Monmouthshire Merlin

A THRENODY ON THE APPROACHING DEMISE OF OLD MOTHER CORN-LAW. BY THOMAS MOORE. I see, I see-it is coming fast, Our dear old Corn-law's doom is cast! That ancient lady, of high degree, Is as near her end as she well can be And much will all vulgar eaters of bread Rejoice, when they see her fairly dead For never, from ancient Meda* down To the late Mrs. Brownrigg, of bad renown, Has any old dame been known, they aver, Who could starve and carve poor folks, like her. But, dear old damsel, they wrong her sadly, "fwas all by law she behaved so badly; And God forbid, wliate'er the event, That free-born Britons should e'er repent Wrongs done by Act of Parliament. But is it indeed then come to this, After all our course of high-bred bliss ? Poor, dear old Corn-law !—prop of Peers, And glory of Squires, through countless years, Must all thy structure of Pounds and Pence, Like another Babylon, vanish hence ? Must towering Princes and Rents sublime Thus topple, likp turrets touch'd by time.- And all, for what ? that each shirtless oaf May bolt, for breakfast, a larger loaf! For this one vulgar purpose alone Is all this inelegant mischief done. For this poor Knatchbull—hard privation- Must lower a peg his social station For this, even lords (distressing thought) Will soon to short commons all be brought; Will fall with their wheat so much per quarter And get to look blue as Bucky's garter. And stars will grow pale as prices fail, And fees in tail will be cut off for sale, And all will sink by a sliding scale,— As "slips o'er its slime the sleek slug-snail,"f Nor leave one corn-lord high and hale, Though they flourish now to tell the tale This lady, as is well known, was in the agricultural line. See, for an account of her farming operations, Ovid's Metamorph. I.Jvii. v. 227. Her skill in carving" is thus brietly described by the same poet- stricto Medea recludit Ense senis jugulum." t A line borrowed, with but little alteration, from one of the Lake Poets, the orieinal being as follows Slow sliding o'er its sliine the slippery sleek slug-snail." — Glasgow Argus.

J LETTER BOX. To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin. antiquariatTresearches. MR F NO< g ~D,TOR,—For the satisfaction of your readers I will now a 'be statistics of the borough, ere I treat further of eol°gical remains, leaving them to form their own conclusions, r ,e 'he population has remained stationary at 13,766, or lias lgr"f>r»ded or, finally, (as I contend; advanced to about »00f/. I now, upon authority, give the following numbers, as correct, upon the lists iust revised. number of those freemen whose rights were preserved in- choate at the passing of ihe Reform Act 44 ^'tmber of persons entitled »o vote for boroughs' member, resident in the borough of Newport 472 ,|he like resident in the parish of St. Woollos 259 like resident in the parish of Christchurch (the br id ge) 7 l'olal votes for borough member, in Sept. revision list, 1845 782 The nnmber of burgesses entitled to vote for couacilmen, of the Borough of Newport, as revised by the assessors in 1845, is as follows For the entire borough, according to Reform Act 602 Composed as follows For the borough itione 382 For the pariiiii of St. Woollos 212 Christchurch 8 602 Of which number there are, in the East ward. 264 West ward 338 602 The corporation of Newport is composed of six aldermen and eighteen councillors, out of which the mayor is annually chosen. Should Number Wrong cavil at the correctness of these state. meats I refer him to Mr. Handy, who shall, instanter, annihilate the St. Thomas a Dydimus, and prove him Caeur de Leoa suns doubt! The borough of Newpoit was anciently surrounded with walls. In the Highstieet, adjoining the Tredegar Arms, (now occupied by Messrs. Moss and Newman,) is an old edifice, still existing, The Muranger's House." The rouranger, being an officer who superintended the repairs of the town-walls, and collected the tolls for keeping them in repair. William de Newburgh, or William of Newpoit, was the muranger of Newport in the 15th century, Ind is the author of a metrical romance, or English Fabliau, entitled "Sir Cleges and, as the only copy of this unjqne specimen of early poetry is that deposited in the Advo- cates' Library at Edinburgh, I extract a sample or two as spe- cimens. I must premise that the author is either a Saxon or Anglo-Norman, or, probably, he would not have held his mural .ppointment in a subjugated country. "SIR CLEGES." Will ye lystyn and ye schyll hers (Jf eldyrs that befor vs were, Both hardy and wight, 1. In the time of King Vter, 2. That was fadyr of Kynge Athyr, A semely man in sight. He had a knight, that bight Sir Cleges, 3. A dowtyar was non of dedes Of the rounde tabull ryght: He was a man of hight stature, And therto full fayr of feture, And also of gret myght. A Corteysear Knyght than he was on, In all the lond was there non, He was so gentyll and frea And after describing him in like fashion, as Chaucei's Knight in his Canterbury Tales, the writer details the virtues of the Knight's Ltdy Dame Clary"-their riches—their goodly entertainment thus- Every .yere Sir Cleges wold At Christemas a gret fest hold, In worschepe of that daye As ryalle in all that thing, As he had bin a kinge, Forsooth as I you saye. And so on, for ten years, keeping a sort of Kenilworth Open House a*' the chronicle tells us Tyll his roaneres were all owaye and then the good knight finds his friends like tboae of modern date Gan slake awaye on every syde." And it befell on Chrestemas evy n, The kynge bethought him full evyn. He dwelly'd be Kardyfe sydde And to on, like another prodigal in distress- As he walky'd up and down, Sore sythitig he hei-de a soutie Of dvvers myustnlsee; Of trompes, pipes, and claraneris, 4. Of harpes, luttes, and getarnys, A sotile and sawtie 6- Many carylls 7. and gret daynsyng, On every syde he hard syngyng In every place trewly » He wrong his hondes and wepy > Much mone made ne there, Syghynge petusly. '« Lord Jesu he seyd, Hevyn Kynge, Of nought thou modyst all thynge, I thanke Thee of thy sont* • The myrthe that I was wonte to make, At thys time, for thy sake, if I fede both free and bond After a dozen or two such stanias, it proceeds"" As he knenyl'd on his kne, Underneath a chery tre, Makyng his preyere; He raught a bowe on his hede, And rotse upe in that stede, No longer knelyd he there. When the bowe was in hys hand, Grene leves thereon he fonde, And round beryse in fere He seyd. Dere God of Trenyte, What manere of beryse may this be 'fht itovin thia yme of yore, 1 40 After such apostjophising, he acquaints Dame Clarjs, who ad. vises him thus- Then said the ladve, with good chere, "Let us fill a panyer 8. Of this that God hath sent; To morown, when the day dothe spryng, Ye schyll to Kaidyfe to the Kyngs, And geve him to present, And seche a gefte he may have there, The better we may fare neist yere." According acting on the modern principle of giving a sprat to catch a whale, our Knight pests from Newhargh to Cardiff. but is repulsed by the porter-his knightly appearance being rather seedy—but the suly Cerburus admits 011 his promi-eto bribe him one-third of King Arthur's bounty. The usscher, in like manner extorts a promise of another thild; hut bribery at court was Dot content, our knignt was attacked by the sty-vard (ste.v- airl) who extorts a promise of the remaining third portion of the king's remuneration. The incensed knight finally is so enraged that on the king a desiring Lito ask any reasonable favor, tie requests permission to give three knaves of the king's household a sound cudgelling, which being granted he divides the favor in three equal parts, to the courtly extortioners. King Atthur and his courtiers, are of course delighted with She jest, and as more substantial favor to poor Sir Cleges, The kynge yave hym anon ryght z All that longed to a knyght, Jo rech his body wytli The castell of Kardyffe he gave him thoo, With many other yeftes moo." It is, however, to be wished that instead of mere Legendary Romance, the worthy muranger of Newport had handed down to posterity some authentic details of his own period,—I mereiy send you the above extracts, to furnish your readers with some idea ot the early English style of poetical composition in the fifteenth century, and with wlnih I will at present conclude, lest I trespass too much on your journal. Youis obdic::¡tl. W. M. TOWNSEND. 1 J. Wyght, hrave. (Saxon.) 2. titer, I. e. liter Pendragou :1. A knight of tbis name occurs ill Malory's Morte I, c. 90. Part 3, c. 139 aiid UO. 4. C|j)nraiieris, viz., clarellets ¡"¡-ill c!nira;u. 5. Gctar!1Ys, guitars. 0. jjawiie, vb. l'saltery. 7. Carolls. ■8.0,.B5t

#p'. NEWS. MERCHANT SEAMEN.—The following notice, which is of very considerable importance to owners and masters of vessets.and all p.ersons more or less concerned in the mer- cantile or shipping trade of the country, has been posted in conspicuous places at the Custom House, and the several dock establishments in London, and copies of the same have been transmitted, by direction of the commissioners, to the principal officers of the revenue at .he several pons and other placed along the coast of the United Kingdom, for the information and future government of themselves and their officers, and ail parties conceffled :_U By the commissioners for managing and causing to be levied and collected her Mijesty's customs and other duties, notice is hereby given, that the restrictions of an Act of Parliament passed in the 8th and 9th years of the reign of her present Majesty Queen Victoria, intituled An Act for the protec- tion of Seamen entering on board Merchant Ships,' came into operation on the 1st inst., and that from and after that day no person, except the owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of a merchant's ship, or the ship's husband will be at liberty to hire, engage, supply, or provide seamen^ to be entered on board merchant ships, without a licencc to be entered on board merchant ships, without a licencc fiist obtained from the Lords of the Committee of her Majesty's Privy Council appointed for Trade and Foreign Plantations; and further, that applicatIOn tor such licences must be made by letter, addressed to The Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Whitehall, London.' —By order of the Commissioners of her Majesty's Cus- toms—(Signed) C. SCOVEI.L, Secretary,—Custom House London, Oct. 25, 1845."—This important enactment has for its object the protection of a very numerous and useful body of persons,-who are proverbially notorious for their improvidence and carelessness with respect to affairs regard- ing which most persons, more or less, think it necessary to be careful-viz., the preservation of themselves from the impositions of fraudulent and ill disposed and conducted persons, and should be haiied ty them with the thankfulness and satisfaction which, from its benevolent iniention, it eminently deserves. WRFCK OF THE MARGARET, Huu. STEAMER,—NINE- TEEN LIVES LOST.—Hamburg, October 25.—It is my pain- ful duty to inform you that intelligence has reached this city of the wreck of the stealer Margaret, Captain Raw- linson, bound from tins port to Hull, with a cargo of wheat, oats, and wool, and with the average number of passengers. The details, which were hastily written, arc sotnewhatscanty, but it appears that the steamer got stranded on the so-called Memert, off the island of Juist, on the 22nd ult., and that the entire deck was swept away by the waves. It was at that time that sixteen passengers and three sailors wele drowned. The remainder of the persons on board were first conveyed from the wreck by a vessel bound to Rotter- dam, subsequently transferred 10 another ship, and landed at Norden on the 22nd ult. An atlemot will be made to save part of the cargo. P.S. It appears that there were ouly seventeen passengers in the whole, on DoarlJ, including some emigrants; so that only one has been fortunate enough to escape. Such is the demand, at the present time, for shipwrights, at her Majesty's dock yards at Portsmouth, that our city is placarded, offeiing liberal wages and a free passage to forty good workmen.—-Chester Courant. We are happy to state that provision has been made by the Board of Ordnance for the widows and orphans of the unfortuuate men who perished by the late explosion in the Royal Labratory department of the Royal Arsenal. SERIOUS CHAHGE OF MUTINY, AND ATTEMPT TO SINK A BRITISH SHIP, BY THE Cjfcw.—Liverpool, Tuesday.— The royal mail steamer Canroria, which arrived here last night from Halifax and Boston, with the North American mails, brought seven seamen in irons, part of tiie crew of the British barque Champlain, belonging to Cork, who had been given up by the United States authorities, under the treaty with that country, for examination in England upon a charge of aggravated mutiny, and of attempting to sink the vessel they were navigating. We have made enquiries into the history of this case, and we hear that the testimony of the witnesses will in all probability disclose mobt abomi- nable and wicked conduct on the part of the crew. From what we hear, the history is this. A few days after the prisoners had shtpped with Captain Penton, there arose a scarcity of seamen in St. John's, and wages advanced con- siderably. They could not persuade the Captain to release them from the terms of their articles, and thereupon, It is said, eo good evidence, that they conspired to compel him to put them ashore after they had been a few days at sea. The first mutinous symptom was shown by the prisoners commanding one of their body, Hincker, to put the ship about and steer a course quite opposite to that directed by the Captain. The Captain, however, succeeded in causing the vessel to keep the right course, and then it w^s sud- denly discovered that the vessel was making water. On this, the prisoners, in a body, refused to work. It is said an augur was found upon one of them, and with this augur they kept continually boring holes, until at one time there was eight and a haif feet water in the hold. Being in danger, the prisoners just pumped sufficiently to keep the ship afloat, and then they knocked off." This conduct was repeated for several days. At last a brig hove in sight. The Captain immediately hoisted signals of distress, which were fortunately observed, and boats sent to the relief ol the Champlain. The two Captains commuuicated, and the lesult was that the seven prisoners, after a long struggle, were placed in irons, and conveyed to the first port, which happened to be on the coast of Maine. This outline, we are assured, is strictly correct. The details, we are also as- sured, will show most courageous conduct on the part of Captain, and the officers of the ship, who remained fallhfulto their duty.—Morning lleiahl. The Rev. J. H. Scudamore Burr, M.A., late Vieaar ofTidn. ham, near Chepstow, was duly installed into the office of Priest Vicar in the Cathedral at Exeter, in the room of the Pkev. J. Armstrong, on Sunday week, and read himself in on the follow- ing day. EXPORT OF POTATOES —Considerable hustle prevailed at Duu- dee harbour, last week, in shipping potatoes for the Continent. Various vessels were loading with this staple produce, and it is probable that several more will be put in requisition for the same traffic.— Edinburgh paper, MR. HUDSON,—A magnificent dinner was given to Mr. Hud- son, at Sunderland, on Tuesday. The dinner was intended to commemorate his return to parliament as the representative of that borough but it partook quite as much of the character of a reilway festival as of a political commemoration.—The Rev. Dr. Townend, Prebendary of Durham, made a remarkable speech I on the occasion, ably defending the railway system.—So great was the demand for tickets for this dinner, although the price was one guinea each, that on Monday they were at a premium of one pound. At the late Cardiganshire Sessions, Mr. Jolin Hughes, solici- tor, Aberystwith, applied to the court for an order altering the fence days of the river Dovey, which granted. SUICIDE THROUGH SEDUCTION.—On Saturday last, an inquiry took place into the circumt8nces alluding the mslancholy death of a young woman, named Susan Roberts, residing in Duncan- street, Liverpool, who had killed heiself by taking aquafortis. The deceased was moat respectably connected, and the seducer formerly a lodger in the house of her mother, who is a widoiv. It appeared from the statement of a brother-in-law of the de- ceased that the unfortunate young woman, some eight or ten days previous, was ttiken alarmingly ill, and being questioned as to the cause, said that she had swallowed a quantity (some half- pint) of aquafortis, a I quor which he used in the process of his business. A Mrs. Minton, a female who had been attending upon Auiss Roberts, stated that for a length of time previous 10 the decease accomplishing the rash act which caused her death, and which had taken place on the previous day, she had been in a low despondiDg way. Deceased, on being questioned as to her motive for having wished to lelminate her own existence, had stated that a young man, of the name of Charles Jones, had been in the habit of having a criminal intercourse will) her-tballhey had lived together -n the intimacy of man and wife, and that he had afferwards slighted her. About a week after she had taken the poison, she expressed a wish to see Jones, who came and saw her, when she exclaimed,—■'O you are the cause of this'" In answer to a question put by the coroner, the beadle stated that he believed Jones was a professor of music in thlll town. The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity," coupling with it a severe censure on Jones's conduct. The coroner coincided with them in opinion as to the conduct of Jones, which he con- ceived had been most reprehensible, and he hoped every publicity would be given to the case by the public press. The Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, Liver- pool, has received a letter from Lord Sandon, expressing his lordship's approval of the memorial to the Privy Council in fa- vourof addllionallndlan corn. His lordship thinks that such a couise on the part of our government would greatly strengthen, in America, the hands of those who advocatetbe relaxation of the tariff.

MEETING AT CHEPSTOW. THE CHEPSTOW, FOREST OF DEAN, AND GLOU- CESTER JUNCTION RAILWAY, AND EXTENSION RAILWAY. An important meeting of the inhabitants of Chepstow was held on Friday afternoon, at the Beaufort Arms Hotel, fur the pur- pose of receifing a àplltalion from the above company, and con. sidering the merits of the line. At one o'clock, the horn appointed for the meeting, the atten- dance was numerous and respectable. The deputation consisted of E. Hall, Esq., the deputy-chair- man of the company, Sir Wm. Johnson. Bait., Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mi. Andre v, Mr. Maylor, and Mr. Phelps, the solicitor, and Mr. Wm. Pro'heroe, the secretary to the companies. Captain Vaughan, of OJdlteJd Houie, near Blakerey, a large laDd. owner on the line, having been unanimously voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by calling upon the secretary to read the adveriisement calling the meeting. The Chairman then said, that having been called so unaoi- mously to preside over the meeting, ho felt it his duty to do so, although, at the same time, he could have wished that some other geutieman, many of whom he saw in the room, more able to perform its duties, had been called upon to undertake tt. They were met, 8 he understood, to receive a depuratIon from the companies that had been named, and to take into consideration the merits of the Chepstow, Forest of Dean, and Gloucester Junction Railway, and its extension through Chepstow to Usk, and into the mining districts. Every individual would, he was sure, be heard most fairly, so that the interests and wishes of the inhabitants of the district might be ascertained. For his own part, he might be permitted to say that he thought it would be a very desirable line—one calculated to increase the prosperity of the neighbourhood, and one which he should not feel any wish to oppose, even though it might Dass through his own lands,— convinced, as he was, tach individual must yie1d a portioa of his personal comforts or individual iuterests for the promotion of the public gooll. (Cheers.) He would now call upon Mr. Phelps, th, solicitor to the compny, io explain to them his views as to (he meri; and advantages of the proposed line. Mr. Phelps rose and said—In appearing before a publicmeet- ing to explain the merits of the proposed railways, it was not the first lime that he had done so, having been present al a very nu- merous and highly iufljeotisl meeting of the landowners and others of the Purest of Dean, that had been held the other day at the Speech Iluuse, In lI,e Forest. The object of the present meeting was to hear any objections that could be made to the piopo^td line while those persons who were in its favour would enter into ils merits by which means, the inhabitants of Chep- stow and the neighborhood, by whom he was so respectably surrounded, wouid be enabled to arrive at a just conclusion as to whether it would prove beneficial to the town and port, or olber- "i»>. (lleai, i^ear.) The first line of railway which thev had proposed, was tlNtof the Chepstow, Forest ol Dean, and Glou- cester Junction, the object of which line was to fill up the link wanting in railway communication with Gloucester, and to effect the necessary junction ibetween the South Wales line at Chepstow and the city of Gloucester, thus continuing the disect commuoication between South Wales, the south of Ireland, and the north of Irrhnd. The South Wales Company, he was pre- pared to admit, was on the ground long before that with which he connected but they left the public very much in the dark as to what their real intentions were. Mr. Brunei's first project was very different from that now put forward. He had first proposed to carry the One across the Severn by means of a bridge at Hock Crib. The Admiralty, however, objecred to that plan. He now, being foiled, proposerlto pass by means of a tunnel under the river at the same point; but there was a great defect in this plan—it did not touch Gloucester, the interests of the county required should be done. Since; however the altera- tion as to the passRge at Hock Crib, much diffc:renee had arisen in the views of the people of Gloucester. Mr. Brunei very pro- dently saw, that if obliged to go to Gloucester, in order to pro- ceed to London, passengers must come hack to Stonehoiise, a distance of 21 miles, and hence it was that he proposed the pas- sage by Hock Cnb. Since this plan was proposed by Mr. Brunei, there had been three or four projects started to connect Gloucester with Oxford, and thus open a direct passage to the metropolis, upwards of 20 miles shorter than by Stonehoue, and at the same time avoiding a tunnel under the river, which, to tra- vellers, must be higoly objectionable. But not only so. Within the last 24 hours he (Mr. Phrlps) had been informed, not olficially, but on excellent authority, upon which he had no doubt hecculd rely, that Mr, Wal'hen, the government engineer, who had been sent down to inquire as to the eligibility of a bridge across the Severn, at Aust Passage, had reported to the Admi- ralty in favour of that measure. (Hear, hear.) Under those circumstances it was not likely that parliament would sanction the proposed passage by Hock CI ih, when the people of Chepstow could get upon a rail close to their own doors, and proceed, by way of Bristol, at once to London. Another point was, that government had expressed its detarmination to favour direct lines. It was material for their consideration that the Chepstow and Dean Forest line would open the great mineral district of the Forest of Dean, the rich resources of which had been hitherto almost unknown. He was happy to state that one good had already arisen from this project, as some gentleman had already purchased a very Urge mineral properly in the forest. The pro- moters of this line would feel it their duty, and were fully pre- pared, to afford to the fore6t and its inhabitants every accommo- dation, not only for the trensit of passenger*, but also for the carriage of coals and osinerals. The meeting would be surprised to learn that the cost of carrying a ton of coal in the Forest of Dean, five miles, was at present 2s. 3d., while the charge for carrying the same quantity over ttre same distance upon the Neweastle and Darlington line was 10-1 Iths of a penny. They would see from this that one greôt advantage which must result from the construction of the proposed line would be, that they would have coals brought to their own doors much, very much, cheaper than they now could. The line would alone afford the ready means of transit, and would enable the mineral riches of the forest to be conveyed in a short time, and, at a very inconsi- derable cost, to the poit of Chepstow, which it would make the port of export, at least for the west side of the forest, from which were raised annually at least 300,000 tons of coals. He need not remind theIr. that Chepstow, with its beautiful scenery, its excellent river, and its capabilities for accommodating ships of all sizes, had been too long neglected but he did think that if that railway was constructed, it would bring a vast increase to their export trado—would bring timber to their town, and would restore their ship-building trade, for which they were so cele- brated, and again cause their port to resume its former import- ance. (Hear.) As he had said before, Chepstowwas the natural port of export for all the wesiern end of the forest, as vessels of large size could run up the river, take in coals at a very little cost and without anv loss of time, instead of being detained while coals could be put on board small vessels at Lydney-lock to be re-shipped by means not only were considerable ex- pense and'delay occasioned, but the coals were greatly deterio- rated in qualitv. They should remember, although they had not at present any'docks a't Chepstow, vet they had every capab.hty for their formatiou, aud that there were not wanting parties to assist them in doing so, when their trade was in such a state as to require them. He would now call their attention to the fact that their extension lino would pass through no fewer than one hundred important collieries, and thirty large iron aud tin works. (Hear hear.) If by the construstion of that line they could carry the coal and irou, the produce of those mines and works, to the metropolis of England, at an infinitely less price than by the present circuitous route by sea, surely it must be self-evident to all, that they must command the traffic. If the saving should only be at the rate of one shilling per ton, such must be the necessstuy consequence, but the saving would be very much more considerable. They would he able to carry coals of the very finest quality, convey them from the very heart of the mineral district, 150 miles from London, and be enabled to supply them to the inhabitants of the metropolis at less than 20s. per ton and he wouid put it to any gentleman present, atall acquainted with London, whether anything like good or desirable coal could be purchased in Loudon at anything like that price 1 Another great advantage which he anticipated would result from Ihe line was, that it would place Chepstow on a par, as a port, with Newport, and would enable it to obtain a portion of the ex- port trade. In the districts through which the line would pass port trade. In the districts through which the line would pass, enormous quantities I pit-wood were grown, but although im- mense quantities of this species of timber weie being continually required at every coal-pit, aud iron and other works in the mineral districts, yet its growers could now obtain but litle, if any, profit by its sale, the cost of its transit being so great that the mineral proprietors were enabled to import foreign pit-wood at a cheaper rate to those ports that lay contiguous to their collieries, while, bv means of this railway, the cost of transit would be so trifling that the inhabitants of the district might properly calculate upon supplying those works and collierics with the pit wood which they required. There was another article produced in the fores* of essential v due in the making of iron—he alluded to the valu- able mines there which produced what was called red oie. This article was extensively used in all the iion works, but most of this was alo procured from Cumberland and from a.hr¡¡ad, be- cause thete was no iutans of transit for it from the forest to the works. By ilierailwav, however, it would be speedily and chenply conveyed to them. To the agricultural portion of the district he might remark that this railway would afford the ready means of transit for their poultry and farm produce, for the supply of a population consisting of upwards of 100,000 touts, and all who knew the habits of the country were lully aware that the miners, wlw received hig-h wages, weie most dainty in their appetites, and would, at whatever cost, have poultry when fiist in season, eod "ther rariiies for their supper, which constituted their regular mt'a!. In fact, these gentlemen who ascended from the pit or the mine, begrimed and black, appsared to think that the more costly was the rarity in food which thev fancied, the more neces- sary it was that they should have it. One mote remark and he should sit down. It should be recollected that their extension line was the only one which pioposed to artfrd the means of railway communication between the towns of Chepstow and Usk; there was, It was true, another line th;.t partly inledered with them, but with that lint) he had no doubt that satisfactory arrangements would be made. Mr. Cnrre, a large landed proprietor, aid he had understood that llis Grace, the Duke of l3eanforl, had some time since sent orders to his agents 10 warn off all partieS who attempted 10 make surveys over any portions of his estate, but he had since been informed that the duke had written to say that he would allgw the survey to be made. He wished to know if this was so ? Mr. Phelps replied that it was. The deputy chairman and himself had had a personal interview with his grace upon the subiect ot the line, and he ad theieupon wtiiten the letter al- luded to by Mr. Curre. FVir. Curre then stated that his only objection to the line was that it would cut quite through two of the most valuable meadowsofhisestatc. Mr. Fitzwilliaoi, as one of the provisional committee, begged to assure Mr- Curre that they were most anxious, as far as they could, consistently with the public interests, to avoid going I hi ou f h any estate, and he would pledge himself that they would meet Mr. Currc, and accommodate them. selves to his wishes as far as they could. The Deputy Chairman said they were anxious to respect private rights, but they must take the best line they ,could; the company would, however, deal most liberally with all persons whose property was at all itMeifered with. After some fnr her remarks from Mr. Curre, who, while he expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which his obser- vations had been met by the directors, expressed his fears that the line might shut out the use of the Aberdare coals in which he was largely interested, Mr. Fitzwilliam, as a large coal contractor explained that the Aberdare coal was certainly the best coal for steam pur- poses there would, however, be an &hun nt demand both for the Aberdare and the Forest coal, for all the government ontracU were now for two-thirds Welsh and one-third Nevy- castle coals and if theie were not greater facilities of transit for the Welsh coals, in which he ioduded both the Foiest coal and the Aberdare, they, the contractor, must, as they often did fail in the execution of their contracts. Mr. Davis then rose to propose the first resolution, and in doing so said, there was one thing he must ootice-viz., that their thanks were due to those gentlemen who had come from London with the view of constructing a railway that could not fail to be highly bsneficial to the port and town of Chep- stow. The Forest of Dean teemed, as they well knew, with mineral wealth, for which Chepstow would have been the shipping port, but, unfortunately, or fortunately, perhaps, as it would hereafter turn out, Mr. Brunei had done ail in his power to divert nil the irafiie from the port of Chepstow.— This was a reason why, he thought the whole of the inhahi- tints of this town should support this line. With regard to this position, if they were left to the South Wales line, it would put almost an end to their trade for it should he re- membered that Mr. Blunel's line was intended to cross by a bridge over the very centre of their haibour. and would thus entirely destroy it. It wus already circumscribed enough, and 100 much so, if they were to ibcre-ise their trade but 1\1 r. Burners plan would effectually pievent their ever doing so, or becoming a port of any importance. The line now advo. cated would, on ibe contrary, cross by a bridge above their present one, and thus present no obsiacfe, nor in any way injure or circumscribe their port; besides, it would also make Chepstow the centre of the mineral wealth of 'he Forest 01 Dean, and of a large, portion of Monmouthshire. He was truly glad to see a day dawning which would raise Chepstow to an exalted position, and he could state what was known to many of them, that it had already been airanged for many West Indian vessels to come direct-to the port, deliver their cargoes, and then load with the coais and iion which weie the plo.duce of the district. Mr. llandell having seconded the resolution, which was as follows:—"lbat this meeting having heard the views and explanations of the gentlemen representing the interests of ttie Chepslow, Forest of Dean, and Gloucester Junction, and the Welsh South Midland and Extension railway companies, ;i?e of opinion thnt the projected railways %<e of the greatest im- portance to the best interests of the lowt^Sf'"Chepstow, and the district through which they will pas, and are deserving of their undivided support, by reason of their opening a direct communication with the important mining dislrict of the Forest of Dean, and the towns of Gloucester. Cheltenham Birmingham, and London, to the east, and of the towns of Usk, PontypcoI, Abergavenny, Brecon, aud North Wales, to the norlh-features presented by no other line," it was car- ried uuammously. Resolutioils of thanks 10 the deputation and to the chair. man having also been unanimously carried, the meeting separated.

-==-- EXTRAORDINARY CASE. GUILDHALL, J. W. Warren, J. R. Allen, W. Blake, and C. N. Welrnal)( Esqis.—One of the most extraordinary cases which has ever come before the Bench, transpired i his (LIY. Mr. John Cliappel, and Mr. James Dommett, of Norton, applied to the magistrates for a warrant against Thomas Slape, jun., and Sarah and Elizabeth Slape, for grossly ill-treating and falsely lmprisouing tiieir father, 1 floras Slape, Ihe elder. The applicants were accompanied and ptoftssiocally assisted bv Mr. H. W. Shilhbeer. solicitor. Mr. Dommett, on being sworn, stated that he complained on behalf of Mr. lhomas Slape, of Hillfarrance, yeoman, who had beeo violenlly asseulled, and was 'hen imprisoned and detained by his son and two daughters, and a man named Oateu, of Taunton. The applicant stated thut on Thursday morning last he went to Mr. Slape's house, with Mr. Chappel and other per- sons, and saw Thomas Slnpe at ihe window of a room on the ground floor; Slape spoke to applicant and complained of ill- IIsage, and said that his children bad fastened him in, and he could not get out; he a:kcd Dommett 10 fetch him something that he might break open the door. A pick-axe was accordingly given, and witness saw Slape endeavour to force it open. On hearing the noise the three children of Slap^. with Oaten, imme diately went into his room Sarah and Elizabeth Slnpe' seized their father and threw him on the Led, and whilst Oaten held him, the son knelt upon his parent, and the daughter seemed the window and fastened the curtain. Witness heard Thomas Slape curse his father repeatedly, and call him a b- old rogue. The man Oaten said to witness and 'hose who were with him, "You shall tear him limb ftom limb, belore you shall have him." Thev waited outside the house for some minutes, and heard the son and the daughters in one of the rooms hallooing, laughing, and talking. Mr. John Chappel, who had accompanied the applicant, was sworn, and corroborated Mr. Dommeti's evidence. A certificate from Dr. Gillett, of FairvVater Asylum, as.to the present state of Mr. Slape's nnnd, was handed in: it repre- sented that he was capable of managing his own affairs and mixing with society. The Bench granted the warrant, which was given into the hands of Spiller, who was accompanied by Mr. Welman, the magistrate, who saw the warrant executed. The parties were formally taken into custody, but released on promising to appear on Wednesday. On Wednesday this mattter was again gooe into. A conversation ensued between the Bench and the solicitors, when it was agreed to leave the matter in the hands of a respect- aule proftssional man for arbitration. Mr* Trenchard agreed to be referee, and these unpleasant proceedings, as far as this court was concerned, were put an end lo,— Soitie^f Cttttwiy Gazette.

A travelling dentist left his creditors, in a fashionable water ing-place, the following cheering announcement on his door:— Dr. M —— is gon to London to ateiid the Roial Family." The Springfield Post says, a lame man would have been drowned in the town brook, had he not been so full of iiquor that the water could not get into him.— Boston Postt A DILKJUIA.— The fair and graceful Mademoiselle Plessis, the delight of the Fiench stage, after bestowing her hand upon the happy M. Arnould, of Brussels, started, under his protec- tion, to fulfil an engagement at St. Petersbugh. On their arrival at the frontier, the authorities demanded the reason of their coming. Madame Arnould exhibited her engagement, signed and sealed, by authority of the Emperor, and her pass-port. All was correct, and the lady was told that she was at liberty to proceed. 1 hen came the gentleman's turn—Who are you, Sid "1 am the husband of Madame, and here is my pass- port, signed by the Russian ambassador in London." Alas! these claims did not suffice O;J the contrary, orders had been received from St. Petersburgh to prevent the further progress of the bndegroorn. In vain did the maries expostulate, the sturdy official remained firm, upon which the bride declared her inten- j.,0° of returning wiih her husband; this, however, was equally torbidden she had put her foot upon Russian ground under a ten years' encasement, and fiom that moment she became lmpenal property until the completion of her contract. The result was a huriied and agonized parting between the be. wilderded couple after which the lady was handed into a carnage, which started at a gallop towards the capital; and the gentleman was conduchd, under an escort, beyond the frontier, Q-, .a hint of the possibility of his extending his discoveries to >- ibena should he again attempt to enter the imperial dominions, it is said that certain liberal opinions put forth by M. Arnould in his works have procured for him the somewhat paiuful dis- tinction of this ill-timed excommunication. The Critic BATIUNO DI the Douno.—It is an amusing sight, and enlivening withal, to look at the rows of white tents,.he beautiful girls and their elegant diesses, the crowds of spectators, each sheltered by a bright coloured umbrella, and some thirty or forty taclies and gentlemen, tat and thin, tall and short, old and young, in the water together dipping and splutttnng, shouting and shrieking, as the white crested waves roll towards them- some attempting to swim, others, fearful of being carried out to sea, clinging to their attendants' arms,and endeavouring to make then escape to terra firma. Here an old woman, bearing aloft a utile cheiub, independent of any costume, to dip a certain number of times—there a bathing girl, encouraging a stout old gentleman to venture into the water, after he has leeeivedthe first souse on the head from the contents uf a basin, to prevent his feeling the effect of the shock to his feet. Sometimes three or four young ladies will go in together, or a gentleman may be seen gallantly leading some fair one of his acquaintance; but everything is conducted with the strictest propriety and decorum, so that however extraordinary the style may atfiist appear to a s ranger, he soon becomes accustomed to it. Liusitajiian sketches. The Marquess of Hertford gave an entertainment last week to upwards of three hundred paupeu in the Lisburn Union Work. house. An offer has been made recently to the Post-offi-e by the Brighton CompHny, to carry a mail every train between Lon- don and BrightonWithout charge." This liberal proceeding will | be another means of rendeiing Brighton a suburb of the metro- polis to a greater extent than its hour and a half journey already makes it. If accepted, as doubtless i £ must be, the public will have the privilege of a post nearly eveiry hour in the day. AGKICULTUKK.—Finer weather for haivesting the late-sown grain aud beans, for ploughing, and all other operations of agri- I have the privilege of a post nearly eveiry hour in the day. AGKICULTUKK.—Finer weather for haivesting the late-sown grain aud beans, for ploughing, and all other operations of agri- culture, than that of the last two or three weeks, was, perhaps, never experienced. The fields are now mostly cleared of their produce, and the dry, mild season, has also been very favourable for getting up potatoes—a circumstance which we cannot be 100 grateful for at the present junclure,-Hcreford Journal. Potatoes are selling retail in this city at sixpence per peck, or two shillings per buhd-a reasonable price, but there is very great loss, owing to the prevailing infection. The sound part õ: the potato is of good quality.—Hereford Journal. THE A?JPOVEP. INQUIRY.—(From our own correspondent.)— The tnends of the poor throughout the country will doubt less be glad to learn that a movement, which I alluded to 10 some of my former communications, is now goWg on promisingly. A meeting of the friends of Mr. Westlake. the surgeon of the And. over Union, was held at Andover on We 13th day of October, for the purpose of devising means to respond to the conrwnunica- tions from various parts of the country offering subscriptions to- wards defraying the heavy expenses to which that gentleman had been put by the PoorLawCommissioners.in prosecuting the recent inquiry into the ennduct at the master of the union workhouse, and in doing which he gave his undivided attention, and em- P'oyed counsel and solicitors, and summoned upwards of fifty witnesses from diffelent parts of the country, whereby he proved such gross acts of profligacy and ill-treatment to the paupers, that the master and matron were compelled lo give up iheirsifua- lion3. At that meeting it was resotved that the following gentle- men should form themselves into a committee, and that Mr. J. Brown May, of London, be requested to act as honorary secre. tary :1r. M.P. for the borough and Messrs. Wake- ford, Reeves, Tasker, Mortimer, and Svmons, of Andover; to- gether with Mr If Mundy (mogistrate), Mr. John llolloway, and Mr. James Soper, guardians of the Andover union. It was also resolved that all those friends of the poor who wish to relieve Mr. Westinke from the pecuniary burden thrown upon him in prosecuting the late inquiiy be respectfully requested to for* aid any contribution* they may wish to add to those already Stlb. sciibed to Messrs. Heath, bankers, Aodover, Ihe hme$office, Leeds; Mr p u Chava3»e, surgeon, Old-square, Birmingham; <he Reading Mercury otfee, Reading; the Hampshire Bank, Southampton or by post office order to Mr J. Brown May, J4, Queen-square, BloonUury. Upwards of £ b0 ha. already been subscribed.—Times. STATE OF TRADE —November, for many years pasl, has been a flat month. Parties purchasing at November prices have ge- uerally been rieht This year, in the fall of prices bears a close resemblance ^ceding V h" i'eavy. Uur enquiry in authoritative quarters, as to the exten, of trade doio*, has been answered in the words there is none.' This notice in applicable alm-t to all brunches of trade. 7-8 printer, 72's. 5s. 9d.; di't0 fa6 s< os.—Manchester Araus. Mr. Walter is a candidate for the representation of Windsor. If he should succeed, the proprietors of the Times, Morning Herald, and Morning Chronicle, will all three be Parliament.

> EXHUMATIONS OF THE DKAD. No home is so much our own as the grave." DREXELIUS ON DEATU. SIR,—Two recent cases of disinterment of the dead seem to involve so much of private and public interest, that you will, I trust, permit me to draw the attention of your readers to them. I allude to the case at Bath, where the remains of General Dick were disturbed after seventeen months' burial, and to the exhumation of a poor woman, who died near Brecon, from natural causes. I propose to confine my remarks chiefly to the latter. In the former case there was at least, suspicion of murder, though (as it seems to me) quite an unwarrantable sus- picion in the latter there was not even the justification of an imaginary belief for this melancholy, revolting, and painful violation of the grave. The only ground for it was an imputed (and most falsely imputed, I shall not hesitate, as an old pi'dctitionei, to assert) error in the medical treatment of the deceased; an erroi of judgment, even if proved, of course, ir- retrievable, and, as involuntary, not defeating the ends of public justice, even if permitted to share the oblivion that, no doubt, covers some piofessional eirors, even amona; the highest of those who exercise so occult .ind so widely discretionary an art astiiat of What I be to recommend to the attention of the press and the public, is, the decency and necessity of watch- ing this proceeding; of tequiing strong, well ascertained occa- sion for this shocking process, this nullifying of the solemn ser- vice for the dead, this undoing of the last offices, this tearing open of coffins, and exposing of the dreadful secrets of coriup- tion to the light of day—to the horror of casual spectators, the anguish of relatives, and violation of decency. In the two instances alluded to, was there proof of real occasion for these legalized acts of resurrection men V .A.gentleman, long resi- dent. far away, it seems, couid not or would not believe it possible, that his father's affections could go astray from him to other near relatives about his person, and draw his fortune after them. His lather had corresponded with him, therefore he must have intended to leave all his worldly goods to him, and his will must be a forgery, and he must have been murdered by those luckier relatives, although two medical men had testified to his natural death I pretend not to any knowledge how far a coroner has discietion to resist the adoption of exhumation, but suggest that power should be entrusted to him (if not already sumctent)to protect the dead from violation, on every or any wild lancy that self-love ana disappointed hope of lucte may inspire. In the second instance, also, I have no doubt (hat the icanton act ot disinterment (as I hesitate not to call it) was as reluct- antly allowed by that very respectable gentleman acting as coroner—conceded to vulgar clamour, or popular humanity— jilayed upon, very posslhl y, by other parties fiom 'motives too strong for humanity or decency. 1 will not expatiate on the violence done to humane natures by the ghastly spectacles-the wild sensation they must produce in a rustic, ignorant population-the certainty ot tbc kindly and feeling thus wrought up in an exciieable class like the Welsh rural peasantry, takingsome wrong direction, and so beincc converted into evil, injustice, inhumanity, by being spent upon innocent objects. Why. the very act of proceeding to a s;rave converted into evil, injustice, inhumanity, by being spent upon innocent objects. Why. the very act of proceeding to a grave to unburp'ihe buried, pttjiulicates the case in every uneducated mind. J here has been a murder, or something cruel or lawless to give rise to such an awful ihvesiigation such is, most cer- tainly, the impression of every follower in the rural mob at the heels of loe legalised resurrection men" entering a churchyard for such purpose. Is it not then imperiously required, on eveiy principle ot humanity, and of justice to professional liMn-of re- gard to even the gentler prejudices of civilized life, that this step should be never resorted to, but where murder is suspected, and on very stioog grounds, or where ome urgent public necessity seems to demand it ? Let any one consider what would be the consequence of this example being followed all over England, every body dug up whenever a rumour should get abroad that the deceased mig lit have been saved! Why, sir, my knowledge of the incessant illiberal vigilance of watch over a rival practi- tioner's cases, too olten stealthily kept by the beginners in our liberal (!) profession, warrants my saying that few case of natural death would occur in towns or villages (where the rivals are brought into closer antagonism) wherein such grounds for raising the dead" might not be adduced. And is it to be endured, that such levolting proceedings—loathsome to thelivuig, cruel to the dead (who would wish their horrid transfigurations, under imperfect dissolution, to meotthe eyes of wives, husbands, children fj—crueller still (as in this instance, to the living repu- tation ot an aged and respected practitioner) to medical men in general;—I sav, ought it to De endured that exhumatious should, on such grounds, become every day r ecurrences ? 1 maintain that they must and will become so, if all required shall be, that somehow, from the very ImpartIal (no doubt!) dictum of somebody, a tale is trumped up that some deceased person would have been saved by Mr. this or Dr. that, and, therefore had been sadly Ill. used by Mr. Tether. It is necessary that 1 heie assure you. Sir, that I am quite a stranger to Mr. Batt, the surgeon strongly condemned by a jurv on the inquest holden on the body of the woman whose death I refer to. We all know, who read newspapers, that, too often the verdict of Juries'' is the beading of as monstrous and lu- dicrous jokes as those subscribed Punch. Juries are not in- fallible, and in a case involviug the merits of medical treatment* their verdict must he falhblllty itself. In this case it was de posed Oil oath that the woman. a wife, a mother, quite without motive for falsehood, assured Mr. Hatt that she was „„t prenal/t Unquestionably this evidence alone triumphantly acquitted him in the mind of common sense. As hlest I trust with some share ot that humb gifl, I declare 1 would have endured to the last the very rational coeicion applied to conscientious juiymen be- fore I would have committed myself by acquiescing in that really absurd verdict. It charged him with either neglect, or want of skill. The first hypothetical charge ought not to have been made in the very teeth of the evidence to his prompt at- tendance, and humane measures for her relief, with necessaries, wine, &c., even without waiting far orders. The second was equally in the teeth of professional evidence. Every one must perceive, that it would be quite imultingto his patients, for any practitioner to proceed in treating a woman as far advanced in a condition which she denies to exist at all. Besides this, the farther medical testimony of another gentleman shewed that even had Mr. B. by clairvoyance,jar other miracle, known. her state in spite of her assertion, it was one of those sad devia- tions from Natuve's course which would (after the great exhaus- tion already pioduced) have proved fatal under any treatment. Waiving minute details, unpleasant in a public print, suffice it to say, that it was a case not admitting manual aid, till the ar- rIval of a certain natural tage, that such stage had not arrived up to the moment of death-that the point at which even the at- tempt to save could be made. had not commenced! Death, therefore, would have assuredly outstripped human assistance; f >r the process, even when allowed to begin, is tardy, intermit- ent, and after all, but a feeble secondiug of the action of Nature herself. To conclude, I beg to gravely put this question to all readers —"Was there any good to be expected from the disinterment of a poor labourer's wife, dying under circumstances involving no doubt of anything but the perfection of the practice adopted toward her? no suspicion of murder, no imputation of any flag- rant maltreatment, even professional?" (At the same time I disclaim all stricture on the Coroner's permission or direction for the procedure which perhaps popular rumour might extort, against hisown judgment.) Her medical attendant was a gentle- man holding the appointment of Coroner, who consequently must have possessed the confidence and good will of very many respectable persons in the county, whose votes exalted him to that respectable office. He is a man in years, in highly respect- able practice in the county town, where he has long resided. Now,, what fair, (lpen, legitimate ground of suspicion could the natural death (unhappily too common) of this poor woman sup- ply, to warrant so awful an enquiry ? It nevercouldbe imagined that any most violent deviatiou from the usual course of treat- ment had been made, by such person, nor has the evidence proved any such thing: for after all it is the evidrnce.und not the verdict, which surely all lovers of truth and justice will regard,in deciding on this question. Every sensible man reading the evi- dence will constitute himself as juryman, and do believe that eleven out of twelve such reader3 will disseut in toto from the Jury constituted by law upon the Crowner's quest." Lastly, then, I ask. is this example to be followed, and our "brothers and sisters" departed, to very commonlv rise again, making day hideous," that it may be ascertained whether or no. he or she had been skilfully treated? Whether perhaps hte might not have been saved under some "new doctor" (whose own oral familiar testimony would probably be pretty strong in the affirmative) in these days of strong competition? 1, of course, speak in generallerms. here, but 1 venture to assert that, if it is to be followed, grave-diggers must be increased, and the grave will close in vain on thousands, as nothing can be easier than to get up a rumour of persons being killed by a regular doctor (unless it be of their being saved by a quack or a quack medicine). Hoping that the public interest of this subject will excuse the length of this communication, I am, Sir, yours, &c., Buitb. J. DOWNES, M. D.

CHOP EXTRAORDINAHY.—Mr. H. Rawcliffe, Longton, shop keeper, has had this year, on a small extent of ground lying to the south of his house, about 32 perches, or thereabouts, cf oats, which have been so productive as to yield the extraordinary quantity of thiee loads and five score (2401b. to <he load) cf tneal, being after the rate of rather better than 17 loads to the acre.— Preston Guardian. tneal, being after the rate of rather better than 17 loads to the acre.— Preston Guardian. A FIIEAK OF FORTUNE.—There is every reason to believe that an individual, named Stodard, residing at Eyam, Derbyshire, will ere long berome possessed of some very extensive estates iu Ih counly of ent, of which he is the unquestionable heir at law. This (empected) fortunate person is in very humble cir- cumstances-a weaver with a large family. The suit to recover these nch estates has been pending many years; bot uliimateiy, II professional geellemtln of Ihe metropolis has uodeitaken the maiter in behalf of the rightful owner, and with a cheenng prospect of a speedy conversion of the humble weaver into ? per- son of wealthy importance. GREAT MEETING OF THE J.EAGUF.-Last week another of those extraordinary gatherings, the aggregate meetings of mem- bers of the Anti-corn-Law League, resident in Manchester and the neighbourhood, was held in the Free-trade II.II, Peter-street, —convened by advertisement, as a special general n eeting of the members and it being announced that the meftin woulti be addressed by Mr.Cobden, Mr. Bright, and Mr. HenryAshworth, the greatest interest was manifested, and the demand for tickets of admission, both for Indies and members from the country, was unexpectedly great. To give every facility to the attendance of the members of the league from Ashton, Rochdale, and their neighbourhoods, it was arranged by the council that railway trains should leave Manchester for those towns and their neigh- bourhoods at ten o'clock. Though there was no subject n. nounced for discussion no resolutions of an important character to be proposed no proposition to be considered for another vast subscription, in order to raise a £50.000 or fund, the greatest excitement prevailed, and the most intense interest was manifested at the meeting, as it was justly anticipated that it would naturally have reference to the present criticAlltate of the I country, consequent upon the failure of the potato crops, both in England, Ireland, and the principal countries of Euiope. It was I expected that allusion would be made to several recent and re- markable indications of a change of opinion amongst those who have hitherto been the advocates of protection and monopoly; and to the supposed intentions of mllllsters-the probable issue of orders in couneil for a temporary suspension of the corn law, would be adveited to, if not discussed, and rbeir several advan- tages pointed out. Even amoogst those less informed, it was fell that the addresses of the leaders on this occasion would have a direct bearing upon that new phase of the food question, sug. gested by the too great probability of a fam ne year in Ireland. As usual on these occasions, the galleries were reserved for ladies, and gentlemen accompanying them.—iUanc/icsfej- Guardian. STOPPAGE or EXPORTATION.—It appears 10 be generally ex. pected here that the ports will be at once opened for the admis- sion of foreign grain and flour. It would appear from the fol- lowing, from the Cork Reporter, that an equally decided step, the prevention of the export of provisions Irom Ireland, is underlie consideration of the Government :■O.deis were this da^^e- ceived at the Cork Custom-house, directing returns to be for- warded to the Castle, Dublin, setting forth the quantity of pota- toes shipped from this and all the outports ot the district, since the first of September last also directing that returns should be made every Saturday, of the quantities exported during the week, distinguishing, in all cases, those shippod to England, coast- wise, and to other places. This looks as if some steps 10 prevent the exportation of the people's food was in contemplation."— • Orders, similar to the above have, we learn, been received at the Custom-house of Dublio, and at the various outports.

USK FARMERS' CLUB. Friday last, the day fixed for the Ulk Ploughing Match, was hailed with peculiar pleasure by the members of that excellent association, and an immense concourse of spectators assembled in the field. The weather wat most propitious: instead of a gloomy miserable day, naturally to be expected at tlifs season of the sear and yellow leaf, when the woods are stripped of half their robes, the air WIIS calm and serene, whilst the genial warmth of the sun inspired Ihe hearts of all with gaiety and plealure- like those exhilirating sensations felt on a spring morning. At ten o'clock, lots were drawn for places, and 22 ploughs were stationed at the starting posts. It was a plessing sight to see eich yeoman examining and arranging his plough and harneas, with becoming hope and emulation beaming in hia eyes and on the word "off" being given, the steadiness and determination with which each set his plough in motion, with sinues stiffened and limbs firmly set for the contest, afforded a gratifying spectacle. The match took place in a field belonging to Mr. Evans, of Llandowlas, about two miles from the town, which was admira. bly suited for showing the dexterity of the sons of the soil. After a few turns had been given, and the merits of each plough- man commented upon, a great number of persons, including gentlemen, tradesmen, farmers, mechanics, and labourers, wended their way to the house Mr. Evans, where a most bountiful repast was prepared, by the generous owner. Those who remained io the field were regaled with cider. It is needless here to eulogise the liberal conduct of Mr. Evans, his hospitality to all who enter his threshold being proverbial; but we cannot refrain from stating (hat the hearty cheer met with on this occa- sion. seemed to be a general topic of conversation. Nor would we omit a passing word on the kindaess and condescension of Mrs, Evans, and her amiable daughters, who politely attended to all who sat round Ihe plentiful board, and, by their assiduities, took especial care that none should be overlooked, or lack any of the good things laid belore there. Mr. Evans also invited all the ploughmen, after their work was over, to dine, and found stable loom and provender for their horses. Wrhilst the ploughing was going on, the judges, Mr. Morgan Williams, of Pencoed, Mr. George Pritchard, of Llauvihangel, and Mr. Henry AViUfa-ma^dl^t^wbolds, examined and weighed Ihe stock and prodl1CeseDt for competition, and on being informed that the ploughing had ceased, proceeded to the field to run tbeir scrutinising and practised eyes over the furrows, where we left them to perform their task, and set off to tbe Thiee Salmons, where was prepared a capital DINNER. G. R. G. Relphe, Esq., kindly consented to take the chair, Mr. R. W. Purchas officiated as vice-president, and upwards of 50 members and their fuends assembled, amongst whom were some leading gentlemen of the neighbourhood. Without detailing the many suitable speeches delivered by the talented Chairman, on proposing the different toasts, we will only mention that after "The Queen," Prince Albert," "The Queen Dowager and the Royal Family," "The Army and Navy," The Members tor the County and Boroughs," "The Lord Lieutenant of the County," &c., had been done justice to, The C'haiimin rose, and said he had now arrived at the toast of the day- "Success to the Usk Farmers' Club,"—and he fell happy to sea so many around him taking a lively and proper interest in its su<-ce&9. (Hear.) Agricultutal meetings he considered of the greatest advantage, both to the landowner and tenant, who were, by such means, brought together, and a mutual object attained In the social progress. The wishes of the former were often carried out, and the wanta and conveniences of tbe lattr Nken into consideration. The Chairman next called for a bumper, and said the toast he was about to propose would, he was confident, elicit every warm feeling, It was the health of a geotlemau universally respected —one who had that day encouraged the meeting by his preseoce —who had sacrificed his heaith in the service of his country, and was ready on all occasions to aid, by his talents, every useful and praiseworthy object. He had attended their meetings and subscribed to the fund for rewarding ploughmen and servants, and as a landlord he was spoken of in the highest terms of giati- tude and lespect by his tenants.—" Mr. Williams, of Llangibby Castle," was then given, and received in the most enthusiastic manner, plaudits being several times repeated. W. A. Williams, Esq., said he thanked the company most sin- cerely for tbe kind manner in which they were pleased to drink his health. It afforded him much pleasure in being able to be amongst them that day. (Cheers.) He had also experienced much gratification in viewing the animated scene of ao many fine teams at work, in the .morning, and he felt proud in having a tenant who had come forward in the very liberal and handsome manner in which Mr. Evans had on that day. (Hear.) His rent toll was not a very large one, he must tell them, but he re- garded that mora as an advantage than otherwise, as it enabled him to become his own steward, and to have the interestl of his tenants, as well as his own, under his immediate observation. (Loud cheers.) He hadoot done so much as he wished to do in draining, and in providing comfortable dwelliog houses, with suitable outbuildings, on all his farms; but this he must tell them, that he had some years previously commenced doing 10. and had steadfastly and perseveringty followed it up, and fully purposed continuing to do so. (Cheers.) He thought it unrea- sonable to expect a tenant to incur any great expense to improving the land by draining: all that he would ask them to do towards it, was to haul materials. Mr. Williams dwelt at considerable length on what he considered the dutiea of landlord and tenant, and was aware a great fault lay with the landlords in not pro- viding proper outbuildings and suffering land to remain undrained. Mr. Wiliiams was heard with attention, and loudly cheered at the close of his speech. The Chairman next proposed the health of the Vice-Chairman, the hon. secretary of "The" Usk Fanners' Club, <er lus service*. He could hear of that intelligent and active man in every corner of the county—of his rendering important services at meetings at Monmouth, Chepstow, and Abergavenny, at nearly the same time.—Drank with honours. Mr. Purchas returned thanks, and stated that hedid his utmost in establishing the club, and felt gratified in seeing it go on so prosperously. (Cheers.) He threw oat some useful remarks on feeding cattle. CConcluded in the third page.)

OPENING OF THE NEW HALL, LINCOLN'S INN, BY HER MAJESTY AND PRINCE ALBERT. This monument to future generations, of the munificence spirit, and taste of the Benchers of Lincoln's Inn, of the nine- teenth century, was opened on Thursday, by her Majesty her Royal Consort, and some of the first nobility in the country/with great form and ceremony. Although it had been announced that her Majesty was not expected to arrive before half-past one or two o'clock, long be- fore that hour every pait of the Inn from which a glimpse of her Majesty cou" be obtained, was occupied. Her Majesty and her Illustrious Consort, escorted by a de- tachment of Life Guards, arrived at the hall soon after one, and were received by the Treasurer, the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and most of the benchers of the Inn, who attended her Majesty through the centre of the hall into the vestibule. Her Majesty, who looked extremely well, was dressed in a blue bonnet with blue feathers, a rich Indian shawl of acarlet and gold, and a white lace dress. Her Majesty was accompanied through the hall by her Royal Consort, who wore a field-marshal s uuiform, by some of her ladies in waiting, and by several of the Officers of the House- hold. Sometime previously to the arrival ot her Majesty, his Grace the Duke of Wellington, who appealed in excellent health, the Lord Chancellor, Sir James Graham, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Richmond, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lords Cottenham and Campbell, the Vice Chancellor of Eng- land, and Vice Chancellors Knight Bruce, and Wigram, entered the hall, which ws at this time filled almost to suffocation by barristers and students, who cheered her Majesty and her Royal Consort most enthusiastically as they proceeded up the hall. The Queen and the Ladies in attendance upon her having re- tired to the Council-room, the Treasurer, the Duke of Welling- ton, and the other personages of distinction, remained in the next drawing-room until her Majesty left her retiring-room, when the Treasurer conducted her and his Royal Highness Prince Albert to the library, accompanied by tbe visitora and benchers. The Queen being seated on the chair (of state with his Royal Highness Prince Albert on her left hand, the Treasurer, ac- companied by the benchers and the deputation of barristers and students, read the address from the society, and preeented the same to her Majesty on his knee; after which her Majesty con- ferred on him the honour of knighthood. The ancient book, recording the names of the illustrious visi- tors in the time of his Majesty King Charles the Second, was then placed un a table in the Library, for the inspection of her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, both of whom tnscnbed t hell nalnes 10 It. The Treasurer then conducted the Queen again through the vestibule to the centre of the table at the north end of the hall, and placed her Majesty under the canopy of state, with Prince Albeit on her light hand. During the ceremony, the barristers and students remained shndir.g in tho hall. Grace having been said. her Majesty commanded all present to be seated. Her Majeity, during the dejeuner, wore her bonnet, and repeatedly laughed and chatted with the Treasurer and the Prince, the latter of whom was sealed on her Majesty's right, and the former on her lett hand. Alter the conclusion of the dejeuner, theTreasurer, by the per- mission of her Majesty, proposed the Queen's health, which was drank with loud plaudits. Then followed that of his Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales. The hearty manner in which her Majesty joined in these two latter toasts produced the most enthusiastic cheering. These were tbe only toasts that were drunk; and, shortly after three o'clock, her Majesty, accompanied, as on her entrance, retired from the hall, amid great cheering. The gallery of the hall was densely crowded with ladies. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness P"J>ce Albert seemed highly delighted with the entertainments ot the day.

A shopkeeper named Stephens, living in High-atreet.Swenaea picked up iu the street a purse, containing fifty sovereigns, on Mondav. Information was immediately forwarded to the Inspec- tor of Police and the crier has been around the town announcing the fact, but'strange to say, no owner had on Thursday appeared to claim the properly. DOUGLAS JERROLD ON RAILWAY GREATNESS—"You would hardly think it, but they're going to put up a statue to the man who first made boiling water to run upon a rail. It's quite true I read it only a day or two ago. They re going to fix up a sta- tue to George Stephenson, in Newcastle. Mr. Stephenson will look kindly and sweetly about him he will know that he has carried comfort, and knowledge, and happiness to the doors of millions!—that he has brought men together, that they might know and love one another. And besides all this, the railways have got a king Mr. King Hudson the First! I have read it somewhere at a book stall, that Napoleon was crowned with the iron crown of Italy. Well, King Hudson has been crowned with the iron crown of England! A crown, melted out of pig-iron, and made in a railway furnace. I've somewhere seen the pic- ture of the river Nile; with the lifting of a finger making the river flow over barren land, and leave there all sorts of bless- ings. Well, King Hudson is of this sort,—he has made the molten iron now over all sorts of places, and ao bring forth good fruits wherever it went.—The Shareholder. ECONOMY or CATTLE-boon* The following statement of a mode of using inferior hay was made by Mr. E. Buller, M. P., at the Newcastle-under-Lyne Dinner He had lately been informed how to make damaged hay available; and he had practised the experiment with complete success. The plan was to cut all the hay and strraw together then form a gruel of offal grain and linsceed cake steep the grain and caka 48 hours mix it hot, press it down, and leave it for 48 hours. The cattle eat it eagerly, and thrive on it. The progress softens all the hard fibre, and makes the hay nearly as serviceable as if it had been gathered in good condition- The whole machinery required miht be had for one horse, employed for two evenings in a week, would cut hay and straw for all the horseson the farm and be the means of saving three times the actual COlt." Now the linseed compound, made as described in another column, it a cheaper, more expeditious, and far more effaotive mode o using damaged hay. in this wet season such bin" are mot useful to the farmer.

ANNUAL MEETING AT MONMOUTH, OF THE MONMOUTHSHIRE DISTRICT COMMITTERS OF THE SOCIETIES FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. AND FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS. On Friday week the District Committees for Monmouth- shire held their first annual meeting of these tlro great Church Societies at the Borough Court, Monmouth. The Lord Bishop of Llandaff presided. Divine service com- menced at St. Mary's Church at half-past eleven the prayers were read by the Vicar of Monmouth, and the services were chanted by a double choir. The sermon was preached by the Rev. E. Knight, B.A., incumbent of Tredegar, from 1st of Timothy, 2, 4. 1 he collection, after the service, amounted to 6 JOs., and after the public meeting f tO was collected; making jC36 10s. It was also stated by the Bishop, at the meeting, that Mrs. Gough, of Landoga, had made the mu- nificent donation of £100 for the purposes of the Society foi the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. There was a large attendance at the Borough Court. The Lord Bishop of Llandaff having taken the chair, ob- served that he was very happy to find, in holding the first meeting of this society in Monmouth, so large and respec- table an assemblage of the laity met together. It was an occasion in which all, both clergy and laity, had commo interests, and too much ought not to be left to the clergy alone. He had also the satisfaction of seeing a large bodj of the clergy present. It would appear that the funds of tfw two Societies in the present year had been larger than those of the last, although the income of the last year exceeded that of the former.. There was evident proof that these funds are not misapplied, from the statements which would be laid before the meeting by the secretaries. From the improvement already manifested in the support of the society he trusted that each succeeding year would witness increased* exertion. The following Report of the Christian Knowledge Society was then read by the Venerable Archdeacon Crawley. It stated, amongst a mass of exceedingly interesting particulars, which we regret our inability to find room for, that nearly 120,000 copies of the Bible have been issued from the Depository of the Society during the last year, and more than 100,000 New Testaments about 300,000 copies of the Common Prayer Book have been circulated within the past year; and the society supplies the schools abundantly, and at a very moderate cost, with books of ele- mentary leligious instruction, in conformity with the principles of the national Church. Books of sound religious instruction, adapted to every age and circumstance of life, are daily sent forth from her stores for gratuitous distribution; and books of general lite- rature are also published under her direction, or sanctioned by her approval, for the supply of what are called lending libraries. Several pages of every annual report are tilled with fresh records of gratuitous' grants of books, for the performance of divine service in new churches, and rooms licensed for public worship, of books for schools, for lending libraries, for distribution among our soldiers and sailors, as well as the poor of our parishes, and the labourers on our railroads or other public works. Such, for the most part, are the methods adapted by our Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge at home, and the same methods are also in full operation abroad but there, as the circumstances of the Church require, her labours are prosecuted upon a more extended scale. There she is engaged in promoting the translation of the Holy Scriptures and the Liturgy of our Church into many foreign languages. Since the establish- ment of the foreign translation committee, in 1834, fifteen such editions of the whole or some parts of the Scriptures and our Liturgy have been completed and published, and seventeen are now in progress. In the colonies acting in faithful concert with her daughter, the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, fohe makes liberal grants of monev towards the erection of churches and school-rooms, the building and endowment of colleges, and other good designs which are from time to time com- mended to her care by the hands of the Colonial Church. We have now depositories for the sale of the society's pub- lications in six of the towns of the county, in Monmouth, Abergavenny, Pontypool, Newport, Chepstow, and Usk. In four out of these six depositories there has been in almost every description of books an increase in the numbers sold above the sale of last year. In Abergavenny and Usk there has been a trifling decrease, but the aggregate number dix. posed of at all the depositories exceeds that of 1844 by more than 1400. The number of Bibles issued during the year has been 435 New Testaments. 884 Prayer Books 1199 Other Books and Tracts. 14,928 There has also been an increase of more than J€8 in the amount of gratuitous grants to schools and parishes within the county. Last year it was £ 37 15 0 This vear it has been 46 10 6 I Attention is directed to this as a very useful branch of your committee's endeavour to promote Christian knowledge. Notwithstanding this extension of gratuitous grants to schools and parishes, there is an increase of nearly X20 in the amount of balance in hand to meet the demands of the Parent Society for books required for the supply of the se- veral depositories. The amount of stock, too, now X387, is larger by £67 than at the close of last year; but this is entirely due to the value of the books made over by the Mon- mouth District Committee, to this ef the whole county, with which it has been incorporated since Michaelmas, 1S44. The Report of the Monmouthshire District Committee of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel ip foreign parti. was particularly interesting. With regard tp the East Indies t st led, The society in the East Indies present the most encouraging scene of labours at the present period. And here the first point that arrests our attention is the progress towards completion of that noble monoment of the zeal and munificence of the pious Bishop Wilson, the Cathedral of St. Paul's, Calcutta, which, ic is expected, wrll be ready at the expiration of another year, to be consecrated by him. It is impossible to calculate the ettect which the erection of this splendid building will produce in Calcutta, which has been termed the city of palaces, and throughout the whole of India, in the present tendency towards Christianity. England owes much to Iadis, riches, honour, political strength, and importance. If we have received so largely of their temporal things, surely it is our bounden duty to minister to them in spiritual things. It will be remembered that some few years ago a remarkable ? attention of the heathens around Calcutta. !pr!BritaJlIvr °. 0Uur ly re,l«ion. which was followed by a very great addition to the Christian conveits. "The prospects around Calcutta, the bishop now in Eogland says, •• are, I am concerned to say, not so bright as I could wish. But missions vary in point of simplicity and efficiency. The society must expect these disaPPOintments." Tnere is indeed much to encou- rage us to proceed. Ihe fields in India," says the bishop, are white *lrf*dT for the harvest." Nothing has, I believe, been seen like it since the days of the apostolic s!ra..z. and perhaps, not hen anything appro,ching it. Hindoo.sm, .t ,sm? firm belief, will soon altogether hide its head. The cre- scent of Mahomet has already turned pale. God has been also pleased at this moment to interpose with his providence, by throwing wide open the gates of China and gathering multi- tudes unto Christ in India, of such, as we hope, shall be saved." This society, then, and other kindred institutions are called upon for redoubled exertions. So far from slackening their efforts on account of embarrassments as to funds, or deftet, as some may deem them in matters of external order, or even paitial disagree- ments on points of doctrine, we ought to press forward with the greater earnestness to discover and amend what may really need correction, to sink subordinate differences, and to unite all hands and hearts in assailing the tottering strongholds of Satan, rely- ing on the power and grace of Christ. If past success can ani- mate, we have great reason to thank God and take courage and go forward. In Tinnivell; the inquirers and converts of this society and the Church Missionary, amounting to about 35,000 altogether. In one missionary district, comprising four divisions in which there are 177 villages, the Rev. G. U. Pope, the society's missionary at Sawyerpooram, reports that there are 3188 people, including women and children under constant instruction and that the increase in the numbers of the various congregations, during the last two years, is 2676; and that since his appointment there, nine devil temples in the Sawyerpooram division of the district have been either destroyed or converted into Christian prayer houses." A general and hearty co-opera- tion alone seems wanting to secure to our church the inestima- ble privilege of being a favoured instrument in God's goodness for making known among all nations the gospel of his blessed Son." G. Cave, Esq., said, he felt great pleasure io proposing the first resolution- t'hat the reports of the District Committees, read by the secretaries, be adopted." The Venerable Archdeacon Williams seconded the resolution in an elegant speech. The Mayor of Monmouth proposed the next resolution, "That among the manifold labours of the Society for promoting Chris- tion knowledge both at home and abroad, this meeting regards vl with peculiar interest those which have been recently directed to the multiplication and improvement of foreign translations of the Holy Scriptures and Liturgy of our church." The Rev. H. Wybrow, in seconding the resolution, compared the Church to a magnificent oak, deeply tooled, and affording shelter beneath its shade for all living creatures. lie spoke of these two societies being to the church what the blanches were naturally to the tree—an evidence of its vigour, its strength, and flourishing condition. S. Bosanquet, Esq., rose and said, he believed there was a great movement taking place among the heathen, and Chris- tianity, by abolishing castes, by introducing female education, and a higher es:imate of the female character, was effecting a moral change. The angel had descended from heaven, one foot upon the sea-upon the schemes, the ambition, and the restless genius of the world, with which they had nothing to do—but the other foot was planted upon the land, and was shaking to its centre every false religion, every form of idolatry, for the glory of God to be revealed in His own good time—" That this meet- ing receives, with feelings of deep thanfulneu to God, the la. vourable reports of the progress ot the Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, especially of the marked success with which he has been pleased to bless its missions in the South of India, and desires to regard this as a solemn call upon the members of the Church of Enghind to renewed eaer- tions in support of the society, in order that the blessings of on holy ret gion may be more extensively diffused throughout ou colooics. • A V' Jackson seconded the motion. He entered into details of the proceedings of the Socfety foi the Propaga- tion of the Gospel in each of the three dioceses in the South of India, viz., Calcutta. Bombay, and Madras. He particularly alluded to the rapid spread of Christianity in Tinniv%lli, and concluded with an earnest appeal to the meeting in behalf of the objects of the venerable society. • Beddy moved That the next meeting be held in Newport." He expressed the graat pleasure he felt in seeing his Lordship, for the first time, presiding over a meeting in Mon- mouth, as part of his diocese, and he also begged thus publicly to thank his Lordship, for those appointments which he had had lately made in the hfgh offices of the church by promoting those to dignity whose piety and zeal would add ornament to their station, and efficiency to their labours. The Rev. E. Hawkins seconaed the resolution. The Rev. G. Roberts proposed, and Mr. C. Taylor seconded, a vote of thanks to the Bishop for his conduct in the chair. The Right Rev. Chairman returned thanks. The dinner took place at the Beaufort Arms, and was very numerously attended. The Lord Bishop in the chair. The party broke up at an early hour. A striking instance ol the wonderful power of great mercantile credit has just occurred The chief of the French branch of Ihe immense banking establishment ef ttothfchild, was declared, in connexion with a company, adjudieataire of the Northern Rail- way. In tUe distrbution of shares, one-fouth of the whole, or 110,000, have been awarded to Rothschild. These shares realize, solely from the influence of Rothschild's name, a premium of about 400 francs each. This premium makes the profit that Rothschtd might realize, if disposed, forty millions, or in our I money XI-600,000. And to have this immense sum, he has f done nothing but permit the railway to be awarded to him i If t It. waits a few months, his £ 1,600,000 will be vew nearly doubled I