Monmouthshire Merlin

THE RECENT CHURCH ASSOCIATION MEETING. (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.) SIR,-I am sure that many Churchmen will feel obliged for the very full report of the meeting of the Church Association which appeared in your paper of the 7th inst., as nothiug is more important at the present day than that all professing Churchmen should make themselves acquainted with the grounds upon which they belong to the Church of England, and upon which it claims their allegiance; only I trust that they will not content themselves with merely reading speeches, but read and study such books as will give them an insight into this matter. There are, however, several statements, made at that meet- ing, to which I wish to draw the attention of your readers. The Chairman stated that the Society had obtained a decision, by legal process, of what is really the doctrine of the Church of England. 2s ow I would remind your readers that there was no question of doctrine at all brought before the Law Courts but a question only of whether a certain practice could or could not be legally done, and the question of doctrine was never raised. But upon the question that was raised the Court were not unanimous, as is well known, and the confidence which can be placed on the decisions of this Court is very much shaken by the knowledge of these facts-the Lord Chancellor, Sir Hugh Cairns, is well known to hold very strong opinions upon the matters in question he had the privilege of nominating those who sit upon the Court, and also of making one cause precede others which would ordinarily stand before it. Had the cause taken its ordinary turn it would have come on for trial after the last elections had taken place, and when Lord Cairns would no longer have had the selection of the Court. He was very careful not to give his decision till after the elections had taken place. What conviction can a decision carry that is obtained under such circumstances ? So that the Association has got little to boast of in this matter. The Chairman very delicately refers, in Parliamen- taiy language, to another Association whose establish- ment was the ground for forming the Church Associa- tion. That other Association has been most emi- nently useful in checking any excesses on the part of individuals by obtaining for them the best legal opi- I z;1 nions,and insupportiegjsome against undue oppression, which was the original, cause of its formation. The Chairman, in his address, truly states the ob- ject of the Church Association-to uphold the prac- tices of the Church of England. Alas! that any professing Churchmen should wish to uphold these practices, which until recently were full of neglect, irreverence, and coldness and deadness in religion- which have brought the fabrics of our Churches to a state that would be disgraceful to a farmer's barn, and have driven all religious life into the arms of Dissent. This is what the practice of the last three hundred years culminated in; and it seems that to continue this is the object of the Church Association. jeNot so that other Society to which the Chairman re rs its object is to uphold the doctrine and disciplin of the Church of Englaml-which is the doctrine and discipline ofthe Church of Christ—as found in the records of the an- cient writers of the Church, and thoroughly consistent with Holy Scripture — and which gives free scope to that religious life which the cold deadness of the last three hundred years has driven away to Dissent. It is rather amusing to see that other Society blamed for holding what the Chairman calls private meetings now, though all its members are summoned to them -when on one of the former Newport meetings to which he refers he said that they must be driven back to their filthy chambers. It is, however, some comfort to see be admits he has formed an erroneous estimate of the members of that other society in this c junty, which, if duly estimated at first, might have saved the miserable spectacle and disgraceful utterances which brought so much discredit upon those who took an active part in the large meetings held at Newport -still, no doubt, in the recollection of your readers. It is a great consolation to see that the tone of the meet- ing at Abergavenny is an improvement upon the last one. There is one remark of the mover of the first resolu- tion which is utterly a mistake—that the aim of the Church Union party was to bring the country into the hands of Rome that, most decidedly, can nowhere be shown to be their aim and it is beyond my com- prehension to understand why a desire that Rome should acknowledge our Orders and our Church, and that the differences between us be healed, should be so interpreted. The Rev. Dr. Harrison takes great credit to the members of the Church Association for excusing Mr. Mackonochie £1000. Now, if excusing the payment of a sum of money they are not entitied to is any merit, they are welcome to it but I have been in- formed, on the best authority, that they gladly took a very considerable sum of money when offered to them, not wishing to wait for the sake of a small ad- ditional sum they might have got, after many months delay in the accounts passing through the taxing office. I think we may feel much pity for the position the Rev. Dr. Harrison finds himself in, ministering in a Church that has neglected to teach him its funda- mental principles. It is no surprise that his speech shows utter ignorance of all Church principles, and of his Prayer Book also. The whole burden of the speakers of the Church Association is, that Ritualism leads to Rome, as if Protestants who had never seen a Ritualistic service never went over to Rome. It is notorious that the Romanists find their most profitable hunting-grounds in those places where the services are most in accordance with the feelings of members of the Association. While there is much in what the vicar of Chepstow says that we may all fully agree to, there is one re- mark that must have astonished his hearers—that the Dissenters differ from the Church of England in minor matters. If so, upon them lies the heavy sin of schism. But Dissenters do not consider them minor matters, or they would not show such hostility to our Church as they do. I fear the good vicar still retains in him- self the state of things lie describes as existing at the beginning of this century. I would beg your readers to remember that those who took part in reforming the Church of England, constantly appealed for what they did to the ancient Fathers—the study of whose writings they strongly urged—very different from the modern Roman notion of referring everything to the Pope's dictum. They constantly appealed to the study ol antiquity. Print- ing has now put many books within the reach of all of us there is Palmer's Church History, Blunt's His- tory of the Reformation, Blunt's Key to the Prayer Book, Sadler's Church Doctrine, Bible Truth, Carter's Doctrine of the Priesthood and, no doubt, many others and the library of the Fathers, published at Oxford some few years ago, consisting of about 40 volumes. Many of these can easily be obtained through any bookseller, and would put people in possession of far better knowledge upon the matter than can be obtained by reading speeches or letters in a newspaper. I remain, &c., &c., 7 OBSERVER.

//THE POLLUTION OF OCR RIVERS. (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin). SIR,-It is said to be very easy to find fault, but not equally so to discover a remedy for the evil com- plained of but in the case of our polluted streams the remedy has not only long since been recommended, but adopted with the fullest success and only in such instances where apathy on the part of the masters, and indolence, or, what is worse, a determination to evade the law on the part of those in whom confidence was placed to see that the remedial arrangements were properly carried out, has it failed in its effect. To prove the truth of this remark, I have to request that you will, should your time admit of it, publish in this week's impression the accompanying letter from Mr. George Banks, which gentleman, 1 have pleasure in stating, I have always found ready, at whatever cost or trouble on his part, to carry out to its fullest extent any measure that has for its object the benefit and welfare of the community. This letter you will perceive was written in the year 1863, in reply to one from me complaining of the state of the water in the Ebbw at that time. It would appear by this letter that if Mr. Pughs- ley's patent for the conversion of sulphate of iron into copperas, and the mode adopte y which the of- fensive character of the retuse from e Chemical Works was got rid of, both of whish processes appear to have been successful at the Pontymister Works no pollution of any importance would exist, tnd all grounds for complaint be done away with. But, as I said before, obstinacy on the part of the agents, and, I regret to be obliged to add, wilful blindness in some instances on the part of the manager—for no one can mistake water that is the colour of mustard for what would be the case were it in its natural state, the clear, ptM-e transparency of a mountain stream-is now alone the cause of the existing nuisance. With respect to the river Rumney, there are, as far as my experience goes, only two works that inany way affect the salutary character of that river-the Machen Tin Works and the Chemical Works or Distilllery at Maesycwmmer. There are numerous collieries, it is true, vomiting volumes of water hourly into the diffe- rent tributaries, and some of them, I believe I may say, actually into the river itself but this water, from experiments I have made, although for a time it discolours the river, is perfectly harmless as far as the health of fish cr cattle is concerned. These outpour- ing from the bowels of the earth have existed more or leas for the last century, and in no way lessened or in- terfered with the fish with which these rivers then abounded. The only way in which collieries injuriously affect a river is when the river is made the receptacle or deposit for the rubbish brought out of their levels. This rubbish is washed down the stream from time to time, and covers, or at least interferes with, the spawning beds of the trout and salmonidae. I, yesterday, had an opportunity of again testing the truth of these remarks as regards Machen Tin Works. The works had been idle for three days Saturday is pay day Sunday and Monday are spent in getting rid of their monthly receipts, and on Tuesday morning they resume work. From precisely the same spot, where a few days previous (vide Col. Tynte's letter) I had taken water in which fish died in less than two hours—water which one of Mr. Woodruff's principal workmen, who was a witness to the operation, ventured to assert did not contain the smallest quantity of vitriol-in water from this identical stream, between the filtering ponds and the river, fish are now sporting, apparently in full life and vigour, having been immersed in it for nearly twenty-four hours—clearly proving that the water coming from the works when they are in operation is of the most poisonous and deadly character and this at the very moment when Lord Tredegar's agent is assured by the manager of the works that not a drop of vitriol is passing into the river. I then pro- ceeded to inspect the anti-pollution apparatus, which, even in its original imperfect state, under the manage- ment of a careful, conscientious man, answered every purpose, and I believe made a large pecuniary return for the trifling outlay of its original erection, but which now having fallen to pieces (I allude to the boiling furnace) had become totally useless. This will account for the change from comparative purity, which existed for some months, of the river, and its present deplorable state. There never was a work so admirably situated as the Machen Tin Works for getting rid of any waste scouring or refuse liquid-as there is sufficient fall to carry it by a pipe or culvert at once into the old workings of the late Machen Colliery, where the ex- cavations contain a body of water for dilution of the offensive liquid sufficient to float a first-class iron-clad and if this should not ''prove sufficient, there is an open cut extending more than half a mile down the valley, carrying the stream, should it still be of a deleterious character, clear of the whole of this thickly-populated district-now altogether deprived of their legitimate supply by the impurity of the river. I enclose letters also from Col. Kemeys Tynte, of Cefn Mabley Mr. George Thomas, of Ystrad Mr. Homfray, of Penlline Castle-all of whom, being pos- sessed of landed property adjoining the river Rumney, are materially interested in the abatement of this nuisance. By their insertion in your next impression, together with this, should it not occupy too much space, you will oblige, Your obedient servant, AUGUSTUS MORGAN. Machen Rectory, May 11th, 1870. MY DEAR MR. MORGAN,—The fisb were placed by your keeper in the poisoned water at 1.40 p.m., and all were dead by 3.15 p.m. The fish left in the can are all alive. Believe me, truly yours, C. K. KEMEYS-TYNTE. Cefn-Alably, May 6th 1870. Ystrad Mynach. "My DEAR SIR,-I am in receipt of your note. I hope you will make use of it, in writing to the Editor of the MERLIN. I sincerely wish the matter could come con- spicuously before the public, and the nuisance be stopped. I feel sure there is no prettier trout stream in England. Believe me, yours very truly GEORGE THOMAS. Yrtrad Mynach, April 14th 1870. "My DEAR SIR,-I am sorry I have not answered your note earlier. I do not believe the river is the least im- proved it is the general opinion here that there is not a fish in the river, owing to the filthy state of the bed of the river, caused by the deposits from the Chemical works. Yours very truly, "GEORGE THOMAS." Pontymister, July 30th, 1863. "My DEAR SIR,—In reply to your favour of the 29th inst., I beg to say, two brooks run into the Ebbw river between our weir and the stone bridge, and that water in the channel, though small, is much clearer than the body of the river water; which, being diverted by the weir, passes through the works, it having previously done duty for those above us. We now collect almost the whole of the liquor from the pickling process, containing sulphate of iron, which we convert into copperas, and send away in casks and what little now escapes I will shortly make a catch-pit for, as I understand the plan answers at Machen. I am happy to say in our distillery we have quite overcome any difficulty as to the injurious refuse, which is certainly offensive if it gets into the water. We harden it into a sort of pitch, mix it with small coal, and burn it as fuel in the works. My attention was called to the peculiar state of the river on the day you speak of, by a friend who noticed it he told me the foulness came down the Ebbw branch, the Sirhowy being clear; it is not a matter of general occurrence, but rather, I think, accidental; where arising I do not at present know. On the whole, the water in the river here seems to me better than I have seen it for many years, and this in such a dry season that the quan- tity of water going down is so small that any chemical pollution would show. Yours very truly, "G. H. BANKS. Y "The Rev. A. Morgan, Machen." /1 --<>

THE POLLUTION OF RIVERS. (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.) SIR,—The Rev. Augustus Morgan is doing a good service by drawing attention to the pollution of the rivers Rhymney and Ebbw by waste vitriol flowing I from the Tin-plate Works on the streams. His graphic letters of April 10 and May 3 minutely de- scribe the lamentable evils caused by this injurious, but preventable nuisance and what he states is more or less true of all streams where tin-plate works are situated, and where means have not been adopted—to do what ? Entirely to prevent the nlti-I sance, and that too at a large profit to those who now make the nuisance. If there were no remedy, so large and beneficial a manufacture as that of tin-plat(a would have a right to claim consideration and for- bearance but when those in the trade can avoid injuring a whole district, and by the veiy avoidance enrich themselves, it becomes a very grave question between them and those who needlessly sustain a grievous wrong. I am enabled to speak with confidence on this matter. Many years since I was convinced the refuse vitriol, known as black pickle," could be profitably utilized. I spent a long time and a con- siderable sum in making experiments, and having discovered a simple, inexpensive, method of econo- mising this liquid, and recovering the vitriol in a pure and re-usable state, I took out a patent and I can point with great satisfaction to some twenty Tin-plate Works where my process is in successful and highly- remunerative operation. Not a drop of the poisonous compound need flow into rivers or canals. Nearly all the tin-plate manufacturers of Staffordshire have adopted my process to the profit of themselves, and with entire satisfaction to their neighbours. The largest Tin-plate Works in South Wales have just put it into operation. The River Commissioners express themselves well pleased, and it is only a question of time when every tin-p'ate manufacturer will, for his own interest, save what is very valuable to him, but which is otherwise, as Mr. Morgan so well describes, an unbearable evil for others for many miles around. I am, Sir, yours very truly, W. J. PUGHSLEY. Kidwelly, May 12th, 1870. 0

(To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.) SIR,-I am glad to find, through the medium of your valuable journal, public attention has been lately drawn to the pollution of our rivers. It is high time that something should be done to remedy an evil so seriously affecting the health of man and beast, and which also kills many vegetable productions that would otherwise grow in gardens that are on the banks of the Ebbw. The only effectual remedy would be to make a culvert to carry off all polluted water to the sea. This culvert might be an open one when it would pass through uninhabited localities, but covered when it came in contact with any large popu- lation. If the various parishes through which the Ebbw flows would make a voluntary rate of sixpence per pound, this would probably be sufficient for the purpose or if this plan could not be carried out, a public subscription could, I am confident, be easily raised for this purpose. The Ebbw is not only polluted by various works, situated on its banks, but many of its tributary streams are also polluted at their fountain heads, causing the greatest inconvenience to farmers and cottagers-the former being in many instances unable to get water for their cattle, and the latter unable to get water for the necessary purposes of washing and cleansing their domestic utensils. During this dry weather their wives are obliged to go off a mile or so to fetch water from some roadside spring, and if they get enough to drink, they congratulate themselves on their good fortune. These rivers and brooks, which a gracious Creator has given as a pa- trimony to all, whether rich or poor, ought no longer to be left in the state they are in. The poor have hitherto suffered the most from the impurity of our streams, while the evil at length begins to affect the rich also. This is a good sign and let us hope that both rich and poor will unite to remove so in- tolerable a nuisance. I am, sir, yours obediently, RURICOLA.

BICYCLE CASES.' (To the Editor of the Monmouthshire Merlin.) SIR,—The bicycle is a recent scientific invention, affording an easy and cheap means of locomotion or recreation but, like all other wheeled vehicles, re- quires judicious management, and they may become exceedingly useful conveyances. New inventions in all ages have found enemies among the ignorant and the prejudiced it must, therefore, not be wondered at that the bicycle has its opponents-the most deter- mined of whom appear to be the Newport magistrates (or some of them), as will be seen by the report in your last week's issue, in which Admiral Foote was complainant, when a person named Williams was charged with furious riding, &c.,—in fact charged with having run against the Admiral's pony. The evidence for the complainant was that the night was very dark the trap (the Admiral's) had no lamp and the witness did not know on which side of the road the bicycle was at the time (and therefore could not have known on which side the horse was). The evidence for the defendant was that he was on his proper side of the road, and had his break on going down hill. Now, I ask any unpre- judiced person if, upon such evidence as that, a con- viction was justice to that young man, and moreover, in such a sum as 33s. or a ,monihHs imprisonment! Why pounce with such unseemly severity upon these young lads, who cannot afford to drive horses and traps, and therefore seek the best means of recreation and amusement the place affords and why shall not the same right of road be accorded to the small two- wheeled carriage without a horse as to the bigger one with a horse ? Yours, &c., 10th May, 1870. A BICYCLE RIDER.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. (Continued from the Supplement.) -+- HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY. Merely formal business engaged the attention of the House. The Royal assent was given to several bills, amongst which was the Naturalization Bill. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY. The Benefices Bill came on for second reading. The object of the Bill was to prevent the sale of the next presentation to any living in the Church of Eng- land either by grant or by the sale of advowson, or by any other method. Mr. Cross (who moved the second reading of the Bill), the Solicitor-General, and Dr. Ball supported the measure, and the Bill was ultimately read a second time. A division took place on the County Coroners' (Ire- land) Bill, the second reading of which was moved by Mr. VANCE, who stated that its object was to substitute a method of paying coroners in Ireland by salaries instead of by fees. The Bill was thrown out by a majority of 74. The Suburban Common Bill was read a second time, and some other business having been transacted, the House adjourned. THURSDAY. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON stated that he postponed for a fortnight bringing forward the motion of which he had given notice, asking that a royal commission might be issued to inquire into the system of loading merchant's ships. In reply to questions, Mr. BAXTER stated that at some of the home victualling-yards clothes and provisions had been kept so long in store that they had been condemned as utterly useless. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained that by the recent changes which had been made, the duties of Inland Revenue officers would be increased, but objected to consider the propriety of increasing their salaries. The POSTMASTER-GENERAL stated that it was part of the scheme of the Government to extend the telegraph to all money-order offices in the country. The HOME SECRETARY denied that any demand had been made by the French Government for the extradition of M. Flourens, or any other French refugee. The consideration in committee of the Irish Land Bill was resumed at clause 17.

THURSDAY'S MARKETS. .0 LONDON PRODUCE MARKET. Good grocery qualities have been in request at full prices, otherwise the sugar market has been dull. Good and fine yellow Porto Rico, 33s to 34s low middling and good middling, 31s to 32s. There has been a steady demand for coffee at full quotations. Rice has been dull and drooping, being at 8s 4d to 9s 3d; low broken, 9s 9d to 10s for good middling white. The quarterly sales of indigo closed steadily, at an advance of from 4d to 8d. LONDON TRADE REPORT. Tallow has been quiet. Y.C. spot, 44s 9d June, 45s last three months, 46s. LONDON METAL MARKET. T6ne of market very quiet. Copper nothing doing. Shelter 50 tons sold at unreported prices. Tin 'steady £ 134 to £ 134 5s cash for Straits. Scotch pig iron flatter, at 57s 3d. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. The supply of beasts has been only moderate. The trade has been quiet for all breeds, but prices have been maintained, the best Scots and crosses selling at 4s lOd to 5s per 81bs. With sheep the market has been fairly supplied. Sales have progressed slowly, at about late rates. The best Downs and half-breeds have realised 5s to 5s O^d per 81bs. Lambs have been dull, and the demand for calves has been inactive. Beasts have sold at from 3s to 5s sheep, 3s. to 5s 2d; lambs, 6s 6d to 7s 4d; calves, 33 lOd to 5s 8d per 81bs. sinking the offal. Total supplies —Beasts, 627 sheep and lambs, 11,630 and calves, 550. Foreign-Beasts, 170 sheep and lambs, 2,810 and calves, 450. CORK BUTTER MARKET Firsts, 110s. Seconds, 103s. Thirds, 97s. Fourths, 90s. Fifths, 70s. Mild cured, Firsts, 117s Seconds, 107s; Thirds, 103s. 1070 firkins in market.

— MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF A CHILD.-An unknown child, about a month old, was found on Thursday afternoon in the ladies' waiting-room of the Great Western Railway station, Wolverhampton, murdered by strangulation.* Marks of violence, as if by a cord, were visible about the head and neck, and blood was upon the neck and face. It was wrapped in portions of a woman's under-garment. The police have the case in hand. The supposition is that the body was placed where it was found by a through passenger, who alighted for the purpose. On Thursday, Mr. George Brown, brother-in-law of the late Mr. Henry Moore, M. P. for Mayo was elected without opposition to fill the vacant seat for that county. DR. ScoTT's BILIOUS AND LIVER PILLS. --Prepared without any mercurial ingredient, from the recipe or Dr. Scott, of Bromley, Kent. For affections of the liver, indigestion, flatulency, bile, sick headache, giddiness, loss of appetite, lowness of spirits, with sensation of fulness at the pit of the stomach, paih between the shoulders, and the distressing feelings arising from indigestion and general debility, Dr. Scott's Bilious and Liver Pills will be found the most effectual remedy. They can be taken at any time without any danger from wet or cold, and require no restraint from business or pleasure. They act mildly on the bowels, without pain or griping, giving strength to the stomach, promote healthy action of the liver, by which they prevent and cure the jaundice and dropsy, clear the skin, remove sallowness and pimples, purify the blood, brace the nerves, and invigorate the whole system. Females will find them most invaluable, and should never be without them. Prepared only, and sold by W. Lambert, chemist, 8, King William-street, Charing Cross, London, and sold by most druggists and booksellers in boxs3, Is. l^d. or three times the quantity in one, 2s. 9d. each. Be sure to ask for Dr. Scott's Bilious and Liver Pills." The genuine are in a square green package. 14,886 EFFICACY OF DR. DE JONGH'S LIGHT-BROWN COD LIVER OIL IN CONSUMPTION AND DISSASES OF THE CHEST.—It is now universally admitted by the most eminent medical practitioners that Dr. de Jongh's Cod Liver Oil is beyond all question the most valuable re- medy for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest. No remedy so rapidly restores the exhausted strength, im- proves the nutritive functions, stops emaciation, checks the perspiration, quiets the cough and expectoration, or produces a more marked and favourable influence on the local malady. Dr. Waudby, Physician to the Hereford Infirmary, bears the following high testimony to its efficacy from his own personal experience "I can take Dr. de Jongh's Oil without difficulty or dislike, and ith as little inconvenience as water alone. Not only in my own case, but in many others I have seen, it has caused an improvement of chest symptoms. and an increase of weight, so soon and so lastingly, as to be quite remarkable. I believe Dr. de Jongh's Oil to be the most valuable remedy we possess for chronic and constitutional disease." Dr. de Jongh's Light Brown Cod Liver Oil is sold only in capsuled imperial half- pints, 2s 6d.; pints, 4s. 9d. quarts, 9s.; labelled with his stamp and signature,without which none can possibly be genuine, hy his sole consignees, Ansar, Harford, and Co., 77, Strand, London; and respectable chemists* 2

u_ LON DON LET T E R. LONDON, May 12th, 1870. Truly we are advancing at no mean pace. What would our most advanced politicians have said a few years ago if it had been predicted that Women Suffrage and Ballot Bills would have found favour with the House of Commons in 1870. The former bill has given rise to a great deal of controversial writing; but whilst women are eligible to give paro- chial votes, and to hold parochical offices, and as in a case just decided by our superior courts, are not allowed to claim exemption from serving the office of overseer when duly chosen, it is difficult to sea by what sort of logic it can be argued that they are unfit to give a vote for an M.P. The Ballot Bill will no doubt meet with a good deal of opposition, but it is pretty safe in the hands of the present Government unless they presume upon their strength, and get outwitted by the opposition as in the recent case of Mr. Newdegate's Conventual Committee, but such another mistake is not at all likely to be made. The Greek massacre continues to excite atten- tion, the more so as there seems to be a possibility of its becoming a question of larger dimensions than was at first anticipated. A thrill of horror was felt on reading the account of the barbarous muti- lations to which the victims were subjected. The commercial tendency of the age has been strikingly exemplified by the way in which the tragedy has been turned to account. Photographic copies of the brigands as exposed after execution, at Athens, have been exhibited for sale in the photographers' shops; and the notoriously enterprising Police News has delectated its readers with some barbarously- executed wood-cuts of the capture, &c., no doubt taken by its artist on the spot. I mentioned last week the apprehension of two young men charged with appearing at the Strand Theatre in women's attire. A portion of the press has perhaps given undue prominence to the case by reporting verbatim the second examination be- fore the Bow-street Magistrates, and thus exciting the curiosity and prejudice of the public. The counsel for the prosecution-which has been under- taken by the Treasury-has hinted at certain grave charges against the prisoners to which their strange attire is supposed to be a mere cloak but it is only fair, whilst the prisoners lie under this stigma without having the opportunity of replying, to say that, if specific statements of the press are to be relied on, the young men have been in the habit of performing female characters in public and private theatricals in Es ex and elsewhere, and on one oc- casion so far north as Scarborough. This, of course, accounts for their extensive wardrobe of female clothes, but does not account for their visiting the boxes of theatres, as spectators, in the same dis- guise. Meanwhile the young men are in custody on remand, the magistrate declining to take bail, and the public are speculating as to the sort of evidence which will be tendered when they next make their appearance in the dock. The burglars who paid a visit to Mr. Bohn and Mrs. Norton a fortnight ago, have extended their operations to the capture of £ 10,000 worth of jewels belonging to Lady Margaret Beaumont, of Picca- dilJy. Hence, there is a natural outcry against our inefficient detective police. We pay rates to be protected by a. force whose whole business it is to detect thieves, or better still, to prevent robbery; but the bargain is a one-sided one, or, rather, the police undertake an impossibility. Our thieves are supposed to be rapidly growing in ingenuity, but the fact is our domestics are more treacherous then formerly. Without some connivance of dependants, half the robberies which occur would not take place. The modern burglar works a safe game, or none at all. Without prior information, he could not have known that the master and mistress would be absent at 9.30 p.m., nor could he have gone so directly to the jewel casket as was done in the recent Picca- dilly burglarly. In such cases the police are power- Jess to prevent crime, and when the nature of the plunder is thus known beforehand arrangements are of course made for its speedy conveyance be- yond the reach of the detectives. It is said the thieves would have been detected long before this if the robbery bad occurred in Paris; but then the French police system is far more inquisitorial than we English would like to adopt, and hence we must put up with trifling defects in a system which al- lows us so much more liberty and privacy than that of our neighbours across the Channel. Whilst the Government Select Committee on Tramways have been deliberating as to the autho- rity to whom the construction of tramways shall be committed, two tramways have been made in our suburbs, and are already in working order. One, to which I have before referred, has been opened from Brixton to Kennington in the south, and ano- ther from Whitechapel to Bow in the east of Lon- don. The cars are all that can be wished; as far as reports have yet come to hand, the traffic is all that can be desired. Amongst other noticeable improve- ments approaching completion is that sumptuous building, or those blocks of buildings, facing and rivalling the Houses of Parliament on the southern embankment of the Thames at Westminster, and intended for St. Thomas's Hospital. Also the mag- nificent station of the Midland Railway at St. Pan- eras, which is assuming more ponderous proportions daily as the facjade towards the Euston road rises heavenwards. As a piece of brickwork, this station is unrivalled in the south of England. The London and North-Western Terminus, so long obscured by the Square from which the Euston Station takes its name, will shortly be made visible to the travel- ler along the Euston Road. A roadway is in course of formation through the square, direct to the Doric arch which forms such a conspicuous landmark in front of the terminus. The road will be the pro- perty of the company, and the corners in the Euston Road will be flanked with two classic-looking stone buildings or lodges. According to announcement the Sun appeared as a daily paper on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. It is published at this time to secure later news than can appear in the other morning journals. It has not been altered in size or appearance, and the parlia- mentary reports are simply a good summary. Some haste in getting to press was visible in the first im- pression, but this is a fault which time may cure. There seems to be a lack of advertisements, and the proprietors would do well to take a leaf from the Echo's book in this respect. The City Magistrates are in a state of perturba- tion with regard to the bill of Mr. Buxton as to the Government of the Metropolis. The old city has always been jealously watchful of its ancient and privileges, and in this respect the citizens are not i) be behind their ancestors, for theyhave announced their uncompromising hostility to Mr. Buxton's measure. The Royal academy has inaugurated its usual May Exhibition in its new home at Burlington House. Lovers of the fine arts will here find as rich a treat as they can possibly desire. Landseer, Millais, and half-a-dozen other artists have sent several works apiece of very high order, whilst a melancholy interest attaches to the superb work of the late Daniel Maclise. Hyde Park promises to be a centre of attraction on Sunday next. Tlte Reformers' tree will be called upon to shade the advocates of French republican- ism whilst they pour out their wrath at the Em- peror, or protest against the supposed demand for the prosecution of the alleged plotters against the Emperor's life in this country. M. Flourens is the fugleman of the party, and, like the celebrated Fin- len, he seems to think that London has nothing else to do but go out to Hyde Park to sympathise with him and his compatriots. I have not pet heard of any steps to stop the meeting, so it will probably be a very quiet and insignificant one.

Mr. Baron Pigott has decided at Judge's Clam- bers that the medical reports furnished to the Brigh- ton Railway Company respecting the persons in- jured in the New Cross collisions were privileged communications. ° A hostile encounter has taken place near Paris, between M. Janvier de la Motte, son of the ex-pre- fect of that name, and M. de Mareuil. The former was slightly wounded in the right arm. The cause of the onarrel is not stated. '.iHE NATIONAL SOCIETY AND THE EDUCATION QUESTION.-A deputation, composed of the Bishop of Gloucester Earl Nelson, Lord Redesdale, Sir C. Adderley, M.P., Mr. Beresford Hope, M.P., Mr. Talbot, M.P., Canon Gregory, and others, waited on Mr. Gladstone, Earl de Grey, and Mr. Forster on Wednesday, to present a memorial from the Com- mittee of the National Society, urging that it was impolitic not to keep faith with Church schools, and protesting against any interference with the freedom of religious teaching.—Sir. C. Adderley observed that the Time-table Conscience Clause in the Bill was so vague it could do no harm, unless it fixed the hour.—Mr. Gladstone rejoined that the clause could not be expected to be so vague as to mean nothing. He thanked the deputation for their at- tendance. Another deputation, including the Bishops of Llandaff, Bangor, and St. Asaph, Lord Penryn, and others, waited on Mr. Gladstone to correct a statement made by Mr. Bowstead in his report on Church education in Wales, that the people were struggling, at whatever cost, to estab- lish unsectarian schools* Mr. Gladstone thanked the deputation.

PARIS LETTE R. I PARIS, May 11, 1870. The Emperor and the other members of the Im- perial Family, neither took their usual carriage- drive nor went to the races in the Bois, on Sunday, Plebiscite day. The Empress devoted much of her time to praying alone in the private chapel, and it is hoped they have been heard—for the prayers of a righteous woman also must avail much. There was some walking in the reserved garden, with marshals and ministers, to kill time till the returns of the poll came in. These commenced to blossom like the rose about nine o'clock, and it was nearly midnight, when the Prefet of Paris brought the final declaration of the Capital to his Majesty. At one o'clock Napoleon turned in, but his favourite valet brought him the results of the Departmental votes throughout the night. Felix, the valet, opened the telegrams, and did not hesitate to express his disgust to the bearer when all was not favourable. The Prince Imperial was allowed the privilege of hearing read these midnight telegrams as they were wired to the Palace. Prince Napoleon re- mained the whole day, and night rearly, in the offices of the Central Committee of Elections; so did M. Nigra, the young and dashing Italian am- bassador, and who was the first to inform his master of the result of all the accredited ministers to the TuiL ries. However, there was a constant calling of diplomatists, politicians, editors, &c., at the of- fices to obtain the latest news, which was received every ten minutes, as to the coronation of the Second Empire. The day was exceptionally fine for the voting, and those who intended to pass the day in the country voted early. The 170 booths were opened at six o'clock precisely, but after five the people made queue outside. Among them might be seen the Prime Minister Ollivier, who had to wait in the crowd thirty-five minutes till his turn arrived, just as if it was dividend day at Rothschild's bank. In the aristocratic quarters the voting took place later, as such residents are not early risers. But it was nearly the last hour when the boys in blouses" voted, and remained to see the results of their han- diwork totted up at six p.m. Everywhere everything passed off calmly the distributors of the bulletins Yes and No were allowed to ply their calling un- molested, and the ground around was strewn with the--c rejected scraps of paper, like the leaves in the Vale of Valombrosa. One enterprising sau- sage manufacturer improved the occasion by oscu- lating handbills of his establishment in the form of a voting ticket, and the opposition party distributed in certain districts a Oui" ticket, by appending a tail to the "O," thus making it into a" Q," and nullifying the document. However, all is fair in war. The polling booths were confined to the cares of the National Guard, and a few polite police. Not a soldier throughout the day was to be seen in the streets. At one booth, the President before com- mencing operations, was requested by a workman to remove his hat, and salute the Majesty of the People. He did so, and then a second time, to the voter who represented them. In another case, the urns-for which read the less romantic name, boxes," were demanded to be turned upside down and examined, because, said an interlocutor, on the anthority of Thiers, all the urns of Paris have false bottoms. Some enthusiasts wrote Republic on their tickets, others down with Rochefort and Flourens," losing in both cases the value of tho vote. The bulletins were all collected on Mondav, and in the afternoon burned in the Court yard of the Hotel de Ville. Memento plebiscite, quia pulvis es. At one of the Mayor's offices, the son-in-law of De- puty Pelletan, attended to have his newly born son baptized. He wished him to receive the name of Non," but the clerk told him, neither that nor Oui" appeared in the Calendar, and therefore, the proposed appellation was not legal. Note, it is from the Calendar of Saints the French must select the names of their children; outside this there is no civil salvation. It was only towards evening, after the voting, that Paris showed any emotion. The proclamation by the minister of police, enjoining the citizens to respect the law and not lend themselves to any dis- turbance by curiosity, excited much attention, and it was needless for that functionary to add, that all measures had been taken to repress disorder. An occasional infantry and cavalry regiment passed 'r along the boulevards to take up their position, they were well received but when the cannon appeared, the cries of à bas les canons were general. There were not many Vivas for the Republic. Rochefort seemed to be forgotten, and not being in a musical mood, explains, why the Marseillaise was so rarely sung. All was a striking contrast with June last. The boulevards of the interior were quite blocked un with rows of vehicles, seven abreast. The crowds of sight-seers were equally numerous, and were characterized by that loud hum of voices of persons thinking aloud. There was nothing vitriolic in iG- aspect, hence, the total absence of the police. In a few districts, some arrests were made and a barri- cade run up for fun. It was at the newspaper offices the only commo- tion was visible. The excitement for third and sixth editions was tremendous, many persons pulling the sheets the moment they were thrown off by the machines. The news-stalls were consequently badly supplied, and those that had anything to sell about the poll were gladly taken at an increased price of one and two hundred per cent. In the barracks no citizen voters were allowed to penetrate, and one of the Deputies of Paris-Ferry, who desired to look on, protested in the name of the law against being refused admission. As to the vote-it is not equal to the plebiscite of 1851-2, but then France was not in the enjoyment or the liberty she has to-day, and this is what gives the great triumph to the vote of the 8th of M%j~ where majority and minority have struggled without the intervention of officialism. Further, the pro- sent mass vote must be taken and read with the elections in May last-w hen 3 V millions protested against the Empire, and hardly now 1-J- dis-approve of it. In Paris alone, the triumph from this point of view is real, only 45,000 of a majority for the HN u" ticket. As usual, all the great towns showed them- selveshostile to the Empire, but the provinces swamp- ed the towns, and here is Napoleon's sheet anchor. What is most curious, singular,-significant, if you will, is the vote of the army and navy on this occa- sion, as compared with 1852. That of the army of Paris deserves special notice. In these barracks, situated in the most dangerous quarters of the city, the soldiers, although confined to their casernes for the last eight days, largely went in for No." In the caserne of Prince Eugene the voting wa,s nearly equal, and the 7th Regiment, to which Beaudry be- longed, and now lies in prison on a charge of a conspiracy to murder the Emperor, polled strongly for the No,"—although it is but a few days ago since the whole regiment presented an address of loyalty to his Majesty. In the seven million of votes polled the Emperor can feel secure, and ca,n calculate he will increase this number in proportion as he extends liberty. The great peaceful revolu- tion now enacted, has been happy alike for univer- sal suffrage and freedom. The choristers in the chapels have commenced to strike for increased pay. Doubtess it is not too late for the (Ecumenical Council to meet such heresy with an anathema. Anticipating the Dog- days, the little passenger steamers on the river, in- tend to be so re-constructed that the cabins will be under water, protected by a glass roof, and air- holes. The aquarium will be interesting. The music too will be under, not in, the water. At one of the late revolutionary reunions a gentle- man desired to enter, just to see how the thing was carried on. He had no card of invitat'on, but stated he was a stenographer," and would report the proceedings for the Committee. It was just what they wanted. He was provided with pens, ink, paper, and a seat of honour. He scribbled away, and at the conclusion of the meeting handed his hieroglyphics in, which were the first he ever attempted in his life. This "picture writing" has been sent to Rochefort to decipher. Who are the Californiens ? It is the name given to the employes of the public offices when engaged on extra work. Since the 28th ult. the clerks in the General Post Office have been nugget gathering. Their ordinary working hours are limited to eight, and for every additional one a franc is allowed. Some clerks have found themselves equal to seven hours extra work, Upwards of 130 million of all sorts of printed circulars and journals have been transmitted through the post since the plebiscitory campaign opened, increasing the revenue of tho department by two and a half millions of francs. The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury, who is about to be married to Lord Derby, is the second daughter of the late Earl de la Warr, and sister to the present peer of that title and to Lord Buckhurst. Her ladyship was born in 1824, and was married in 1847 to the late Marquis of Salisbury, who died in April, 1868. There are three sons and two daughters the issue of this marriage, the youngest of whom was born in 1854. Lord Derby is now forty-four years of age. An English soldier wantonly popped a little native boy into a canal at Lahore, whereby he was drowned. The scoundrel ran off. but waa_caiflrkfc.

I OPENING OF LONDON UNIVERSITY B THE QUEEN. .ldin<rS erec- On Wednesday afternoon, the ne njversity ted in Burlington Gardens for London were opened by the^Queen, of a numerous and distinguished ass Queen It was nearly one o'clock when « neighbour* rived at the University building, m body hood of which had gathered a numer n^.street people as the narrow street between and Bond-street would permit. Her ■>, gar! received at the entrance of the building^. Qr0\f> Granville (chancellor of the University,; I+jve (vice-chancellor), Mr. Lowe (the the University in Parliament), Dr. ^ers chairman of Convocation), and many nie jjoJJ, the Senate, the Duke of Devonshire (e*Tc Mr. Goschen, M.P. Mr. Cardwell, M.P-5 j/[r, Lubbock, M.P. the Bishop of St. Davw > The Paget, Dr. Billing, Dr. Gull, and Dr. Quain. naftet Prince and Princess of Wales had arrived sooc twelve o'clock. intfP9! The scene in the theatre, where the Pr .^e ot cercmony took place, was brilliant. On one ^^3 the theatre was placed a dais, on which wer^prS 0* of state for the Queen and the other the Royal Family. The floor of the gjj ol reserved for graduates of the UniversIty, f the, whom appeared fully robed, the colours scaj« hoods being blue for doctors of laws, puce ^0gd lot for doctors of medicine, and brown f°^re jS who have taken the arts degree. The fujougk' lofty and excellently proportioned; and, ieCot»' at present it is in an unfinished state, the for tions with which it was temporarily the ceremony were sufficient to show that i* a very handsome chamber when it shall ba.ve out of the hands of the decorator. Amongst those who occupied the place -nisrae^ facing the dais were the Lord Mayor, Mr- r%erabl^ (who on entering was received with cons* aItilf cheering), Mr. Gladstone (who was also JJ* welcomed), Lord John Manners, M.P.; Mr- .'allot Fors'er, M.P.; Lord Stanhope, the Vice Mjg, of Oxford (Dr. Leighton), the Countess erj# Mrs. Lowe, Mrs. Storrer, Mrs. Groto, Mr. Paterson, General Sabine, and Mr. Ayrton. and among the general assemblage were Sir Bowring, Baboo Keshub Chunder Sen, Dr. q C- (president of King's College), Mr. J. R. Qu»in» J-gi- Trofcssor Huxley and others. When the roya* tors and the procession had entered the theatre bad taken their places on the dais, the Change read an address, in which the following Pa.ssaS,'j occurred:—" It was in the year of your accession to the throne that the University of » 9 don began its labours for the encouragement regular and liberal course of education among We denominations of the subjects of the Crown. n&- offer our dutiful thanks to your Majesty for cousez, f ing to open a building which, with the sancti°° the Crown, has been granted to us by and which, while distinguished by its architec merits, fully satisfies all the requirements ot. University. We venture to interpret this 0xtf consent as a personal recognition on the part o:1 ^je Majesty of theprogresswhichtheUniversityhas in nrmbers and in reputation, and of its ,sUCC<L0ng developing an enlarged system of educatwn a ub. all classes, races and creeds of your Majesty 9 s jects in every quarter of the globe." tnWo^' Her Ma,j esty handed to Earl Granville the eSg. '.ng reply :—" I thank you for your loyal a aii(nl ft gives me great pleasure to open the ^fjjty oi and spacious building provided bvthe libf'fJ>P ° £ Parliament for the University. The coU'I'10f that building marks a new era in the University, the achievements of which b^e 0d en" justified the expectations of the patriot*0 e ad- justified the expectations of the patriotIC e ad. lightened men by whose efforts and on vice it was founded. I have never ceased to with great interest the usefulness of this n° ^e' stitution, and I do not doubt, and I earnes sire, that the confidence with which the Umv is regarded, not in England only, but also thr „ out my empire, will continue to lDcrease, h to" its influence will be used in the future as heret^ fore, for the encouragement of sound and liberal education among all classes and races of my peop without distinction of creed." The Queen then declared the University open, announcement which was received with hearty cheers, which were renewed as one by one the naff> of the Queen and the three members of the Roy Fiimily were called out from the body of the thea • The Queen and Court then left the theatre, were conducted back to the entrance by the Cha collor, Vice Chancellor, member for the Universitf, Chairman of Convocation, and Senate, who afte" wards returned to the theatre, when the preseP^T tion of the graduates, exhibitioners, and prized took place.