The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

TWO IDEAS OF ARMY REFORM. Mr WATKIN WILLIAMS, who has been addressing his constituents at Wrexham, and Mr OSBORNE MORGAN, at Abergele, both referred to the necessity of military reform, and brought forward arguments whose force nobody can fail to apprehend. We have an army that costs us double the sum which Prussia spends upon her military forces, and yet is declared to be inefficient! We lavish 214,000,000 or JE15 000,000 every year upon our troops, but only a comparatively small proportion of that vast sum goes di- rectly to promote the fighting power of the British soldier The remainder is spent in supporting wealthy sineciirists, or "muddled away," nobody seems to know how. This is nothing new. For years and years the patient British public has grumbled and paid, shaken one fist at the tax-collector, but put the other in its much attacked pocket to pull the money out, for the support of those glorious forces over which so much oratory is ex- pended after dinner. But we are all beginning to grow a little impatient of the easy eloquence which describes the army as invincible, and is never tired of assuring us that England is great, glorious, and free." We want to know, first of all, that the army is really able to secure our greatness and freedom against attnck; and next, whether it is necessary to spend £ 15,000,000 for the sake of the glory, &c. Cannot the greatness, and glory, and freedom, all be had for something like half the money? There are ardent patriots who will look upon these ques- tions as mean and un-English—whatever that may be; but we intend to press them, in spite of the criticism of those who appear to think that extravagance and efficiency are convertible terms, and that the military organization of this country can only be improved in one direction, that of an increase in money and men. There are two reasons for the clamour which we have lately heard against Mr CARDWELL. The continental war, by proving the mar- velous capacity of the Prussian army, has naturally di- rected public attention in this country to our own short- comings but there is another reason which it is impossible to overlook. The conservatives, long at a loss for a good party cry, think they have found one at last, and shriek at the top of their burly voices at the liberal government in general, and poor Mr CARDWELL in particular, because they have carried on the same system which conservative ministers carried on before them A hollower cry was never raised, and the public is not quite so gullible as to be caught by it. Why, these gallant colonels and con- servative squires, who arc making so much fuss about the inefficiency of the army, are the very men who will bend all their energies to op- pose the only reform which, without a perfectly ap- palling expenditure, can make our military forces capable of defending our liberty and upholding our rights We are not going to apologize for Mr CARDWELL. He has been abused unjustly, but that is the common fate of liberal ministers at the hands of conservative critics, and the writer who noticed all the attacks upon Mr GLADSTONE, for instance, except to laugh at them, would be laughed at himself in his turn. But Mr CARDWELL, although quite equal to his conservative predecessors in the same office, ciuld easily be replaced by an abler and more useful minister, and we shall be glad if the PREMIER sees fit to call to that important post a man of courage and talent—like Mr TREVELYAN, for instance, startling as the idea may be to some of our eminently respectable readers. For what we want is a radical reform of the present system, a re- form which, we are afraid, Mr CARDWELL, painstaking and conscientious as he may be, has neither the pluck nor the originality to accomplish. The reform, however, must begin from below. It is foolish to blame Mr GLADSTONE'S Government for not effecting a military revolution, as long as the country is silent. It is the function of Government to carry out the wishes of the country; and as soon as the desire for a real reform is felt and expressed by the public, Mr GLADSTONE may be trusted to accomplish it thoroughly and satisfactorily. It is encouraging, there- fore, to observe a disposition to give the question of military reform a prominent place in the liberal pro- gramme. Mr TREVELYAN'S addresses in various parts of the country are exciting public opinion; the leading liberal organs are endorsing his demands for reform, de- mands which come with all the weight of official experience and mature judgment; and liberal members, like Mr IV, ILLYAIII; and Mr MORGAN, are following in the same line. The abuses are so great, and the interests at stake so immense, that the campaign, if it is promoted with any energy, will be a short one. It is true that the old system has many powerful friends-a prince of the royal blood at the head of them, and a host of official personages who will not let their cherished privileges disappear without a disperate struggle. But the people can easily be persuaded—because it is true—that they are shamefully taxed for an army which might be much more efficient at much less cost; and when once that idea is fixed in the' British mind, the opposition of the conservative party will be as powerless as it was in the face of the corn-law agitation. The purchase system must disappear, so that we may have the ablest officers which the Ration can produce and, above all, the Horse Guards —that citadel of sinecures, which draws its millions from the nation and gives back inefficiency in return !-must be swept away. That is the only real reform and when conservative alarmists call for an increase of the force3 upon the present basis, let them be asked why there are 10,000 officers for our little army, while 12,600 are sufficient for 600,000 Prussians? Why we pay £ 365,000 a year, in half pay; t73,000 to generals, most of whom do no ser- vice 2162,500 to useless honorary colonels; and R40,000 to equally useless army agents ? And more than all this, why we pay R15,000,000 a year, and after all, get the work badly done? Some people want compulsory service as it exists in Prussia, but that great evil, we trust, will never come and some clamour for an immense standing army, which is more often the cause than the preventive of war. In neither of these directions does the true reform lie. A standing army, unfortunately, we must have, and one sufficient to maintain our position as a great, free tate but it should bear proportion to the necessities of England, and not of Prussia, as some people seem to sup- pose; and the reserve forces, the militia and volunteers, and perhaps even the well-abused yeomanry, must be utilized far better than they are now. All this is involved in the reform of the army but the two watchwords with which we must commence the campaign—a campaign upon which so much depends-are Death to the Purchase System, and an End to the Horse Guards. Oswestry Advertizer.

STEEPLECHASE FIXTURES. Midland Counties,Feb. 7, 8 Carmarthen Eeb. 7, 9 Birmingham Eeb. 14, 15 Moreton-in-Marsh Feb. 23 Basclmrch March 7 Liverpool March 20, 21, 22 Bridgnorth April 10 Lichfield April 10, 11 Cheltenham April 13, 14 Knighton April 25, 26 Abergavenny April 27, 28 COURSING FIXTURES. Carnarvon jan. ig, 19 Halston jan. 21

BREAKFAST.—EPPS'S COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND COMFORT- I -G. -Tlie very agreeable character of this preparation has rewlercll it it general favourite. The Ciril Servicc Gazette remarks:—"The singular success which MrEpps attained by his homoeopathic preparation of cocoa has never been surpassed by any experimentalist. By a thorough know- ledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa, Mr Epps has provi(-Ied oil" breakflst tables with a delicately flavour ad beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills.' Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold by the Trade only in + lb., A lb,, and 1 lb. tin-lined packets, labelled—JAMES Eppa & Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, London. "THE ANNIHILATOR," A NEW WAR INSTRUMENT.— The Melbourne Argus, of Nov. 7th, says-" One effect of the European war has been to bring into notice some in- struments of destruction of local origin and design. Several have been submitted to the Government, and they are under consideration by a board. The inventions to which most attention has been directed are those of Capt. W. H. Fitzgerald, who has taken steps to patent a new gun and gun-carriage, and an engine of the mitrailleuse sort, called The Annihilator," which will enable a few men to 'maintain a discharge equal to a whole army.' With reference to these new instruments of war, Major- General Chute, prior to his departure for England, wrote as follows to the Treasurer- I have seen the working of Mr Fitzgerald's inventions. I can truly say they are likely to be most destructive, and very few artillery or gunners will be required for its service operations, and I feel confident guns, &c., worked on this gentleman's prin- ciples would, in a few hours, annihilate an army, I am, therefore, of opinion that Mr Fitzgerald's inventions are well worthy the consideration of the Victorian. Govern* ment.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. THURSDAY, JAN. 5TH. TRIA LS OF PRISONERS. Before C. W. W. Wynn, Esq. (in the chair.) The Right Hon. the Eari of Powis, Richard Woosnam, Esq., and Thos. Powell, Esq,, were also upon the Bench. The Court for the trials of prisoners opened at the Assize Court, Welshpool, on Thursday morning. There were thirteen prisoners for trial, five of whom could neither read nor write. The Grand Jury were first sworn. The following gentlemen composed the jury:-lr Jas. Eaton, Welsh- town, Pool Lower, foreman; Messrs C. Edwards, Todlith- house, Churchstoke; R. Edwards, Trewern, farmer; T. Groves, Churchstoke; H. Hickman, Trallwgollen, inn- keeper; C. R. Jones, High-street, Llanfyllin; J. Jones, Market-street, Llanfyllin, shopkeeper; G. Kempster, Trederwen, Llansaintffraid, miller; E. Morris, Trewvlan, farmer; E. H. Morris, Ackley, Forden, auctioneer; H. E. Morris, Gaer, Forden, farmer; J. Morris, Werndu, Churchstoke, farmer; W. Peate, Can'eghofa, farmer; J. Powell, Buttington-hall, farmer; J. P. Pugh, Trederwen; J. Richards, Greenhall, farmer; J. Roberts, Colffrvn, farmer; J. Ryle, Penllwyn, Llanfyllin, farmer; L. Turner, Garthmill, Berriew, shopkeeper; C. Williams, Mont- gomery, mercer; and R. B. Williams, Mellington, Church- stoke, farmer. The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the grand jury.

ROBBERY AT MANAFON. John M'Donald, 46, labourer, was indicted for having stolen at Manaton, on the 30th of Nov., 1870, one waist- coat and one shirt, the property of Richard Andrew.— Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—Mr E. M. Jones prosecuted. It appeared that the wife of the prosecutor placed some clothes upon a hede to dry on the 29th of November, leaving them there all night. In the morning she missed the property. P.O. Breese found the prisoner wearing the stolen property.-Guilty. Six months'^imprisonment, with hard labour.

EMBEZZLEMENT AT LI.ANWYDDELAN. Ann Francis, 50, servant, was indicted for having embezzled, at Llanwyddelan, on the 2nd of September, 1S70, certain moneys belonging to Evan Humphreys.— Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—Mr E. M. Jones appeared for the prosecution. Prisoner was employed by the prosecutor as housekeeper, and left on the 3rd of December, whilst the prosecutor was away from home, and herself in charge of the house. Prosecutor was in the habit of selling butter to a Mrs Buckley. On the 2nd wf September the prisoner took a quantity of butter and sugar to Mrs Buckley's and received as payment for the same 4s. 10d., and did not account for the same to the prosecutor.—Guilty, but recommended to mercy.—Three months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

SHEEP STEALING. George Spiers, 50, farmer, was indicted for having, on the 22nd October, 1870, stolen, at Llanerfrl, five sheep, the property of David Evans also, with having stolen, on the following day, one sheep, the property of John Morris. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr C. Howell ap- peared for the prosecution and Mr E. M. Jones for the prisoner.—The prosecutor, David Evans, said he was a farmer at Llanerfyl. He had twenty-six sheep a short time previous to October 21st, when he missed eight sheep. The five skins produced came off his sheep. The prisoner had sheep, but they were differently marked, His farm joined the prisoner's.—Cross-examined Pri- soner's sheep were marked with red, as well as his own, but differently. Knew that the prisoner kept a lot of I sheep. Had never heard prisoner say he had bought ] seventy-four sheep at Cann-office.-To the cha;rman: My land was fenced rouiri. My sheep got through prisoner's fence on to his land. There was a gap in one part of the prisoner's fence.—Richard Morgans, skinner, Llanerfyl, said the prisoner brought seven skins to him on a Satur- day in October, and he purchased them for 5s. lOel. The police went to his premises on the same day, and he handed the skins over to them.-P.C. Breese said he re- ceived the skins from the last witness on the 20th of October, 1870.-P.C. Ed. Davies said he welt to the prisoner's house oil October 31st, and found three carcases of mutton and six sheeps' heads. He charged prisoner "with the robbery, and he said he bought the sheep and killed them, in order that they might not trespass upon his neighbour's land.—P.C. Breese, re-called, said he searched another farmhouse occupied by the prisoner, and found shoulders and legs of mutton that appeared to have been cut from recently-slaughtered sheep. Prisoner said he could produce two other carcases to correspond with the skins.—William Davies was called for the defence. the skins.—William Davies was called for the defence. He had known the prisoner for two years. Prisoner hall: told him he had purchased seventy-four lambs in I860, and lost about twenty of them. He afterwards said he had found some of them, and would kill them. —The Rev. J. M'lntosh, rector of Llanerfyl, gave the prisoner a good character for honesty and good conduct.—The Chair- man summed up, and the jury retired to consult.—Not guilty.—No evidence was offered upon the second indict- g ment, and the prisoner was therefore discharged.

FALSE PRETENCES. Richard Pritchard, alias Henry Lewis, 24, collier, was indicted for having unlawfully obtained from Sarah; Jones, at Carreghofa, on the 11th of November, 1870, by means of false pretences, the sum of k7, with intent to defraud her. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr C. Howell prosecuted.—Sarah Jones said that the prisoner went to her house on the 10th of November to lodge. He represented that he was employed by the railway com- pany, and should require the lodgings for about four months. He also said his father was a farmer. Prisoner said he was very fond of music, and witness told him there was a piano next door. Prisoner said he should like to see it, and would buy it if possible. Witness told her neighbour, and the prisoner went to see the piano. Prisoner agreed to purchase the piano for £ 6. He said h's luggage was coming on the following Monday. Prisoner got a piece of paper, and asked witness whether he could cash it at Llanj mvnech. Witness said she did not know she could not, as she had only S7 or £ 8. He then asked wit- ness to lend him E7 or £ 8 in case he could not cash it. Witness then counted k7, and prisoner took the money off the table. He asked her to go with him to Mrs Richards, her neighbour, to witness the transaction of payment for the piano, but when there he said that one of the legs of the piano required fastening. He said he would go and fetch the joiner, and left and did not return. She would not have lent prisoner the money had he not represented he was employed by the railway com- pany.—Mary Richards, wife of Edward Richards, shoe- maker, Llanymynech, corroborated.—Edward Tanner, superintendent of the permanent way of the Cambrian Railways, said he had the management of all work upon the permanent way except that connected with the tele- graph. Prisoner had not been employed by the railway company.—Joseph Dicks, station-master at Llanymynech, said that he was not aware of any alteration or work in connection with the telegraph at Llanymynech during November. There was some alteration in the month of May. Was not aware that the prisoner had been em- ployed on the line.—Stephen Mason, inspector of the Potteries Railway at Llanymynech, said that the pri- soner had not been employed upon that line.—P.C. Breese, Llandysilio, said that after receiving information of the affair, he wrote to the superintendent of police at Dudley, and prisoner was apprehended there. Witness went to Dudley on the 20th of December last, and prisoner said, in answer to the charge, that he never was at Llanymynech in his life. He brought the prisoner to Welshpool.—Prisoner made a fluent but ungrammatical address to the jury, in defeiiee. Guilty. -Prisoner pleaded guilty to two previous convictions for misdenieanour.- Sentenced to seven years' penal servitude and, at the ex- piration of that time, to be subjected to seven years' police surveillance.—Prisoner (to the chairman): I hope you may keep there till I come back.

STEALING TURKEYS. Timothy Brown, 40, labourer, was indicted for having stolen, at Bausley, on the 28th of October, 1870, three turkeys, the property of John Griffiths. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr C. Howell prosecuted.—Margaret Grif- fiths, residing at Lane Farm, proved having missed three turkeys, and when the police brought that number to her farm, they immediately joined the others, and therefore she believed they were hers.—Jane Morris, keeper of the Rodney Pillar Inn, near the prosecutrix's farm, said the prisoner was at her house on the night of the 27th of October, and also on the following morning. He asked some present to treat him, and left without paying for some beer.—Thomas Jones, shoemaker, Crewe Green, said that prisoner went to his house on the 28th of October, and asked witness to fetch a quart of ale, and paid for it out of a two-shilling piece.—P.C. Breese proved tracing footmarks to and from the building where the turkeys were kept, at Lane Farm. He afterwards traced the footmarks to a field at Crewe Green, in the oc- cupation of Mr Vaughan, and on to the turnpike-road, He proceeded to the house of Richard Ellis, at Crewe Green and there found three turkeys, which lie took possession of. Subsequently he apprehended the prisoner. He noticed that the prisoner's boots corresponded with the footmarks in the field. He made impressions on the field with the prisoner's boot, and they corresponded exactly with the footmarks he previously found.- Guilty. Prisoner pleaded not guilty to. previous convictions on the 5th of March, 1850, and the 19th December, I860. They were proved against him.—Sentenced to six calen- dar months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and after- wards to be under the supervision of the police for one year.

RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. Richard Ellis and Elizabeth Ellis (on bail), higglers, were indicted for having received from the prisoner, Timothy Brown, at Bausley, on October 28th. 1870, three turkeys~ the property of John Griffiths, well knowing the same "to have been previously stolen. Prisoners pleaded not guilty. Mr C. Howell prosecuted, and Mr E. M. Jones defended. The turkeys were found in a gig-house by P.C. Breese. For the defence evidence was given to i the effect that the prisoner Richard Ellis told a neighbour that he found the turkeys in his stable on the morning of the 28th, and that he locked them up in the gig-liouse. — The jury found the male prisoner guilty, and the female prisoner not guilty. The woman was discharged, and the man was sentenced to three calendar months' imprison- ment, with hard labour.

ROBBERY AT GUILSFIBLD. Samwii Davies (on bail), labourer, was indictel for having stolen, at Guilsfield, on the 22nd of November, 1870, one pair of reins, the property of Alfred George Kreisa. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr C. Howell ap- peared for the prosecution, and Mr E. 31. Jones for the prisoner.—Thomas Lloyd said he was farm bailiff to the prosecutor, at the Garth. The reins and harness were kept in the coach-house.—Richard Griffiths said he had been groom and coachman at the Garth, and had to leave on account of his bad hand. The harness and reins were in his charge. The reins produced belonged to :1r: Kreisa. They were at the Garth when he left. The prisoner succeeded witness as coachman at the Garth. -William Griffiths, waggoner at the Garth, said he had charge of the harness when the prisoner left. The reins were not in the coach-house when he took charge of the harness.—John Jones, omnibus proprietor, said that the prisoner saw him in September last, told him he (witness) had done several acts of kindness for him, and gave him the reins, saving he had no further use for them. That was at the Railway-station, at Pool.—William Evans, servant in the employ of the last witness, corroborated.— P.C. Tanner, Welshpojl, proved having obtained the reins produced from the last witness. He afterwards ap- prehended the prisoner.—Witnesses were examined as to the prisoner's character. They all spoke favourably.— Not guilty.—The announcement was applauded, but the applause was instantly suppressed.

PLEADED GUILTY. Thomas Jones, 48, blacksmith, pleaded guilty to having unlawfully obtained from Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, Esq., at several times, by means of false pre- tences, £1 os., with intent to defrau l. (Mr Wynn retired from the bench when the prisoner was arraigned.)—Sen- tenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

BILLS IGNORED. The grand jury ignored the bills against George Powell, labourer, charged with having indecently assaulted Sarah Payne, at Berriew, on the 2nd of November; against Thomas Connay, hawker, charged with having stolen a sovereign at Llanidloes against David Edwards, charged with having maliciously wounded Maurice Phillips, on November 17th, at Newtown and against John Wil- liams, skinner, charged with having stolen, at Welshpool, on the 21st of December, two geese, the property of John Hickman. The Court rose at seven o'clock.

DENBIGHSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. These sessions were held on Tnursday and Friday week, in the County Hall. Ruthin. The magistrates present were Thomas Hughes, Esq., Ystrad, chairman. Sir Watkin Williams, Bart., M.P., Colonel Tottenham, W. C. West, Esq., P. H. Chambres, Esq.. Llysmeirchion, the Rev. Gabriel Lloyd Roberts, G. H. Whallev, Esq., MP., Plasmadoc, Captain Tottenham, the Re. Venables Williams. John Price, E-q., Captain Purcell Williams, W. D. W. Griffiths, Esq., Garn, R. G. Johnson, Esq. The following officials were also present—Mr J. Peers (clerk of the peace), Mr Denman (chief-constable), Mr Thelwall (coroner), and Mr R. Lloyd Williams (county surveyor.)

THE NEW HAWKERS' ACT. Mr SHF.EHAN (clerk in the Chief Constable's office), stated that a hawker or pedlar was charged, in the first instance, one shilling for a certificate, and if he went into another county lie could have it endorsed at the police statilJn for GJ" to hawk in that county, the money going to the county funds. This required, he explained, some extra books—a register book and an endorsing book.

A QUERY WITH REGARD TO A NEW MAGISTRATE. Mr Pender, a new magistrate, having presented himself after twelve o'clock to be sworn in, the Clerk informed him that he was too late that day, as the law was absolute on the point. After several suggestion had been made to overcome this difficulty, Mr Pender not being able to wait for an adjournment of the Court, owing to family arrange- ments, and living a considerable distance from Ruthin, he agreed to postpone his swearing in till next sessions.

THE CORONER'S REPORT. Mr THELWALL, coroner for the Wrexham district, handed in his usual report to the Clerk. In the case of a woman who died in childbirth, at Rhosllanerchrugog, lie stated that she died from want of medical attendance." Sir WATKIN W. WYNN—Does that statement imply any blame on any medical officer ? The Coroner—It does not. The fact is the husband went to several medical men and asked them to come and attend his wife, but as he could not pay the u-ual fee of one guinea t'nev all refused to do so, and the woman died soon afterwards, whereas it is highly probable the woman's life would have been saved by the attendance of a medical man. In my opinion the m';n and woman were to be bla.med for not having engaged the services of a medical man previously. During some remarks which followed, Mr WHALLEY found fault with the system adopted hv the coroner in reporting his cases. He urged that Mr Thelwall ought to put in his reports, not his own opinion of the cause of death, but the bona fide verdict of the jury in each case, and the lion, gentleman moved a resolution to that effect, adding that it ought to be publicly known that if in a case of that kind a man was not at the moment prepared to pay the fee, he could call upon the relieving officer, who would give him an order on the medical officer. If the man were in a position to pay afterwards, the relieving officer could call upon him to do so to the union. The Clerk, the Rev. G. LI. Roberts, and other magis- trates defended Mr Thelwall. The CORONER stated it was not the rule now to send the depositions to the assizes, but that he was compelled to keep them in his own custody. On the motion of Mr CHAMBERS it was decided that in future the coroner should bring the depositions with him to the quarter sessions, to be inspected if necessary. Mr THELWALL-I have not the slightest objection. I will do so, but I cannot let them go out of my possession; otherwise the Lord Chancellor might come down upon me. The Coroner then applied for an increase of salary, as the term of five years had expired which was required by the Act under the previous arrangement. The salary for the last five years was C150 a year. It was decided that a committee should consider the application, and report to the next quarter sessions.

A PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. A question was then raised by Mr Whalley in reference to a petition to the House of Commons passed at a pre- vious sessions, but not received, owing, as Sir Watkin ex- plained, to a technical error in the wording. The following is the petition :— To the Honourable the Commons of the C'nite1 Kinr/dom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the humble petition of the Justices at Quarter Sesxioris assembled for the coiintu of Denbigh, humbly shoxeeth,— That the rates collected under the authority of this court for county nurposes form a heavy and annually increasing charge on real property (viz., lands and houses), in addition to the general taxes for imperial purposes which it bears in common with all property. That these charaes are for the most pirt in support of such objects as police buildings, for militia stores, lunatic asn-lutilo and the maintenance of lunatics whose settlement cannot be as- certained, coroners, prisons, and other matters connected with the administration of justice, Ac., all of which purposes are es- sentially of national import, and are maintained for the security of the life of all persons equally, and for the protection of every description of property. That only an average of little more than twenty per cent. of the amount of rates so collected under the authority of this court is, as respects its expenditure, in any way under its con- trol, while nearly eighty per cent, is expended under statute, and is therefore under control of the Imperial Government. These facts appear from a return printed by your honourable House on the 21st April, 1869, where the total amount of county rates spent under statute was £ 1,5S9,910. whilst the amount spent under control of the justices was only £359,451. It further appears from a return mrele to the House of Com- mons in the year 1867, that in Devonshire the whole of the county expenditure for that year was t39,000 the amount of that which was statutory, and over which the iiitzisti-ate- h:ul no control, was £ 33,000, and the amount under the independent jurisdiction of the magistrates was only £ 6,000, and that included salaries, bridges, highways, and other miscellaneous payments. the court cannot help further remarking that whilst remission of imperial taxation has been annually made for the benefit of the whole nation, very many newly-imposed burdens have been laid, chiefly if not wholly, upon house and land property. That p in justice to the ratepayers, and having regard to this local con- trol, this court prays your hon, house to take into your early consideration, whether it be not expedient to make some more equitable provision for defraying the expense of such objects as those to which these rates above-mentioned are devoted. And your petitioners, &C. It was remarked by MrWH Ali.EY that a very important alteration had been made in the petition, and one which he thought was very prudent—namely, the substitution of the following words "to make some more equitable pro- vision for defraying the expense." Now he objected to the petition altogether, because he thought it was an at- tempt on the part of landowners to throw off the taxes from their own shoulders, and put them on those of tradesmen and others. After some replies to Mr Whalley's remarks, the result was that Col. TOTTENHAM moved that the petition be ad- dressed as amended, which was seconded by Mr JOHNSON. Mr WHALLEY refused to propose an amendment, and Col. Tottenham's motion was carried.

FRIDAY. TRIALS OF PRISONERS. Tliptri-tl, of the prisoners were proceeded with on Friday. The following magistrates were on the bench T. llhe's, Esq. (Ystrad), Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Rev. D. Roberts, Rev. V. Williams. P. G. Humberston, Esq., .T. Pur- cell Willinms, Esq., Capt. Comwallis West, Capt. Griffith, and R. Johnson, Esq. In charging the Grand Jury, the Chairman said there were four or five men from the parish of Llangollen for trial on charges of committing deprecations at farm houses. Three had been committed for offences at diffe- rent houses in the night time. Ihere was tio evidence that they were acting together, so they had been separate- lv indicted, but there was too much reason to think that they were all acting together and going about the neigh- i bourhood robbing. They would find that there was one charge against a man for having stabbed another man at Llanrhaiadr. Neither of the parties, it appeared, was in drink at the time. They had met at some house-, and from some cause or another the prisoner had challenged the prosecutor out to fight in a field. Before they went into the field the men got together and tl*e prisoner, it was alleged, took out a knife and stabh.¡j, the prosecutor. The t law punished with severity anyone using a knife without provocation. There was another case of a young man. from Wrexham, who had been employed by Mr p, Wal- ker, as a traveller for orders in his business. He had re- ceived various sums on account from Mr Walker's customers, and had embezzled the amounts. APPEAL CASE. -FITZHUGH V. OVEPvSEEIiS OF THE TOWXSHIP OF BERSHAit. In this case, which it will be remembered excited some, interest in the county, Mr Roberts, who appeared for the overseers, made an application that the order should be. quashed. Mr Swetenham, who represented Mr Fitz- Hugh, said this was owing to a clerical error in the esti- mate of the nett and ratable value of land. He agreed to have the order quashed, in order that, if it were "'wished his client could begin the affair dc novo. STABBING CASES. John Ellis was charged with having, on the 5th Nov., 1870, at Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant, unlawfully ancf. maliciously stabbed one John Davies. In this case tho grand jury had brought in a true bill. Mr Swetenham, who prosecuted, said the prisoner was simply charged with, misdemeanour. John Davies, the prosecutor, said on the 5th November (Saturday) he was standing in the Market-place, about twelve o'clock at night, and the prisoner, after quarreling, said he would fight him (prosecutor) if he would go into a field. The prisoner, however, it would seem, would not follow the prosecutor into a field, and the latter turned, hack to him, when the prisoner pulled out a knife and drove. it into his side. The prisoner also made an attempt to stab him in the throat, but the prosecutor saved himself from that. In answer to the Chairman, the prosecutor said he had. fallen after being stabbed in the side, the Prisoner falling with him. Ht got up before the prisoner, who was walk- in away with his hat. He followed him to recover it. and was bleeding from the side and throat. The blood.. ran down into his shoes. He saw the doctor next morning. Mr Ignatius Williams, who defended, put several ques- tions to the prosecutor, from which it appeared that he«" had been to some public houses during the day, and he.' admitted that he had drunk six glasses, which was more- tlian he was in the habit of getting. He W: however, not drunk, and there was no more sign of drink in him than at that time. He knew Ellis, but had had no previous*' quarrel with him, The prisoner came up to him when, standing with others, and challenged him out, assigning no reason for it. A surgeon said he had examined the,( prosecutor, and had found that he was suffering from.' wounds on the neck and the loin. The wounds dull have- been inflicted with a knife, but it was possible that they were inflicted by stones; though that was verv improbable. The locality in which the wounds were inflicted wa= danger- ous.—After Mr 1. Williams had addressed the jury, and they had considered the case, the foreman announce d that they could not agree. Afterwards, however, they came to an agreement, and returned a verdict of unlawful wounding.—Mr Ignatius Williams put in a memorial in-. fluentially signed as to the previous good character of thft. prisoner.—The prisoner was sentenced to four months" imprisonment. A TRICK. William Owen and John Mvles were charged with,, having, at Llansaintrfraid-Glan-C >n\v:iy. on the 8th of, December, 1870, obtained from John Jones, a farmer, 3s. and two geese (value l:2s.) There was a second c0m,lit- ment on a charge of having, at Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, on tht); 30th of November, 1870, obtained from another farmer, Edward Jones, 30s. William Owen was also charged with. two separate offences, one at Llandrillo-yn-Rhos, an:l the., other at Llansantffraid-Glan-Couway. Mr Swetenham prosecuted, and the following are th. facts Joseph Jones, a farmer, living at Garth, said that OIL the 8th of December last the two prisoners came to his house. They said they came from Air Williams, of Rhvl, to repair machines and introduce "new fashions" nae (laughter)—into some new patent that had come out. Wit- ness possessed a winnowing machine, which they saice wanted new bushes." He said he would not spend more, than 2s. Gd. on it, as he had been spendiag money before on the machine. They said the price of the new "bushes" would be Is. 8d. each. He said they were too exi)ensive, I for him. They (the prisoners) began to pull the machines down, but he deniei having made an agreement with them. They showed him their new patent "bushes" (five of them). He called them in, and gave them dinner. (Laughter.) After the men had pulled the machine to-, pieces and put it "to rights," they gave him a bill. (The* bill was produced in court, and c.x;i>ed some merriment it was for 15s.) He told them he had got no money. They said that would not do to say to their master-, (laughter)—they must have the money. They wanted him.' to go and borrow money. He gave them 3s., saying ha had no more. He said he would forward the rest to Mr*. Williams. They said, What are those geese—(laughter) we will take the geese at 3s. to make up 15s." He said he- did not like them to take the geese but, however, it ap- peared they gathered them in—(laughter)—and he ad- mitted, amidst the laughter of the court, that he had. found them string to tie the legs of the geese with. Th.. same day the police came, and they examined the doe- tored" machine and found no patent "bushes" in it, but too much gone away." (Laughter.) Mr Williams, ironfounder, said he did not know the.. men. and they had never been emphYt"d by him to go round the country to repair machines. The police gave evidence, and the jury, after som»' deliberation, returned a verdict of '■ Guilty. The other cases were then gone into, and the Chairman, stating that the men had used intimidation and practiced on credulous people, sentenced them to twelve months*; imprisonment each for one offence, and twelve months for,- the other. THEFT. Ann Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of havingf stolen a coat, value Hjs., a shawl, value 5s.. and a tuning" fork, value os., the property of Edward Humphreys, on. the 3rd of January, 1S71, at was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT AGAINST W. H. FLANAGAN. The jury, in the case of W. II. Flanagan, late travelell, to Mr Walker, brought in a verdict of Not Guilty."

SHREWSBURY. WELSH LITERARY MEETING.—A Welsh competitiveII meeting was held on Tuesday evening, Jan. 3rd, in the- Lion Room. T. G. Jones, Esq. (Cyffin), presided. The, meeting commenced by the chapel choir singinjf "Ehedydd Bach Mwyn," after which the chairman de- livered an address, and then Mvnyddog sang, in good. style, Nid dvna'r dyn i mi." The choir having sung- Tyr'd foreu Teg," some recitations in Welsh were given by three children, W. Jones, E. Thomas, and M. A. Evans. Mynyddoggave a second song, and was encored, but. he did not comply, as the programme was a long one. Miss Davies and Messrs Jones, Jones, and Watkins sang- a quartette, at the close of which Messrs J. Watkins, Ebenezer Jones, W. Jones, and W. Hughes competed in. reading, the prize being awarded to Mr W. Jones. Mr E. Jones next recited Piiiieli's Compliments to Wales," and Mvnyddog gave his third song, and was loudly ap- plauded. Mr R. E. Jones then recited Cymry'r Amwythig," and Mr W. Watkin G\vnewch bobpeth. yn Gymraeg." The Cuckoo" was sung by Miss J one# and the choir, and then Water and Fire" was recited by Mr Vaughan and Mr Watkins. After an address by Mvnyddog, the chairman read his adjudication on te.' essays on the biography of "Joshua." There were six: competitors. The first prize was awarded to Mr J. Watkins, and the second to Mr William Jones. Miss. Jones and Messrs Recs and Thomas sang. '"Hark Apollo and Mr W. Jones recited "Cywydd y Daran." Mvnyddog gave a recitation, and then sang "PurioiL. Peth." Extemporaneous addresses were delivered by Messrs S. Evans, J. Jones, and W Hughes, the subject being Pen Punt a chynfTVm diine^ J he prize was given, to J. Jones. After the chorus \r Haf." by the choir, Alynyddog read his adjudication on Hvnodion yr Oes." Three treatises were to hand, and one was received too- late. The first prize was awarded to Mr W. J ones. A rather warm dispute took place between the chairman and. Mr W. Hughes, the latter asserting that all had not had a fair opportunity. After a recitation by Mr R. Hughes, Mynyddog sang Ys weiniaid dimeu Cymru, and was encoreo- After recitations by Messrs Jones anct Watkins, the choir sang "The Bee," and Mvnyddog- Don't start a row.' A vote of thanks to the chairman, with whose name was coupled that of Mynyddog, fol- lowed, and the proceedings terminated with a tale by Mynyddog.

Another terrible steamboat accident has occured on." the MISSISSIPPI. The steamer Nick Wall ran on to a snag, and the shock caused her hurricane deck, heavilv laden to fall in at the time that she began to fill with water.' A hundred lives are reported lost. "A School Promoter in a, Poor District makes a very' sensible suggestion in the l'inu.-s to the Council of Educa- fion. He proposes that the Council should issue by th& Department a series of plans suitable for rural schools, accompanied by accurate specifications and bills of quanti- ties on which tenders could be safely invited. The supply of approved plans with specifications would greatly reduce architects' charges (a heavy additional burden on buildings in small country parishes), and would also save both the Council and School Boards, or Committees, much vexatious correspondence, now often required before im- perfect plans sent up from country places can be accepted and passed. KITCHEN BOILER EXPLOSIONS.—A correspondent of a contemporary writes :—" Next winter let us hear no more of deaths resulting from the bursting of kitchen boilers, when the remedy is so near at hand and costs so little. One of the smallest safety fusible plns, sold by the Na- tional Boiler Protection Company. Manchester, applied to any hermetically sealed kitchen boiler will protect it. The fusible plug should be screwed into the top of the boiler, and protected with a pipe, so that when called into operation the steam and hot water may lie propelled up the flue. This fusible plug is partly made of a metal which melts at a heat a little in excess of boiling water when, therefore, the boiler is sealed up by frost, the water soon becomes hotter than 212 degrees, the soft metal of the plug melts, the plug falls to pieces, an opening is made in the boiler for the steam, and an explosion is prevented. Every hut-water heating apparatus should be fitted with olie of these safety plugs, and is not safe without it."