Monmouthshire Merlin

VARIETIES. j»- BUCKLAND'S EXPLANATION OF FROG SHOWERS.— not here be out of place to give the interpretation hnj 8 showers, as now most generally received by corn- judges. The actual fact, that considerable J^es of ground have been suddenly covered with nu- small frogs, where there were no frogs before, y** been proved beyond a doubt. Some have called in the aid of water-spouts, whirl-winds, and similar causes 0 for their elevation into the regions of air, and eU#e ^iave even t^lat were fo'ned in the tottds, from whence they were precipitated. It has |*i»erally been in August, and often after a season of ^°Ught, that these hordes of frogs have made their ."Pearance; but with Mrs. Siddons, we will exclaim, tfow gat they there ?" Simply as follows the ani- l's have been hatched, and quitted their tadpole state their pond at the same time, days befcre they became lble to, or rather observed by, mortal eyes. Finding "^pleasant in the hot parched fields, and also running 8feat chance of being then and there dried up by the they wisely retreated to the coolest and dampest W»ces they could find, viz., under clods and stones, Cre' on account of their dusky colour, they escaped M^Ce" comes the rain, out come the frogs, j with the change. Forthwith appears an article v country paper; the good folks flock to see the >W0menon- There are the frogs hopping about; the remember the shower, and a. timmuj- swears that the frog* fellin the shower, and he S^th^m fall; frogs, visitors, countrymen, editors, are I?i?kased, and nobody undeceives them, nor are they Vf 'ig to be undeceived.—Buckland1 s Curiosities of ■ural History. 1 ORIGINAL LOVE LETTER.—Dear mary I tuck the w^*anteg of Ihisunhapeymomen ansering your kind leter .1*ch com tu han to day an it Arfurded me gr&te pleasher n 8et a letter from one that wos one so der to me you »t seined lik it has ben 2 yere sence you sede Me it jj lik it bas ben ages sence i hav sean you one that o.°*ed so londeley as iny Der Mary i have thort in my jf-^P that i was with my Mary But ar las i weeks an Q}*1 it not so then i feel like i wos sunk in the loist depest of^ow oh tu god that i wos with my mary to spen a lew them well none Happey times witch i spent with my Cley QQg but i Am gone for revar is the last hope that londeley Chnreshed in this Doten Bosom of mine .*hen i think of one that i love so Der an to be so far off It rockes This brain of Mine and leades me to des- ertion State oh Mary wot shall i du oh Mary i loves as women never was Loved be for an it is not '•tttrnd buy you i hope you will Pitey me an let me don "ltb Peaa and Piesher if you dont com Ere i dont think Ie we Ever will Meat a gain an if we Nevor meat a gain on this erth i hopes that we will meat in heven and May Sod gide You an pruteck you thru life that will Evare «Hs« my prare yor you an i nevor will for get you no BtTor while time livers open his Axces tho i now it is laot returned by you Mary i loved yew as i loved Mi life and wood of don for you what i wud of not don for eney Other ben on erth i was torn from you like a Blossom irom its branoh well Mary i must bring this to a hend as My tremblain ban can not Expres The felinges that I Otooes this evare doten Bossum of miern no no tung kuld exprs it let a Ion a pen mary you must ancer this lOon and give all the bois my respecks an tack a dubel Pershoon for your selfe wtl no mur at prsnt so far you "ell oh that word far well Maika me feil lonly it is like lepration of Sole and bodey. Adeu then evaxe far the well 't our hapest Drems is over We have loved a Love how fond and true Yet we must love No Mor. -Lord Derby having been asked why he did not confer Order ot the Thistle upon the Earl of File, his lord- •hip remarked that the noble Thane was 44 such a *8« he'd eat it."—Dublin Evening Mail. The following question having been placed on the paper, for discussion, by the members of the Leicester Young Men's Christian Association :—" Does Teetotal- Mat rest on a solid basis a wag answered it by writing Underneath, No, on a liquid." ".BACK THEM WITH AITCHES."—John Kemble.—Mr Hadfield, or Adfield, as he would call himself, is really tno taj with his aspirations, and something must be done. ¡-ncl¡ ia overwhelmed with complaints of Mr. H.'s or Mr. .Ä. liberties with the alphabet. The other day he was HHikin» to Sir G. C. Lewis, who, adapting his discourse to hi. companion's calibre, remarked, Very warm to-day but the rough winds of March will play the deuce with °0* ■kins."—" Yes," replied H-, the Greeks •Md, wo must beware of the of March. Sir George V Being a classical scholar) nearly fainted, but (being a Patriot) supported himself into the lobby, and voted. But this is not the worst. Meeting another Member on his Way to the washing rooms, H. (or A.) said, Ah, going to Waab your coujn notions ?"—44 My what ?" asked the other senator, aghast. Why your Ands." We repeat it, Something must be done-Punch.

THE SLEEPING BRITISH LION. II Got up, British Lion, get up," says JOHN BBIGHT, And then you shall have such a feast • Get up What, asleep ? Do you take day for v Get up, you great lazy old beast- 6 Here, I've brought you a carcase of prime Reform pork I'm the man to supply you with prog) So jump up and pitch in; tooth and nail set to work You observe that I go the whole Hog." "Awake, British Lion, awake and be fed," Cries DKEBY awake you slow brute, Here's a haunch of buck-venison, the finest e er bred, Which just your digestion will suit. Look, only just look, what a nice joint of meat; You could manage a bit if you'd try. Take this now, or you may be wanting to eat, And unsatisfied be, by-and-by." Of Arise, British Lion LORI) JOIJN shouts, "arise Yott are famished—I'm sure you must be. Then why ào you snore so ? Come open your eyes, And you shall see what you shall see. 1*11 warrant you'll find it a better blow out, Than those other fellows can give HI provide you a meal, which, beyond any doubt, Will last you as long as you live." They talk to the old British Lion in vain The Lion does nothing but snore t lie won't wag his tail, and he won t shake hit mane, And they can't get the Lion to roar. But you may make him roar and his jaws wide expand, Just presume on his peaceable mood, k Yon may then find it bard to supply the demand Of the rooaed British Lion for food. —.PMMC/t.

THE HANDEL COMMEMORATION FESTIVAL. We have received from the Directors of the C rystal Palace Company a programme of the arrangements for the celebration of the festival in June in honour of the illustrious composer, Han lei. Many of our readers will, doubtless, be present on that most interesting occasion, and the following particulars from the official document will, therefore, prove of interest to them In accordance with these conclusions the Commemo- ration of 1859 will be made the occasion for the largest musical gathering which, under proper arrangement and proportionate combination, has yet been witnessed. The event is one which will not again occur during the present generation; and it is, therefore, doubly imperative on all concerned to render the arrangements and the execution so perfect and so imposing that the recollection of the 'The Handel Commemoration of 1859' may long liv9 in the memories of those who are fortunate enough to attend it.. "The preparations for the Commemoration may be said to have been continuously progressing since Novem- ber 1856. From before that period and up to the present time, the Sacred Harmonic Society have been diligently collecting information respecting the performers in the various Provincial Choral Societies, the Cathedral Choirs, and the Great Continental Musical Institutions. The attention of Mr. Costa has been unremittingly given to perfecting the arrangements of the coming celebration. Those only who have had the opportunity of acquaintance with the details of such occasions can be aware of the amount of labour and anxiety which has been bestowed by Mr. Costa, on the successful accomplishment of this great undertaking. The critiques on the festival of 1857 frequently referred in the highest terms of praise to the exertions of the conductor, and all who took part in those performances can testify to their justness. 41 The orchestra will be enlarged to the full width of the Transept, viz., 216 feet, with a central depth from front to back of about 100 feet. Its extent will be more clearly appreciated when it is stated that its width is exactly double the diameter of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, or, as will be seen by the diagram appended to this announcement, that it possesses a larger area than the combined orchestras of Westminster Abbey (as arranged for the commemoration of 1784) York Minster (as at the festival of 1823) the Birmingham fown JLlall the Leeds Town Hall; St. George's Hall, Bradfoid the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool; and some other orchestras. But it ia not from the mere augmentation of extent that the most favourable results are anticipated. The additions are mainly based upon a recent alteration of the orchestra at Exeter Hall, which has been attended with the happiest effect; and every confidence is felt that these modifications in the general plan, with the acoustic im- provements already adverted to, will result in greatly increased concentration and unity of tone. At the same time the appearance of the orchestra will be materially improved by its more perfect proportions, aud by the decorations which it is proposed to adopt. The collection of thelarge mass of executants required in 1857 was a task of much anxiety, and would have been far more difficult but for the complete organisation of the Sacred Harmonic Society. Every care was then exercised in their selection; but it need scarcely be pointed out that the experience gained on that occasion will now be of important service. The muny thousands of applications which the festival committee have received since that time, from amateurs and others desirous of taking part in the commemoration, has given them the opportunity of exercising the most scrupulous vigilance. "The music to he performed has occasioned much consideration and discussion. Those engaged in the preparations for the commemoration would have gladly put forward such of the oratorios or other works of the p—«<l.mnat«>r aa wou!<j, in the prewat day.,«ou»« novelty hut daily experience shows that the public aro unwilling to relinquish works with the detailed merits of which they are familiar, from repeated hearing, in favour of others less tried, and therefore comparatively less appreciated. As the arrangement fur a festival on so gigantic a scale cannot under the most economical arrangements, and with a very large proportion of amateur aid, be undertaken but at enormous cost, it is manifest that pecuniary considerations cannot be left wholly out of sight. The object must be not so much to perform new works, as to impart a fresh interest to the old ones, by executing them on the grandest scale and in the most perfect manner. "No English Musical Festival can be considered com- plete without a performance of Messiah." It is peculiarly the Oratorio ot the English people. This work has therefore been selected for the opening day. Israel in Egypt" created such a sensation at the last festival, and the attendance at its performance was so great, that, apart from the acknowledged grandeur which has placed it at the culminating point of choral excellence, no question can arise as to its repetion in 1859. Bearing in mind the amount of exertion required throughout all the details of so vast a celebration, and the heavy demands made upon the time aud attention of the members ot the orchestra,—the occupations of most of whom, whether Metropolitan or Provincial, do not permit of lengthened absence,—it is considered impossible to attempt more than three performances. Under these circumstances, the task of selection is narrowed to one day. In order to meet opinions expressed in favour of portions of some particular works of Handel, it has been decided that the second and third parts of the remaining performance shall comprise a selection of the finest choruses from his oratorios; the first part consisting of the DetLingen Te Deum,' a work, which from its frequent performance at St. Paul's, and the various cathedral festivals, is well known, and which possesses that broad effective character which peculiarly fits it for a celebration like the present. The oratorios from which the selections will be made, include 4 Saul,' 4 Sams m,' Belshazzar,' and Judas Maccabeus;' and as it is probable that they will be in- terspersed with solos by vocalists of eminence who do not take part in the oratorios of the other days, this perfor- mance will possess an interest of its own. 44 In order, however, that the commemoration week may afford all opportunity for more completely illustrat- ing Handel's varied genius, it has been arranged that the Wind Bands emploped in the fesiival shall, after each day's performance, execute in the grounds, during the display of the fountains, marches, minuets, and other compositions by Haudel, including the water music, the firework music, and other celebrated pieces; and, also, that during the intermediate days, selections from his Italian operas and secular works shall be performed by the band of the company, conducted by Mr. Manns, with such additional aid as may be required. By this arrange- ment, together with the daily organ performances, ample opportunities will be afforded during the entire week for most interesting and diversified selections from Handel's music, which will tljus be brought under public notice in a more varied form than could be obtained under other circumstances. The dates of eaoh performance will be as follows :— "Monday .June 20.Messiah.' "Wednesday.. June 22. Djttitigen Te Deum Se- lections from 'Saui,' 4 Samson,' 4 Belshazzar,' 'Judas Maccabeus,' and other works. 44 Friday June 2! Israel in Egypt.' An object of much interest to musicians and the general public, in connection with a commemoration of Handel, will be the collection of a seiies of porti aits, busts, autograph scores and letters, and other memorials of the great composer, towards the furmation of which the company have already received the most gratifying offers of assistance. The price of tickets his occupied serious attention. Th 'esire on all sides is to place the festival within reach^f that large class whose means preclude high pay- ment. A due regard, however, for the pecuniary success of an undertaking wh>ch S.° !ar^e aD. °^}iiy >VllU ,be necessarily incurred, renders it impracticable to fix the rate Of tickets eivioK the right to special accommodation l^er than 0U the former occasion but other arrange- ments wiU bo effected which »iH afford, lLe »PP«"lunlly of attending fwtirai t0 those who do not desire the higher-priced tickets Application, for tiåets may now be made to the Secretary of the Cry.ul Palace Company, at Sydenham, b.E.J or to the Seeretary of the Saored Ha.mo.iiic Society, at the Uandel Festival Ticket Office, No. 2 Exeter Hall, W.C. Every application will be considered iu the order of its receipt. Applicants should point out as clear as possible the spot which may be desired, or if no particular place is indicated, the best possible selec- tion will be made. No application can be attended to unless accompanied by a remittance of the amount, and a voucher will be immediately returned acknowledging the receipt of the money, with full directions respecting the issue of tickets. 'Ihe delivery of tickets in exchange for youcheri will commence on Thursday, 28th of April." j LITERARY, MUSICAL, AND DRAMATIC GOSSIP. Lord Macaulay is seen gliding about the Museum- looking ill, one is sorry to see. but evidently occupied. Will he retract in the matter of Penn and the pardons? There has been another successful book (this time by a lawyer,) on that subject, and the opinion is spreading very widely that his lordship is in the wrong. What, indeed, chiefly marks the historical movement now is the infusion of antiquarianism into it. Everywhere, new facts are being fished out of old documents. In reference to a statement on the subject of the authorship of the "Vestiges of Creation," Professor Nichol, of Glasgow, writes:—" 1 have no other interest in it tha i may be felt by any member of the commuuity although I must candidly confess that I see no reason for the mystery involved in the question. But I beg distinctly to state that Mr. George Coombes was not the author of the book, and had nothing whatever to do with the publication of it." Mr. Carlisle is working hard at the Frederick." Preparations are being made, on a magnificent scale for the performance of Henry V." at the Princess Theatre. Among the vocal pieces is an original song, sung on London Bridge to Henry V., the MS. of which was found at Oxford. There is a talk of the Opera Comique at the St. James's Theatre resuming business with a new company. The title of Mr. Sale's next work is Gas-Lisjht and Day Light, with some London Scenes they Shiue Upon A curious discovery has just been made in the archives of the city of London-a new fact about Chaucer. In the reign of Edward III, a lease was granted to Geoffrey Chaucer of a room above the city gates-Aldgate-and of the premises adjoining. The poet was the lessee, in the east of London, ot a room like that over femple Bar, and of a house adjoining like that of the Messrs Child. ug, Bentley's new quarterly has appeared. The general tone is that of the .Saturday Review, anti Mr. Beresford Hope is spoken of as a contributor. The political article is ascribed to the pen of Lord Robert Cecil. son of the Marquis of Salisbury. It is rather caustic in its criti- cism of Mr. Disraeli as a politician, and two of the other articles xpeak very frankly and sharpiy of the faults of Sir Edward Buliver Lyiton as a novelist, and of Mr. Gladstone as a commentator on Homer. A sale of all the various revolutionary journals filed during the famous year of 1848, in Paris, has been an- nounced in all the papers some days back the auction has been forbidden, though any private transfer of the property is not objected to. Mr. Charles Dickens will bring out on the 30th of April anew periodical to be entitled All Round the Year." Household Words" will cease to appear on the last Saturday iu May. The new serial will open with a new tale by Mr. Dickens. 441 have looked over the score of Anna von Lind- skrou'" the opera of llerr Abert, more than once ad- verted to in the Athemeum as a German opera of high promise, writes one of the great German musicians of the day, who has a right to speak, and I find that its writer has great talent and promise. It may be described perhaps, as written in the style of M. Meyerbeer but Herr Abert may with tim9 prove to possess a more na ura vein of melody. The instrumentation is very good, w.tl. new aud beautiful effec s.Here may be great news for the old music laud of (Jermany. There is to he a deluge of chamber music, apparently tins season. In addition to what has been already an- nounced, we observe that Herr Lehmeyer. a resident pianist, is about to give performances.—The Reunion des Arts will coinmeuce its series of spring meetings on Wednesday next.—Miss Arabella Goddard is announcing her soirees.— Then, there are to be two glee concert- giving parties,—one consisting of the well-known com- pany, including Air. and Mrs. Lockey, Messrs. Foster, Winn, and Thomas, —headed this year by Miss Banks, — the other onlv kuown at present as the Luuioti Glee and Madrigal Union The Bulletin says:—The Italians would seem to have ponatiouai prejudices ia matters of art. pablic bus been made acquainted with the warm reception re- ceutly accorded to Miss Biilfe, and now we have to record the success of anotuer English young lady who seems to have excited her audieuce to a pitch of un- wonted enthusiasm, even for Italians. The name of the new singer is Whitty, and she is, we understand, the daughter of a gentleman who is the proprietor of a Liverpool journal. A Florence journal gives an account ot Miss Wlmtys benefit at Sienna, on the 2ld ult., which it describles as a triumph unparalleled there, ex- cept in the case of Piccolomini, who is a native of the town. The young lady, it seems, has been sinking at Sienna for some time, and her benefit wasseized upon by the inhabitants as the occasion for testifying their admi- ration of her taleuts. The students of the University assembled in a body to do honour to the popular singer, and in the course of the evening some of them scattered several hundred copies or complimentary verses to Miss W bitty from the upper boxes, which floating about in the air produced a novel effect. Ot bouquets there was a cartload, and the rectils were numerous. After the performance Prince Piccolomini, the uncle of the Pic- colomini, requested to be introduced to our fair country- woman, and paid her the highest compliments.

THE NEW GLOUCESTER THEATRE.—This building, recently opened, is described as being very finely erected and tastefully decorated. The pit has been renovated and improved as far as it was possible from the confined space available. The area has been considerably en- larged, aud the extra accommodation will seat about double the number of the old theatre. The pit will now hold about 250. In the lower boxes increased space has also been obtained, and everything has been done which can promote the comfort of visitors. Nearly all the seats have backs and arms to them; they have horsehair cushions, covered with rich crimson Utrecht velvet. At the back of the boxes there are sliding partitions. When these are slid back, a view of the stage can be obtained from the box lobby. The accommodation for the Ce- lestials" in the gallery has been greatly increased, and a balcony has been run outside. But although so many more can be comfortably seated than before, the seats are so arranged that a full view of the stage is commanded from every point. The stage and its appurtenances have been much improved, and the utmost made of the space at command. The principal additions consist of a large green-room (formerly the old Mechanics' Institute), which is reached by a few steps from the side of the stage and four dressing-rooms. The proscenium, which was designed by Mr. Frith, sculptor, consists of a pair of handsome fluted Corinthian columns on each side, 22 feet in height, with Ionic entablature, and a dome springing over. The clear opening between the columns, forming the front of the stage, is 20 feet. The total height from the level of the stage to the top of the dome over, is 33 feet. The fillets of the columns are gilt, and the foliage of the capitals tipped with gold. The dome is of a very delicate blue colour, powdered with stars. The Royal Arms, emblazoned in their proper colours, rest upon the centre of the cornice. Tlie spandrils over the arch are filled with elegant emblematic figures of Spring and Autumn and the keystoi-e of the arch is a white head, in relief, of Winter. The ceiling is decorated with fes- toons of flower and genii with garlands of flowers. The orchestra has been enlarged, and will furnish accommo- dation for the largest number of instrumentalists that are ever likely to be required. The decorations of the other portions of the house have been designed and executed by Beverley, the celebrated scenic artist. The principal portion of the scenery is also by Beverley, who has cer- tainly well sustained his reputation as the first of British scenic artists. The whole of his scenes are beautiful specimens of the art, particularly the garden scene and the wood scene, the rich foliage of which has never been surpassed in works of this description. The drop act is a delicious Italian scene. The house is lighted by means of a largo" sun burner," in the centre of the ceiling, which throws a brilliant flood of light over the whole house. There are also three elegant gas brackets spring- ing from the upper box fronts, and the usual footlights on the stage. A ventilating shaft in the centre of the ceiling, immediately over the sun burner, secures the re- moval of the fou! and heated air, and while securing per- fect ventilation, tends greatly to the comfort of the au- dience. Altogether the theatre is of the most complete, elegant and substantial character, and will, we are sure, bear comparison with, if it does not surpass, any other theatre of its size out of London. If we get the bill into committee," said a member of the Government, and you don't disturb the principle we don't care." 44 Well, but what is the principle?"' inquired an Opposition member standing by. The principle !oh, the principle of a bill, you know, is its preamble!" LOUD HOLLAND AND GEORGE SELWYN.—A singular remark is quoted of his dying hours, which at°least shows composure and good humour. If Mr. Selwyn calls again," he said to his servant, let him in if I am alive, I shall be glad to see him, and if I am dead he will be very glad to see me." DREADFUL TRAGEDY AT WASHINGTON. Much space is occupied in the American journals brought by the Africa with reports and comments res- pecting the shooting of Mr. P. B. Key, United States' Attorney for the district of Columbia, by the Hon D. E. Sickles, a senator, on the 27th ult. The New York Times gives the following acoiint of the tragedy Mr. Sickles and Mr. Key had been very intimate, bur circumstances led the former to suspect an impropet intimacy. Mr, Sickles received from some enemy o mankind an anonymous letter, stating, with precision so minute as to make suspicion imperative, that Mr. Key had rented a house in Fifteenth-street, above K-street, from a negro woman, and that he was in the habit of meeting Mrs. Sickles there two or three times a-week, or oftener. The person and dress of Mrs. Sickles were accurately described, and the usual time of the interview specified. Accompanied by a friend, Mr. Sickles went to the house designated, and found every statement of the anonymous writer corroborated. Mr. Key had taken the house, and he had constantly met there a lady answering very closely in description to Mrs. Sickles. A watch was set, and on Saturday evening, the 27th, Mr. Sickles, resolved no longer to play the spy upon his honour, determined to confront his wife directly with his terrible suspicions. At first Mrs. Sickles strongly denied her guilt; but on her husband's asking her whether, on the Wednesday previous, she had not entered the house on Fifteenth-street in a certain particular dress, and con- cealed by a hood, she cried out 41 am betrayed and lost,' and swooned away. On recovering her senses she admitted her guilt, and besought mercy and pardon. Mr. Sickles calmly said he would not injure her, since he believed her the victim of a scoundrel, but that he had a right to a full confession. Two ladies in the house were sent for as witnesses, and in their presence Mrs. Sickles made a full confession in writing, stating that her con- nexion with Mr. Key had commenced in April last, under Mr. Sickles's roof, but that Mr. Key had since hired the house in Fifteenth-street, in which they had constantly met. Mrs. Sickles's confession was made in the midst of the bitterest contrition and misery. Her husband simply asked her to give him back her wedding-riug, and desired her to write to her mother to come and take her from his house for ever. Mrs. Sickles nude no objections, admitting the justice of her punishmentin the most affecting language. Once having quitted the pre- sence of his wife, Mr. Sickles gave way to the most terrible emotion, and passed the night in a state border- ing on distraction-a feeling which was worked into madness this morning, on seeing the cause of his misery, Mr. Key, with gay audacity pass opposite the window of his wife's room and wave his handkerchief—the usual signal for assignation. Asking Mr. Butterworth, who was at his house, to follow Key and engage him ill con- versation, so that he should not get out of sight, he rushed up stairs for his pistols, and quickly fonowing, 1 found Butterworth and Key together, at the corner of Sixteenth-street, when the tragedy took place. On coming up Sickles walked directly to Key, and said You have dishonoured my bed and family, yo i scoundrel; prepare to die !"—at the same time drawing his pistol. Almost simultaneously K-jy placed his band inside his vest, and drawing what appeared to lie a pistol, but what was really an op^ra- glass, said, 4 You had better not shoot!' Sickles at once fired, Key at the same time throwing his glass at him. This shot only "grazed Key, slightly raising the skin of his side, and he immediately leaped behind a tree to avoid another shot. Sickles fol- lowed, and Key, catching his arm, endeavoured to prevent him from firing, but Sickles disengage I himself, and firing again, shot Key in the upper part of the right thigh, close to the main artery. Falling on his hip and supporting himself with his hand, he cried, Murder! don't shoot Sickles. still following, fired again, with his pistol close to Key, the ball passing through his body below the breast. On Mr. Sickles leaving, the body, which still held faint gasps of breathing, was conveyed to the parlour of the club-house, when the Assistant-Surgeon-General was at once in attendance, but Key was beyond all medical skill. He breathed but twice after being laid upon the floor. Key was about 48 years of age, tall in stature, about six feet, with an easy and fashionable air, but by no means prepos- sessing in appearance otherwise. His face had a sickly hue, and he had been for some time suffering from heart disease, or imagined he was, which gave him a soured and discontented look. He was a widower with four children. Mr. Sickles, the member for the Third District of New York, is a native of this city, and was originally a printer by occupation. He is a man of nearly 10 years of age, of good presence and graceful manners. As a member of the State Senate, as well as in the House of Representatives, he had made himself remarked by a quite unusual coolness and self-possession, which gave him great advantages in debate, and had acquired for him a well-deserved reputation as a rising young leader of the Democratic party. In 1857 Mr. Sickles was married to his wife, now ruined and heartbroken, then a young girl fresh from her school life, and remarkable then as now for something especially soft, lovely, and youthful in the type of her very peculiar beauty. She is of Italian origin, and possesses all the Italian lustre and depth of eye, united with a singular candour and delicacy of feature. Mr. Sickles had seen her grow up from childhood, and was attached to her with an almost idolatrous affection. Shortly after their marriage Mr. Sickles was appointed Secretary of the American Lega- tion at London, in the household of Mr. Buchanan, and his beautiful bride won universal admiration abroad, not more by the charms of person and manner than by the gaiety and innoccnt joyousness of her character. Mrs. Sickles may be 22, and has two children. She is the daughter of Bagioli, the celebrated music-teacher, of Fourteenth-street. That Mr. Sickles still entertains for her feelings of the strongest affection there is no doubt, lie believes that Key seduced her from the path of rectitude, and that but for him she would never have proved false. When a gentleman remarked to him in the gaol, This must be a terrible blow to Mrs. Sickles,' he exclaimed, pressing his hand upon his brow, 4 Yes poor child poor child and walked away. When Mr. Sickles procured the written confession of guilt from his wife, and directed her to send for her parents to take her home, he deter- mined that she should not take with her their child, a beautiful girl of six years but to-day he has consented that the child may go with her, and remain until his case is determined here. The wedding ring which he demanded and obtained from her has caused her the greatest grief, and to-day he directed that it be returned to her. Mrs. Sickles concedes that her husband has done right, and states that Mr. Key received an anony- mous letter on Thursday night last, which he showed to her, warning him against continuing his visits at Mr. Sickles's house, calling his attention to the fact that he was much older than Mrs. Sickles, and ought not to pursue her, and assuring him that, unless he desisted, Mr. Sickles would detect him, and that in such an event the consequences would be serious if not fatal to one or both of the parties. It is believed that this letter was found upon the body of Mr. Key before the coroner's inquest. Mr. Sickles's mother arrived in this city from New York this evening, and will accompany her daugh- ter back to her home. It is reported that Mrs. Sickles is enceinte, and has made an affidavit that she became so in consequence of her intercourse with Kev."

it r m t r,5' (f) ,o I tv m ti. The dry state of the weather has greatly forwarded the operations of ploughing and harrowing, while more than half the breadth ot land intended for oats has re- ceived the seed. With regard to securing a dry bed for the seeds in this month, there is inucii truth expressed in the old proverb-" A bushel of March dust is worth a king's ransom." Those implements which have not been in requisition for the last quarter will now require looking at and putting into order at the cartwright's or the blaoksmitb's. The horses must now be in good working condition, receiving their full allowance of oats and out straw or hay. There is no season in the agricul- turist's calendar in which his motive power requires attending to as in the month of March, when, like the present, it is dry. In order to make the locomotive run well the steam has to be got up, and kept up by fuel, fire, and water; and the same may be said of the draught horse—his strength must be kept up by corn, hay, and water and in order to save waste in the two former, and keep your horse power up to the mark, a sinaller quantity of oats (if bruised) and hay (if cut) will answer the purpose quite as well as a larger feed of unbruised oats and uncut hay. Where the loco- motive has not yet bee^i introduced for agricultural pur- poses, nor the performances of the steam-plough wit- nessed, we shall perhaps with difficulty engage the sym- pathy of our readers, when we say tiiat steam, as an agent on the arable farm, is adapted to operate as the renovator and retriever of those virtues of the soil which the present method of cultivation by horse power is, for more reasons than one, unsuited to recover. The former is more economical and efficient-two considera- tions which we think will yet exert their due influence on the important question of cultivation, and on very large farms shortly supersede the use of the latter. The amount of mechanical contrivances which have now been brought to bear upon the various operations of the f irm seem to call for some motive power suited to un- foidandprfcticattyappty their machinery constructed by the laws which regulate the m-eciiiiiical-powers dis- played,and consequently we can perceive the superiority of a system, which, according to calculation and strength of material, can execute the work to be performed by uniformity of motion and equality of depth. By this same principle the corn-drills and manure-distributors are so const-rocted I hat tney can distribute the artificial manure or the seed with great regularity from 6 bushels to 100 bushels per acre. In conducting the process of sowing, the coru-drill, by the regularity with which it deposits the seed in the soil and the matu e at the same time (if wanted), has achieved no ordinary improvement in agriculture. The free use of the hoe is one great ad- vantage of sowing by the drill, while it may be adjusted to sow any quantity per acre. --Field. GARDEN OPERATION 8. FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY.—Look over all recently transplanted shrubs and trees, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are securely staked, for if these are allowed to roll about with the wiud the tender roots are often broken off, and the plants are conse- quently deprived of their only means of obtaining nourish- ment. Also get the works edged and otherwise put into proper repair. Attend carefully to the stock of bedding plants, and get rooted cuttings potted off as soon as they are fit, and encourage them with a gentle bot<om-lmat attd careful management to encourage quick growth, tor after tbis season there is no time to be lost with young stock. Calceolarias, if well established, may soon be planted out in a turf pit on poor sandy soil, where they can be protected from the frost or cold winds, but they must be prepared for this by previously inuring them to full exposure to sun and air, &c., whenever the weather will permit. Their p:ace under glass can be profitably occupied with recently potted off stuff, and with ordinary care they will do better planted out than stunted with small pots. HARDY FRUIT AND KITCHEN GAEDEN.—CauU- flowers and lettuces that have been wintered under glass may soon be planted out, selecting a siielterej deep rich piece of ground. It ia a very good practice iu plaotiug out things that are at all tender at this uncertain season to throw up the ground in good strong ridges, running east and west, planting on the south side of the ridge. The plants are thus sheltered from the north winds and tully exposed to the sun. Peas, &c., that have been raised under glass it properly inured to the weather should be planted out at once, giving them the most favourable situation at command, aud it is a very good practice to shelter them for some time after planting out, by placing some branches of spruce fir or any other suit- able evergreen along the rows. so as to break the wind &c. lake advantage of dry days to stir the surface of the ground among growing crops, aud to prevent weeds from making their appearance. COTTAGERS' GARDEN.- Follow up sowing the neces- sary crops, as in the kitchen garden portion of the calen- dar, carrots and onions on trenched ground, the manure in the bottom. Sow a little celery on a warm slope- throw small sifted ashes over the surface to prevent the depredations of slugs, and cover up with litter. Celery seed must be kept constantly damp, and the bed should be very rich. Potato planting should be proceeded with both with the early kinds and the late, although it has been too much the practice to set the late kinds in May and even June; the consequence of which is that the seed is never ripened as it ought to be. The cottager should now sow a few hardy annual seeds; plant out his carnation layers, finish planting the ranunculus, and attend to his flower beds, if any, generally. Gardeners' Chronicle.

BRUTAL MURDER AT MANCHESTHR.—A desperate affray took place in Spinning-field, Deansgate, which re- sulted in a joiner, named William Benson, being stabbed to death, and in a man named John Wharrier being se- riously injured. The circumstances connected with this lamentable occurrence are these -About ten minutes to one o'clock on Sunday morning, as a boy, named Johr. Brown, was returning home along Spinning-field, he observed a quairel going on at the door of a low lodging- house or brothel, kept by John Wharrier, between a shoemaker, named John Maekie, and a woman named Jane Cooper. Alackie charged Cooper with havin¡.; stolen a handkerchief of his, and asked her to return it to him. She denied that she had stolen it, and struck him on the head with a candlestick. Upon hearing the uproar, Wharrier came out of the house, and asked Mackie where his coat was. Mackie was much exaspe- rated at the time and under the influence of liquor, and, without any provocation, stabbed Wharrier in the back with a knife which he had in his hand. He immedi- ately fell to the ground, and was carried into his own house by the woman and some of the neighbours. Mackie then walked away down the street, and was followed by the woman Jane Cooper and William Benson, the deceased. Up.m coming up to Mackie, Benson asked him what he had stabbed Wharrier for. A scuffle ensued between the two men, during which Mackie stabbed Benson in the abdomen and thigh with the shoemaker's knife which he hadin his hand. Benson on finding that he was stabbed, tried to run away, but before he had proceeded far, he fell down from loss of blood, and was afterwards also oarried into Wh trrier's house, where he expired in a few minutes, before medical aid could be obtained. A nun named William Riley gave information of the occuirence to police constable John Hill, who immediately went to Wharrier's house. and found the two men bleeding profusely from the wounds inflicted upon them. He at once proceeded to the house of Mr. Hancock, surgeon, Bridge-street, and obtained his assistance, but before that gentleman could get to the house Benson had expired. By Air. Hancock's instructions Wharrier was removed to the Royal Infir- mary, where his injuries were attended to, and it is probable that he will recover. Benson's body was con- veyed to the Cumbeiland Arms, Cumberland-street, to await the coroner's inquest. Deceased, as we have stated, was a joiner by trade, and has left a wife, but no family. Mackie was subsequently apprehended by police constable Wheldon. THE COURT OF DIVORCE,-The rules and regulations concerning the practice and proceedings of the Court of Divorce, instituted under Lord Palmerston's recent Act for the relief of married couples to whom matrimony may have become from circumstances a galling yoke, have been printed by order of the House of Commons. It appears that the total amount of fees leceived in the Court last year was £ 1,556. The items of this sum total are very small, proving at once the cheapness and facility of the present system for loosing the bonds of wedlock. Thus, in many cases only m odd was exacted, and £:28 (in the case of "Evans v. Same and Robinson") appears to be the very highest amount levied as fees. The offi- cers of the Divorce Court hold office as officers of the Court of Probate, but four of them are exclusively en- gaged in the performance of the duties of the Divorce Court. The salaries of these persons and of the Judge Ordinary, and the incidental charges of the court, are defrayed by the Treasury out of the proceeds arising from the sale of stamps used in the Courts of Probate and Divorce. The rules of procedure are clear, suc- cinct, and straightforward.

) (f)tntral Atwo. STRANGE ACCIDENT.—A very singular and seriout accident, happily wiaccompanied by loss of life, has oo curred at the Bamber-b.-dgo station on the East Lancashire 7K .J' ,The, Hurricane engine left the Preston station aoout 3 o clock, with a tendet and 16 waggons attaeW and proceeded safely on the w^y to Blackburn till it "rr!Ted, a' the Bamber-bridge static. when the engin* suddenly bolted off tne metals and ran ag„inst the gate at the level crossing there. It broke down i>»e eate and posts, and then caught the corner of a house abunjne on the railway, knocking the gable down entirely, and ofrrv. ing |iwav a portion of the front wall. The whole vL tenor of the house was thus displayed to view. A woman who was washing in the back kitchen was providentially unhurt; aud the engine driver, who shut off the steam as soon as possible, also escaped injury. The chimney of the engine was crushed by the falling ruins of the house, and was otherwise seriously damaged, and the tender was smashed to atoms. Not a single waggon left the line, the coupling-chain next to the tender having broken. A buffer-block was afterwards found upon the rails, and it is supposed that it had fallen from one of the carriages of the 1 45 p.m. train, from Preston to Black- burn, and that this obstacle threw the engine off the r&ilg, and occasioned the accident under notice. The rubbish was immediately removed, and the engine, being lifted with scews and blocks, was s)ided on to the rails and brought back to Preston tor repairs. The waggons were shunted into a siding and forwarded to Blackburn with the next train. At a rough estimate the damage done is not less than JE200. The house is already in course- of repair. --Presto)-t--Guar-dia)i. THE LATE CRUELTY TO A Fox.—The prosecution instituted by the Ruyal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals against Mr. Marsh, the master of the Vine Hounds, for cruelty to a fox has aroused the indig- nation of the lovers of the chase residing in the district of Kiugsclere, where the cruelty was perpetrated. In the last few days the landowners have sent the following notice to Air. Marish -11 Sir, In consequence of the facts adduced in evidence before the Kingsclere bench of magistrates on the 25th ult., we feel bound to mark our sense of the wanton cruelty and the Outrage on public decency of which you have been shown to be tMitty. While, therefore, we are ready to offer every facility for the promotion of legitimate sport, »« are constrained to forbid you or your servants to draw our coverts or to enter on our lands." This notice is signed by the Etrl of Carnarvon, Earl of Portsmouth, Air. W. Beach, M.P. Rev. L. B. Wither, Lieuteuant-Colonel Dukerley, and several landowners in the district of the hunt. DESPERATE CASE OF BURGLARY IN CLEVELAND. On. Friday morning, about 2 o'clock, a most desperate attack was made by a bind ofruffitnson the inhabitants of a wayside publichou»o, situate on tha Whitby and Guu- borough-road, about three miles from the latter town. Tho landlord of the hostelry, named Storev. who is up- wards of 60 years of age, retired to rest at Ins usual hour after souring, as he thought, the door, and windows. The other occupauts of the house were two daughter* and a son-in-law, and they retired to re-st at ttie same time. About the nour named, they were disturbed by the sound oi footsteps. Presently three men entered the unmarried daughter's bed-room. She stood prepared to meet them, having jumped out of bed and seiaod a gun, which, untortunaiely, was not loaded. They made an attaciv upon her, but sue struggled with them bravely, and belaboured them with sueh strength and courage with the butt end of her weapon that it was shattered to pieces. The father and son-in-law hurried to her assist- ance, while the other daughter, in her night alothes ran to the nearest farmhouse lor help. The son-in-law vat feUd to the ground immediately on entering the girl's room by one of the felloes with an axe, and rendered insensible. A fearful gash is inflicted, we understand, on his head by the blow. The old man grappled with them but was overpowered and so severely used that doubts are entertained whether he can survive the injuries inflicted on various parts of his body. W hen assistance arrived the fellows had decamped, leaving no trace behind to lead to their identity. However, one man has been arrested on suspicion, and the police are on the track of two others. They had the appearance of tramps, and are supposed to have taken different directions across the country. It is not yet known whether they secured any booty. Mr. Wise, M.P. for Stafford writes to the Timet to correct h singular blunder in reporting a speech made by him on Friday-" 1 am reported to have said that Candia was very flat and sandy, instead of the words I used, that the bread at Cauea was very black and sandy.' Can iia is traversed by ranges of Hills and in- terspersed with mountainous districts that descend to a precipitous coast." SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL,-An apothecary of Cologne has just invented a process by which he prepares two new substances, which he calls Cialiue and Lignitine. They are produced from ordinary peat and lignite, or brown coal, and can replace, we are assured, coal and coke, at a saving of 35 to 50 per cent., in price. Nu- merous experiments have been made with these two new products on German railways and factories, and, accord- ing to competent judges, with a very good effect and satisfactory result.—The Builder. Russian publishers, in their patriotic zeal to nurse native talents shoot a little beyond the mark sometimes For instance, one publisher offered for Goutscarow's last novel, "Oblomow," the sum of 20,000 francs. Count Bezborodki, who intended making a present of it to the Russkoje Slowo," offered 30,000 francs for the manu- script, but was outbid by the enterprising publisher, Krajewskij, who oifered 40,000. At this price he suc- ceeded in acquiring the novel. Russian readers are of opinion that the first offer of 20,000 francs was too much. THE AMERICAN MARIXK.—Thomas S. Pennington, 21 years of age, second mate of the American Samari- tan, on the eve of her depariure for the United States, was charged before the Liverpool magistrates on Friday with violently beating a coloured sailor named William Campbell, and causing him to fall from the skysail rig- ging to the deck, a distance of 150 feet. Campbell now lies in one of the hospitals in a dangerous state. From the evidence of several witnesses it appeared that Camp- bell was greasing the skysail yard and mast, and that the beating ( with a thick rope) was infl cted because he could not, or would not, ascend to a higher point of the rigging. The beating, it was stated, lasted for nearly three quarters of an hour, until Campbell was quite exhausted and it was this exhaustion, together with a blow which he recieved over his hands, which caused him to fall. His fall was broken by the 44 brace," but as this was 135 feet from the point where he fell it would scarcely reduce the injury. The case was remanded for a week, in order to await the recovery or death of Campbell. AITKMPTED MATRICIDE IN NEW YORK.—A woman, named Bosley was uearly murdered at New York, on the 8th ult., by her daughter, a Marked woman, who was separated from her husband, and cohabited with a man named Martin. The would-be matricide was found on the roof of the house and confessed. She stated that at the instance of her paramour, who wanted money, she first attempted to poison her mother by putting arsenic in her tea, but the taste was so peculiar, that the mother suspecting Martin wished to get rid of her, took the tea to be analyzed. Martin finding his design frustrated to be analyzed. Martin finding his design frustrated urged more violent means, as he was badly in want of money with which to purchase a pair of pantaloons, and suggested the use of an axe. They went to the theatre together, and during the performance he never ceased urging her to do the deed. On parting, he said 44 Will you see to that to-night ?" to which she replied, 44 Yes." The remainder of the confession we give in her own language 441 went to bed with mother. About four o'clock this morning I got up to kill mother, but I did'nt have courage I sat up in the outside room iu the dark ever so long, and 1 took up the axe three times before I made up my mind. I went into her room at last with a light, and while mother lay asleep I chopped her on the side of the heiid; she woke up kind of stupid, and I struck at her again,in the face, as she raised herself up in the bed with that she jumped out of bed and cried out; she ran into the outer room, and screamed out 4 Somebody is murdering me; is it you, Anna Maria She screamed so awfully that I felt it too bad to take thJ TD^JJS° /tr mt° t!1C bcdru01» and got the clothes off the bed aud threw them over her to smother her cries; uts e got up and ran into the entry, aud upstairs. crying, I m murdered,' and I got out of the back win- dow on to the shed, slid down into the yard, and ran ^lott-street, ti.en into Houston-street, and came back into Elizabeth-street, where I saw an officer rap- ping with his clui); I said to him, Are you looking for me ?' and he said 4 Yes,' and I gave myself up." Th* I mother was not expected to recover.

j:,ONGINGS. .as tlondall LAAJAA^JJ Y MAYO.—CALDERO.N. De.& heart is weary waiting A^fng for the May- Waiting for the pleasant rambleu, Where the fragrant hawthorn brambles, With the woodbine alternating, Scent the dewy way. 4 Ah my heart is weary waiting, Waiting for the May. Ah my heart is sick with longing, Longing for the May— Longing to escape from study, To the young face fair and ruddy, And the thousand charms belonging To the summer's day. Ah my heart is sick with longing, Longing for the May. Ah my heart is sore with sighing, Sighing for the May- Sighing for their sure returning, When the summer beams are burning, Hopes and flowers, that dead or dying, All the winter lay. Ah I my heart is sore with sighing, Sighing for the May. OK-- Ah my heart is pained with throbbing, Throbbing for the May- Pj Throbbing for the seaside billows, Or the water-wooing willows; Where in laughing and in sobbing, Glide the streams away. Ah my heart, my heart, is throbbing, Throbbing for the May. Waiting sad, dejected, weary, Waiting for the May. Spring goes by with wasted warnings— Moonlit evenings, sun-bright mornings— Summer comes, yet dark and dreary, Life still ebbs away- Stht, Man is ever weary, weary, 'A i Waiting for the May ^lin University Magazine.