Monmouthshire Merlin

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Gaston de F.Thanks for your offer. Your contribu- tion shall appear next week. Gobent)iensia."—Io our next. (FCG- The MERLIN is registered for transmission to British Colonics and Foreign Countnes. !IF

No period is so favourable as the opening of a new year for making a careful review of the circumstances ill which we are placcd with regard to the trade of the district. On the present occasion the task is fortunately of a more gratifying character than it Sometimes lias been. Most of our readers will recall but too vividly the unsatisfactory position in which affairs were at the commencement of 1858. Strikes, disastrous in results as any on record, had just occurred, and the discontent seemed likely to spread from the adjoining county into Monmouthshire. Although this fear proved almost groundless, the filischief occasioned by the conduct of a large portion of the Glamorganshire colliers was necessarily severely I felt here, trade being diverted to a considerable extent into other channels, and the recovery even at, present is only partial. The connect'ons our coal owners and iron,masters struggled so long to form, were in a great degree broken up, and the capital invested In various enterprises seemed in danger of being lost. The commerce ol the entire country was in a very depressed state, and it needed no additional untoward events to render business men anxious respecting their investments and specu- lations. The American demand, which had been so useful and important, fell off suddenly, no fresh orders came in, and payment for those already exe- cuted was either obtained with difficulty, or alto- gether evaded. A similar diminution was experi- enced in the Continental inquiry, although the monopolies and" protection" claimed by the French ironmasters render it impossible that that country Could long remain without fresh importations from this. The German buyers disappeared from the market, and the firms which depended most on the Continent must have suffered severely from this withdrawal of their customers. Nor did those houses which relied more on home consumption fare much better. Prices fell, even at reduced rates very few sales were effected, and those few were forced. In Staffordshire, a county by which our own is consi- derably influenced, large failures had occurred, and fresh ones were anticipated. In short, everything was calculated to excite alarm even in the breasts of the most sanguine, and the results were that many furnaces were blown out, wages were generally re- duced, the number of hands diminished, and some works partially suspended. In the Aberdare valley, business was for a time virtually at an end, but this, as we have intimated, is to be ascribed chiefly to the misera- ble -strikes. It was seen that the year must be one full of difficulties, and little hope was entertained of any great change for the better taking place till its close. Heavy losses were sustained in every -,direc- tion, and it is known that in some quarters thoughts were entertained of abandoning the speculations pre- viously entered into altogether. Such, briefly expressed, were the events we were called upon to record during the memorable year 1858. Now that many of these evils have passed away, let us ask how our commercial men have emerged from the glocm which surrounded them? How did they sustaurtlie struggle into wb-ich they were so unexpectedly plunged ? To their credit it must be stated, that never were disasters resisted and overcome more successfully and meritoriously. No collapse occurred, no great firm withdrew from its former position. It is true that a failure does not always prove that a rotten system of trading has been pursued, but the absence of failures at such a period as that we have referred to, must be held to demonstrate the sound and solid principles on which commercial transactions are conducted rin this district. Many circumstances may occur to place a firm in either temporary or protracted difficulties, and none are more potent than a panic added to ruinous strikes. Over these obstacles our iron and coal master! have triumphed, and the fact must nevitably tend to cause business men in other parts of the coustry to repose greater confidence than ever in them. Many have acknowledged—in some cases publicly—that heavy losses were sustained, but they did not succumb to the adverse influences which affected them. On the contrary, the effect of the ordeal has beeu to iiifu-se new vigour, spirited enter- prises are being undertaken, and on all sides a deter- mination is being shown to retrieve honourably the losses which were honourably endured. There is every probability ef the favourable antici- pations held respecting the present year being ful- filled. The iron trade in all parts of the country is -slowly but. surely improving. The last remnants of the panic have died away, and consumers cannot long abstain from replenishing their stocks. In Staffordshire the revival is already felt, and the same may be made with regard to the North of e to" ^-S re*>arc's our own district, we have like- partial, recovery CfCrtain'eVen thou&k at Present a phrase k the mout™" the recent depression. The passed." p^PerityVrsrfQt87tr is thef WOrst is left beVind. Trade »ith fitare-misfortune luLe its cb-te, tTZTrcVr considerable orim have Consent Large export&tions oi tf°n avc &»ade to Russia and France, and the rapi^ extension of works in the latter country ^ust necessitate 8tiu {J ther Bhipments. At home, pursers who waudered to the North are .returning, and ^en they fiJid, as they will do, that they can be served b&Uei in Wales than elsewhere, they will come back in augmented Z5 numbers. It is true that the improvement cmuot. be gaid to he, grca ut it js decisive. Wa^es reman at pw»t, an^ i j, 1; |ook fot my i. ,S J la' m"rScd i«to s„ J h0|,e tliat Cre ,th° ,pnt' J0»,es«»imado» T?r "le much (lcsln;d clia"f ,cCU>t'otl that s„cU ls amPle ground for the e$,ve vi\eai.- *»11 prove to be the case, *• 0{tl thfc passes should derive encouragemei ^rs i. before them. The position a 'oe South Wales district at this moment wthe coSAicated. Slackness ie js chiefly experience ^berda^e, nowhere jjiore strongly than in c0al. ThiLey, the great field for the supply of ste^ e being Inlfl freiglltg st wbich shipments are n(1. ^tes, justify^nd the lituited at even these q[ tUngi plain13 w reach us, but this ftre talk^o(. last ver^ °ng- Already fresh COfi resull 1 1 it may rea8t>n„u. u. :„(Vrrp.d lu • —"«uiy uc iu. QUauucs c the relative to the respe -grease oH aDd Country coal will be SQOn diatrict. The demand mf ov coal- hB t0u tUe SuPply, and we can wish -OerS n0 .tter re^ard of their exertions °.se than this.Tlle COasumption 0f coal can be c f jittle as that of any ar^c\e_it is an indtspe^ L ^quisite of other braucliea of commerce, and it » ■V proved, we tru^t, ^elsl4 coal js better th any other. It would be wrong, then, to attach too much importance to circumstances which must be transitory, and all attempts to influence prejudicially the minds of large owners at this juncture should be sedulously discouraged. The intelligence we have recently published with regard to the iron trade is of a more gi atifying desc: iption. The firmer tone which characterises other markets is also observable in this, and for rail- way iron especially a very fair demand exists. Christmas is never a very active season, but in a few weeks we believe something like briskness will be experienced. In the meantime there is little cause for despondency. Most of the large works have been well engaged dating the past few weeks, although in some others the orders received have been few. Several fresh commissions from Russia and France are looke Jor> and the home enquiry is gradually assuming its former dimensions. At certain works various alterations are being carried out for the pur- pose of enabling the managers to extend their opera- tions when occasion may require. At Blaenavon, for instance, important improvements in the underground workings are in progress. Without making further reference to particular works, we may say that the actions of the ironmasters evince their belief in the approach of a very different season to that of last year. It must be owned that the present trade of both the ports, Newport and Cardiff, is susceptible of much improvement, and any causes whieh tend to retard our progress ought to be immediately removed. It is alleged that a good deal of business is being lost to Newport, and that iron is sent to Bristol for shipment instead. Why this should be we kaow not, but the fact has been stated and not denied. We trust the proper authorities will enquire into the matter, for the sake of all parties who are interested in the pros- perity of the port. There is little to say of the general trade of the district. That it is in a depressed state there can be no question, but the re-action must come, and in all probability speedily. On the whole, we hope in a few weeks to be able to write in a still more satisfactory strain of the commercial affairs of the entire neighbourhood. •

No person who has passed over Newport Bridge will doubt the necessity for an enlargement, the pavement being at all times most inconvenient, and especially on market days. A long discussion tome place at the Sessions this week on the subject, in consequence of the following proposition being submitted to the Court by Mr. HOM:FE'A.Y :— That Newport bridge be widened at the expense of the county, and also that permission be given to widen and raise the approaches to the bridge on the town side at the cost of the undertakers of the work." The mover of this resolution stated with perfect truth that the life of «very foot passenger is endangered who is passing over the bridge when two waggons meet, and it was also urged that the necessary altera tions could be made much more cheaply now than at a future time. Colonel CLIFFORD opposed the mo tion, on the ground that it was not the duty of the county to improve the bridge, but of the inhabitants of Newport. Both Sir THOMAS PHILLIPS and Mr. OCTAVIUS MORGAN met these objections, the latter gentleman mentioning the following fact in proof of the dangerous -state of the bridge "During the last ten years he had never driven over the bridge without meeting many carts and other vehicles in the road, and the way being so narrow, great difficulty "existell to get by, and he was obliged to drive against the kerbstone to get out of the way of the waggon wheels. While in that position, what space was there between him and the wall on the other side of the footpath ? Only three feet. At any time two per- I< sons were unable to pass without jostling each other and the traffic being so great, muchinconvenience, if not danger, ieaulted, both of which were especially manifest upon market days and the arrival and departure of the packets." The result of the discussion was the adoption of a suggestion thrown out by Sir Taoius PHILLIPS, for the appointment of a Committee to enquire into the whole subject, aud here the matter for the present rests. It would be superfluous to add any observa- tions to those offered by the gentlemen in favour of Mr. HOMFRAV-'S resolution, the additional space required on the bridge being palpable to every one, and the justice of the county bearing part of the expense being manifest.

literlins Holes of fjje aM. J THE NEW YEAR has opened upon us with an account of a glorious victery which has blessed her Majesty's arms in India a .victory which cannot be too highly lauded, and its results too sanguinely speculated upon. It is a blow struck at the heart of Oude, the effects of which will be found to vibrate to its very extremities. It will teach the rebellious barons a great moral.lesson, and declare to them in language not to be misunder- stood, that there is a power marching steadily, tri- umphantly, and majestically, through their land, that no native force can withstand-no subtlety cajole- and no will arrest. The Asiatic mind h:is been long studied—its instincta weighed—its developments mea- sured. It delights in pomp-it studies to deceive—at blusters when elated-it is meek, but ever vengeful when humbled. We must,, we have all but conquered t. We must recline on its meekness, and promptly repress and inexorably punish all attempts at its irasci- ble -summoning to retaliation. We must hold the sharp sword in the one hand, and the olive branch in the other-sayin, Accept -the one, or dread the severe striking of the other," This is the only way to pacify—in fact, to govern India, and its present rulers would new seem, at the eleventh hour, to have not only learned to be practising, so far as India is concerned, i this true teanon of Eastern rule. The policy is not Maehiavelim, and there is nothing of the Delovli est Carthago in it. It is simply this—it is our interest and our pleasure to rule you; it is even for your advantage that we should be your masters, and if we don't say that any means jU3tify the end, yet we shall adopt the T>est means *n furtherance of our end Lord CLYDE, our 'w'ancher^a^>S "le only great General we uovsr h;ive—the honest1*0 tOWeriKS ar'stocratic tree, but the son of ?ra8pe<j or carpent.er --seeIDS to have argued withe ldea with intuitive precision, and to have ritable coil, ProPer logied truth, and arrived at an ine- Yet he has bee^ a «lear and well-defined premiss \\Qtue ') the Tiines ensure and all but condemned at n" ltself warmed and clumsily gy^^ing up the dance that j motion. ^ll1 not do this,^ every step and at every paused whe^^e should have not effect that"_h,i he should ha\e advanced- J»e hesitated when ought to have be** a Welhngt0n> ab1U3 wheil he forgetting that that m^hty soldler's France Fabian in the first three ^ats of his gloviou8 £ entirely campaign. We onl wondet U was l»°t ,ai(i ^Sful*r Indian C0mmander-in-Chief thatbe did not 8top 'n8 bis troops at another Cann«(^e AN^IBAl-, e should have come down at once e jQ stronghold. Lord CLYDE has NOBLY vindicated himself, and showed how, if an empire could, be all but lost by weak and incompetent government at home, and fcffpfn j a rim im'ot i a r.ould mm Hi" — "'iuon abroad, re-won and conquered by noble and hardy troops, IX and efficiently led. He is proved to have possesse<* otf^e genius, the caution, and, ,vhen th(? momeiat rettije promptitude of high nnhtary r-eat mission and he may proudly Say> when he The vi^,Ieaving bis work un re infecta_ 'lifect .^e OudeS^egi monumentutn «re perenniUs." W i»a§in^ed over BAINIE MADHOO, t]je CKIE, s—such a Baron as we may c&n tP 9ne among e latine chiefs that flourished when our STEPHEN reigned, and a Louis Dix dwelt in the Palace of Thermes on the banks of the Seine-who collected a large force, indeed the accounts say a large army, near Futteypore, where he took up a most defensive position, was signal and decisive. Lord CLYDE put his troops immediately in motion, and marched sixty-one miles in sixty hours. Once in face of the enemy, and the battle began, the most complete victory was not for a single instant doubtful. The cannon cleared the jungle of the serried battalions, and once in the open country, the Enfield rifle and the bayonet did fearful execution. The slaughter is said to have been immense, and the aspect of the roads and fields, when the enemy were put hors de combat, terrific. The Horse Artillery and the Light Cavalry rendered the most signal service in the flight; they kept up the pursuit for four miles, until the Ganges was reached, when numbers were driven in literally at the point of the sword BAINIE MADHOO escaped-it is not known how-while whole brigades of his great army of the morning flung down their arms in wild panic, and sought a temporary shelter by flight among the steep ravines of the Younksy. The moral effect of this triumph will be immense. It will make the other Barons at once, we think, to tender their submission; and without chiefs, the Ryots, or mere rabble, are nothing. OUR readers are aware that on New years day the sovereigns of France are accustomed to receive the great and the small, the high and the low, the great officers of state, the petty functionaries of the Departments, the Marshall with his baton, the Epieier citizen officer with his regulation sword, and his Rue St., Denis strut, and Mnformidable appearance; but above all, the Corps Dip- lomatique have the entree, and the tone and temper of the relations with each court may be gathered from the manner in which each ambassador is received and spoken to. We don't mean to say that any such scene could now a-days take place as occurred between our Lord WHITWORTH and the great NAPOLEOX, before the final disruption of the peace of Amiens; but the cordial address, and the cold formal reply, are ever considered as more than straws thrown up to find which way the wind blows. The Emperor NAPOLEON, the most impassive of men, the most taciturn of Princes, who hitherto seemed as desirous of being looked upon as Some great planet in eclipse-sought for and feared-" Now he shuns disguise and courts the open day to speak, he breaks down the barriers of etiquette, and goes out of his way to tell the Austrian Ambassador that his country and France are all but on war relations, although he of course loves and respects his loving brother and fellow Emperor—FRANCIS JOSEPH,—maugre which DAMON and PYTHIAS phrase, we presume to think there is not much love lost between them. But the marked insult offered to Austria and her Ambassador in the face of the en i oys of all the great powers of Europe is a grave and significant fact, and would seem to confirm all that has been said, all that has been hinted all that has been thought, respecting war across the Alps in spring. We are now finding the solution, we fear, of the coveted possession of the valley of the Dappe, the key to the Italian frontier —the really uttered, but the often eaten words of CHARLES ALBERT, the up-heavings of the Italian bosom, the new convulsions of the Sicilian and Neapo litan frame—the ineffectually-suppressed joy ot Russia, and the efforts of the Prussian Regent to arouse Ger- many from its torpidity, in which he has signally failed. What good to "V atherland" is Austria'-s possession of Italy? It is her weakness, and not her strength. Better far for her to homogenize her rule, and now—Poland being no more become the great European bulwark against Russia. Gladly then should we hail the day when we saw the last beer-drinking German legionary, and the wild savage Croat, savage in 'mind as well as savage in act,—no more permitted to bask under the blue sky of Italy, and chased from the land where Tasso sung and Petrarch taught. Should war ensue, Eng- land's course is plain and distinct—clear, perfect, abso- lute NEUTRALITY. No more u-ieddling.in the affairs of our neighbours. No more Pitt coalitions. No more foreign subsidies. Let us in THIS instance at least, imi- tate the wisdom and policy of our American sons and cousins, to engage in no quarrels, attend,to no interests, but our own. If our esteemed neighbour* wish to have their own throats cut, or to cut the throats of their neigh- bours, Bad, bad," we will say, "but we cannot help it j we shall take due care of our own, and shall wage no war but a defensive one. The Channel shall be roved over by our ships, but never permitted to be bridged by those of an enemy. We want no accession of territory, but we shall guard that which we have already conquered and won. Our coasts shall be defended; our army at home numerous, efficient, and equal to any -emergency. This done, the "Castle's strength would laugh the siege to scorn," and England would become at the end of the,war, if war be inevitable in Europe, the great power to te appealed to—become -in truth and fact the Arbitress of European policy-the holder of the scales between the contending nations of the continent THE day for the assembling of Parliament approaches, and many and various are the conflicting opinionsafloatfis to the ministers intend to pursue. Between them and the Whigs, and indeed the Palmerston party, as to any volun- tary concession to the popular will, there is of course not a pin to choose.; indeed, if there be a difference, it is in favour of Lord DERBY'S administration, for it has done more, eince its brief existence, to aid the.eause of the onward march towards good government, than either of the t»"o Ministries that preceded it. Besides, whit it does concede, comes even from unconverted Tories, with a good grace ami a candid admission thai if there be no change in them," still they are most wiliiag to distribute the pure gold of enlightened freedom on every side. They mince .not their measure, and talk not of finality, like Lord JOHN JiuSSELL, nor send the seeker away ,with a highly-polished phrase or a saucy bon-mot, like Lord PALMEBSTON. Bat will they grant the measure of Reform which the country wants, and must have ? The screw is certainly upon them, and if they attempt to escape from the press—peine, forti et dure, though it be—woe to them; they must at once give place to other and more popular men, and the Tory regime will have passed away—perhaps for ever

Jotal fitttlliipte. LLANYRECHVA LOWER.—CHRISTMAS DINNERS. —C. Prothero, Esq., with his usual liberality, presented 25 families with a bountiful supply of Christmas beef, and a number of mince pies were also kindly given to the Sunday schoolchildren by Mrs. Prothero. EL WTRO-BWLOGY. — Miss Montague, pro- fessor of electro-biology, has been performing her expe- riments this week at the Town-hall. On Thur.^lay evening when we were present, the room was crowded to excess, and the most boisterous merriment was excited bj the ludicrous positions in which the subjects of the expe- riments were placed. Whatever opinion we might have entertained of part of the proceedings, there could be no doubt that the gentleman who introduced Miss Montague to the audience, succeeded in leading an individual—a 1 cal preacher it was reported—to imagine that he could not open his hands, which had been previously clasped. The uian obviously tried hard to escape from the influence of the operator, but in vain, and thus another instance was afforded to the curious of the influence which can be exercised over persons of a susceptible or nervous temperament by electro-biologists. The man himself well known apparently to many in the room— declared that be had been completely overcome, and no I oubt he was telling the truth. As to the imaginary trans- formation of boys ill,o sheep and so forth, we need say no ■nore than that great laughter was caused by the grotesque fanner in which all parties concerned played their parte children in the room seemed to enjoy the fun as much £ "4 doma1'paXm^me, and while Miss Montague s ays U may be assumed that large Ui"&ld a<ld that the gentleman who "poke in a very sensible and u i bl0loSr.aV> ""once-such it is called-o e ectro room. ud did his utmost to convert the sceptics in the MAN j) Saturday, at °^ED..—An inquest was held on < deputy coroner, MrW^lern Valleys Hotel, be^re jhe j 0{ James Tuck. Brewer, respecting the death ( Early the previous The deceased was a bobbler. { assisting to load a vess0i being then dark, be wa < fell into the dock, a whije pushing a coal'trnc j J -V TO render assistance, 0ll6er ,of men hastened to the lator He wa8 seized by the le *h°m also fell into the j i would inevitably have shared i? tlie drowning man, and left him free. fate, bad bis boot ABERGAVENNY.—Mr. J. Webber, the master tf the National School, has recently been promoted by the Committee of Council on Education, to the first division )f the first class, the highest grade a teacher can attain. Her Majesty's Inspector, on his last visit to the school, re- ported it as being in an excellent condition. j THE MONJIOUTHSHIRE HOUNDs,-On Friday ( (24th ult.) the meeting was Pontrilas, on the borders of < Herefordshire. A good fox was soon found in Paradise I Dingle. The hounds ran away from everybody, un'-il t they checked in a cover above Dulas Court. The scent was i never so good afterwards, owing mostly to a cold rain- storm eventually, misled by a false halloo, he was given up. Next trotted off to Pentwyn Wood. The hounds found and went away immediately, nearly leaving some ) of the field (who stopped to partake of the hospitality of the proprietor of Pontrilas) in the lurch. However, the pack ran brilliantly over lie heavy country, with nu- merous dingles, to the Graig Hill; a round or two on the hill, and he was forced to quit. He was then viewed, and most likely headed as he turned again up the hill < some slow hunting, and off to Tallycoed. The hounds i killed there, in the dark, at 7.30 p m. Some of the hounds were not recovered till next day to-day there are still one couple and a half missing. I am ashamed to say that I forgot to time this run, but I think we found ] between two nd the quarter past. Monday (the 27th) the meet was at the King of Prussia. Drew several small covers eventually found on the Little Skvrrid, and run almost directly down the shrubbery of Coldbrook Park a couple of rings and a cub got into a drain near the house were soon dugout and killed, as the hounds wanted blood. Trotted off to Llanthewy Wood drew a small covert before we got in the wood, found instantly, ran through the corner of the wood; he then went up wind, and tbe pice was tremendous to the turnpike-road close to Llanthewy Court (although the same name, some four or five miles apart—the run was much more) where he saved his life by getting into a drain under the road about 4.5 minutes. Cecil passed us by, though he came as fur as the Forest of Dean to see Sir Maurice Berkeley's hounds also he reviewed the Herefordshire. I wish his, or an abler pen than mine, could do justice to the master, men, and hounds. A finer specimen of a M.F.H. than the master (Mr. Stretton) never blew a horn and the Herefordshire men cau testify to his ability to cross a country from his performances with their bounds last Saturday week. He has hunted this country thirty years or more, and it is the hope of every one that he will do so for the next thirty years.—GAMEBOY GREEN. DEATH OF ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS.—We regret to announce the death of the learned scholar aud philologist, the Venerable John Williams, Archdeacon of Cardigan, which took place at his residence, Bushey- heath, on Monday week, after a long and severe illness. The Aichdeacon was born in 1792, at Ystradineirig, in Cardiganshire, and educated in his boyhood by his father, the Rev. John Williams, vicar of that parish. He went for a few months to Ludlow tSchool, where he obtained a scholarship, and entering Balliol Coilego, Oxford, was placed, on taking his. degree, in the first class with four others, of whom one was the celebrated Dr. Arnold. Like the latter, the Archdeacon chose the life of a public teacher as his sphere of usefulness-,a sphere for which his great bodily strength, his energy, his wonderful faculty of imparting knowledge, and his unvarying equa- nimity of temper peculiarly fitted him. He was for two years a master in inchester College under the well "known Dr Gabell, and consequently for four years with Dr. Richards at Hyde Abbey School. Recalled to his own country by the gilt of the living of Lampeter, which was presented to him by Dr Burgess, the Bishop of St. David's, he remained there until, by the advice of his friend, Sir Walter Scott, he became a candidate for the rectorship of Edinburgh Academy, a new school about to bo opened for high ctasical education in Edinburgh. To this honourable position he was elected unanimously, and for upwards of twenty years his success as a teacher was proved by the e ninence of his pupils, who, commencing with his first Dux, the present Bishop of London, fill so many honoured places in Scotland and England. Living in Scotland in the palmiest days of Edinburgh society, he was one of a literary set,in which at various times, among many names of note, we find those of Sir Walter Scott, Maculloch, John Gibson Lockhart, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Lord Cockburn. Lord Jeffries, Professor Wilson, and Colonel Alure. On Sir Walter Scott's death he read the burial service over his remains at Dryburgh Abbey. From Edinburgh he returned to his native land and there saw formed underhis eyes,and endowed bv the muni- ficence of a fellow-countryman, an institution for the clas- sical education of those of his countrymen whose means would not permit them to enter one of the public schools of Lnglmd. In the wor d of let'era be was kiibwn as a Greek scholar of European reputation, and as the author of several works of deep research and sound scholarship, among whh:h we may name Humerus, Gomer, Life of Julius Cesar, Life of Alexander the Great, Geography of Ancient Asia, and essiys philosophical, philological, ethnological, theological, and archaeological. To the causeoOf Welsh history and archeology, of which he was always the most ab'e and successful expoueut, he is a most irreparable loss. Tne peculiar feature of bis cha- racter was his aideut loveoi his fatherland, of its people, its language, customs, and traditions. No one ever la- boured more zealously-than he, not merely for the welfare but for the honour of Wales. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. Our railway contemporary Hei-ripa.-h says,We cannot learn for a cer- tainty whether the directors will declare any dividend for the current half-year, but if they fairly can, we may rest assured they will. They had a balance of £ 37,174 profit over from last half, and will have an excess of traffic of from j615,000 probably to jE20,000 by the end of the year. The profit of the excess of traffic, added to the previous half-year's balance, and the corresponding half-year's dividend, less additional interest charges (if any) will probably suffice to pay a higher dividend than many ex- pect from the Great Western at this stage of its existence. DIPTHEELIA A physician writing to the .Y a 7 i/hp« respecting this terrible disease gives it as his opinion that open or defective drains frequently produce it. This is a fact for our town authorities to ponder over. The woids of the writer are As to infection, there is reason to believe that the disease oftener arises from malaria There may be only slight indications of drains, &c., being out of order, and yet quite enough to debilitate the system. In many bouses in London and the suburbs there is one cause I have never yet seen noticed-namely, that the water-elosets in the basement stories are often not properly trapped, and thence the poison from the sew, rs permeates through the entire house, especially affecting the nurseries wh.ch are usually iu the upper stories." The remedy this physician employs he thus describes. I give the sesquicarbonate of ammonia dissolved in a little water and sweetened, from two grains to a baby of year old to ten grains to an adult, repeating it every hour together with as much nourishment of every kind as can possibly be got down. At the same time I rub the out- side of the throat with a strong embrocation of cimphor and ammonia. When this treatment is begun early and judiciously contic.u d the diptherj, or ekin, from which it takes its name, is rarely seen Another physician says Diptheria is a new fangled name for an old-fashioned disease, malignant quinsey, which in ihe days of our grandmothers was successfully treated by emetics and bark. This is the-ireatment which I have never yet found fail. Let me give you a case. I wa-s telegraphed to Brighton to see the daughter of a. general officer, who was suffering from this disease. When I entered the room she was sitting ejj in bed breathing with difficulty. Tiie glands of the ueck were hot and tumidtbe tonsils" on examination wene of the colour of red velvet; but &n emetic of ipecachuana in 15 minutes not only relieved the breathing most effectually, but completely changed -the colour of the tonsils, and in 15 minutes more the ex- ternal glands, whose site arrested mv eyes on my ap- proach, could not be felt with the fingers. A combination of quinine and prussic aoid. with a repetition -of the emetic the next day, completed the care." XBINITY CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL.—On Monday a tea-party, in connection with this school, was held at this Boys' Schoolroom. Temple-street, and beside pupils .was attended by a large number of their parents and friends, After tea several reeit itions were delivered by the children, and the choir performed several pieces of sacred music, Mr. Perren presiding at the piano forte. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. T. B Wreuford and other gentdemen. The whole proceedings were of an interesting character. BURIAL BOARD.- The three members who retire from lie Board this year, are Mr. William Graham, Mr, Edward Bowling, and Mr. W. S. Cart- wnght. A vestry meeting will be held on Monday, to forre elecliVaCane^eS' re^"DS gentlemen being eligible THE RAGLAIl CASTLE LODGE, M.U.-The first anniversary of this promising young lodge was celebrated on i-nday, in last week. A company of about fifty per- sons partook of an excellent dinner, including venison and the delicacies of the season, and reflecting the highest eredit upon the host and hostess of the Lord Raglau Inn, Me. and Airs. Thomas The chair was occupied by Mr, W. Evans, and the vice-chasr by Mr. John James. After the removal of the cloth, the customary toasts were drank, the fraternal proceedings beiug continued for some time into the new year. HEARTS OF OAK BENEFIT SOCIETY. The members of this society and some of their friends supped together on the last evening of the tild year, at the club- house, the Oddfellows' Arms, Commercial-street. The arrangements of the host, Mr. Clements, aud his wife were much commended. After the repast, toast and song succeeded each other, and for several hours the guests gave themselves up to rational and unalloyed enjoyment. MEDICAL REGISTRATION MEETING AT NEW- PORT.-At a meeting of the following named medical prac- titioners, held at the King's Head Hotel, on the 4th January, 1859, it was resolved,—That an association be formed by the gentlemen present, to be called "Tbe Newport (and its Neighbourhood) Medical Registration Society. Kesolved,—That the object of this Association shall be to co operate with the Council and Registrar in canryiug out the provisions of the Medical Act. Resolved —I hat a subscription be entered into of oa. each member' for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred. Re- solved, That Mr. James be appointed Hon. Secretary and to receive subscriptions Resolved,—That the HOD. Secretary be empowered to receive fees for, and transact registrations, ou being so requested by any member who prefers this mode to direct application to the Registrar to the Council. Resolved,- That should any necessity arise notice shall be given by the Hon. Secretary to convene a future meeting.—W. W. Morgan (chairman), Dr. Da vies J. 0. Jennings, Dr Christie, R. P. Edward*, B, James! J. flawkiB*, L. H, Yorath,

CLEANING THE PAVEMENTS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MERLIV AND SII-UBIAN. SIR,—I find that many of the residents in Commercial- street, have this day had notice that the Inspector of Nuisances has received from the Corporation peremptory instructions to prosecute all parties neglecting to have the footpaths in front of their premises properly swept and cleansed," &c. I presume this authority is given by the Council under the sanction of a by-law. If so, I should like to know whence they derived their power to make such a by-law. Why should tradesmen happening to live in the main thoroughfare be called upon to clean the pave- ments, when scavengers are employed by the town ? Why are not the scavengers instructed to sweep the pavement as well as the carriage-road ? The pavement is as much a public thoroughfare as the cart-wav and the attempt of the Council to thrust upon the inhabitant of any given house the obligation to clean the pavement in front thereof is an unjust measure—because it throws upon him the responsibility of removing a nuisance occasioned, not by himself, but by the public in general and nuisances caused by that indefinite body, "the public," should be removed by the public scavengers. The muddy state of the pavements during the last few days has been occa- sioned chiefly by the filthy state of the cart-ways, and yet tradesmen are expected to become scavengers, or extern porise scavengers at an hour's notice, to clear away the J dirt which they have taken no part in collecting. If the evil were caused by themselves, then the arrangement would be a proper one but—by-law or no by-law—while such is not the case, they ought not to be called upon to do periodical duty as scavengers for the benefit of the public. This is evidently a point upon which the Council ought to mend their ways" Yours, &c., WATCHMAN.

THE IRON AND GENERAL TRADES. The Preliminary Meeting of the Ironmasters of this District was held last Thursday at Dudley, and a resolu- tion was passed unanimously to adhere to the prices as they stood at last quarter-day. There had been rumours afloat of an intention to make an advance of 10s., but we doubt if this was ever contemplated by any of the leading nrms for although the demand for finished iron is undoubtedly improving, it would be an unwise pro- ceeding to attempt any advance of prices at present, in- asmuch as the result would very likely be to check the development of that renewed activity in the iron trade which has already manifested itself. A great point will have been gained if prices as they now stand can be firmly maintained, in place of the underseliing which prevailed during the greater portion of last vear. The price of pig iron is firmer than it was last quarter-day. At that time the prevailing price for best hot blast was £3 12s. 6L, though there were sales as high as X3 15s. but we are informed that the latter is now the prevailing price, and that a great deal of the make of next quarter has been sold by anticipation. A somewhat sanguine feeling was expressed that the prospects of the Iron Trade were good and there are many indications of a character to induce this supposi- tion. There is every probability of a better demand for America and other foreign markets, notwithstanding some hostile tariffs which are said to be looming in the dis- tance and as regards our colonies, India and Australia especially, the quantity of iron required for railway pur. poses willuuquestionllbly be considerable. If therefore, production is kept within proper bounds, we are hopeful that the trade in South Staffordshire will once again assume a healthy aspect. Surely it is not too much to infer that last year's experience will be pro- ductive of good and that less facilities will be afforded hereafter for men without capital to run in the race with those who have the former conducting business upon a spurious credit system, which unfortunately involves in ruin the honest as well as the unscrupulous and knavish trader. Too much of that sort of thing has taken place in St) ith Staffordshire it is to be hoped that we shall not witness its repetition. With reference to the manufacturing trades generally of this town and the district, the prospects are encoura- ging. Money is avadable sufficiently to promote industry and to further legitimate enterprise; whilst the low price of food, and a well-employed population, cannot fail to be powerful stimulants to every branch of com- merce. At the same time there is a deep-rooted aversion to speculation, which will materially contribute to the restoration and maintenance of trade in a healthy action. The Quarterly Meetings of the Ironmasters commence next week on Tuesday, January 11th, at Walsall on Wednesday, January 12th, at Wolverhampton on Thursday, at Birmingham on Friday, at Stourbridge and on Saturday, January, 15th, at Dudley.—Midland Counties Herald. COAL CONTRACTS.—The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses require the supply of 1451 tons of best double-screened steam coal, and 1031 tons for ordinary family use^ Ihe Board cf Admitalty require 3,500 tons of fcouth Wales Coal for Jamaica. Jan 4.—The Shrews- bury and Hereford Railway require 5000 tons of coal for their locomotive engines Jan. 5. In the Coal Market during the past week, in conse- quence of the piucity of the supply for some time past, ail descriptions of house coals were in great demand, and as there have been considerable arrivals during the past week, a large amount of business has been doing. During the week 399 ships have been placed in the mar- ket, of which number only 50 were left unsold, the prices obtained being Best Wallsend, 18s. 61. to 19s. second quality. 16s. to 158. j manufacturers', 12s. to los. 6d, Hartley's, 14s. 9d. steam qualities, 21s. THE SCOTCH IRON TRADE.-(From Messrs. Andrew Woodrow and Sons Circular, Glasgow.)—This important branch of commerce has continued to expand, during a long period of commercial lassitude, in which no great enterprises were undertaken likely to develope the industrial resources of the country. This result is the more surprising when we take into consideration the low price at which iron has ruled throughout the year, and it augurs well for the time, when the wants of the trade shall have so much increased as to requre a further aug- mentation of production. Twelve months ago, when the prospects of the trade for 1858 were matter for conjecture many were of opinion that if prices did not improve, a large number of furnaces would be put out of blast in order that the stock might not further accumulate. So far from that having been the case, we find that in 1857 there were, on an average, 128 furnaces in blast, pro ducing 918,000 tons, whereas in 1858, there were an average number of 129 furnaces, producing970,000tons • lowing an increase of production over 1857 of 52 000 BaS'veSaIin? T Parlicular'^ the fluctuations of the past jear, it may be expected that we should give some ;r,° "hat ry i„iS^g hi thing we feel assured, that though our stock at present is heavy, and our production annually on the increase the time is not far distant when markets will be found Supply! absorbln° a larger quantity than we now can A Glasgow firm write respecting the Scotch Iron trade -The average number cf furnaces in b:ast for the 12 months has been 128. At present there are 131 in active operation, The production has again exceeded that of any previous year, aad, notwithstanding shipments being also in exctss and local consumption moderate, stocks have increased to 340,080 tons, of which there are in store 150,000. the bilaneein makers' hands. FREIGHTS AT CARDIFF.-The following are the freights for coal and iron this week in the port of Cardiff, extracted from the Cardiff Shipping and Mercantile Guznte :-COAL. -Aden, 428.; BomLay, 32s to 35s Calcutta, 46s, to 50& Cape of Good Hope, 30s.; Cape Velds, 16- Hong Kong, 50s to 528. 6d.; Mauritius, 28s. to 308.; Singapore or Penang. 34s. Alexandria 16s Beyrout, 19s. Constanti- nople, 17s 6d. Cadiz, 12s.; Gibraltar, 15s. 6d Genoa, 158. to 16s. Lisbon, lIs. Malta, 16s. 6d. to 17s. Ham- burg, lIs. Liverpool, 6s. 3d. London, (first market day), 8s. to 8s. 3d.; Portsmouth, 7s. to 7s. 6d.; Southampton, 7s. 6d. French ports, from 11 to 15 francs. IRON.-Con- stantinople, 22s. to 23s. Huelva to Newcastle or Liver- pooJ, ore, los.; Naples, 22s. 6d. Smyrna, 22s.; Salonioa, .s. bd,

PONINEWYNYDD. The Rev. John Morgan, incumbent of Pontnewynydd LlanTaff aPPointed surrogate in the Diocese party assembled Jir Antho°y s, Horse Shoe Inn, on the evening of Monday last, for the nnmnsp t A™ VI giving a nearly wel- came to the new year. There being some excellent musicians in attendance, dancing commenced, and con- tinued, with considerable spirit, until a late hour. Ue ^laes and. viands proved to be of superior quality, ana the attention given to, and arrangements made for the comfort of the company, reflected credit on the proprietor of the establishment. A very pleasant and agreeable evening was passed.

BRYJNMAWR. SUPPER.-On Tuesday evening last a housewarmino- supper was given by Mr. W. Franks, and was most numerously and respectably attended. After the re- moval of the cloth, several songs were sung, and nu- merous patriotic speeches delivered. STEALING A COAT,-On Saturday last, person named William Davies, succeded in stealing a coat from the door of Mr. Fowler, about 12 o'clock in the dav Mr. Edwards, draper, who lived opposite, saw and pur' sued bim, and he was speedily joint d by P.C Worsen before O. P. Be,a„ ,„d J. "oS i?.h ahavr,i,hmmuteT,,° B,"°n :i"« owner C°at Was retun>ed to the nn^rCwDENT'~A melancholy accident occurred to a poor woman, named Williams, on Saturday last. It appears that she was deaf, and as she was proceeding along a tramroad, some trams passed over one of her legs. The limb was so severely injured that amputation was obliged to be performed on the following morning the operators being Drs. Bevan and Cortes, 1 he woman is recovering.

MONMOUTH. ttThe ^nuai' Sl'PFIn AT THE KING'S HEAD r I R annual gathering which has been estab- lished nearly forty years, and kept up almost regularly came off for this ytar on Tuesday evening last, with çonsidtriLble eclat. The attendance was very numerous, consisting of the major number of the most respectable tradesmen of the town. The supper was on an elaborate scale, comprising all the dainties and rarities of the season in great profusion. The wines and spirits also were of the first quality, and the whole of the catering reflected the utmost credit on Mr. and Mrs. Webb, the host and hostess. After the cloth was removed, a num- ber of speeches were delivered, interspersed with toasts, sentiments, and songs, and a most agreeable evening was spent by the numerous company, who did not separate till a late hour. At the Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, before the Mayor and Philip Williams, Esq., James Jones, stone mason, of Monmouth, wa s charged with assaulting his wife. The magistrates, considering there was fault on both sides, persuaded the parties to live peacea'dy together, and upon their promising to do so and paying the costs, the defend- ant was discharged. CHRISTMAS AT THE UNION WORKHOUSE.—At this establishment, so well conducted hy Mr. Rogers, the in- mates were regaled with an abundance of roast beef, plum pudding, and beer, and all appeared to enjoy themselves very much. The governor, at his own expense, treated the inmates to several little additions to the repast. Two of the guardians, Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Swift, were present.

FRIDAYS MARKETS. (Bltttrit (ultgnpS], LONDON CORN MARKET.— FRIDAY. English wheat met a good demand and brought a small advance on Monday's rates. Foreign fully as high fair business. Flour firm. Barley met a good sale at full prices. Supply of oats moderate and rates firm. Beans and peas more in request and less desire to sell. Malt unchanged in value. Fair sales in linseed cake. LiVERPOuL COi.N MARKET-FRIDAY. Market opens brisk. A good demand for wheat at Id. to 2d. advance. Other articles quiet.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT THE POLYTECHNIC.—On Monday nisht, at the R iyal Polytechnic Institution, about half-past 10, just before the closing of the estab- lishment, one of the main circular staircases leading from the hall to the exhibition gave way. and ail who were on it fell into the space below. (he little girl named Mary Pike, aged 8 years, was killed, and about 50 persons were more or less injured. The staircase was thronged with the last portion of the audience, and gave way with a tremendous crash, amid a terrific cloud of dust and dirt, precipitating itself with a number of people on to an under circular or duplicate staircase of similar construction, leading to the well-known lower theatre. The sufferers were hurled from a height of some thirty feet, one upon ano'her, to the basenTent of the hall below, covered with stone and masses of debris. On being released by the officers of the establishment, and the police, who were clleJ. to assist, they were immediately cunveyed in cabs to the Middlesex Hos. pital. fhe staircases, which have two spiral flights from a centre, had been worn away by the continued traffic of years, and had been recentlycased over with an iron lattice-woik on the s irtace from top to bottom, with the supposed object of strengthening them but it is thought, from an inspection of the material, that the masons, in interweaving this iron lattice-wurk all over the steps, inconsiderably cut too deep into the stone, and that it is to this excessive incision that the calamity is owing. On Boxing-day, 5000 persons passed in and out of the Polytechnic over the same flight of steps without accident. EXECUTION AT LIVERPOOL.-At noon on Saturday, Henry Reid, aged 38, was executed outside Kirkdalegaol for strangling his wife, -usannah Reid, at Manchester, on the 23rd September. The unhappy man had passed the period since his sentence in calm and reflective quiet awaiting his fate with resignation, and not buoyed up with the hope of mercy. Mr. Superintendent Ride, with about 150 police-officers were ea ly on the ground. Cal. craft arrived at the gaol in the forenoon. At a quarter to twelve the crowd had vastly increased, the number on the ground at this time being about 3,000 persons who concentrated themselves more comfortably in front of tbe drop. The iron doors leading to the scaffold were opened at ten minutes to twelve o'clock -a circumstance which instantly hushed the low murmuring noise that run through the multitude, and a painful silence prevailed Th»t silence continued until twelve o'clock, when Calcrafi The expnit ma(fe their appearance upon Se scaffofd executioner was dressed in black He held the rot>e n one baud and the white cap in the other. Reid was florid in the face, but appeared to maintain his firmness. Cdlcraft placed the cap over the culprit's head, adjusted the rope, shook hands with the prisoner, stepped back and drew the fatal bolt. Immediately on suspension the back of the culprit turned round to the crowd and re- mained in that position. The sufferings of the poor wretch appeared to oB inters. His arm, shoulders, neck and head moved convulsively for the space of three or four minutes, and several porsons of the crowd audibly com- plained of what they considered to be the unskilful manner in which the rope had been adjusted Reid died without having made a confession. Thus practically asserting his innocence to the last. He had been eight times previously convicted-six times summarily, and twice at the Sessions.

NEWPORT DISPENSARY. At the monthly meeting of Directors, held on Wed- cha^tl eHst of hV' E;,Ward Havvkins- vicar, in the chair, the list of subscriptions reported by the Secretarv as received during December, was rpad nr»r ?. tary Amounting to £ 7 11 9 Amount before reported 268 6 0 £ 275 17 2 IHOMAS GRATREX, Treasurer. J. F. THOMAS, Secretary.

NORTHERN DIVISION. SOUTHERN DIVISION. Monthly liepirt to Dec. Monthly Report to Dec. 31st 18,58. 31st, 1858. Under care Nov. Under care Nor 30th 72 3dth i 44 Admitted since 115 Admitted since 91 „ i87 135 Cured 99 Cured 67 Relieved. 9 Relieved 6 Died 7 Died 11 Under care at present 72 UnJercare at present 51 -18ï 135 ROBERT F. WOOLLETT. OCTAVIUS H. JENNINGS. Jan. 1st, 18o9. J.IIK jst> ]s.59-

THE TREDEGAR HOUNDS WILL MEET ON Monday Jau. 10th at M-jrshfield. Wednesday „ l2th at Tregvvillym. Friday „ 14th at Ciefpa P„k. At half-past eleven o'clock. THE MONMOUTHSHIRE HOUNDS „ WILL MEET OX Monday Jan. 10th at Tregate Bridge M if » at Tredegar Park.' -londay „ lnh at Campston Wood. Inursday „ 20th at lytha Lod»e. .At half-past ten o'clock.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS, n the 17th ijutlis. n 1L ijutlis. t-t *7fch ult., tiie i'idv rf I"1 TT TTCT'll* -n Hillgrove, Pontyt,ool, of a^on ^lianas, Esq., of On the 2nd of^^lr- at Yo,kr,)klce> Newport, the wife On 1V.J,mia Lawreuco, architect, of a daughter. Mr Alfrei^W1 aDt' Newport, the wife of On Ibl 4r? arr',UDdertfker' 0f a ^ughter still boru. wif»of MR.A. "MAI"LY°II°A'SP!R' CHRI"CL",™B. ">• d'wit' fHautagrs. On the 1st inst at St. Paul's Church, Newnort W Newport. 7 ^olller. oil merchant, On the 4th inst., at St. George'* rr square, London, Capel Hunlmrv U'; Hanover- Natal CivH Service, to Alis« 8* °f ro?^tle10Cof painful illness, on her wife of Air beloved irul eldest daughter of All James M k'terrac?> P°Qtypool, Llanartb, aged 32 xe .rs <iJ fT 1 J berj' U hlte ind a large circl^ oi Ineuils!^ Emma, wife of Mr'Ridjar ^ulercial"road. Newport, On the3r, insun, H h ,1.'UilS»' aged 23 years. On the3r, insun, H h ,1.'UilS»' aged 23 docker, aged 12 years Mary, daughter of Mr. On the 31st nIt., Oit Skiuner-street, after a short illoesl. lIt, John Le\\i., of the firw of John and David LewÙl, drowned m ue j\ex\ port .lock, jir. John iuck, aged 25 veam ^yeari." Ut,Ht iie,ill>"8' Mr- Wm. Baylis, aged ged182 years. iustant, at Tydee, Mrs, Mary Rowlands, 82 years. On the 2nd instant, at Rffnrm -vr i drs. Mary Bateson, a^d 42 yea,s? Buildlllg8' NeWP°rt> On tue 5tb iU8t-aut, at .J.\ewpurt, Mr. Robert Shuttook, aughter IT Te' iat W lynddysllwyn. William Jones, Caerllwya, Iris'o/u 1,1 U?e BraEch Ea«k of England, u ti ,Ty Es1- in 65th year. 5 Mr U T-1 1,eU>lan Farm' ^ngattock-vibon- <Tn o«.?ePn IiubtLrt8' 66 years. Iness Mr Th" "u n^ after a ^on £ and painful Jness,Mr Ihomas W iiha.8, aged 82 years. et i c1D>t#lit' at,Ler le8idence, Wraxall-houso. ear Lristol, Somerset. Harriet, relict of the late Jams* tomer, Esq., in her 09th year.