The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette

MAY MEETINGS. RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.—The 58th annual meeting of the supporters of this Society took place at Exeter Hall on Friday evening, the Right Hon. J. Napier, M.P., in the chair. According to the Report, which contained a variety of interesting particulars connected with the Christian press in all parts of the world, it appeared that 37 tracts had been printed during the year, besides nume- rous volumea and other publications. The total number of new publications amount to 290. The issues from the depository have been 33,988,316—an increase upon tbe previous issue of nearly two millions and a half. The report directed attention to the progress of tract distribu- tion in France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Rus- sia, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Palestine, the E-st Indies, Burmah, China, and other countries. The benevolent income amounted to i.7,507, while the grants wero £ 9,681—an excess of £ 2,177, The sales of the year presented an increase of £ 3,284. The total receipts were £91,466. The report concluded with an appeal fùr increlt8ed IIUppOlt in the great work in which the Society is engaged, and the openings pre- sented for the diffusion of Christian truth. Among the speakers were the Deau of Carlisle, the Rev. Canon Charnpneys, and the Rev. W. Llandell?. THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BInLE SOCIETY.—The an- nual meeting of the members ami friends of this Society was held on Wednesday sc'nnight, under the presidency of the Earl of Sliattesbury. The receipts of the year end- ing March 31, 1857, have exceeded those of any preced- ing year, excluding the special fund- The amount applicable to the general purposes of the Society is £ (JS,381 15S. :n" ar.ll the amount received for Bibles and Testaments. £ô!J,37,1 19s. 8d. making the total receipts from the ordinary sources of income £137 ,75G 14s. lid., being JL9031 4s. lOd. more than any former year. To the above must be added the sum of £!J03 2s. Id. for the Chinese New Testament Fund, making a grand total of £ 138,749 17s. 3d. The issues of the Society for the year are as follow — From the depot at home: 1,001,965; from depots abroad, 515,893 making a total of 1,517,858 copies. The total issues of the Society now amount to 32,381,759 copies. The ordinary palmentB have amounted to £132,0940 4s. 7d., and the payments on account of the Jubilee and Chinese New Testament Funds to £6,890 18s. 10d., making the total expenditure of the year to amount to f 138,985 3s. 5d. The Society is under en- gagements to the extent of £73,000. The Bishops of London, Gloucester and Bristol, Ripon, Mauritius, and Graham's Town, had kindly consented to become Vice- Presidents of the Society. The Bishop of London, the Rev. N. Hall, the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, the Bishop of Rupert's Land. the Rev. Dr. Angus, the Dean of Car- lisle (the Rev. F. Close), Bishop Smith (from Kentucky), the llev. W. Shaw (President of the Graham's Town Auxiliary Bible Society), the Rev. Dr. Pearson (of Bel- gium), the Rev. John Cunningham (of Harrow), and the Rev. Dr. Raffles addressed the meeting in moving and seconding the resolutions. THE BERLIN EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE CONFERENCE. —On Thursday morning a public breakfast took place at Freemason's-hall, in connexion with the movement for responding to the invitation to a General Conference of Evangelical Christians to be held at Berlin next Septem- ber. The chair was occupied by Sir Culling E. Eardley, Bart.; and among those present were the Earl of Craven the Dean of Canterbury the lion, and llev. Baptist \V. Noel; Right Hon. Joseph Napier, M.P.; Mr. T. Chamben; the Revs. J. B. Marsden, R. H. Herschell, T. R. Brooke, Brownlovv Maitland, J. Bost, Carr Glyn, W. Keane, J. A. Latroba, and J. Sherman, Mr. J. S. Reynolds, Mr. J. Henderson, and other ministers and gentlemen, including several from Germany, France, and Sweden.

The French Government has made a present to the Pope of 800 rifles of the most improved model. They are intended to arm a battalion of light infantry of the Papal troops. EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMOTIVE.—On Tuesday morning a locomotive engine exploded at the Edgehill station of the London and North-Western Railway, near Liverpool. The engine-driver and fireman were killed, but no parti culars of the injury have reached us. TERRIFIC THUNDEKSTOUM AT READING.—The town and neighbourhood of Reading were visited on Monday alternoon with a thunderstorm, the most terrific that has occurred since the year 1810, when great rlevastatioll was occasioned to the young crops of corn, besides fearful damage to other property. Early in the day there were signs of an approaching storm, the atmosphere was sultry and oppressive, and appeared to be greatly charged with electricity. About 5 o'clock south of the town, were heard the rumbling of distant thunder, and very shortly afterwards the storm poured out its fury over the lown. The (lashes of lightning were intensely vivid and forked, and the crashes of thunder were most awful —striking the foundations of houses and causing fearful consternation. With little cessation the rain fell in toireuts for half an hour, deluging the streets in the centre of the town, and rendering many places impassable for a long time after- wards. The electric fluid descended near the station of the Great Western Railway, damaging the end of one of the sheds, but not to so serious an extent as at first anti- cipated. The storm pursued its course northwards, and on the Oxfordshire hills a ball of fire fell which shattered some trees and did other serious damage. In the villages of Twyford and Wargrave the storm proved equally fearful. The North pinnacle of Wargrave church was struck and much injured, and the electric fluid descended to a vault beneath, making an extensive aperture through the stone-work. A large and handsome tree on the lawn of Park-place, the seat of Mr. E. Fuller Maitland, was stripped of the bark, and a number of trees between Twyford and Reading were fearfully shattered. In the latter village an inn, near the railway station, was struck at one corner and damaged, and the inmates were greatly alarmed, but providentially nothing fatal occurred. The extent of mischief by this storm has not been thoroughly ascertained, but it mutt be very great.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, (Continued from page 7). HOUSE OF COMMONS WEDNESDAY. Mr. Craufurd, in moving the second reading of the Judgments Execution, &c., Bill, which had been repeat- edly introduced and discussed in the last Parliament, ex- plained its object,namely, to remove an anomily in our law procedure, by making a judgment obtained in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United King- dom available for execution, by simple registry and noti- fication, without action, in any other such court in England, Scotian(I, or Ireland. Colonel French opposed the Bill, which, he contended, would afford facilities to Iraudultnt creditors, and he moved to defer the fecond reading for six months. This amendment wis seconded by Mr. Bland, who argaed that, although the Bill on the I';ce of it professed to give a reciprocity, the balance in reality was againat Ireland, and that the Irish community, especially the commercial part of it, would be sufferers by this change ofthetaw. Mr. Ayrton opposed the measure, which he considered to be no real law reform, lout a proceeding ill a wrong direction, since the object could be better attained by an extension of summary proce63. Mr. M'Mahoti likewise condemned the Bill, which, he said, would import into our debtor law the unjustifiable anornatiesofthe "barbarous code" of Scotland. Mr. Neate supported the second reading of the Bill, which was strongly resisted by Mr, Whiteside, who pointed out in detail what he considered would be the oppressive effects of this experiment in the change of process in Ireland. Mr. Malins thought that, though the clauses relating to judgments and decreets in Scotland, which he desired (o see expunged, were objectionable, thi8 was no H'8S011 for rejecting the Bill. The law ol England and Ireland being identical a judgment obtained in England should lie conclusive in Ireland. The Lord Advocate observed that this was not a Scotch measure, but was fOUlllled UI'°11 large and general princi- ples of jurisprudence, and the question was whethtrthe principle of the bill, which got rid of an anomaly that wa a discredit to our law, was right. If the Scotch law of judgments was bad let it be amended. Mr. Napier said, his main objection to the bill was that, whereas up to judgment there would be three se- parate jurisdictions, it was after judgment that the public hadttiegreate-st interest in maintaining the separation. The Bill, he believe. would bu injurious to commerce and productive 01 culluGÏOY1 aud freud. Mr. Hadfield and Mr. Steuart spoke in favour of the Bill. Upon a division the second reading was carried by l37 to 99. Lord R. Grosvenor moved for leave to bring in a Bill to alter the law in reference to the payment of the con- veyance of votersto the poll and the hustings' expenses by the candidates at elections, observing that his proposi- lion WLS based upon a recommendation of a committee of the House in 183-1, and was consistent with the spirit of our legislation for the last 30 years. After a few words from Mr. W. Williams and Mr. Drummond the House divided upon the motion, which was carried by 151 to 58. Mr. Whiteside moved for leave to introduce a Bill o make provision for the appointment of Kegistrars to the Masters of the Court of Chancery in Ireland; also for the sale custody of title-deeds and documents lodged in the said court and to amend the practice. He entered into various details to show the necessity and the object of the Bill- Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald, after giving certain explanations, said, he did not object to the Bill being laid upon the table. Leavewasthengiven. Captain Magan obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Grand Juries (Ireland) Act, 183/). Mr. Headlam moved for leave to introduce a Bill 10 alter and amend the laws regulating the medical profes- sion, the object and provisions of which he briefly ex- plained, the Bill being in its main provisions the same as that which had been Ltfore the last Parliament. Mr. Cowper observed that, the whole subject being in the greatest confusion and in the most anomalous condi- tion, a great iiumber of licensing bodies competing to- gether, aud incompetent persons gaining admission into the profession, legislation was called for. and be thought no one would oppose the reintroduction of this bill. Lord Elcho did not oppose the motion, but thought it would be a more practical proceeding to take up the bill of the last Parliament as amended in the select committee. If this were not done, he should move for leave to reintro- duce his bill of the last session, which protected the interest of the Universities. Mr. Headlam said, the bill guarded the rights and interests of all bodies connected with the msdical profes- sion as well 8S the interests of the public at large. Mr. Napier and Mr. Craufurd made some general ob- servations UpOIl the liubject of medical education, and after a few words from Mr. Black, leave was givento bring ill the bill. The house adjourned shortly before 5 o'clock.

BANEFUL EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SMOKING. L'Mvitig behind us the debatable ground of moderate smoking, concerning which opinions of eveiy shade and va- riety are entert dned, we now purpose to direct attention t > "omeindubit-Ltte results which follow upon excessive in- dulgence in ti e practice of smoking. Whatever doubts may- be entertained as to the desirability 01 attempting to sup- press the of tobacco, there can be but one opinion as to the abiolufe necessity of warning the public that its abuse is followe i by very get ious con«equerces. It is the duty, ton, of every one who may possess any influence over the habits of those within his own spliere lo draw a very broad line of demarcation between the use and the abuse of tobacco. Our own sphere o! influence being more extended, ,ve feel the more bound to protest against excess for op- portunity and power invi lve duties. It would tend to very little good, however, if we were to exc aim in a vasue and indefinite manner against excess, without pointing oat in what excess consists. Ejaculatory condemnation i" of as little use as ejaculatory praise; alld shows about as sma'l a knowledge of what is condemned, on the one band, as of what is lauded, on the other. There are very few person* who will d-liberately undertake to justify sensuality in general, although there are many who tens, ciously adhere to their own particular indulgence, and Compound for sins they are inclined to, By damning those they have no mind to." A somewhat similar category of persons consists of those who habitually bewail their own infirmities, denouncing their extreme general sinfulness, and let acrimoniously de- fending every particular lapse ol inora'ity. In order to pro- duce any effect upon such persons individually, it is neces- sarv to be definite and circumstantial; and, indeed, we should address ourselves to any body with very l.ttle effect unless we pointed out those circumstances of time, quantity, age, and physiological effect, which constitute the excess against which we wi-h to warn our readers. With regard to time, we bold that no one ii justified in smoking early •" the day. That mm's nervous sy-tem murt be ill a very disordered state who resorts to a pipe or a cigar in order to tranquillize himself, and induce an aptitude for the business of the commencing day. The mere fact of re- sorting to a pipe for such a purpose at once marks out a inau as an exceeder. The act is ils own condemnation. Sup- posing, ho'-vever, that it is done out of idlnne^s, or a love of the narcotic effect, apart from a feeling of necessity, we W.-IIL! H-K the mail who smokes early in the day Irom such motives, whether he is as fit for his duties after smoking, as before?—whether lie is not rather depressed, languid, and inclined to do/a—or, what is worse, tot>kuan alcoholic stimulant? Whatever good effects result from a moderate use of tobacco it is not required in the early part of the day. Utiles s a man be the victim of pernicious habits, he cer- tainly requires neither a sedative nor a stimulant in the morning, beyond breakfast. No need can then exist for some agent to ward off or subdue the sense of muscular fa- tigue which follows a day's wo:k. At this period of the tweuty-four hours nothing is required to make the wheels of life move more rapidly or regularly. There can be no nece-siiy for a drug to "fix the products of nutrition, at a time when a person has just arisen from seven, eight, cr nine hours' sleep and physical reparation. Iu short, to smoke early in trie day means one of three tliiiigs-slavery to the habit, premeditated sensuality, or disease; and each of tlie-e signifies EXCESS. Then as to the qluIltity consumed. This will, of course, depend upon the kind of tobacco, and upon the idiosyncracy of the smoker. But taking persous of average constitution, and supposing the particular sample of tobicco to be neither as narcotic as If Cavendish," nor a strong Havannab, nor as inert as "Turkish," but a moderate specimen of the plant —what constitutes excess We know of ail instance iu which a young man smoked seventeen consecutive pipes, and then died with all the symptoms of poisoning by tobacco. This was undoubted excess. We know another instauce in which a clergyman of the Church of England smoked him- self gradually into a state of fatuity. The pipe was roldom out of hi, mouth from morning till night. But the great criterion of excess consists iu the effect produce 1. Few persons, we believe, can consume more than one or two cigars daily, or smoke more than the same number of pipes per diem, without being sensibly affected either at the time, or on rising the next morning. We believe that an average constitution will not bear a larger dose of tobacco than this with impunity. Anything beyond this is, in our opinion, excess, and deserves the strongest reprobation. Any good effects which can by any possibility be produced by tobacco will certainly be produced by the allowance we have indi- cated, aud any indulgence beyond this quantity will, we believe, surely and certainly inflict upon the besotted smoker a loug catalogue of physical and mental diqorderp. Age is another of the circumstances which requires con- sideration in connexion with this question. When may the habit, in moderation, be salely allowed ? Certainly not before manhood. Certaiiily not before the full development of the individual has been attained. Assuredly not before the habits and character of the man have been formed. Whatever collateral objections may be urged against smoking, such as the usual, vve do uot say necessary, accom- paoiments of alcoholic stimuli, the habit of resorting to cigar shops, divans, &c., apply with double-wilh fearful force, to youthful smoking. We do not at all overstate the case, when we say that hundreds of loolish boys owe their temporal ruin to habits aud associations acquired in the coutsa of their apprenticeship to the art of smoking. The younger the smoker the more danger does he stand of suf- fering from these deteriorating influences. The powerful depressant requires, in youth, the counteracting influence of the powertul excitant. The influence of immoral asso- ciations, and the solicitations to, and opportunities of, vice, which surround the youthful devotee to tobacco, are hardly to be lesisted by the feeble will, the plastic temper, and the warm passions of juvenescence. To the young man, and more especially to the student in medicine, in whom vve are peculiarly interested, we would say—" Shun the habit of smoking as you would shun self-destruction. As ycu Value your physical and moral well-being, avoid a habit, which for you can offer no advantage to compare with the dangers you must incur by using it. The bright hope- fulness of youth, with its undaunted aspirations, and its ardent impulses, require no halo of smoke through which to look forward upon the approaching struggle of life. Your manner of living must be bad indeed, if you require any- thing further thau-sleep, exercise, and diet, to fit you for your duties as students. Your minds must be emasculated, indeed, and arrant cowards must you be, totally unfit for the stern realities of what is to come, if you cannot face your present few and comparatively small anxieties, without having recourse to the daily use of narcotics." We spcak from a large experience of medical students, when we say that the intemperate smoker is the intemperate indulger, as a general rule, in all that partakes of the nature of sensual gratification. It matters not that many may, and do, pass through the ordeal unscathed. Vast numbers do not. List. less minds and languid bodies, slakeless thirst and shaking hand*, deli'ium tremens, madness—and death-we have distillctlyand surely seen to follow the unhallowed indul.. gence, iu youths who begun their studies with bright pro- mise of success, with fair characters, and honest purposes. It is not open to impressible and wavering youth to say,— "Thus far will I go, and no further. To commence the downward course is too easy-to retrace the false steps is too difllcult; the risk is too great, the advantage too infini- tessirnally small, the interests at stake too supremely impor- tant, to allow the ttudent once to begin. It is no sign of manliness to toy with danger, and sport upon the brink of a precipice. The impulse which may pluuge the unreflecting boy into an abyss of ruin may come, he knows not when. nor with bow great force; let him prove his strength by avoiding, not by courting danger. n Let us inquire further, whether the physiological effects produced in the course of smoking afford any indications as to what constitutes exceas. Profuse salivation can hardly be compatible with the ilea of moderation. Perpetual irritation of a mucous membrane can hardly be kept up with im- punity. A large proportion of smokers must be aware that heartburn, eructations, and apepsia, surely follow one or two pipes, or one or two cigars, beyond the wonted allowance. The same excess is certainly followed by loss of appetite, and especially by loss of morning relish for food. Let the pulse be watched. Does it not decline in frequency below the normal standard, and is it not irregular after a very slight excess? Do not palpitation and precordial anxiety much oftener annoy the habitual smokei than he would exactly like to confess J Is not the inclination to seek the recum- bent posture, or to respire cold air, of frequent occurrence, when the smoker would hardly like to own it? Do not giddiness, dimness of vision, tremors, nausea, clammy per. spirations, and tinnitus aurium, frequently occur in the course of a long smoke ? And do not each and all of these effects clearly and irrefragably establish excess in every case ? We afHrm most unhesitatingly that, setting aside idiosyncrasies, there is hardly an habitual smoker to excess who cannot be condemned by the most casual observation of his bodily functions. And the further we move upwards in the social gamut, the more striking will be the physiologi- cal evidences of excess in any individual case. It is almost unnecessary to make a separate inquiry into the pathological conditions which follow upon excessive smoking. They hive been referred to by the way. More- over, abundant evidence has been adduced in the correspon- dence in our columns of the gigantic evils which attend the abuse of tobacco. Let it be granted at once that there is such a thing as moderate smoking, and let it be admitted that we caunot accuse tobacco of being guilty of the whole of Cuilen's Nosology," it still remains that there is a long catalogue of frightful penalties attached to its abuse. Let us briefly recapitulate 1. To smoke early in the day is excest. 2. As people are generally constituted, to smoke more than one or two pipes of tobacco, or oue or two cigars daily, is excess. 3. Youthful indulgence in smoking is excest. 4- There are physiologic*! indications which, occurring in any individual case, are criteria of excess. "'17' 1"1. We must earnestly desire to see itie naoit or smoking diminish, and we entreat the youth of this country to aban- don it altogether. Let them lay our advice to heart. Let them give up a dubious pleasure for a certain good. Tea years hence we shall receive their thanks.-Lancel. —,— ♦ Emigrants to the UNITED STATES and CANADA, by taking the Through Tickets of the Grand Trunk Railway Company, are conveyed from their port ot landing to their destination in less than one quarter of the time taken by Steam Boats; and at about the same rate of fares. Thus a passenger can reach Chicago from Quebec, a distance of 1,007 miles, in less than '21 days, whereas by water it is nearly double the distance and requires Irom 12 to 15 days, with five or six changes of Steam Boats, during all of which tbey are exposed to the arts and machinations of designing persons, whose sole means of living is by their plunder. The Steam Boats, especially when crowded, scarcely afford protection from the weather. Passengers with Through Tickets are allowed the same amount of luggage, FREE, as on board the ship, and it is conveyed from the Ship to the Railway Station without any charge whatever. The Agents of the Grand Tiunk Company will give Mechanics, Artisans, and Labourers, on their arrival, the best information in respect to employment, the places at which it is to be had, and the rates of wages. Intending Emigrants can have sent to them, FREE, a Tariff of passenger rates; and all their inquiries with re- gard to the sailing of both steamers and sailing ships Scale of Dietary, &c., will be immediately answered on application, either personally or by letter, at the offices o: the Grand Trunk Company, gl, Old Broad-otreetp Loadi

ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY. On Wednesday afternoon the 203d Anniversary Festival of this society was celebrated by diviue service in St. Paul's Cathedral and the usual banquet in the evening at the Merchant Tailors'-hall. The society was incor- porated by Royal charter nearly 200 years ago, and from the circumstance that its great promoters were all sons of clergymen it derived its now well-known name. At present the society annually assists by pensions and dona- tions no less than 1,200 persons. To clergymen dis- abled by age or sickness, or in necessitous circumstances from causes over which they have no control, pecuniary assistance is afforded temporarily or periodically a" the case requires. lo the widows and aged single daughters of clergymen pensions aie granted of from £10 tof35 per annum, while for the children of clergymen donations are given for their education apprenticeship, and outfit in life. During the past year no less than £16,OUO have been distributed among these several classes, but un- fortunately so numerous are the applicants that the funds permit only of very limited and inadequate grants. Two separate sums of £1,000 Consols have recently been transferred to the society by a kind friend for the purpose of adding £5. annually to the pensions of 12 clergymen s widows, with preference to the more aged and necessitous, the intention of the donor being, by means of his own munificent gif.s and the benefactions which they may elicit from others, to raise some of the pensions of the corporation to an amount which, if not in itself fully adequate in all cases to the support of the pensioners, will be a substantial provision against want or privation. The customary service in the cathedral was moft nume- rously attended by the friends and supporters of the so- eiety. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, at. tended by his chaplainst arrived at a o'clock. The Hishop of London, with his chaplains, and the Bishops of Wor- cester, Durham, Litchfield, Llandaff, and Lincoln were waiting to receive his Grace at St. Stephen's Chapel, with the Rigbt Hon. the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs of Lon- don and Middlesex in their robes of office. A procession was formed, headed by the city marshals, vergers of the cathedral, and 100 members of the four choirs of Her Majesty s Chapel Royal, Westminster Abbey, St. George' Windsor, and St. Pauls, who moved to the chapel. The Primate occupied the stall of the Bishop ,of London, who proceeded to his epis- copal throne; the Lord Mayor and members of the corporation taking the seats on the north side, and the prelates the stalls on the west. The lessons were read by the Rev. J. V. Povah, one of the minor canons and the very Rev. H. Alford, Dean of Canterbury, preached a most appropriate and impressivo sermon on the text from St. Luke—" The labourer is worthy of his hire." At the conclusion of the service a collection was made at the doors in aid of the funds of the society, amounting toJEHR. In the evening the festival took place at six o'clock in the hall, which was most tastefully decorated for the oc- casion. The Lord Mayor presided, and there were also present the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Llandaff, Salisbury, Lincoln, Durham, St. Asaph, Winchester, llangor, and Litchfield, Lord Wensleydale, Mr. Baron Channel, the Sheriffs of London and Middle- sex, the Masters and Wardens of the Merchant Tailors' Company, Dr. Jelf, and most of the principal metropolitan clergy. In all nearly 200 guests sat down to the dinner, which was excellent and well served. In acknowledging the toast, "The President of the Society," The Most Rev. the Primate bripfly expressed the deep inteipst which himself and his rev. brethren took in the welfare of the society, which aided in; relieving the struggles of their poorer fellow-labourers, whose career in the church had not been attended with worldly pros- perity. The means at the disposal of the society unfor- tunately did not permit it to make large grants to any but, small as was the sum, it made all the difference to its recipients between comfort and indigence. During the past year 237 clergymen were thus assisted, the total sum granted having been £3,696. Referring to tha report, his Grace went on to say that the number of widows who were pensioners of the society was 4>05, and of daughter pensioners 307; and jB805 had been granted iu extra doutions above the pensions to 1GI ladies of both classes. During the same period 141 children had either been ap- appreliced, or assisted with outfits or educational grants, at an outlay of £ 2389. From all sources the 12 months' income of the charity had been £ 28,500, while the expenditure fell short of that sum by £1852, which remained a balance in the hands of the treasurer. The hcnlths of the Lord Mayor, the Bishop of London, and ilie other Bishops present, were drunk with much en- thusiasm during the course of the evening. A most liberal contribution was made to the funds of the charity, amounting to jE3270, while donations and legacies, in- cluding a gift and legacy from Miss Charlotte Beaumont were anuounced amid great applause, as amounting in all to about JE14,000, of which sum Miss Beaumont's legacy alone was £ 12,000. The total amount, therefore, either received at the dinner or announced as having been gained by the society this year was upwards of £17,000, a result in every way gratifying, and one worthy even the merists of this most excellent and much needed society.

EPITOME OF NEWS. The final close of the accounts of the Nightingale Fund has been postponed to the 20th of June. '1 he Leicester and Hitchin line of railway was opened throughout for passenger traffic, on Thursday last. The plans for the new Government offices, &c., are now open to the public at Westminster Hall. Dr. Radcliffe is elected physician, and Dr. R. Rey- nolds, assistant-physician, to the Westminster Hospital We regret to learn that Sir Andrew Agnew, M.P., has been very seriously ill. The income of the Church Missionary Society last year wasfl36,000. The income of the Weslsyan Missionary Society last year was £ 119,205 8s. 2(1. It is said that there were no less than twenty-eight M.P.'s at Mr. Spurgeon's, last Sunday. Alfred de Mussel, an original and popular French poet, who was in the prime of life, has just died. Mr. lite, M.P. for Bath, has given £20 to Lady Franklin's final Arctic-search fund. A fine specimen of the common American racoon was caught on the banks of the Solway, on Tuesday last. A rather heavy fall in the price of wine has taken place in Paris during the last few days. Prince Alfred of England has arrived at Gotha. The visit of the young Prince will be but short. A monument to the memory of the late Hugh Mil- ler is to be erected in his native town of Cromarty. Dr. Snow, it is said, received a cheque for £100 for his recent attendance with chloroform on the Queen. A lengthy memorial to the Premier is on foot in Suffolk, praying for a division of the diocese of Norwich. In Easter Term the number of candidates for ad- mission as attorneys was Ill, of which 88 passed and 23were"phcked." Lieutenant-General-Ashbuniham left Suez on the 21st ult., by the Peninsular and Oriental Company steamer Ava, on his way to China. The Avenir d'Anvers states that an Antwerp lady has just given birth to her 29th child, and both the mother and little No. 29 are doing well. It has been estimated that the total amount of gold in use in the world, in 1843, was jMOO,000,000 ster- ling.—Manchester Guardian. The navigation at Cronstadt opened on Monday, and two steamers sailed, respectively, for Hull and London. A cabinet council was held on Saturday at the offi- cial residence of the tirst Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. The stay of the Queen at Osborne will be for a longer period than was at first intended, moi.t proba- bly for about three weeks.—Court Journal. Out of 119 candidates for the moderation pass at the Oxford examination just concluded, 30 'were plueked." Dr. Odling, of Guys, will shortly give a course of lectures on Chemistry" to the scholars of Winches- ter school. New Monthly Tickets" to Mr. Spurgeon's lectures on Sunday evenings are now kept on sale at the music shops. Mr. M. Arnold has been elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford, by a majority of eighty-five over the Rev. J. F. Bode. Cardinal Wiseman is about to lecture at the Mary- lebone Institution, On the tnsnner of Colltcting and Arranging a National Gallery of Paintings." The Financial Reform Society of Liverpool are free traders in principle, but in practice they exemplify the old monopoly doctrines. The two learned societies of the Inner and Middle Temples have pronounced in favour of compulsory examination for all students aspiring to a call to the bar. The number of lawyers in the new Parliament is fifty-seven, of which seven are solicitors, and the rest Queen's counsel, serjeants-at-law, and barristers. The first appearance of Miss Kemble as a concert singer will take place in the course of the present musical season. The War Office is busied at present putting the coast defences of Scotland into repair and adding to their strength. A woman named Knight, residing near the parish church at Rotherhithe, has murdered her son and committed suicide. Sir Robert Peel has resigned his office as Lord of the Admiralty. His brother, Mr. F. Pee), will, it is said, be sworn of the Privy Council. Dr. Pusey is in a very weak state of health. His physicians have given distinct orders that he should keep entirely quiet for the next three months. Nearly 100 bodies have been recovered from the Lundhill pit, but it is expected the entire clearing will not be completed for another fortnight. The gaol authorities at Bristol lately detected a con- spiracy for the escape of a notorious burglar; £100 had been subscribed by tbe swell mob. It has been deemed advisable by the authorities that the troops in garrison at Pembroke should be encamped this summer at a short distance from the dockyard. Thirteen slaves were manumitted a few days ago under the will of A; Phillips, deceased, of Kentucky, the widow presenting each of them with 115 dollars. On the night of the census there were 28,598 hus- bands whose wives were not with them, and 39,231 wives mourning their absent lords. During the last quarter 26,041,600 eggs were brought into this country, or nearly an egg-a-piece for the whole population. The Tabernacle, Tottenliam-court-road, known to many as Whitfield's Chapel, and which was nearly destroyed by fire some time since, is being restored. Sir Joseph and Lady Bailey have arrived in Bel- grave-square, from Glanusk Park, Breconshire, for the season. We regret to learn that Bishop B'oomfield has been seized with another attack of the alarming malady which occasioned his retirement. The Marquis of Ailesbury has sent jEtOO to the Mayor of Salisbury towards the Royal Agricultural Society's funds. It is contemplated to establish a grand summer ex- hibition of poultry and pigeons in Gloucester, upwards of £50Q to be given away in prizes. Lord Panmure has granted a Russian iron gun for Bridgewater town, to be preserved as a trophy of the Russian war. Earl Fitzhardinge is gradually recovering from his late illness, and is able to leave his bedroom for a short perioddaily. A beautiful carved oak communion-table has been presented to the church of Dorchester, by the Lord Biihop of the diocese. The number of servants employed by the post-office in the united kingdom, from the postmaster-general down to the letter-carrier, is 23,130. From Manchester we learn that some 8000 indivi- duals visited the Art Treasures Exhibition after the opening ceremony. The number of trees about to be cut down in Dart- moor Chase Woods, is stated to be 16,000, some of which have stood 300 years. Lola Montes, is said by the St. Louis Leader to he lying dangerously ill in that city, with but a slight prospect of recovery. The new organ for Wells Cathedral, which weighs twelve tons, arrived in that city last week. Its erec- tioll 's expected to be completed in about a month. The Rev. T. G. Jatnes, vicar of Bridgwater, has exchanged livings with the Rev. M. F. Sadler, in- cumbent of Hanover Chapel, llegent-street, London. We regret to hear that the Rev. Mr. Conybeare, le author of the well-known article on Church arties, 13 §0 seriously ill at Weymouth that he is not expected to recover. It is with deep regret we record the very serious illness of the Duke of Devonshire. In the event of his death the title and vast estates descend to his cousin, the Earl of Burlington. Lord Denman has consented to become a Patron of the Midland Association for the surpression of Climbing Boys, and has forwarded a check of £5, in aid of its funds. A marriage will shortly take place between the Hon. Andrew Buchanan, our minister at Copenhagen, and the Hon. Georgina Stuart, sister of the present Lord Blantyre. The whole of the line, plant, and materials of the Electric Telegraph Company of Ireland are advertised for sale by private contract, by order of the official manager. Admiral Hamelin, Secretary of State for the navy and the colonies, and a senator of France, has been appointed by the Queen, a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. There is a rumour in clerical circles that the clergy of the Scotch Episcopal Church, diocese of Aberdeen, intend to invite the Hev. Sir Francis Gore Ouseley, Bart., to accept the episcopal supervision of the see. We learn from a letter in the Union that Mr. Lid- dell, in obedience to a command from the Bishop, has removed the crosses from the altars of St. Paul's and St. Barnabas. The Law Times says that the health of the Solicitor- General has been so shaken by his recent severe ill- ness that there is little or no probability of his being permitted to return to the active duties of his office. VILLANOUS ATTEMPT AT MURDER.—A navvy named John Hickes, employed on the Central Somerset Railway, brtween Highbridge and Burnham, and residing at Bar- row, a village near the latter place, having spent an hour or two with his fellow-workmen after his day's work, went home with two of them, about nine o'clock. His com- panions left him at the door of his cottage, but in a fel" minutes afterwards heard a cry of murder, and saw Hiekes running towards them and covered with blood. He had received a tremendous cut in the throat, and sta- ted that on his entering his cottage, his wife had advanced towards him, as if to kiss him," and inflicted the gash with a razor. The man's wife, it was found, had been for two days engaged ill packing up the furniture, and had given out among the neighbours that they were going to leave. In the garden a hole was discovered, having every every appearance of a grave, and a quantity of quick- lime by the side of it. She was taken before the magis- trates on Monday, and committed for trial. AMONG THE SAVAGES.-—'The Springfield (Illinois) Re- publican says that a Mr. William Bailey called upon the editor and related his adventures among the Indians. About 1M month. ago he was travelling, with nine men, from the Gulf of Mexico, when the Indians stole their mules. The travellers went in pursuit, and overtook si* Indians, whom they kitted but they themselves were sur- rounded by a body of Indians, who killed all but Bailey* Him they stripped and bound hand and foot on a pony. After 11 day's hard riding they reached an encampment. After recruiting for a week the Indians went out on robbing expedition, and on the Santa F4 road attacked a baggage train, and killed every person with it. Their prisoner was kept strictly confined during the day, and was tied up every night with pieces of raw hide, by the hands, to the limb of a tree, as high up as he could reach and stand on the ground. During the day he was allowed to lie down and sleep a few hours. During the time Mr. Bailey was with them they went on five robbing expeditions, taking him always along with him. The last merchant train they robbed they took two men pri- soners, who had bravely defended themselves till their weapons were all discharged, and who had killed 12 of the red skins. These two men were then taken and tied to a stake and skinned alive. Mr. Biiley was placed close to them, and compelled to witness this horrible scene. Every time he would close his eyes they would punch him with spears and bayonets until he would open them, and look. on this picture of revolting horror. They then took the skin, reeking with warm blood, ami slapped him around the face with it, covering him with blood, and telling him if he triod to escape this should be his fate. One of their excursions was against the United States' mail waggons. They killed the five men with them, tore open the letters, got out the money, and, after cutting out the pictures from the bank-bills, threw them away. They kept all the newspapers that had pictures in them, throwing everything away that was not embel- lished. For three nights after this they did not tie him up, but kept guard over him The third night they had a big war dance, and in the excitement forgot Mr. Bailey. While dancing around their fire in front of the tent he crawled out under the back of the tent, seised oue of the ponies, and escaped. He was soon missed, and was followed for five days. At the expiration of that time they came so close on him that they fired at him, which obliged him to leave his horse and take to the mountains. Fortunately, he found a small cave, just large enough to crawl into, in which place he remained for a day and a half, the Indians being so near him that he could hear their footsteps as tbey searched for him. He remained in this position until he was assured his pursuers had left, when he emerged from his concealment, and made straight shoot for the Kichapoo settlement, about 600 miles distant. In about a month he reached the longed-for point. While with the Camanches he was fed 011 raw horseflesh. The disturbances in the south of China have occasioned the prices of tea at the remote northern port of Shanghai to rule higher; but Horniman and Co., tea importers, London, forewarned, have secured increased quantities, enabling them to give consumers the full benefit of the reduced duty. It is superfluous to descant on the excel- leoce of these pure teas, the fact being well known if every town in the kingdom and as the supply is obtain* able only in sealed packets from tbe authorised agents, the desideratum of their being alwys equal is effectually se- cured to the consumer. They combine the greatest eco- nomy with paramount excellence and purity. The reduced prices and list of agents for this district lollow Horniman's Pure Tea advertisement in this day's paper. .A6

PORT OF ø CARDIFF. Dury PA!D EX WAREHOUSE.—May 7, cask of brandy* case of Geneva, W. Nell; Bth, 2 casks of brandy, Hunt "c Hardess; llth, 4 chests of tea, Binhop &Bitchelor; 12th, cask of rum, Hunt & Hard ess; 14ib, hhd. brandy, Thomas Williams; cask of rum, J. Biggs; puncheon of rum, Wro. Philips. DUTY PAID ON IMPORTATION.—May 8, case of currant', Thomas IIoskin 9th, 200 loads sleepers, Batcbelor Bros. 41' chests tea, Cook; quaintity of ship timber, Tillipsea & Hoist; 12ui, 200 loads of sleeper wood, Batcbelor Bros. IMPORTS.—May 9th, Catherina, from Maas, with 148 maet*, 868 spars, 130 piees of deal, Tillipnen & Hulst; Elec- trie Flash, from Coruuna, with 60 oxen, for Cartel and Crannas. Vessels Loading foreign from May 7 to 13, inclusive. Maas, 168, Veroline, Rotterdam.Cezimpra, 93. Uran, Oporto.L'Evperance. 275, Durand. Ascension.Trente- raouzin, 80, Olize, Nantes. Anne Marie, 77, Largonet, Nantes.Perte, 78, Codet, Nautes.St. Louis, 204. Dore, Nantes.Pirate, 461, Coungliv, Malta. Teresina, 42 t Lafferto, Malta. Mary Ann Webb, 350, Marie, Malta. Charlotte, 350, Chiozza, Gelloa.Saxo Von Heel, 560, Dietz, Singapore. Pantaloon, 270, Banynseel, Cape of Goou Hope Princess Sophia, 500, Hoffman, Hong Kong. Veanne, 204, Jappartiers, Ceylon.Mary & Adeline, 63" Falep, Fernandina.Geo. F. Patten, 847, Mitchell, Fernan^ dina.Clio, 513, Hayne?, Quebec Aristides, 2fi9, Hon» Cadiz.Equator, ,11)1), Assandre, Cape of Good Mope. British Qu. en. 107, Dutf, Scilly.Vice Admiral Gaurles, 50-), Lind, Singapore. Enfans Cheris,59, Mayon, Nantes. Nouvelle Union, 57, Villaire, Nantes. Julis, 12G, Coflornt. Nantes. Henri Francois, 148, Idony, Alexandria. Ange^5 Melanie, 78, BHon, Bavse Indre.Berthe & Laurie, Bou, Bilboa.Vigilaet, 247. Buffet, Marsfiites.Adettne Felix,39, Gamier, Nantes.Agenoria, 75, Mathews, Ham- burg.Minerva, 75, Jenkins, Aticante.Trenton Genoise, 4-8, Viccioni, Alexandi ia. tigitto Greek, 405, Maoroneo, Alexandria.Jacob,119, Lancelot, Nantes. Arched Alliance, 89, Holgand, Nantes.Otto, 61, Taber, Bremerhaven.Es. perience, 79, Divansant, Bordeaux ..Alexander, 97. Pterner, Bordeaux.. Kate, 3G, House, Guernsey Waterford, J22, Beale, Havre.Corhelis Gipø, 649, Alkemade, Bombay. Marie Joseph, 77, Guiiias, Cbarente.Elizi, 76, Runnc/f Cadiz.Caroline, 723, Best. Singapore.Cornelio Heulletta. 874. Mey, Singapore.Fikiiant. 69, Closler, Malaga. Bonn Mere, 71, Brous-aid, Nantes.Atbstros. 136, Oriionuean, Nautes.Jeuue Adele, 81, Fordel, Nantes.Neuba. 49, Steny, Barcelona.Berth, 104, Bernard, Havre.Pbosbtis 513, Beck, Singapore.Sarah, 133, Wilson, Corfu.Ottolina 700, Prange, Hong Kong.Tague. 700, Gubol, Hong Konlt .Triton, 108, Nagel, Bremcrhaven. Margaritta. 7b, Winter Amsterdam.Leonic, 40, Gellinen, Etd.Susanpa, 94, Uffan, Barcelona Voltiguer, 38, Reliquet, Pornie." Independant, 196, Poiilevon, Goree.Cleiuant 131, Durand, Nantes.Philos, 143 Allaiu, Nugtes.Jan Jacob,63, Schaap, Amsterdam. Twee Gezusters, 554, Keuze Hamp, lloofS Zwerver, 710, Benoning, Hong Hong.Anna &: Elisa; 801, Iusk, Singapore.Courier, 300, liolgang, Hio Janeiro. Anacreon, 52, Danian, Nantes.Supelior, 377, Bevan, Ascension Anne Catherine, 470, Darfour, Mauritius." Francais, 246, Ledemile, Marseilles Lodoix, Guilliamf* Nantes Maria Caroline, 77, Goulieu, N1nteS.Mlr;e Rose, 33, Laborn, Nantes Jeune Austerlitz 67, Adel ø, Basse Indre Maria Burris, 21'2, Menery, Salonica." Allandale, 285. Spouse, Cronstadt.Amphion, 350, BunK* Marseilles.Achilles, ISD, Haase, Constantinople.Ai'n,e' 300, Parker, Cape Town.Brois Soeurs, 381, Agney. .Carlsbad, 325, Fdrrans, Hio Janeiro Elizabeth, Temsa, Quebec.Union. 150, Beck, St. Thoni8S.Descovic 420, Megovetich. Alexandri.Guisipinn, 202, Massa, Gell?j .Ernesiina, 205, Franiga, Genoa.Oreste, 320, Tancreu » Alexandria.Eugemia, 190, Ruguison, Palermo.SpecuU" 82, Julius, Bremen.Itepartem, 60, Refre, Newport.Araf? • 78, Ertrand, Nantes.Cleaner, 1G7, Dyson, Leglwfu.Gu.. tnve, 140, Boyer, Nautes Bouttnilarwaard, 702, LOos: Bombay, Experience, 84, Davansard, Bordeaux.Theodorc Theodora Mathilde, 499, Boelhowwer, Singapore.Equ.Jtor: 617, Appel, Hong Kong.Hedeg Sophia, 403, Nernst, B* celona.Marie, 68, Auensen, Lisbon Vessels Sailed Foreign, from May 6 to 12, inclusive. Qjartus, Attard, Milta Luigia, Cariolisb, Venic^^ Leonidas, Bommelaen, Algiers. litoile de la Mer, ^^tD|e'j Calcutta.Catherina, Medio, Atliens.Albert, Rous, NjP .Aimnble Famille, Larguet, Nantes. Volpe, Bozza, .Plantin, Fridden, ltio Janeiro Sans Sarnia, re, Monte Video Oitavia, Conogliiri, Genoa Bald4883 Randriuh, Alexandria.Parana, Green, Jersey.Provide'1^ Cerpurrs, Genoa.Tritoue, llegusin, Constantinople. Everaliue, Rotterdam.Hellespont, Itennard, New Portland, Scriven, Tunis Alma. Chenard, Calcu"3"' Nancy, Coles, Havre Ange Garden, Desire, Ca'cUt Atexauder Hall, Wallace, Caldara.Transit, Patk, ^eo0:ti, Nuovo Corriere, Coucoi, Alexandria.. Regolo, Beng1' Genoa.Mary Ann Webb.Domaria,Malta.Neva,Ahl3tl. #f Alexandria. Maggie, liuclen, Hong Kong. Tainpke, Hamburg.Ranee, Bru.ial, Marseilles. Caster, Havre.Francisco, Antola, Genoa.Alma, St. Andrews.Teresina, Laferla, Malta.Emerald, Carthageiia. VVilhelmina, Schmidt, Bremen.Clara, Stettin.Naiad, Davis, Valencia.Cygnet, Lees, M»<al St. Joseph, Badet, Marseilles. Victoria, Donkin, B^yr Aje*- Caroline, Aprre, Alicante Niesle, Commanovicb, e„, andr'ta Georceanis, Dedero, Malta Truce Cor° Tr0iig Kreije, Hong Kong.United States, Blanchard, Hong gejg» .Bernard Bartog, Aazumkel, Hong Kong.Stirling,L. >ory, wick, Bordeaux. Emperor, Cardy, Jersey. Jeune a|Jj Rio, Dieppe.Crystal Palace, Davies, Dordt.Lou»' Anna, Ordrouueaux, Genoa. Anne, Griffiths, jja^- Nouvelle Union, Allaire, Nantes.Eliza, Ruinney, Prode, Cattarinich, Malta. Adris, Milatonich, Ernesto, Guirandinah, Marseilles..Otto, Faber, |r,eabori» Agenoria, Mathews, Hamburg.Little Nell, Owen, PORT OF SWANSEA. Vessels arrived, from May 8 to May 1J* CubS." Edwards, Bedford, Valparaiso.Tautsey, Frederick Staug, Soutum^ Bergen Lordus, LeIUIÙcJ, Gibraltar.Chedwick, Jeffery, Honfleur.. Julictt«» Granville.B.illina, Laurence, Paimbeauf Departures, from May 9 to M^ieswor1.'1' Squall, Le Bestjue, Cherbourg.Sir «oUlequ'a Bennett, Gibraltar. Le Heroridelie, Michana, .Auguste, Morfur, Nantes.Taymouth, poltor, Rouer- .Five Brothers, Sullivan, Lilcombe,Ashley, dam,Henrietta, Davies, Valparaiso