gasconade county yielded 15,000 gals." The next week the editor came out with an erratum "—for wife read wine. Jenkins informs the press that the Prince Im- perial is to be elevated to the dinner-table of his im- perial parents. Formerly he took his meals with his tutor in another room." Indeed! Did he, now ? None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them; such persons covet secrets as a spendthrift covets money for the sake of circulation. Adown-east editor, in a. complimentary notice of a vigilant general, was made, by the omission of a single letter, to call him a battle-scared veteran. The poor man hastened to make amends in his next issue by stating that it was his intention to have denomi- nated the hero a bottle-scarred veteran. The following impromptu was given at a tea party last week, says a local contemporary, in answer to the question What is love ? "— A mountain ot perplexity In sunshine or in rain, A heavy, heartfelt happiness, A powerful, pleasing pain; A thing we all feel once in life, And sometimes feel again. In the castles and palaces of the ancient ex- nobility of France, the tapestry frequently represents me- morials of their pride of ancestry. On the tapestry of an apartment in the palace of the ex-Duke of Choiseul is a representation of the Deluge, in which a man is seen running after Noah and calling out, My good friend, save the archieves of the Choiseul family! A nobleman married a person far beneath him in life, and possessed of very little knowledge, but she was proud of her husband's ancestry, and taking some friends over the family chapel she pointed to twelve marble busts of the Apostles, and said, These are my husband's ancestors." Proverbs of the Wolofs of Senegambia.- Know thyself better than he does who speaks of thee. -Not to know is bad, not to wisb to know is worse.- If you know the beginning well, the end will not trouble you.-Though the wolf be lean, he can contend with a goat.-If a man makes soup of his tears, do not ask him for broth. -The frog enjoys itself in water, but not in hot water.-The partridge loves peas, but not those which go into the pot with it.-Collected by Consul Burton. Elbow Room Scarce.-The American ei Joe Miller" says:—"Elbow room has been quite scarce in Nashville during the past week. Such scrouging, gouging, turning in and turning out, has seldom before been witnessed. Instance the following: Traveller dismounts at a tavern. Hallo, landlord, can I get lodarines here to-night P Landlord No, sir; every room in the nousS is engager. Han't you give me a blanket and a bunch of shavings for a pillow in your bar-room ? Landlord: "No, sir; there's not a square foot of space unoccupied anywhere in the house." Traveller: Then I'll thank you, sir, to shove a pole out of your second-floor window, and I'll roost en that." Taking his Patient for a Ride.-Dr. A thinking a little exercise and fresh air preferable to physic, had taken one of hia patients to ride, and was seen by Dr. I-, who addressed Dr. A as follows: Well, Doctor, I saw you taking one of your patients to ride." Exactly," said Dr. A Well," said Dr. I-, "a thing I never do is to take my patients out to ride." I know it," said Dr. A-: the un- dertaker does it for you." Lament for an Old Pump- 'KI, Pump of my childhood! thou art gone; Oft have I set thy handle clanking, And come home wet, and had anon A jolly spanking, Pump of my later years! how glad I've been to leave the club-room cloisters To bathe my brow, when oft I've had Cocktails and oysters. Pump of the past! thou'rt one of them: Gone art thou from this world of trouble; No more fast men at two a.m. Shall see thee double. I will not quote a "tinker's curse," For that would be but all a sham, But I'll bestow what's rather worse- A coffer-dam On those who call a w(h)et a crime- How temp'rance men have it misoallen! Thougav'st "free drinks times over time, But now thou'rt fallen! The milkman for his friend grieves sore, For with thee went what was his walk;" And he who sold pure milk before Sells now pure chalk. The publican with thee is riled "— f A kind o' savage is, and wilder, That he when asked to draw it mild, Can't draw it milder. Old settler long within our midst Thy stream flowed free and never doubting; Yes, eloquent old pump, thou didst A deal of spouting. Well! pump, adieu! and fare thee well! Sucked is thy valve, thy nozzle out, And thou, old spouter, sad to tell, Art up the spout. When Miss Ann, Pitt, sister to the great William Pitt, afterwards Earl ef Chatham, received a pension from Lord Bute, her brother wrote her a very angry note, saying he never wished to live to see the name of Pitt and pension together." When the same William Pitt received a pension from the same Lord Bute of zC3,000 per annum, his sister sent him back his oimv letter. Origin of the Term Spinster."—Among osr industrious and frugal forefathers, it was a maxim that a young woman should never be married until she has spun herself a set of body, bed, and table linen. From this custom all unmarried women were termed spinsters—an appellation they still retain in all law proceedings. Jumping to a Conclusion.—" Is this good money ?" said a man to a suspicious-looking wight who had made some small purchase of him. It ought to be good, for I made it myself!" was the answer. With that he took the man up for coining. But the man, in his defence, proved that he made the money by bootmaking. Douglas Jerrold, the celebrated writer, was one day hurrying through a leading street in London, evidently immersed in thought, when he was inter- rupted by a quidnunc, who exclaimed, Wel), Jerrold, what is going on to-day ? The reply was quick and petulant, but pithy and pointed. I don'c know" said Jerrold; but I am And on he went. Two Negatives make a Positive.—Once at table, Pitt was expatiating on the superiority of the Latin over the English language, and cited as an instance the fact that two negatives make a thing more positive than one affirmative could do. "Then your father and mother," said Lord Thurlow, must have been themselves two negatives, to have intrr. duced such a positive fellow as you are." Turning the Tables.—A gentleman ot Lewiston says, the other day a girl called at his house and asked if his family wanted house help ? He re- plied they did Do you have small children ? she asked. No. Do you have your washing done out of the house?" "No." "Will my room be carpeted ? "Yes." After going on awhile in this manner, the gentleman turned tha tide, and said he would like to ask her a few questions. Can you play the piano ? he began. "Oh, no." "Can you speak French?" "No." Can you sing the opera p No." Can you dance the Lancers?" "N 0." Well, then," he concluded, "if you can't do any of these, you won't suit," and off went the astonished maiden, smelling mice!