Monmouthshire Merlin

THE LAND TENU-RE QUESTION. Mr. C. N. Newdegate, M.P., Mr. Bromley Daven- port, M.P., and Mr. H. C. Wise, M.P., were present at a special meeting of the Warwickshire Chamber Agriculture, held at Warwick on Saturday, to discuss the subject of land tenure.—Mr. Horley read a paper advocating greater liberty in culti- vating land, by abolishing stereotyped restrictions 111 leases and agreements.—The Council submitted aresolution affirming the absolute necessity of some. definite provision for securing tenant farmers the capital they invest in improving the farms they °ccupy.—Mr. Newdegate said, years ago he adopted flch an agreement, which when properly stamped, ^d the full force of law, with the advantage that ¡ts terms could be adapted to the varied circum- stances of each case. He admitted, now that so '«ucli capital is invested in the cultivation of land, better security should be given to tenants for un- exhausted improvements. He did not approve of leases, and held all parliamentary interference ^ould be impolitic that went beyond giving life OWners, with the consent of the Court of Chancery, the power to enter into an agreement with a tenant that would be binding on their successors.—Mr. Bromley Davenport said he had a compensation agreement both on his Cheshire and Warwickshire estates. He disapproved of leases, or parliamentary interference, beyond what Mr. Newdegate had suggested, and held that the matter was one purely 01 arrangement between landlords and tenants. After some discussion, in the course of which any intention on the part of the Chamber to seek len-ie- lative interference was emphatically disclaimed, t he resoiution prepared by the Council was adopted, find six landlords and six tenant farmers were ap- pointed to consider the best mode of remedying the evils admitted to exist.

"WRECK OF THE MACGREGOR LAIRD. A few days ago a brief telegram was received in Liverpool from Lloyd's agent at Lisbon announcing that the Portuguese mail steamer Don Pedro had arrived at that port from the South Coast of Africa End Maderia, bringing intelligence of the total wreck of the West African Company's royal mail steamer Macgregor Laird, Commander Herbert Wharton, in Corisco Bay, on the South Coast of Africa, on the 13th December, and adding that the crew, passengers, mails, and specie were saved, but the ship, cargo, and baggage were a complete loss. On Saturday last a communication was re- ceived in Liverpool, from Captain Wharton, which, although it modifies the telegram a little, is entirely confirmatory of the total wreck of the steamer. The letter was written on board the French gunboat Curieux, dated December 24,1871. Captain Wharton says that the Macgregor Laird was totally wrecked on a rock, improperly laid down in the Admiralty chart, whilst she was rounding the land tothe souto. ward of Cape St. John, to enter Elobery, on the Oiorning of the 13th December. He ia, however, glad to say that the crew and passengers were all safe and well, with the exception of the snrgeon of the ship, (Dr. Irvine), and Mr. Morgan, the assis- tant purser, both of whom were wounded slightly in the legB during a skirmish with the hostile Natives, who came off to the ship in hundreds some time after she struck, and took complete possession of her. The doctor and Mr. Morgan were, how- ever, gradually recovering. Captain Wharton says that he was compelled to abandon the ship, too, after she struck the rock, as there was only one boat to save the cargo, and that belonged to Messrs. Hatton and Cookson, African merchants, which took one load away. The wreck, which lay about eleven miles from Elobery, and was completely Covered at high water, was sold as it lay for £ 500 and the stores for £ 146. 10s. When Captain Whar- ton wrote he was en route for Fernando Po, calling at Prince's Island for the purpose of landing some of the passengers. He also added that he suc- ceeded in saving the ship's papers, and that he expected to reach Liverpool, in the West African rl Company's steamer Calabar, which is due at Liver- pool in the course of a few days.

THE FLOODS IN LEICESTERSHIRE.—The recent rains have caused serious floods in the low-lying parts of Leicestershire, especially around Lough- borough, where for mileB on either side of the rail- way the country presents the appearance of a sea. A basket manufacturer named Raynes visited an island formed by a canal and the river Soar, near Sileby, on which he owns ozier beds, on Saturday week, and has been a prisoner ever since, neither boat nor cart being able to rescue him. CONTAGIOUS DISEASEs.-The Home Secretary, it is understood, immediately after the opinion of Parliament, will lay on the table of the House of Commons the Bill he has framed upon the report of the Contagious Diseases Commissioners. The first clause of the Bill will repeal all existing legisla- tion on the subject. The New Act will consequently be very full, if not exhaustive in its provisions, and a large part of it will not, it is anticipated, pro- voke much opposition.-Lancet. THE LEAMINGTON CLERICAL SCANDAL. — On Saturday, the necessary proceedings were taken by the Registrar of the diocese of Worcester for re- suming the inquiry into the charge of insobriety against the Rev. J. Craig, vicar of Leamington, which were so abruptly brought to a close at Leamington on the 4th inst. by an arrangement entered into between the counsel on both sides. This puts an end to the various rumours that have been current since that date. The commissioners ap- pointed by the Bishop have received notice to resume the inquiry on Monday the 5th February. Mr. Motteram is counsel for the complainants (parishioners of Leamington), and Mr. Aspinall, Q.C., of Liverpool, for the Rev. J. Craig. Several witnesses are to be examined for the vicar. THE FREEMASONS AND THE PRINCE OF WALES. —On Friday night, a Special Grand Lodge was held in the Temple at Freemasons' Hall, for the purpose of adopting an address to Her Majesty, her upon the happy recovery of the Wal««; the Marquis of Ripon, Most Wor- o l/Pro-A faster, on the Throne. There was e £ dance of the brethern, among whom £ erf J S WFL °f Limerick, Earl Percy, and the on the motion of following address was un- animouslyadopt,Dd: May it please your Majesty,- We, the r ra^ Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted masoM. dumbly beg leave to offer to your Majes y artfelt congratulations upon the recovery of H s Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from his protracted and dangerous illness. We fervently hope tbat it may please the Most High speedily to res ore is Royal Highness to the complete enjoyment oi nis former health. We earnestly and sincerely pray to Almighty God that your Majesty may be blessed with- health and strength long to reign over a happy and contented people, among whom none are more loyal and devoted to your Majesty and your Royal House than your dutiful sutaecta the Freemasons of Eng. and."

GREAT FLOODS IN WARWICKSHIRE, FATAL ACCIDENT. The heavy rains have flooded the rivers Avon and Learn. Large tracts of land are inundated. On Thursday an accident happened at Emscott, near Warwick. William Howard and Thomas Led- broke went on the Avon in a boat, which was upset by the strong currents. Both men were carried away by the stream until their boat came in con- tact with an uprooted tree that had fallen into the river. Ledbroke got on the tree and held Howard by the leg till assistance arrived; but he could not keep Howard's head above water and he was drown- ed. Ledbroke is single. Howard leaves a widow and a grown up family. Both were mechanics. and employed at Eqjscott Foundry.

MURDER OF A MERCHANT. An extraordinary murder, followed by the dis- section of the body, has just been committed at Marseilles. The victim is a merchant, a native of Tunis, named Grego, and who resided in the Rue Montgrand. He was last seen on the 16th, and his disappearance cansed some disquietude, as he was known to have recently received a considerable sum of money. Two days later a trunk was washed ashore near the Chateau of If, which on being open. ed was found to contain the remains of the unfortunate gentleman cut in pieces; the head was, however, intact, and served to identify the body. The police have arrested two indi- viduals, both Tunisians, and friends of the de- ceased. Their names are Aubert and Tolidano. A third accomplice, named Seldon, is not yet in cus- tody. These individuals had hired, three days before, a shop, No. 2, Rue dea Tonneliers, in which the crime appears to have been perpetrated. The hat of M. Grego, and a life preserver, with which he was stunned before being strangled, were found there, with a butcher's saw, which was no doubt used tc cut up the body. The captain of a Tunisian vessel, from whom they had borrowed the boat used in taking the trunk out to sea, has also been discovered by the police, and a boy who saw them put the box on board has identified them. A sum of 40,000fr. is also missing from the merchant's house. M. Grego was only 32 years of age, and represented several Tunis firms.

ALARMING ACCIDENT TO THE LEEDS AND HARROGATE EXPRESS. A very serious accident occurred to the North- Eastern train leaving Leeds at 5.30 on Thursday evening for the north. The train, which was a full one, passed Pannal station safely. On reaching the points where the loop for Harrogate leaves the main line, the first part of the train passed safely to the loop line. Then there was a severe shock and the latter half of the carriages were driven upon the wrong line of rails. The coupling chains snapped, the engine swerved and ran into the embankment, half burying itself in the soil, the tender was thrown athwart the rails, the first carriage upset, and the third thrown upon it, and other carriages more or less displaced. Amongst the occupants of one of these was the Bishop of Ripon, who was enabled to escape from the broken carriage through the window, comparatively un- injured, and was forwarded to Harrogate, whence he subsequently proceeded home by train. Two or three of the carriages were smashed and their occupants injured, but we are happy to say not very seriously- at least so far as could be learnt at the time. Amongst those injured are-Mr. Blythe, of Liverpool (brother to the Rev. M. Blythe, of Har- rogate). Mr. Ryan, of Harrogate. And less seri- ously, Mr. J. Russell, Mr. Bainbridge (surgeon), Mr. Hirst, jun., Mrs. John Wright, and other resi- dents of Harrogate. A train was made up as speedily as possible at Harrogate, and despatched to the scene of the accident, to take forward the passengers. They were an hour and a half behind time when they reached Harrogate, and the line was not then cleared. The accident is believed to have been caused by a mistake on the part of the pointsman in turning the first part of the train upon the wrong line, and then, discovering his error, turning the second part into the other, thus sending the front and rear of the train in opposite directions.

It might be mentioned that the transactions ot the Clearing House for the past year amounted to jSl,000,000,000 more than those of the preceding year, and the transactions for last week were .£50,000,000 more than they were in the corres- ponding week of last year. FASHIONABLE MARRIAGE.-The marriage of Lord Garlies, M.P., eldest son of the Earl of Galloway, and Lady Mary Cecil, daughter of the late Marquis of Salisbury, was solemnised on Thursday morning at St. James's Church, Piccadilly. The bride was accompanied by the Earl and Countess of Derby. A grand dejeneur was afterwards given by the noble Earl and Countess. The bride and bridegroom left London for the Continent in the afternoon. A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE.—V ice-Chancellor Bacon gave judgment on Wednesday in the case of Gompertz v. Kensit." The plaintiff, who is a surgeon residing at Salford, prayed that the will of the late Miss Sarah Broadhurst may be duly ad- ministered, by which his wife, who was the great niece of the testatrix, was entitled to twenty-eight £ 100 shares in the Lambeth Waterworks. The defendant who was executor to the will, disputed the validity of the plaintiff's marriage, on the ground that it was a clandestine one, and that the mar- riage was solemnised as between Frederick Gom- pertz and Adelaide Harvey, instead of being William Frederick Lewes Gompertz and Georgiana Adelaide Harvey.-His Honour ruled that the mar- riage was valid, and granted the prayer of the petition. A SCENE AT A MARRIAGE.—A singular contre- temps in connection with a marriage is reported by a Dorsetshire correspondent. In the Roman Catholic Chapel of East Lulworth, on Tuesday, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Edward R. Wolesley, second son of the late Sir. Chas. Wolesley, of Woleeley Hall, Staffordshire, to Miss Weld, of Lul- worth Castle. After the ceremony, at which Bishop Vaughan officiated, a local registrar of marriages appeared, and it transpired that only twelve days of the requisite notice had expired. The question of the legality of the marriage was thus raised, and it was decided that the couple should not leave the castle until the following day, when they were to proceed to the adjoining town of Wareham, and be re-married at the Registry Office. The circum- stances created a good deal of gossip in the neigh- bourhood. ARREST OF A DYING MAN.—The Dublin City Coroner has held an inquest at the Marshalsea Debtors' Prison, on the body of Ernest John Ryder, aged forty, who had died in that prison. Evidence was given to show that the deceased had been ar- rested for debt by three bailiffs, named Murphy, Hennessy, and Bagnall, acting under the instruc- tion of a solicitor, named Palmer. He was at the time under medical treatment, and his landlady told the bailiffs he was in a dying condition, but he was taken out of bed. Ryder was brought to the prison in a cab, and had to be carried in on the bailiffs' backs. Several medical men were ex- amined, and proved that the deceased was in a dangerous condition when he was removed to pri- son and that exposure accelerated his death.—The jury found that death was accelerated by exposure, and Mr. Palmer and the bailiff's were committed for trial, bail being accepted. ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERY. —At the Accrington petty sessions, on Thursday, a young woman, named Nancv Jane Booth, was, along with Henry Keating, a young Irishman, charged with stealing .£25 and quantity of wearing apparel. Booth was formerly a lodger with a Miss Stevenson, a shopkeeper at Oswaldtwistle, near Accrington, and Keating for some time past has paid his addresses to her. A few days ago Miss Stevenson missed the key of her money drawer. She questioned Booth about it, but she denied having seen the key. On Mon day she left for Blackburn, at which place, she told Miss Stevenson, it was her intention to purchase a wedd- ing dress. Keating disappeared at the same time, and suspicion being aroused, the drawer was searched, and £ 25 found missing. The police traced the movements of both prisoners, and on the fol- lowing day they were apprehended on board the Parthia, bound for Boston. The prisoners had taken out tickets in the name of Henry and Nancy Jane Keating. They alleged that the money had been saved up, and that, on being short, they had pawned some clothing at Liverpool. The key of the money drawer and some property of Miss Stevenson's was found in Henry Keating's box. g-The prisoners were remanded for a week.

MULTUM IN PARYO. Sir Francis and Lady Lycett have left Cliftonville Hotel, Margate, for Brighton. The King of Siam, after his visit to India, pro- ceeds, we believe, to Europe. It is stated that the judgement in the Bennet case may be expected in a fortnight. Two blocks of houses for working classes in Florence have been destroyed by fire. Mr. Denisen, the Speaker of the House of Com- mons, will take the title of Viscount Ossington. Two constables were attacked and brutally beaten on Sunday night at Kingstown near Dublin. It is rumoured that Government will probably grant a pardon to both Ameer Khan and Tobaruck AJi. Major Sladen has been appointed by the Viceroy to accompany the King of Siam on his tour in India. We understand that the Hon. Sir M. R. West- ropp, Chief Justice of Bombay, proceeds to England in March next Mr. Roundell, of Merton College, Oxford, will, it is reported, be the secretary of the new Universi- ties Commission. The Earl and Countess of Wilton have left their residence in Grosvenor-square for Egerton Lodge, Melton Mowbray. The Broad Arrow states that a Royal Commis- sion to inquire into the working of the admiralty will shortly be appointed. The Eroad Arrow states that a Royal Commission to inquire into the working of the Admiralty sys- tem will shortly be appointed. The regiments which lately revolted at Goa have been disbanded without pay, and their officers will so n be tried by courts-martial. Twenty European vagrants were deported by the Government of Bombay by the steamship Euro- pean, which sailed for Liverpool. The Bombay Association intends to send some native gentlemen to England to give evidence be- fore the Indian Finance Committee. Vice-Chancellor Malins on Monday made an order for continuing the voluntary winding-up of the British Nation Assurance Company. Sir Richard M'Donnell will be succeeded as Governor of Hongkong by Sir Arthur Kennedy, now Governor of the West African settlements. Three Parsee students of the Elphinstone College intend to proceed to England in March, with the object of passing the Civil Service examination. The lectures on tactics ordered to be given weekly by the garrison instructors at the various stations have, says the Times, been for the present sus- pended. A blacksmith named Smith was remanded by the Liverpool magistrates on Monday, on a charge ot causing the death of a man named Bowen by stabbing him. King George of Greece has been invested with the Order of the Golden Fleece, by Senor Gaspar, S panish Vice-Cons ul at Athens, who is a well-known, dramatic author. A dinner was given on Saturday night to Sir R. Collier, on his elevation to the bench, by a number of his former colleagues at the Bar. The Attorney General presided. Vice Chancellor Malins on Monday appointed the liquidators of the European Assurance Company. Mr. Low, Mr. Patterson, and Mr. Bunion are to be pet manent liquidators. Au evening contemporary contradicts the rumour th at Lord Westbury will bring forward the ques- tion of Sir R. Collier's appointment. This task will prot ably be left to Lord Cairns. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli, as leader of the Opposition, has issued invitations to dinner to a lurge party of the members of the House of Com- mons for Monday, the 5th February. Mr. Sheridan addressed his constituents at Dudley oruMondav night. He expressed himself favourable to an alteration of the Education Act; and at Bury Mr. Philips, M.P., expressed the same opinion. It is stated that the Victoria and Albert yacht is being got ready to convey the Prince of Wales to Madeira and the Mediterranean, in April, if he is well enough to undertake the voyage then. It is stated that nearly 150 of the electors of Tralee have signed a requisition to the O'Donoghue to resign his seat. The movement is prompted by the Home Rule party. The constituency number 263. A Committee of the ladies of Brussels has opened a subscription for the purpose of purchasing a palace in that place, with a view to offering an asylum to the Pope in case he sees fit to leave Rome. A very large congregation assembled in West- minister Abbey on Sunday morning, when a sermon on behalf of the Abbey Pension Fund was preached bv Dean Stanley from the passage, "Let there be light." The Galway election will take place next Monday the candidates being Captain Trench, who has been selected by the landowners of the county, and Captain Nolan, who is put forward by the Catholic priests. The Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the steamer Alfred Elgrande on the coast of Jutland was concluded on Saturday, at Sunder- land. The master's certificate was suspended for three-months. Earl Granville, as Ministerial leader in the House of Lords, will give a full-dress parliamentary din- ner on Monday next, at his residence in Brook- street, to a large party of peers belonging to the Liberal party. Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial-office from the Governors of the West India Islands, Malta, and the West African Settle- ments. Despatches were sent to the Governor- General of Canada. Even the Mussulmans are now commencing to educate their girls in Bombay. The Khoja divi- sion has the honour of taking the first step in this direction, a school for Khoja girls having been opened a short time ago. It is said that a proposal has been laid before the Government of the Nizam for the construction of two new lines of railway—one of 227 miles, from Hyderabad to Chanda, and another of 178 miles, from Warrangal to Masulipatam. The vacant lieutenants naval pensions of X50 a year have been awarded to retired Commander Warre S. Bradley, vice Commander A. T. Mason, deceased and retired Commander J. Irwin, vice Commander J. Hewitt, deceased. The large building known as Grosvenor Man- sions, situate in Victoria-street, Westminster let out in suites of chambers, &c., producing a rental of about £ 2,000 per annum, has been sold by auc- tion. realipinsr the sum of £ 49.700. In the Vice-Chancellor's Court, on Saturday, it was ruled that certain deeds executed by a man named Gill, immediately before his trial for murder, was ruled that certain deeds executed by a man named Gill, immediately before his trial for murder, were invalid, inasmuch, as they were meant for the purpose of avoiding the consequences of a convic- tion for felony. IRISH MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNMENT.-At a meeting, on Monday, on the subject of Catholic education at Cork, the Roman Catholic Bishop presiding, Mr. Maguire, M.P.,andMr. Murphy, M.P., declared that if the education scheme were not carried out the Irish members had power to upset any government. A meeting of the Judicature Commission was held on Friday, at the Palace Hotel, Westminster. Present—The Lord Chancellor, the Right Hon. H. C. E. Childers, M.P., the Right Hon. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., Mr. Baron Bramwell, Justice Blackburn, Justice Quain, Sir Roundell Palmer, Q.C., M.P., Mr. Rothery, Mr. Moffat, Mr. Hollams, and Mr. Bradshaw, the secretary. BANK NOTES AND GOLD FOUND.-A waiter at Ha xwell's Hotel, Strand, in going to his work on Saturday morning, at a very early hour picked up a bag containing gold and notes to a very large amount. He immediately gave notice to the police and advertised the money lost at his own expense. Some time ago he found.220, and for reward re-. chived sixnenoe. The Government of India is said by a correspon- dent of the Agra paper to be negotiating with Ma- harajah Sindva for the exchange of Neemuch. Said Effendi is translating into Turkish an elementary treatise on Astronomy, for the use of Turkish skippers and mates, who are to be subjected to examination. The great Commentary on Mussulman and Turkish "Law, by Ahmed Jeudet Pasha, has now reached its fifth volume and a work in French on the Ottoman codes is about to appear, 'Recuel des Codes' &c., edited by Demetrius Nicolaides. M. Nicolaides has, it appears, already successfully •^TiV>KcVmd tho onlWHrm in "Romaic. UERMAN PRESERVED BEEF. — Although the public is becoming quite familiarised with Aus- tralian preserved meat, and the consumption of this food is increasing to a most material extent, the importation of preserved beef from Germany is a decided novelty. At the public sales on Tuesday, a large quantity of this beef was offered for sale, but it did not seem to find favour with buyers, and was nearly all withdrawn; 1,011 tins, each contain- in <r lilb of meat, were, however, disposed of, the price being 5d. per lb.—Grocer. James Hackett, a well-known American actor, has died, in his seventy-second year. He was of Irish descent, and claimed the style of Baron Hackett, of Hackettstoun, county Carlow, Ireland. Brought up to the law, he turned to the stage soon after his marriage with Miss Sugg, an actress. His Sir Pertinax Macsycophant was much praised. The fame of this and of other characters was swallowed up, however, by that he obtained in Falstaff. This part be first played in 1831, in Philadelphia, at the request of Charles Kean, who himself enacted Hot- spur. Since that time it has remained a favourite with the public, and has been considered one of the best representations American talent has given. Mr. Hackett often attempted theatrical manage- ment, but generally without success. ROSSINI'S COMPOSITIONS.—Mdme. Rossini has commenced a very remarkable action against a gentleman from whom she claims 50,000 francs damages, on the ground of his having sung, or caused to be sung, at one or more private parties, compositions, as yet unpublished, by her late hus- band. M. Michotte, the defendant in the suit, had been intrusted by Mdme. Rossini with a number of new pieces for voice and pianoforte, formally bequeathed to her by the great composer. It was necessary to fit many of the vocal pieces with words; and this task was at M. Michotte's request, under- taken and performed by M. Wilder. During the two sieges of Paris M. Michotte, with Rossini's last productions in his possession, was in Belguim and at Louvain, and elsewhere, he committed the off en ces charged against him by Rossini's widow. M. Michotte does not deny the allegation; but he pleads that, so far from deprecating the pieces confided tc him by introducing a few of them to the notice of connoisseurs at musical parties, he by that very course increased their saleable value. Of late years, he argues, what little Rossini did produce was not thought worthy of him by his admirers whereas the last composition are in his best style — a fact with which it was desirable that the musical world should bejnade acquainted. The case was to have been tried at Brussels last week, but the hearing has been postponed, and it is hoped that the affair may yet be settled.-Pall Mall Gazette. RARE CHINESE ENAMELS.—A valuable collection of Chinese enamels, recently received from China, was disposed of on Wednesday at the rooms of Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods, in King- street, St. James's. Among the more important specimens were the subjoined:—54. A pair of bottles, with ornaments in colours on blackground, and circular medallions of animals 30 guineas (Green). 59. A pair of cylindrical bottles, with flowers and birds in colours on turquoise grounds: 37 guineas (Grindlay). 63. A pair of crimson jars and covers, with birds and flowers in colours; 30 guineas (Wareham). 69i A fine incense burner cover and square stand, with flowers and ornaments on black ground, with handles formed as birds, of chased metal gilt; 60 guineas (Durlacher). 72. A pair of cylindrical bottles, with ornaments in colours on white ground, 16iin high; 32 guineas (Longrette). 74. A pair of crimson bottles, with birds, animals, and landscapes in colours, 19in high; 34i guineas (Watson). 77. A pair of very fine large circular dishes, with utensils and ornaments on laveuder ground, and medallions of birds on crimson ground, 22 £ in. in diameter; 65 guineas (Ware- ham). 78. A pair of cylindrical bottles, with ornaments in colours on turquoise ground, lfijin. high 35 guineas '(Boore). 79. A pair of crimson bottles, with coloured ornaments, 17in. high; 30 guineas (Boore). 80. A pair of turquoise cisterns, with fish and aquatic plants in colours, 15!in. diameter; 38 guineas (B. Benjamin). 83. A pair of very fine bottles, crimson ground, with gilt trellis ornaments, and birds, flowers, and in- sects in colours, 22in. high; 120 gunieas (Boore). 84. A pair of large turquoise bottles, with a quatic plants, flowers, and birds in colours, 29in. high 69 guineas. (D. Montigny). 85. A pair of fine crimson bottles, with ornaments in colours; 60 guineas. (B. Benjamin.) 86. A pair of vases, with flowers in colours on pale green ground, and medallions of ornaments on deep blue ground, 28in high; 52 guineas. (Longrette). 87. A pair of beautiful small-necked bottles, with fish in brilli lnt colours, 24in. high; 69 guineas. (Wareham.) 88. A pair of magnificent gourd-shaped bottles and stoppers, with plants, flowers, and fruits in colours, on crimson ground, 44in. high; .£163 10s. (B. Ben- jamin.) 89. A pair of elephants, of white enamel, with trappings and vases of coloured enamel; 57 guineas. (Longrette.) 90. A pair of very hand- some jars and covers, with mask handles turquoise ground, with fish and aquatic plants in brilliant colours, and with dragons and ornaments on crim- son ground; 165 guineas (Nixon and Rhodes), A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.-An Australian paper, the Hampden Guardian, on the 1st of December, has the following narrative:—" One day about the middle of October, one Ryan, who lives on a lonely part of the coast line between the Gellibrand river and Cape Otway, was fishing from some rocks on the coast in the vicinity of his house. While engaged in this occupation a large roller came in and washed him from his standing place, and carried him out to sea. Ryan, who is a strong man and a powerful swimmer, thought nothing of this, although he was at the time encumbered with a heavy top coat and boots, but a succeeding roller, which should have brought him back to land, threw him among the rocks and broke his leg, and when again carried out to sea he had no power in the leg. He struggled in the water for his life for a long time, until one roller larger than the rest carried him right in shore, and lodged him on a ledge in the cliff. After lying there some time he managed to drag himself from his perilous position and reach his hut on the top of the cliff. Once there he went to work to set his leg and bandage it up in the best way he could, and he so far succeeded as to make what h e considered a temporary reduction. The leg was badly broken-the bone protruding-and a consi- derablej loss of blood ensued, a circumstance to which Ryan attributes the fact that the wounded limb did not mortify. For 32 long days he lay in his hut with his broken limb, crawling out to Ae garden occasionally to procure a few turnips and potatoes with which to satisfy the cravings of hun- ger. At last he determined to endeavour to reach some of the neighbours and obtain assistance, and he started off on his difficult journey to crawl the whole way over rocks and through heath and scrub. On the first day he dragged himself on his side about six miles, and layout all that night; the next day he got about two miles further, and managed to reach the track along the cliffs. For- tunately for the poor fellow, he had not been very long on the track when he was overtaken by two travellers from the Cape Otway sta- tion, proceeding to Warrnambool. These two friends in need '—a Mr. Howard and his son—at once placing him on one of their horses, carried him to Mr. Gibson's station, where his wants were attended to, and where he now lies awaiting the departure of the wool drays to be conveyed up to Camperdown. Had Ryan not been found by the Howards, it is more than probable that in his ex- hausted state he could not possibly have survived that night, as the coast was visited by one of the most violent thunder-storms experienced in that locality. He is now in a fair way of recovery, so far as unprofessional men can judge. So long as tIe wild country on the coast is only thinly popu- lated, these records of suffering and privation are liable to crop up every now and then, and some such accidents may happen of which no living man may survive to tell the tale." The V.scount De San Januirio, ex-(ioverfior- General of Goa, has been appointed Minister Pleni- potentiary of the Portuguese Government at the O/vnT+i of BELGIAN COURTESY.—Mr. Richard Lewis, of the Western Circuit, the secretary of the National Life- boat Institution, has just been appointed honorary member of the Societe Royale et CentrMe des Sauveteurs de Belgidue, of which the King of the Belgians is president. The mark of honour is ac- companied by a diploma of membership, with the riband and gold medal, in token of the high respect aud esteem entertained for Mr. Lewis in Belgium. There exists in Belgium a society called the Libre-Pensee," whose avowed object it is to up- root religion from modern society. It has just published its annual report, and from that docu- ment we learn that the members consider their cause to be making satisfactory progress. They say that the number of civil funerals—that is, funerals without religious rites-was last year double that of the year previous; and of the persons civilly" interred one-half were women. Civil marri-iges, too, they say, are becoming the rule. The Free Thinkers declare that no compromise is any longer possible between the old ideas and the new; men must be for the Church or against it. MR. BRADLAUGH AND THE INTERNATIONAL.—A long and angry correspondence has taken place between Mr. Bradlaugh and Dr. Marx, Mr. Hales, and M. Serrallier, of the International Council, the three latter charging the former with being a traitor and associating with avowed Bonapartist journa- lists. In his last letter Mr. Bradlaugh says:—" I offer to submit the whole question between myself and Dr. Marx and the International to a council of honour, before whom I undertake to reasonably justify all I have written concerning Dr. Marx and the society." M. Serrallier concludes his last letter as follows :—" I do not glory in any acquaintance with Mr. Bradlaugb, but I have met him in a London French Free-thinking Masonic Lodge, which lodge Mr. Bradlaugh forsook in order to seek admission into an English ledge, where belief in God is compulsory." EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION OF MURDER.—The Gazette of Naples publishes details of a tragedy on hoard the corvette Vittor Pisani. A murder had been committed onboard, but the criminal had not been discovered. Captain Lovera di Maria called all the men'on deck, and after questioning them one by one, without result, he announced that he legretted to be obliged to have recourse to an ex- treme measure prescribed by the code for vessels at sea. The names of the crew were put into an urn and drawn; the 10th was ordered aft, his eyes were bandaged and a firing party drawn up for execution. The commander was about to give the order to fire, when a seaman, a native of Sardinia, stepped forward and confessed the crime. A drum- head court-martial was at once formed, and the murderer was condemned to death and shot in- stanter. Six others, who were proved to have been accomplices, were sentenced to 10 years' imprison- ment and kept in irons in the hold. A LETTER FROM THE PRIKCESS ROYAL.—The Allgem ine Ztitung publishes the following letter of the Crown Princess of Germany to Klaus Groth, the author: —" I have recieved with great joy the second volume of the 'Quickborn,' which you have had the goodness to eend to me. I love the beautiful language, full of power and graceful- ness, which you command with such complete mastery, and which, like almost no other, represents vl the living and working, the thinking and feeling, of our people in their full truthfulness and natural- ness. With the many-coloured change of grave and gay pictures with which you attract and delight the reader, you know everywhere how to preserve the pure moral feeling which lives deeply in the consciousness of the German people, and which the poet above all cannot wound with impu- nity. The applause which you have found far beyond the limits of your special home shows better than I can express how your I Quickborn I has indeed become a source of refreshment and comfort for every mind and every heart. If your poems impress themselves easily on the memory through their depth of sentiment and frequently touching simplicity of form, so have the homely i short expressions of the platt deutiche language a quite peculiar charm and capability of doing justice to every mood of our heart (G. muth). As the freshness and the wholesome humour of your poetry carry one on irresistibly, so strikes the soft breath of melancholy, which it frequently shows, directly into the heart, and evokes many a tear.— VICTORIA, Crown Princess." DREADFUL MURDER IN MILAN.-Milan has been startled by the discovery of a horrible crime. A certain Agnoletti, of Ferrara, who had formerly held a commission in the Italian army, took to wife, about four years ago, a Milanese lady, named Theresa de Capitani darzago. Both husband and wife had been accustomed to move in high sreiety, j and Agnoletti was well known both in M ian and Florence, between which cities he divided his time, living the gay, listless life of an Italian patrician. The marriage was an unhappy one, and at the end of a year a separation took place by mutual con- sent, the wife returning to her friends and the husband to his life of pleasure. It was, however, stipulated, that Agnoletti should have free access whenever he desired it, to the child to which Theresa had given bii th. Nothing for some years was heard of the husband, and Theresa had in the meantime taken steps to procure — not a divorce, for this is impossible in Italy-but a legal separa- tion which should shield her from all further annoyance. The formalities were just concluded when Agnoletti unexpectedly reappeared in Milan, and asked to see his child. The little boy was sent, in charge of a nursery governess, to the inn where A gnoletti was staying, and received by the father with every outward token of passionate affection. Agnoletti then found means of getting rid of the po/erness, who left the two alone together for some time. On her return both father and child bad disappeared. Some time later in the day Theresa received a note in her husband's handwriting, to the effect that the child would share his father's fate." All attempts to track Agnoletti have hither- to been fruitless, but the body of the child was discovered some days afterwards in the canal. It had apparently been strangled and then thrown into the water. PRISON MADE EASY.-H Gentlemen" awaiting their trial for murder at New York seem to have uncommonly easy times of it. At all events, they suffer from none of the inconveniences of which the Brighton prisoner, Christiana Edmunds, so bit- terly complained on her removal from Lewes Gaol to Newgate. Of Mr." Stokes, who shot Fisk, for instance, we read that "his cell has been most handsomely fitted up," that a new spring mat- tress and bed-clothing" have been substituted "for the coarse prison articles that the apartment is "richly carpeted;" that its walls are "prettily papered and hung with fine pictures," and that, in fact it now looks more like a lady's boudier than a cell in the Tombs" the Tombs" being the name by which the common prison of New York is known. Moreover, H Mr." Stokes is "in- terviewed" by representatives of the New York Piess and holds levees of his friends. The first thing "Mi." Stokes does in the morning is to "get up," and partially make his toilet." Then he partakes in solitude"-though how he can "par- take when only himself is present is a mystery- of a recherche breakfast; after which he peruses the morning papers" with evident interest, a smile or a frown playing over his features according as p I the news is appreciated or disliked by him. The papers done with, he is waited upon by a friseur, who shaves, combs, and curls" him, and next ap- pears his valet, who completes his toilet. After this the newspaper interviewers" are admitted, and are privileged to hear how the great man spent the night. Photographers and artistes from illustrated papers follow, and the business of the day being thus got through, a general levee is held of Mr. Stokes' personal friends, and "even of stran- gers, who enjoy the privilege of presentation." Dinner and a quiet hand at euchre in the even- ing" complete the round of the day's enjoyment. With all this, however, we learn that Mr. Stokes, though maintaining his composure outwardly," is troubled at intervals with slight moodiness and uneasiness." And no wonder, for though we are told that the tone of the market in regard to him still remains buoyant," it is added in the same breath that bets of only a 100 dollars to 50 are freely taken" that he will not, after all, "needthe services of the sheriff." Where the odds on a man's escaping from the gallows are only two to one in his favour, it is hardly surprising that he should be occasionally "moody."—The Grcuohie. IJEATH OF ADMIRAL GAMBIER.— Admiral Koberfr Gambier died at his town residence on Friday morning, aged 81. He was nephew of Admiral Lord Gambier, G.C.B., and brother of Admiral Gt or^e C. Gambier he entered the navy in August, 1804, and as midshipman of the Diadem, 64, Commodore Sir Home Popham, was at the reduction of the Cape, Buenos Ayres, and Maldonado in 1806, and served in the Surveillante, Captain Sir George Ralph Collier, at the fall of Copenhagen, in September, 1807, and while in the same ship assisted at the capture of Le Milane, French national corvette of 18 guns,Joff Ushant, in October, 1809. Admiral Gambier accepted retirement 1st October, 1866. His commissions bore date as follows Lieutenant, 5th September, 1810; commander, 30tb September, 1812; captain, 7th June, 1814; rear-admiral (re- tired), September, 1849; vice-admiral, 21st October, 1866; and admiral, 15th January, 1862. THE SPRING CIRCUITS OF THE JUDGES. — The days for holding the following circuits have been fixed:-Home (the Lord Chief Justice of England and Lord Chief Justice Bovill) Hertford, Monday, March 4; Chelmsford, Thursday, March 7; Maid- stone, Monday, March 11; Lewes, Monday, March 18; Kingston, Monday, March 25. Norfolk (the Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Justice Blackburn)— Oakham, Wednesday, February 28, Leicester, Thursday, February 29 Northampton, Monday, March 4; Aylesbury, Thursday, March 7 Bedford, Monday, March 11; Huntingdon, Thursday, March 14 Cambridge, Saturday, March 16 Norwich, Thursday, March 21; Ipswich, Wednesday,March 27, South Wales, (Mr. Justice Grove)—Haverfordwest< Monday, February 26; Cardigan, Thursday, Febru- ary 29 Carmarthen, Monday, March 4; Swansea, Saturday, March 9; Brecon, Friday, March 22; Presteign, Wednesday, March 27; Chester, Satur- day, March 30. EXPORTS OF STEEL.-There has been a gradual increase in the exports of un wrought steel of late years. In 1869 the exports reached 33,560 tons, in 1870 they increaaed to = £ 34,962 tons, and last year there was a further advance of 39,170 tons. The year also closed favourably, the exports of December having reached 3,386 tons, against 2,943 tons in December, 1870, and 2,508 tons in the correspond- ing month of 1869. The demand for steel on account of the United States has increased almost in as large a proportion as the demand for iron, the exports of unwrought steel to the States last year having been 21,157 tons, as compared with 17,787 tons in 1870, and 16,676 tons in 1869. The v: 'ue of the unwrought steel exported from the United Kingdom in December amounted to .£104,157, against .£89,896 in December, 1870, and .£74,Ð85 in December, 1869, and for the whole of 1871 to .£1,199,107, as compared with .£1,103,936 in 1870, and £1,040,707 in 1869. THE NEW POSTAL TELEGRAPH CARDS. — On and after the 5th February, 1872, the Post-officea are to issue for public use postal telegraph cards bearing a shilling stamp, for the accommodation of those for whom it will be more convenient to de- posit the card in the nearest pillar, letter, or other post-office letter-box, than to send a message to the nearest telegraph station. The telegraph cards will be taken from the boxes along with the other con- tents at the regular collecting perieds, which are always specified on the table on or over the box; and on the arrival of a collection at the proper office, the telegraph cards will be at once picked out and handed over to the telegraph counter clerk, who will deal with them in the ordinary course, obliterating the stamp. No postage is charged, the shilling stamp covering that, and also franking the message on the card to the same privileges as are granted to messages handed in to offices in the or- dinary way. These cards will obviously be a great convenience in many cases where great urgency is not desiderated. SHOCKING TREATMENT OF LUNATICS.-Consi.. derable excitement has been caused in Belgium by some disclosures recently made of the treatment to which the inmates of a lunatic asylum at Evere, near Brussels, have been subjected. Upon the the authorities unexpectedly paying the establish- ment a visit some time ago, they found that the patients were badly fed, ill clothed, and suffering from cold. Two had had their feet frozen; ampu- tation was resorted to; and death followed. On the register of the asylum, however, it was merely stated they had died from illness. The Govern- ment gave orders that the place should be closed. Before the order was executed a patient, who, al- though insane, had been made a warder, killed one of the lunatics confined in the establishment, and severely injured another. Since then another patient, an old man of eighty, who had previously been overlooked, has been discovered in a hidden cell in a terrible state of neglect. His feet bad also been frozen, and bad been amputated. It was to pre- vent his true condition from becomincr known that he was carefully secreted in this cell, i he existence which was known to only one warder. The Brussels correspondent of the Paris Tem^s, who gives an account of these shocking occurrences, says that the unfortunate old man is a Frenchman, formerly in business in Paris; that he speaks English, Italian, and Spanish, and is named Therizod. REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE VACCINATION AC IS.—Mr. A. Emery, of Great Portland street, London, has been prosecuted in tho Maiylebone police court, for having neglected and refused to comply with an order for the vaccination of big child made on the 23rd of December.—The defend- ant said he had in his pocket a coroner's certificate to prove that one of his children had died from the effects of vaccination. In a long speech he repeated the objections on general grounds usually urged by the opponents of vaccination.—Mr. Mansfield, the magistrate, said the defendant's child might have died in consequence of being vaccinated when in an unfit state of health to bear the effects of the virus. While himself approving vaccination, he could sympathise with the feelings of the defend- ant as a father, but his duty was simply to ad- minister the law. The defendant would have to pay a fine of 20s and costs.—At the same court, John Charles Howes appeared in answer to a summons charging him with refusing to allow lymph to be taken from his child, who had been success- fully vaccinated by the public vaccinator for the district.—The defendant, in answer to the charge, said his wife's sister's child was vaccinated, lymph was taken from the arm, and the child hadnever been well since.—Mr. Mansfield said that as the defend- ant would have to pay the fee of 10s for the doctor's attendance and 2s for the summons, the fine would be reduced to a nominal penalty of Is. COLONIAL POSTAGE.—A Treasury Warrant directs that on the 1st of April the following changes shall be made in the rates of postage on British and colonial letters :-Letters posted in the United Kingdom for Bermuda, or in Bermuda for the United Kingdom direct, or via Halifax by British or colonial packet boat, will be charged, if not ex- ceeding one half of an ounce in weight, 6d. if ex- ceeding one half of an ounce in weight, for the first half of an ounce and for every additional half of an ounce or fractional part of half of an ounce, 6d. For letters posted in Bermuda or any British colony (except Bermuda), or any foreign country, and letters posted in any British colony (except Ber- muda), or any foreign country for Bermuda, via the United Kingdom, the conveyance between Ber* muda and the United Kingdom being direct, or via, Halifax by British or colonial packet b at, if not exceeding one half of an ounce in weight, the charge to be sixpence; if exceeding one half of an ounce in weight, for the first half of an ounce, and for every additional half of an ounce or Iractional part of half of an ounce, sixpence and, in addition, the rate or rates of postage (less the British inland rate or rates) for the time being pay- able for the transmission of a letter of like weight posted in the United Kingdom, addressed to any British colony (except Bermuda), or any foreign country, or posted in any British colony (except. Bermuda), or any foreign country, addressed to the United Kingdom. For letters posted in Nova. Scotia for Bermuda, or in Bermuda for Nova Sc itia, by British packet boat, if not exceeding one half of an ounce in weight, the charge to be 3d. if exceed- ing one half of an ounce in weight, for the first half of an ounce and for every additional half of an ounce, or fractional part of an ounce, 3d. Letters chargeable under this Warrant to be prepaid, or, if not prepaid, to be charged with the postage at the prepaid rate (but giving credit for any postage which may have been paid thereon), together with an additional rate of postage of 6d. The privileges enjoyed by seamen, soldiers, and others employed in Her Majesty's service not to be affected by this Warrant. i