The Cardiff Times

THE GREAT LOCAL WILL CASE. ln the Probaie Division of the High Court of Justice, an Saturday, for the fourth time, Sir James Hannen and J Special jury had before them the local suit of Norton v. Mansel. juror having been taken unwell it was agreed that it "»ould proceed with oily 11 jurymen. Mr Henry Thomas Young, the next witness, stated that be -Was a partner in the firm of Walters, Young, Deverell, d Company, New-square, Previous to 1870 the testa- r generally consulted him, but in the last-mentioned year witness was taken ill, and he handed him over to his f^rtner, Mr Deverell. After that, however, on all im- portant matters the testator consulted witness. In 1870 oe consulted him about a disposition of his property J"iich he wished to make, and sent him the draft of a will respect of it. He sent him a note accompanying the draft of that will, in which he stated that aS Mr Peabody made his will on nine sheets of paper he thought it 8dght suffice for him to make his will on half of that dumber of slips. The evidence of this witness was ■•jttularto that of his partner, Mr Deverell, as to the tesr leaving his property equally among his family. -Hie witness went on to até that he Bad defendeq. lleveral actrohs on the part of the testator. Thes. had no reference whatever to his "Welsh property, wit they were actions raised in respect at debts contracted family. John Cox, said that at one time he was captain 01 the fimbria, and knew the Major. Ip November, 187*1, th$ v/Ati not a sane man at all. He used to groan ,nd howl in his cabin as if he thought that somebody "as after him, and witness could not get any orders from 1bnl, and had to act as he thought was for the best. When -at Swansea the deceased used to read until he fell off his dlair, and was in the habit of partaking of whiskey mixed J[ith marmalade. He was aware that the Major was in "he habit of taking morphia. He had seen Mrs Rhode* On board the yacht, and she brought a. little boy with her. The deceased seemed pleased with him, and said that he *as a noble little fellow and would be a rich man some «&y. When at Havre, Richard aiul Young. Spencer left, and went to Paris. At this the Major was much and said that his son should suffer for it. -during all the winter of 1874-75 the Major anxious to get to the Mediterranean, and h told tnea8 that he could not get away as they were bother- him about his will. He remembered being at Swan- and the testator wanted to go to Pembroke to see the platton launched. When he came down, he was not fit go to sea. He was so feeble. Witness had to carry .Q11Q in hia arms. Ha was wopse than witness had eves 8leen him. He would not take the deceased without lfllomebody else, for he did not want to have it on his head he died at sea. He knew that the Major took morphia, *nd, when he had some, for a minute he was as lively as lark, and then sank down again. He did not think that the deceased was capable of transacting such a busi- asipakiug a will. When witness went for orders, lie «onnd the deceased half asleep, and in a muddly sort of and witness could make nothing of him. During the **hole voyage witness did not thiiik thai the deceased gashed himself. The deceased ought to have had seme-i body to attend on him, but Mr Richard would not ome. When lie sailed for the Mediterranean he told witness that he should have to see him again. Cross-examined He got gradually worse it was like the tide ebbing and flowing. He was better after the and when that worked off he was dead again. December, 1874, he waa better at sea, but he began tq 1>Ïne as they neared Portsmouth. He considered the de- based as little more than a lunatic all that time. During voyage he was jolly, but when they neared the lIbore got worse. Mr Richard was kind to his father when he wanted money. (Laughter.) At Havre he stated that he had plenty of jewellery, and he said that he would pop" that when he got to Paris. Mr Richard and were friends, though they had a word now and then. The Major used to go to sleep in the chair. Had con- •*M»tly seen him the worse for liquor. He was in the habit; of liquoring up all day long and never ceased. Re-exanuned Had heard Richard speak to his father TJf?* l»oney matters. It was a common occurrence of -tuchard to bother Tils fatKer. for money, and when he had Obtained it he would be off. James Austin, a mate on board the Cambrian, said that in the year 1874 he joined the deceased and went on voyage from Cowes to Swansea. Witness had not seen since 1871, and he noticed that he was much feebler, He seemed a different man altogether, and quiet and re. served in his manner. On one occasion he told the parrot «he course of the yacht. He appeared to be very ill in- deed. Witness remembered a gentleman coming on board with Mr Richard to see Major Mansel, but could lot say whether he was Mr Norton. James Lams, one of the seamen on board the ambrian, deposed that during the voyage the Ceased was in the habit of drinking at j-hourg. Remembered the voyage to Swansea, assisted the deceased from the boat on board the yacht Ver\Was so weak* In March, the deceased was in a jjj^oor condition. Witness took his orders from the that the helm. At Algiers, he heard the testator say to Should find a house onshore, and get Mr Richard Alb r one of his daughters. ■Poll.night said he was shorthand writer in Mr Jforton 8 ^ce' I Was formerly with Mr j-emprvi' Tas with him £ n the early p<\rt of 1875. He attest ^eref,Major Mansel coming to the office. He seemed viU of the 9t]l of March. The deceased and £ eJ7 seble, and was assisted in by Mr Roberts lha £ v be«evd Mr Richard Mansel. Witness noticed •peat decrepid but he did not hear him 5B was called upstairs by Mr Norton—as Bel at1 i6-vr id remember—ana Mr Norton, Major Man- decease ? l i '^larf^ Mansel were in the room. The noido anything to the paper in his presence; preee clear as <o that. The major did not sign in his but was not quite sure, that the I testa+m, i r'"t ta^e any part in the transaction. On cultv .• eavi,ng, witness noticed that he had some diffi- V/oc into a cab he seemed feeble. out could not say own memory accurate, cot to the clerk's room. He had an idea that .tfftria&A in the room. He was not told that he was going to *™tness, but could see that there were instructions for a He did not see whether or not the Mayors signa- was on the will when he signed it. He did not Unserve any initials in the margin. Re-examined: Had almost forgotten the circumstances 1!ntil he refreshed his mind. He saw no writing done Whatever. To the best of his belief it was Mr Richard and Mr Roberts who went with the Mayor to the cab; as, however, it was the first time he had seen them he must Ve been told who they were By the Judge: He had witnessed a will before, and --new the requisites for making a will. George Hicks, colliery agent at Sonthsea, stated that in March, 1815, he saw the testator at the Star and Garter, about 11'80 a.m., drinking grog. He appeared feeble, and when he drank he spilt some of the liquor. At thin time he was rather slovenly for a gentleman. Richard Owen, late under-waiter at the Star and garter, said that Major Mansel used to get up early and have hia grog. James Bailey, a licensed waterman, at Portsmouth, knew the deeeased well. In March did not think that 'he had his senses in himself." Before he went away the last time he was not fit to go, or be by him-clf. He told fitness that he was not fit to go. At the station he said he could not get out of the door he would get out of. the window. William Passells, waterman at Portsmouth, used to be by the deceased. He changed during the last few years, and at last used to talk at random. The last six months he was knocking about Portsmouth he did lot know if he paid people, or if he had not. Elizabeth Newbury, formerly chambermaid at the Star **ul <iarter, Portsmouth, said that, the testator was quiet nd feeble, and stayed a good deal in his room. He used to take about two bottles of medicine (phials) a day. He always "ad a bottle of spirits on the toilet table of the bedroom. During the day he used to put _chains near the door, so that nobody could get in. Mr Richard Mansel was there, but did not seem to take much notice of his father, and did not take his meals with him. In her opinion the deceased was a man with whom you could do almost what you like. Cross-examined Said so because he was so weak and childish. Did not believe that he was capable of opening the window and getting out, he was so weak. He used to "hum about the house, and did not speak. At this stage of the proceedings the court. adjourned. IMPORTANT EVIDENCE OF THE DEFENDANT. In the Prolate Division of the High Court of Justice, on Wednesday, Sir J. Hannen and a special jury had before them, for the fifth time, the local suit of Mansel v. Mansel and Others, which had reference to the testa- mentary dispositions of the late Major Mansel. The Solicitor-General (Sir Hardinge Giffard, Q.C.), Dr Deane, Q.C., and Dr Tristram appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Charles Norton, solicitor, who propounded the will; Mr Serjeant Parry, Dr Spinkes, Q.C., Mr R. A. Bayford, and Mr Romer (of the Equity Bar) were counsel for the defendants; and Mr F. A. Inderwick, Q.C., for the in- terveners. Upon his Lordship taking his seat, he said that he observed the juryman who had been absent from illness was now present, but under the circumstances it was advisable that he should be excused, as it would be diffi- cult for him to gather up the evidence that had been liven while he was away. The case then proceeded with 11 jurymen. Charles Morshead, chemist, of Portsmouth, said that lie was in the habit of supplying the deceased with I niorphia from time to time. The last time witness saw Jrim at Portsmouth he noticed that there was a great change in him, and that he was exceedingly feeble. Joseph Mellin, chemist, of Wimbledon, also deposed to applying the deceased with morphia draughts. The jaantity and strength increased as time went on. The wrt amount contained as much as eight grains of 8orphia. The last time he supplied the deceased with •wrphia was in September, 1874, when the draught con- tained eight grains. By the Solicitor-General: Drugs of that sort lost J their effect on the constitution by the constant habit of I taking them. Constantine Grant, proprietor of the Grand Hotel, Turin, remembered the deceased coming to the hotel. He waa very ill in health, and poor in mind. Witness f ■poke to one of the young gentlemen who was with the deceased, and he told witness that it was necessary to give the testator morphia to relieve him. In his opinion he did not think the deceased at that time was capable of transacting business, Hans Amoler, formerly head waiter at the Grand Botel, Turin, remembered in July, 1875, the deceased coming to the hotel. He was very ill indeed, and appeared very feeble. He remained in his room the whole time he was there. Witness often went up to see Idn, and spoke to him, but the old gentleman never answered him. The two gentlemen who were with him paid no attention to him, and he was always left alone. Sir James Hannen at this point said: I think it my Buky to say that public time is being wasted by calling Witnesses of this class. All this kind of evidence is four months after the will was made. Mr Bayford then proceeded to read the evidence of foreign witnesses, who had been examined on commission, toe of whom, Dr Ball, gave an exhaustive disquisition Upon the effects of morphia upon the system, while, ac- eording to the evidence of Sir John Oormack the deceased had a confused look, and could not clear his mind for 1 •ome time at the interview. After the reading of this voluminous evidence, which occupied a considerable lame, Mr Serjeant Parry recalled Mr Deverell, for the purpose of proving certain Jeripts. Captain Edward Berkeley Mansel deposed that he Was born in 1839 at Liverpool, and entered the army in g869. He remained in the army until January, 1872. This was after his marriage. At that date he left the Jwvice. Did not recollect having a conversation with his about the baronetcy, but he had with his -cleo Hia father agreed to allow him ±1200 a-year. He continued to make that allowance until June, 1870. « was about the year 1862 that he first heard anvthing his legitimacy. He asked hia father to write ana Jxplain the factin order that he might acquaint his ner-in-law. There was a report about his mother being summoned for assaulting one of her children, and Ie father in a letter ridiculed the idea. aa absurd, and gated that he uhould like to discover the author, then went on to pay that he believed that wo witness by th Jaw of Scotland WM legiti- A declaration (read hy Serjeant Parry) ••oprdln* to th« etotute, ww Win hy hia £ athei\ It •«atea that for veara before hia mamaee he had been going with his wife, and that he had always treated liiul as his eldest son. On this the marriage took place, in May; 1870. His uncle died in 1872, and lie became his heir. [Letters were read from the testator, ill one of which he said that he would leave £303 per annum for the widow and children of the witness. He also stated that the property would be divided equally, so that there would not be much for eachJ At the marriage of his sister he was, without his knowledge, made a trustee. He never had angry words with his father (A number of witnesses' letters were then read from the testator to witness, all of which showed that they were on affectionate terms.) He saw his father in the autumn of 1874; at that time he thought he was dying. He was received with kindness and was always friendly terms with bis father. This was the last time on he saw his father alive. He afterwards received a letter from his sister Eliza stating his father was in Paris, in consequence of which he went there, and arrived there on the 25th August, 1875. He found him in a stupefied state. Dr and Mrs Rhodes were there. Witness found him in bed, and after consultation with medical men he was removed from the hotel. Upon that occasion there was a dispute about his father's removal. He paid all the expenses of the hotel previous to his father going to the Grosvenor Hotel. His father at Paris appeared anxious to make another will, and kept on calling out, "That will, that will; they forced me to do it." He called this out repeatedly, and the clergyman was called in to pacify him, and prayed by his bedside. At the Grosvenor Hotel witness saw- Mr Norton there. Witness was with deceased until he died, and held him in his hands. An attempt was made to remove his father to another room than that he had provided for him. At the Grosvenor Hotel he called out about the will, and said, "That will What have I done they forced me to do it." Mr Newett also attempted to remove his father, and interfered with the nurses, His father was anxious to have his affairs taken out of Mr Norton's hands. The bible (produced) Was his father's. On the front page there were the names pf his children, except two, who died before witness. There was an erasure Detween heading Courtenay and Eliza Phillips. Cross examined At times his father rltVed a great deal at the Grosvenor Hotel; one or two OpoasioiM hfe Either was in posp £ «ion of his facul- ties. He had luckl intswaW and seemed to recognise people, and appeared calmer in these intervals. At times he recognised Mr Newett, and spoke to him, falling hiia by his name. He generally got worse at the hotel, and was in a low state shortly before hia death. He raved worse of a night. He got weaker and weaker. Was sot aware that there was a paper signed by the testator declaring that he was born out of wedlock, He never pressed his father for further evidence about) his legitimacy, but a document was afterwards prepare at his father's request. His grandfather died a year before his parents were married. (Document put in, stating that in 1847, having been sworn on the Holy Evangelists, the testator stated thatj he intended to marry, and described himself as a bachelor.) Prodding to be cross-examined w to latter events, the witness stated that he was not aware that the deceased was going to the Mediterranean. He, however, "heard who had taken him away." His father did not tell bin* he was going to purchase the Cambria. His sister Lily wrote to him about his father. She did not say that his father was taken away. It wa,s a lapsus lingua on his part to say so; he retracted the wordsi "ltel on." His father wrote from Portsmouth about his sinter's allowance, and she was at the time staying at his hovwe. He thought it the worst thing he could do to go on a voyage; he did not say so, as his father was not a man who liked suggestions. His sister did not tell him where hia father had been. Re-examined :He got his information that in 1838 hia parents were in Scotland, from his moth(t, Soon after my father's death we were married was the information he received from his mother. "Soon after I was unwill- ing to make a public; declaration of our marriage," and the reference to the marriage, according to the Established Church at Liverpool, was information he also received from his mother. As far as witness was concerned, he never asked him to sign the paper referred to. He never dictated to his father, or ever had a quarrel with him in his life. Mrs Edward Mansel, wife of the preceding witness, stated that after her marriage she from time to time saw the testator, and he always received her very kindly. She did not see him very often. She saw him just before he died at the Grosvenor Hotel. In the room she saw the deceased, who addressed her by her name, and spoke to her. He said, I wonder you come to see an old sinner like me. 1 have done you and your husband the greatest injustice that will, that will. Could I get 12 hours to repair it." Cross-examined His words were "They forced me to make that will," He did not say what will, or explain who was meant by "they." Was not aware that a will was to have been made in Paris. Mrs Rhodes stated that she was one of the daughters of the deceased, and married on the 1st of October, 1867, and up to that time had lived with her father and mother, and had always been on friendly terms with her father. She was married to a medical gentleman, and her father made her an allowance, and was security for her husband. Her father from time to time corresponded with her, both before and after her marriage. The letters read by the examining counsel (Mr Inderwick), concluded in affectionate terms. Her father was not present at the marriage, he was not used to those sort of things." Afterwards he wrote to her, and she visited him once a- yeftr. She had several children, and her father used to see them. Her son was on board the yacht and the de. ceased seemed fond of him he took more notice of them generally. He never made any difficulty about seeing, witness, and she always went to see him at the' time appointed. At Wimbledon he talked about the other members of the family there never was any dispute between her father and herself. The deceased only paid her allowance once, stating that he could not afford to daso. Until his death she was not aware of the contents of his will. He had, however, stated that he should not make "VWiii'ifellgnce between the children—the last time was at leaving so father waa displeased at his brother and stated that' (the defendant), it equally, as he (the testator) woiuu (Letters were here put in and extracts read. They showed that in correspondence the witness and her father were on good terms.) WTien her father was at Portsmouth she went to him at the Star and Garter Hotel with her sister-in-law. She found her father in the parlour. She told him she had come in consequence of the telegram she had received, which amongst other things stated that he had not received letters. The deceased spoke about this, and stated that he had not received any letters. She told him that she had written twice. The deceased replied, "That fellow Dick must have stopped them," or words to that effect. Richard came in soon after, and she repeated his father's words, and he denied it. Subsequently he showed her a letter which he said that he had found. When her father w as away from Dick he was kind to hsr. He ordered luncheon for her and Miss Rhodes. In Richard's pre- sence the deceased seemed somewhat short" to her, but at other times he treated her differently. There was no reason to treat her a& he did in the presence of Richard. In March, 1875, she thought that her father looked very ill. Nothing had occurred to alter her father's demeanour towards her. She asked him to write to her, and thought that he stated he would. He shook hands with her when she went away, but she thought that he did not want to be seen doing it. There had never been that constraint of manner on the part of her father before, except in the presence of Richard. From Paris she received informa- tion that her father was veiy ill, and she at once went.. e telegraphed to the proprietor- of the hotel to ascertain if her father was there, and received a reply in the affirmative. The day after her arrival her father knew her, and from time to time the deceased got better, and talked to her. At that time she did not know what will was in existence. He appeared troubled about his will, and used to cry about it, and said that he wanted to alter it. She asked him if he had not settled his affairs, and he stated that he had not. Witness said, "We are all right;" to which her father replied, "No, you are not au right; and seemed to worry a good deal about Jt. One Sunday he raised himself ud and asked her to send for his will. She stated that she did not know who had it, and the deceased said that Mr Norton had it. That was the first time she heard of it. The deceased went on to say that he wanted to take Dick s name out of it. She did not know what to do, and sent for her brother Edward. He denied that he had given Dick any authority to receive his rents, and expressed a desire to come to Eng- land. Witness, in consequence, consulted the doctors. Something was said about his going to Weymouth, but she did not suggest it. At the Grosvenor her father seemed anxious to have her with him the whole of the Cross-examined: Knew before the telegram that her father was leaving Portsmouth for abroad in the Cam- bria. Could not remember when she learnt that such was his intention. Did not remember his buying the Cambria, bnt must have heard of it soon after its purchase. She was at times in correspondence with her brother Edward, and might have informed him that the deceased was going to the Mediterranean. When the matter of the letters was spoken about Richard went to the box and there found a letter. Her father never stayed at her house at Weymouth all night. She wet him on board the yacht ° Mr. Rhodes, husband of the preceding witness, stated that he went to Pans at the request of his wife, and was abused by Pres to the suit. The testator expressed a wish to him that his property should b. equally divided amongst his children, and that lii8 son fedward, and witne should be the executors. Witness called in Sir John Connack. and Dr Ball to say whether the testator was in a ??n^tion m which he could be removed to England with safety. He had expressed a desire to go. The deceased said that he wanted quiet, as "thatfellow Dick had been taking lnm about.' On September 3rd. the doctors in consultation determined that the deceased uûght be removed by easy stages. The Court here adjourned.

FATAL ACCIDENT -AT YSTALTFERA,-On Tuesday a man named William Bowen was crushed between a truok and a wall while at work. The injuries he received were so severe that he died in about ten minutes. CBMARTHEN.-At the board of guardians, on Satur- day, it was stated that there were 15 cases of typhoid fever amongst paupers in the town. The clerk of the rural sanitary authority reported as to the provision of cottage hospitals, and said the people declared they would not send thcr friends there. The Chairman said he feared it would be impossible to carry out the law until it were made compulsory. At the petty-sessions, on Saturday, James11 arry, for having stolen some articles from a. pedlar at bt. Clears, was sentenced to two months' Bowen, for being drunk at Ferry- side, was sentenced to 14 days imprisoment. EBBW VALE ENGLISH INDEPENDENT CHAPEL.— The re-opening services of this chapel were held on Sunday aDV.,Monday- The preachers were the Revs. Professor Morris, of Brecon; T.A. Garnon (Baptist), and J P. Williams, Brynmawr; the two latter preaching at Saron. On Monday the recognition services of the Key W. Davies, as pastor, were held. Discourses ere delivered by the Revs H. Olliver, Newport; T. Jeffries, iibbw vale Jansen Da vies, New- port: J. Jones, Pontypool: and W. Shillitto, Newport. The alterations of the building have cost £ 700. The col- lections amounted to £43. The chapel will seat 400 people. TKBOA* lB*WA*roir.—The throat and windpipe are especially liable to Inlfammation, CMMms. soreness and dryness, tickling M>d irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice. For these symptoms use glycerine in the form 3 fujubtB. Glycerine in these agreeable confections, bein* in proximity to the glands at the moment they are excited by tne act of socuntr, becomes •"t'Tely liBaling. 6d and Is boxes (by post for li ttaasps), labelled A Co., Homeopathic Chemists, <8, fareadneedle Street, and 1,0, Piccadilly, London."—Sold by Drane, 8, Queen-street; Jones, 8, Duke-street, Prust, Meteor-street, „ Utili Floriline !—FOB THIS TEETH AWD BREATH,—A FEW drops of the liquid "Floriline" sprinkled on a wet tooth brush prb- duces a pleasant lather, which thoroughly oleanses the teeth from aU panwfltei or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents t6TW, stomdecay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness, and a dVl&itful%rw<» *> h. It & al odour arising from decayed weth or tobacco smoke. •Fragrant Fk>rllh*?,'A being oowpoeed in part of honey and iwart heita.ii detfciouB to the taste, and toe greatest toitelt discov«ri of the ages, prepare* hy ilEXRT & CUUora rdsfc. Land&fc i

BRECONSHIfrE ASSIZES. SATURDAY. (Before Mr Justice Mellor.) The court opened this morning, at ten o'clock, for the trials of prisoners. The following gentlemen were sworn upon the grand jury:—Messrs J. Gwynne-Holfoid, M.P., Buckland; H. P. Powel, C'fustle Madoc Mordecai Jones, Rrecon; F. X. Gwyune, Crickhowellj W. de Winton, Maederwen; G. Miles, Crickhowell; J. W. Morgan, Bolgoed David Evans, Brecon Edward Davies, Merthyr; James Lewis, Aberdare W. Thomas Lewis, Aberdare Robert Smith, Ffrwdgrech W. Yaughan Morgan, London \V. Cmw- shay Ralston, Talgarth; Joseph Joseph, Brecon; Alfred Craw-shay, Lhuisaintffread John James, Aberclyn; J. M. Bowen, Talgarth; J. M. Harris, Coity; H. de Win- eon, Tyncan; Freake Williams, Crickhowell; and Rees Williams, Aberyskir. His Lordship, in addressing the grand jury, said the calendar contained a large number of prisoners, but the cases were of the simplest description, excepting one, a charge of perjury. After touching briefly upon the case of _perjury, the Judge dismissed the grand jury to their duties, STEALING AN OVERCOAT AT BRECON. John Brown, alias James Taylor, waa charged with steal- ing an overcoat, value 25s, the property of John Thomas, Brecon, on the 18th January last. Mr North prosecuted. The prosecutor said that the prisoner came to his house in company with two soldiers on January 18th, and offered to sell him a coat, which he refused to buy. They then left, and shortly afterwards he missed a coat fro^u house. Prisoner was apprehended in a Tv11'ri«,: h«,noi wearing pouter's coat. Wip. £ ^vate in the 24th, and Private Scout, 21^eg{mcnt expiained how they came_to bt m the Pri,oner's compkny P.S. Jon- kms said he apprej^^ the piisoner tfle New Grey_ wli- "11'. *"n(? 011 way to the station prisoner 01(1 tut! guilt. The_ jury found him guilty, and two PrP,«"'CUs convictions having been put in, he was sentenced ro two years' hard labour. CHARGE OF STEALING A CIDER CASK AT BEAUFORT. Edward Bailey was charged with steaiing a cider cask on February 18th, the property of David Davies, Britannia Inn, Beaufort, value 18s. Mr Hughes prose- cuted. Prosecutor s wife said they received a cask of cider, which was Traced in a pig's cot opposite the prisoner's house. I he cask was missed, and she commu- nicated with the police. P.S. Morgan Jones proved searching the prisoner's house on the 24th of February. and finding aportion of the cask there. The jury found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged. ALLEGED THEFT OF BACON AT HAT Thomas James, Elisabeth J amM, and Elizabeth Wil- liams (on bail), were charged with stealing bacon and a linen cloth, the property of John Ho wells, Hay, on 8th January last. MrA WiUia;ris prosecuted, and Mr B. f. Williams defended. The prisoners were acquitted. AN OLD OFFENDER. Miriapi Jones, alias Mary Jones, was charged with. BteaJipg four pairs of socks, value 3s 4d, the prqperty of Jamee fiewis, Glasbury, m February last. She was also charged with obtaining by false pretences a quantity of drapery goods from Catherine Lewis. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the former charge, and denied the latter. Mr A. Williams prosecuted, Ihe jury found her guilty. There were three previous convictions against her. She was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. STEALING BOOTS AT BRYNMAWR. Margaret Brewer, married woman, Brynmawr was charged with stealinga pair of boots, value 4s the pro- perty of Mr Hicks, Brynmawr. Mr Bowen Rowlands prosecuted. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty,and the prisoner was discharged. PLEADED GUILTY. William Carter, labourer, for stealing a cloth overcoat, value 23 109, at Brynmawr, the property of John Dale, on December 27th last was sentenced to six calendar months' imprisonment. John Roberts, labourer, for stealing from a drawer in the dwelling-house of David Price, farmer, Penkelly, in February last, Cl2 10s, was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour. Elizabeth Owen, domestic servant, charged with steal- ing from Messrs Laricm and Jones, drapers, Brecon, goods of the value of k26, was sentenced to six calender months' hard labour. Morgan Price and William Vaughan, for stealing two flannel shirts, value 9s, the property of James Morgan, at Llangunider, was sentenced, the former to seven calender months, and the latter to six calendar months' hard labour. David Bennett, a collier, for stealing a leather strap value 6d, the property of Walter Jones, Brynmawr on January 14th, and for stealing a spring balance value 2s 6d, the property of William Davies, at Llangattock, in October, 1875, was sentenced to nine months' hard labour. The court then adjourned. MONDAY. (Before Mr Justice MELLOR.) INDECENT ASSAULT AT DEFYNNOCK. A tramp named White was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting Margaret Edwards, near Sennybridge, in January, with intent, etc. It appeared that the girl had been sent on an errand by her mistress, Miss Morgan, The Castle, Defynnock to Sennybridge, at about seven o'clock in the evening, and on her return she passed the prisoner, who was standing motionless near a milestone close to Sennybridge. As she was turning up a lane which led to Iier mistress's house the prisoner quickly followed her, caught hold of her, threw her down, and struggled with her to effect his purpose; he knocked two of her teeth out, and was about to effect his vile purpose, when the screams of the terror- ised girl brought assistance. Prisoner then decamped, and was tracked into Carmarthenshire by P.S. Davies, of Defynnock, who walked all night, and secured the lwi- soner. Prisoner pleaded guilty. The Judge told him if he had succeeded in committing the capital offence he would have sent him to penal servitude for life. THE BRECON PERJURY CASE. James Martin, of Llanfaes, was indicted for commit- ting wilful and corrupt perjury at Brecon petty-sessions on Monday, February 19th.. Mr Bowen Rowlands prosecuted, Mr B. Francis Williams defended. Prisoner swore that in an assault case, "Ann Vaughan v. matter on trfe plu^io-^lofcndant was not present in the then the assault was committed; DO." when- assault committed, and when asked of the borough bench whom he saw commit it, he replied, "Thomas Smiles and William Bevan." These boys showed they were not on the spot at all. The bench then committed Martin for perjury. His lordship stayed the trial, after pointing out that there was no corroboration of the complainants' statement that the boy Davies did assault her. He directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was released. This concluded the criminal business. TUESDAY. These assizes were concluded to-day, before Justice Mellor. The only case was that of John Thomas v. Daniel Morgan and others. The plaintiff, Mr John Thomas, of the Lamb Inn, Cwmtwreb, Y stradnlais, sued the executors of his late father, Mr Thos. Thomas, auctioneer, Ystradgunlais, for the value of two notes, for £70 and 1:150. Mr B. T. Williams, Q.C., and Mr B. F. Williams appeared for plaintiff; Mr Bowen, Q.C., and Mr Arthur Williams for the defendants. The matter was settled by the defendants paying plaintiff £ 100 and the costs of the proceedings. A special jury was certified for.

LAUNCESTON ELECTION. For the vacancy caused in the representation of Laun- ceston by Mr Deakin's retirement, two candidates went to the poll, Sir Hardinge Giffard, the Conservative Solicitor-General, and Mr Collier, Liberal. The polling took place on Saturday, and the result, although bestow- ing on Sir Hardinge his long coveted seat in the House of Commons, has nevertheless proved that Liberal principles are steadily increasing amongst the constitu- ency. The weather during the earlier part of the day was wretched, and out of 760 entitled to vote, up to noon only 240 had polled. The votes afterwards came in more briskly, and eventually 676 were recorded besides half-a- dozen spoilt papers. The voters of the town, and those of the country portion of the Parliamentary borough are nearly equal in numbers, and while there 18 no doubt that the town was strongly Liberal, the Deakin property, situated in outlying parishes, exercised great influence in the Conservative interest. When the poll closed, although no formal check of the votes had been had been kept, it was believed that the Solicitor-General had a hundred majority, a supposition fairly verified by the declaration, at twenty minutes past six, as follows Giffard JU2 Collier 274 Majority 118 Mr COLLIER, speaking from the White Hart Hotel, considered the restilt very satisfactory, as they had succeeded In diimnisning the Conserva- tive majority. He promised to contest the borough again, when he justed the result would be still more favourable. Sir Hardinge Giffard sjjoke from the King's Arms. He thanked those who had worked for him, and promised to take to Parliament what Laun- ceston said, that it approved the polic> of the Govern- ment. As Mr Collier had been interrupted by a noisy crowd Sir Hardinge was compelled to close his remarks prematurely, but on the whole the proceedings were orderly It is not probable that the .Liberals will peti- tion although the poll was not open a quarter after the appointed tune while it was closed punctually-a point on which some think a petition would be successful.

EXTRAORDINARY ACTION. In the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, on Tuesday, Ellen Gavin, a domestic servant at Claoham. sued Joseph Merson, a farmers son, for damages for breach of his promise to many. The de- fendant admitted the promwe, hut pleaded that the woman was unchaste. It seems that m 1874 plaintiff lived in Berkshire, near to the defendant s farm, and he promised to marry/her. She deposed that an improper intimacy took place between her and the defendant in November 1874, and the result was the birth of a child in the following July. She had to leave her situation in conse- auence, and she subsequently received a letter from the de- fonflant which she destroyed, because he said lie would eive her up as he had seen two letters written to her by I married' man with a family, named Eraser, and who had formerly been in Mrs Blake's service, while she was there She nad tore up those letters, and threw the pieces in the grate, but they were picked out and made Public. The letters from Iraser to the plaintiff written in 1874 and 1875, were then put in, and were of a most disgusting character. He addressed her as his "darling and spoke of the hapny moments they had passed to- gether He also asked her what was the Bize of her Cloves, and what colour she liked, promising to give her a second pair when she got married. In the second letter he addressed her as "Mv dearest Nellie" saying he had not received her last letter until a week after it was Written. He also gave her instructions how to correspond with him, and in what terms she should write to his wife, expressing the hope that he might often see the plaintiff when she went to Isleworth. This ktter was sig-d Fanny Reed. In reply to the learned judge, the plaintiff denied in the most positive manner that she had ever writ- ten to FEaaer, but said she had written to his wife, and had visited them at their house in company with a cook she was living with. A copy of the letter written by the defendant to the plaintiff, who said she had destroyed the original, was here put in, and in which he reproached her for her disgraceful immorality with a married man with a family, in consequence of which he broke off the mar- riaee. A letter to the defendant from the plaintiff, who expressed her regret that she had not told him all that had happened, and the hope that he would pardon her, as she thought she had destroyed those to kind lettere" from Fraser. was then read, and his Lordship asked whether, after such a letter, the eso could be sustained. Here was a woman who spoke of the filthy letters ad- dressed to her by a married man as his kind letters." The jury at once stopped the case, and judgment was entered lor the defendant.

,r,o OOMUjipnVXO,-C.GNBUgnloy Ila CUIRABLE,-A cer- tafom«th«d ttwrelwjbeendkeomed fc>r thi»<J$^«ssh>g<wupto,int ^SSSSw,wh«ta des nw «*t»U *uffewa»ayb«a«ftUrot» It to all doubt the woarfe- iJble remedy «f the WnHmwU have town cnr«d by H, 1 uU wrtkrufew I* hy to any pa»»

THE GALE. The gale which was predicted in our columns as likely to prevail about the middle of this week, commenced on Wednesday. The wind blew with terrific force, and there was a sudden fall in the temperature, the cold beiug intense. Our Plymouth correspondent telegraphs :—A ship- wreck is reported in the Bristol Channel. Early on Wednesday morning a small vessel, the Maria, of Bide- ford (Captain Guard), from a South Wales port with coal, was running for Bude Harbour in a partially dis- abled state. She missed the entrance, and driving on the rocks at the back of the breakwater, cajisized, and was dashed to pieces. By the great exertion of those on shore one man was rescued by lines thrown over the rocks, but the captain perished.

BAGNAL AND CO. (LIMITED). IMPORTANT ACTION. In the Chancerv Division of the High Court of Justice on Wednesday, Vice-Chancellor Bacon heard the case of Bagnall v. Carlton, Grant and others. This was a bill filed by Bagnall and Co. (Limited), claiming alternative relief against the defendants, by way either of a recision of a contract entered into by bagnall and Co. (Limited), the plaintiffs, or that the defendants should be made jointly ^0 repay to the company the sum of ±JUo,0UUf Oeing money which it was alleged properly beJ^^ed to the company, but which the defendants had Improperly received and divided amongst themselves. These were the alternative reliefs asked for by the bill, but the latter part of the relief, namely, the return of the money Mone was now asked for. Mr Kay, Q.C., Mr Fry, Q.C., and Mr Russell Roberts appeared for the company, and Mr Swanston, Q.C., and Mr Ingle Joyce appeared for Mr Carlton. Sir H. Jack- son, Q.C., and Mr Everett appeared for Albert • Mr Hemming, Q.C., Mr Westlake, Q.C Mr Cozens Hardy, Mr Simpson and Mr Axiilar appeared for the other ngfendaste. Mr Kay, Q.C., said that the present case came within the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the matter of the Sombrero Phosphate Company, in which it was decided" that the promoters of a company stood in a fiduciary relation to the company which they promoted, and were liable to account to the shareholders for the moneys which they received either as "promotion money" or otherwise, if such moneys came virtually out of the coffer of the company. The company was formed to purchase the good-will of the business carried on by the late James Bagnall, under the style of John Bagnall and Son. After setting' forth who were the first directors of the company (several of whom were independent men and innocent of anvmalnr»f>Hrp<0 the learned couneel went on to say that in aTdTtion to the agreement to buy and sell, there were several secret and collateral agreements, the existence of which was unknown to the innocent directors and shareholder*! The late James Bagnall died on the 12th JanS^y 1872* and just before his death he, being desirous of selling the business of John Bagnall and Son, had the property valued by Messrs B. Bird and Co. The valuation took place in September, 1871, with the following result — value of stock, £181.336; value of goodwill, etc £118,254. In his will James Bagnall deviaed his property in trust for sale. The trusts were that out of the proceeds the debts and legacies should be paid, Richard Bagnall having a beneficial interest for life, with remainder to his children. Richard Samuel Bagnall and the Messrs Naylor were appointed executors. Each Kn^ a Wanv nf Bdooo They proved the will, and S3 their legacies. In order to carry out the trust for sale they instructed their solicitors,! Messrs Duignon, Lewis, and Lewis to write Messrs Bird and Co., offering them £ 60,000,payable partly in cash and partly in debentures,if they could find a purchaser for the business for £300,000. Messrs Bird and Co. carried on negotiations until August, 1872, but being then unable to find a purchaser.they did not, further, directly interest themselves in the matter. Subsequently, Messrs Duignon, Lewis, and Lewis corresponded with the defen- dant, John Richardson, then at Nantyglo, in South Wales, and that gentleman, writing from Kantyglo stated that he would endeavour to find a purchaser for the property. He stated that his principal was Mr Carl- ton, of Manchester, and he asked for the terms on which the property would be sold. Messrs Duignon, Lewis, and Lewis, m reply, stated that the purchase "nionev would be £300,000, to be paid in certain amounts at certain specified times, £OO,OOO to be secured by mortgages or debentures, forming a first charge on the concern, inclu- ding, in case the company formed was a joint stock company, the uncalled capital, such mortgage and de- bentures to bear 5 per cent interest. The property on these terms would be open for acceptance for 21 days There was, said the learned counsel, a thorough under- standing on the face of this letter, that the company to be formed was to be a joint stock company. Mr Hemming, Q.C. The terms of the letter are ad- mitted to be incorrect. Mr Kay, Q.C., thought that that was not the This letter was a letter intended to be shown, but on the same day a second letter was sent from the same parties to the same party, in which Messrs Duignon Lewis, and Lewis said, "We have now to add that the vendors are willing to allow to those who may find a purchaser a bonus of £60,000, the money to be paid in certain specified proportions, and at certain dates." There was, therefore, said the learned counsel, fraud at the very outset of this transaction. It was known at the very outset that the real purchase money was to be £300,006, less £60,000, which was to be put into the pockets of the promoters. Mr Richardson sent no answer to the first letter, but in reply to the second he wrote to say that he would do his best to carry into effect the sale of the property. I he commission at first was to be £ 60,000, but it after- wards mounted up to £105,000, Carlton proposed that the date at which the formation of the company should take place should be altered from 1871 to 1872, and that the capital should lie reduced by £35,000. Duignon did not understand, then, that Bagnall required that the £30,000 should go to the promoters. It was then proposed that the £60,000 should be increased to £95,000, and this, the learned counsel said, was done for the purrwse of extorting from the promoters a further sum of money. Carlton again increased his demand, and, in addition to the claimed a further sum for the te bVm'adi^Vgn^l11^. th^J,ad d had a long conversation with the executors, ala u,cj I strongly objected to a new valuation, as it would involve delay and trouble. The next day, Duignon wrote to Carlton, in respect to the terms, that the executors should undertake to sell, and that he should undertake to find responsible persons to purchase that he should pay down £20.000 to be applied in part purchase, if the sale should be effected; if not, to be forfeited by him, as liqui- dated damages. For. his own benefit, he was to have in cash and £40,000 in debentures. Still the executors objected to a new valuation. The letter further went into items, and suggested a difficulty which might be experienced if the estate was adminis- tered in the Court of Chancery. In justifying the discrepancy between the nominal amount of the capital and that which was to be received, Mr Kay con- tended that this showed that Duignon, Lewis, and Lewis were to be promoters with Bagnall. The original purchase money was to include Merrick-house, but this was after- wards deducted, and the purchase money was reduced from £300,000 to £262,000. In 1872 a gentleman from the Nantyglo and Blaina Ironworks came in, and valued. Mr Albert Grant was afterwards introduced into the trans- action, but he did not correspond or hold any interview with the vendors or their solicitors, but only with James Carlton, and through the medium of his solicitor Mr Chas Edward Matthews, of Birmingham. Mr Grant and his solicitor prepared the -skeleton draft of the prospectus or rather it was prepared by Mr Duignon and sent to Mr Grant, who made bold suggestions upon it. It was can- vassed between the partaes a good deal. Mr Carlton had it, Mr Grant had it, the Naylors and the Richardsons were all hard atwork upon it. In the draft prospectus was contained the following statement, as it originally stood —"The only contract entered into by or on behalf of the company is dated the — day of September, 1873 and made between of the one part, and as pro- moters of of this company, of the other part &c After a good deal of correspondence between the parties the draft was settled and printed, but it did not much differ from the original in any respect material for this suit The question of finding dIrectors was also a matter of much correspondence. On the 23rd January, 1873. Duig- non and Carlton asked the trustees to become directors. The company- was then formed, and Messrs Duignon, Lewis, and Lewis were to be the solicitors. Mr Albert Grant, it was said, directed the negotiations, of which Messrs Bagnall and Carlton were the appa- rent was fixed as the nominal purchase money. Messrs Naylors, the managers, proposed themselves as managers, and afterwards thev consented to become managing directors, at a salary of £ 2,000 a-year each Mr Sampson S. Lloyd also consented. Mr Bagnall declined, and Mr Bytheway, a clerk to the solicitors, was made use of in the execution of the agree- ments. Duignon, Richard Carlton, Grant, the Navloi-s, and Bytheway, met for the purpose of exchanging agree- ments, and when the Naylors were requested to add their signatures to the agreement which was to bind them, they declined, except on the terms that they should re: ceive £ 7,00° eadi, and £ 500 a-year for 7 years. They had already £ 10,000 each under the will. This the learuad oounsjel submitted, was in consequence of the' real amount of the purchase money not being stated on the face of the prospectus. An agreement was entered into with them for glVlDg £6,000 each and S500 a-year t for 7 yeiirs, a part of winch Mr Bagnall refused to carry out, a»d «i »ftion was brought upon it. An injunction was afterwards applied for by Mr Bagnall to restrain this ^The'furiher hearing was adjourned to Tuesday next. |

UNSEAWORTHY VESSELS. Mr Th<>m*s Gray, of the marine department of the I Board of Trade, prepared a return, from which it appears that durmgthe months of October, November, and December, 1876, 47 Bailing wooden ships and one iron steamship had been reported defective, 32 of them by Government officers, and six by the crews; and that 11 iron pI and one wooden sailing vessel had been detained by Government agents m consequence of over- loading or improper loading. The fact that in the latter class of caøes not ene was reported by the crews shows t how much need they had of the Board of Trade officers to watch overihem. It is worthy of note, too, that in every case in wliich the survey had been completed when the return was made, the vessel was found unsafe, and in no instance has there been an appeal.

THE CLEVELAND IRON TRADE fSPECIAL REPORT FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MllHHJSSBOBWGH, Tuesday.—The market throughout has been much disorganized, and less business has been done than for years past, bome makers who are unable to hold stocks have been offering iron at very low figures, but have not found buyers. Consumers will not now make offers. The large increase of 10,000 tons in the stocks last month, the bulk of which is in the Middles- borough district, shews clearly that the production of pig iron is considerably beyond the requirements, and this circumstance prevents a rally m To-day makers offered No. 1 at 48s; No. 3 at 44s 6d; and grey forge at 42s 6d, all less commission, but would sell at 6d less. The ship building industry ie fairly active, and to-day IVTessrs Raylon, Dixon, and Co. s men have claimed a 10 per cent advance in wages.

-== AMUSING BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. Mr JuBtice Hawkins heard I a most amusing breach of promise case at the&Cornwall assises on Tuesday. Ann vibert, 77 years of age, sued Richard Hampton, 69 years of age, to recover damages for breach of promise of marriage. The old oonple—the lady a widow, the gentleman a bachelor- met at the house of a mutual fnend, and became engaged. The wedding was fixed for August. First the defend- ant gave his lady-love a new; dresa and a bonnet, bought the cake, and made every preparation for the wedding breakfast, but on the morning appointed for the wedding he could be got out of bed, and then said he would not manied. The °™y defence was that on the Sunday before the wedding the lady made a beef- steak pie for defendant's dinner, whioh did not agree with him, and be turned her over because she was an incom- petent housekeeper. Ihfl jury found for the ulaiatiff. damaces £

A LLANELLY MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT. At Llanelly on Tuesday—before MrR. Nevill—JohnD. Jones, of Amman House, Brynamman, tailor, charged Thos. Williams, of S wansea-road, Llanelly, with stealing S7, entrusted to his care for transmission to the Llandilo Bank. The prisoner was apprehended by P.C. James. As prosecutor declined to prosecute the prisoner was discharged.

VALUATION OF THE COPPER WORKS AT LLANELLY. The adjourned appeal against the assessment of the Llanelly Copper Works came on for hearing on Tuesday. The valuation of the Copper Works had been advanced by the new valuation list from a gross value of £3,000 to £3,500. Mr Evans, on behalf of the Copper Company, offered to be rated at a gross value of £2,500. After a long discussion a compromise was agreed upon, the gross value beiug £2,800, and the rateable value £2,240. Mr W. Davies then gave in his valuation of the Lead Works, the gross value being JE560, rateable value £448. This was agreed to.

LLANELLY BOARD OF HEALTH ELECTION. This election is likely to be a most exciting one. There are five vacancies to be filled this year—the four ordinary vacancies, and the one occasioned by the disqualification, of Mr Rogers. It is understood that three che four retiring members, namely, Messrs John Randell, Benjamin Jones, and Captain Henry Reesf will be nominated for re-election, but the fourth member ,.ír John Bevan, will not offer himself for r £ -eiection.Mi- David Evans, merchant, an jnember, and ex-chairman of the board | Mr W'nliam Howell, solicitor; Mr Robert Margrave "pirft merchant; Mr Thomas Thomas, builder; Me John A. Williams, Thomas-street; and Captain John Morgan, Railway-terrace, are named as probable candi- dates.

HOUSEBREAKING AT LLANELLY. At the Llanelly petty-sessions, on Wednesday,Elizabeth Evans, a girl of about. 18 years old, in service at Murray- street, Llanelly, was charged with breaking into Mrs Jameson Leteller's house, in Greenfield-place, on Sunday week, while Mrs Letcher and the servant were out. An entrance had been gained by breaking a pane of glass in a. door which led from the house into the garden. £310s and a purse, some silver, and a smaller purse, aliilver locket, and a gold ring were stolen. The prisoner was also charged with breaking into Mrs Sarah Corrigal's house in Green- field-terrace, last Sunday evening. The servant only left the place for about an hour and a half. Upon her return she found that an entrance had been effected, and a cop- per kettle, a water jug, pots of jam, and nine yards of merino, valued at £2 2s, had been stolen. Sergt. Hughes vas informed of the robbery. He proceeded to search the premises where the prisoner was in ser- vice, and found in a cupboard under the stairs in the kitchen the merino, and also the ring in a pepper-box, covered with pepper. At the station-house she said that Mr Letcher would not be hard on her, nor the magistrates either. In Mr Letcher's presence she said a locket was in a, box on the shelf, where it was found. Miss Cook, where the girl is in service, begged hard to get her free. Prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was committed to take her trial at the next quarter sessions.

THE LLANWONNO HOUNDS. On Saturday, a meet of the Llanwonno pack of fox- hounds took place near Ochr Ddu. Amongst the company wire Messrs J. Williams, D. Williams, Lloyd, Rowlands, Lewis Evans, and Nicholas. At Coed-y-Pryciad, a fine fox broke cover. He ran across to the Rhymney Valley, Aber Valley, Upper Boat, and, coming back, went down to Bedwas, and across to the Sirhowy Valley, at last making his escape by jumping down the chimney of a cabin at the large stone quarry at Vinemile Point, where he was captured, put in a bag, and taken to Llanwonno. It was nearly six o'clock in the evening when he was caught, the chase having lasted eight hours, during which the fox hid himself for over an hour in Court-y-Cebyn, in the Aber Valley. This is the longest run that has ever taken place in these parts. The dogs and horses were completely beaten at the end.

MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. The fortnightly meeting of this board was held on Wednesday," when there were present Messrs W. Jones (Chairman), W. Harris, J. W. James, J. L. Probert, T. Lloyd, T. Jenkins. R. Griffiths, J. Jones, T. H. Hosgood, B. Kirkhouse, and G. Martin. It was decided by the board to do nothing at present with the Dowlais improve- ment in the purchase of property in Alma-street for the opening out of Overton street, the surveyor (Mr Harpur) considering that the price asked by the owners, viz, was too much, the value being, in his opinion, £3.)0: or £400, A letter was read from Mr Linton, clerk to the Mountain Ash Board of Health, asking whether the board will act in conjunction with them with regard to the disposal of sewage. The matter was deferred, The medical officer (Dr Dyke) reported that during the 28 days ended the 3rd March, the births of 102 children and the deaths of 74 persons were registered. This, on the population of 53,000, was equal to an annual birth-rate of 25, and a death-rate of 18 per 1,000. Only one death was attributed to scarlet fever. Chronic and acute lung diseases occasioned one-third of the deatiis. On the motion of Mr W. Harris, seconded by Mr Hosgood, it was agreed that an inspector of nuisances should be appointed for the lower district. This was all the business of interest.

FREEMASONRY AT PONTYPRIDD. The members of the Merlin lodge of Freemasons, Pontypridd, held a meeting on Monday evening. The lodge was opened by Bros J. Edwards Price, W.M.; Matthew Wayne Morgan, S.W.; G. J. Alexander, J.W.; T. D. Griffiths, chaplain; W. Merchant, secretary; W. Tolfree, S.D. T. Dickson, J.D.; A. A. McLucas, D.C.; J. Jones, J.G.; and — Adkins, organist. Amongst those present at the meeting were the following visitors: —Bros C. Wilkins, W.M., Loyal Cambrian; Peter Williams, secretary Loyal Cambrian T. W. Good- fellow, S.W.; Taylor, P.M., Loyal Cambrian; W. T. Thomas, Wade Barney lodge; W. D. Blessley, Cardiff. The business of ths lodge having been ended, the fr.M.Tca^i'a ^mfe^°^edTt0 *he banquet, pre- taken by the S.W., and the vice>-<;&?ia>>?el!.l;.e- (.J e After dinner, Bro G. J. Alexander proposed the toast of the evening, "The Visitors," coupling with it the names of Bros Wilkins, Goodfellow, and Taylor. llro Wilkins, in responding, spoke words of high praise and encouragement to the Merlin Lodge. Bros Goodfellow and Taylor also responded. Bro L. Gordon Lenox proposed "The health of the W.M. which was re- sponded to by Bro G. J. Alexander, on behalf of the W.M. The Chairman proposed "The health of the newly nitiated member, Bro Adkins," who responded. Bros Dickson, Lenox, Leckie, and Jones gave some capital songs, and after a pleasant evening, the brethren separated.

THE LOCAL PATENT CASE. In the Chancery Division of the High Court of Jus- tice-before Vice-Chancellor Bacon—the case of Flower v. Lloyd was resumed. It was instituted by the Messrs Fluwcr,of the Neath TinjDecorating Company, to restrain the defendant from infringing their patent for decorating tin plates in such a manner that they might be after- wards made up into canisters, boxes, &c., without any injury being done to the decorated and varnished surface* Mr Kay, Q.C., Mr Aston, Q.C., and Mr Macrory ap- peared for the plaintiffs; Sir H. Jackson, Q.C., Mr Marriott, Q.C., and Mr De Castro appeared for the defendants. Mr Aston, Q.C., having reminded his lordship of the object of the suit, said it was the practice of the court, where an infringement of patent was alleged, to throw on the plaintiffsthe onus of shewing that the patent claimed was a new and useful one, that it had been in use by the patentees, and that it had been infringed by the defendant. He submitted that the plaintiffs had proved these three propositions most conclusively. The invention consisted in taken tin or terned plates, and subjecting them to a compound process of decoration, consisting of printing direct, drying in heated ovens, varnishing, and drying again, and this printing, drying, and varnishing made up the entiie invention of the plaintiffs. Prior to i860 it was the custom in the trade to take a sheet of tin, to make it up in the form required, and then to japan and decorate it, but the problem which the plaintiffs set themselves to solve was, how to decorate the tin sheet in such a manner that the tin plate might be bent in any form without in any way injuring the decora- tions on the surface. The tin sheets so decorated were supplied to the trade, and his lordship had heard gentlemen connected with the tin trade declare that prior to 18G9 no process was known to the trade by means of which the results produced by the plaintiii's' patent. The learned counsel having rapidly summarised the evidence for the plaintiffs, Sir Henry Jackson, Q.C., called on the witnesses for the defendant. Their examination lasted the remainder of the day, and the object was to show that prior to 1869 tin plates coated and decorated similar to the plates printed by Messrs Flower were well known and com- monly practised in the trade. The case was again adjourned.

Messrs Dunville and Co. are the largest holders of Whisky In the world. TRteir old Irish Whisky is rwommcndedfby tho medical profession to preference to Freuoh brandy. It is Supplied la, aod cases tor bome use and exportation, an 1 quotations voasr be bad Items Bwivilks and Co.,

PRESENTATION AT COWBRIDGE. On Friday week the Rev. Daniel Jones was presented on his departure to St David's, with a gold watch, value 40 guineas, and a purse.

CARDIGAN SCHOOL BOARD. The meeting of the school board was held on Mon- day. Mr Evans drew attention to the fact that there were a number of parents in the town who did not send their children to any elementary school. He inti- mated that at the next meeting he would discuss the propriety of putting in force the compulsory powers.

DEATH FRO^I LYURXRNG AT DOWLAIS. Yesterday, a child named Margaret Scanlon, aged 10, whose parents reside in Victoria-street, Dowlais. died from the effects of burns received on the 26th February. On that day she and other children were playing with a candle, when her clothes became ignited and she was severely burnt.

THE COLLEGE OF LLANDOVERY, The Bishop of St. David's, as visitor of fhis school, has nommated as the examiners for the public examination, vr rii!ie e the next term, Mr J ohn Rhys, n i Merton College, and Professor of Celtic the University of Oxford and the Rev. David "iTiOmas, M.A., Public Examiner in the University of Oxford, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ABERCARNE. On Monday night as Mr Ed. Edwards, of the..xjell lnrij was returning from Crumlin on horseback, he Was thrown from his horse and fell upon his beM. The Misses Edwards, of Gwyddon House, by at the time, the injured man was placed in theii; carnage and taken home. Mr W. H. Davies, surge-on. was called in, but Mr Edwards died about on o'clock in the morning.

MERTHYR GAS COMPANY. The ninth ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of this company was held at the offices, at Merthyr, on Wednesday, Captain J. W. Russell presiding. A j dividend of 10 per cent was declared on the original capi- tal, five per cent upon the preference stock, and seven per cent upon the new capital. The annual report was read by the chairman, and votes of thanks to him and the secretary, Mr Cocker, concluded the meeting.

LOCAL BANKRUPTCY APPEAL. Atthe London Bankruptcy Court onMonday, the appeal Williams v. W illiams, from the decision of the judge of the County Court of Newport, was argued before Sir James Bacon, the chief judge. It appeared that a resolu- tion waa passed, accepting a composition, but the court below refused to register it, on the ground that the pro- ceedings were irregular. The Chief Judge, having heard the case, was of opinion that the resolution must be registered, as the Act had been complied with.

CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH AT NARBERTH. On Wednesday morning, about four o'clock, a little girl, Annie, aged three years, daughter of Mr G. P. Brewer, manager of the London and Provincial Bank, died, having scalded herself about three o'clock on the previous afternoon by falling into a boiler of water. The little girl had only just come in from a walk with the other children when the sad accident happened. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Brewer.

CARMARTHENSHIRE LICENSED VICTUAL- LERS' ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of this association was held on Tuesday evening at the Centre Hotel, Stepney-street, Llanelly, Mr John Eynon, Thomas Arms Hotel, in the chair. The secretary, Mr William Bennett, read a re- port, showing that the association is in a very flourishing condition. Two new members were admitted, and two proposed, one being an honorary member. The number of members continues to increase monthly.

CAERLEON ENDOWED SCHOOLS. On Saturday last a meeting was held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Caerleon—Mr J. Parry presiding—to consider the propriety of soliciting the trustees to approve of the revised scheme which the Charity Commissioners had drawn up for the remodelling and extension of the above schools. The Chairman, in the course of his remarks, pointed out that should the present scheme be adopted, the poor of the town would cease to have anv henefit from the endowment. He moved "That this meeting totally disapproves of the scheme published by the Charity Commissioners." This proposition was seconded by Mr Farrett, and carried.

THE RACES AT LLANDILO. Owing to the disorders, &c., that annually occur in connection with the Easter races, it was generally under- stood that they would not be held this yc-v. It has now, however, been finally settled that they arc to- come off as usual. The vicar has just been distributing one of the Religious Tract Society's publications, entitled "Who will be there ?" in which it is denied that any valuable end is attained by horse racing, arid affirming that it is fraught with awful evils, and that it is kept up entirely for the sake of betting, and that nothing attracts the very worst of the community like a horse race.

DEATH IN THE ABERGAVENNY ASYLUM. On Tuesday, Dr Batt held an inquest at the Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum, upon the body of James Halden, aged 36 years, who died somewhat suddenly on the previous Sunday. Deceased had been admitted from the neighbourhood of Cardiff a few weeks before, as an idiot, suffering from pneumonia, and was ordered to be kept in bed. After his death, Dr Mc Cullough held a post nwrt-em examination upon the body, and found that the ribs on one side and the chest bone had been fractured. He therefore caused an inquest to be held. The atten- dants in the ward were examined, but they could not explain how the inJuries were received. Dr Mc Cullough said the injuries might have been caused by a patient, but deceased was such an idiot that he made no com- plaint. He attributed death to pneumonia, and the jury returned a verdict to that effect.

The first meeting ot tne nc, tin 4 T>T\ day evening. Present—Messrs W. Trewent, .i: Willing, W. Griffiths, C. Cozens, E. Thomas, W. G. Copplestone, J. H. Truscott, T. Townley, G. T. Davies, and J. D. Mumford (clerk). On the proposition of Mr Copplestone, seconded by Mr Griffiths, Mr Trewent was elected chairman. Mr Thomas proposed, and Mr Wil- ling seconded, that Mr G. T. Davies be vice-chairman, which was carried. Mr Trewent was re-elected board treasurer. Mr Copplestone was elected treasurer to Meyrick-street school, Mr Townley to Pennar school, Mr Willing to Monkton and Eat End schools. It was decided that the chairman or vice-chair- man, with any two members of the board, be deputed to sign the precepts at any time when they may be required. The following bills were passed :—East End school, for payment ot teachers, £30; Monckton school, for payment of teachers, £10; Pennar school, new wall, &c., £25; one quarter's salary to the clerk, one quarter's rent for board-room, including light, cleaning, firing, &c., £153. It was suggested that the members of the board occasionally visit the schools under construction for the board, to see how the work is being carried out. Some discussion ensued relative to appoint- ing visitors for the schools, the work having hitherto been done by the clerk. This was the principal business, and the meeting terminated.

PRESS STATISTICS The following particulars condensed from the new edition of May's British and Irish Press Guide, convey an interesting idea the present position of the newspaper and periodical press of the United Kingdom. There are now issued 1783 newspapers, thus distributed Metropolis, 460 England, 940; Wales, 50; Scotland, 164; Ireland, 142: British Isles, 21. Among these are 87 morning and 42 evening journals, but the majority are published weekly, Friday claiming 363, and Saturday 675 examples. Of 114 monthly newspapers (principally trade organs), 100 appear in London. Only one news- paper, the Observer, appears on Sunday alone, the remaining journals recognized as Sunday papers (all published in the Metropolis) issuing editions on preceding days also. The publishing prices range from one half- penny to two shillings per copy, there being 101 at the former and 4 at the latter price. The penny newspapers number 914, far exceeding all others the next highest being those at twopence—263. There are 92 sixpenny and 20 shilling journals, and 14 are gratuitously dis- tributed. Of political newspapers, 515 are registered as Liberal, 296 Conservative, and 67 Liberal-Con- servative, the remainder talcing neutral ground. Politics would seem to trouble the Metropolis but little, as out of -100 journals only 79, viz., 46 Liberal, 23 Conser- vative, and 10 Liberal-Conservative, identify themselves with political principles. Of the 1,783 newspapers, 46 may be termed religious, representing various denomina- tions 68 are regularly and 8 occasionally illustrated 4 have coloured and 2 photographic illustrations. Six newspapers appear in French, 1 in German, 1 in Arabic, 9 in Welsh, 1 partly in Gaelic, and 1 partly in the Lanca. shire dialect. Five news;)apers, first published in the seventeenth century, and 76 established in the eighteenth, still survive. The former are the Lou dmx Gacettr, 16A5, Edinburgh Gazette, 1690, Bcitow's Worcester Journal, 1690, Stamford Mcrcurii, 1695, Course of the Exchange, 1697. Ninety-five journals represent specific trades, a.nd 14 appeal solely to the working-classes for support. The periodicals, magazines, &c., number 779 examples, of which 579 are published in London. The greater portion (545) appear monthly, and 352 have a religious tendency. Of 272 illustrated periodicals, 17 contain coloured plates, and 9 photographs. No less than 89 publications are devoted to the juveniles, and 58 advocate temperance principles. Finally, as curiosities, there may be mentioned 3 magazines containing literary compositions by patients of asylums for the insane.

BRITON FERRY LOCAL BOARD.—A gas committee was held onJWednesday, present Messrs T. Jones, E. Roberts, L.[Simons,?H/Gower, and A. Hanham. The gas manager stated that S150 88 Od had been collected of the gas dues for the last six months. 14 tenders had been received for work to be done it was, however, resolved not to accept one of them until the new board be elected next month. Deep regret is expressed by a large number of the ratepayers at the resignation of Messrs G. Lewis and G. H. Davey, undoubtedly two of the best men that have sat at the Local Board. FATAL ACCIDEXT TO A LAD AT FENCT.AWDO.—At the Gower Iron and Tin-plate Works, on Tuesday, as a lad named George Dalimore was jumping from the buffer of a loaded truck which was being shunted into the works he lost his footing and fell under the wheels, receiving such injuries that he died from them next morning. Great trouble is felt in this neighbourhood when any accident of this nature takes place,in consequence of tliare being no doctor resident. LLANARTH UNITED DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The monthly meeting of this board was held on the 0th inst, Present—Messrs M. Evans. of Oakford (chairman); J. Parry, of Ffynonlefrith; J. Owen, of Ciliau j D. Jones, Penrallt; E. Thomas, of Llanina; aud D. Davies, of Cefncoed. The terms of the contract for building the new schoolroom and appurtenances at Pen- lon, between the board and the contractors, Messrs Williams and Evans, New Quay, were agreed upon. There are already four flourishing schools under this board, viz., Llanarth, Llyndafydd, Talgareg, and Mydyroilin, and two others are to be added to them ere ong at Gwenlli and Penlon. ST. DAVID'S SCHOOL BOARD.—The new school board, consisting of seven members, has recently been formed for St. David's without a contest. It is composed of the following gentlemen :—Revs Canon Lewis, and H. Parry, Messrs E. Perkins, Pwllcaerog; D. P. Williams, Penberry; John Thomas, Crugglas; Wm. Williams, Grove Hotel; and T. B. Rees, Tremynydd. The above are gentlemen who will study the interests of the children, and not the pockets of the ratepayers, although the majority of the members are the heaviest ratepayers in the parish. LINSEED LOZENGES, a solidified linseed tea, laxative and deznuloeat, 6d; vest free. 7d.. Kay Bras. Stodwort, and 1111 fihamtstn )23O0a

OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN TURKEY. Amongst the Parliamentary papers issued yesterday was a statement made to the House of Commons in com- pliance with the request of Sir Henry Havelock, "Shew- ing the rank and names of the general officers of the Royal Engineers who, since July, 1876. have been sent to various places in the European and Asiatic provinces of Turkey; the dates of their departure and of their arrival at their destinations, and the names of the places to which they were so sent." From this it appears that Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel W. O. Lennox, V.C., C.B., left England on 3rd November, 1876, for Rngusa and Constantinople Major and Brevet, Lieutenant-Colonel R. C.B., left on 29th October for Const-rttluople • where he was joined by Captain Ardsgb. -'o0 lefu England and proceeded to Vienna about 29 on duty con. necved with the Intelhgenc* £ rfthch V bsequent]y ^ining Lieutenant Home's During October and December Captains 1. q Grover, T. H. Anstey, and Lieutej^jjjg q A. Cockburn, H. C. Chermside, and W. 4, H. Hare went to Constantinople.

ELECTORS' REGISTRATION. Mr. Boord has repe n bill to amend the lan relating to the registration of Parliamentary electors in England. It proy>}ea that it shall not be a necessary part of the qualification of a voter that he Bnall reside a prescribed distance from any or borongh for which he is otherwise en- -rtled to vote as am ocoupier. Successive qualification ie I tnade equivalent to a continuation of the same qualification. The period of qualification of all Parliamentary voters shall end oh the 24th of June, instead of the last day of July, and the notice to be given by overseers for payment of rates and taxes shall be given on or before the 20th of May, instead of the 20th of June; structural severance of qualifying premises is not to be essential. "Chambers" or office" will be considered a sufficient description of qualifying premises. The residence of tie land- lord on the premises occupied by a lodger voter it declared unnecessary. The second part of the bill relates to the technical steps to be taken before registration and in dealing with objections. It providef that the omission of a voter's name from the rate-book may be waived on proof of qualification, while a name wrongly entered may be struck off the register when any othci person's name haa been admitted in respect of the Bame qualification.

STATE OF THE LABOUR MARKET. The home labour market,says the labour News, remain* depressed. In the South Yorkshire and North Derby- shire districts the colliers' wages have been reduced 6! per cent., and in other districts the scale is still under- going revision. In the West of Scotland an attempt ie being made to increase miners' wages, but generally < the tone of the market is still towards a reduction. In some parts minit g labour is now almost as low a* agricultural. From Suffolk and Essex where dispute1 have occurred between the farmers and their men, somt migration is now taking place to railway and other construction works, but generally farm 1a bour is fairly settled. At Birmingham the hard- ware trades continue much depressed, but there are somewhat more orders in the ifon trade. The build ing trades, so far as the weather permits, remain fairly brisk in most parts, and good masons are in demand in some districts. Amongst miscellaneous employments special attention is being paid to elementary schoolmasters and pupil teachers. General servants, cooks, and other classes of house helps are in great demand at the leading industrial cen- tres. No evidence of reviving emigration to the Uniteo States is as yet apparent for the season. In Tasmania there is a growing demand for labour of the strong and healthy type. Brazil and the Cape of Good Hope both require labour.

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN SCOTT JERVIS. At the Old Bailey,yesterday, Ernest Scott Jervis, late captain in the army, aged 37, pleaded guilty before Sir Thomas Chambers to unlawfully obtaining credit to a considerable amount within four months of his bank- ruptcy.—Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, on the part of the prisoner, said it would probably be no recommendation tc say that the defendant had been in a very different position in life from that in which he was now placed. There was a trial in the Queen's Bench in which Captain Jervis was defendant, and he (the learned serjeant) could not shut his eyes to the fact, that he absconded from his bail. Almost immediately afterwards, however, a feeling of regret came over him that under a momentary impulse he had done an act which he could not justify, and he surrendered. He not uc- ceed in getting bail, and he had now suffered imprisonment for four months. That imprisonment had had a most serious effect upon him, physically and mentally, aud he (Serjeant Ballantine) now held in his hand a certificate from Dr. Graham (of Holloway Prison), which would shew that Captain Jervis was in a IOtate of complete prostration and mental despondency, and that such symptoms would be aggravated by further confinement. The members of his family were greatly alarmed as to the result, and under these circumstances instructed him to beg for the mercy of the court, and to express a hope that it would not be necessary for the prosecution to press for further punishment than that which the defend- ant had already undergone.—Mr. Thesiger said he was not instructed by the prosecution to press hardly on the defendant, and no doubt, having previously held so high a position in society, he must have felt most deeply his de- gradation and whatever the court might think proper to do in the case would be satisfactory to the prose- cution.—Serjeant Ballantine urged that the defendant had suffered already a terrible penalty. He (the learned serjeant) did not say that rank was any excuse, but ha did trust, from the previous position of the defendant, and considering that any penalty was ren- dered doubly painful by that circumstance, his lordship would be inclined to say that further imprisonment was not necessary. It had now become a question whether those near and dear to him should look to him as being in a position from which he never could recover. The learned serjeant then called Dr. Saxby, medical man to the defendant's family, who stated that Captain Jervis could not undergo farther imprioument without danger to his life.—His lordship a id he would take an oppor- tunity of speaking to Mr. Justice Field, who presided on the previous trial, before he gave his deeision. Un returning into court, the Common Serjeant said lie was bound to pass a further sentence of imprisonment, and he thought three months would meet the justice of case.

(From wt In the midst of a grove of trees, topping one ef the nn- 1 upturns of Althorl) Park. a red-bearded, blue-eyed man, låd in a shooting dress of cool grey tartan, points out the ittone that marki the day when the plantation was made. The oakoi and besohes which comprise it were planted by he second Baron Spencer while he was yet only the Sir William Spencer, who recorded his work thus :— 'This wood Was planted by Sir William Spencer, Knight of the Bathe, in the yeare of our Lord 1624 and improved the occasion by inscribing on the reverse of the stone, Up and bee doing, and God will prosper whence the plantation is called ''Up-and-be-doiug Wood unto this day. The Spencers, an open-handed, hospitable race, have always possessed one eminent qualifica- tion of the Augligh county grandee. Planters of timber, they htire also been famous raisers of cattle. Nor has care for the herd been accompanied by forgetful- ness of the herdsman. On the Spencer estate it is long- Very long—sinee labourers lodged like pigs; and the Spencer briek cottages of to-day read a lesson to the owners of thatched hovels totteriag on the brink of in- salubrions streams. which serve at once as conduits and sewers. Althorp is rich in valuable portraite, and in the small square room where hangs the portrait of Lady Clancarty, daughter of Robert, Earl of Sunderland, are grouped together the treasures of perhaps the finest private library in the wndd. Here are priefeless Caxtonl-workø printed at Gntnt, at Bruges, and at the sign of the Reed Pale in the Almonry at Westminster. The bibliomaniac gloats over the" Game and Playe of the Chesse," translated and printed by Caxton, and by him dedicated to "false, fleeting, perjured Clarence," of malmsey butt notoriety over the "Rccuel of the Historye of Troye," and the Caxton edition ef Chaucer. There are. however, other gems than Caxtons m this famons library, to wit—the lion of Althorp—the unique specimen of the first edition of the "Decameron," printed—deliciously printed—in 1471, and last purchased for 2,260 guineas a letter of indulgence granted by Pope Nicholas V. in 1455, one of the earliest, if not the earliest known specimen of printing. Then come, from cases care- fully lined and closed with lock and key, the" Codex Psalmorum" of Fiirst and Schoefler; Gutenberg's Maza- rine Bible," cn vellum, purchased for £3.4üO Miles Cover- dale's Bible, translated out of the Doutche and Latin" the curious Apocalypsis and Biblia Pau- perum" the original Flaxman's iEschylus"; Wynkyn de Worde's Art and Craft of Lyving and Dying" the Shakspere of 1(523, and the original edition of the Sonnets published in 1600 together with a great wealth of the choicest specimens of Aldus, notably an edition of those works of Petrarch in the vulgar tongue" which have given that elegant scholar the im- mortality which would have been denied to his pet productions in the language of the learned. Lord Spencer is a many-sided man a Liberal in politics, but yet holding firmly to the maxim cottages before schools." He is chairman of quarter session*, and un- failing in his attendance in every department of local business. It is not many years aince he took a pro- minent part in founding the Rifle Association, which now holds its meetings at Wimbledon. In Northamptonshire, however, his most popular character is perhaps that of Maeter of the Pytcbley. As a shot he is no ordinary performer, either at birds or the target; but the so-called sport of kings has no attractions for the Master of the Pytchley. Lord Spencer inherits all the fondness of his ancestors for raising stock-but he never vwned, and is hardly likely to own, a race horse.

The memorial to the Home {secretary tor a mitigation at the severe sentenc- of 10 penal servitude pas* by Lord Justice Brett at, the recent Maidstone A«sii?s upon Charlotte Guy for the manslaughter of her husband, late master of the St. John's Schools, has received many influential signatures. Among those who passed the recent Cambridge Local Examination with honour" was a lad named I arrar. who was absolutely deaf and dumh. He is under 16 years of age, and has obtained a certificate for classics and mathe- matics This is probably the first case of the sort in the United Kingdom. Mr. Farrar was a pupil cf the Rev. T. Arnold of Northampton, whose method of teaching per- sons thus afflicted has been highly successful. The receipts on account of revenue from the 1st of April, 1876, when there was a balance of £5,119,587: to March 3 were £71,68,300, against in the cor- responding period of the preceding financial year, which began with a balance of The net expenditure was £69,857,881, against £69,364,677 to the same date in the previous year. The Treasury balance on March 3 amounted to £5,568,797, and at the same date in 1875 to £6,089,161J. On Sunday next, says the Guardian, the Rev. Drs. Caldwell and Sargent will be oonsecrated in the cathedral of Calcutta to be coadjutors to the Bishop of Madras by the Metropolitan of India, assisted by the Bishops of Madras, Bombay, Colombo. A meeting of the Indian bishops win then be held to discuss; many of the grave matters, such as the relations of the bishops to the societies, which are now awaiting IIGlat.iOll. As regards the consecration of these two Bishops," a correspon- dent remarks. they are commonly supposed to be selected as representatives of the two locieties-Çhurch Mission- ary Society and Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: but they will be, iu fact, coadjutors to the Bishop oi Madras, and in that capacity assist the Bishop in his diocese as he may direct. If he should think it well that they should be more or less definitely engaged in Tinne velly, he is at liberty so to employ them but he is equally free to employ them as he desires in any part øf his diooese." Thousands are unable to take Cocoa because the varieties commonly sold are mixed with starch, under the plea of rendering them soluble; while really malting them thick, hMvy, and indige*tibl< This may bo easily detected, for if Cocoa thicfrns in th« tup it proves the addition of starch. Cadbvrv'S Cocoa Kssence is genuhit it is therefore three times the strength of these Cocoas. (1,1),1) aa refresliinr a Beverage as Tea or Coffea.

X DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. A frightful explosion, resulting iu the lollS of five livet has taken place at the Great Bays Colliery, Sale-Uu^ Tyldeslcy. The pit is 160 yards deep. and only reaently th,1 getting of coal was commenced. It. is owned by !eh Thomas Fletcher and Sons.of Little Lever,nes;. jfolton the time of the explosion fifteen men and 1",oys Were at work on the side of a six-foot ..caill. Safety lampe were used, there being ga ,n the mine. At present tht ^V3,j^ ca*anjl is attributed to a blown out shot drilled by oue of th' .injured men, who ii not to recover. The report was heard at a great distance, and there soon congregated on the pit bank hundreds of people, it being feared that all in the work- ings must have perished. Drs. DUT,can and Martin were on the pit, bank almost immediately, ready to rendet assistance. Within an hcui from the time of the explosion all the killed, as well as those who were injured, had been found. Besides those killed three are not likely to recover, and all the others were luore 01 less burned or affected with the after-damp. The bodies have been recovered, and now lie in a workshop on the p tbant. The bratticing in the pit was blown in all directions, but afre* current of air was rapidly obtained. But little daicac was done. The pit mason, one of the kille-' wh<M»-*earch^ had in his pocket a pipe aud tohp^oij. 5'hls is the moi surprising to his friends inasmuch as he was a teetotaler and a religious man, Many miners from the neighbouring pits volunteered axsibtanee.

TRADE KK t'URjvs r ^HRUARf, Vhe accounts relating to the trade and navigation of the United Kingdom for last mouth were issued by the Board of Trade yesterday. They shew the total imports for the U\"llth to have been of the estimated value of 1)42,309, ae against £3:3.780,097 in the corresponding month last, year, and in 1875. The exports of British and Irish produce amounted to £ M,7i5, as against £J6,482,.505 in February, 1876, and £ 17,467,256 in tn. corresponding month of 1875.

A MODERN HIGHWAYMAN. At the Old Bailey, yesterday, James BrowlJ pleaded guilty to stealing a gold chain, the property of a gentle- man named Palmer. Prosecutor was in a public place at mid-day, when the prisoner made a snatch at hie watch and chain, but succeeded in only carrying off the latter. He was soon alter apprehended.—Mr. L tckyer, of the Honse of Detention, now proved ckltt.. previoas eonvio- tions, in one 01 which he was sentenced to seven, penal servitude.—The Commissioner ordered him to I* kept in penal servitude for ten years.

NEW PRIME MINISTER OF NEPAL. A correspondent who lived many years in India, sayi the London correspoMlent of the '.Manchester Guardim* writes me the following about the successor of the late ail Jung Bahadoor:—" Runnodeep Singh, the new Prim* Minister of Nepal, is 65 years of or thereabout*. With his long tutelage under so strong an Anglican as hit brother, Runnodeep can hardly help doing his utmost to maintain the exieting pleasant relations between Indian Government and A'ep.il. Rnnnodeep was on his way to England with Sir Ju Mg B.iliadooi two years 810. when the latter had an ugly lull at Bombay, a id re- turned home again because 01 the ill omen of tla d, aeri dent. The new Prime Minister may now make the journej mself. His two nephews, who usually accompany lr?'a? w'|om I ence saw at an up country station.certainlj looked as if they would be none the worse for a journ<;j to England. The young men appeared to have plenty ot the impudence of civilisation, with little of its modesty, said civilisation apparen'ly not having penetrated deeper than their foreign uniforms. It wis of these dashing young blades who insulted an English officer and a lady on the railway platform at Calcutta, and who WM ery promptlj knocked down in consequence."

GENERAL IGNATIEFF'S MISSION. A special telegram from the Berlin cot-rfspondetttof ca., Pall Mall Gazette, yesterday, says General Ignatistf^ throughout his stay here, has in conversation with dip]omatistll held out sirotig hopes of a peõ4C" solution, and intimated a willingness on tb. part of Russia to disarm as soon as a means of escape shall have been found out of the present dilemma. His principal secrcaiy, on the other hand Prince Tzerteleff, has in private conversation stated ta be inevitable, and the object of his chief's mission M he under these circumstances to obtain for Rmais authority from the Powers to intervene in Turkey as tke vtatuhiiaire of all Europe. lie seeks, moreover, to eoo- tirm friendly relations with the leading Government* Russia (bays Prinae Tzerteleff) is still eon- tinning her preparations for war. The tboaftn of war will be circumscribed and localised. Parts have been allotted to the Spates surrounding Turkey wh" are to join in the tiht as allies of Russia. The Prince is lepjrted to have stated that the pro- posal of a term of grace to be granted to the Porte is wholly inadmissible. The position of the Christiana in Turkey among their Mussulman countrymen is too piecaiious for Russia to trust 1 bClli to the mercy of the Porte even for a short space of time. There is in- deed a gradual dissolution in progress in Turkey, but Rus- sia cannot wait. for that.The peace wit.h Servia (the Ptinee says) was intended to satisfy Austria. The Schives in Tur- key, the Prince admits,&spire to no new political privilege;, no revolution in the organisation of the State. But they claim, and will not be denied, security for their wives a d families, and their cattle. Prince Tserteleff said that it is impossible to understand the suspicion entertained in Kn ..land. According to his statement.Russia has abandoned her intention of carrying on the war in Asia. She haa. on the other hand, made sure of the support of Greece aatI fill Rcumania in the eventof war. Greece will assist JI- hp organising fresh ineurrections. Woumimia is bound ttttarihl part openly with Russia.

PERSONATING A COLONEL. At the Old Bailey, yesterday, before the Recorder, John Waring, described &8 of no occupation, was indicted for obtaining goods by false pretences from Edward Hatated and others. The prisoner went to Messrs. Halsted's pr. misee in Regent-ttreet, which is a dre88inc- Manufactory, and was shewn some dressing-e*M% He said Bone of those shewn him srert handsome enough, and he ordered one to the value oi £200, giving his name as Colonel Waring, Waring H Waringltown,County Down, stating that when in town he took up his residence either at the Langham or the British Hotel he was then stopping at the British Hotel. Several alterations had to be made in the dressing-case at the arid-—reouest, atd he called several times, game box and album, vauftu ..f orm-fu at £;1 38., probation. As he did not call at the time prifanlJIL inquiries were made, when false personation was dis- covered. — Evidence was given to ehew that the prisoner did not live at the British Hot-el, but naplj called there for his letters.— Thomas Waring, of Warings. town,County Down,major in the South Down Militis, said he.had been owner of Waringstown since 1866, and M not know the prisoner. He was not Colonel Waring of Waringstown. His (witness) father's name was Henry, He had an uncle named Jaspar Waring. He thooghl Jaspar had a son named John. Prisoner might possibly be a relation of that branch of his famih. H. had heard of Clementina Waring aa the danghtei of Jaspar Waring.—Prist>jter was found guilty, and the counsel for the prosecution stated that the prisoner further appeared to hAvc been a resident in Spain. At one time the prisoner was in the Spanish army, occupying a similar position to that of a lance-corporal in a eavalry regiment in England. He left Spain some time ago, m consequence of having been convicted of the crime o* forgery, for which he was sentenced to eight yMH-t* h* prisonment.—The Recorder sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment,

A NEW-BLACK LIST. The names of the most conspicuous members of ths criminal classes, says the Globe, have been published to the world in a volume, whose handsome outward appearance alone entitles it to some parthnalai notice. The work bears the name of a Registrar of Habi- tual Criminals, and it has been drawn up in pursnanee of two Acts, passed in 181)9 and 1871, which provided that lists of convicted criminals be regnfarly kept at each prison, and forwarded to the central authorities to be made up intj a graud general register. The "Black Hook" now printed does not, however, contain tho n&mes of all these offenders, whose number amounts to nearly 180,000. A selection has been made from them at the suggestion of the Home Secietary.and the conseqnenee is that the register as it is now issued contains only the illte oi the criminals that is to say, those who have made at least two appearances before the penal tribunals, been convicted each time of an offence coming within the lepal definition of a crime. But as regards the 12,104 individuals who do thus figure in the Black Book. the information given it interesting and valuable in the extreme. The volnme will 8erve AS a book of rdelcnce in every criminal court and gaol, and police officials may soon be ex- pected to pride themselves on their acquaintance with it as highly as some of our friends do in respect of the Peerags, or as sporting man does in regard to Ruff's Guide to the Turf. The men and women who find themselves included in the list will by an] mcaus approve of the honour thus done them. They will of course attempt to disprove their iden- tity by immediately assuming an alias or more pro bably an additional alias besides those which they pos- sessed before. But, untockilv.for them, they are marked down not only by their name, but in the great majority 01 the cases bj mention of some personal peculiarity, which will enable the police to cefeat their most shil/al manoeuvres.

It has been found that fittings of zinc to the boilera of ships tend to preserve them for a much longer period that otherwise. The Admiralty have, therefore, given order that all new boilera are to be fitted in this way, and alao at boilers that undergo repair. Seventeen hours of sunshine were registered last weel at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The sun waa abuv the horizon 75*5 hours. On Wednesday there were 6"' hours of sunshine, and on Monday and Saturday there wa tone. The insurrection in Japan, which, wo have been several times told, was virtually suppressed, says the Londoi correspondent of the Mawhester Guardian, is likel) according to private information which reaches me, t turn out a formidable business. Its nature and exten are but very imperfectly known, but some of the leadinj tirms in the silk trade are reported to have news whicl has caused very considerable anxiety. A marriage of considerable interest has been cclebratet at the Friends' Meeting honse, t, Martin's-lane, Londoi between Mr. Charles M Laren, barrister, lion of M M'Laren, M.P. for Edinburgh, and Laura, only daufht* of Mr. H. D. Pocliin, of Barn Elms, Bames. A iar^enun her of friends of both families were present, including M M'Laren, M.P.; the Right Hon. John Blight, M.P. the Right Hon. Acton G. Ayrton Mr. B. Whitworti M.P. Mr. Chadwick, M.P. Mr. Pennington, M.P. S Edward Watkin, M.P.; Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P.; M Newmarch, F.R.S. Mr. J'bhn M'Laren-, Mr. Markhai of Staveley Mr. Stoirs Smith, of Sheepbridge Mr. Gil son, Mayor of Stafford Mr. Andrew Cassella, and L Peter Hassett, of Bristol. While eight mer. were employed placing a sugar roll. i weighing five tons, 011 board the steamer Portland, Glasgow harbonr, the machinery broke, throwing t roller into the hold with the eight men. The skull James M'Lachlan, foreman, was fractured, and Geo. M'l £ enzie, labourer, was injured on the head. The m are not expected to live. A third man, named Hamilti had &n arm broken. The three men, with the other fi who were injured, were sent to the infirmary. HOLLO WAY'S OrimcKNT AND PILLS.—Dangerous Ch< Complaints.—The enumeration of these diseases is scare necessary, as, unfortunately, most Knglishmeu know Uxiii their cost. Coughs., common cokis, intluenxa, bronchitis, nslln pieurfsy, inflammation of the lnngs, and even consumption ia early etages, are beIot treated by rubbiwp Holloway 8 Oiirtw- upon the chest and upou the back between the shouldtra penetrates internally, ehccks the eold shivering, rcliercs over-goiyed lunys, gradually removes the oppression fmws chest, and restores the obstructed respiration, hitherto so ditttr ingly disagreeable and highly dangerous. In treating this claa diseases, Hellcway's Puis should always be taken while usiafc Ointment: they purify the Wood, vronaote perspiration. anU-a dangerous initatiou* 2,