Monmouthshire Merlin

-r- JODEP11 RODGKRS & SONS. Cutlers to the Queen. g IVORY TABLE KNIVES. a Z IVOEY DESSERT KNIVES. | 3 IVORY CARVERS. 3 < m £ ELECTKO PLATED FORKS. 3 ELECTRO PLATED SPOONS. 5 SOLE A3ENTS MESS IIS. \V. A. B AKER & CO. I [17,800

TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are unable to find room for the V olimte>-r appoint- ments.

THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. ALTHOUGH Parliament assembled on Thursday, the day for which it was convoked by HCCR MAJESTY, yet under the circumstances in which the new Administration are placed, the meeting1 was necessarily of a formal nature. The members of the Cabinet who have seats in the House of Commons are obliged, by the requirements of the law, to go back to their constituents for re-election. This renders adjournment for some days unavoidable, and practically annihilates the pre-Easter portion of the Session of 1874, as it will be impossible to dd any bar, the formal business which must be atn-mh d to. The unanimous re-election of Mr. Ii!U\;s.>, however, as Speaker, is gratifying, and will command the general approval of the Conservatives—for although he is a pronounced Liberal in politics, and was elected by the late Liberal majority, yet lie has discharged the duties of the Speakership with such dignity, efficiency, and impartiality that a desire prevailed amongst both parties to retain him in the position. It would be an unfortunate tiling if this office should be re- garded as a reward of party service, to be filled by a partizan. Hence we were not surprised at Mr. DISUAELT'S continuing Mr. GLADSTONE'S Speaker in office; but the action is not the less generous and graceful. Those—d{adieals especially—who have been looking forward with so much anxiety fur the Royal Message, as the expected development of Mr. Disn.\ELi's "policy," will have to re- strain their anxiety for about a fortnight. But it may be as well to warn them that it will be wise to moderate their expectations. Mr. GLADSTONE, by his extraordinary course in dissolving Parliament at the time and in the way he did, rendered it practically impossible, in the event of an unfavourable response to his appeal, for his successor to be prepared with any large or elaborate proposals of legislation. Such proposals ought not to be introduced by any responsible Minister without adequate deliberation; and if the Session of 187-1, which will practically commence at Easter, prove unfruitful in legislation, the responsibility must be laid on the late PREMIER exclusively. If he had dissolved Parliament in October, which he might httve done quite as well as in January, the country would have had the op- portunity of deliberately selecting their repre- sentatives, and the new Ministers would have been afforded the means of maturing their b plans and preparing well-considered measures but this would not have suited either personal or party objects. But although, for the reasons we have stated, we cannot expect the Session to be fruitful in .new laws, yet we have no apprehension that it will be wasted. The country may be assured that the new Ministry will do whatever may be possible in the way of retrieving lost time.

THE TICHBORNE TRIAL. WE devote a considerable portion of our space this week to a description of the last scene of the TICHBORXE drama—the conviction, sen- tencing, and lodgment in Newgate of the man who for seven years has figured more conspi- cuously than any other before the public. We have been in the habit of describing him as "the i daimant," but the jury have pro- nounced him to be AlnmJR ORTON. What the result of the case would be has not been in doubt since the LORD CHTKF JUSTICE com- menced his charge to the Jury-a singularly n luminous analysis of the evidence, and expo- sition of the facts, but partaking perceptibly of the character of an argument. It is diffi- cult to discover upon what ground an investi- gation lasting for more than ten months, in- cluding the testimony—highly conflicting--of five hundred witnesses, and requiring, more- over, no less than an entire month's elucidation from the presiding judge, should have been characterised as a case so clear that none but fools and fanatics" could entertain any doubt respecting it. We allege no objection to the verdict. We have no sympathy, in a simply personal sense, with a man so morally degraded as the Claimant has proved himself to be; and we have too much confidence in and honour for the institution of trial by jury to impugn the decision of the twelve men who, with remarkable intelligence and industry, weighed the issues in the case and pronounced upon them. But this much we must say, that to set aside as resulting from mistake the evidence as to personal identity ofiered by witnesses whose integrity could not be ques- tioned, was a very grave matter. The theory of the prosecution that a large number of in- telligent men and women were mistaken on such a point, rudely shakes some of the estab- /s e(^ canons of the law of evidence. Per- aps not the least of the many unhappy results from this trial will be the scepticism 1 as to evidence of identity—for *■ 1 ,eTer both sides of a case seemed thismemorlwe^^n^P60'' waS'lon° IS memorable ance. character i'edl,ad fo^'somo"' su,teinf ;n -i s°rne years assumed, and in tiie crucial moment nf i maintained tlie imperturbable csSnmess andsclf- Enfnththat di?tinRnish6d him from'the outset or the prceedincs. A, i, v j his sentence, and wa/bnrritd gate, he betrayed not a sign of nervousness or even discomposure, and at the moment that his fate wns sealed and that he saw the obiect for which he had dared so much placed beyond his reach, there was no quiver on his lip or blanching on his cheek. Whatever be his moral obliquities or his mental defects, he at least affords a singular illustration of dogged resolution in adhering to a purpose under cir- ZD cumstances the most adverse, and difficulties the most trying. It is stated, we do not know tow correctly, that measures are to be taken before the Court of Queen's Bench and the House of Lords for setting aside the verdict and obtaining a new trial but whether or not the technicalities on which the application may be grounded are likely to be deemed suffi- cient, we are not competent to jadge. Apart altogether from the personal aspect of the TLCHBOR-NII trial, there are other views of the case affecting the general interests of the public which ought not to be overlooked. How, for example, has it borne upon the Press ? During the ten weary months of its continu- ance the leading journals of the country had nearly a fourth of their space occupied with reports of the proceedings in the Courts of Law. But while they thus furnished food I for comment, which was eagerly seized by people of high and low estate alike, these jour- nalists were prohibited, under the power of the I Court, from offering one word of comment themselves. Is it reasonable that a subject fit I to be reported, and respecting which the whole country, divided into hostile camps, were en- gaged in a perpetual controversy, should be withdrawn from the criticism of the Press F Nay, is it not likely that if the proceedings Lad been subjected to sober and rational remark by the Press, it would have helped to rectify public opinion, and tended to prevent the un- fortunate condition of affairs which now undoubtedly exists P That the conviction of the CLAIMANT is against th" opinion of a large body of the people of this country, is scarcely questionable. The wretched controversy that lias been maintained for many months in tho Clubs and iu bar-rooms, in mansions and in hovels, has, it may be feared, not deepened public respect for our highest Courts of crimi- nal procedure Would not public sentiment have been kept within bounds of moderation and reason by the temperate teaching of tht Press ? Another question that has been brought prominently under notice by the great trial, is the duty of counsel in defending clients under a criminal charge. Dr. KE^KALY,—whose speech, as affording an example of literary research, whatever may be its faults of temper or of taste, has been rarely equalled at the English bar—has been censured by the presiding Judges and by the Press, with unprecedented severity, for the vehemence of his attacks upon the witnesses opposed to him, and for his defi- ant and disrespectful hearing to wards tho Bench. With respect to the first of these-it will be a dangerous thing to attempt to make zeal for a client a crime in an advocate and if Dr. KE- NEALY exceeded the licence permitted by usage to a man pleading for another, he assuredly ought to have been at the time restrained..But the authorities recognised by the British law impose a very great obligation upon the advo- cate who undertakes the defence of an accused rr.an, and we do not remember that a case of excessive zeal has ever yet been punished in the way that it has been seriously proposed to punish Dr. KENEALY,—vie., by disbarring him. j It will be remembered that in the case of CoiJiivoisiER, the murderer of Lord WILLIAM ] RESELL, many years :ago, Mr. PIIILMPS, at that time among the most eloquent crimi- nal "lawyers at the bar, far exceeded Dr. KENEALY in the zeal he exhibited for his client —for, with the knowledge of his guilt, he made a solemn avowal of his assurance of his client1 s innocence. Yet Mr. PHILLIPS, although gravely censured, was not disbarred. The punishment inflicted upon him was the loss of professional advancement, and instead of being eleval-ed to the Bench, he was thrown into obscurity by an appointment to a Bankruptcy Judgship Yet his offence was a hundred times greater than that charged against Dr. KENEALY. We honour and are proud of the dignity with which the administrators of the law are surrounded in this country, and we disapproved the mien and attitude of Dr. KENEALY towards the Bench on frequent occa- sions. But here, again, we cannot help think- ing that the Judges would best maintain their dignity, and best uphold the majesty of the law by imperatively prohibiting the use of any language calculated to bring either the one or the other into contempt. The unhappy colli- sions between the presiding Judge and the Counsel for the Defendant were among the very unfortunate incidents of this trial, 0 and leave, we suspect, an unfavourable impression i upon the public mind. There is yet another aspect of the TICHUORNE case, more grave and more important thin the indiscretion of the Advocate-it is tho bearing of the Judge. It has been the pride of the administration of British Law, that at least in recent years, evidence has been weighed and sifted with imperturbable coolness by the Judges presiding over our Criminal Courts Now, that the address of the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE of ENGLAND to the Tich borne Jury was, as Mr. Justice MELLOR termed it, "a charge equally distinguished by masterly arrange- ment of the facts, by its perfect accuracy, and by its analytic and synthetic power," no one who has read it can deny. It was a magnifi- In cent exhibition of forensic eloquence, and an argument of crushing power. But it would be impossible to say that it was marked by that calm, impassive quality which would naturally be expected from the highcstof English Judges on the occasion of the most remarkable of English trials. The close of that great charge was a supreme moment in the judicial career of Sir, ALEXANDER COCKBURN. Is the country convinced that he was equal to the occasion? As the Globe well expresses it, "The prosecu- tion, with its inexhaustible resources and un- tiring energy, might be thought to need no assistance from the Bench, and the almost pathetic judicial anxiety for a conviction ex- hibited in the charge was therefore as unneces- sary in itself, as it is certainly most unfortu- nate as a precedent." "Probably, writes an able correspondent of the Daily News, "until Saturday last, the spectacle was unprecedented of a Lord Chief Justice of England, or indeed of any Judge of a Superior Court, almost directly soliciting an expression of approval from the Bar, and being rewarded by a sup- pressed cheer." Yet such was the- closing pas- sage of this memorable charge We wish the Recording Angel could drop a tear on certain unadvised words, and Not them out for ever. But this may not be. Throughout the trial magnificent ability was displayed on all sides, but it was disfigured by the humiliating in- firmity of our nature. So ends the Tichborne trial.

THE ASHANTEE WAR. THE gloomy news which reached us a few days ago of what, with tho light we had on the .1 In subject at the moment, was properly regarded as a serious check to our operations in Ashantee, was happily corrected within eight- eon hours by the more cheerful intelligence, from Sir GARNET WOLSELEY himself, of the occupation of Coomassio and the termination of the war. We have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the telegram that has been received, or the accuracy of the statement that, if only for a day, British troops have been in possession of tho Capital of King KOFFEE CALCALLI. But we hope we may not be mis- understood if we suggest that it is too soon to either count the victory complete, or to calcu- late the gains resulting from it. We are, in the first place, quite in ignorance as to whether the treaty of peace has been as yet signed at all: and if it be, what the guarantees are that it will be observed; nor do we know that no treacherous ambuscade has been planned for the destruction of our retiring troops. The capture of Coomassie itself does not seem to us to mean much. The despatch received on Thursday tells us that Sir GARNET'S little army arrived there on the 4th February, and ex- pected to leave on the 6th, just having pos- session of the place for a clear day. This seems really inexplicable, except we regard the retirement of the troops in the light of a retreat—a retreat, too, which could only be justified by some peril of great magnitude. But even the expectation which Sir GARNET WOLSELEY entertained of thus commencing his coast ward march, appeared to depend entirely on the will of the King, who, says the General under date 5th February, has left the town, but is close by, and says he will pay me a visit to-day to sign the treaty of peace." This reads vaguely, and not like the language of a triumphant conqueror who has humbled his foe and made him sue for mercy. And yet it is just at this point our intelligence stops. The troops which had marched into Coomassio on Wednesday afternoon, were to march out again on Friday morning, provided the King n In fulfilled his promise of calling on General WOLSELY to sign a treaty of peace. We can- not shut onr eyes to the fact that the difficulties in Sir GARNET'S way had been greatly increased. His little force was sadly weakened by the heavy losses he sustained—he had the ad- ditional embarrasment of guarding and caring- for the wounded and the sick, and he had con- vincing proof that the Ashantees were far better soldiers than he had thought. Under such circumstances we shall be glad to hear that the hopes which have been raised are fully realised, and that our gallant little army has returned to the coast, having successfully accomplished its object of securing the sub- mission of the Ashanteas. But for this wo must wait for future advices.

THE COUNTY REPRESENTATION. A distinguished honour has been conferred upon the senior member for Monmouthshire. Lord HENRY SOMERSET has been appointed to the Couiptrollership of Her Majesty's Hotisehold-a distinction upon which we congratulate His Lordship, and which will be re- garded with satisfaction by the county generally. In common with other members who have accepted office under the new regime., Lord HENRY SOMERSET has to seek re-election from his constituency. With this object he h&s issued an address to the electors a copy of which will be found in our fourth page. There Is, we believe, no doubt that His Lordship will secure, withoat opposition, a renewal of the confidence of the constituency. The name of the gentleman who unsuccessfully contested the boroughs last month has been inentie-Ked in connection with the vacancy, but we hear that no thought of opposition has been seri- ously entertained.

Sates Oil Juabtirg (Skuts. THE National Church," the recognised organ of the Church'Defence Institution, and a publication which is exeroising a healthful influence in enlightening and instructing public opinion on the Church question, contains a list in its issue for the present month of the members of the late Parliament who supported the I policy of Mr. Mi ALL—distinguishing those who were not re-elected to the present House. From this list it appears that no fewer than 52 -of the band of Libera- tionists who acknowledged Mr. MIALL as their leader do not now hold seats in Parliament. Soma of them did not dare to face their old constituents at all, and others, who did, were ignominiously defeated. Amongst the missing are Mr. MIALL himself, and his able lieutenant, Mr. ILLINGWORTII Alderman LAW- RENCE, of London Mr. RICHARDS, member for Car- diganshire and Mr. RYLANTD3, who represented Warrington. Mr. EDWARD BAINES lost his seat for Leeds, as did Mr. JACOB BRIGHT for Manchester, and Sir R. R. TORRKNS for Cambridge. These names com- prised the leaders of the party and their ejection from Parliament plainly tells the state of public feeling with regard to this question. But we are re- minded that the defeat of the Liberationiets, while a subject of congratulation, must not be allowed to foster any over-confidence on the part of Churchmen, for already the Nonconformists arc preparing for the battle, and their organs are boldly asserting that the Dissenting vote will be stronger under the Premier- ship of Mr DISRAELI then it was when Mr GLADSTONE 'held the reins of offioe. This we do not think is likely to be the case but it is none the less desirable that Churchmen should be on their guard to meet attacks whenever they may be made. Mr. OSBORN E MORGAN will no doubt introduce his Burials Bill again, and another opportunity for attack will arise when the renewal of the Endowed Schools Act will come up for consideration, as it must do before the session closes. But the just interests of the Church will be zealously I protected by the head of the Government in these Or any other emergencies that may arise. THE annual meeting of the Central Council of the Church Defence Institution was held on the 25th ultimo, at King's College, London, HENRV CECIL RAIKES, Esq., M.P. for Chester, in the chair. The ( annual report was read and adopted. It gave a most encouraging view of the condition of the Institution, and described the considerable extension of the or- ganisation during the year. The financial results were very satisfactory—the revenue for the year 1873 amounting to .JM,791. This stands in significant con- trast to that of 1871, when it only reached £ 761. The Chairman, in an earnest speech, urged upon Churchmen the duty of not relaxing their efforts, but rather to use increased diligence in the formation of branches of the Institution in every town and rural deanery where none at present exist. Of the value of this Institution as an engine for resisting the efforts of Liberationists doubt is no longer possible. THE Royal Bridegroom and his Imperial Bride are speeding their way homeward, and on Saturday are expected to make their landing upon English soil at Gravesend, where they will be received with great demonstrations of rejoicing. The Corporation of that Borough have made very extensive preparations to signalise the occasion. In observance of a very pro- per etiquette, the first visit of the Royal pair will be to HER MAJESTY, and they accordingly will proceed at once to Windsor, where they are expected to arrive early in the afternoon. The QUEEN, with the Princes and Princesses of the Royal Family, are to meet them at the railway terminus, to welcome their arrival—a suitable and expressive token of family affection. The DUKE and DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH have received everywhere, as they travelled homeward, the most cordial reception-a proof not only of personal kind- ness and affection towards the young couple on the part of the great Potentates whose guests they have been, but also of the feelings of amity and respect cherished towards England. Without attaching over- much political importance to these demonstrations, it is at least well that a bond of family relationship should exist to strengthen the entente cordiale which now exists between England and the great Powers. THE returns of the late Census with regard to the numbers engaged as Agricultural labourers" and "Farm servants" in the cultivation of the land, are of some significance, and show what appears to us a very undesirable decline in the amount of industry thus employed. The following table will serve to ex- plain the facts as they appear by the census of the last three decades & 1851. 1861. 1871. Agricultural labourers (out- door 952,997 958,266 798,087 Farm servants (in-door) 288,272 204,961 158,756 1,241,269 1,163,227 956,843 From this it will be seen that notwithstanding the large growth of the population and the immensely increased consumption of agricultural products, the number engaged as labourers in the cultivation of the soil has for the last two decades been steadily de- creasing. Thus, according to the Census of 1861 the number was 78,042 less than in 1851 while the decline in IS71 was still more striking—showing a falling off from the previous decade of no fewer than 206,384. Why is this ? This is a problem that deserves the most serious investigation of Statesmen and Economists. But the facts show a decadence in our agricultural in- terests which we cannot regard otherwise than with uneasiness. III fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay Princes and Lords may flourish or mav fade— A breath can make them ItS a breath has made But a bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed can never be supplied." WE have been so much occupied with attention to onr home affairs that the interests of our Continental neighbours have been but little thought of. But our minds are recalled to the state of affairs in Spain by intelligence which is at once startling and important By recent advices it appears that General MOIUOXES has been disastrously defeated in his attempts to force the Carlist lines at Bilbao; and, after losing three thousand men in the attempt, without gaining a single advantage, he has asked to be relieved. The situation of affairs is so critical for the Republican forces in the beleaguered city that Marshal SERRANO, who has resigned his position as President of the Ministry, and Admiral TOPETE have gone to the North to per- sonally superintend the military operations. The Carlists appear to be displaying immense activity, Dd." OARLOS himself being on the spot, with his staff, following the siege operations and the move- ments of General MORIONES. Tha bombardment of Bilbao is proceeding most vigorously, and its fall within a very few days is said to be inevitable. All the foreign consuls have left the place—a significant fact. Indeed the Carlists just now seem to be carrying all before thorn. They have occupied several import- ant towns, the principal of which is Tolosa, which was evacuated on Friday after a vigorous assault by the Carlists. The position of the Carlists now appears stronger and more hopeful than at any timeaincethere- bellion commenced. Of coursethis only complicates the hopeless difficulties in which this unfortunate country is enveloped. We cannot think a Bourbon restora- tion possible, but certainly theprospects of DON CARLOS never seemed so bright as they do at this moment.

We are requested to say that Lord Henry Somerset's future address will be 37, Upper Gros- venor-street, W. The price of coal has been reduced in New- port 3s. per ton. ORDINATIONS. — The following is a list of candidates ordained at the Cathedral Church, Llan- daff:—Deacon—Eusebius Rees, Queen's College, Bir- migham. Priests—William Richard Jenkins, B.A., Jesus College, Oxford Thomas Henry Pigott Platt, B.A., Christ's College, Cambridge; Thomas Rogers, B.A., St. David's College, Lampeter and Rees Wil- liams, Queen's College, Birmingham. NEWPORT CRICKET CLUB.-At a meeting of the above club held at the Queen's Hotel, on Wednes- day evening last, Mr. J. Gould in the chair, it was unanimously resolved that the subscription for the season 1874 should be one guinea, and that a pro- fessional" be engaged from 1st May. The accounts from 18/3 show a slight balance in favour of the club. NEWPORT STREET TRAMWAYS.—The contract has been let to Messrs. Arthur Speight and Sons, and the first delivery of rails has been promised some time during the present month. As soon as they ar- river work will be commenced, on the section starting from the Victoria Hall, Bridge-street, and passing down Commercial-street, Comm-rcial-road, with branches through Bolt-streat and Dock-street to the Western alleys' Station, and along Ruperra-street. The rails are to bo laid along the centre of the streets, and there will be turn-outs at convenient points. The contractor is bound to finish his work within three monthg, so that there is reasonable probability of the line being in operation by the latter part of June oi- beginning of July, and, in anticipation of this event, the Directors have advertised for contracts for horsing the tram cars. The pattern of car has also been de- cided upon. The greater proportion of the shares have already been taken up and the scrip issued. Early applications for the remaining shares should be made to the Secretary, Mr. Walter West, at the Com- pany's offices, Dock-street. LAUNCH;.—Oil Saturday there was lauuebed from the building-yard of Messrs. Thomas Turnbull and Son, Whitby, an iron screw steamer, of the following dimensions :—Length, 181ft. 10in. breadth, 28ft. depth, 14ft. S^in. gross register about 600 tons, net 420. Her engines, by Blair and Co., of Stockton, are of 80 horse-power. She was named the Foam, and is owned b.v Messrs. T- C. Watson and Co., of Newport (Mon.) NEWPORT CATTLE MARKET, WEDNESDAY.— The market was smaller than the last two weeks. Gsod prime beef was not by any means plentiful, while second and third qualities were less plentiful. The show of grazing beasts rather scarce. Cows and calves a. better supply all that were useful found ready purchasers at satisfactory prices, and second quality animals were disposed of &t their value before the close of the market. Sheep, sufficient to meet the require- ments of the trade. We noticed about 500 foreign sheep belonging to Messrs. Duckham. Business on the whole was rather slack, and the prices ruled as under ;—Best beef cattle, 84d to 9d per lb. second quality, 7d to Hd; English sheep, 8id to 9,11,1 foreign, 94d porkers, lie 3d to 12s 6d per score I' bacon pigs, log 3d to lis. NEW MAGISTRATES.—It is understood that the following gentlemen have been placed on the Commission of the Peace by Lord Chancellor Selborne, but no official notification of the fact has as yet been made public :-The Mayor (Mr. Nelson Hewertson), Mr. Wyndham Jones, Mr. Heury Phillips, Mr. Charles Lewis, Mr. George W. Joaes, and Mr. James Murphy. The six gentlemen are Liberals in politics, and four of them are Nonconformists. THE JUBILEE SINGERS.—The company of ex-slave students from Fisk University, Nashville, America., popularly known as the Jubilee Singers," visited Newport last evening. According to previous announcement, they gave their" Service of Song," consisting of slave hymns and melodies, at the Vic- toria Hall, under the presidency of the Mayor. The hall, in which there is sitting accommodation for about 1500, was thoroughly full in every part, and many who had not taken the precaution to secure tickets, were unable to obtain admission. The whole company of singers consists of eleven, but two being nnwcll, only nine appeared last night. The proceed- Ings were opened with a few words of introduction from the Mayor, at the close of which the singers, grouping themselves on the front of the platform, Bang very sweetly the first piece in the programme— Steal away to Jesus," with the Lord's Prayer. It was soon observable that some of them possessed voices of excellent quality, and that aU had well stu- died the production of the simpler forms of harmony. The Lord's Prayer, sung to a chant, was specially pleasing, and at its close it became evident that the singers had already won the good-will of the audience. Go down, Moses," "The Gospel Train," Wrest- hng Jacob," Zion's children coming along," "Now aint them hard trials, tribulations," Mary and Martha," and the other pieces specified in the pro- gramme were then given in succession, with an addi- tional melody or two thrown in by way of response to demands for repetition. As the object was to intro- duce a kind of singing with which English audiences are not familiar, it will be understood that there was little or nothing which might fairly be said to chal- lenge criticism. In such a case any considerable de- parture from native simplicity would have been a defect, and not an excellence. As to their execution, sweetness and careful blending in concerted passages tnarked the performance of most of the pieces, while there occurred, here and there, both in the words and in the music, a rugged, wild, and dashing kind of ex- pression which bordered on the grotesque. This, aowever, was as it should be. The main object was lot artistic effect, but illustration—they gave slave- lymns in a style as slightly different from the original is was possible with persons who have had some cul- tivation. To us the principal charm of the Jubilee singers is their simplicity. There was no affectation )f modishness -no attempt to imitate the innocent trickeries which are sometimes perpetrated upon con- ;ert platforms. We congratulate the party upon the extent to which their generous labours have been suc- jessful in Newport as well as elsewhere and we can. not doubt that should they pay us the second visit tiinted at last night, they will be warmly welcomed.

..I SOUTH WALKS COLLIERT COMPANY, I The annual meeting was held at the London Tavern on Tnursday February 26, Mr. Lawrence Heyworth in the chair. Mr. J. Mouat F. Hunt, the secretary, read the preliminary notices. The Chairman iu moving the adoption of the report, said I propose, in the first place, to review what we recommend, and, also, to give some information upon the expenditure of the company. The out-put is not so large as we had hoped it would have been, but the reason we can assign for it is the high wages which make the men indisposed to work. They can get money too easily. The profit and loss account shows a balance, of £18,374 19a. 2d., of which we write off £ 473 93. lOd. This is intended to absorb the amount that stands in the balance-sheet as outlay account by degrees in 1868. The change of policy was instituted so that all the plant, all the iron, and everything that was employed in the collierv, that went down below should be charged on the coal instead of being held up as it had been, under the head of outlay account- We thought it best to absorb the outlay account gradually, by writing off a charge of 2d per ton in order to absorb it. At the same time th moveable plant, taking it at only £5 you reckon that you have 800 tons dcwn below worth at least £4,00u; but, still, as you never expect to realise it in our time, it is thought very much better to write it off on the coal. The work at the new pit ia not proceeding as satisfactorily as yourdirectors could wish. The unsatisfactory state of the labour market has conduced very much to this, and we have also been very much disappointed at the manner in which our engineer had undertaken the work of buying out the pit and providing the machinery. We think now that we have got over the difficulty, and our machinery is in perfectly good order, that we shall have no further stoppage. The amount expended in th £ development of the property is the large sum of £ 12,290 2s 4d. That I will explain when I come to deal with the balance-sheet. The directors propose that you should alter the articles of association, so that thi- directors, instead of being 12 as a maximum, should he reduced to a maximum of 6 and a minimum of 4. We have taken this course in order to prevent in future years-not at the present time when the com- pany is in so prosperous a state-the introduction of a large number of possibly useless members, as might be the case under an accidental concurrence of circumstances. It is our endeavour now to place this company on such a foundation that you may never have cause to look back with regret on our not having fostered it now. Then again we wish als to make it necessary for any member being intro- duced as a director that he should give sufficient notice, so that the whole number of shareholders may know who is proposed to a seat on the board. That is a clause that is in almost every article of association, but it has been omitted in this case. Turning to the balance sheet you will notice that we have £ 2,593 3s 2d that we have received on forfeited shares. This money does not carry any dividend, and I should suggest for the consideration of the shareholders whether it would not be better to write off £ 2000 of that amount to extinguish miscellaneous expenses in forming the company, and the remaining balance of £593 3s 2d I should recommend you to place against the outlay account so as to reduce the sum. Turning to the expenditure of the company, we have a sum of £ 5389 4s lId on plant, coal pits, and coal companies, &c. Of this sum £ 5,171 lis 6d has been expended on the Lawrence Heyworth pit, and £217 15s 2d has been expended in completing -No. 2 pit in the Cwm tillery. The machinery at the Rose Hill pit may be estimated to be worth about Xl,600, and the driving from the river to the pit, which is entirely a separate undertaking, has cost £410, so that you have an ex- penditure upon sinking and labour about £ 3,000. The cottages constitute the next item, and that amounts to £ 3,129 19s 8d for the ha-f year. I must call your attention to a printer's error in the report. The cottages are quoted as 103 in number, but they should be 124 cottages. We have spent on this account £ 931 7s 61 in completing 9 new cottages at Cwm tillery, X30 on the roads, drainage, &c., £ 1,292 15s lOd on Clymoiawde, and X92 Os 3d on sewers and drainage — being anxious to place our cottages in such a position that they may attract workmen at all times. Under moveable property you have an expenditure of £3,64-8 4s. Of this sum £ 3,414 Ss 61 has been expended on the railway sidings at the Rose Heyworth pit, and £ 232 5s 6d on the Cwmtillery siding. £ 122 12s 9d, I have omitted as being spent on stabling for 14 horses. You will see that the truck account shows an increase upon the last balance-sheet, and that increase is accounted for by their having been thoroughly repaired. Those trucks had been rebuilt, and it was thought that they should stand at £ 40 a truck as being less than their real value. In fact, you would sell them now for C50 struck. We have also taken credit for the redemp- tion hire of 40 waggons that we possess at the rate of 4 guineas per annum that will make their worth at the end of the term about .£:29 each, and they are sure to be worth more than that In the debts due to the company, we have taken every precaution to see that none have been held up that have not been perfectly pro- vided for none have been included that we thought at all doubtful. In giving an account of our stewardship it is necessary perliapsjto tell you that the property you possess is an extremely valuable one. It has its diffi- culties like most properties, one of them being its isolated position. It has been our endeavour to over- come the first difficulty by providing the best possible accommodation for our workmen, and also by endea- vouring to obtain money by private subscription to erect a Collier's-hall, and this I would still recom- mend to your notice as being of vital importance to the Company. At present there is no inducement for a man to remain at Cwmtillery, but if we had the Collier's-hall it would be a very great inducement. I maintain this because several shareholders have not subscribed to the funds. We have already £500 sub- scribed, and I should like to see this item so increased that we might commence operations without delay. It is our policy, now that we have got time, to so develop the property, that when things are not quite so advantageous we may be able to hold our own with any other colliery in South Wales, and be ab!e to make a profit when other collieries are losing. Perhaps it will afford you some information if I give you some little insight into the value of your property as far as the amount of coal yon possess, and the facilities for obtaining it. In the vein of coal we are at present opening on we have unworked 22,000,000 tons, which will provide for the output for the remainder of our lease—523,000 tons per annum. Then there is the old coal, which is our best seam, the most valuable seam in the district, and one which we have proved ill two different shafts as being five feet thick and of ex. cellent quality we have no less than 9,000,000 of tons not touched, which would provide for a further 1 210,000 tons per annum. We have an inferior coal, which at present we do not work at all, containing a total quantity of 12,800,000 tons, upon which we could f dl back, making a total amount of unworked coal of 43,800,000 tons. I am speaking of both our leasehold and freehold, so, if you were to estimate your property in the same manner in which a great many mining engineers are in the habit of doing when ] they want to make a bait for the public, you could not estimate it as being worth less than a million tons at tid. par ton profit. Gsntlem jn, I have mu.;h pleasure in moving the adoption of the reoort. Mr. Thomas Brown (director) seconded the motion. Mr. John Heyworth said that what the Chairman had detai ed with regard to capital account was highly satisfactory. He thought it exceedingly creditable that. they should have written off so much. Their trucks seemed, also, to have been put at a very fair and proper valuation, and, altogether, he thought the position of the Company highly satisfactory In the next twelvemonths they seemed to have a chance of doing even better than they had during the year whu-h had just passed. Tlie Chuirman, in reply to Mr. Franks, said it would take about £ 12,000 to complete the new pit, with the machinery and sidings, in addition to the amount already expended— £ 10,000 and he thought it would probably be complete about this time next year. The resolution was agreed to lie In. con. The Chairman next proposed the re-election of \Tr W. H. Challis. lr" Mr. Brown seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ° Mr. Franks moved the re-election of Mr Lawron-o Heyworth, Chairman. Mr. Heatli seconded the motion, and it was carried On the motion of Mr. Bowyer, the auditors pl.;ssrs. Deloitte, Dever, Griffith*, and Co.), were re-elected at a remuneration of £ 70, as before. Mr. George Smith moved, "That the remuneration of the directors be £ 1,000," the same as last year He was satisiied with the way in which the concern had been managed. Mr. Gorton Walls seconded the motion, which was agreed to The Chairman thanked the meetin > for the hand- some vote, and said the coming half-ye^r foreshadowed a very satisfactory result to them! As for the first month they had a profit of £ 4,000. Therefore tiiev might consider for the next six: months they would I, in a very prosperous stats, and he hoped for a groat deal longer. The resolutions mentioned in the Chairman's speech were then submitted and carried.

RHEUMAT a i, LUMBAGO, CHILBLAINS AND BRUISES -Use the celebrated Embrocation. Dredge's Heal All," which affords instant relief. Prepared only by Barclay and Sons, 95, Farringdon-atreet, London, and sold by Chemists and Druggists. It is most serviceable for Chil- blains before they are broken. Price Is. lid. per bottle.

THE CAPTURE 011 C'jOMASSlM KING KOFFEE A rr:?.OVEIc. A telegram from the Jrestprn Horning Ne^'s COTTP spondent, dated Cape Coast Castle February 8th states that on the 6th our armv had possession o Coomassie, with King Koffee a prisoner, Land that on the 8th terms of peace were to be tinallv arranged A royal salute, to celebrate the victory, bad been fired en from the Castle, and the ships were dressed with Glover's expedition was forty miles from Coom:?^&, ready to attack it from the rer.r if necessary Lord Carnarvon has communicated to the papers the following private letter from Mr. Goldsvorthy "CWE C-ja-T, FEB. S "News has reached us within the last half-hour that Coomassie is taken, and Ivoffee Kalcalli prisoner. This is authentic. This will only be a line, as the special steamer is getting up steam to take the news to Madeira."

THE NEW PARLIAMENT. The proceedings on the opening of tlie new Farlia- ment, yesterday, were strictly formal. The membc-rs of the House ot Commons assembled in their own I I's 'I chamber at two o'clock, and there awaited the sum- mons of Black Rod to attend upon the Lords commis- sioned by Her Majesty in the House oi Peers. Pass- ing through the lobbies, they were marshalled at the Bar of the Upper House, and there received the Queens cemmand to elect a Speaker. Returning to the House of Commons, they forthwith proceeded with the re-election of JMi. brand to the chair, up-jii the motion of Mr. Chaplin, seconded by Lord G. Cavendish. This conduced the work of tiie best dav.

TREDEGAR PARK COUiLSING- CLUB. The first day's meeting oi this Ciub took place yesterday (Thursday) at Tredegar-park, and some capital sport was enjoyed. T.Je, pjtrou oi the Club is Lord Tredegar, who was unavoidably prevented from attending the meeting. Messrs. Li. Lrewer, John Thompson, John Hughes Evan Daniels, Vi. Price, and W. Morgan acted as stewards; :M,. \'7 Vvorth, judge and Mr. Heritage, si.pr.< r. T, ,iL!! are the details of the day's sport: — THE NEW PAEK STAKES: a four-dcg tt uke oi JS3 3s. each Winner, <£10 10s. -su-oad. 0:1 2s. Mr. A. G. Kneath's Silver b.-ftt Mr. Jordan's Sumbo. Mr. Thompson's Tidal beat .Mr. Jor -in' Vanguard. 11. Tidal beat Silver, tii wc-n :h dakes. THE CLEPPA PARK STAXJSS A IOA?-IJG sapling STAKI of £ 3 3s. each. Winner, £10 11)" second, £ 2 2s. Mr. John Hughes's Hopeless beat Mr Jordan': High Pressure. Mr. Thompson's Tidal Float'.j;u Th ouias's Tredegar. II. Tidal Float beat Hopeless, and won the stakes. THE CASTLETOWN STAKE -•; a' sapling stake of X3 3s. each. Winner. J>\0 1(,s.; second, £ 2 2s. Mr. Jordan's Lady Annie boat ilr. D. Evans's Wcl.>b Bantam. Mr. Thompson's Tidal Harwur beat 'Mi. Kneath's May Queen. TI, Tidal Harbour beat Lady Ann;.?, and won. THE TREDEGAR PARK SI.VI;E^ of ;Ir Ifts. each for all- aged dogs (unlimited) Fn-st dog, £ 24; >econd. £ 9 third, £ 4 10s. winners of a course, £ 2 each. Mr. Underwood's Lily heat- Mr. T Bre wer's Blaaoawa* Mr. Yorath's Moslem beat; Mr. Jorda i's High Pressure II. Mr. Hughes's Hoax beat Mr- Thc^as'r Tyrant. Mr. Morgan's Mount Yauca beet Mr- Pricc's Friaee of Prussia. Mr. Fowler's Fluke II. beat Mr. Bicwe' Bright Ray. Mr. Clarke's Gipsy Countess heat Mr. Underwood's Bess. Mr. Brewer's Bloodstone ran a hye. THE BUPERRA CASTLE STAKES of £ 3 3s. each; for dogs pupped in 1872 (unlimited). First dog, £](1; second, £4; third. £ J i5s. Mr. James May's Worcester bear Mr. Jordan's Only One. Mr. D. Evans's Welsh La I beat Mr. Yu-ath's Ystrad. Mr. Evans's Welsh Lr, '-a t bye. The undecided stakes will u: run to-day, at Castletown.

VERSES OF T H h TIMES. Itijhts Reserved, WANTED A LEA TOE 3. WANTED a leader fur the Great "Diminishe.— Some one to gather up the waifs and straps, To right the wrongs that Gladstone left unfinished. And to teach the Uadlc- to Plend their ways. The plunderers and blunderers" are banished. And liberals of ev-v ^uade aiv lookleg blue Their leaders from the rlhppy Land 'nve vanished, And they, without a e-hic" may vumsh too. Oh dire disaster may the Fates forbid ii. It saddens us to see o.;s i ..r. Men such as Bradlangn sometimes o-a rdid it But then, no matter—are air. 'Tis not important h >w, o- when or wherefore Their William Ien* •?? hi? pa-'iv in ei-gust Enough to know thai he wiil de it, therefore Some other leader have they will must. Then wlwll accept il; .> vacant :,itaat en ? And why are all so -eeuuegiy averse To lead them ? Foi- de-pite their ivrhation They may be better, but they c e he Trorse -r.-

HUNTING A P P 0 IN T M E N r S. LLANGIBLY OHEPSrOTV HOUNDS v»n Tuesday i-i iinmam. Thursday March 2 .q. Pig Hole. Saturday March ]-* Liauvair. At Huif-}»ass ten o < ioek.

TtR A V V I C 71 v; T U H N S MONMc UThi 31' JE T> .< 7 T .v* V vn n »-w « r -'o.-J- Week ending Febreury 7$74 .3,981 !•> Corresponding wt-jk, l jj>i e"* 1^5 Hi 7 \GKEAT TISTL.'IX.' w ee,i ending March 1, 1GV4 0±,<r21 0 0 Oorresp.i,.duig Aveek. lo7o ..i'Sd.TK) 0 G Bii Lv.-v >1N A r.> \i i v rffVR. Week ending ivirrrcii i i,-»Ji ,j47 7 r Correspoadit,IT A-eok, 'J[ 7 w A F. Week ending Feb-nary 2$, lS7-i ;'S',734 0 0 Corresponding v.b, 1S7? £ 8,354 0 0 PENARTH HAKBOUR, .1>0'JK, S JL-ITLWAY. Week ending FiUv^ry 23, 6,5.5 0 0 Corresponding week, ^2,002 I) 0

NKWPOUT i:r nr-.A ;v v.> I^PEXSAXY Wii-.x ^LijuV e:v •>< Pati.-nts attended at the IX'sper-a. j 3, Patients atten-iea at their hoei: j £ Patients iu tue IuLriuury daiin;? rue -ycek jsj 7»r. ,'b.yi ■ s; ^'•r-reo i 'or tne week." The IT 1 l' A. House Surgeon. ih"t',

XT '!>' 27'' '^llyrn isvo-i House. Maehen. ^1.- Ann ilioKs. i-e-l ?k vVavs "o :it tbe silence of her son, Tvivfr'a-betb, the beloved wife of fOR,TH^O ? < ™ yea*, '■" v V1*- at Hornspv, London, Alar^ f^ed' 7o1Ct 'Ji "^orutb": Newport (Mon'. :'lst ult-< ut the Parade, Monmouth, ML Oharie- Jacbeo'T &eed o RR^,R^. .ROBERTS--On the 2 tth nit., ?!t" Monmouth, Mr William Kooerts. ,oe -2 years ielieviug Officer for the Monmouth district, ajred ol yea • —n the 23ri January, at Cape Town, Mr R. Elliot, of 3J, Cheater-square, London, S.W., son of Mr George Klliot, late M.P. for the Northern Division of the county of Durham, aged 54.