The Cambrian

WOMAN'S RIGHTS. A WOMAN'S RIGHTS WLat do those words convey? What depths of old-w >rl<! wisdom do they reach What is their real intent? Oh, sisters, say; And strive in daily life their truth to teach. The right to minister to those that need With qui t sons; the weary to beguile; With wor is of peace t'.e hunsry hearts to feed, And cheer the sad andlollely with a smile. The riglit in others' joys a joy to and The right divine to weep when others weep The right to be to all uncjasing kind The right to wake and pray while others sleep. Right to be noble, right to be true, Right to think rightly—and lightly to do Right to he tender, risiht to he just, Right to he worthy of infinite trust. To be the little children's truest friend, To know them in their ever-changing mood Forgetting self, to labour to the end, To be a gracious influence for good. To be the ladies of creation's lords. As mothers, daughters, sisters, or as wives To be the best that earth to them affords, To be to them the music of their lives. The right in strength and honour to be free In daily work accomplished, finding rest; The right in "trivial round" a sphere to see The right, in blessing, to be fully blest. Right to be perfect, rhht to he pure, Right to he patient and strong to endure Right to be loving-right to be good— These are the rights of the true womanhood. -Temple Bar. A* L.

— HARVEST TIME I>T ENGLAND. 'Tis a happy time in England When the harvest fills the land, For the hay pours for tn its fraurance, And the white waves wash the strand, And the ri h brown corn is ready For the sic'Je, keen and strong. And the fields are full of laughter, As the heart is full of song. 'Tis a merry time in England Amon? the cold gree., aisles Of the beautiful hop vineyards, Where bounteous nature smiles. And very merry are the groups That till those pleasant ways, With love and mirth and singing, As in my childhood's days. 'Tis a joyous time in England When, responsive to the breeze, The ripe fruit, as in showers, Falls from the generous trees And little children clap their hands At all the red and gold. And older hearts thank God for good Increased a hundred fGhl. 'Tis a solemn time in England When harvesting is done, And there are no more crops to reap, No triumphs to be won. Yet sober winter has it charms Of quietness and rest, And God, who gave the sunnier-time, Can make the autumn blest. Great Giver of all fruitage, We lift our hearts to Thee. And thank Thee for l'hy mercies Sc manifold and free. Teach us to learn the lessons Of all these harvest days, And make Thy servants fruitful In good things to Thy praise. MARIANNE FARNIKGHAM.

lariefe, 'Sec. A promising writer-The man who draws up a note. The largest revo'ver known—the earth. The question of the hour—" What time is it ?" An Irishman calls his pig Maud because it will come into the garden. A man who conrted an investigation says it isn't half so good as coin-ting an affectionate girl. Why is law like an eel-trap?—Because it is very easy to get into, but very difficult to get out of. TheIe are two thbgs some ruen find it extremely difficult to <lo—tell the immortal truth and shine up their own bootj. A Philosopher remarks that no man can afford to make a fool of himself. But he forgets that some men are utterly reckless of expense. Sure ;—" Bridget, have you given the gold fish fresh water?" "No, ma'am. Sure what's the use? They haven't drunk up what's in there yet." A French country burying-ground has over its entrance-gate the following Hibernian notice:—" Only the dead who live in this parish are buried here." When a certain bachelor was married, the members of the Batchelor Club woke him up by sending him as a wedding present a copy of Paradise Lost." A London tradesman says that the appearance of the Queen in public helps trade-in other words, the circulation of the sovereign helps to circulate the sovereign. That is an elegant "extract," as a witty young author observed when he assisted a young lady out ol a ditch into which she had stepped at a picnic party. What fish may be said to be out of place?—A perch m a bird's cage a sole ht the bottom of your foot; a whiting cleaning plate a mussel in a lady's neck. A genuine patroit," said an election orator recently, must at all times be ready to die for his country, even though it cost him his life." (thunderous applause) Preceptor—" Vow c In you tell me anything remarkable in the life of Moses ?" Pupil-" Yes, sir, he was the only man who ever br< ke all the commandments at once. Control the consumption of you gas," advises a newspaper. That is easy enough to do but what the country really needs is something to control the consumption of the gas-meter. A schoolmaster, describing a money-lender, says: He serves you in the present tense, he lends you in the conditional mood, keeps you in the subjunctive, and ruins you in the future." A gentleman out fishing with an Irish boatman expressed his fear of a downpour of rain. He was reassured by the remark: Och, 'tis only a small dhrop of perspiration out of clouds." We are asked if kissing is proper between a lady and gentle- man who are not engaged. Perfectly proper, hut impossible. A gentleman cannot kiss a lady without being very pleasantly engaged. A young lady who lately received a boquet of roses was somewhat amused to find the donor's visiting card attached to it and written on the wrong side these words Not to .exceed $! A farmer saw an advertised receipt to prevent wells and cisterns from freezing. He sent his money and received the answer, Take in your well or cistern on cold nights and keep it by the fire." One evening some companions were discussing politics and rteonle who change their opinions. Well," said one, I've Elver cried Long live anybody Quite so,' remarked another but then you're a doctor. We cannot," writes a contemporary, do better than impress upon all correspondents, when in doubt whether the postage of a letter is a penny or twopence, the force of the old Droverb, Two heads better than one. Sneezing is very seldom heaid in parlours now after the old folk have retired. lor lovers bear in mind the receipt given by Dr Brown Sequard-that sneezing can always be prevented by Dressioc the upper lip—and act accordingly• P The clergyman in a certain town, as the custom is, having published fhe banns of matrimony between two persons, was followed by the clerk's reading the hymn begmnmg with the words "Mistaken souls, who dream of Heaven. What¡! women overworked ? Fudge Think of the men. Ah, but you know the old saying. 'Woman's work is never done!" "1 know it; and that's the reason she oughtn t to complain for a man has to do his work or lose his job. A romantic miss in Yorkshire, went out to Maud Mullerise and rake the meadows sweet with hay." She stood over a wasps' nest as she swung her little rake. First jump, eleven feet Distance to the house half-a-mile. Time, two minutes. Little Boy (looking up from a newspaper),—" Uncle, what is f The Great Woman Question' that the papers say so much about»" Uncle (who is a cynical old bachelor)-" The great woman question, did you say? I suppose it is, • What did she have on r •• I wonder, miss," said a customer at a pastrycook s shop to the Hebe at the counter, "that the sight of so many delicacies does not inspire you with a desire to taste them." You forget, sir." replied the young lady, chillingly, that I see them madeI" Gentlemen of the Jury," said an Irish lawyer, "it will be for you to decide whether the defendant shall be allowed to come into court with unblushing footsteps, with a cloak of hypocrisy in his mouth, and draw three bullocks out of my client's pocket with impunity." The following bombshell has been discharged by a famous general, who received a polite letter requesting an autograph and a lock of his hair The man who has been writing my autograph is discharged, and, as my orderly is bald, I cannot comply with the second of your requests.' The deacon's wife wanted to jot down the text, and leaning over to her scapegrace nephew, she whispered—" Have you a card about you ? You can't play cards in chureh was his Bolemn, reproving answer; and the good woman was so flustered that she forgot all about the text. Hallo!" ejaculated an anxious guardian to his lovely niece, as he entered the sitting room and saw her in the arl*s ot a swain who had just popped the question and sealed it with a smack. "Whatsth.day now?" -I should think it was now about half-past twelve, was the cool replr. You see that we are almost one. y ■» The editor of a certain periodical was rash enough to remove a few lines from a bad accepted, whereupon the author wrote him a letter which wouud up thus And now, oh slaughterer, vmsector, mangier, maimer, destroyer, disfigurer, deformer, defacer. crippler. mutilator, good-bye' p ft this in your pipe and smoke it." gooa Dye ■ •' You have been here before half a dozen times this vear said a magistrate severely to a local vagrant, who thug answer-Come now, judge none of that. Everv P 1 T'w been here I've seen you. You are here more than I time I ve1 been ne houses shouldn't throw stows amA nKrTeUthl other day from the roof <* a hoSTS^ A th(I ton of an iron fence forty-five feet below. Wag etruck on the P No, Was he fatally injured? Not Was he instantly )sensible' No 1 He picked himself up, made outhU bUl, and charged the man with the tIme It took him to faA celebrated tragedian w^hP1^y^gc'a^eto"theIIIine,8°'^A years ago at Shrewsbury. horse 1" someone in the pit horse, a horse, my kingdom for ((Yes." responded called out, Wouldn t an ass do for you? "nlpasecome thejtragedian, turning quickly to the interrupter, p ronnd to the stage door." making A late judge was a noted wag. A lawyer was once making his first effort before him, and had thrown bmiself °n wings of his imagination far into the upper regions, and was seemingly preparing for a higher ascent, when the judge exclaimed: "Hold on, hold on, my dear sir! Don't go any higher, for you are already out of the jurisdiction ol tne MA yankee was taken by a friend to a Roman Catholic church, celebrated for its Gregorian music. After the service his friend asked him how he liked the music, and he replied that he didn't think much of it. But," said his friend, that was Gregorian music, the oldest that we have. That is the music that David used to play before Saul." Wal, is it now ? That explains part of the Scriptures to me. I could never understand why Saul should have shied his Javelin at David; but now that I am aware that David inflicted that quality of ) torture upon the old man, I'm heart and soul with haul, I

portfolio. The ignorant man hath no greater foe than his own ignorance, for it desttoyethwhere it livetb. He must needs be very impatient, who would repine at deaf) in the soci.ty of a'l things that suffer by it.—Sir Thomas Browne. Let not your r.creat'ons be lavish spenders of your time; but choose such which are healthful, short, transient and recreative. -Jeremy Taylor. Our old mother Nature has pleasant and cheery tones enough for us when she comes in her druss of blue and gold over the extern hill-tops but when she follows us upstairs to our beds in her suit of black velvet and diamonds, every cr ak of her sandals and every whisper of her lips is full of mystery and fear. — Oliver Wendell Holmes. In company it is a very griat fault to be more forward h setting one's self off and t liking t) show one's parts than ti learn the worth and to be truly acquainted with the abilities of other men. He that makes it his business not tj know but to be known, is like a foolish tradesman who makes all the haste he can to sell off his old stock, but tikes no thought of laying in aoy new.— Charroa. Oar caresses, our tinders words, our still rapture under the influence of autumn sunstti, or of pillared vistis, or cllm majestic stataes, or Beethoven symphonies, all brlllg with them the consciousness that they are mere waves and ripples in an unfathomable ocean of love and beauty our emotion in its keenest moment passes from expression into silence our love at its highest moment rushes beyond its object, and loses it elf in the sense of Divine mysti;y. —George Eliot.. I meet with a jr jat many persons in the course of the year, and with many whom I admire and I ke but what I feel da/ly more and more before me in its true reality is to have int rcourse with those who take hfe In earnest.. 1 It is v, ry painful to me to be always on the s rface of things, and I feel that literature, science, polit cs, many topics of f ir grenter interest than mere gossip or talking about the weather, are yet, as they are generally ttiked about, still upon the surface—they do not touch the real depth of life. It is not that I want much of what is c illed religious conver^at .on but I want a sign which one catches as by a sort of masonry, that a man knows what he is about in life, whither tending, in what cause engaged and when I find this, it seems to open my hea t as throughly a .d with as fresh a sympathy as when I was twenty years younger.—Dr. Arnold. The old truth, the permanent truth, the substmce of the truth, which needs to be Ir ached tjevtry genirat on of selfish worldlings with jrjphetic power, is not t) piss away the tiuth of tie tt raallaws of retribution, of the deadly consequences of sin, of t ie peril of trying now with a gift of God so precious as the life of a soul. The wor.ls of Jesus do not [ass away, although we are learn- ing to confess that we do not find in this Scripture an un- reserved revelation either of the strange beginnings or the possibl > endings of sin, and Chtit has many things t) say to us which we cannot bear now while, in the silence of our own confused echoes of the L- r i's words, w" may hear a fuller, sweet -r revelation than before of the glory which remaintth, the glory which excelleth, even the eternal love of God.—Newman Smyth.

ODDITIES OF FAMILY HISTOEY.—Dr. Bowles, Doctor of Divinity, married the daughter of Dr. Sanford, Doctor of Physic, and vice vertd, Dr. Sinford married the daughter of Dr. Bowles, whereupon tin two women might say, "These sr" our fathers, our sons, and our husbands."—Archbishop Usher s MSS. Collections. THE PRODD DCKE OF SOMERSET AND THE PAINTER —His Grace was himself a patron of art, and did not obtain his name without cause. He had employed a 1 James Seymour to paint the figures (artists say portraits) ] of his horses at Petworth, and condescended to sit with his humble namesake at the table. One day, at dinner, His Grace filled his glnss, and saying, with a sneer) "Cousin Seymour, your health," drank it off. "My lord," sa;d the artist, I believe I have the honour of being related to your grace." The proud peer rose from the table, and ordered his steward to dismiss the pre- sumptuous p dnter and employ a humble brother of the brush. This was accordingly done, but when the new pain er saw the spirited works of hia predecessor, he shook his head, and retiring, said: "Neman in England cau compete with James Seymour." The duke now con. descended to recall his discarded cousin. "My lord," was the answer of Seymour, "I can now prove to the world that I am your blood. I won't come." COMMONPLACE PEOPLE.—We need not take any pains to describe a set of people so well known. They are, of course, what none of our readers are, but many are acquainted with. They are the more silent part of companies, and generally the best-behaved people at table. They are the best of dumb-waiters near the lady of the house. They are always at leisure to help you to good things, if not to say them. They will supply your absence of mind for you while you are talking, and believe you are taking sugar for pepper. Above all-which ought to recommend them to the very hardest of their antagon- ists—they are unenquiring laughers at jokes, and most exemplary listeners. Now, we do not say that these are the best of companions, or that when we wish to be particularly amused or informed we should invite them to our houses, or go to see them at theirs all we demand is that they should be kindly and respectfully treated when they are by, and not insolently left out of the pale of discourse, purely because they may not bring with them as much as they find, or say as brilliant things as we imagine we do ourselves.-Lei!7h Hunt. PORTRAIT OF LUTHER.—Luther's face is to me expres- sive of him; in Kranach's best portraits I find the true Luther. A rude plebeian face, which its huge crag-like brows and bones, the emblem of rugged energy at first, almost a repulsive face, yet in the eyes especially there is a wild silent soir jw, an unnameable melancholy, the element of aU gentle and fine affections, giving to the rest the true stamp of nobleness. Laughter was in this Luther, as we said, but tears also were there. Tears also were appointed him tears and hard toil. The basis of his life was sadness, earnestness. I will call this Luther a true great man great in intellect, in courage, affection, and integrity one of our most lovable and precious men. Great, not as a hewn obelisk, but as an Alpine mountain, so simple, honest, spontaneous, not setting up to be great at all there for quite another purpose than being great. Ab, yes, unsubduable granite, piercing far and wide into the heavens, yet in the clefts of it fountains, green beautiful valleys with flowers J A right spiritual hero and prophet once more a true son ef nature and fact, for whom these centuries, and many that are to come yet, will be thankful to Heaven.—T. Carlyle. BE HAPPY To DAY.—How old are you ? Twenty-five ? Tbhty ? Are you happy to-day ? Were you happy yesterday ? Are you generally happy ? If so, you have reason to judge that you will be happy by-and-by. Are you so busy that you have no time to be happy ? And you going to be happy when you are old, and you have not much to do ? No you will not. You now have a specimen of what you will be when you are old. Look in the face of to-day. That is about the average. That will tell you what you are going to be. What you are carrying along with you is what yoa will have by-and-by. If you are so conducting yourself that you have peace with God, and with your fellow-men, and with your faculties if every day you insist that duty shall make you happy, and you take as much time as is needful for the culture of your faculties, you will not be exhausting life, and it will be continually replenished. But if you are saving everything up till you get to be an old man, habit will stand like a tyrant, and say You would not enjoy yourself before, and you shall not now." How many men there are who have ground and ground to make money, that they might be happy by-and-by, but who, when they have got to be fifty or sixty years old, had used up all the enjoyable nerve that was 11 them! During early life they carried toil, economy, and frugality, to the excess of stinginess, and when the time came that they expected joy, there was no joy for them.-H, W. Beecher. THE CAKE-WALK GAME.—There is a diversion in vogue among the coloured people of the United States which can be recommended all an innocent, and we should say, amusing, diversion for evening parties at home. It is known as a cake-walk, and consists of various couples promenading up and down in a strange, or graceful, man. ner until one or other of them have won the fiat of the judge and the frosted cake, which is the prize of effort. The following is the description of a grand Sunday School Cake-Walk at the Mount Horeb Methodist Episcopal Church in New York. The winners were Uncle John Cooper, who wore a black coat, white waistcoat, and white cravat, and Mr*. Yancey, who was attired in a blue dress, a black hat, and grey cotton gloves. They started with a Fifth Avenue promenade, exhibited a Four- teenth-street shopping saunter, and wound up with a seaside languish. They then brought down the tho^se by walking backwards and doing other shunts.' points in pedestrianism were shown by Mrs. Leno and Frank Birch. Miss Hart, in a black skirt and white polonaise, performed the difficult feat of walking with one arm behind her hack she was assisted by James Kin, who toed the line with his eyes shut. Mr. Griffiug, the Sunday School teacher, and Mrs. Margaret Beato ex- hibited the perfection of walking arm-in-arm and side by- side." The judge decided that the feat of walking backwards by Uncle John and Mrs. Yancey bore away the palm—and to them was awarded the frosted cake. A contest of this kind would certainly tend to enliven a dull tea party, and can be cordially recommended to hostesses in general. A NOVELIST IN THE WITNESS-BOX.—The following capital story was told by the London correspondent of the Oxford, Chronicle:—He—Mr. Anthony Trollope—is, as you are aware, an employi of high standing in the Post Office, and it was recently his painful duty to give evidence in a case in which a letter-carrier was accused of stealing money out of a letter. The case was as plain as a pikestaff, the marked money was there, and Barchester Towers swore to having seen it put in the letter. The young and enthusiastic Irish counsel who defended the prisoner for a time looked blank enough, but at last a happy thought struck him, and he proceeded to cross-examine the distinguished novelist.—" Pray. Mr. T., are you not a writer of works of fiction ?" Yes." "And are not works of fiction all a pack of lies?" ^Really, my lord, I appeal to your lordship's protection." The bench is dumb, and the advocate goes on: "Are you not a writer of works of fiction, and are they not aU a of lies 1" Well, they are not expected to be strictly true; they are imaginery." No prevarication, 5?;~mve y0u not been writing these packs of lies for fifteen years?" "Well, if you will persist in calling works of ImagInatlon lias, I have." And was not your »aii L. » «y^u a, writer of works of fiction also?" She Gentlemen of the jury," said the advocate, s 1* brief on tbe table, it would be an insult to the intelligence of one of the most intelligent juries I ever had the honour to address if I detained them a moment longer. Here is a man who confesses that he has been wnting and printing lies for fifteen years, and that his mother followed the same creditable occupatIon before him. Is such a man's oath to weigh against the character of my humble but upright client ?" It is needless to add the jury gave an instant verdict of acquittal, and that the prisoner coolly put the marked money in hu pocket and atrutted out of the dock.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]. GREAT TRIAL OF BACCHUS IN THE HIGH COURT OF REASON. [Before LORD CHIEF JUSTICE WISDOM. BY C. D. M. (Continued-) Misery told a similar tale to Poverty, and the cross-examination of the witness Misery only tended to reveal a terrible condition of things. It was really sad to think that Misery should exist in a land boasting of its civilizationand Christianity but there stood the witness in the box and told of his home and its surroundings. He had seen desti- tution and strife; had seen men and women trans- formed into fiends, and had fetched the prisoner (to use his own words) to this den of shame with the last penny that should have been spent for bread. And more, when the money was done he had witnessed the wife (who had sworn to be true to her husband) commit sin, and blast the beaute- ous innocence of womanhood for the prisoner's sake. If this evidence can be relied on, it will prove the prisoner to be a traitor, as Misery is the very antithesis of Happiness. And I would exclaim with the Poet— I Domestic happiness thou only bliss Of Paradise, that has survived the Fall, Forsaking1 thee, what shipwreck have we made Of honour, dignity, and fair renown, Till prostitution elbows us aside In all our crowded streets. I must ask the jury to consider well the evidence of this witness, Misery, as it is important. As to the evidence of Crime, I cannot help thinking that his testimony is really incontrovertIble. Millions of money have been spent to suppress this in- dividual strong places built, too, to lodge the law- breakers in, but all seem of no avail as long as the prisoner is allowed to inflame and influence Society's pests. The evidence of Esculapius, also, told against the prisoner, but as a difference of opinion exists with the Faculty, the jury must allow their common sense to direct them. Indeed, some mem- bers of the medical profession hold the prisoner in great esteem, and when Doctors differ, who shall decide ? Now, as opposite views are shown in the Song to the Goblet, I will place the same before the jury. The Goblet is supposed to be relating its ex- perience, and telling what it had done, and what it can do, and as it seems to be an important story I give an epitome of it. SONG OF THE GOBLET. I have beheld a courteous band Sit round in bright array, Their voices firm, their words all bland, And brows like a cloudless day. But soon the guests were led by the host To dash out reason's lamp, And then God's noble image had lost The fineness of its stamp. Their loud and tuneless laugh would tell Of a hot and reeling brain, Their right arms trembled, and red wine fell, Like blood on a battle plain. The youth would play the chattering ape, And the grey hair'd one would let The foul and sick'ning jest escape, Till I've loathed the lips I met. And the swine in the dust, or the wolf on its prey Gave less of sheer disgust than they. The drunkard has filled me again and again, 'Mid the roar of a frantic din, 'Till the starting eyeballs told his brain, Was an Etna pile within. Oh, sad is the work that I have done In the hands of the sot and fool; Cursed and dark is the name I've won As Death's most powerful tool; And I own that those who greet my rim Too oft' will find their bane on the brim. But all the golden goblet has wrought Is not of the evil kind I have helped the creature of mighty thought And quickened the God-like mind, As gems of first water may lie in the shade And no lustre be known to live, Till the kiss of the noontide jeam has betrayed What a glorious sheen they can give. So the breast may hold fire that none can see 'Till it meet the sun ray shed by me. Oh, Heaven forbid that bar or ban Should be thrown on the draught I bear But woeful it is that senseless man Will brand me with sin and despair. Use me wisely and I will lend A joy ye may cherish and praise, But love me too well and my potion shall send A burning blight on thy days. This is the strain I sing as ye fill, "Beware," the Goblet can cheer or kill. This, gentlemen of the jury, f place before you to let you see that I hold the scales of justice with an even hand; that no bias influences me, and that I am determined to place every point before you to direct you to a just and righteous verdict. As to the evidence of Religion, I was sorry to listen to it, and must say that I don't place much value on it. That the prisoner is a stumbling block in the way may be granted; but if Religion did its duty the law had hardly need be evoked. The very ones who are privileged to have the opportunity of checking the march of the prisoner are those professors of Religion. But they are apathetic • they simply eat the fat and clothe themselves with the woolsit in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day. But their flocks are scattered over every high hill; sheep without shepherds, a prey for the world's wolves. That Religion should have stood before you, gentlemen and have given the evidence he did, I should have thought really impossible, and I could scarcely refrain from giving him a severe rebuke. Now, I wish it to be understood by the jury, that 1 venerate the ma.n whose heart is warm Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life Coincident exhibit lucid proof That he is honest in the sacred cause. To such, I render more than mere respect; But loose in morals, and in manners vain, And well prepared by ignorance and sloth, By infidelity and love of world, To make God's work a sinecure—a slave To his own pleasures and his patron's pride; From such apostles,|0, ye mitred heads Preserve the Church and lay not careless hands, o skulls that cannot teach, and will not learn. And what do we see to-day ? Why Sin, the World, the Devil, and Bacchus in a solid, serried. phalanx, whereas'the Champions of the Cross are split up into innumerable sections, and neglect their Master's work to quarrel over the loaves and fishes, and leave the enemy sow tares in the vineyard. Indeed, I fear there are too many of them even to-day worshippers of Baal, and if there would arise another Elisha to try them by ordeal, I fancy the world would be surprised; and more, I fear that the prisoner at the bar can claim a host of votaries (among the Stiggenses" in our midst. I proceed now to notice the evidence of the Goddess of Art, and I can only say that if it is true that the world is deprived of its would-be benefactors through the prisoner, that a terrible punishment should be inflicted on him. The evidence for the defence I consider weak. The witness Moderation was a dangerous one, and his evidence has been very plainly laid down and exposed to the jury by the counsel for the prosecution. It would be well, no doubt, if men would be moderate in all things, and especially when holding intercourse with the prisoner j but, here lies the danger, the subtle influence exercised by the prisoner according to the showing of the prosecution soon destroys the power of moderation, and man becomes a traitor to the Royal powers. The evidence of Geniality is also weak, and although all admire genial men, yet it is not that geniality produced by a stimulant that we are pleased with. The counsel for the defence made a grand speech for his client, and I compliment him on his able advocacy. He showed the jury that the gist of the charge lay in this, viz., in the abuse or use of any good gift. His illustration of the value of poison I thought a. very powerful point, and the poetic figure of the sea being charged with murder I also consider a strong argument in his favour. Having thus, gentlemen, laid the case before you as briefly as I could, yet as clearly as possible, I now leave it in your hands, trusting you will give it serious atten- tion. I think the prosecution made out their case, but should there be the slightest doubt in your mind, you will, of course, give the prisoner the benefit of the same. The jury now retired, and after an absence of two hours they returned, and when it became known that they had agreed on their verdict the feeling of excitement in court became intense, and when they were asked, tI Gentlemen of the Jury, have you agreed on your verdict," and the repiy came" We have," the whole court arose, waiting for the reply to the question, Do you find the prisoner Guilty or Not Guilty." (To be continued.)

THE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE.—At New York, on Tuesday, the English yacht Galatea and the American yacht Mayflower statted in the race for the American Cup. A light breeze prevailed at the time, and eventually the Mayflower won. Rheumatism larks in the dewy grass. As a preventive use St. Jacobs Oil. "St. Jacobs Oil is sold by Chemists at 2s. 6d. a Bottle, or by post 2P. 9d„ from the Charles A. Vogeler Company, IOle Proprietors, 45 Farringdon Road, London,"

AN OLD CLAIMANT. Having one day a spare quarter of an hour on my hands, I adjourned—it is a well-known spot in the Strand—to a neighbouring book-shop, more with the idea of passing the time away than in the expectation of a find." My visit was curiously and happily rewarded. Among the contents of the usual box of coverless books, pamphlets, and condemned religious literature, I discovered some old papers—that is, M.S.S. These I purchased from motives of pure curiosity, which was increased when on turning them over I met with a small packet labelled Documents to prove Mrs. Olivia Serres to be the Legi- timate Diu^hter of Henry Frederick, the late Duke of Cumberland." The packet also contained some original letters of Mrs. Serres, signed "Olive ot Cumbeilaud." One of these letters will form a fitting introduction to this article. SIB,—The high estimation that I hold your general charac- ter, aud a knowledge of the Politeness and urbanity of your disposition induce me, as the Daughter of the late Duke of Cumberland, to take this liberty to ask your Protection under oppression unprecedented. The eudosed Documents of my Birth will explain that such kind protection as you could afford me will be suffirient to restore my rights. I iutreat the honor of seeing you, and perhaps you will learn a tale such as seldom met the knowledge of the nati 'n. It is proper to state that I have assumed the title of the Princess of Cumberland, and shall maintain my right, as I am authorised by the law of these Re.ihns. I have had the best legal advice and as I have no Peerage to take up—(from my Father's Title having been in The Patent to descend to Male Heirs)—but as a Daughter of the Duke of Cumberland, I am entitled to the same rights and privileges as Princess Sophia of Gloucester, yet in vain have I sent copies of my certevecates' (8ic) to the Ministers and several Members of the Royal family. I have his late Majestie's authority for my being restored to uiv rights of Birth, altho' I was sacriticed for state Reasons by a tattler and Uncle, but such reasons, nor social ties, or even le^al precedents demand that I should sacrifice myself thus. I shall ever gratefully appreciate any assistance that I may re- ceive, and shall hope that I may have the honour of seeing you to sho\T you the several papers that I possess Begging that you will excuse this trouble, &c., I have the honor to remain. Sir, your obedient servant, &c., "OLIVE OF CX'XBEBLA.\D. If June 22nd, 1820, r-5, Alfred-place," It does not appear to whom this letter is addressed nor really is it material. Who was Mrs. Serres, or as she elected to style herself, the Princess Olive of Cumber- land ? This is a somewhat difficult question to answer. She was said to be the granddaughter of the Rev. James Wilmot, D.D., a man who played a very remarkable part in some of those intrigues of the Court of George III., which do not quite reflect to the credit of that sovereign's memory or of his amiable brothers. It will be apropos here to say something of Dr. Wilmot's career, as showing how in reality the claim preferred by Mrs. Serre* was, in fact, but one chapter in a series of frauds of a character at once the most grave and ridiculous. Whi!e at Trinity College, Cambridge, of which college he was Fellow, James Wilmot became intimate with Stanislaus, King of Poland, who was then studying at Oxford. The king had living with him at Oxford a young lady, generally supposed to be a sister, remark- able for her beiuty and e'.egance. Wilmot's intimacy with the king led to as great an intimacy with the 1 Princess Poniatowski, and to whom he was, indeed, shortly afterwards privately married. There was a child born of this marriage—a girl, said to surpass her Royal mother in beauty, and who at eighteen had found very devoted admirers in Henry Frederick. Duke of Cumber- land, and Lord Brooke (afterwards Earl of Warwick). To the former, after some considerable pressure had been put upon her by her relatives, she was privately married by her father at Lord Archer's residence in Grosvenor- square, on the 4th March, 1767. There were present at the marriage her father, Dr. Wilmot Lords Chatham and Brooke, and Mr. Addey. This marriage wts certi- fied by numerous documents. Lords Chatham and Archer solemnlv protest that the mar- riage of Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, and Olivia, my daughter, the said Duke's present Duchess, was solemnised legally at the latter nobleman's residence, Grosvenor-square, London, by myself, March 4, 1767. "CHATHAM, "J. WILMOT. ARCHER. "Srd November, 1767," It may be noted here for observation that Lord Chatham was in Bath on the 3rd November, 1767, when he is said to have signed this certificate. A more formal certificate however existed. "This is to certify that the Marriage of the Duke of Cum- berland and Olive Wilmot was duly solemnised according to established laws of the Church of Ungland, by myself "J. WILMOT. Present at the Marriage of ) BBOOKE, the above parties j J. ADDET. March 4th, 1767." The marriage proved a bappy one for some four years, but, when early in 1772, it became clear to all that the Duchess was about to be confined, the home was broken up, and a daughter was born at the house of Dr. Wilmot's mother, in Jury-street, Warwick, on ( aj Tues- day, April 3rd, 1772. The Earl of Warwick and Dr. Wilmot were both present on this interesting occasion. This is testified to by a formal declaration of the fact made by Lord Warwick, Dr. Wilmot, and his brother Robert Wilmot. The Duchess of Cumberland, deserted by her Royal husband, upen her recovery, left England, and died, it is said, of a broken heart, in a conventual establishment in France, on the 5th December, 1775. His Royal High- ness the Duke had meantime married Lady Anne Horton, sister to Colonel Luttrell, and to this marriage and those of the other Royal Dukes was due the passing of the Royal Marriage Act (b). From 1772 to 1815—a period of 43 years—we hear nothing particular of the Princess Olive of Cumberland, the truth being that it was not until long after she bad contracted a marriage with a portrait painter, named Serres, that she was informed of her Royal birth. This unfortunate information was im- parted to her in May of 1815, by the Earl of Warwick. Her husband ha3 left her long previously, charging her with deception. From the hour in which she received the intelligence of her parentage—the granddaughter of the Princess Poniatowski (c) and the daughter of a Royal Duke—she clamoured incessantly for Royal recog- nition. The documents that bad been handed to her by Lord Warwick on the death of Dr. Wilmot were truly extraordinary. There was one by which it was after- wards sought upon a memorable occasion to explain the fact why she had been baptised Olive Wilmot." It was to this effect:— If GEORGE R. April 4,1772. "Whereas it is our Royal will that Olive, our niece, be bap- tised Olive Wilmot, to operate during our Royal pleasure. "To Lord Chatham." She had been baptised in the name of Olive Wilmot to ensure privacy, and as the supposed daughter of her uncle Robert, who was a house painter in Warwick. It would be interesting here to inform our readers of a curious but yet reasonable theory of Olive Wilmot's birth, which appeared some years ago in The Leeds Mercury. The writer of the article in that paper states that Robert Wilmot had by his wife, Anna Maria, a daughter, who was baptised at the ehurchof St. Nicholas in War- wick, on the 15tb April, 1772, by the name of Olive Wilmot. That this child was remarkable for her wit and inventive faculties, and that she spent a considerable part of her childhood in visiting her uncle, the Rev. James Wilmot, who held the living of Barton-on-the Heath. The writer further goes on to say that this Olive Wilmot ultimately married a portrait painter, named Serres. It is certainly a curious fact that in the year 1817 when Mrs. Serres was aware of her claims to Royal birth she should, in a work she had written, and in which she sought to prove that the Rev. James Wilmot was the author of the famous letters of Junius, stated that the reverend gentleman had never married I To revert te the mysterious packet of documents delivered to her by Lord Warwick, we find among them the following informal patent of nobility :— "GEORGE, R. We are hereby pleased to create Olive of Cumberland, Duchess of Lancaster, and to grant one Royall Authority for Olive our said niece, to bear and use the title and arms of Lancaster, should she be in existence at the period of our Royal demise. Given at our palace of St, James, May 21st, 1773. CHATHAM, "J. DUNNIKG." Another was— St. James's, GEORGE. R.—In case of our Royal demise, we give and be- queath to Olive our brother of Cumberland's daughter, the sum of £15,000, commanding our heir and successor to pay the same privately to our said mace, for her use, as a recompense for the misfortunes she may have known through her father. June 2nd, 1774. CHATHAM, WARWICK." This document Mrs. Serres sought in 1822 to have pro- pounded by the Probate Court as part of the last will and testament of George III. The application was argued with great ability by Dr. Dodson and Dr. Lushington on her behalf, but was refused by the Judge Sir John Nicholl, as not being within the Jurisdiction of the Court. The due delivery of the patent of nobility to Mrs. Serres, by the Duke of Kent a.nd Lord Warwick, was recorded in a formal declaration to that effect. It is proper we should certify that the creation of Duchess of Lancaster has been delivered to the Princess of Cumberland, with the certificate of her Royal birth. London, July 17,1815. WARWICK, EDWARD, (d)." "With uo one did Mrs. Serres apparently succeed so well as she did with the late Duke of Kent. Among the documents establishing her own Royal birth, she pos- sessed one purporting to be signed by her cousin," the Duke of Kent, which is a document remarkable for its daring originality. It runs as follows:— I solemnly testify my satisfaction as to the proofs of Princess Olive of Cumberland's birth, and declare that my Royal Parent's sign manual affixed to the certificates of my cousin's birth, are, to the best of my comprehension and belief, the genuine hand-writing of the King my Royal father. Thus I constitute Olive, Princess of Cumberland, the guardian and director of my daughter Alexandrina's education, from the age of four years and upwards, in case of my death, and from tfie Duchess of Kent being so unacquainted with the mode of English education and in case my wife departs this life in my daughter's minority, I constitute and appoint my cousin Olive the sole guardian of my daughter until she is of age. London, Nov. 1st, 1819. EDWABD." Another document, which it was pretended had been signed by the Duke of Kent, was Should I not recover, I solemnly recommend Mrs. Olivia Berres, otherwise Olive, Princess of Cumberland, to my brother the Prince Regent, as the legitimate daughter of my late uncle, the Duke of Cumberland. January 15, 1820. EDWARD," The Duke of Kent. as our readers are no doubt aware, died on the 23rd of January—eight days after the docu- ment, committing the Princess Olive to the care and generous guardianship of the Prince Regent, had been executed. It was curious, and must, of course, been fa) The late Dr. Thorns has shown that April 3rd, 1772, fell on a Friday and not on a Tuesday. (6) 12 Geo. III., cap. II. (e) The Princess Poniatowski is said to have been sister to Stanislas, King of Poland. This is an error. Stanislas had two sisters, who, according to ITiesiecki's Herbarz Polski, mar- ried (1) a member of the Zamoyski family; (2) Clement firamicki. (4.) The late Duke of JteDt. highly disappointing to the Princess to find what little regard was paid to the mass of Royal patents, certificat s and other documents upon which she based her claims to the privileges of Royalty. She had written to every member of the Royal Family prosecuting her claims, and bad forwarded copies of those documents which should have convinced the most suspicious of the validity of her claims—but it was of no avail. The following letter which is one of those now discovered, cltarly snews with what attention her petitions, her documents, aud her numberless letters were received. DEAR SIR,—You will do me an exceeding kindness if you wili call. After your polite assurances that 1 should see you again I feel satisfied that I shall not be disappointed. I am at a loss what steps to take, unless I throw open my injuries to the country, for the family I belong to seem to possess no senti- ments of humanity whatever thus, why should I demean my- self to ask as a favour what law entitles. Your polite and candid manner greatly impressed itself upou my grateful recollection. recollection. I am certain your heart is anexcellent one—thus I can rely I on your sincerity and cazidctir-aiid I shall be proud and happy to cultivate a better acquaintance, not so much for my own interests as for the pleasure your superior and enlightened mind will afford me. I have been indisposed with anxiety (well I may) to see the Miss FitzClarences so protected and myself forgotten. The underwritten names are the characters I have written to. "1st. Several letters to the King, sending a copy of certificates enclosed to Sir B. Bloomfield. (Xo answer.) 2nd. To the Duchess of Gloucester (the reply, she could not interfere!) old. To Lords Sidmouth and Liverpool. (No answer.) "4th. To Lord Eldon. (No answer.) "5th. To Duke of York. (No answer.) 6th. To Duke of Clarence. (Xo answer.) &c., &c., &c. tan tnis oe an age of justice can this be an age of moral teeling r But I teel assured that the country will protect me. —1 ani, bir, your obliged bumble servant, July 3rd, 1820. "OLIVE CUMBERLAND. 1\ o. 2J. Alfred-place, Bedford Square." OnJuly 14th of the same year, he petitioned the House of Commons that an enquiry might be directed to investigate her cla ms. This petition was ordered to lie upon the Table; but no inquiry was ever directed, not was anything further done with regard to it. In this pe'ition she, after referring to her mother's marriage with the Duke of Cumberland, her own birth, and the Duke's second marriage, more fully explains those reasons of state, to which she afterwar !s alluded so mysteriously, that had rendered it necessrry her birth should be kept strictly secret. To this end, she was baptised in the name of Olive Wilmot, in deference to the expressed wishes of her Royal Uncle, George III. One of the reasons that this secrecy should be rigorously/maintained was, of course, of paramount importance—the Duke of Cumbeiland having by his maniage with Lidy Annie Horton, during the life of his former wife-the unhappy and broken-hearted Olive Wilmot, rendered himself liable to prosecution for bigamy. This very clearly ap- pears in the following document WARWICK.—Memorandum.—That the Duke of Cumberland having subjected himself to the effect of the laws against ■ 7' agreed to let his daughter Olive be the sacrifice L11?!. er that the conduct of her Royal Parent may never meet Public reprehension. We hereby promise our joint protection to the said Olive, and that we will never during the life of her Royal lather or the King betray the sccrets of the Duke of Cumberland s double union. CHATHAM: In consideration of her grandfather, Dr. James Wilmot observing the secrecy as to Mr. Serres royal parent ige a' suitable provision was secured for her by the direction'of the King to Lord Chatham. Mrs. Serres had, of course, the usual royal document to prove this beneficient intention. It bears date some five years after Mr. Serres biith :— London, May 5th, 1777. Memorandum that Lord Chatham hereby promises his future protection to Olive, the infant daughter of the Duke of Cumberland, and Olive his wife, and also undertakes to see paid to the said Olive £500 yearly until a suitable provision is settled upon her, in consideration of my promising to observe a sacred secrecy as to her birth during the King's life. "Chatham. "J.WiLMOT." It was in consequence of these oaths of sacred secrecy, so royally imposed, that Mrs. Serres remained in happy ignorance of her birth. Upon the death of Dr. Wilmot, however, the mysterious packet of State papers was de- livered, as we have informed our readers, by the Erl of Warwick to Mr. Serres in May, 1815. Within a month she had obtained a very encouraging document from the Duke of Kent. I solemnly promise my protection to my cousin Olivia Serres should the Earl of Warwick depart this life before the KHIG. EDWARD." June 3rd, 1815." Four years later she had obtained another. December 1st, 1819. "At my return from Devonshire I solemnly promise to acquaint the Regent with the birth of Mrs, Olivia Serres. EDWARD." We are now nearly at the end of this curious and long sustained Appeal for Royalty." Petitions to Parlia- ment, proceedings|in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, to prove a will of George III., appeals and applications without number all ended alike. No one credited for long the genuineness of the extraordinary documents with which it was sought to establish the right. Mrs. Serres death did not, unfortunately, terminate the case, as might reasonably have been hoped. It was prosecuted further by her daughter, Mrs. Lavinia Jannetta Horton Ryves, on behalf ot herself and her son William Henry Ryves. Her Counsel, Mr. Smith, was decidedly an enterprising man, for he sought to establish the astounding fact that George III. had been married, when Prince of Wale3, to a woman who bee irue notorious at that time as Hannah Lightfoot" or, as she styled herself, Hannah Regina." This marriage, it was stated, had been solemnised by Dr. Wilmot, and it was owing to that gentleman's connection with the king in that disreputable affair that the grand- daughter was so affectionately provided for with state documents which, as Lord Chief Justice Cockburn cogently remarked at the trial, the most responsible officers of the Crown are seriously supposed to have signed in the most liberal manner. The claim, in fact, was a claim to the throne. Very voluminous evidence was tendered to prove the signatures of the various certificates and solemn declara- tions, but the case for the petitioners failed hopelessly, and the miserable documents were impounded as impu- dent forgeries. M. GWYNNE GRIFFITH.

+ LONDON GAZETTE. (From Friday Night's Gazette). ADJUDICATIONS.—Edward R. Aubrey, 12, TSlwy-street, Rhyl, j 'urneytnan tailor.—Margaret J. Roberts, of High- ftreet, Bangor, boot and shoe maker.—Thomas Lewis, of Gowerton, Longham, Glamorganshire, tailor and draper. Acne Oke, 8, Belle Vue-3treet, Swansea, school- mistress. FIRST MEETINGS AND DATES OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. —Walter Pritchard, Cross Oak, Llanrigan, Brecor, farmer, aud dealer. Public examination, September, 22, at the MErthyr Court.—James, Baitup, Cymmer, Gla- morgan, collier. Public examination, September, 23, at the Town Hall, Neath.—John Henry Morris, West End Buildings, Chepstow-road, Mawdee, Newport, Mon- mouth, grocer and provision merchant. First meeting, September 15. at the Official Receiver's, Newport public examination, September 15, at the Newport Court. -Edward Roberts, of Twyncarno, Rhymney, grocer. First meeting, September 10, at the Official Receiver's Merthyr Tydvil.-Robert James Hancock, of Alton House, Rail way-terrace, Penaith, builder and contractor. Public examination, October 5, at Lordint Court. (From, Tuesday Night's Gazette.) ADJUDICATIONS.—David Harris David, Munday-place Cathays, and Clive-street, Gracgetown, Cardiff, grocer' Henry Ellis Poole, Station-road, Llanellv, dyer and timber merchant. Walter Pritchard, Cross Oak Parish of Llanvigan, Brecon, farmer and dealer. Isaac Morse, Shipping Farm, parish of Begelly, Pembrokeshire, farmer. FiBST MEETINGS AND DATES OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. -William Davies, of Cwmeinon, Llanwenog, Cardigan- shire, farmer. Public examination, September 21st, at Carmarthen Court. Henry E. Poole, of Station-road, Llanelly, dyer and timber merchant. Public examina- tion, September 21st, at Carmarthen Court. Walter Pritchard, of Cross Oak, Llanvigan, Breconshire, farmer and dealer. First meeting, September 14th, noon, at Official Receiver's, Merthyr Tydfil. NOTICE OF DIVIDENDS.—James Prichard, deceased, late of Raglan, Monmouthshire, ironmonger. First and final dividend, 3s. 8d. in the pound, payable September 14th, at Officiil Receiver's, Newport. Mon. Hugh Woodburn, 8, Blewett-terrace, Newport, Mon., draper. First and final dividend, 2s. 7Jd. in the pound, payable September 14th, at Official Receiver's, Newport, Mon.

♦ COMMERCIAL FAILURES. According to "Stubbs' Weekly Gazette," the number of failures in England and Wales gazetted during the week ending Sept. 4, was 81. The number in the corresponding week of last year was 70, showing an increase of 11. The failures were distributed amongst the following trades, and for comparison we give the number in each in the corresponding weeks of 1885 and 1884. 1886. 1885. 1884. Builders, Building Materials 10 7 3 Chemists and Drysalters — 1 — China, Glass, Earthenware 3 — — Confectionery, Toys, Fancy Goods 1 1 1 Corn, Coals, Minerals 3 3 3 Drapery, Clothing Textures 9 7 4 Farmers 6 2 — Furniture, Upholstery 1 3 2 Horses, Vehicles 3 3 1 Jewellery, Watches 2 3 1 Leather 2 6 1 Metals 2 2 2 Paper, Printing, &c. 1 1 Provisions 14 10 Wines, Spirits, Beer, Tobacco 14 5 4 Miscellaneous 21 12 17 81 70 50 The number of billsof sale published in England and Wales, registered at the Queen's Bench for the week ending Sept. 4, was_ ^u!a. I he number in the cor- responding week of last year was 219, and the cor- responding weeks for the three previous years 229, 188, and 742.

A man named James McDermott was arrested in Edin- early on Sunday morning on a charge of having killed his wife through the reckless discharge of firearms. It was stated that a volunteer on Saturday night left -rfar at*d four cartridges at McDermott's house. McDermott took up the carbine, and, it is stated, loaded it, and he being unused to firearms the weapon exploded, the bullet piercing his wife's head. BARRISTERS—whose professional labours necessitate long intervals beween meala-notbing will be found so exhilirating, comforting, and capable of sustaining exhausted nature as Cadbury's Cocoa, guaranteed absolutely pure. Beware of Imitations [OM

OYSTERS AND MOUTHS. Naturalists have long been aware of the existence of a peculiar sort of bird which frequents the coasts of England, and of most European countries aa well, and which is known by the uncomplimentary title of the "haematopusostralegus," or oyster-catching bird. It is a creature with a long beak, with which it is reported to be able to open the shell of any mollusc, notwithstanding its hardness and rigidity; but of this latter POilot there is net sufficient proof, and it is more probable that it lives on oysters before they have become, so to speak, case- burdened, before they hive become an age which entitles them to be called "hard-shell" molluscs. English sportsmen will be more familiarly acquainted with the bird in question under it-s common title of the "sea- pie; "but if there is any truth in the theory of the transmigration of souls it is probable that these sea-pies which haunt our coasts, and which spend long and happy lives hunting for oytters beside the briny waves, contain in reality the spirits of epicures who have departed from among us. To the body of what winged creature in all nature would an epicure's soul be more likely to resort than to that of an "oyster-catcher' It would even lesson to a great extent the terrors of approaching dis- solution if our gourmet could be quite sure that in another and a better existence he would be able to eat oysters all day long—oysters for breakfast, oysters for lunch, oysters for afternoon tea and dinner besides. Oysters are universally desired, and their excellence is acknowledged even by those who can afford them but rarely. It is a phasant circumstance tha: the price of these unequalled dainties has fallen, and that the present oyster season is likely to supply a larger quantity at re- duced rates. Ousters, in a word, are said to "rule dull"; but the only sort th.t has yet come into the British market is the foreign kind. It is a very satisfac- tory thing that the price of oysters should have fallen ia recant years so much that this so-called luxury of the rich has now come withia tbe reach of slender purses. We owe much of this, no doubt, to foreign competition. Ths French, the Poituguse, and t Ie American oyster tries its best t > cut out' the English bivalve from the metropolitan market; and, as far as price goes, these foreign importations are able to beat the" cative" of our own shores. Still, in quality, it would be most un- patriotic to believe that the "native" can be touched. '• Blue points" brought over from America are popular, and so are Portuguese if the price were the same, how- ever, there would be but few foreign molluscs consumed compared with English ones. It is encouraging to hear that we may reasonably expect t) see more genuine "natives" on sale this year than last. The "spat" de- posited has been heavy, aud, therefore, there seems to be a good time coming for the friends and patrons of these dietetic luxuries. Those who cannot afford Britishers will be able to command very excellent foreign articles at prices which would have been considered ludicrously cheap a few years back. Second natives It might be thought by those unversed in the pleasant lore of bivalves that second natives had something in common with oysters that had passed be first blush of their virgin freshness, and were, in fact, second-hand. But this is very far indeed from being the truth. The fact is that it has become the practice among highly unpatriotic individuals, who believe in the edible qualities of the Gallic oyster, to re-lay any number of Fivnch molluscs in English watsrs. The result is an Anglicised French- man an oyster in its nature and fropensities French, but by culture naturalised in Great Britain. That these half-and-half creatures are equal in finvour to the true British native" there are probably few oyster-fanciers who would assert, still the best of it is that the longer they stay in English waters the more like natives they will gradually grow. It would not have the true, de- pendable nature of its English cousin, and might at the wrong moment "go off" and btcome uneatable, to the disgust of epicures. That is a characteristic of the Latin races—they are not half a3 true and tender" as the oysters of the more solid and stolid Teutonic North There may, of course, be perverted tastes which like French better than English oysters; but v e would not dilate on the unpleasing subject at any length. A second native" has an English strain about it, drawn from the beds whereon it lies and fattens, and the waters which rock it to sleep at night time. But, of course, the proptr French bivalve, as so plentifully imported to our shoies and tables nowadays, has no par; or lot in our English civilisation. It is an ou'-aad-out foreigner, and, therefore, commands lesser prices than does the real Whitstable or Colchester article, in all it? peerless lus- sciousness and unsurpassed glory. It is not a "native" at all, neither a first" or "second native and, while we should be disposed to look with forbearance mingled with pity on its defects, still it is necessary to speak the tiuth, even about oysters, aud the truth is that to the refined insular palate the French bivalve is a one-horse affair compared with the more habitual product which we are accustomed to see presented to the attention of British "bonvivants." In the autumn, therefore, if it is permissible to look so far ahead, we may confidently anticipate that oysters will be plentiful, owing to the plentifulness of "spat." The medical faculty joins with the epicure in singing the praises of the oyster tribe, and it is very agreeable that creatures so nice h. the palats should also contain in themselves chemical elements of great nutiutive value. This is decidedly obliging aad thoughtful on the part of the oyster. It might have packed its little carcase with substances which though palatable, would not inspire the brain or add health ti the frame. It has chosen to do otherwise, ar.d to be at once a thorougly delicious and a highly nutritious article of diet a fact which enables the shamefaced epicure to shelter himself behind the asseition that he has "been ordered" t) eat oysters by his medical adviser. But most gourmands do not wish for any such excuse. To them it is sufficient that a thing t .stes nice to justify its constant appearance at their festive boards. Its whole- someness only serves to gild the refined gold of the bivalve its chief and most precious characteristic! sthat its flavour is so origin d aud delicate. The very fact that there seems to be some difficulty about the cultiva- tion of oysttrs only adds to the determination of those who love them to obtain them at any cost. A taste for oysters may become like a craving for strong drink— possibly even forgeries and burglaries and manslaughters may be committed by men who are driven desperate by their inability to afford the cost of an oyster patty Who knows ? Luckily, it is impossible for this marine creature to intoxicate us, or we should be framing laws to forbid the importation of too many blue points, and oysters generally would be subject to repressive laws and to general closing" legislation. Even magistrates migh say they should not be sold because their worships did not like them. But oystsrs know how to close well enough already. It is man's pleasing duty to teach them how to open. The fact that they will be both plentiful and cheap is sure to lead to their being opened and enjoyed in greater quantities than ever before, when the tiue season begins, a little lfiter on.—Daily Telegraph.

MUNIFICENT GIFr TO EDINBURGH.—At a meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council on Tuesday, Sir Thomas Clark, Lord Provost, intimated that Mr Carnegie had spontaneously increased his offer for the provision of a Free Library from £25,000 to £50,000. Much satisfaction was expressed, and it was arranged that a public meeting of ratepayers should be called for the adoption of the Free Libraries Act. Bailie Anderson said that the offer was remarkable, not only for its munificence. but for tbe free and unconditional way in which it was made. The clerk was instructed to telegraph the result of the meeting to Mr Carnegie at New York. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—A large amount of grain was secured in the earlier districts before the break in the weather which occurred on Thursday, and many localities are reported clear. The rainfall has consider. ably reduced the quantities to be sent from the fields straight to the market, and ricks once made will have to stand awhile owing to the very heavy dews and fogs which prevailed during harvest time. Root crops are growing into a bulk, and there is an abundance of green keep. In provincial markets the new samples on offer have, as a rule, been disappointing in quality and con. dition, and a decline of Is. has frequently been quoted. The trade for foreign wheats off stands in London has pulled together at the close of this week on account of the broken weather, and that is nearly all that can be said. Feeding stuffs have been depressed, and linseed on the spot is Is. cheaper on the week. The off-coaet cargo trade for wheat has been nil, aLd the trade for wheat cargoes on passage and for shipment has also been quite at a standstill.—Mark Lane Express. DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL MOBLET.—Mr. Samuel Morley died at his London residence at half-past twelve on Sun. day morning, having been attacked soon after 10 o'clock on Saturday morning with faintness, from which he never rallied. Mr. Morley had been ill for many weeks, and some time ago his speedy demise was feared. He however, survived the acute attack, and from time to time was reported to be making some progress towards recovery. Bat his long illness at his advanced age gave rise to serious apprehensions, which unhappily have been realised. Mr. Morley was the yonngest son of the late Mr. John Morley, of Hackney, and was born in Wells- street, Hackney, in 1809. He received his education at a private school, and was introduced early into business. He was bead of the firm of J. and R. Morley, wholesale hosiers, of Wood-street, City. An earnest dissenter, Mr. Morley had been throughout his public life, both in T>° Parliament, a leading champion of the cause Protestant Nonconformity, which he promoted by munificent donations for buildingjnew chapels. He was treasurer of the college at Homeston and of the Home Missionary Society. Many years ago, in order to forward the work of the last-named society, he, in conjunction with tbe Rev. J. H. Wilsen, visited most of the counties in England and Wales, held conference meetIngi, and introduced a new order of agency, consisting of "la1 evangelists" and colporteurs. Towards defraying the cost of the Congregational or Memorial Hall in Farring- don-street, London, Mr. Morley contributed £6,000, and his portrait, painted by Mr. Wells, R A., has been placed in the library of that institution, which was founded as a memorial of the two thousand clergymen of the Church of England who resigned their benefices in the reign of Char es II. because they conld not conscientiously B^batle Uniformity. Mr. Morley represented *fii m ^advanced Liberal interest, from Jnly, 1865, till May, 1866, when he was unseated on petition. He first came forward as a candidate for Bristol on the retirement of Sir Morton Peto in May, 1868. He lost mv Ci!ri y 196 votes> numbers being 5,173 for 5lie8' and 4'977 forMr- Morley. Mr? Miles was unseated on petition in tbe ensuing June, and Mr. Morley again presented himself as a candidate. At the general election in December, 1868, he defeated his old opponent^ Mr. Miles, by more than 2,000 votes; and be continued to be one of the representatives of Bristol until last November, when he declined to again come forward, owing to failing health. Mr. Morley married, in 1841, Rebekah Maria, daughter of Mr. Samuel Hope, banker, of Liverpool; one of his sons being Mr. Arnold Morley, MP. for the Eastern Division of Nottingham Patronage Secretary of the Treasury in Mr. Gladstone's late Administration, and the chief Liberal whip.