Monmouthshire Merlin

USK. TOWN HALL.—FRIDAY. Before J. Churchill, Esq., and Rev. W. Evans. IMPORTANT FISHING CASE. George Lucas, the younger, with John Lucas, Zacariah Walters, mason, and John Williams, mason, were sum- moned for angling in the river Usk. George Lucas, jun., was called to answer the charge preferred against him by James Greenfield, Esq., Secretary to the Trostrey Weir Association, for having, on the 2nd of July, at the parish of Monkswood, unlawfully and wilfully attempted to take, by angling in the day- time, certain fish called trout, in the river Usk, not run- ning through, nor being in any land adjoining or belong- ing to the dwelling-house of any person, being the owner of the said river." The charge was laid under the statute 7 and 8 Geo. IV., cap. 29, sec. 34. Mr. Batt, of Abergavenny, appeared for the plaintiff, and observed that it was well understood the fishery was the private property of Mr. Leigh, and that Mr.Greenfield was the renter. Mr. Shepard took an objection to the form of the com- plaint, in its not having been signed by the complainant. This objection was over-ruled. Mr. Greenfield, sworn, said: I rent, with others, the fishery belonging to Mr. Leigh, commencing at the parish of Kemeys Commander, and ending at the mouth of the Olway brook, near Llantrissent; the agreement is in writing. [Mr. Batt here produced and read the agree- ment, in which the fishery was let for a term of seven years.] Mr. Greenfield: I laid the information. Mr. Leigh had for many years previously rented the fishery to other parties. Mr. Leigh has at different times granted fishing tickets to different parties. Mr. Shepard applied to the magistrates for an adjourn- ment of the case, on the grounds that the offence had been committed a fortnight, and the summonses had only been issued two days ago, and in the short time that had elapsed since he had received instructions, he had not been able to prepare a defence. The magistrates refused and decided upon proceeding with the cafe V 5? the-\cited several cases, and maintained there had been no right to the fishery proved Henry Atkinson, one of the keepers in the employment of the association, stated: On the 2nd of July I saw George Lucas angling in the Trostrey Weir fishery, in the parish of Monkswood he was fishing from a coracle, with a rod and line; saw him catch a fish do not know what fish it was; it was not a salmon.—Cross-examined by Mr. SheparJ: It was on the Monkswood side of the river; Mr. Parker is tenant of the land on that side of the river, and Mr. Cadle occupies the land on the other side; I fish myself. George Lucas, uncle to the defendant, was called by the plaintiff's solicitor, and said: I am 68 years of age; rented the fishery with my brothers for 18 years, and 4have known the fishery for 50 years; William Davies rented the fishery before we did; he is dead; we had an agreement; I know the fishery belongs to Mr. Leigh; remember Phillips being summoned for angling.; remem- ber an action between Mr. Leigh and Mr. Williams, of Llangibby; Mr. Leigh established his right.—Cross- examined: Mr. Williams claimed a right of salmon fishing, as lord of the manor of Llangibby Mr. Williams was defeated.; while they had the fishery, Mr. Leigh reserved the right of angling the public have angled in the river without permission; when Davies rented the river, he tried to prevent the public from angling. John Stockham examined by Mr. Shepard: I am 80 years of age, and have lived in the town 70 years have been an angler all my days; have caught dace, and some- times trout; was never stopped by any one.—Cross- examined 11 never asked Mr. Leigh's permission; never told Mr. Leigh of it; the fishermen used to caution me not to catch "have not angled lately, but shall, as soon as this matter is settled. Zacariah Walters, the elder, examined or have been 40 years in Usk; my idea was, that we all had the privilege of angling in the day time.—Cross-examined by Mr. Batt: Knew Mr. Leigh owned the fishery; did not know he had any power to prevent angling; remember men being summoned for Catching pink. Thomas Williams, carpenter I have been livingpabout 65 years in Usk; from 10 years of age, .1 have been in the habit of angling always considered I had a right to angle.—Cross-examined: Never applied for leave to Davies, or any one else all claimed-a right to angle. The magistrates, after a short consultation, dismissed the case. James Williams, labourer, was summoned for having, on the 2nd or 3rd of May, contracted with Miss Sandford, of the Hill, Trostrey, to sertre as farm labourer for twelve months, and with having afterwards neglected his work and left his service, by staying out all night, and leaving his service on the 27th of June last.—Allcwed to go, by the wish of Miss Sandford, on payment of hdf the expen- ses out of his wages due.

A GLOUCESTERSHIRE HERo.-Colonel Lysons, of the 23rd Regiment, who led one of the storraing parties against the Redan, and who was severely wounded, is a Gloucestershire man. He is a man of good property and family his place of residence in the county is Hemsted Court, about a mile from Gloucester, on the Bristol road. His brother, the Rev. Mr. Lysons, is incumbent of the parish. The name is well known in the archaeological world—the father and uncle of the gallant colonel having been both eminent -antiquarians. The following is froni a London contemporary :—" Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Lysons, of the 23rd,i(Welsh Fusileers), after escaping un- hurt at Alma, Balaklava, and Inkermann, wasseverely wounded in the engagement of the 18th of June before the Redan. Col. Lysons served throughout the Canadian Rebellion in 1836 7, and was honourably mentioned in the despatches of Colonel Gore, at St. Dennis but he dis- tinguished himself in a. more prominent manner, in 1842, on the occasion when he was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. He swam ashore from the transport in which were embarked a large detachment of troops, and was the means of saving the lives of all on hoard. The7found themselves on a desolate part of the coast 7 r.nri miles from Quebec, in the depth of wint^ T1- 'Lysons volunteered to proceed there on foot «« having to traverse trackless were great, to find" a week, steamer from Quebec board who was somf ft Wlttl SaNant comrade on without purchase TTa h .rewarded with a captaincy w«t wferdcirX's.tb9 f purcto while serring m the Cnm,™ 'TI,0 "oUant officer, familiarly known in the artnv w +i; g i «f •• Dan Ly sous, "has, since th. rtoming of had his n, had his n, ,tme changed amongst biw, co'riiradeq in the Eas IIL'e-D,tia Lysoiiii."

ONE HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR! NEW IRON ROADWAY FOR HIGH SPEEDS ON RAILWAYS. The statistics of railways abundantly prove the urgent need of more substantial, safe, and efficient permaneft ways than those hitherto in use, adequate to the increase of weight, speed, and power in the locomotives. En- gines that were formerly 12 tous in weight, and working at a steam pressure of 45 lbs, on the square inch now weigh 40 tous, and work at 120 lbs. pressure- and the speed, formerly 25 miles per hour, is now 60 miles; while railways that formerly ran 60 trains per day no* run 300, with a proportionate increase in the weight of goods and passenger trains. Notwithstanding this enor- mous increase in speed, power, weight, and number of trains, no corresponding improvement in roadways, to render them capable of sustaining the necessary wear and tear, has yet been effected; and seeing the mischie- vous effects of this deficiency in our railway economy, Mr. Thomas Wright, C.E., has designed a bedplate sleeper, and iron roadway, expressly adapted for sustain' ing the highest speeds and heaviest traffic, with the greatest durability and lowest cost for maintenance,, coin- I binding the advantages of the longitudinal and transverse systems, and upon which 100 miles per hour may be performed with perfect ease and safety. The most dis- tinguishing feature of this invention is the employment of a single sleeper as a complete piece of roadway to itself, consisting of a massive piece or casting, capable ot sustaining a pair of rails, being without longitudinal or transverse joints, similarly constructed to the bed <>f slide-lathe or planing-machine; and 6team-engine sloM iron bedplate, which, when combined continuously with others of a similar construction, forms the iron way oi the railroad, and is a complete system of independent iron framing. The rails are secured by a vice-jaw list- ening to those sleepers (which are incapable of movenlent among themselves), forming at once a solid mechanical structure, smooth, stable, and unyielding, and calculated to permit the full development of the improvement in locomotives, and the onward progress of railway transit, with efficiency, safety, and economy.-Mining Journal,

THE BRITISH FOREIGN LEGION. As far as the Foreign Legion has progressed hitherto, everything seems to have been admirahly managed. At Dover there are about 900 men. The battalion is called the British Swiss Legion although some of them confessed they are Frenchmen, but who had enlisted as Swiss, for the purpose of obtaining employment in the English service. The whole regiment appears to be composed of very fine men indeed, nearly all to have been more or less drilled, and many of them have that unmistakeable walk and manner which mark the trained soldier in all countries. A great many of them have seen active service in different countries and under various governments. Not a few have worn the conical uniform which distinguishes the Pope's Swiss Guards, and during the revolution at Rome borne arms for the Holy Father against his loving and loved subjects. Still more of them have served in the Neapolitan Swiss Guards, and seen not a little fighting in Naples and Sicily during the Italian revolution. None of these men are deserters. Having served their time in Rome or Naples they have taken their discharge, und are now anxious to take (he field against Russia. Their hatred for the Czar and their enthusiasm in favour of "liberty," contrast strangely with their semi-German apathy upon all other topics. There is one other subject upon which they speak warmly, and that is the way in which they are paid, fed, and treated in England. "Every complaint we make," said a sturdy fellow about six feet high wha had served in the Schleswig-Holstein army against Denmark—" every complaint we make to our officer* is listened to with all attenlion, and, if just, a remedy is at once applied. Moreover we are paid as regularly as the sun rises, our rations are good, and all our comforts looked to. We are comfortably clad, and, in fact have no greivances whatever." As yet the battalion have only received their fatigue clothing, the shape of which is very like what is worn for the same duty in the French service. The forage cap is of blue cloth, and in shape exactly like the kepis," now universally used by our allies; it is easy to the head. The undress or fatigue jacket they wear, is a sensible, roomy garment, very weli adapted for the use for which it is intended. It is of good scarlet cloth, with collar and cuffs of blue. Their trousers are dark Oxford mixture with red piping, exactly like those worn in our own foot regiments, but made much larger and with pockets in the sides. The men believe their press clothing is to be a scarlet frock. As yet only a few muskets have been given them, just to carry when on guard, and belts they have none. Amongst them are some young men who have never served in any army, and these are drilled in squads by non-commissioned officers, who explain the drill in French and German. The officers of the battalion appear to be mos'ly foreigners, and at present there seems to be several sorts of uniform worn amongst tnero. Some of the subalterns are old grey- headed men, but have seen a great deal of service, and have joined the Legion under a promise of immediate advancement to the higher grades. The Swiss Legion has an English and Swiss commandant, the latter being supreme in matters of discipline, the former having the care of providing for the men. The punishments of those who misbehave are very severe, much more so than in our own battalions but this is no doubt necessary, where h a number of men from different countries are brought ? ether, Shorncliffe twelve hundred men of the ''British Foreign Legion" are stationed. These are rtivided into two battalions, one of Jagers— or riflemen — the other of plain infantry, or flat feet," as they were d to be called in light infantry. Both these battalions are almost exclusively German, but are certainly not as fine men as those who compose the Swiss Legion at Dover. The rifle regiment is dressed in green, the other red but the latter do not appear 60 well dressed as their Swiss fellow-soldiers. However, great allowances are to be made for both these corps, as but very few of the men have ever served before, and the clothing given them was made up in a hurry, when the first recruits were obtained for the Legion. Both the battalion of Jagers and the regiment dressed in red wear that detestable abomination of a head-dress known by the name of a Kilmarnoch," instead of theneat, soldierlike French cap called a kepis,' and used in the Swiss battalion. The officers of the two regiments stationed at Shorncliffe are mostly Englishmen, and of these all, save a few young ensigns, have served in our regular regiments. Some foreignors there are, no 's doubi, amongst the officers, and all appear to be very gentlernalyi and soldier-like men. Several of them have at their bottonholes foreign crosses and other decorations, which show that they have seen service in the field. Bel ween both German and English officers the very best feeling seems to exist, and the two battalions have together established a mets in a small hotel at Sandgate, close to Shorncliffe. The greatest contentment seemed to exist at the mtnner in which the English Government had tieated them, and many of them have written to their friends and relations in Germany advising them to take service under the English Crown. °

We have great pleasure in directing attention to a de- claration addressed to the masters and men in the Iron districts of South Staffordshire and the borders of Wor- cestershire, in reference to the religious, moral, and social condition of those districts. The address, which is issued under the authority of the Bishops of Lichfield and Worcester, is signed by the Ven. the Archdeacons of Stafford and Worcester, the Rev. J. P. N orris, Inspector of Schools, end one hundred and seventeen clergymen resident in the district. The declaration states that the subscribers most deeply deplore both the lawless acts of violence committed during the late strike, and that pre- valence of ignorance and vice from which such outrages are apt to arise; and they assert their deep conviction that the workpeople in general are not likely to profit as they otherwise might, either by their own large earnings, or by the 'means provided for their moral and religious improvement, until the most energetic measures shall have been taken for diminishing the temptations to which thev are now exposed, for surrounding them with influ- ences of a more salutary character, especially at their homes, and for establishing between masters and men that esteem and confidence which are essential to their common welfare. Under this conviction, they respect- fully suggest, both to masters and men, the following proposals cf remedy for certain evils, which are univer- sally admitted to prevail more or less throughout the neighbourhood:— 1.—All Sunday work to be reduced to the lowest possible limit. 2.—All keeping of public-houses or beer-shops by per- sons exercising over workmen the influence of employers, to be discouraged; and all payment of wages at houses of public entertainment, to be discontinued. 3.—Wages to be paid to the workmen, in change, at such place and time as are least likely to lead to dissipa- tion and Sabbath-breaking, and such as may also be consistent with the closing of Saturday markets long before midnight. 4.—The number of public-houses, beershops, and dram shops to be considerably reduced:; and the benefit socie- ties which now assemble at these places, to be superseded, as far as possible, by such as afford a safe investment and unobjectionable management. The labour of women and children at or about the works to be discouraged as far as possible and no chil- dren to be employed at such an early age as is inconsistent with a due measure of education. The subscribers to the declaration add that they trust they shall not be thought to overstep the limits of their sacred omce, in thul^expressing their convictions on sub- jects to which public attention has of late been so largely directed; in-referring to grievances which present the most serious obstacles to all ministerial usefulness and in urging most earnestly the adoption of measures which might do so much, under the Divine blessing, to pro- mote goodwill between employers and employed, as well as the temporal and eternal welfare of all classes com- mitted to their charge. The Archdeacon of Stafford, in a note appended to the declaration, says •" An acquaintance of mkny years with the. mining and manufacturing region of South Staf- fordshire, has so deeply impressed my mind with a sense of the evils arising from Sunday labour, from late Sa- turday night markets, from the paying of wages and meeting of benefit societies at public houses, and from other causes indicated in the .above declaration, that I cannot but express my hearty concurrence in the propo- e sitions therein made for the prevention or remedying of those evils and I earnestly pray that the efforts of my .clerical brethren, officiating in this important part of my Archdeaconry, may, through th& Divine blessing, be crowned with success." The object contemplated by the Clergy is one fraught with benefit to the interests of every person connected with the district, and we feel persuaded that it will meet earnest and thoughtful consideration at the hands of those to whom it is addressed.-Birmingham Gazette.

WESTMINSTER POLICE COURT. Sir James Buller East, and solicitors, representing the Duke of Marlborough, Admiral Sir George Seymour, the Dowager Lady Somers, Sir William Myddleton, and others, who had their windows broken last Sunday, in the neighbourhood of Hyde-park, attended to take pro- ceedings against the hundred,to recover compensation for 0 the damage they had sustained. Evidence was given to prove that 84 panes of glass, of the value ot ±42., and some valuable paintings, were da- maged by the stone-throwing at the Duke of Marlbo* rough s, and that the damage done in broken windows at Sir William Myddleton's, amounted to £ 29 16s. Mr. Arnold, having heard the evidence given, said he was clearly of opinion that the mere breakage of win- dows was not the offence contemplated by the 7th and 8th of George IV., chap. 31, to enable the parties to claim against the hundred for damage done. Before that claim could be established, it was necessary to prove that certain persons had assembled riotously, and had feloniously demolished, or attempted to demolish, a house. That alone constituted an offence under the provisions of the act referred to, and if it were not proved, he could not take the recognizances of the parties complaining, or bind them over to prosecute. The applicants could, how- ever, if they thought his decision was wrong, issue a wtmdamut against him. The magistrate, however, quoted the dictum of Mr. Justice Littledale, in the cause I t A !eQ Z' Ho^ell," showing that even where a mob had left off voluntarily, after doing considerable damage to a house, the inference ,was, that they never uitended to go further. It was also proved, that damage to the extent of nearly £ 30, had been done at Admiral Sir George Seymour's, but the same decision was given in every case. Several gentlemen residing in the vicinity of the Regent's Park and Camden-town also applied to the magistrate of Marylebone police-court, to claim com- pensation for damage done to their property by the -win- dow-breakers, on Sunday last, of the hundred, but the. decision was the same as that of Mr. Arnold.

Welsh Matter.Legendary, His- torical, and Miscellaneous. THE LITERATURE OF WALES. Continued from the Merlin of Saturday last. PERHAPS the quality which, beyond all others, charac- terises the poetry of Wales, is pathos. The Welsh people have always been distinguished for the possession of intense feeling. The same remark is applicable to all the Celtic races. The French and Irish people share the quality in an eminent degree. The Saxon and the Gaelic tribes are more characterised by strength and judgment and power of reasoning, as well as solidity of character and determination of purpose while the Celts are dis- tinguished by more vivid imagination, more brilliant wit, finer taste, and deeper pathos. These constitute the poetical element. The religious poetry of Wales bears a much larger proportion than any other, and into its channels has the Welsh poet poured his richest gifts. Here he has breathed his divinest song. In chasteness of style, happy illustration, tender pathos, as well as devout feeling, the religious poetry of the Principality much excels any col- lection in the English language, not excepting that of Watts. But the acknowledged prince in this depart- ment is William Williams, of Pantycelyn. The hymns are unapproachable for animated devotion and pathos. Much of their interest is necessarily lost in translation. The following are selected by way of example. We omit the original in deference to the ignorance of our English readers:— (TRANSLATION.) Babel's waters are so bitter, There is nought but weeping still, Zion's harps, so sweet and tuneful, Do my heart with rapture fill: Bring thou us a joyful gathering From the dread captivity, And until on Zion's mountain, Let there be no rest for me. In this land I am a stranger, Yonder is my native home, Far beyond the stormy billows, Where sweet Canaan's hillocks gloom Tempests wild from sore temptation Did my vessel long detain, Speed, oh gentle eastern breezes, Aid me soon to cross this main. Had I but the wings of a dove, To regions afar I'd repair, To Nebo's high summit would rov., And look on a country more fair, My eyes gazing over the flood, I'd spend the remainder of life Beholding the Saviour so good, Who for sinners expired in strife.' Once I steered through the billows, On a dark, relentless night, Stripped of sail-the surge so heinous, And no refuge within sight. Strength and skill alike were ended, Nought, but sinking in the tide, While amid the gloom appeared Bethlehem's star to be my guide. Fix, 0 Lord, a tent in Goshen, Thither come, and there abide, Bow thyself from light celestial, And with sinful man reside, Dwell in Zion, there continue, Where the holy tribes ascend; Do not e'er desert thy people, Till the world in flames shall end.' A short account of the most eminent of the earlier bards of Wales, may not be uninteresting to our readers, and will form an appropriate supplement to what we have already said. The first, in point of time and celebrity, was Aneurin. He was the son of a Welsh chieftain, and was born at the commencement of the sixth century. He was early bred to the use of arms, and distinguished himself at the battle of Cattraeth, which was fought between the Welsh and the Saxons, and proved disastrous to the Welsh, and particularly to our bard. He was taken prisoner, and consigned to a dungeon, where he languished a consider- able time in chains, but being rescued by the instru- mentality of Cenau, a son of the venerable bard, Llywarch Hen, he retired to South Wales, and took re- fuge at Cadog's College, at Llancarvan,where he remained many years, and composed his principal poem, The Gododin.' This is a production in the martial strain, and is descriptive of the battle of Cattraeth. The death of this poet occurred about the year 570, and was occasioned by a blow from the axe of an assassin. The greatest of the ancient Welsh bards was Taliesyn. There is some uncertainty respecting the precise time of his birth, but the best accounts.place it at the commence- ment of the sixth century. His early history savours of romance. It is recorded that he was discovered, soon after his birth, in a fishing weir on the coast of Cardigan, belonging to Gwyddno, a petty prince of that country, and was found there in a basket, or coracle, like Moses, by some fishermen, who carried him to Gwyddno, whose only son, Elfin, took him under his protection. Whether this account be true or not, it is certain that Taliesyn was a native of this part of Wales, enjoyed the friend- ship and protection of Gwyddno and Elfin. Among his works is a poem entitled The Consolation of Elfin,' in which the latter is gratefully eulogized for his patronage of the young bard. After spending some time at the College of Cadog, in South Wales, where he formed the acquaintance of Aneurin, he is said to have re- tired to Carnarvonshire, and to have died about the year 750. The productions of this bard are numerous, and of them about eighty poems remain. They comprise a va- riety of subjects, but are, for the most part, religious, historical, and elegiac. His creed appears to have been a compound of Druidism and Christianity. Even at this early period, the latter was much cultivated among tke Welsh. We now arrive at an individual as eminent in war as in poetry-Llywarch Hen, or Llywarch the Aged. He was descended from a long line of princes, or military chieftains, who had formerly exercised supreme rule over the whole island. He was early trained to arms for which he had frequent occasion in the many wars which then occurred between the Welsh and Saxons. We find him, like Aneurin, engaged in the battle of Cattraeth, the fatal result of which drove him to flight. He is sup- posed to have spent much of his subsequent life at Pen- gwern, or Shrewsbury, the seat of Cynddylan, the Prince of Powys. He seems to have been afterwards bereft of this refuge, as we find him in the sonnets bewailing his wretched condition and bard fate. He is recorded to have died at a great age, some accounts say 150 years, at Llanvor, near Bala, Merioneth; his eleven sons having been previously slain in battle. Twelve poems, the production of this beard, are extant. Six of them are historical, the others moral and mis- cellaneous but all are deeply tinged with the bitterness and melancholy which appear to have formed so large a portion of the venerable bard's own history. For several centuries, we find no bard of note whose works are extent, until we come to Dafydd ap Gwilym, vho has been stykd the Petrarch of Wales. He was born at a place called Bro Gynin, in the parish of Llan- badarnfawr, Cardiganshire, about the year 1340, and was illustriously descended on each line of parentage. After a desultory youth, we find him, at an early age, living at Maesaleg, in Monmouthshire, enjoying the hospitality and friendship of Ivor Hael, a near relative of his father. He appears so far to have won the confidence of his pa- tron, as to have been appointed his steward, also instruc- tor of his only daughter. A mutual attachment was, however, the consequence of the latter position, which grew to such an extent as to neccessitate the separation of teacher and pupil. The young lady was removed to a convent in the island of Anglesey. She was followed by Dafydd, who entered the service of a neighbouring monastery, in a menial capacity, and consoled himself by composing poetry in praise of his fair one. The suit was unsuccessful. He was afterwards elected chief bard of Glamorgan. His poetical reputation made him a wel- come guest at the festivals which in those days were very common in the mansions of the Welsh gentry. His latter years were spent in his native parish in Llanba- darn-fawr, where he died about the year 1,400. He was buried at Ystrad Flur, in the county of Cardigan; and a kindred spirit has placed the following lines over his grave :—- (TRANSLATION.; Gwilym, blessed by all the nine, Sleep'st thou then beneath this tree 'Neath this yew, whose foliage fine Shades alike thy soul and thee. Mantling yew-tree, he lies near, Gwilym, Teivi's nightingale; And his song too slumbers here, Tuneless ever through the vale.' The works of this poet which have reached us are nu- merous, exceeding 200 poems. They are, for the most part, domestic and pacific but the whole are sprightly, figurative, and bold, and are enriched by a vein of ten- der pathos. There is an excellent translation of his poems, by A. J. Johnes, published by Hooper, Pall Mall, in 1834. We have now commemorated the chief of the ancient bards of Wales. Others were, doubtless, their peers, whose productions have not had the good fortune of being rescued from oblivion. In all sublunary affairs, a few only gain the fame and prizes, while the multitude are consigned to obscurity. In the disribution of human rewards, there is often great injustice, and the adage is constantly exemplified, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but time and chance hap- pen to them all. „ (To be continued,)

'IT SAVINGS BANKS. From the Times of Saturday, 2nd June, 1855, folios 10 and 11, under the heading Aloney Market and City lntelligence." The following Letter furnishes a series of important details, gathered from the last annual Parliamentary Returns of Savings Banks, and calls attention to the anomalous character of the Expenses of Management, respectively incurred by them:- SIR,—There are 57B Savings Banks in the United Kingdom, and the great importance of these institutions to the humble and laborious classes, appears to demand much more consideration, both on the part of the Go- vernment and of the public, than they have hitherto ob- tained, and from which very beneficial results might rea- sonably be expected. The following are statements and calculations made from the last annual return to Parliament, to the 20th of November, 1853. and ordered by the House to be printed on the J2th of May, lt54. 365 of the Savings Banks. give their depositors, on the average, a rate of 3s. 9d., or 3-lGths per cent. less in- terest than the act of 1844 points out (which is E3 Os lOd per cent. per annum), and thereby depriving them year- ly, on their joint capital of £ 17,"64,885 of its prescribed interest, to the amount of ^31,996 13S 6d. 189 banks, with a capital of 97,999,196, have no ""l1.11 Ah\Go/er?TDt SurP]us Fun<l. and but £ 'C;Tlr mnnu,° tlieir treasurers, out of the total sum of ±2/0 .010 held by the <>73 treasurers, of the United Kingdom, excepting the five who have made no report- viz Ludlow, Bilston, Wolverhampton, Thurles Upton- on-Severn. 160 banks with a capital of £12,873,180, and which pay their depositors interest of t3, up to the Act of Parliament interest of £ 3 0s lOd per cent per annum, have lying in the Government surplus fund profits made by the said banks, amounting to £ 184 695; while 104 banks, with a capital of t3,795,67 I paying their depositors an interest thereon averaging only E2 18s 2d per cent. per annum, have no more in the Government surplus fund than £9,270, composed of small sums be- ginning with 11 and ending with 12CO. The total deficiency withheld from the depositors, as before particularized, is, per annum £31,996 13s 6d. and the total withheld from the Government, as shown by the subjoined list, (following the short explanation, heading the same,) is per annun £ 4'i,<>64 16s I Id. The Act of 1844 gives the banks interest from the Government of 13 5s" or 3.1 per oent, out of which it allows the banks 4s 2d per cent per annum for their entire expenses, thus leaving for the depositors the differ- ence, or i3 Os 1 Od interest, and requiring the profits of the banks beyond the 4s 2d and 13 Os lOd (together 23 5s) to be paid over to the Government surplus fund, at the end of each official year. Nine banks with a capital of JE242 073, five of them paying the depositors 3 per cent. interest, two of them i-l-8fr4d, and one L2 15s 7d, carry on their banks, in- cluding all expenses, at the charge of 2s 9d to 4s per cent. per annum. 23 banks, with a capital of f 1,806,198, and paying e interest to depositors, have in the surplus rund £ 30,729, and carry on the banks, including all ex- penses, at Is 2d up to 4s Id per cent. per annum and Five banks, with a capital of 1411,896. at the rate for all expenses as prescribed by the Act of 1844-viz., 4s 2d per cent., the Act of Parliament allowance. Exeessex- Their capi Expenses in-I Average ex- pended above tal curred by I pense ABOVE the prescribed BankE belonging the Banks pel the 4s. 2d. per 4s 2d per cent to cent, per cent, as per per ann. to the Depositors. annum. Act. Banks for their management. 70 6,143,293 4s 3d to 5s 5id.—say, 5d 1,279 17 100 6,500,544 5s Id to Gs; Is. 4d. 4,3.13 13 10 202 13,498 882 6s Id to 8s 2s. lOd. 19,123 8 3 99 3,082,271 8s Id to 10s 4s. lOd. 7,448 16 6 31 973,75810s Id to 12a 6s. lOd. 3,326 19 7 16 720,91212s Id to 14s 8s. lOd. 3,184 0 4 6 81,75314s Id to 16s 10s. lOd. 442 16 3 5 80,146 16s Id to 18s 12s. lOd. 514 5 11 4 49,490 20s to 21s 4d 16s. 393 2 5 1 1,403 29s 7d 25s. 5d. 17 16 9 £ 40064 16 11 In the last Parliamentary return, the amount given as owing to depositors, was £ 33,227,394, and the Go- e vernment separate surplus fund (not bearing interest), £ 324,764. And there is good reason to believe, that these amounts might, in a few years, under proper or- ganization, stimulus, encouragement, and good manage- ment, become greatly enlarged-the former to double or treble its present amount, and the latter, probably, in fair proportion thereto. By the above tabular statement, it is evident how greatly the expenses in the management of many of the banks are in excess of others and it is also clear that those having the larger amount of deposits, must be able to carry on their banks at a lower rate of per centage, than such as have smaller amounts. This becomes, if needful, still more evident on refer- ence to the Parliamentary return itself; and the system of averages, adopted for brevity, in the above-named Parliamentary statement, conceals, unavoidably, as well the comparative economy, as also the extravagance of the banks in general. "It must, however, be remarked, injustice to most of the smaller banks, that the high rates of management expenses, are very far from being confined to them—for instance, we find the county of Middlesex, with its 37 banks, and capital over £5,000,000, averaging about £150,000 deposits in each, exceeds the allowance of 4s 2d per cent prescribed by the Act of 1844, by the sum of 4s per cent per annum, and that the average rate of interest given to their depositors, is only £ 2 17s 6d per cent., instead of X3 Os lOd; also that these 37 banks have but about £ 20,001 surplus profits in the hands of the Commissioners. The county of Lancaster, with its 29 banks, avera- ging about £100,000 each in deposits, and a capital of less than £ -3,000,000, is carried on at 13ftver the 4s 2d, pays the depositors S,2 19s 6d per cent. on the average, and has above £ 25,000 profits in the surplus fund, while Middlesex is 4s per cent. over the 4s 2d. "To the honour of some of the banks, both smaller and larger, it is due to them to say, they are conducted with economy and excellent management, and, without trenching upon a fair and liberal remuneration to their paid officers, give their depositors £3 to E3 Os lOd per cent and have in profits, large amounts in the surplus fund, proportioned to their respective aggregate capitals belonging to the depositors. b y « W. M. C." P.S.- It is greatly to be regretted, that the intended new Bill for the better regulation and management of the Savings Banks of the United Kingdom, has been so repeatedly deferred from one session of Parliament to another, for several years or more and it is understood ever. now, not likely to come before the House this present session. Improvements in the most important principles, as also in the various details, may be easily ntroduced into the new Bill, which would not only promote uni- formity of practice, and the more easy and effective working of the banks, but also enlarge the amounts therein, very far beyond what they have yet attained, and to the vast advantage of the humble and laborious classes of the community, and, consequently, to their in creased satisfaction. W. M. C.

GARDEN OPERATIONS, &c. (From the Gardener's Chronicle.) THE FLOWER GARDEN" AND SHRUBBERIES. Go over the beds frequently, keeping the young shoots of verbenas, &c., nicely regulated and pegged down until the beds are fairly covered, after which, unless where the soil is very strong, or where it may be desirable to keep the masses as low as possible, the shoots of most varieties may be allowed to grow at liberty. Keep the surface soil clear of weeds, and should the weather be such as to render watering necessary, do not let the plants feel the want of moisture at the root. See that dahlias and hollyhocks are tied as they advance in growth. Look over roses, and dip any shoots found to be infested with green-fly in tobacco-water. Also keep these well supplied with water at the root which will greatly improve the flowers as well as prolong the beauty of the plants, for the flowers soon fade in bright hot weather when the plants; are allowed to get dry at the root. J HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. Get all kinds of winter greens planted out as speedily as ground can be obtained; and where this cannot be done at present to the usual extent, see that the plants are either pricked out or sufficiently thinned to allow of their growing dwarf and strong; and if a goodly portion of old Mushroom-bed dung were mixed with the soil be- fore pricking out, the roots would run into this, so that the plants might be removed with balls, and would hardly feel the shift. Also get leeks planted on strong, deep, heavily-manured land, and attend to these and all other newly-planted things with water until they get fairly established. Give the asparagus plenty of manure water from the stable or farm-yard tank, in order to strengthen the roots after cutting, and induce strong growth. On dry, friable soils, a good dressing of salt may be applied with advantage; but this should not be given on strong tenacious soils, as it keeps the ground wet and heavy in winter, and decays the roots. Proceed with the planting out of celery as fast as ground can be spared, and see that the whole is liberally supplied with water. See to keeping up a succession of French beans also salad of all kinds, making a sowing of parsley for winter use. J

FROM TUESDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE. BANKRUPTS. Job William Meears, Croydon chvmUf butcher. Mary extra, Southampton, butcher. Josenh San: Slough, borsedealer. buUder&f rt ^>eDt» Atherstone, Warwickshire, Robert Lynham Courtney, West Bromwicb, auctioneer- imam roole, Kingston-upon-Hull, provision merchant Isaac Denton, Bradford, Yorkshire, draper. John Cripin and Willian Robinson Forster, Rock Ferry, Cheshire and Liverpool, ferry proprietors. John Gresty, Liverpool, tobacconists. Francis Lloyd Bayley and Samuel Milner Barton, Man- chester. small ware manufacturers. Thomas Bostock, Manchester, maker-up.

wages due to Henry Justice.-Ordered to pay 3s. 5d., and costs. J A-J!%ueric^ ^00<^e> for assaulting Mary Morris, at Garn- aitiaith, was convicted in 12s. George Sharland pleaded guilty to assaulting Lewis Williams, and was convicted in 2s. 6d. and costs. Thomas Salsbury was charged with assaulting Mary Evans, in the parish of Trevethin.-Adjourned. Morgan Harris, Mary Harris, and Ann Lewis, were severally charged with assahltingJ ohn Harford and wife. -Morgan Harris and Ann Lewis were discharged, and Mary Harris convicted in Is. and costs. William Morgan, for disobeying an order made on him for the maintenance of Hannah Watkins's illegitimate child, was ordered to pay 14s. and costs. Marv Barry was charged with assaulting Judy M'Cae. This was an old offender, and she was convicted in 20s. and costs, and ordered to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace. Thomas Richards, Adam Morgan, James Hopkins, and John Leigh, were charged with fighting and committing a breach of the peace, in the parish of Trevethin.— Convicted in 8s. each. MONDAY. (Before C. H. Williams, Esq.) Elizabeth Parsons was charged with stealing a cap, at Abersychan. The evidence was not sufficient, and the case was dismissed. John Kelly was charged with trespassing on the pro- perty of Benjamin Purcell, in the town of Pontypool.— Convicted in 20s., or 14 days' hard labour.