Monmouthshire Merlin

STABBING A POLICEMAN. WESTON-SUPER-MAKE.—On the night of Sauuday week, Robert IIill, a policeman of this town, was stabbed in the tde by a man named Cann. It appears that Hili was on luty about 12 o'clock, when he observed a number of dis- nd,erly people in Regent-street, and advised them to go to heir homes peaceably, when Cann, who appears to have had previous ill-feeling towards Hill, drew a clasp knife from lis pocket, and plunged it into his side, just below the leart. The poor fellow cried, Murder; and seveial persons immediately carried him into the Plough hotel, where he was stripped, as he was bleeding profusely. Messrs. Ber- nard and Jones, surueons, were soon in attendance, and Iressed the wound. He is likely to recover.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE. A strange story is rplated in the Ten Towns Messenger) md as yet we have seen no contradiction of it. Aecoulmg o the account, a man, whose name is not given, had been lommitted to take his trial at the Stafford Assize, under the ollowing circumstances. He for some time past had to :ontribute a certain sum towards the bupport of an illegiti- mate child. A few nights ago, he met its mother, and pro- mised that if she would destroy their offspring, he would immediately marry her. She promised compliance, went home for the child, and returned with it to the spot where the villain awaited her, and then hastened from hun in the direction 01 a coal-pit, which he indicated as the one where the fatal act was to be consummated. In a few minutes she returned to him without the child, and urg; d him to leave the country with her and fulfil his promise of his mar- riage. But he pleaded an immediate engagement and pro- mised, if she would await his return a lew minutes, he would rejoin her to fly the country with lier, and make her his wife. Half an hour having elapsed, the young woman hastened to the place where she had left her infant sleeping in safety; having only seemed to (all in with the views of the miscreant in order to obtain the fulfilment of his promise. She then hastened home; and, as she was making preparations for bed, was alarmed by a loud rap- ping at the door, and the appearance of two police-olficeis, in company with her soi-disant lover, who charged the young woman with the murder of her child. The latter was presented; the matter explained; and the confused and trembling miscreant, after receiving a good castigation from his victim, was taken into custody."

SUICIDE OF CAPT. MARTIN OF THE HON. E.I C.—ON Saturday Mr. Payne held an inquest at the residence ol Captain Thomas Martin, in Fenchurch-street, upon the body of that officer, who committed suicide. It appeaie that the deceased had been blind for 43 years, laving ost his sight in an engagement from a gunshot wouni e ia been much depiessed in his spirits since the loss of the Solway steamer, in which his daughter and other relatIves perished. About one o'clock on Saturday n.ointn^, ar- «tt Louis, his French servant,hearing a slrj'n^e n°'*e |e e" ceased's room, went to see what was t ie tna i< ound i ,1 i j -,i « frictktful kjftsn ui his throat, and him ying on the bed with a \r i_. J v., _„nr He was quite dead. Ver- m his right hand an open razor. » diet—Temporary insanity.. MR. DiNCOM.E, M.P.-The medical adv^rs of ,he honourable member for FllIsbury have recommended hts temporary retirement fiom puhllc file honourabie gentleman is about to pair off for the e.mimg sessiolt( a„d purposes sojourning for a few montlls at is >i>ut to recruit his health.

diKEftii. NEWS. The stay of the court at Osborne House is intended to be pro- loriged uniii the 23rd of next month, with one or two short intervals. Her Majesty the Queen has conferred upon Lord Normanby the Grand Croes of the Bath, vacant by the death of Sir R. Gordon. A rumour has recently been prevalent in London, that the East India Company were temporarily embairassed for money. fliademoiselle Deluzy, who has obtained so great a notoiiety by her acquaintance with the melancholy Prulin tragedy in France, has been set at liberty and acquitted from all charges of connection with that horiible affair. Workmen have been recently repairing the interior arches of Durham Cathedral. In the thickness of the t.ansept ,rclies they have found A fire-place and chimney of large proportions. Mr. Cowan has resolved not to otlemptlaking his seat for the city of Edinburgh, hav ng been, at the time of his election, a government contractor. He has now got lid of the contract, and is to offer himself for re-election. It i. intended for the future to keep a permanent naval force dt New ZealanJ. It will consist of one frigate, one sloop of war, aud a steam sloop. The revenue of China is said to amount to £ 60,000,000. an- nually, and is paid in money and kind. The landholder is taxed hbout one-tenth of the produce. On the railway near Newcastle, where there is a strong current of air in consequence of a deep cutting, the wind produces a beautiful tone from the wirer. of the electiic telegraph, which sounds like tho lones otttn-Kohan harp. The Dublin Gazelle of Tuesday last contains the names of 41 farmeis in Tipperary, 10 in Limerick, and 30 in Clare, as insolvent. A young Esquimaux couple, who were only married the day before their departure from their native country, have arrived at Hull, on hoard a whaltr from the west side of Davis's Straits, whence it is said that no Esquimaux have ever before been biought tn England. There ARE 12,500 churches and chapels of the Establishment, and 12,734 chapels of the Nonconformists, in England and Wales. A London law-stationer has SUTD the Eail of Mormngton in the Westminster County Court, for the expense of copying some deeds, and the noble defendant has been ordered to pay the amount claimed. In the Sardinian states there are 408 convents, which are said to have rece.ved from, the uovernment, during the last fifteen years, grants amounting to 100,000,000 francs ( £ 4 000,000.) It is said, that at this time there are 100 estates in Ireland for sale. 0 The bellman of Bolton lately amused the inhabitants of that town by crying, Wanted, a wet nurse; apply to me In one parish in Ireland, the newsboy supplies all his cus- tomers, who live at great intervals of distauce, by leaving their newspapers for them in their pews at church. 13V the 1st of January, 1848, passengers will be enabled to pass from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London (by the Caledonian railway ), without changing their carriages. The Liverpool County Court has decided that no boarding- house keeper can demand payment tor any greater length of time than that for which a sailor may have been accommodated pay- ment in such cases must be by day and not by week. Upwards of forty ministers in Edinburgh and Glasgow have recently signed the total abstinence pledge. Lord Willoughby d'Eresby has established a reading room at Spilsby, for the benefit of his tenants, furnished at his lordship's expense. I observe," says the Kirkwall correspondent of the John o' Grout Journal, "at Birston Brae, a thrashing-mill wrought by steam, which has been found to work satisfactorily, and is the first steam.mill erected in Orkney. A starch factory in Lapeer county, Michigan, U.S., consumes 200,000 bushels of potatoes annually* W hat a wasteof food, says the Tn dependent Democrat, "just to make shirt-collars stick up The Queen's speech was telegraphed to the country-towns at the rate of 430 words in an hour. J hus, 111 hollnburgh, the last sentence of the speech was leceived about two hours alter its je] very# Sir R. Sheffield, Bart., of Normanby llall, has requested his tenants to kill all the rabbits they cun on their tarms. A Yankee in Boston basset up A one horse thrashing machine for the convenience of parents and guardians having unraiy children. He'll lick an urchin like thunder for fourpence. Small lickings done for cents. only, and the most entire satisfaction wananted. Chelsea, Kensington, Fulha.n, and Ilammersm.th are com- bining together to get themselves made into a parliamentary borough, with a couple of member* The public should be on their guard agam.t receiving £ O. notes, as a great number of forged ones are tn circulation, so weil executed that they are with difficulty detected from the genuine notes. Thev alllwar the signature, WM. Maishall, May, 1847. The Rev. Dr. Wolff has been appointed Honorary Chaplain to Lord Carbery. The appointment of ihe rev. gentleman was accompanied by a most flattering commuoicationfrom his lord.hip. LEMBEHG, Nov. :1.-The cholera is advancing by strides, and is within twenty four miles of tbe Gal.cian frontier. Numbers are carried off daily at Krzemiemca, Podolske, and Kadziwillaf, about thirty-two miles from Lemberg. Col. Rlure, the Tory member for Renfrewshire has bean chosen Lord Rector of GLASGOW University, defeating Lord John by a majority of thitteen. By accounts from Manchester, we find that twenty thousand workmen are now out of employment in thut place. MR. Hume last week observed in the House of Commons, that many ot the mercantile houses who had recently tailed, were houses which ought to fail and he was only sorry that more of lhrm bad not come down. The exports from Liverpool of British manufactured goods, to the United States, were, for the ihree qunrters ending on the 10th October, 1846, £ 4,030,003.; and for the same period in 1B47, £ 6 291,017. making a difference in favour of the exports of manufactured goods during the present year of £ 2.261 014; whilst in 182.1) the nulpber of. British ships was 19.O00, and the tonnage 2,000,000, ihe tontrnge Ts now 3,000,000, and the number of ships has increased in proportion. We are informed that there is no truth in the statement that Major General W. Napier has resigned his governoiship of Guernsey.. A sori.eivhat remarkable undertaking is at this moment in progress in Sweden-,hat of lowering the waters of the great lake of OIeron, to the extent of twelve feet. This operation has become necessary, in consequence of the construction of a railway from Stockholm to Gothenburg. It will cause upwards of 10,000 acres to be biought into cultivation. A cr.pit.il amounting to no less than £ 38.000,000. is invested in British shippmg alnnè, and £ 14,000,000. more invested in those trades which are necessarily connected with shipping. Our slipping is a trade of which the fruits a one amount to £ 28,000,000. a year, and the annual expenses to £ 26,000,000. A gang ot horsestealers, who carried on their depredations in a systematic and busiuess-iike manner, have been apprehended at Swindon. A South Australian paper mentions that the extreme scarcity of copper coin at Adelaide has induced an innkeeper to i<ue four penny notot, onty payable when three are presented together, in order that he may not be forced to pay them in copper. The dress of the heavy cavalry is, it seems, to be entirely changed. Order has been given to the regiments to that effect. The tails of the coats are to be shortened and squared, and the old shabraques ale to be discontinued, and new ones, similar to those worn by the Light Dragoons, taken into use, both by officers and men. The rumour is again afloat that aiguilettes are to be brought into use. The Institution of Civil Engineers has awarded the Telford medal in silver, as well as the C"UNC,L'S premium of books, value five guineas," to Mr- Joshua lvithardsoij, C.E., of Neath, for his paper on'the VENTILAIIO° of Mines," which was read at a meeting of the institution of the 16th of March last. On the amhontv 011\ communication received from Sir George Grey, we have the satisfaction 01 announcing, that the subject of accidents in mines will receive the attention of Parliament at un early period ot the present session. The sttamer Columbine, front Havre, has brought, in addition to a general caigo of french productions, 22 horses, consigned to order. Mr. Smith, of the London and North Western railway, arrived io town on Thursday night, HAVING travelled the entire distance from Loudon to Glasgow AND Edinburgh, and back (upwards (If 900 miles), in 40 hours—nine oj which were spent in Edinburgh and Glaigi>w. On the 170,000 weavers in Lancashire only 48,000 are fully employed. Y Some years since, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company burnt from'50 to 60 lbs. of coke per miles they have since reduced it, by improvements and inventions, to about 16 or 18 lbs. » In tbe Court of Q .een'A Bench, Charles Wright, an attorney has been sentenced to two year.¡, impnsonment and t% be struck off the rolls, for having CONSPIRED Willi Mrs. Sophia Penne 1 to obtain possession of £ 965- fttit India Stolk, by subornation of perjury. GOVERNORS of the Charter House, 1 LIE vacancy among THE O0"1" ( v..I. ;N > occasioned by the decease of the AICI U op o >T supplied by the Lord Chief Jus..« OF the Common Pleas, Sir Thomas Wdde. ■ A novel scene recently took ph-ce al the Chelmsford railway station—nothing less tban the office, OF JUST.EE marching upon the line, warrant IN [land, an-I clutching with the strong arm of the law a firr>r-oU»s caniago in payment of the sum of .f.31. duo for poor rates to the pirish of BDARGNWTTING. Gold wHtch cases, when of standard quality, should contain 18 carats of fine gold, and not mort: THAN 6 of alloy. No gold of inferior quality ever receives the Hali-maik. The fleet which we are now maintaining in the Tagus, for the support of the rotten Government of Portugal, costs us at least £ 1,000,000. A-year.. 1 litre a to 326 nas companies in theDnUeu Kingdom ll3io England, 2 in Wales, 7 in Scotland, and 4 in Leland. The laigest amount of fixed capital is returned at £ oo0,000. for one company, and the highest dividend at any tune was f3;:í. for another company. Violets Are now in full bloom in the lanes, woods, and hedge- tows in the neighbourhood of Poncaster. 1- PIIONKTIC SPM.R.JNO.—The parish-book of Dunstall, a village in Yorkshire, cjutaine IH* fallowing entry ø. d." Paide fur railing two rats 2 poor rat and highway rat 0 8 l'aide for carrying voters Ought aod In" 6 0 6 8 A party of gentlemen, amongst whom was Mr. M'Gregor, the chairman ol the South-Eastern R itl way, started from Pari, on Saturday, and reached London in 12 hours aod 50 minutes. The journey from Paiis to Boubin'te occupied 8 "-50 m.; ffom Boulogne to Folkestone, I b. 55 m.; and from Folkestone to London, 2 h. 5 in. There was no effort in accomplishing this, 'he train from Paris to Amiens was a slow train, and stopped at every station. PARLIAMENT ANHTHF. RAILWAYS.—■ I he Government measure of lust I- rllJay night pioposes to extend the lime for the purchase of land and ihe complet.on of lines already sanctioned, and to leave tlse commencement of new works at the discretion of the shareholders. The Chancellor insisted very much on the fact, that railway expenditure was one of the causes of the present distress. Mr. Hudson assented to the Ministerial measure, as one tending to re-assure (he timid public- The average contribution by the Lnglish rai ways o o oca I and parish rates every yeur, amounts to 5 pfer Cfc" ■ ° t.eir earnings, estimated at nearly £ 8,000.000. a-year in r^unt numbers; £ 400,01)0. towa.ds the £ 6,000,000- annually raised for ihe puor-th.t is one-fifteenth of the total ia es, and fifty ( „ ,.„ntnbuted before its con- time* what the suu.e quantity lanU toninuu version inio railways. Mr. Hughes, who is worth £ 30,000., besides the '*>e\pta. aiisuig from the late sale of his celebrated mammoth equestrian establishment, a few years ago began lile selling luc, ei tna c ies. Hatty, of Asiley's A inp/niheatre, saw him pursuing its avoca ton io a publii- house, nomewhere in the north of Lnglatid, was to him, gave him employment, and he tucceeded. la the course oi u caee of liUlu pubiiu iriioraai, at the Veowl County Court, last week, a person in the body of tha Court inter- rupted the witness by calling out That's a lie His Honour asked, What's your name, sir 1" The unsuspicious inteirupter quickly rcphed, C'Langdon." Well, Mr. Langdon," said his Honour, "you are fioed five shillings for making use of that expression." RATHEII ALARMING.—Thiee startling incidents occurred at St. Jude's Church, Liverpool, while the Rev. Hugh M'Neile was preaching recently a man was suddenly seized with in- sanity, and screamed honibly; while he was being lemoved a lady was seized with a fit, in which she was feaifully convulsed and betore !.he was removed, a second lady was so terrified, that a nervous fit seized her also end the screams and horrible ciies of the tbree united put a stop to the service for some time. REMOVE NUISANCES.—The public health is now being con- sidered worthy of attention. Hetter l*te than never. Hut in many towns the authoiities seem determined to await the actual presence of the cholera, or some such awful visitant, be- fore they will put their shoulders to the wheel, and remove the honibly disgusting and pestilential nuisances which abound in their localities. Such authorities, if the cholera discriminates at all, should be the first seized, as a reward for their disgraceful supineness. CLKANINC. WINDOWS.—There is a very beneficia) provision in Ihe Town Pulice Clauses Act, passed in July last (10th and ilth Victoria, chap. 89), with respect to window cleaning:— Every occupier of any house or other building or other person who orders or permits eny person in his service to stand on the sill of any window in order to clean, pain1, or perform any other operation upon the outside of suih window, or upon any house or other building, within the said limits, unless such win- dow be in the sunk or basementstory," is liable to a penalty not exceeding 40s., or fourteen days' imprisonment, and may be taken into custody without a warrant. In the same category ap- pears the following offence. whirh may be treated in a similar manner:—"Every person who flies any kite or makes or uses any slide upon ice or snow. -So many accidents occur fiom servants cleaning windows, tbat Wtj hope examples wiil ue made of the offendeis for the time to come. TRAVELLING IN AIH.—A Spanish schemer, named Monte- mayor, an inhabitant of Medina Sidonia, in A ndalusia, affirms that he has succeeded in constructing a balloon which he enn guide at pleasure, though the wind may be unfavourable. In his simple machine, which he calls an /Lolus, he engages to pro- ceed from Madrid to Cadiz in ten hours and be further asserts that, at a trifling expense, he can take up with him two pieces of eaonon, and discharge them on the enemies of Spain.—A useful fellow, this Montemayor CiitoitoroHM A SuiisriTi'TE FOR ETIIHR. An unusually large meeiing of medical men and students has takeopidce in the opeiative thsatie of King's College Hospital, to witness severe surgicilll operations performed by Professor Fergusson, while utrler the influence of this new prepnration. The chloro- form was admiuistcred by Mr. Robinson, dentist. The results atltmùing the inhalation of this preparation weie most cOlllplele and satisfactory to all present. One of the cases was melonsis, ortheremovaioftheeyefromthetocketaitogether. Another was fistula laclirymales, a very painful operation of the eye. The third was a case of hydrocele, in which iodine was injected.— Discoveries will never end. By and by we shall be able to bid disease defiance, and put aside grim death until we choose to "shume off Ihis mOl tal coil." RAILWAYS SCHEMES FOIt THE PRESENT SESSION.—There are 140 notices ot application (or railway bills, of which 37 are for billa suspended last session with the understanding they should commence this session at the same stage in which they were sus- pended. Thirteen of them were read a second time io the House of I.ords, and will require, in capital and loan, £ 4 982,200 for the construcsion of 165 miles of railway. The 24 remaining hills were suspended in the House of Commons, the merits 01 21 of them having been reported to the house; these will require, in capital aud loan, £9,537.800 for 382 miles of railway. The ai' -regate sum required for tbe suspended bills, therefore, will amount to £ 14,520,000, The total length of railway proposed tobe constructed for that sum is 547 miles. There are 103 notices for new bills, of which eight are for new railways, 24 for new bianches, 22 for the extension ol time for the purchasing of land and for the completion of works, 27 to raise additional capital, 25 for ieaset and amalgamations, 20 for deviations in lines already authorised, aod four for dissolution, -Minimr Jour mil. SOMETHING LIKf. A PLANTER.—The New Orleans Vicayunc states that a Mr. Juiict) Poydras, of that city, the owner of six l«rge plantations, and of a great number of slaves, died lately, his will directing the sale of his plantations, with their life ( hu- man) stock, but with the condition lint the purchaser bind themselves to emancipate the slaves with their increase, at the end of 25 years trom the day of sale. After certain bequests to his friends and relatives, he wills to the parishes of Pointe Cmptcatid West Baton Rouge, 30,000 dollars each. The in. terest of this sum to be employed in giving a dowry to all the | giils of the said parishes who may get matried the unfortunate to be always preferred." MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISING.—The following curious circum- stance occuired at Cheibotirg a few days ago. The town crier, beating his drum, went thrcugh the town, proclaiming the foJ. lowing :—"Notice to young girls 1 Four young carpenters, who have arrived from Havre, and are employe4! at the roi¡ita¡y port (Iere theIr names uud nges were given J, being tired of living a single life, wish to get married. To see them, apply at M. Sinn's, innkeeper, Rue do Chantier." Two of the would-be husbands accompanied the drummer, who, in showing them to the crowd, ered, Here, young ladies, i* a specimen 01 the young meu who want to get married !"—Gulignani. DISCHAHOK OF RAILWAY LABOURERS—1 lie worst daik spot in the prospect for the winter lies in the discharge of railway laboureis. These men are not numerous enough, perhaps, to impait anything of an insurrectionary character to the distuib- ances which they are sure to create in want und idleness; but they are strong, brutal, meu—they have been pampe:ed, they will feel the pinch ot destitution, and will be doubly exasperated by the appetite for enjoyment, and the gnawing of hunger in their robust and angry stomachs. Crime will ubound this wintei -crimes of vlulen6e Rnd IHJleful excesses and extraordinary precautions must be taken to check the lawless, if we would not have the horrors of stormed cities in our towm and rural dis- tricts.—Spectator. ORIGIN OF THE Wottu NAVVIE."—An exceedingly clumsy word has clept into the English language-to wil, '• navvie as descriptive of 8 railway labourer. The common Idea is, that the term ig II contrac1Ïon of the, word" navigator." But why spell it with two v's? and why apply the designation of the conductor of a ship to a workman employed io the conslruclion of roads! Or, why, moreover, should a landsman, who has nothing to do with ships, ba called a navigator, or navvie V Both the idea aud the orthography, we submit, are enoneous, for we find that the word gnavus," signifies strong and robust, and is applicable, accordingly, to strong men fit for railway woik; and also, Ihat tha compound, "ignavus," signifies the very opposite—weak and indolent. This, then, is the proper derivation of the word, showing dearly that we ou^ht tn speak of railway labourers as gnavi," or knaves, for if we uccent the letter g liard, we have literally the word "hoavus," or "knave." BORNEO Ciiuncii MISSION.—A numerous and highly respect- able meeiing was held ai Bath last week, nt which Mr. Itreoke, a native of Rath, but now Rajah of Sarawak, attended. The meeting w;<s held to welcome Mr. Brooke, and to express a sympathy with the proposed object of forming a Chiistian mis- sion in that gentleman's newly-acquired dominions. In the course of the proceedings, 'he following interesting retnaiks were made by the Rev. Mr. M'Ooughall, who is one of the proposed missionaries to Borneo:—"The town of Sarawak contained a population of about ten thousand the country over which the Rajah's authority extended comprised a population of about fifty thousand, who were composed chiefly of two races, the Ma- lays and the DYBks-the Malays being the modern iac« of in. tubitmits, and the Dyaks the aborigines of the land. The Malays in religion were Mahometans; that of the Dyaks being a kind of degenerate Hiodooism, without the feaiful obstacles of caste, and so on. From what he had heard oftteDyaks, they seemed to be a people more ready than the Malays to embrace the gospel. They had a knowledge of God, and worshipped Ihe Great Spirit; they were a moral, truth-loving people, and a people capable of great development, with etroug minds. It was the object of the mission to plant the standard of the Cross in that tenilory where the ground had been already so well pre. pared end broken up by their present highly distinguished and noble rulel, who had introduced civilisation amongst Ihem, and thua prepared them to receive the higher truths which tealh them that they are the children of God. ( Applause.) These iuterest- tog people would of course occupy the chid concern of the mi' NioD but much was to he doue through their 8upe,iot8, the Malays. In that manner they could be got at, and theiefoie II was tb:" the missionaries, with 1\1r. Urooke's advice ami council, and most liberal offers of assistance, were about to establish themselves in Sarawak, with the view of setting forth ihere the light of Christianity." NEW MINING AND EXCAVATING MACHINE.Ve understan(1 that Captain Sharpnell, R.A., the inventor of the well-known Shrapoell Shells," is only awaitiug the assistance of capi- talisls to bring belore the public a DCW apparatus Invented hy him, that will lender earthwork and cutting through solid ro' k a comparatively easy affair, and will reduce the difficulty and expenditure of time anti maney, consequent Otl those operations, as conducted under the present system. By the aid of this new machinery, shalt8 are trom henceforth 10 be sunk, and sub- maiiie obitruetious removed, with an immense economy, hot 1» in time and money. Indeed, this apparatus will cause a new era, not only in mining, but in railway engineering.—Mining Journal. A GocD EXAMPLF.—Mr. Wawn, M.P. for South Shields, left liiat borough on Thursday week (or London, there to com- mence the discharge of his duties in the new parliament. We have already stated that the electors hllJ pledged themselves to place their lepresentative at the door of the House of Commons not one penny the poorer for his election. They have fulfilled their pledge. The cost of the contest they discharged long ago; aud on Thursday the election committee presented the hon. member with a fust class ticket for London, and money to pay his cab-hiic from the railway station to St. Stephen's!—Gates- head Observe?. The famous "gospet elm," at Stratford on Avon, was last week cut down to make way for certain improvements. This is the tree under which, as tradition asserts, the unfortunate Charles, cfter the battle of Worcester, passed, in compnny with Miss Lane, on tlitir way to Long Matston, having emerged from a lane, to this day called King's Lane, which runs i tto the IhrnlDgham Road, exactly opposite the diive leading to the Victoria Hotel, Bishopton Spa, where thd king and his escort actually passed through a paity of parliamentarian dragoons without suspicion. The tree is computed to be upwards of 300 yeaTII old, and measured 27 feet 6 inches round at its base. A IIUSRAND'S PREDICAMENT.— "Fill me tliis bottle with laudanum," exclaimed an excited mairied man, rushiog into II diuggist's shop on Ihe Tyne—his face bleeding from a recent encounter with his wife. "It will kill you," the druggist calmly replied. "That's what 1 want it lor," wfls Ronieojj rejoinder; I'll kill myseH to vex her." The druggist said it would be a pity to prevent so amiable a purpose, and filled the phial. No sooner filled than emptied.. J'rn a dead man, cried Romeo, staggering into the presence of his Juliet; 1 ve t;¡ken 1I\"410nllm." Hal ha! ha! was the provoking response 41 who cares what thou's tyen, thou ha'porih o' tripe in two bites! The moribund little man stood aghast. He had dystroyad himself to be revenged and insteau ol running for tue stomach pLmp, a contemptuous laugh, and a sneer at his pro- portions, was her reception ol his tragic announcement. lie was dying to give her pain; and she wasaspteasedasPunch. Exasperated by bis blunder, the poor sinner tottered bar to t ie «l'uggisl's> ftnd fee|inK ,|)e polson at work within him, demanded an lnsiniit emetic. 1 poisoned myself," he groaned, -t0 vex her, and she's ^lad I'm going. Oh, giv« me an eme'ic and s»ve me Nothing loth, the man of medicine executed this second order. Romeo then returned to tecovei 10 the ssgbt of Ins wife, that shc might have the mUltífication ol beholding him restored to her arms. Now, the diuggist, having no inclination •o abet suicide, and being unwilling, by refusing to administer poison, to send our hero to a less scrupulous shop, had given him on hit first visit a dose of tincture of rhubarb.

¡ OUli 091$IttUS. I 1 Why is a woman the reverse of her mirror ?" asked a crusty old bachclorof his benedict fiiend. Don't know." Wellthen, I'll tell ye-The mirror reflects without talking; while the WOe man talks without reflecting." Stop my Paper!" is nine times out of ten, the cry efaman whoie absurd suggestions have been disregarded, whose manu script nonsense has been icjected, or whoae ignorance has been exposed. What if von have failed in business? You still have life and health. Don't sit down nud cryabout mishaps, for that will never get ycu out of debt, nor buy your children frocks. Go to work at something, eatsparingly, dress moderately, dtink nothing exciling, and, ohove all, keep a merry heart, and you'll soun be up in the world.—tl. Franklin. V un !ITY.-—Truly and beautifully has it been said, that the veil which covers futurity has been woven by the hand of mercy. CLUUOAL WIT.— The Reverend Doctois Hardy and Mackin- tosh were colleaguing in the Old Church of Edinburgh. One Sunday, when it was Dr. Mackintosh's turn to preach, it hap- pened that he gotdrenched by a heavy shower, and was standing before the session room fire diying his clothes, when Dr. Haidv came in, whom he requested to take his place, as he had escaped therein. "No, sir," replied Hardy," preach yourself; you will be dry enough in the pulpit." Speaking of the bencficial influence of cheers on players, it was remarked that they gave one courage. Aye," said Sid. dons, "but what is better, they give one breath." PITY.—Nothing is more common ban IOthrow away our pity on persons much hsppier than ourselves. Why is a young woman like a due bill 1 TIecause she ought to be "seltled off as soon as she comes to maturity." DELAYS. Inexperienced persons think when great plans ooly stand still, they must be going backwards. The truth is, how- ever, that wise men are never in a hurry to force events. They know that patience works more wondetB than activity. A Sn¡;ISII Fn Low.-JIe was so selfish that he could net bring himself to share even his thoughts with anoiher. Pnoit RATES.—Money given without chanty, and received wiihout gratitude. LEOISLAHON.—The multiplication of unnecessary laWB is the worst and most vexatious species of tyranny. Despotism is no thing uut restrain Is, and where these exist without Just cause, there can be no tiue iibeity. It was said a long time ago, by Lord Chatham, that the crtdii 01 this country was a sensitive plant, which shrank from the touch; nricl, ii this were true in the time of Lor-J Chatham, what is the case now, when the substantial wealth of the country u su much greater than it was fit that time 1 A miser having threatened Ie give a poor labourer some blows with a stick: I don't believe you," says the other, "for yew never gire anything." Wealth, true wealth, is that possession which satisfies the heart. Palaces and lands may still leave a man miserable. To ue satisfied in one's self-to feel no aching, nor void—to sleep peacefully, and wake wiihout pain, regret, or remoise, such IS wealth. Content and health are a piouder inheritance than be- longs to kings. Bad news weaken the actions of the heart, oppress the lungs, destioy the appetite, stop the digestion, and partially suspend all thefunctions of the system. An emotion of shame flushes the face; feat blanches, joy illuminates it and an instant thnll electrifies a million of nerves. Surprise spurs the pulse ioto a gallop. Deliiium infuses great energy. Volition commands, and hundreds of muscles spriug to excite. Powetful emotions oflen kill the uody at a stroke. PRECEDENTS.—Men who cannot reason, resort to precedents as ii theie were not more bad precedents than good ones. Cold bus been defined as the "sweat of the poor, and the blood of the br?.ve Stammering can only he cured by a persevering and resolute habit of slow, deliberate, and distinct utterance. Ptaettseread- ing nloud, IIOlllhus learn to sul jeel the organs to the will. Learn pieces of poetry and recite them in private, and so on. THE VALUE OF A SMILE.— Who can tell the value of a smile? It costs the giver nothing, but is beyond price to the erring Hod relenting, the sad and cheerless, the lost and forsaken. It dis- aims malice, subdues temper, turns hatred to love, revenge to kindness, and paves the darkest paths with gems of sunlight. A smile on the brow betrays a kind heart, a pleasant friend, ao affectionate brother, a dutiful son, and a happy husband. It adds a charm to beauty, decorates the face of the deformed, and mukes Idfcely woman resemble the angel of paradise. A person entering the House of Commons when the Rump Parliament was sitting, exclaimed, "These are goodly gentle- men I could work for them all my life fur nothing." What trude are you, my good fiiend V' said one of the attendant*. A rope-maker, reptied the other. 4' I say, Pat," said a Yankee to an Irishman, who was digging in his eardeo, are you digging out a hole in that onion bed ? No." says Pat, "I am digging out the earth and leaving the hole." OLD HAILEY DiMNEn SENTIMENT.— However we may suffer from ti}irst, m*y we never have a drop here. A newly-arrived Hibernian was asked at dinnerwhether he would take some of the apple pie. Is it houlsom ? inquired Teddy. To be sure it is," was the reply. What makes you ask such a question ? Becase," said the new comer, I ooce't had an uncle that was killed with opple-plixy, and sure I thought it might be something of that HorL" EXHAUSTION OF TALK.-lIow long tbe lamp of conversation holds out to burn, between two peisons only, is eurioustyset down in the following passage from Count Gonfallonier'saccount of his imprisonment :—"I am an old man now yet by fifteeu years my soul is younger rhan my body Flllceu yeals I eXh;:td (lor I 11111 noi lIve-it was not life), in the self-same dungeon, ten feet square During six years I had a companion i during nine I was alone 1 never could rightly <iiatinguish the face of him who slnred my captivity in the tternsl twilight of our cell. The first year we talked incessantly together; we reiated our past lives, our joys for ever gone, over and over again. The next year we communicated to each other our thoughts and ideos on all sabjects. The third year, we had no idea to communicate "e were beginning to lose the power of reflection. The fourth, at the inrenaJ of a month or sq, we would open our lips to ask each other if it were indeed possible that the woild went on as yay and bustling as when we formed a pottion of mankind. The fifth we were siient. The sixlb he was taken awav, I never knew where, to execution or to Iibeity but I was glad when h« was gone even sotitude was betier than the dim vision of that pale vacant fore. After that I was alone, only one event broke in upon nine years' vacancy. One day (it must have been a year or two after my companion left me), the dungeon door was opened, and a voice—whence proceeding I knew not uttered these words; By orders of his Imperial Majesty, I inti- mate to you that your w ife died a year ago.' Then the door was shut, and I heard no more they had but flung this great agony in upon me, and left me alone with it again." Mildew may be removed by dipping the article in sour butter- milk, laying it in tbe sun, and alter it is white, linsingit in cleir water. Soap and chalk are also good likewise soap and starch, adding half as much salt u there is starch; together with the juice of a lemon. When man or woman commits an error or a wrong of any kind, justice and mercy, 8'HI all the viuues, with conscience at their head, demand a confefsion (which is en atonement), to be made. To refuse this confession is to remain untorgiven for ihe wrong can never be otherwise »>ooed for. j WALTZING.—At H ball lately in Richmond, U.S., a belle asked a country fellow who stood near her in II compact ring of four or lfive deep, gazing) on a pair waltzing, "■ Pray, sir, how do you iKe the waltz?" Madam," said the gentleman, 1 like the huggin' part, very wet!; but 1 don't like the whirlin' round— when it comes to huggin', I would like to stand s. c i J J. RidiculIJ is a powerful weapon, but it 15 a hCflllless one and it destroys friendship, excites enmity, and very often obstinate persistence in the faults exposed. When used legitimately, il ought to be tempered with much kindness to take off its acidity. Ridicule from an enemy is a bitter and a nauseous drug, or rather II poison. 1 am tempted to compare high-life to a railway journey. It is veiy smooth and delightful while all goes on well, but if you do get off the rails the smash is awful.—Punch's Pocket Book.

A NEW POEM. LTltp, following is part of an elegant composition from the pen of a "A Lady's Maid." who thought "she could write ue pnrty venses its missus." J O 1 wish I was in eden where all the beastea is feedin, the Pigs an cows and osses, And the long tale L'ull wot tosses The Bulldour and the rabbit, acaus it is his liabhit; Where Lions, Tigurs, Monkees, an them Ioii £ eard tilings cald donkeys, meat altogether daylre with Crokedyles all Skaley, Where sparros on the bitshis sings to their mates the thrushis, An llavvkes and Littd Hens WanksaboutiikeCocksanHos, One lookin at the tutlier for all the World like a Brother, Where no quarlin is or Phytin, its tru wot ime awritin O for a wank at Even, Somewhere ahont G or 1, when the Sun be swain Io hod, withhisiaseailivrcercd. --—< O for the grapes and rcesins wot rippins at all seesiiis j The Applea and an the Plumbs as big as my i tlmnis The h&yprecocks and peechia wot all witlrn eur retch is, An %ve monglit pick an beat, p.iyin nuthin for the treat. o for thc pooty flollers a bloomin at all ours, So that a large Boquay yew may gether any day of every flour that blose, From colleyflour to llose. Punch's Pocket Hook.

Mil. LAKKlN8. I have not been 1:le to do justice (only a Lawrence could do that) to my respected Mr. Perkins, in this piciuie; but Larkin" portrait is considered veiy like. Adolphus Laikins has been long connected with Mr. Perkins's city establishment, and is asked to dine twice or thrice per annum. Evening parties are the great enjoyments of this simple youth, who alter be has walked from Kentish Town down along 10 Thames street, and passed twelve hours in severe labour there, and walked back again to Kenush Town, finds no greater pleasure than to attire his lean pellO!) in that elegant evening costume which you fiee, 10 wal* into towu again, and to dance at anybody's house that will invite r Islington, Pentonville, Somers* Town, are the scenes of many o I f II w Pel' (lfm his exploits and I huve seen this good d figure dances at Netting Hill, at a house, where I arof to say there was no supper, no negus even to speak o n but the baie merits of the Polku, in which Adolphus reve describe tiiis gentleman's infatuation for dancing. 'e'r~ii,pr a word, that he will even'frequent boarding hou9e than not go. Ho has clogs too, like Miochin laughs at him. He gives himself no aiis; but wo 8 with a knock and a demeanour so tiemulous an > 'he servants rather patronise him. He does not spea a e any particular opinions, but when tbe time comes, 8° dance. He bleats out a word or two to his partner du ing this operation, seems verv weak and sad duiing the whole perform- ance, and. ,,f course, Is set to dance with the ugl.es wo.nenevery- where. 1 he gentle kind spuil! when I ihmk of him nigh after nigh', hopping and jigging ami trudging off o Kentish own, »o gently, through the fog,, and mud, «nd da.kness, I do not know whether 1 ought to admire him, because his enjoyments uits so »hnple and his disposition so kindly or laugh at him because he draws his lite so exqtmi.e'y mild. Well, well, we can t be all ioaring i(nos in this woild niusl s'"T,e »nd harmless, kindly, gregaro.is crcatutes, for eating and shearing. See I even gond-natmed Airs. Peikins ia leading up the tiembliog Lukins to the tremendous Miss Bunion.—Mrs, rerkin's Ball,

I I LONDO IM MARKETS., I CORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LANE, MONDAY, Nov. 23 At this day's market there was a very moderate show of whd from Essex. and a small supply from Kent and Suffolk, wi, very little from more remote counties. The morning being dØ and the air rather frosty, the condition of the samples vr tolerably good and having rather a more active demand thl last week, the stands were cleared early, at rates fully equal those current on this day se'nnight. The operations in foreign wheat were, if possible, on a sC more restricted scale than of late and, in the absence of bus ness of importance, quotations remained nominally unaltered. The value of flour underwent no change requiring notice. The display of barley samples was moderate, and fine mal ing sorts were taken pretty fieely, at previous prices and ev. the secondary kinds were not cheaper than on Monday last. Malt was saleable in retail qualities, at former terms. The fresh arrivals of oats were not large still, the principt dealers bought with the utmost caution and though the be old corn brought nearly, if not quite, last Monday's currenc; new oats, particulaily Scotch, were Is. per cheaper. There were more beans shown than on any former occasion for weeks past. and even at 2s. to 3s. per qr. less money sale were made with difficutty. The value of foreign beans decline in proportion. Peas of all kinds were Is. to 2s. per qr. lower. In quotations of Indian corn, &c., we have no change II report* CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. Shillings per quarter New. Old, WIIKAT, Essex & Kent, white 49 55 54 51 Ditto red 4-5 49 49 5i Norfolk and Suffolk 46 48 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. — 49 51 Northumberland, Berwick, and Scotch.. — — RYE 31 34 BA HI.F.Y, Essex, Kent) com. Malting 31 32 Norfolk,and Suf- J Distillers*&.Grinding 24 29 folk ) Chevalier 32 33 tvL\I.T, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. — 57! Kingston, Ware, and town made — — 59 62 OATS. Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, feed «. — — 20 2fl| Ditto, Poland and potato. — — 25 Northumberland, Berwick, and Scotch potalo — 27 29 Ditto, feed — — 25 27 Devonshire, and West Country feed or black. — 17 20 Dundalk, Newry, and Belfast, potato — — 24 25 Ditto, feed — — 21 23 Limerick, Sligo, and Westport, potato.. — — 23 2Si I)Itto, feed — 20 23, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, Youghal, and Cloun,el, black — 16 19 Ditto, white — 18 21 Gal way —- — 13 15 BEANS, Ticks 30 38 40 44 Harrow and small 38 43 4550 PEAS, boiling 45 46 Hog and gray. 38 42 FI.OOH, town made (per sack of 280lbs.) — — 41 46 Norfolk and Suffolk, household (ditto). — — 36 40 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per quarter. WHEAT, Dantzie and Konigsberg, finest high Free. mixed, white 51 55 Ditto, good mixed 50 53 Ditto, red mixed .48 52 Stettin and Rostock 51 53 Danish 47 50 Hamburgh and Pomeranian 50 52 Black Sea (nominal) hard to soft 38 44 Riga, St, petersburgh, and LieLati, soft 38 43 Canada 50 53 Spanish. 53 56 Buck or Brank 31 33 INDIAN CORN 2H 32 BAHI.I Y, Hamburgh,Dantzic,Konigsberg,&Riga 25 31 Ditto, grinding 24 26 Danish, Mecklenberg and Pomeranian 21 25 OAIS, Dutch, brew, and Poland, Friesland, and Groniogen 25 27 Danish and Swedish 20 23 Russian 20 23 BEANS, Tick 36 40 Small 42 45 Mediterranean '28 30 PEAS, white boiling 43 4(j TAIIES FLOCK, United States 23 27 Canadian 22 26 SEED MARKET. The operations in the seed rnaiket are still wiihout the slightest interest, and this morning scarcely anything was done. Canaryseed continues to come to hand fieely, and former terms were paid reluctantly this morning. BRITISH SEEDS. Linseed (per qr.) .sowing 60s. to 63s.; crushing 48s. to 50s. Linseed Cakes (per 1,000 of 31bs.each). £ l3lo £ |3 10s. Trefoil (per cwt.) 12s. to 20s. Hapeseed, new (per last) £ 30 to £ 32. Ditto Cake (per ion) £ 6 to £ 7. Mustard (ptr bushel) white 7s. to 8s.; brown 8s. to 9s. Caraway (per cwt.) 3Gs, to 38s.; new 38s. to 40s. Coriander (per cwt.) ]gs> l0 2is. fIempseed (per quarter) to 388. Canary (per qr.) .70s. to 72s. fine 74s. to 77s. FOREIGN SEEDS, &c. Linseed (per qr.) Baltic 48s. to 52s. Odessa 50s. to 52s. Linseed Cake (per ton) £ 9 0s. to 36IO Os. Rape Cake (per ton) £ 6 to £ 6 10s. LONDON PROVISION MARKET, MONDAY, Nov. 29. I he arrivals last week from Ireland were 5,420 firkins butter, and 710 bales bacon; and from foreign ports 4,500 casks butler. In the Irish butter market duting the past week we expe- 11 rienced a steady cousumptive demand, and a respectable amount of business was transacted for some desciiptions Is. per cvvt. advance was realised the market closed firm. Carlow 8Cs. to 90s. landed. Cork 92s. to 93s. Limerick 87s. to 923. Waterford 82s. to P3». Best Dutch 112s. to 114s. We have no particular change to notice in the bacon market; the quantity arriving being still limited meets ready buyeis, at G6s. to 68s. landed. IBISII BUTTER (ncw)s 9. CHEESE, per cwt. s. s per cwt. nominal — — Double Gloucester 58 64 Callow, new, on brd 90 96 Singleditto 58 64 Shgo 86 88 Cheshire 56 76 CilrlOW, new, on brtl. 90 96 Singleditto 58 64 Shgo 86 88 Cheshire 56 76 Cork, 1st 88 90 I HAM&. ENGLISH BUTIEH. Irish 40 00 Doiset.percwt. 108 112 Westmorland. 88 — FOREIGN. York 94 Priine, Frieilland, ot o 106 1101 BACON, new t'd — Ditto, Kiel 94 102 1 Middles 58 62 SMITH FIELD CATTLE MARKET, MONDAY Nov. 29. The airivals of beasts fresh up to-day were zolerably exten- s:ve, but at least a moiety of them was be-eath the middle quality. The attendance of buyers being by no means exten- sive, the beef trade was not so active all an this day se'nnight. At the close of the market a total clearance of beasts was not effected. The numbers of sheep were agaitf on the increase. On the whole, the mutton trade was steady, but by no means brisk, at nothing quotable beyond the currencies obtained on Monday. The veal trade was in a ve-y inactive state, and in some instances the prices had a dopnwaid tendency. Prime small porkers moved on steadily, at full prices. Other- wise the pork trade was heavy, at barely late rates. The great Christmas market will be held here on this day fortnight. Per BIbs., to sink the otrar. s, d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Coarse and Inferior Prime coarse wool- s, d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Coarse and Inferior Prime coarse wool- Beasts .<-3 0 3 6 led Sheep .4 6 4 10 Second qualitv do.3 8 3 10 Prime South Downs Prime large Oxen.4 0 4 4 ditto .5 0 5 2 Prime Scots, &c..4 6 4 8 Large coarse Calves3 10 4 6 (Joarse alldlnferior Prime small ditto..4 850 Sheen 3 8 4 0 Large Hogs 4 046 Second'quality do.4 244 Neat small Porkers.4 8 5 2 Suckling Calves, 19s. to 2Rs.; and quarter-old Store Pigs, 169 to 26s. cach. Beasts, 3,907 Sheep, 25,510 Calves, 1107 Pigs, 370. LATEST CURRENT PRICES OF METALS. LONDON, Nov. 26, 1847. f. s. d. IKON—Bara Wales 8 5 0 London 9 5 0 Nail rods. 10 5 O Iloops(Staf.) 11 10 0 Sheet „ rr. 12 15 0 Burs 11 b 0 W elsh cold blast foundry pig 5 0 O Scotch pig 6 Clyde 2 10 0 Hails, average. 8 0 0 Russian cCCND o. 000 PS1 000 Gourieff 0 0 0 Archangel. 13 10 0 Swedish J, on the spot 11 5 Steel,fagt 16 0 0 kegs e. 14^0 0 Col,pLt, -'I'IIC f 97 0 0 cake 98 O O Htslselected 101 0 0 Ordinary sheets lb. 0011 bottoms 0 012 YEt.rnwMtTAr.SuF.ATmNO. 0 0 9* Tin—Com. blocks £ 4 5 0 bars 4 6 0 Refined 4 10 O Straits/t 4 2 0 Hanett. 4 4 0 TIN Plates—-Ch., IC. i .1 10 0 R L}R 1 16 0 Coke, IC 14 6 IX. 1 10 6 LEAO—iSheet fc. 19 5 0 J'ig, ic-hned 20 0 0 common 18 0 O Spanish, in bd I'I! 17 0 0 ^.ei1 19 10 0 Dry While 24 0 O Shot (Patent) 20 10 0 SIT.LTKK—(Cake) I on spot 18 0 0 ,0, for arrival 0 0 0 t) m export 27 0 0 QUICKSILVER tt £ 0 4 6 a Discount 2 £ per cent. b Net cash. c Discount 2* per cent, d Ditto. e In kegs J and J-inch. f Discount 3 percent. Ditto 2J pei cent, h Net cash, in bond, 1 Dis- count per cent, k Ditto 2J per cent, I Net cash. bond m Discount 1J per cent, n discount 1J per cent. For home use it is £ 32. per ton.

AGENTS FOR THE MONMOUTHSHIRE MERLIN. 4».™ ,» LOCAL AGENTS:— J iv ° Morgan, Chepstow — Mr. Clark and Mr. Hi*- e,s.rs" Son, stationers. Taylor, stationers, &c. > rxi/c/iau — Mr .Somers. Monmouth—Mr. Cossens, post- i/r,ari"7MT- chemist. office. lacKUood—Mr. Jones,post-office. Mcrthyr Tydvil—Mr. White and 'jrynmau r — Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Wilkins, stationers. printer. Pontypool-Mr, Hughes, printer, nridgt ntl—Mr. Bird,stationer,&c. and Mr. Sloper, surgeon. ari/ijj—Mr. Bird, post-office. Tredegar—Mr. llavies, stationer. Usk-Mr. Clark, printer. LottnoN AGENTS :— Messrs. Barker and White, 33, I Mr. Charles Mitchell, 12, Red Lion Elect-street. Court, Fleet-street. Messrs. Newton and Co., 2, War- Mr. Munden Hammond,27, Lom- wick-square. hard-street. Mr. George Heynell, 42, Chancery. Mr. Samuel Deacon, 3,Walbrook. lane. lane. lly wliom this paper is regularly filed. I he MERLIN is also filed at Lloyd's CotFee Room, City. Newport, Saturday, December 4, 1847. Printed and Published for the Proprietor, EDWARD DOYVLINCi, of Kto,< Hill, in the Parish of St. Woolos, in the M) h) )f. (ienera.1 Printing Office, situate in Corn-street, tm the Borough of Newport.by WILLIAM CHRISTOPHERS, of Mo. t, Chat les-stitet, in thesaid Borough.

ELLEN'S SORROWS. 11 Man's misery declares him born for btiM Our heads, our hearts, our passions, and our powers Sptjuk. the s*uie language call us to the skies nripened f/itwt" in tliifi inclement clime, And for tlits land of triiles those too strong, Tumultous rise, and tempest human life."—Yot.sa. LEAVE ber, lpave her; let her weep, There are griefs that lie too deep, For the o'erfraught heart to steep • III "forgetfulness or sleep." As the wild wind stirs the strings Of the jEollan harp, which brii.js >oul-subduing murmuringi, Sweet as when a syren sings, Thus the heart's frail strings are stirred By a cold or careless word, Though to mortal ear unheard The vibration of that chord. But the heart thus finely strung, Is with anguish soonest wrung Deeper grief hath from it sprung, Holier rapture round it clung. Who can solve the mystery Of its intense misery ? Or its tearful sympathy, Gushing forth spontaneously? Who bath framed the heart and biain, And the cisterns they contain— Wove each fine, electric chain, Fraught with ecstacy and pain ? Who hath organised the whoJe- Powers, which grasp from pole to pole, Feelings, whose supreme control Thrill like pulses through the soul ? Whence its joy or mental pain ? Love, contempt, delight, disdain, Passions, which alternate reign, Over reason's wide domain ? Whence the pang, the sigh, the blush- Whence bewildering griefs that rush O'er the fount whence warm tears gush, Finest energies to crush ? Ask not why these gifts were given ? Why the heart with grief was riven? Why the spirit thus hath striven? —Tis to mould the soul for heaven Sorrows hath, perchance, defined Master touches on that mind— Nobler aims within it shrined— Hopes etherealised, refined. Quelled its passion and its pride, Idols, once p'rhaps deified, i Are for ever flung aside, And the temple purified. Oh, believe me, sorrow brings Pearls from out her crystal springs, Through she veils all earthly things, With her dark imaginings. Who can tell how pure and fair All her aspirations arc, Or what grandeur lingers where Hope hath grappled with despair. 'Tis in deep vicissitude Patience, faith, and fortitude, Gain their loftiest altitude, And shine forth with magnitude. True, the throbbing brain may burn, And the heart may sometimes yearn;" But its sunshine shall return, W hen submission it shall learn.. • Oh, then, let the mourner share Thy best sympathy and prayer And in mercy kindly spare Probing wounds intiicted there. Banks of the Ebbw, November, 18.t7, MARIANNE.

Setting tfjc erap at the From the takingly-tilled and facetiouJ Work, Whom to Marry, and How to gtt Married. NEXT morning at b eakfast, mamma did nothing but talk about the otticers, telling me how glad she was we were going to be introduced to them. They were generally tingle men, with in- dependencies as handsome ai their uniforms; and there w»g DO kcowing whether Gee's affection mightn't turn out to be disgust- ingly Platonic after all; and we, perhaps, fiod that he bad only been trifling with the best feelings of my uatare, and loving me as a sister," in the very prime of my life. So she hoped and trusted Id put upon that beautiful pink bonnet that I looked so well jn, for we couldn't tell what might happen—blind mortals 88 we were. The breakfast things couldn't have been taken away above five minutes, when the waiter brought up a note, saying a man was waning below for an answer. It was from Mr. Gee, written in his usual eccentric and would-be witty style. aDd ran just as follows — "My dear Mrs. DeRoos,—I have secured Lollop, and he says he's sure Doonuffiu will come if the laiiies won't mind him smoking his weed after dinner. So, lul-lol lul-lul-lul-la-Ii-e-tee, your'* truly, "A.G.GEt. P.S. By the bye, consarning them donkeys—how many will you require ? llhlnk the ladies ought to havaone piece. Please send word back by the maD, as I'm waiting at the barracks to know. Oh eriky, don't I love my muther" We could neither of us understand the po«tcript to the note, for Mr. Gee having always spoken of the oificvrs as a pack of donkeys, tnarama would have it that it referred to ihe number of officers we wanted to make up the party; while I saod I felt convinced that it merely related to the donkeys he had ptopo&ed to engage for us to ride upon. However, mamma said it would be better to speak to the man on the subject, as such a mistake would be very awkward, and she wouldn't for the world give any olfence in that quarter. But so thoroughly convinced was she that she was in the right, and I, as usual, in the wrong, that she would twist everything the man said, to her own view of the case, and kept fancying that all the donkey man told her about the Ion *-eared things, related to Mr. Gee's friends at the barracks. When the man came into tfce room, mamma—determined to put the question plainly to him, and so find out whether Mr.Gee, when he spoke of donkeys, intended to refer to the officers-laid wilh" smile, "Do you know, my good maD, whether the Hon. Mr. Gee, in the letter you brought from him, in speaking of don- keys—he he he !—means them for the oilkerg or not ?" Oh, yes, marm," replied the donkey keeper, I knows bow ha do, cos Cap'n LolJnpwalJ with him—Cap'n Lollop, you know, warm—as were had up for a tarring the hiniidesof all the ladies' bathing gownds—and they was a talking on a party to the Devil's Dyke, and saying as how it 'ud be capital fun." There, you see, Charlotte, I tr«j right, only you tvill be ao positive, my love," she said, turning to me and a nice mis- take I should have made if 1 had followed your advice." Then turning to the man, she continued, Will you telllhe Hon. Mr. Ciee that I think half a dozen will be lufficient-that will be just one to snell rady." Werry good, marm," the man answered and you may de- pend upon their all being quiet and fit for ladies." Yes, 1 hope Mr. Gee wiil attend to that," replied mamma, sharply; "furl should be sorry if anything occurred to upset the party." Oh, yer needn't be Sieard on any party being upset with the ones you'll have. inarm," answered the man Mr. Gee knows 'em well, aud will answer for none on 'em being at all wicious. IndeeJ, there Mere never but one in our whole troop as couldn't be trusted out with a lady, and he were a black 'uo, wi' a white nose." A bluck one, with a while nOle!" exclaimed mnmma; O dear me, how singula; lie used to play the cymbals, then, I suppose V No, marm, not exactly that," the man answered though he were uncommonly clever, to be sure-—do almost anything but tawk. Lnderstund everythiog that was suid to him, marm, like aChrisiian." Ab, I see, replied mamma, "of foreign extraction, and undersiood the language, but could not speak it!" Why, marm," laughed out the donkey keeper, I suppose that were about it." And WHS he really soch a bad character Yes, marm," replied the maD;" he worn't to be tiusted out without some one to look arter him. You see, he was inclined ro -by, and them there sort in always the most dangerous to the lad;es, nurm." Yes, very true, my good man," answeied matnma your shy oces are always such sly ones, that one ia never safe with the creatures." No more yer are, rearm," continued the man but yer nesda't have no fears ollhem tis Mi. Gee has settled upon. Now, there's Sir Taiton vkfs wirttle just the werry thing for you— he's a grey 'un, but Lot at all 9haky a[;oullll., kneel, I ulhures yer; and Mr. Gee, who knows him well, iald he were tbe only one aa would take IIOU." indeed, 1 am much obliged to Mr. Gee," replied mamma, with biting sarcasm, "for choosing tbe grey Sir Talton Sykes for me." Well, marm," the man added, scratching his head, if yer objects to him, there's Handsome Jack as yer can have; only yer see, Mr. Gee were afeard on his being a lee-eetle too fast for one of your time of life. And the worst on it it, he will get at bis tricks occasionally, and that might frighten ye marm; though if yer jest give: him a lap upou the head with yer paiasol, he'* as quiet as a lamb arter 11. Otherwise he's a beautiful sweet tem- per, aod so uncommon partial to carrots, that, bless you, he'll follow my eldest daughter about anywhere." Your daughter haa auburn hair, then, I auppoaet" asked mamma. Well, it is a leetle inclined that way, marm," replied the man, with a look of wonder, as it he was asking himself what on earth that had got to do with tne business ? However, marm, to keep to the pint," he continued, as yer don t^seeia to fancy either Sir Tatton Sykes or Handsome Jack, there s one amongst the lot as Mr. Gee said he should like to be there, as I'm sura you'd be werry pleased with. He's not a werry good one to look at; but r.c's so quiet and gentle, that even .f you were to dig yer shawl pia into his back, I don't think it 'ud wake any difference to him much," Dear me exclaimed mamma; well, he must be a don- key, indeed." Yes, inarm," answered the man, he s a werry extraordi- nary donkey, 1 can assure yer. He's called The Philosopher, marm, and has one of the laggedest coats you ever seed. The strangest tiling !g> too, that yer can't use hi;o to shoes, no how for do what you will, he's always flinging 'em off, and goin about without ere a one." Lord bless me!" exclaimed mamma horrified; "I should hope that Mr. Gee would never think of bringing a creature like that." 6 Y\ ell, I told ye, marm, as he worn't a werry good 'un for to look at," said the man in explanation '« only I thought the gen- tleness on his natur 'ud please yer. Bless ye though he's been peited and persecuted by 811 the hoys in the'town, yet I never know'J him to kick one 00 'em. His hne of later* too, il werry wonderful biled or unbiltd, bless yer, it's all the same to him, so long as they're taters. As for beer, too, 1 gi-es yer my word, marm. I\e seed him get asd/unk on it as any Christian—I have, indeed." Pretty Philosopher, truly cried mamma, very indignantly. However, I'm glad you've given me this warning; and you'll be good enough to tell Mr. Gee that I wouldn't have such a mere annual to be at our pic uio on any account," J. Wait iiiua, marm, J suppose yer wuat have one iu his pIle" í and if I might make so bold 1 should recommend the genera), for he's prodigious hansome, and has a fine Roman nose of bis own, with the thinnest legs you ever set eyes on." "There, never mind about his legs, replied mamma. "But do you really think Mr Gee could persuade the General to come ? I should so like him to be there." Oh, yes, marm, I've no doubt he could be persuaded for to come, if so be at he was took round by the road, aud kept away from the water for you see, marm, it was only t'other day, when he was out on the beach along wiih Lady Limpet, as lives on the Steyne, when all on a sudden, hang me, if he doesn't bolt off, nod cany her ladyship tight into the middle of the sea, and there he stood with the water up to his shoulders, and the poer lady clinging to his neck, end screaming away for heip, so that two 00 us was obliged to go in and pull him out by force." What a very extraordinary propensity, to be sure!" cried mamma, considerably alarmed. Yes, marm," continued the man but it's the only draw back he's got, unless, indeed, it be that he's blind of one eye." Ah lost in the field, I dare say," added mamma. Ab! gallant creature I've no donbt he'd sooner die than run." Well, 1 really do believe he would sooner die than run, any day, marm," replied the donkey man. Yes, it is easy to see the General is something out of the common, exclaimed mamma. Out of the common I believe you, marm," said the man. He's been regularly bred and born to it, like one of the right sort. So I'll tell Mr. Gee as how you'd like to have him. Now marm, if you'd excuse the liberty, there's young Ducrow-would you like to have him as well ? He goes out to most of the picnics here. aud is a general favourite with the ladies." Young Ducrow 1" asked mamma. Why, how old is he, my man- Rising four, marm," he answered. Only four years old exclaimed mamma. u What ia the man talking about? No, I don't want any such little things at my paity." He's wonderful clever, indeed, marm," continued the man* H Mr. Gee always takes him out, wherever he goes. You can't tell how he'll amuse you. He fires off a pistol, and he sets at table with a napkin round his acek, and will pick your pocket of anything, marm." Bless me, I wouldn't have a creature with any such propen- sities near me, for the world." You'd much tetter have him,marm. He does it all in play, and what's more, he's the littlest thing of his age you ever seed and he's not above five hands, I can assure yer." "Not above five hands?" returned mamma. "Why, how many hands would you have him ? Once for all, my good man, such juvenile monstrosities may please Mr. Gee, but they are not at a)) to my taste. So you can go back to the barracks, and tell Mr. Gee all that has transpired only pray lake care, and mention that I would rather the General came, than all the officers PUI together." The man touched his hair, and left, laughing at what he thought mamma meant for a sarcastic joke. No sooner had he taken his departure, than mamma began congratulating herself upon her good fortune, and said it would make the party so distingue to have one of the General's raok among the company; adding, that if the whole affair went off as she expected, she certainly would go to the expense of a pa- ragraph among the fashionable intelligence of the local papers, with a list of the distinguished guests present. Thcn suddenly she exclaimed, that she would give the world if she could find out what the dear General liked. Perhaps a raised pie might be too heavv for him. However, a military gentleman was generally partial to lobster salad, and if there was one thiog she prided herself upon more than another, it was her lobster salad. Only let the fish be all fiesh and firm, aod--however much people might laugh at her—upon her lobster salad shed stand before the first cook in England. In this way, she went on all dinner time, and even up to tea, talking of nothing but the General—now wondering whe- ther the loss of his eye disfigured him much, or if he wore a shade or gieen spectacles to hide it, till at last the waiter put an end 10 her rhapsodies, by bringing in the cards of Mr. Gee and Captaip Lollop, who he said were tu the coffee room. Telling the-waiter to show the gentlemen up, mamma thrust the work she had been engaged upon under the sofa, and begged of me 10 run and smooth my hair, white she stepped into her room, and changed her cap. As we were going upstairs, she told me she supposed Mr. Gee had called about the donkeys he was to see after lor us to riJe upon. But it seemed as if all the fates were conspiring against us, for in reality he bad only comHo speak aboul the officers, aod tb6 lonStquence was twat mamma insulted the whole regiment, mistaking the one for the other. When she can.e dowo, Mr. Gee introduced her to the Cap- tain—who was in his uniform-aod I could see from the change that immediately took place in her manner, and the mincing way in which she talked, that she was endeavouring to make her- self as amiable as possible, and impresa Ihe Captain wilb the idea that she was no ordinary personage. "Indeed, Mr. Gee," she said, after the introductions were over, 1 have to tender you my very, very best thanks for afford- ing me the pleasure of the Captain's acquaintance. 'Tis very, very keyiod of you, for both my daughter and myself have long been anxious to number him among our friends." Lollop answered nothing, but smiled graciously, and curled the ends of his moustachios, till they looked like the tip cf a camel's hair paint brush while Mr. Gee assured mamma, that she would find Lollop "a perfect brick,"—and to tell the truth, from the colour of his coat, he did look something like one. So you intend honouring our little fele champetre on Tues- day," mamma said again, addressing the Captain. You must not, however, expect grallde clwse. It will be a mere cold colla- tion on the grass, and perhaps a dance." "You ao-are very good aw," answered tha Capta n, again twiddling his moustache. "I purpose aw affording myseifthe pleasure aw aw of being there aw." You are very keyind," replied mamma. I believe we are also to be hon ured by two or three of your friends we have not as yet had the pleasure of bting introduced to. I am sure, Mr. Gee, I do not know how we should have managed without your assistance. Really, the ladies ought to be greatly indebted to you for tbe pains you have taken on their behalf." Not at all," answered Adolphus. I was glad to hear from the man I sent up to you this morning, that vou were jolly well pleased with tbe selection I had made. They are a rum lot, but they are the tidiest I could stumble over." I am sure," returned mamma, that no one could have done better. I was quite disarmed at your being able to secure Ihe General for me." "WoH I've done almost as well the other way," he replied, Indeed," said Mamma, with a smile, fancying he was now I going to tell ber about the donkeys. "You mean those stupid crealures you plOpOse for 'he young ladies. Wen, perhaps they will complete the party. How many have you tngaged ? Oh I have got four of the fattest of the tot loi you. Don't you think I have, Lollop ?" Yes aw," answered the captain. "I aw think they are aw; and decidedly the best looking." I'm very glad of that," returned Mamma for really some of those 1 have seen standing at the bottom of the Steyne had such a disreputable and dirty appearance, that I really should feel ashamed to be seen out with them. Upon my word, I do believe the poor creatures are half starved. But perhaps you know the ones I allude to, Captain lollop-I mean those that generally stand at the end of the Marine Parade. You must know them for I can assure you the boys annoy neatly every lady that goes by." L Lollop, thinking that Mamma alluded to some ofthejumor officers of his regiment, stared again, and at last stammered j out, •• I really, Madame aw aw don't know those you refer to but aw-" Well, that is a good un," interrupted Gee when you know as well as I do, that I've seen you yourself out with some poor devils that I'm sure no one wold have taken for gen- tlemen." ( "Theontal mean," said Mamma, still clinging to the don. i keys. are generally taken foi children-though indeed, I have known some of them to be taken for young ladies. Now, it was only the other day that Miss Kate l ollemache, who certainly is [ not a proud girl, got one to take her over to Rotten Dean, and she said the poor creature was such a mUerable object, that she « blushed when any one went by. And would you believe it she told me his coat was so full of dust, that she was sure it never was brushed from one year's end to another. And you would fancy, that when they get as much as 7s. 6d. a day, they mioht be, at least, decently d essed for the money." g I could see that Lollop was getting more and more angry at the idea of any gentleman being spoken of in such terms. You may depend upon it, that's Ned Byng," said Gee- for he's very seedy, and has only 7s. 61. a day, I know and 1 it's always been a wonder to me how the fellows could allow him to remain in the mess." "That's just what Mrs. Tollemache said, lean assure you, Captain Lollop but they're all such a dreadful set of donkeys, that one isn't a bit better then the other," continued Mamma, who was so anxious to make friends with the officers, that she would direct all her conversation to the captain, though, from his forced smile, I began to see that Mamma was making some dreadful mistake and though I oudged her underneath the ta- ( ble, still she would go on, saying, that many ladies of her ac- quaintance had entirely given them up and that if it wasn t for the nursery-maids, they wouldn't have a soul after them. Gee busst out laughing at this, and cried out, Bravo, Rouse aod Mamma, encouraged by this appiohation, enly went on tcn times worse, notwithstanding I endeavoured to turn the conver- sation, by asking Captain Lollop whether he thought the fine weather would continue 1 < "But," proceeded Mamma, "1 hope my fceyind Mr. Gee, f hIlS managed better for us. Now do see that at least they are ( clean, there's a good creature, and that their shots and straps me all right for I am sure Captain Lollop will agree with me that they are not generally so, and that indeed, they more frequently look as if they had just come out of the stable." I am sorry to say I do not understand jou, Madam," an- swered the captain, with great hauteur. "Well, Mrs. de Roos," saill Gee, who, I could see, was I a raid of his friend's losing his temper at what he thought Mamma intended for a }oke, I think the best way will be for them to come round here for you and flll to go on together. O.'i dear me, no!" exclaimed Mamma, with a smile and a shake of the head, I woundn't be seen in the public streets with the things for all you could give me in the country, where there is no one to notice, of course, it il quite another affair but bless you, if I was to show mysell in the town with them, I should be afraid of being pointed out for weeks after- wards. But tell me, i\1r Gee, 1 hope you have chosen nice ones for us V Why Madam," said the captain, with sarcasm, you are so difficult to please; but Lord Clozehorse is coming and perhaps you may not think him quiet so disteputable as the rest." Lord Cioiehorse exclaimed Mamma j why, what an extraordinary name to give the donkey." "Well Madam," said the captain rising with dignity, "if such be your opinion of Lord Cioiehorse, perhaps they had better all stop awav." Oh, do not say so," cried Mamma you should have more regfaard for the ladies, for at any rale they will afford us a hearty laugh." Gee. who all the while had been blowing his nose most violently to smother and hide his laughter, now buist out, and leant his head on the corner of the mantel-place, and kept lifting his leg up and down, as if some convulsion had seized him. Captain Lollop rose up-scarlet in the face with rage—and saying, Madam, I will bear with your insults no longer," bounced out of the room. Mamma, clasping her hands, said, Oh, whatever have I done ? But Mr.Gee could only giggfeout, Oh dear, my poor sides! If youlhnen I been mistaking her Majesty's Sappies and Minors for a pack of donkeys." 1 do verily believe that she would have torn her false front if she hadn't been afraid of its coming off in the presence of Mr.Gee—when she found that Lord Clozehorse was a peer of the realm, instead of a donkey on the Marine Parade, and that the General," for whom she had expressly intended to prepare her delicious lobster salad, was a long eared animal who would have preferred a thistle, and have looked upon her delicious lobster sauce as only so much green-meat spoilt.

CONfiiaBiON OF WILLIAM ALLNUI'T, Last week, considerable excitement was created in the family of Mr. Nelme, by the production before the grand jury at the Old Bailey, of a written confession of the boy Ailnutt, as the murderer of Mr. Nelme, whose mysterious death has excited a great sensation in the parish of Hackney for some weeks past. It appears that on Wednesday morn. ing the prisoner asked his turnkey for a pen and paper, and shortly afterwards addressed a lengthy and somewhat inco- herent epistle to his mother, fuliy admitting his guilt. The letter, winch filled two pieces of paper, was, alter a perusal by 1\1r. Cope, detained, and ordered to 3e placed before the grand jury as evidence. The document was of a singular character. The substance of it was to the effect that after hearing the chaplain of Newgate on Sunday last pre^h on the subject of confession, he felt himself accused as the murderer of his grandfather. When he went to bed he dreamed that two angels were standing by him, who said, William, confess,and your sins will be foigiven. lie then awoke, and found tl was a dream* an<^ 'ie was 'hen in a dreadful fright. After a short sleep, hs dreamt again; he then saw Satan, who said, Witham, if you tell tha truth you will be hangfd." lIe thought he saw the place that had been represented to him—a place of torture and punish, ment. He then awoke, and again it was a dream. The epistle proceeds :—"Dear Mother, had you known the state of my mind at that moment, you would have feit for me. I again went to sleep, and again I dreamt: dear mother, I dreamt I saw God sitting upon his throne. In my dream I saw the angels in glory standing around Hun, when He said, Confess, and your sins will be forgiven you. There were large numbers of sinners standing around him those on the right hand had confessed, and were in heaven those on the left hand had not confessed, and were going to eter- nal torments. When I awoke, dear mother, it was light, and I then wrote that which you now see." Other ram- bling sentences follow, and then he states, I thought then, dear mother, I would confess. On the 22nd of October I saw grandfather go the bureau where the arsenic was kept; I afterwards took one of the keys, got some arsenic, put it in a piece of paper, and afterwards placed some in the sugar-vase which was in the cupboard, and I also pt.t a portion of it in a glass; and I now hope, after coufesstng, I shall go to heaven, dear mother." Little else of impor- tance is contained in the tetter, of the contents of which, up to a late hour on Thursday night, the prisoner's professional advisers were entirely ignorant.

ANOTHER POISONING CASE AT HACKNEY. W. S. Sheridan was finally examined at Worship-street, charged with the wilful murder of his mother.—G. Yarrow, an undertaker, in Hi^h»street, Shoreditch, stated that the prisoner came to his house on Saturday, the 30th of Oct., and said he wished him to take instructions for the interment of a deceased woman, to be performed as reasonably as pos- sible, as she had died in reduced circumstances. The pri- soner appeared at the time to be labouring under great excitement, lie proceeded to the house in Mare-street, and was struck with the extremely livid and dirty appearance which the corpse presented, On the same evening he took the coffin to the house,and made an arrangement to proceed with the prisoner the next morning to the Beaumont Ceme- tery, at Mfie-end, to purchase the ground but on the road there they were met by one of the surgeons who had been in previous attendance upon the deceased, and while con- versing with him the prisoner disappeared. Witness has- tened back to the house, which the prisoner had reached be- fore him, and shortly after his arrival was joined by the parish beadle, to whom he had caused a communication to be made, and who intimated to the prisoner that it was ne- cessary that an inquest should be held upon the body. The prisoner objected, saying that it was uncalled for; but, upon witness remarking that if he valued his respectability he would hhrow no obstacles in the way, he at length gave a reluctant assent. Some angry words then ensued between the prisoner and his sister, who accused him of poisoning his mother, to which he made no direct reply, hut retorted upon her with an accusation of drunkenne-s.— During the time this witness was giving his evidence he was repeatedly interrupted by the prisoner, who exhibited great excitement, declaring he was the victim of a couple of fiends who had engaged in a foul conspiracy against him, and he hoped that some one from the Secretary of State's office was present to watch the proceedings.—G. Downing, superintendent of Shillibeer's funeral establishment in the City-road/deposed that on the 4th iust. the prisoner called upon him, and said that he wanted to make arrangements respecting the funeral of a person for whom a coffin had already been piovided. He asked him his motive for transferring the business from one tradesman to another, and the prisoner replied that the undertaker he had before employed was in such a state of intoxication that he was disgusted with his conduct, and would have nothing more to do with him. The prisoner appeared to be in a state of nervous anxiety, and inquired whether the funeral could not take plate on the following day, to whieh he replied in the affirmative, if the grave had been already taken, and the certificate obiaineu. The funeral (which the prisoner wished to hasten) took place in due course.—The prisoner was fully committed to take his trial.