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-'-OUK LETTER BOX. ..
OUK LETTER BOX. DIETARY REFORM. T- the Kt.it'-ir of the Monmovthshire Merlin). SiF;,—T\e ■public Journals hive from time to time published ab' >.n. I eloquent arguments and discussions in reference to th•; prospects of our coal supplies, and we have ha. I p.minted out to us very forcibly the press- ir.g need of some reform in the present extravagant C30 of that important item in the list of the natural fcrc es that hido to maintain our commercial superio- "i*y, Of more essential importance even than the ■eal question to the well-being of the community, inasmuch as Ley affect not commercial interests on'y, but the health and morale of our ever increasing population, the food prospects of the future may well ',e thought to demand our anxious concern. It seems to be a law of civilisation and political pro- gress that almost every advance brings with it great 't-cal concotn-'tant evils. Few political economists would hot venture :o regret such a measure of reform as the repeal of the Corn Laws, or regard it as anything bus an unmixed good; nor are there very many amongst ordinary thinkers who would deny its bene- ficial influence in promoting those interests usually soiGprehended uuder the term—national—trade, com- merce, weaitii, population, international communica- tion, &e. Yet it is undeniable that with all these advantages, it has indirectly been productive of some grave eviis,^ WLueh are beginning to assume threaten- ed proportions, ind which are far more real than ap- parent or recognised. With the gradual, but constant, rise in the wages of the labouring classes, consequent on the impetus givDn, by the triumph of free trade principles, to com- mercial enterprise, there has been a corresponding in- crease in whai are called the luxuries of life. As regards the mass of the population this increas- ing luxurioiT3uess of living is displayed most con- spicuously ia the consumption of intoxicating drinks and flesh food. The consumption of flesh food amongst all classes, of course most extravagantly by the rich, nr.s within the last few years reached an almost in- credible figure. For one family that thirty years ago was able to supply itself with flesh food all the year round, probably some twenty families are now in that position. I; will be said that we have reason to be thankful that this is so. True, in so far as it is signi ticant of a more prosperous condition than heretofore of a constanly-increasmg proportion of the commu- nity. If, however, we take the trouble to look a little below the surface of things, it will be found that this general craving for flesh food and for stimulating drinks, its legitimate concomitaut—is one of the most potent causes of the impoverishment of those who are oomironiy exiled the labouring classes." A large proportion of the wages that would other- wise have >H;en set aside for more real wants—both bodily and mental-is at present devoted to the batcbers- shop and the public-house. Hence, in a seme not very different from Juvenal's, that iutes- tatn, senaetus"that utter destitution which too :n- jr.ently is the lot of their families after their "breadwinner" has been taken away. Of course the fonsumotion of rlesh food is not the s le cause of the low level o: Lhe English working-classes but without doubo it is a powerful factor in themaintenauce of such low level. Vaste oi pecuniary resources is only one aspect of the question. To iieet the ever-increasing demand, the market is supplied by means the most artificial and unnatural. Not only is the enormous crowding and packing of cattle, imported often from far distant t'Ort:-—the terror, and deprivation of all food for in- definite periods, and defective or rather, in most cases, no ventilation—and even, in a less degree, their tran- sport by rail at home, a fertile source of mischief in the shape of cattle-plagues, murrain, &c. but the very breeding of the home produce is forced and un- natural in the highest degree, and so productive of a variety of diseases, in the first instance to the victims ot the insatiable craving, and afterwards (according to the unsuspected testimony of our scientific authorities) to the human consumers themselves. The foot and mouth disease may be ultimately traced with much iiityI probability to forced and premature breeding. Only recently, apropos of the mortafity amongst the cattle at th" annual Smithiield Show, when so many of the animais were killed off on the spot to prevent loss to the exhibitors, an eminent scientific authority (Dr. A. Carpenter/ wrote to the papers to warn the public against the danger of feeding on the tlesh of animals thus subjected to the possible con racting of all kinds of maladies, and asserting such feeding to be (together with the neglect of sanitary laws in our towns) one of the. most productive sources of the disease so rife in our densely-crowded town populations. The mis- ohief from this cause is none the less real from its secret, and often unsuspected agency. The amount of diseased or putrid meat consumed by the poorer classes would be simply incredible were we not assured of the fact on the best authority, and j the sure evidence of statistics. Dr. Simon, in a re- port to the Privy Council, states that one-fifth of the meat purchased in this country is diseased and Pro- j lessor Gamgee, the well-known veteruinaty surgeon, rep irts tuat, "in all large towns more than fifty per cent, ot cow3 kept die or are slaughtered diseased j The came authority asserts that sausages ore extremely perilous, for it is weil known that the iess respectable sausage-makers think no meat too bad to make up in this deceptive way, provided the Hastiness can be (lis- guisoU by spices and condiments. Scarcely a day passjs without record in the newspapers of large quantities of :neat seized and condemned in the mar- kets by the sanitary inspectors as utterly uotit for human food. How many thousands of 11113 are thus legally condemned, and how many more may escape the inspectors in private esrablishmente and by reason of the m^at being not sufficiently putrid to subject it to legal condemnation, is a matter unpleasant to con- template This is the sanitary side of the question. It will be only necessary to refer here to one or two amongst the many names of authority who bave give evidence in the economic aspect of the subject. In lSo-i some very extended and elaborate investigations were COill- pleled under the sanction of the Privy Council, the results of win ;h were published by Government in Dr. S imou's sixth report, as medical officer 011 public health. The enquiries were specially carried on by Dr. Ed war. I Smith, F.R.S., under the direction of Dr. Suctm, and related mainly to the Food of the poor labouiing classes of England." Dr. Smith ex- tended this inquiry into Wales, Scot-land and Ireland. From his highly-interesting report we learn some most instructive particulars as to the comparative food sta- tistics of tb t Jour divisions of the IT iire(I Kingdom, to which it is possible only -,t, refer here. England (in which by far the largest UlIount of flesh is eaten) ap- pears to Ui the worst fed of these four divisions. "There was," says Dr. SlLith, "thel"a.str:.mountofnn- triment, the greatest variety of foods, the most costly selection of fa,1., the least quantity of breadxtuiTs ami milk, the urea*st quantity of sugars, fats and meats in EnšhurL" As for the comparative amounts of nutriment obtained by the same money, it is proved that Ireland obtains twice as muoh for tbe money as England W lueh people are the most healthy, on the whole, deed:* lid demonstration. That ilesh food is not so necessary as most people imagine i" shown, among other authorities, by the searching enquiries of Dr. Smith. I was desirous," he say. in the opinions of persons so cir- cums: auc* a* to the necessity for the use of meat, and w-x.li! 1 ir.et with a thoughtful and intelligent, labourer I ask xl the question. The answer generally was that they should like to have more of it, hut it was not neces.vi.ry either for health or nirenyt-h." Wbbuut attempting even to refer to the numerous scientlliv and medical authorities who have conceded the fact or die, at least, equal value of vegetable diet, or to enter upon the physiological arguments, it must be enough here to quote the dictum of 30 eminent an authority as ihe father of political economy, Dr. Adam Smith. '"It may indeed be doubted," he says, whether batchers' meat is anywhere a necessary of life, Grain ..o-i other vegetables, with the help of miik, cheest, a ad butter, or oil when butter is not to he had, it i> known from experience, can, without butchers' m-at, afford the most plentiful, the most wboh.aomc, the most nourishing, and the most invigo- j rating diet. Decency nowhere requires that any man shoul; eat butchers' meat, as it ill most places requires that hi should w--ar linen shirt, or a pair of leafier shoes. rt 't, Sue, y these: facts seem to call for someoort "t re- form i our present system of diet. Dietary tie- formers, however, (it is well to add) arc not so •■lie- j sided, and inaccessible to the logic of present tacts and to the conviction as to the necessity for much patieoec in dealing with so gigantic a subject as they are sometimes represented. They do cot expect :1:1 inund ate correc ion of the evils they deplore. They Wiii !.i content if they can induce the public to ex- amine the principles of Dietary Reform without pr«- judice auti with a real desire to do something towa-ds mitigating in arty (legree, the present indubitable evils j if, above ail, they can induce the rich to lead the way in the practice of this species of ?elf-denial —if living upon the rub variety of vegetable food is, in point of fact a'.d experience, really to forego any pleasure. Is it i.eccssary to suggest to the rich how they may do so:, -jthing to inaugurate these desirable reforms't That, i. i Hie ..rst place, evea without abstaining alto- gether from iicsh food they may at least enormously reduce the present rate of cons 11 nipt ion in their house- hold by the exercise of more control over their cooks and butlers, at present iu the enjoyment of almost unlimited liberty and immunity in their dealings with the butcher's, poulterer's, and other establishments and, in the second place, that the ladies, at the head of households, might with considerable advantage in every way, pay a little more attention than heretofore to the vegetable department of cookery. If any of your readers care to study at length the subject thus slightly touched upon, they would do well to procure some of the instructive and valuable publications of the Vegetarian Society, obtainable at its 91, Oxford-street, Manchester. They are as cheap as they are instructive and besides the monthly organ of the Society, The Dietetic Re- former," price twopene. I would especially recom- mend "Fruits and Farii)acca-the Proper Fruit of Mau," edited by Professor Newman, price one shilling Again asking the earnest attention of all classes of your readers to this important subject, I beg to sub- scribe myself, Yours, &c., A DIETETIC REFORMER.
---------ABERGAVENNY.
ABERGAVENNY. SUSPECTED MURDER. The adjourned inquest on the body of John Nicholas, shoemaker, of Mount Pleasant, Llanddewi Rhydderch, was resumed and completed on Monday last. The body was found on the morning of the loth ult., in a rugged and dangerous path known as the Castle walk, and an inquest was opened on the following day and then adjourned for a fortnight to give the police an opportunity of making enquiries. The preliminary proceedings have already been reported. The evi- dence adduced at the adjourned inquest on Monday was as follows Caroline Addis said On Friday morning, the 13th of February, about a quarter or twenty minutes past six she left her house in Mill-street, and went towards the Three Tuns to look for half-a-crown which she had dropped the night before. By the corner near the water she saw three or four men coming down the street. It was rather dull, between dark and light. Benjamin Gwatkin was one, Thomas Herbert was another but she did not know the other man. Two were walking in front, and one behind. They were carrying a man in dark clothes. They weie about fifty yards off. When she saw them she was afraid, and turned back. She thought they had a drunken man with them. She could swear to Gwatkin and Herbert. She had some wortls with Gwatkin on the morning the man was found. She went to see the man as he was lying at the Three Tuns. 'Gardner, who was present, said "the man has been murdered," and she said, Yes, he has been murdered, sure enough. Gwatkin saw her afterwards, and said that she had murdered the man. She told him she could not do such a thing, as she had no bully to act for her. He threatened to smother her. She did not mention the matter to the police. She was afraid to inform them. To a Juror She had seen Nicholas show a £ 5 note and two sovereigns at the Three Tuus on the Wednes- day Gwatkin, Tom Herbert, Rowley, a shoemaker, and his wife, a banjo player, Isaac Jones, and a stranger were present. To the Coroner Nicholas said he had lost the £ 0 note, and searched for it and found it in his pocket. Superintendent Freeman proved that he first saw the previous witness on the evening of the first ad- journed inquest, and she did not then make any statement to him as to what she hid seen. Addis was a woman of drunken habits, and was living with her husband's brother. A question arose as to the money which it was said Nicholas had on him. The Coroner read a statement drawn up by the police, which had been carefully pre- pared from inquiries that had been made. A daughter of the deceased was called. She said thac Oil the Satur- day before her father's death he had a £,"j note, two sovereigns, and four half-sovereigns in his waistcoat pocket. She did not look in the other pockets. On the Sunday he received £1 14s. 9d. She did not see any other £ 3 notes. On the Monday he took some bills to collect money. She could not say whether he collected any money on Monday. Maj or Herbert, the chief constable, said every in- quiry had been made respecting the second t; but no trace of it had been discovered. It seemed that the mm had been in the habit of having drinking bouts and spending every penny he had. Benjamin Gwatkin said that he saw Caroline Addis on the morning the man was found. She accused him of murdering him, and he said she ought to be drowned. She was drunk. They had words. Mary Kirbysaid she lived in Mill-street, and could see Gwatkin's window from her house. A fortnight last Thursday night she was waiting for James Llewellyn, a lodger. She stayed up till nearly ten then went to bed and got up again at half-past twelve and saw a light in Gwafckiu's bedroom. She got up again between tive and ten minutes to one and heard a shuffling like people pushing one another about. She did not know where the shuffling was. She heard uobody speak. Went to bed again, and at a little I after one heard something like a heavy dead fall on board. That sound came from outside. There was a piece of garden between her house and Gwatkin's. The sound was not far off. Richard Watkins lived with her; spoke to him and said, "0 God, what is this? I can't go to sleep." He was awake and said it was sure to be underneath. • A inati of the name of James Prosser occupied the room below. A Juror: Could see into Rose Pugh's (Harner's) bedroom, but noticed nobody. Could not see the bed. Had seen deceased going into Rose Pugh's three times in the last year. The last time she saw him come out of Rose Push's house was in September. Richard Watkins gave confirmatory testimony. Evidence was then given to show that it was rain- ing heavily between one aud two o'clock on the niorn- in question, and that the clothes of the deceased were quite dry. After a number of other witnesses had been ex- amined, the Jury retired for deliberation. They were alwent for two hours, and at the end of that time re- turned with an open verdict of Murder." Subsequently to the inquest the police apprehended Benjamin Gwatkin. Thomas Herbert, Thomas Curtis, and Rose Hamer, alias Pugh, on suspicion of having murdered the deceased. EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS. On Wednesday afternoon, before the Rev. James Farquliar, chairman Capt. Amiel, Capt. Wheeley, and J. Huinfrev, Esq., the prisoners above mentioned were charged with feloniously killing audslaying John Nicholas. Mr. Thomas prosecuted on behalf of the Crown Mr. Gustard watched the case for the friends of the deceased and Mr. G. A. Jones defended. The following evidence was taken :— Mary Lewis, an elderly woman, deposed I am the landlady of the Clarence Inn. I knew the deceased, John Nicholas. I last saw him alive on the night of Thursday, the 12th February, at my house. The de- ceased was then neither drunk nor sober, but half- and-half. He came to the Clarence about five o'clock on the evening of Wednesday, and slept there. He got up between eleven and twelve o'clock on Thurs- day morning, and had some bread and cheese and beer for breakfast. He remained in the house all day, and complained of something in his stomach. He .spent about teu shillings in drink during the two days. When he came iu he brought a young man with him. On the Thursday several men were in the room with deceased, and amongst others the prisoners Gwatkin and Curtis. The latter went away between seven and eight o'clock, and left with Nicholas about a quarter to eleven. When Gwa kin rose to leave, the deceased said, Stop, 1 am coming with you I am going to the Three Tuns, to see my old friends." Gwatkin was not sober of the two Nicho- las was the least intoxicated. He asked me if he could have a bed on his return, and I replied in the affirma- tive, but he would not be back in time. Nicholas and Gwatkin went out together. No one was with them then. Mary Ann Morgan, grand-daughter of the last wit- ness, gave evidence of a corroboratory character, and stated that the deceased went to bed in a sober state on the Wednesday night. He got up between eleven and twelve 011 the following morning, aud stayed drinking iu the house the whole day. Gwitkin, Cur- tis, Isaac Jones, aud Charles Newman were there drinking with him. Newman left the house about nine o'clock Curtis between nine and ten; and Gwatkiu and Nicholas about 20 minutes to eleven. Witness went to bed about .half past ten, and left Gwatkin and Nicholas in the kitchen together alone. Nicholas asked Gwatkin to wait for him. Witness could hear pretty well from her bedroom what was going on iu the street passage. Shortly after she went upstairs she heard Nicholas and Gwatkin leave the house. Gnatkiu was tipsy, and Nicholas was not Sober. To Mr. Jones I stated that I did not see Nicholas and Gwatkin leave together. P.O. Pethera/n I am stationed at Abergavenny. On liiursday, the 12th ult., about ten minutes to 11 o dock p m., I saw the prisoner Gwatkin coming down Castie-street into Cross-street. I should say from his appearance that he was drunk. Joseph auglian, a labourer, was at the Clarence Inn the night before the "accident" happened. Gwatkin and Nicholas were there when he went in, at about half-past nine, and he left the two together an hour afterwards. Nicholas was" sottiah," but not so drunk as Gwatkin. •James Barry, a youth of It; years of age, said there was nothing of any size in the Castle footpath on the morning of Friday, the 13th February, at a quarter to six when he went that way to his work. To Mr. Joues It was very dark. I will not swear nothing was there. William Henry Vaughan, a painter, living in. Mill. weet, also said be passed that way at five or ten I minutes past six the same morning, and saw nothing ou the path. Could not say he should have seen the body of a dead man if it had been there, because lie took no notice whatever. Cross-examined A dead body might have been there when he passed by without his noticing it. He-examined Said he was sworn before the Coroner and told him he never saw the body, and that if it had been, as stated, across the path, he must have seen it. Evan Kinsey, a maltster, living in Mill-street, said that he left home about twenty minutes to seven on the morning in question to go to work, and went up to the steps by the Three Tuns. About four or five yards from the top he saw a man lying down in the path. He passed by, thinking it was a drunken man. To the Chairman The body was not lying right across the path, hut a little a-slant. The head was towards Mill-street, and the man was 011 his face. Charles Newman, a labourer, living in Ireland- street, said On the morning of Friday, the 18th of February, he started from Mill-street to go over the I Castle at about a quarter to seven o'clock. About half way between the turn in the path and the Castle steps he saw Nicholas lying on his face. Called to him three times, but no answer was given. The man I was lying lengthways on the path, with his head down hill. Could not rouse him, and went to the bottom of the steps and called Thomas Gardner. Returned to the body, and Gardner on touching it said the man ¡ was dead. Gardner went for the police, and witness remained till they came. Witness saw the deceased's hat about live yards below him on the path, near a j huge stone. Put the hat in his pocket, and after- wards gave it the police. No one could have pissed without seeing it, unless it was tremendously dark at the time. To Mr. J ones If the man had been towards the Green and had fallen, he might have struck his face against the top stone of the lower walling. Thomas Gardner gave corroborative evidence. Police-constable Price deposed to accompanying Gardner to the body, which was lying on face on the path. The weight of the deceased's head had twisted the nose. The right arm was out, and the left pushed back. The body was quite stiff. The nostrils I were full of blood. His shirt collar was very tight. and a little blood ran into his mouth. There was nearly half a pint of congealed blood under his face. his coat was under hi; nose, and there was blood upon it. Witness examined the ground, and the top of the wall near where the body lay. TIe discovered a mark as if some one had fallen from it. There were no foot- marks on the path. He afterwards searched Pugh's house with Superintendent Freeman, and found the large screwdriver produced in the pantry. It seemed to have blood upon the handle. Cross-examined I thought perhaps, the deceased might have got over the wall. He seemed to have come with some force on his nose. G-watkiu is a car- penter, living with Rose Hamer. Superintendent Freeman also gave evidence. Rhoda Cook said I live in Lower Castle-street. On the morning of the 13th I was up till about three o'clock. At about a quarter to half-past one, I was standing at the door, and saw Gwatkin go down the street. My husband met him at the bottom. He did not appear drunk. Cross-examined It was after the day on which [ wi,s married, and I had a jollification over the event. My husband had gone to take a young man home. To the Bench I was quite sober. Edward Cook corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and said he almost ran against Gwatkin at the bottom of the street, at nearly halt-past one o'clock After hearing the evidence of Caroline Addis, the Bench adjourned the inquiry for a week. An application to admit the prisoners to bail was refused.
CHEPSTOW.
CHEPSTOW. Clever Capture.—Arthur Winn, a sturdy-looking fellow from Bristol, and George Smith, a Jad from London, were charged before Mr. W. Æ. Seys with stealing a purse, containing £ 1 Is, the property of Susan Amy Siniinon.ls, of Newport, on Monday night last. Inspector Hickey, of the Great Western Rail- way, applied for a remand that he ini^ht make the necessary inquiries. It being Bristol fair, at the dif- ferent stations from Cardiff to Bristol the light-tin- gered fraternity made quite a harvest. Mrs. Simmonds became one of their victims, for in crossing over in the last boat at the Passage her purse was lost. She did not miss it until she had landed at the junction, when she gave an alarm, and as the two prisoners were close to her on board, suspicion fell upon them. Search was made, and they were found in a carriage with two passengers. They were taken into custody, aud the purse was found on the line, flung out of the window of the carriage in which the urisoners were. Ormoud, the guard of the train, took charge of them, together with the missing purse, and whilst in his custody they managed to abstract the purse from his pocket, expecting that they might be ahle to do away with it, but in this they were disappointed. Two other purses were found. Winn had a good sum in his pockets, Smith only a few coppers. It is expected they form part of a gang. They were remanded until Thursday, the 12th instant. ———————————————-
THE FATAL ACCIDENT OX THE…
THE FATAL ACCIDENT OX THE BRECON" AND MERTHYR RAILWAY. The adjourned inquest on the body of Edmund Davies, who was killed in the recent accident on the Brecon and Merthvr Railway, was brought to a con elusion on Wednesday. The Company were represented by Mr. Henshaw, traffic manager, Mr. Long, locomotive superintendent, and Mr. St. John Caulfield, engineer. Mr. C. Rice Harris, solicitor, Tredegar, attended on behalf of some of the injured persons who have not yet made a settle- ment with the Company. The following additional evidence was taken: Josiah Wellsford said I am a shoemaker, living at Cwinsyfiog. On Saturday, the 14th ult., while taking tea, I heard the market train pass. Did not observe the time particularly. A friend standing by the door exclaimed, "The train is off the line!" Went at once to the spot ran to broken carriages, and extri- c-ite(I two men and two women therefrom. Deceased was under one of tho wheels, completely doubled up. I and another carried him to the Crown Inn. I re- turned to look for the driver and the stoker found them pouring water into the engine lire with buckets. I inquired as to how they escaped. The stoker said he fell off when the engine turned, and that the engine turned completely over him, but that he pro- videntially escaped by having fallen into a deep ditch, The driver said he bad no time to think, but only to exclaim, God save me Went back to the Crown. Saw deceased supported by a person present, and Dr. Evans and his assistant attending to him. Went back to the line, and where the accident occurred, picked up three bolts. Saw by their appearance that they were quite recently broken. Could not account for the engine going off the line, except upon the supposi- tion that something was put on the line. Had upon one occasion picked a large stone off the rails, of which circumstance he informed the signalman. Superintendent Fowler, of Tredegar, here observed that iu such a case information should also be given to the police. Dr. Evans said I am a surgeon, living at Tirphil. Was sent for to the scene of the accident at from G..10 to 6.4o on the day in question. Found Edmund Da- vies in the Crown Inn. He was suffering from ex- treme collapse he was pulseless, cold, and complained of excessive tenderness of the right side. There was no mark of external injury, except a wound at the back of the head, to which no importance should be attached, as the deceased was quite himself. I did all I could, but in a short time he expired. The Coroner then read Colonel Rich's official report. It stated that the engine was unsuited for passenger traffic the line was In some parts unsafe, owing to slackness of joints, and defects in the level of the rails and the ganger of the length did not seem to be in the habit of regularly walking his portion of the line. The "I accident was not attributable to the condition of the sleepers, as these were in very fair condition. After a deliberation of about half-an-hour, the jury returned the following N,erdi,-t :We find that Ell. mund Davies's death was caused by an accident occa- sioned by an engine running off the line and we find that the line is unsafe, especially when run over by so unsuitable an engine and we commend to the notice of the Company the following sentence from the offi- cial report of Colonel Rich—' But I am of opinion that the permanent-way men, owing to the intentiou of renewing the sleepers, had not maintained the perma- nent way for the 200 yards to the south of the place y a c, where the accident happened in such a state as to en sure the safety of trains and that the accident was caused by a tank-engine, of a class that is not calcu- lated to run steadily on na imliferent road, having jumped off in consequence of imperfections in the level of the rails.
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----- -----LONDON LETTER.
LONDON LETTER. LONDON, Thursday. The business transacted this afternoon by the members of the new Parliament was pureiy formal, and till after the adjournment which is shortly to take place, nothing more than preliminary matters of routine will be accomplished. Of course to-day saw Mr. Brand once more elected to the speaker's chair, and it was gratifying to note how unanimous were the indications forthcoming from all parts of the House as to the popularity of the right hon. gentleman, and his fitness for the presidential oliice. The Tories mustered well, but it must in fairness be added that their opponents bad evidently obeyed the summons to be in attendance with cheer- ful alacrity. The dreary task of swearing in will be at once proceeded with, and then for the adjourn- ment which will probably extend over ten days- possibly a fortnight. The actual opening of Parliament, at the expira- tion of the time allotted the ministers to get re- elected and prepared to settle down to work, will, it is confidently anticipated, be a task which her Majesty will do her best to discharge in person. f'he friends of Mr. Disraeli are making a great fuss ab:>ut this, and describe it as a contradiction of the story told us a short time ago by the Duke of St. Albans, to the effect that her Majesty was predis- posed in favour of Liberalism. Such a quibble is simply absurd. There cannot be the faintest shadow of a reason for attributing the resolution of the Queen to political feeling, seeing that her Majesty had warmly expressed her desire to open Parliament herself at a period when there was not the remotest outward possibility of Mr. Disraeli holding the premiership at the commencement of the session. The Queen's Speech, when it makes its appear. ance, will, it is uniformly stated, bo only a very unostentatious document, and have refeience to no proposals for extensive poli ical and si-elil reforms. For all this it is fully expected it will be made the subject of a long and animated debate. The sib- iects of the Ashantee war and the Indian famine, members have, we may be sure, been cramming themselves with, so that the talk about them will be issued in prodigious quantities. But over and above these points it is believed a great hit will be attempted by Mr. Disraeli's friends with the view of eliciting a justification or the couive pursued by .dr. (Gladstone's Government in so suddenly ap- pealing 'o the country after the date for the 'Assembling of Parliament had been fixed. It is astonishing now that the great Tichborne c se is over to notice how rapidly the imprest that was professedly manifested in the fortunes of the ponderous impostor at present lying in Newgate a convicted felon, has vanished into thin air. Every- body one meets with seems satisfied with the ver- <hc% and pleased that justice, invariably tardy as she. is, has meted out a reward at last to an arrant villain and impostor. It was said that there were to be all sorts of riots and popular manifestations in 1 he event of a verdict bei- g given against the t laimant's interest, and it is a notorious fact that during the progress of the trial the learned judges and the iurors received all sorts of threatening h-tters. But all this is shown to have b. en but so much • nnkum. So far from any row being occa- sioned by theincarcei ation of the Wapping butcher's -on the "difficulty is to find any one who does not heartily applaud the decision which has" done" for him. In short, it is very easy to see that hun- dreds of persons who were favourably disposed to- wards the Claimant while there was the remotest. 0 ssib lity of his becoming legally declared Sir Roger Tichborne, Baronet, now that he is iu tn-ison garb employed in picking oakum, have hoovered that they always regarded the bloated outcher as an odious scoundrel. There is a great deal, f talk about an attempt beir.^ made to secure a new trial for the Claimant. it. i- even broadly stated that as soon as he possibly e m Dr. Kenealy will move the House of Lords to 11 i" effect. Various grounds for such a step are pa* t icularised, but none of them appear to me to be -llilidently substantial to justify the hope they )on would prove successful. I have a strong susp'cion myself, notwithstanding the Claimant's prison solace "surely the British public will not allow lois," that the fate of the unmitigated scamp, who has just entered upon a fourteen years banishment, is sealed, and that we shall see no serious attempt is made to bring about a repetition of the wearying investigation Saturday saw the last of. I am by no mea s satisfied that no decisive step3 u ill be taken in regard to the case of Dr. Kenealy himself. Assuredly that learned personage occu- pies a very unpleasant position. The course he blis thought proper to pursue during the progress of the trial has been universally condemned, and I,y no one more strongly than by the learned who tried the issues between "our sove- r ign h dy, the Queen," and his client. The whole- sale manner in which the learned doctor condemned witnesses of all classes and degr,es-branded them i' h Every conceivable sort of obnoxious al I egation— for no more heinous offence than for differing with himself, the learned judges have treated with little iess indignation than they have expressed anent h s deroga'ory treatment of themselves. No one can question the altogether unjust liable^ attitude of the Claimant's counsel in the case, and in regard t" this special ] oint the Lord Chief Justice has ex- plained a matter which was to the others, a well us to myself, a source of considerable surprise. In reading the newspaper reports of the trial, I was often amazed to note the seeming impunity with which the learned counsel was permitted to make the most pointed allusions to the judges, and to beard them with defiance. It is now stated that, Dr. Kenealy made these remarks with "baited hieath," so that they should reach none but the reporters' ears, and that if his wor s had been ■aught by the judges Ie would have been pnnkhed. I cannot myself see, though, in what way the doctor was less liable for the consequences of his uupurliamentary" remarks because the judges did not hear them. They were uttered publicly in •li.irt, and many did hear them, so that if they were improper they constituted, one would think, con- >empt of court," and nothing less. How- ever, it would seem as if the doctor's time re:(V vet have to come, for it is generally believed that the censorious observations of Sir Alexander foghorn and his colleagues cannot escape the at tention of the benchers of the Inn of which he is a member. The new dramatic version of "Marie Stuart" which Mr. W. O. Wills has furnished for the Princess's Theatre, is an effort by no means calcu- lated to increase the reputation of that generally- ri-ing author. The piece is elaborately worked out,; but, as one of the chief characters in it is -on-tructed upon a rotten foundation, the perm <- r.e ft snccess of the whole is not likely to be assured. The sorrows of th« unfortunate Queen of Scots have often enough been depicted in dramatic form, and every possible construction has been put upon She cause of them but it has not, I believe, before been suggested that one of the e sorrows was to e.eate"a flame of love within the breast of the puritanical John Knox. Mr. V, ills, however, has regarded this as a point calculated to give a zest to his decidedly orfginal play, and John Knox is nightly to be seen as a truckling slave before the -harms < f the woman history reports that he was the bitterest enemy of. Mr. Wi Is' play of Charles r." was almost spoilt from a similar disfigurement, the part of Oliver Cvmiwcil being represented as a time-serving bo,ind. Great; historical facts ought not to be allowed to be flatly ignored for the sake of romantic sensationalism. The nierchants and manufacturers of Man- chester have got up a petition to the Mayoi to hold a public meeting to organise a subeeiipf ,on in aid of the sntlerers from she Bengal famine. A public meeting had previously been held, at which it was resolved that the calamity was one for fmperial relief, and at which no subscription was opened. The Chancellor's medal for legal studies in the University of Cambridge, originally founded by the late Prince Consort, was on Tuesday adjudged to Kdmond Henry Stuart Nugent, of Dublin and the paper of Mr. T. S. Little, of Liverpool, was highly commended I y the examiners. Both gentlemen are bachelors of arts of Trinity College. Mr. Nugent was senior mathematical scholar in lSbV, and Sheep- shank exhibit ioner. Mr. Little is a Whewell scholar of international law. .jcnoLAB-siiirs oy Grat's-jnn—The first exami- nation for the Bacen and Holt Scholarships, in connection with Giay's-inn, is fixed for Trinity Term next, which commentYS on the 22nd of May. The Bacon Scholarship is of the annual value of iM-5, and the Holt Scholarship ot the annual value of £4.0, each being tenable for two years. The subjret of examination will be "The History of England, Political and Constitutional." The scholarships will be open to every student of the bar who, en the day of the esnmination, shall havt been a member of the sociely for not more than five terms, and who shall have kept every term since his admission, excius-ive of that in or before which be shall have been admitted. Homb Rule.A meeting of the Homo HuleLeagno was held in Dublin on Monday. Several M. l\'s were present; amongst them Mr. Butt. Mr. Martin, M P., said he desired friendly relations with Eng- land, but if it was necessary he would be wrepared to ec to the battle field.
-----------IPARIS LETTER.
I PARIS LETTER. Paris, March 4. France has not now the slightest anxiety respect- ing her foreign policy since the Italian question has been definitely disposed of. Not that she ignores European questions. She knows full well that reserve for her is a national duty: and, while repressing the fantasies of the indiscreet at home, she will not allow herself to be provoked by any- thing Prussi 1 may say or do. The French remain simply as spectators, well aware that, in due time, their country will re-find its diplomatic influence, and a price be set upon their alliance. Europe has no reason to remain armed against France, as the latter knows what is due to her misfortunes and to her dignity. So little does she dream of mixing herself up in the affairs of others that she is even contemplating an international exhibition for 1875. There are things that some nations could not permit to be made against France, and there are many others that could not be seriously effected without her. To regan her rank, France recog- nises full well the n, cessity of first having her house in order; of presenting a form of constituti n guaranteed by laws, framed in harmony with the desires of the nation, as alone calculated to ensure duration and respectful obedience, so that when a minister speaks he will do so incontestibly in the name of France. Foreign courts will hesitate to indulge in any close relations with France so long as she has only an accidental Government, oscillat- ing or disappearing with every party combination. Naturally home politics become the pivot of this country's position and destinies, and hence the universal desire to organise and define the present situation—that is, the Kepublic, which France unquestionably has made up her mind to have, and that the recent progratnme- letter of Thiers has so faithfuil and powerfully interpreted. When a man of his sagacity, pene- trafion, and foresight, re-asserts that a Conserva- tive Republic is the only form of Government possible for France, common sense people have only to bow and repeat, Amen The valuable part of the counsel given by the ex-President is where be implores his countrymen to remain patient, to gain their cause legally, and to remeniber time is on their side. The present crisis the Republic is passing through will, like all lesions of adversity, prove beneficial. France has not the most remote intention to plunge into a new revolution; she knows where she is going o, and does not lose her head. If the Assembly will not act in accordance wil h a public opinion unmistakably pronounced, why the nation must wait, and continue as it does, to send deputies, as vacancies arise in the Chamber, to carry out its resolve, the moment there is the majority to turn the scale. Demagogic violences would be the death of the Republic; such would be the most fatal weapons with which it could arm its opponents. The Con- servative element is making way in the country, but for the profit of the Republic. The friends of the lattej are rapidly progressing in good conmiot and political education; and these are the 111- fluences that defeat the hopes of the three rival pretenders. Of the two elections just closed, the Government has experienced two additional defeats, and ihe Republic ha"* gained two additional supporters. It has also been shown that the departments, which are Republican, remain so, and those that hitherto were not, are becoming so. Since the present ministry took oiliee in -May last, there rave been fourt en elections, all hostile to them. Of the fourt en new deputies, all are Republ cans, save one—an Imperialist. This lesult does not ap- pear to be favourable to the combative proselytism of The Cabinet. In the success even of Ledru-Rollin, the Radicals have suffered a relative defeat. No person disputes their right to nominate what candidate they pleased, but in the present delicate condition of the Republic, that cannot well support the blunders of its friends, the selction of Ledru-Rollin was impru ieut. He was not suppoited by the moderate Republicans, yet his election by so narrow a majority, and a positive defeat, in the chief polling town of the district, show that extreme politicians are very properly nor. in fa vour. The other election in the district of l'oiticrs is the most striking that has yet taken place. It is the stronghold for monarch ical and clerical in- iluence; only elects rnya! deputies. In February, 1871, the most popular Republican candidate could only poll 5000; a few days ago M.OOO votes were given to him. In a word, the latest verdict of France means the triumph of the ideas held by Thiers, and the consequent defeat of monarchy and the coalition ministry. M. Yitet, an academician and monarchist, a shrewd obsprver of his countrymen, wrote, a short time before his death in June, 1873, the sole Re- public that France would like to sanction is not that which has always shown itself jealous and exclusive, a sort of monopoly and patrimony for a few, but a Republic open to all, generous, impartial, protecting alike all rights and all interests; a kind of Government which would be for France abso- lutely new no copy of the past; young; anew life; developing intelligence, woik, morality; such is the want of the present, the guarantee of the future, and the condition of safety." Old Giiizot- 90 years of age, has, as a voice from the tomb, stated that the Septennate, the provisional, is the only thing for France. The Septennate is not opposed by the Republicans; they only demand that it be refined and protected from intrigues according to law. This would involve the legal recognition of the Republic for seven ye.irs. Guizot avows that monarchy, fused or not fused, has failed; his Orleanism peeps out in recotnmend- ing a Stadtholdership for the country in 1880— with the Due d'Aumale understood for the office. The destruction of th Republic means the revival jf the Empire. On this point there seems to he very little difference of opinion. The fort hcoming reception of M. Emile Ollivier it the academy, promises to be a warm affair. The new "Immortal" intends delivering a panegyric on the private character, at least, of Napoleon III. This is held to he too much, even for those allies of Imperialism—the Royalists, to say nothing of the democrats, who are laughing at the dilemma in which events have placed the academy. Now the latter, in electing Ollivier in April, 1870, intended by that Act to display friendliness towards the Emperor's re-born Liberal- ism. Besides, had Napoleon not appointed Prevost- l'aradol, one of the Forty Immortals, Ambassador to the United States ? M. Ollivier is quite right to sing ho-anu;iR to his late Majesty's memory it is lucky, and therefore to be admired it is an act of gratitude also, and hence not be discouraged. Ollivier rose with the Empire—and with his light heart, fell with it. Then again, the thesis will be, new, the forma! glorification of the "Man of Sedan" is an original idea, and will turn aside attention, as to what are the literary or forensic claims of M. Ollivier to succeed to Lamartine's jtmhuil— I n martitie. who d>ed a pensioner of the Second Empire What a conjunction of oddities! In private life Napoleon III. was a right good fellow, which nobody o.;m deny. Though the wood pigeons are building their nests 1 17, in th grnden of the Tuilenes, and the crows theirs in the pleasure-ground of Rothschild in I ivit, Lafayette, vet people are not reconciled to the belief that, they have had their orthodox .dose of winter. Perhaps, never a winter seen in Paris so mild, and at the same time so fatal from itR very clemency. Sickness is very general, and an inhobi- taut with nt some affection of the throat or lungs is as rat e as a white blackbird, not as a white crow, since the .lardin d'Acclimatation, now breeds these curio-i! ;< s. In Paul de Kock's pet suburb of ll.r in i.inviib-. the liho-s are reported to he on the point of imrst.ifg into flower. The public gardens and prom- ncde- i,, being swept and gam shed,r< ceiVing :i n--f,agou toilette,likethe enlre- Kiim.v. tVhions for ladies. The on Sunday last, a, Auteuil were crowded it -as the second occasion Parisians luo' of witness- this imported English field gpott. h.<> necks were broken, and the ouly sensation was a jockey tumbling into a stream. The misery existing in Paris has been sensibly relieved by the energetic a3tion of the charitable, '1 'here only remains now to cure it by promoting the resumption of work, which is, however, 111) affair of high pobties. The poor have also been greatly sn -coure by their pledged beds and bedding hav- ing been redeemed by the general subsenpti n. Not less than 12,000 mattresses were in pawn. ,.1j!( three-fourths of these have been gratuitously re. stored to their o ners A very stirring "Ode to the Math-esses" been published, and has hc- i eme popular. The organ-grinders cannot play in the street of Paris they may, however, in the court yards if the poiters permit. Several of these musicians hnv. now ea.rds, which they present to the passers-by, setting forth they are '•organists" to certi.n streets. A not unc mmon trick in Paris is for a person with a bad cigar to ptop a gentleman having a good I or e, to solicit permission to "gbt, and in the hand- ing back manage to substitute the inferior weed. 'I
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---FOREIGN TELEGRAMS.
FOREIGN TELEGRAMS. FRANCE. PARIS, Feb. 27.-The Court of Appeal pronounced judgment to-day upon the claim of the descendants of M. Naundorff to the title of Bourbon Princes, on the ground that M. Naundorff was, as he asserted himself to be, Louis XVII. of France. All the chambers of the court concurred in rejecting the claim of these persons. The judgment stigmatises them as impudent and crafty adventurers, and condemns them to pay the costs of the trial. VERSAILLES, March 2 (Evening.)—The result of the elections in Vienne and Vaucluse has made an impression in parliamentary circles. The success of M. Le Petit is considered to be due to M. Thiers' recent letter. Ie Vaucluse the Monarchists did not poll more than at the last election. Versailles, March 3 (Evening).-In the Assem- bly, to-day, the discussion on the new taxes was continued. Some excitement has been caused by an article in to-day's l'iyar■>, on the overthrow of the Assembly by a military coup d'etat. The P e3i- dent and Vice-presidents of the Assembly will meat to-morrow to discuss the measures to be taken to guard against such an occurrence. PARis, March 3.—In spite of the reiterated as- sertions made to the contrary, an International Exhibition at Paris in 1875 has not been finally resolved upon. Up to the present time the pro- posal remains a mere private scheme. It is added that the French Government holds the opinion that, in the present state of affairs, it should not interfere in any such enterprise. Paris, March 3.—The Government, in conse- quence of the slow progress the commission on the Constitutional Laws is making with the work in- trusted to it, intend to use strong measures to hasten its deliberations. They will do so in order that the assembly may be put in possession as soon as possible of the whole of the new laws, the pre- paration of which the commission has undertaken, and one of the first purposes of which is to estab- lish definitely the Septennial Term. GERMANY. Berlin, March 2.—The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived at eleven this morning. They were received by the Prince and Princebsof Wales, the Crown Prince and rineess of Germany, and other German Princes. The Empress find all the Royal Princesses received their t'oyal Highnesses at the Winter Palace. The Duke and Duchess afterwards paid a visit to the Emperor, at the I I mperial Palace. Berlin, March 2.—The E mperor's state of health prevented his being present, at the Court dinner given yesterday to the Prince and P incess of Wales. 'The Empre-s Augusta took his place, and at the close of the dinner rose and said, 1 drink to the welfare of the Prince and Princess of Wales." I The band thereupon struck up the English National Anthem, the company remaining stand- ing and cheering. Brussels, March 3rd (Evening).—An express train will to-morrow meet the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Belgian frontier, and bring them to Brussels. There will he a Court dinner and a performance of TiL ill On Thursday. On Friday they leave for England. SPA IIS. Lisbon, Feb. 27 (Evening).—Madrid telegrams state thai; General Morion"s liar.; been defeated by the Carlists with a loss of Moon men. Marshal Serrano and Admiral Topete have, in consequence, left -Madrid for the north. Madrid, Feb. 2H.-GeneraJ Moriones telegraphs from Larigida asking for reinforcements, and for another General to take the command of the Republican forces. Bayo.nne, Feb. 28.- The following intelligence is derived from an ofiicial Carlist source:—The capture of Bilbao is considered close at hand and certain. Don Carlos, with his stall, has been at Barracalda since Feb. 22, following- the siege operations and the movements of Gen. Moriones. The bombardment of Bilbao commenced on the 22nd with great vigour. In the fighting on the 2Hh General Moriones was t hrice repulsed with immense loss from the Heights of Sormnorostro, where the Carlists were entrenched on an elevated plateau bristling with batteries. All the foreign Consuls have left Bilbao. bi.K'cKiiB, March 1—It is reported that a Republican column of 5000 men has been cut to pieces by the Carlists, near Somorrostro. Madrid, March 2.—The Republican losses in the battle of Monte Mbando are officially stated at Soo killed and wounded. Marshal Serrano has ar- airived at Santander. The provincial deputation of Madrid has offered material aid to the Govern- meut.. Paris, March 2.—Carlist despatches received to-day announce the capture of liilbao. St..Juan IH; Luz, March 3.—Marshal Serrano and Admiral Topete were accompanied here by re- inforcements. General Moriones holds his former positions. .Vr..Ikant liE Lu7., March :I,-On Tuesday last the Republican troops advanced at two p.m., cross- ing the river at Sornmorrostro, taking the Carlist positions neartheriver, and retaining them through- out the night. On Wednesday morning the whole army crossed the river at Musquez, endeavouring to turn the Carlist right wing. In this operation they nearly succeeded. Both sides fought well. The Republicans recr ssed the river in good order, but lost duriug the day 1000 killed and wounded. General Priino di Rivera wa.s wounded. The Car- list, losses were heavy. Want of ammunition is siiid to be the cause of General Morioues* check. The Carlist positious are very strong. Further operations are deferred until the arrival of addi- tional troops and artillery. Bilbao is being bom- barded. AUSTRIA. Vienna, March 2.—Yesterday the President of the Hungarian Ministry had an audience of the Emperor, and announced that the Cabinet desired to resign. His Majesty deferred his decision. VihNNA, March 2 Night).-Yesterday there was a meeting of the deputies of the Constitutional party. All the ministers were present. The latter expressed the hope that during the rest of the par- liamentary campaign the deputies and the Minis- ters would remain unit d. It was agreed to finish the discussion of the Confessional Bills before the prorogation. ITALY. Rome, Mnrch 1.—The Japanese Minister has been recalled, and to-day his successor presented his credentials to King Victor Emmanuel. The Popo received to-day the members of the popular clubs representing the associations devoted to Catholic interests. The grand receptions, in- termpt"d last year by the Pope's illness, will now be resume 1. AMERICA. NEW YORK. March 2.—A dreadful accident has occurred 011 t;ie Great Western Railway. A pas- senger car caught lire, and before the train could be stopped eight p rsoua were kdied and fourteen injured. CKITlCAL STATE OF AFFAIRS AT TIENTSIN. HoncikoN't. Feb. 27.- It, is reported that the Chinese Government has notified to the Foreign Ministers at Pekin that it, cannot guarantee the j lives of the foreign residents at "ient-in, in conse- quence of Üh:inflc¡,n'Il't.tOI'Y,I;"¡,'a",j" which are being circulated against them. Ihe naval authorities at Hongkong have been communicated with, and Ie. ,<«) to despatch a protecting force. T'FAMINE !N INDIA. I Dwheyra. Eastkhn March 1.—I find g«"er>*b v ere, and increasing privation among the h1A '-M "'bis-es. The better classes are not, suffering About, one-ihsrd of the inhabitants in each village e are undergoing glow starvation. Several famr. e, deaths have {i.e -dy occurred. Systematised relief organisation ia only just being commenced. The delay is owing to the deficient staff. There has r,° Do rice in the bazaars for a fortnight past. Ine future is terribly ominous.-Duily News. Calcutta, March I.-Sir .R. Temple in his pri- vate letter states that he found 270,000 out of a total population of 817,000 in Soopole, Rhauguipore, were starving. He has ordered 28,000 tons. In the Mudhoobunee district, 400,000, out of a popu- lation of 700,000, are starving. He has ordered 60,000 tons to be sent in 13,000 carts, and 2o,000 bullocks, with a reserve of 2000 carts. la Dnrbungah, 60,000 tons of food are ordered for 400,000 starvelings in 10,000 carts, besides the tramway supply. In Tajpore. South Tirhoot, affairs are gro ving worse, unless rains fall soon. The relief and medical establishments are fouiiing rapidly. Hunger is touching all the lower classes. The Government hopes to keep it down. Sales of grain are authorised. Four hundred and tifty miles of roads are being constructed in these sub. divisions. Sir R. Temple is now with the Viceroy. and proceeds to-morrow to Purneah, Dinapore, and also to Rungpore if it should be necessary, and then will return to Tirhoob,—Times. | yewp< rt Friilnv, Mnrch 6, 1S74 Printed nnd I'uM'^hcd at ihe MoNMourusnnu? Mbht.iw ^pneml P-mtittp- Otticc. No. T5, Cnt-nrnfrfint-strpet. in the ^ivnuirli of Niwpert. in the county of Monmouth, by WILLIAM OTHERS, reairltnp; nt Melrose Villas C¥t()lcl Top?. in the Parish of St. Woollos 'Newport.