The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

« MISSING." I A Sketch of the American War. (C There's no other way, Mary. I shall have to go I" He said the words as if pronouncing his own doom, i and so she received them. There was silence between the two who so loved each other; if the thing were inevitable there was nothing to be said. Henceforth only endurance was possible. Mary was the first to speak. Are you quite sure P" she said, not expecting, only hoping, that some way of escape might open. It was not that she was destitute of patriotism—not that she was less ready than other women to make sacrifices; for she had seen him march away to the war, smiling a farewell to hide an aching heart, in those first days of the country's danger, when all the bravest and the best rushed to its defence. But it was different now. He had done his duty faithfully-fulfilled his two years' service-known danger, wounds and hardships-and had returned, as they both hoped, to the old quiet home-life, to the ful- filment of deferred hopes, to the enjoyment of the im- perilled happiness. And yet he had just told her he should have to go again. It was hard to believe- hard to hear. And yet there seemed no other way. The two years of his absence had been two years of disaster to his parents. For a quarter of a century they had lived peacefully, with a moderate prosperity that fully con- tented their moderate desires, upon the pretty home- stead farm; and now, close upon the sacrifice they ha.d made of their most precious treasure, their only child, followed blight and insect, and storm and fire. The harvested crops, the fine cattle, and the strong draught horses, perished in the conflagration of their barns. Mildew and weevil, for two successive years, made their great wheat field a desolation. The long rains of early summer spoiled the rich, low-lying meadows; and the fire spread over the hill. side, covered with rare timbers, and swept away their fences. The third year, when the season of harvest approached, for many weeks the sky was brass, and the earth dust beneath the scorched and ruined crops. Steady, quiet, home-loving. God-fearing people were they, and yet it seemed as if the wrath of Heaven had descended upon them. And then money was needed to re-build and re-stock, to purchase the necessaries of life, to provide for the coming seed-time, and the farm was mortgaged for the purpose of raising these needful funds. And in this condition Horace Harding found home matters at the expiration of his term of service. Old Simon Suggs advanced the money and held the securities. He was a hard, grasping old man, a money- lender by profession, grown rich upon unholy gains; but in the sparesly settled agricultural region where the Hardings lived, he was almost the only moneyed man. Wealth enough there was of flocks, and herds, and waving harvests, but little money, and men would give old Simon almost cent. per Gent, sometimes when the necessity was great, as in this case. He would lend to Mr. Harding only on the security of his small but fine farm. Only thus, and the money must be had, and his terias were accepted. "One year's harvest, at war prices, will set us right," Mr. Harding said; and so, blindly, it is true, but re- luctantly, he gave the miser a hold upon these acres, trebly worth the sum advanced, and built and sowed in hope, which hope that third summer, that summer of burning heat and drought, blasted and left himbank- rupt in hope as in purse, And now the time was corns for payment, and old Simon demanded the fulfilment of his bond. We have called him old Simon, for that was the name by which he was known far and near, and he had the pinched and aged appearance which a miserly life so often produces, but in reality he was not old enough to escape the impending draft. Simon was a great coward, and he valued his precious person far too highly to be willing to make it a mark for bullets. As far as metals were concerned, he preferred gold to lead or steel; and, though rations and free living at the expense of the Government tempted him not a little, he still thought that he could make money enough at home to overbalance the ex- pense. And, as the time approached, his fears so in- creased that he reluctantly decided to procure a sub- stitute. And this was how Horace Harding got per- sonally complicated in the affair. Old Simon threatened to foreclose the mortgage. He had bought up every claim he could discover against Mr. Ha1:ning. If he noado use of the power in his hands, certain ruin must follow to the distressed family. It was not many hundred dollars, but it re- presented home, comfort, peace to the striken man. To lose these was more than he could bear. Ho bent beneath the blow, and could not rise. From a hale, middle-aged man, he suddenly grew old, and his mind, yielding with his physical strength, threatened a decay of its powers, and perhaps a permanent imbecility. And old Simon, looking upon the ruin he could work, saw in it his opportunity. He had a double motive- one now hidden in the background so seourely that its existence waa never suspected. Bat he felt that he could bide his time. His first move was to propose to Horace to become his substitute, and to offer as a consideration the relinquishment of all the claims he held against the elder Harding. And this it was that Horace had accepted. That very day he had agreed to enter the army as a substitute for Simon Suggs, and bad re- ceived mortgage, notes and all in return. His father was a free man, but he was bound. It was very hard. Long ago, before he first enlieteo, he and Mary Lord had been lovers. They had waited for his return, and then Horace had no homo to which he might bring a wife. And now there must be a farther delay, perhaps a separation, only to be ended in another sphere of existence. It was a dreadful trial to both those young hearts. How great a trial they, even now, could hardly estimate. But Horace was comforted by the thought that thus he purchased home and peace for his parents, and surely no sacri- fice was too great if made for them. After he was gone, those he left behind were as peaceful as human beings can be, encumbered with anxiety and sad expectation. Battle after battle, dire and bloody, was fought. Horace was in most of them. Horace was exposed to all the horrors of wounds, imprisonment, and sudden death. No one could pre- dict the tidinge/)f the coming day, but a great hush of dread and expectation was over all the land. At last the blow fell. A great and terrible battle had been fought. The wounded and the dead counted by thousands. There were hundreds of prisoners. Horace's own regiment had been more than deci- mated. The smoke of battle must clear away before the losses can be counted. It cleared. The names— long lists of slain-were published, and the columns of wounded. His name was not among those. Stay here it is. But opposite to it is written, Missing." The months and the years pass away, and no tidings came of the lost ene. And then old Simon Suggs appears once mora upon the scene. He has bided his time. He does not mean to wait till the deadness of despair is quite over, until energy and the power of resistance are re- awakened. T „, Ha has known the jnotnsr ef Mary Lord all her life. Ii her youth he had a. sneaking fondness for her, long sacrificed to his passion for gala. Now he visits her in her trouble, modulates the sharp whine of his voice to softness, and condoles with her in the loss she has met. She cannot see his pinched and meagre face, and she has not that sensitive gift wherooy she can detect the falseness of his voice, or, with sure instinct, shrink from the besotted selfishness of hIS nature. They are very poor now, for Mary has had neitner heart-nor strength for her accustomed tasks. khe nas done her best, poor girl, and sacrificed much for her mother's comfort. For no more dutifal child existed than this sadly-tried girl. But in her grief she has made mistakes, and seemed to neglect her employer s wùrk, and they no longer trust her aa once they did. She has become languid and nerveless, and could not all at once muster the forces of her nature that had been waratad in her sore conflict with grief and sus- pense. It was while she was in this state that Simon Suggs CfEG-?SQC0^ *"s siege. He waa a oareful man, for first oi ail he undermined the mother's caution. In a little time xia had her all upon his side, and then by degrees he ventured to speak plainly. First he said slighting words or Horace. He had been cowardly, he hinted. It was known that he tried to slink away from the field during this very battle. He had been fired at. Ha was undoubtedly either dead or a deserter-in the hot ease hiamg irom the inevitable doom of his crime, and would never dare to return, thus leaving Mary as free as if he were really dead. ° And then old Simon would boast of hia wealth, and uttsr such magnificent promises for the future, that tho poor weak and sightless woman waa ever more ?.nd mora persuaded teat he was the beat friend and protector two hslplflss women ever had, that Ma.ry could not do better than to marry him-that she must accent his offer—that it was her duty not to slight this gleam of fortune, but to provide thus for her own comfort and the helpless old aje of Mary did not yield easily. She resisted with all her feeble powers. But she had a great deal to contend with She loved and respected her mother, the habit of obedience was strong, and so was that of self-sacri- fice. For herself, she reflected, it mattered little—she shoiild not live long. She had not the faintest shadow of love for Simon Suggs, no respect, not even toler- ance. He was totally, utterly repulsive to her-in nind in cerson, in character. If she had any positive vinced at last that Horace was gone, she resolved to think only of her mother. With a heart numb with despair she gave her consent to the proposed match. The wedding morning came. The poor, pale, hope- less bride awaited the coming of the bridegroom, with an apathy more dreadful to behold than the liveliest paroxysms of hate or disgust. It was well that her mother, who loved her dearly even while practising this cruelty, waa blind and unsensitive. She thought Mary had shown great good sense, and that she was securing for both of them an excellent home. She was pleased, for she was weary of privation and poverty. And then the bridegroom, looking older and meaner than ever in his unwonted finery, came, and the party set out for the village church. And as they entered Simon Suggs started, for his eye fell, for one moment, upon a soldier, in worn and faded uniform, sauntering up the opposite street. Only a moment, and the man was gone. Surely soldiers were common enough in those days, and he smiled at his sudden apprehension. Another moment, and the pair stood before the altar-, and the service began. Quietly up the aisle came the soldier; worn, faded, and not over clean his clothes, thin and brown his face-a contrast to the gay, bright crowd. His shadow fell across the kneel- ing pair. There was a start and a cry. The bride haa risen. Her wan face is all alive with joy and colour, as for an instant it is turned towards the audience. The next, it is hidden on the shoulder of that worn and faded coat of blue. Horace is returned. The bullet you hired did not kill me, you see, he shouts after Simon Suggs, stealing out of the church. I've got well and come home. The war is over, and I shall enjoy my own again." And then he lifts up the pale face and presses a kiss upon the white lips, and bears, not without a glance around of triumph, a half-fainting form to the vestry. There was no wedding that day, but there was one on the next. It was but natural to expect that result, since the dead was alive and the 45 missing had been found.

EPITOME OF NEWS. London was visited by another thunderstorm on Friday evening. A thunderbolt fell on the church of St. Matthew, Essex-road (late Lower-road). Although the weathercock was shattered to splinters, and the conductor broken, the electric fluid fortunately escaped without injuring the structure of the building. Some amusement waa caused at the Liverpool Police-court on Tuesday by the prosecutor in a. case of intimidation being placed side by side with the pri- soner in the case. It appeared that a warrant (also for intimidation) had been served upon him. The change was so rapidly accomplished that the two men in the dock could not help laughing. At the Central Criminal Court, on Wednes- day, an old man, seventy-seven years of age, named Harrington, was tried for the murder of his son-in- law. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. The Accident to the Prince of Wales.-It is stated that Mr. Smith Barry, an Irish gentleman of the highest social position in the county of Cork, has waited on the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Lord Alfred Paget, to apologise to the Prince for the ac- cident of which he was unwittingly the cause in Hyde- park, and to express his deep regret for the occur- rence. The explanation was most graciously received. A farmer, named Maeherelle was last week return- ing during a storm from his fields in the commune of Champanges (Savoy), and walking in front of his horses -with, a. pltoWork on -wKon tile elod- trio fluid struck the iron pointa, and passing down, killed the man instantaneously. When the body was found there were no marks of violence except a bruise on the forehead caused by his fall. His shoes were split from the instep to the point, and that of the right foot torn off and thrown some distance. The special correspondent of the Star says :— I mentioned the other day the Imperial College for Deaf and Dumb Boys. As at all French colleges, the beys go out to walk on Thursdays. Last Thursday the Empress happened to peroeive them walking along the Quay. She sent a servant to invite the boys to play in her reserved garden, and ordered luncheon for them, to their iatense delight, of which she and the Prince Imperial did the honours. The boys ate and drank to their hearts' content, and looked thoroughly happy. Window Gardening.-The Society for Promot- ing Window Gardening amongst the Working Classes in the parishes of St. Margaret's and St. John's, Westminster, held a flower show a few days since in Great Dean's-yard, Westminster'. This society is under the presidency of the Dean of Westminster, and ia self-supporting. Yico-Chancellor Sir W. Page Wood is one of the vica-presidents, as also are the rectors of the two parishes, and the incumbents of the adjoining parishes. Most of the leading inhabitants in the two parishes take a lively interest in the society. The Earl of Shaftesbury distributed the prizes at half- past six o'clock in th3 evening. The exhibition, which was very good of its kind, was well attended. Free Drinking Fountains Association.- The Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountains Associa- tion held its seventh annual meeting at St. James's- hall, on Friday; Earl Groavenor, M.P., presided. The report stated that the association had built additional fountains during the year. They had now, with those erected by private persons, 140 fountains supplying water in crowded districts. A lady had presented them with £ 1,000; Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P., had erected a fountain at Westminster; and an Indian prince had sent over -21,000 for the erection of a fountain in Hyde-park. There are still whole parishes, densely populated, in which there are no fountains. It is estimated that between 300 and 400 will be needed in all. The association have expended all the funds entrusted to them. Female Shoplifters.—Charlotte and Flora West (sisters) were charged before the magistrate at Wands- worth with stealing 50 yards of calico from the shop door of Mr. Battey, draper, Dawson-buildings, Batter- sea-park. Flora went inside the shop to purchase a reel of cotton, and stood in the doorway looking at some goods in such a manner as to conceal from view the other prisoner, who carried off the calico. It was missed from the door aa soon as they were gone, and they were followed. The calico waa seen under the shawl of Charlotte, who threw it down, and denied the robbery. On the last examination a lady, named Smith, came forward and claimed the shawl worn by Flora, which had been stolen, together with other articles, while the prisoner was employed by her as a charwoman. Both were committed for trial on the first, and Flora on the two cases. A young lad was brought before Mr. Alderman Finnia on Wednesday, at the Guildhall Police-office, charged with wilfully placing bricka on the metals of the London, Chatham, and Dover Bailway, at the in- cline near Farringdon-street. The evidence adduced showed that finding bricks on the line at this point has become a matter of frequent occurrence, and that it was known that they were placed there by the young ruffians of the neighbourhood. The officials of the compsnyhave done their utmost to keep the delin- quents off the line, but have up to the present failed to do so. Alderman Finnis considered the offence so serious that he did not like to deal with it himself, and adjourned the inquiry in order to see what could be j done with the prisoner. The Alleged Murder by a Housekeeper.— At the Durham Assizes, on Wednesday, the grand jury hrew out the bill against Jane Craggs for the murder of James Cooper at Hetton-le-Hole in June last, she living with the old man as housekeeper at the time. An attorney for the prosecution afterwards made an affidavit that there was a reasonable expectation of obtaining further evidence in the case, and Mr. Baron Martin postponed the trial, on the coroner's inquisition, to the next spring assizes. Manslaughter of a Wife.-On Friday, before Mr. Justice Keating, at "the Oxford Assizes, Samuel Noroutt was indicted for the manslaughter of his wife Jemima at Pishiil in March last. The eviaence went .1 to show that the couple had been drinking, ana that the prisoner had beaten his wife while returning home. She fell in the road and died before medical assistance could be procured. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. Kent v. "Edinburgh Daily Review."—The action against the Edinburgh Daily Review for slander, at the instance of Mr. and Mrs. Kent, father and step-mother of Misa Constance Kent, has just been settled. The action, it may be remembered, arose out of an article having appeared in the above paper containing statements regarding Mrs. Kent's position in life prior to her mtrriage, and charging her with cruel treatment to her step-daughter. It also contained reflections on the par; which Mr. Kent had taken throughout the investigations preceding Miss Kent's confession and trial. Tie Review now states that it has made inquiries whith prove that these statements were not true, that tiay had been misled by false information, and that tie proprietors of the paper have consented to pay the mm of £ 350 to Mr. and Mrs. Kent in name of damagts. Emigration from Liverpool.—During the month of June emigration from theportof Liverpool has considerably decreased, owing, it a stated by the emi- gration officials, to the fact thai the emigrants are staying to assist in the English har and corn harvests. Under the Act, there sailed to tie United States 25 ships, with 8,430 steerage and 32L cabin passengers; to Canada four ships, with 1,019 steerage and 93 cabin passengers; to Victoria two ships, vith 463 passengers, making a total of 32 ships and 10,707 passengers. Compared with the previous monih of May there is a decrease of 6,865. Of ships not mder the Act there sailed 12, with 488 passengers. Compared with the previous quarter of M.,rch last, the quarter just ended shows an increase of 14,289, and of ?,619 compared with the corresponding quarter of last sear. An Irish Wedding.—A Miss H-, of C-, in the Q- County, was to be married on a certain day to a Mr. L Another lover of the lady endea- voured to prevent it by collecting a party of friends who assisted him in locking the gate approaching the lady's house. They aiso placed large stones in front to obstruct the passage of the jaunting car, and after completing their task, they lay in ambush, awaiting the arrival of Miss H- and her friends. Having arrived, and finding the approach barred against them, some of the party left the car to remove the obstacles presented to them, when the lady was pounced upon by the party of her frrtner lover, and then a true Irish struggle ensued, the bridegroom's party endea- vouring to reclaim her, and the other to carry her off. The conflict terminate" in the victory of the former lover, who succeeded in placing the lady in a car and effecting an escape w.th his prize. The intended bridegroom had his countenance much damaged. A Boy Accidentally Shot by his Father.—A melancholy occurrence which cast a gloom over the town, has happened at Fraserburg to a fine little boy, by which he was instantly deprived of life by his own father, Mr. Winchester, hair-dresser. As has been their custom for some time, the two had gone out with a double-barrellel fowling-piece in quest of birds; and seeing a cr)w in a field lying adjacent to the town, the boy leaped the dyke, to be in readiness to secure the bird in cues of its being wounded, and while crouching behind the dyke he heard the trigger snap, when raising his head, in ignorance of his father's intention to fiie the other barrel, he received the fatal charge in his brain, and was laid dead on the spot. Deceased was a nost promising boy of 10 years of age, and was an only son. The father, as may be conceived, was perfectly distra cted when he discovered what had happened. Two weeks ago the family had to bear the affliction caused by the drowning of Mrs. Winchester's brother in the river Ugie, at Strichen. Scotsman. General Peel on "Wars and Breech-loaders. —At a dinner which followed the Huntingdon Wool Fair, General Peel, in replying for the toast of "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers, said It is possible that I may be called upon to fill the position of Minister at War (cheers), but I assure you most sin- cerely that there is no man more anxious to maintain the peace of this country than f (loud cheers). I have one observation further to make. I believe that a great deal of money has been thrown, as it were, into the sea in gunnery experiments; but I believe those experÏ>n..ni> H«8 PT-WOA that the worst breech-loader is better than the very best muzzle-loader. I say tha.t this has been proved as five to one, and that of late, in the Austrian army. We have the best materials and the best soldiers in the world, and I am among those who desire that our soldiers should be armed with the best weapons." A Fearful Leap.—A very sad occurrence teok place at Ulbster, Wick, the other day. A young man named Flett, a shepherd on the farm of Ulbster, a native of Orkney, had fot some days previously exhi- bited signs of mental aberration, and though not of such a nature as to require restraint, it was judged advisable to watch him. On Sunday forenoon the symptoms continued, and under the influence of a sudden paroxysm, the unfortunate man rushed out of the house, and, pursued by two inmates, who were unable to overtake him, he ran at an extraordinary speed towards the sea cliff, a distance of about 400 yards, over which he precipitated himself-the height being upwards of 70 feet. A boat was instantly manned, and proceeded to the spot, where Flett was found lying in a state of insensibility. He was carried to the house, and Drs. Smith and Banks being brought from Wick, they found both legs shockingly smashed below the knees, but no other external injuries. The sufferer remained in a state of insensibility till after three o'clock on Monday morning, when he expired. Compensation Claims,-At the Sheriff's Court, Red Lion-square, on Saturday, before Mr. Under- Sheriff Burchell and a special jury, a compensation case, "Nicholas St. Leger v. the Great Eastern Rail- way Company," was heaid. Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Philbrick were for the claimant; and Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and the Hon. ilr. Thesiger represented the company. The claim wal nearly = £ 5,000, in respect of a beerhouse in the Commercial-road, near the Shore- ditch station, to which a tpirit licence was expected to be obtained, and for the licence X2,000 was estimated as part of tha claim. Ths house had been newly built, and application had been made for a licence and re- fused. Still, it was thought that a spirit licence could be procured, and hence th) additional value of the pro- perty. The jury went to >iew the house, and on their return the claimant waa examined. He was cross- examined by Mr. Serjeant Ballantine. Eventuallythe parties agreed to a verdict for £ 1,300, and unaer use direction of the learned Tinder-Sheriff it was accord- ingly entered. Several of the re-elsctions took place on Wad- nesday. Lord Stanley was returned without opposi- tion for Lynn. He declined to pledge himself with re- ference to Reform, and niged the cry of peace and non-intervention. Sir John Pa-kington was chosen again for Droitwioh; Lori Naas found himself happily reinstated for CockermQith; Mr. Mowbray walked over the course at Dartam; General Peal was re- elected, with nothing worse than some questioning for Huntingdon; and Mr. fValpole is once more mem- ber for Cambridge Univeisity. Two of the subordi- nates in the now Government, however, were not so fortunate. At Guildford the new Solicitor-General, Mr. Bovill found himseli opposed by Mr. Long, a staunch Liberal. Mr. Borill, however, had the show of hands, and a poll was demanded. It seems, how- ever, that Mr. Long will n)t go to the poll. His com- mittee have requested himto retire in consequence of the pressure which has beai put upon the vosers, and reluctantly he consents. kt Bridgewater Mr. Patton, the new Lord-Advocate, waa opposed by Mr. Vanderbyl. The show of hands was foi the latter gentleman, and Mr. Patton will have toigh/ work to regain the seat recently won. „ The Healthfulnesa of Wet Seasons —The highest death-rate of tweh) years, 23-9, occurred with the smallest rainfall of 16'" in. in 1864, and the lowest; rate, 21-2 in 1860, with tht heaviest rainfall of 32 in. ( in 1860. This may, doub;lesa, be accounted for in many ways, but principally by the cleansing influence of the rain during the Bumner upon the impurities of towns which, in dry wether, prove so noxious in crowded populations; but it is also very possible that the greater humidity of the air induced by the rain may be useful to all persom suffering from affections of the lungs. We may be ovir-drainiug and over-drying our land and our air, to tie detriment of both animal and vegetable life; we nay have too deep-footed a dread of a pond near a hoise if it be kept clean, and also of trees, which may s'rva the double purpose of shelter and of preventing bo complete an evaporation from the ground. It also tppears obvious that the ad- vaatage of shelter for a hoise, espeoially from the east, is now often too msch overlooked in the desire to build on high and dry situations. Wa must not forget the homely simile, that a cande in a draught; will always burn YrmtfiSnlly,—Builder, Supposed Loss of the Monarch of the Seas. AI. Hopes entertained for tha safety of thia vessel, freighted with 639 passengers, seem at length dispelled by the discovery of one of her lifeboats, which has been washed up on tha Irish coast, near Kerry, together with a number of dead bodies. The Monarch of the Seas left Liverpool for New York on the 19th of last Marcs, under the command of Capt. Kirkaldy, and a crew of 60 men. According to the Custom-house clear- ance paper, she had 639 cabin and steerage passengers mfse wera adults, men and women, and 60 children. The ship waa in excellent trim, and had a fine run down Channel, when the pilot left her. Alas since that time nothing has been heard of her. As soon as she became overdue extra premiums were paid to effect insurances upon her, which reached as high as 60 to 75 guineas per cent., but this waa two months ago. 1 or a long oime she has been given up aa a lost ship, and iu has been impossible to insure her. Tho boat picked up on the coast of Kerry is believed to be one belonging to her. It was found on Tuesday last, and the booies washed ashore appear to have coma from an emigrant ship. Identity is said to be utterly impossible, owing to the state they are in. The pre- vailing opinion among experienced captains in the iNew York trade is that the Monarch of the Saaa foun- dered among the icebergs in the Atlantic. The Mysterious Death at Brighton.-Last week an inchest was held at Brighton, on the body of Mra. Wardeor, wife of a physician, with whom she had been Vidging in Bedford-square. The lady had died g -squp there unaer auspicious circumstances, and the medical men engage in the case having refused to certify any natural cause 't death, the coroner was communicated 7 j?-e i stago of tha inquiry opened. The facta then disclos&s w6re Gf such a nature that Dr. Warder waa placed -rider the surveillance of the police. It is said that. the day of the inquest he apphad to a Brighton «. for somo aconite, bat the chemist reused t seU him j| has since transpired tnat on j D proceeded to London, and rotunk, Brighton, and the same night took a ford Hotel. About noon next clay, doetor nr i making Ma appearance, his room was enu y? was found dead in his bed, having poisont,' with prussic acid, to procure which had most pi, 1 been tha object of his journey to London. It is stated that tha deceased had bean twice previouF married, and that his first wife lived apart from liiru for some time, but died during renewed cohabitation; that the life of his second wife, who died about eight months after marriage, was insured; and that his third wife brought him a considerable marrifige portion. I How the Prussians were Received at Trautenau.—A letter from Liebau to the Cologne Gazette reports the following fact as imputed to the inhabitants of Trautenau:—"When the Prussians approached the town the Burgomaster went out to meet them, and when questioned declared there were no troops in the place, and that the new comers could enter the place in all security. Two squadrons of dragoons traversed the place, followed by some in- fantry. These having reached the principal square were suddenly attacked with a murderous fusillade; the balls rained from all the windows fram the garrets to tha cellars; stones and even quantities of boiling water were thrown down on the soldiers. Then ensued a frightful massacre, the Prussians killing pell-mell all they met, military or civilian, in the streets and in the houaes, and tha artillery finished by destroying the town almost completely. About 130 prisoners were secured, and amongst them tha Burgomaster and an hotel beeper, accused of being tho authors of this ambush." Richard Whittington's Church.-The church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, College- hill-the old city church which is celebrated as the burial-place of Sir Richard Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London," who is said to have founded it-was reopened on Sunday, after a. thorough restoration, at a cost of about £ 1,500. The only noticeable feature in the church ia the fact that the horrible paws which dis- figured it are replaced by free open benches. In the morning the unison service of Dr. Steggall, organist of Lincoln's-inn, was given, and the sermon waa preached by the very Rev. the Dean of Cape Town, from Nehemiah iv. 17,18. In the evening the choir of Lincoln's-inn Chapel attended, and the church was crowded. The service w&a Croft's in E, solos by Messrs. Horning and Marshall; the anthem, Boyce's, "I have surely built Thee a house," verse parts by Messrs. Patey, Theodore Distin. Ball, and G. Porrin. After the sermon Ha.Uel&jah (Handel), Dr. Stag- gall presiding at the organ, which haa been newly erected. A very eloquent sermon was preached by the venerable William Emery, B.D., Archdeacon of Ely, and Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, from Psalm xxvi. 8. A Submarine Road to the Continent.—Mr. Hawkshaw, the well-known engineer, is engaged in the preliminary operations necessary to determining the practicability of a submarine road to the Con- tinent. Borings are now being made at a considerable expense in the neighbourhood of Dover, and, by per- mission of the French Government, between Calais and Boulogne; and in the course of this summer explorations will be made in mid-channel. Such trials are essential in order to obtain positive knowledge concerning the nature, extent, and thickness of the strata. It; is proposed to carry on the excavation for the tunnel from x both ends, as well as from shafts in the Channel. At the top of the shafts powerful steam engines will be erected for pumping, for drawing up the excavatod material, and for supplying power to the machinery by which excavation will be effected. The tunnel will communicate on the French side with the Northern of France Railway, and on the English side with tho South-Eastern and London, Chatham, and Dover Railways, "so that -there will be an unbroken line of railway communication between London and Pans."

ATTEMPTED MJJRDER AND SUICIDE IN SOHO. On Monday Mr. C. St. Clair Bedford, coroner for Westminster, held an inquiry in St. Ann's vestry-room, Dean-street, Soho, relative to the death of William It y.Fko committed suicide after having attempted 1 of a youn £ woman with whom he had co« habited, the attempted murder and suicide being com- mitted almost in the presenca of deceased's wifa, and at his residence. The jury having viewed the body in the dead-house, the following evidence was taken :— Mrs. Elizabeth Handley Mold said: I live at 26, King-street. The deceased was my husband, who was 51 years of age, and a public-house broker. He had several times threatened to poison himself, and generally had poison by him. He sometimes threatened to do so owing to pecuniary pressures. He has been in a lunatic asylum. I have been married to him three years, and previous to that time he had twice attempted suicide with laudanum. On one occasion he took two ounces. He was not of sober habits. In 1854 he received an injury which affected his brain. He was at times delirious. Hia affairs were in a confused state, which affected him. On Thursday last he said he should not live through- out the day. I said, "I don't believe you, for you have said it so often." He replied, You will find it out." After tea he lay down, and a yeung woman being in the room, he attempted to poison her. She screamed out, and said deceased had tried to force vitriol into her mouth. I rushed into the room, and I saw my husband lying on the bed. The young woman wag also on the bed, both being dressed. All my husband could say was, Water water I gave him some, which he drank, and he never spoke afterwards. Mr. John Hursley, of 66, Wardour-street, said: I am a surgeon. I was called to deceased about eight o'clock on Thursday evening. I found him lying partially on a bed and a box, with his legs drawn up. He waa quite unconscious and collapsed. On the box there were about six drachma of fluid and a bottle containing but a very small quantity of cyanide of potassium. I dashed water upon him, and endea- voured to administer antidotes, but he rapidly sank and died. There was a strong odour of pruseic acid emitted from the mouth, as also in the stomach upon internal examination. OH testing some of the fillid j\om tha stomach, it returned Prussian blue. The 00gna of tha body wera all healthy, and the brain Cyan^ed. The cause of death waa poisoning by Hanntf potassium. o'clock Mj?oarcl°n said: On Thursday last about 12 where I wail-old came home, and entered the room, Mold was. Hevrork, adjoining the one where Mrs. as it will not be n3> You need not finish that work, beyond tha day." ':ii, for neither you nor I will live don't believe you, for ýJd, Don't talk that way. I no heed of him, but I hesfcwe often said so." I took he wanted to provide for myim say to Mrs. Mold that would liva throughout the day°.ld, as neither he nor I down, and at teatime ho said, '"iter dinner he laid and snatched the cup from me and t want tea," He continued: You're going to die. ^.contents, lay down again, and pulled me on the b->.d atbat he him. Shortly afterwards he got up and went to a "lido box in the room, when I got frightened, and thinking he was going to get a razor to cut my throat, I ra into the next room, but he brought me back. We lay on the bed again, when he put his elbow across my neck and forced a, bottle into my mouth, and I felt something run into my mouth. I struggled and got up. I did not swallow any of the stuff, but it touched my tongua and throat; none of-it got into my stomach. I though it waa vitriol, from tha burning sensation. I screamed out; I'm burnt—I'm poisoned. It ia vitriol." I knew nothing more till he was dead. I believe he died across my knees. Mrs. Mold was recalled, and the following questions put to her:— The Coroner: So it ia true that the last witness had a child by your husband P Witness Yes, sir, but that was before I was married to him. The child is nearly five years old. She has twice lived with him for a short time. The Coroner: And she resided in your house ? Witness Only occasionally for a short time. Tha Coroner: I find, by a certificate put into my hands, that your husband was in the insane ward at St. Panola. Has he since been under treatment ? Witness: Yes, twice at Wandsworth. The Coroner: Was it not suggested to you that he should again go to St. Pancraa' ward P Witness Yes, but I could, not afford to pay for a keeper for him. The Coroner: It is a wonder he did not kill you all. Witness: He did ask me if I wished to die. It is a wonder we were not all killed. The Coroner then referred to the evidence par- ticularly showing the state of mind of the deceased, and left the jury to consider their verdict. The foremau then announced the following unani- mous opinion:—" That the deceased died from the effects of cyanide of potassium, taken by himself while in a state of insanity."

STOPPAGE OF THE BIRMINGHAM BANKING COMPANY. A telegram from Birmingliram on Friday Right says:- J nst now, nearly midnight, it has been determined that the Birmingham Banking Company will not open its doors to-morrow. It had three-fourths of all the accounts of the greatest of the trading community of this district, To say that, is to give some idea of the extent and severity of the calamity. At this late hour we cannot enter into the details of the circumstances which have led to this disaster. It has arisen out of the la;vish advances made a few years since to one indi- vidual in particular, and many engaged in the iron trade. The amount of the deposits is about _^81,800,600, probably the total liabilities are over two millions. The number of shareholders exceeds 800. The company was established in 1821. Its paid-up capital at this moment is little short of £ 280,000. The contingent depreciations and reserve fund at the last report in February was £ 200,000. The original shares are £ 20, and a new issue of £ 20, with all paid up, but on the original shares no more than £ 4 3s. 4d. has been paid up. The dividend and bonus of late years has been -63 per share annually. Leas than two years since the capital was increased by the issue of 10,000 new shares (< £ 20 paid up) at .£10 per share premium. At that time the price of the shares was 14 prem. Within the last few months a gradual decline has taken place, and this day week the price was X6 prem. On Friday they suddenly ran down to £20, and on Saturday it began to be talked about that all was ipver, but very few people believed it. The shares were sold at £ 18 in the course of the day. On Friday a deputation from the company had an in- terview with some of the directors of the Bank of England, and applied for assistance. They were not successful in their application. It is said that approved security to a sufficient extent could not be given for the aid required. Tha liability of the individual share- holders is only limited by the value of their property, and so it may almost be taken for granted that the depositors will ultimately be paid in full. Whatever the loss may be, it will be sustained by the proprietary. The present staff of dIreotors in. cludes Colonel Barrows, Messrs. F. 1. Welch, Henry Van Wart, J. B. Payn, Thomas Pemberton, James Watson, John Ponoia, S. ■Lloyd l1 ostcr, W. M. Warden, J. T. Horton, aad Heaton. The London bankers are the London and Westminster Bank, and Messrs. Glyn and Co. Established in 1829, the bank was the first started in Birmingham on the joint-stock principle, and that being before the times of limited liability it was looked upon rather suspiciously for a while. It started on the basis of an old private bank- ing firm, that of Messrs. Galton and James, and had a very high reputation. Besides its head offices it had, when the stoppage oamo, branches in several of the black country towns. It was said to have ranked many of the largest traders and public companies, as well as the Birmingham Corporation, amongst 'its customers. The stoppage will cause immediate embarrassment and suffering to many persons. Not onlv in Birming- ham but in the large clasfcer of towns in its neighbor- hood, known by the general name of the Black Country, news has created the greatest excitement. Ihe bank was considered especially safe, and all sorta or people, from the wealthiest employers of labour to the poor and young beginner of business had accounts with it. It had branches at Walsall, Wednes- bury, Dudley, and Coventry, and at each of these places the greatest excitement prevails. It is to be hoped that the evils with which the stoppage is likely to threaten the industry of the district have been exaggerated; but nothing certaia can bo known for hosue days.