Monmouthshire Merlin

Details of Friday's Fighting. HEAVY LOSS OF THE RUSSIANS. (From the Daily News correspondent. GALATZ, June 22 (Evening).-Last night the first actual crossing took place. Three days ago a small force landed near the village of Tchetchille, and returned with two wounded and one dead. Since then it has been evident that the Russians were making serious prepara- tions. A fortnight ago the small boats were seized of all the vessels here. The day before yesterday the Cossacks launched them amid great enthusiasm. During the first few days rafts with bulwarks of timber carrying one field gun were rapidly constructed. Yes- terday afternoon four of these rafts were rowed across the river, and also forty boats containing infantry. All night until one o'clock there was a constant embarkation of troops. The marsh between Galatz and the bold spur of the Balkans opposite, from three to five miles wide, is broken up by lakes. In some places the water is waist deep with the fiood, and is navigable for rafts and small boats. The hills nearest Galatz are rocky and barren. There is a fertile slope behind, stretching to the lake, where the village of Tchetchille is situated. In the distance are the serrated sum- mits of the mountains. It is one hour's row across, and nearly two hours' back. This morning, at half-past two, the rattle of musketry on the shore of the lake near Tchet- chille showed- that the first act of the drama had fairly opened. After a few moments the heavy boom of cannon called attention to the trailing white smoke near the summit of the hill, to the left of the village. From that time till half-past nine there was constant firing of cannon and musketry. Then it ceased for one hour, be- ginning with renewed vigour at 11 o'clock. The cannon on the mountains fired at regular inter- vals. Evidently there were only two pieces. No Turks were visible with the best glass. The Rus- sian white coats made a brilliant contrast with the black rocks on the hillside. At noon the white coats were seen on a summit opposite, with a ravine between them and the enemy. The posi- tion was held till three in the afternoon. The men were sheltered behind rocks and in holes in the ground. The firing ceased at three. The white coats were seen at six o'clock where cannon was approaching. The river mist hides every- thing as early as eight o'clock. This morning the wounded came in, and continued to do so all day. Judging from the number of ambulances, the wounded brought back are not fewer than three hundred. I have given the description of the scene observed from Galatz. Accounts of the action vary much. It is impossible to get reliable in- formation. The Roumanian oarsmen say that the Russians tried to land at the edge of the lake near the village, and were fired on before they touched the shore. Then they met with heavy volleys. Fromfiveto six thousand Russians crossed, with eight cannon. The Roumanians report that there were 800 Turks and two cannon. The accounts of the oarsmen agree about the movements seen from Galatz. At ten the Russians gave up the attempt to possess the road leading to Tchetchille over the hills, finding the grove Ef™ S? ^afe *ffed ^ith Turks. They there- o ■ o 11 hill beyond the road and fate in'the aftemS We 0apfitaril1? of the capture tost lantoig was a hand-to-hand conflict. The first man Med was a young Russian officer. He sprang ashore -and was shot throuch the forehead. I saw an officer with a Stt on the right side of the neck. All day no Russian cannon was heard. Only one Turkish shell is reported to have burst. To sum liP, two regiments, forming a brigade of the Fourteenth Corps, commanded by Genera] Zimmerman, crossed, and engaged the enemy for twelve hours, and remained masters of the field. As I write the ambulances continue the transport of the wounded from the quay to the hospital. Companies in light marching order tramp past in the moonlight, singing on their way to the boats on the quay. There are many soldiers and crowds of citizens and curious groups about the ambulances. Beyond is the swift Danube, flashing in the moonlight, and the broad waste of marshes, and in the distance the outline of the hills. Solemn silence reigns over all. Even the soldiers' songs sound muffled and impressive. Preparations for to-morrow are active and earnest. The reticence of the Russians is complete. They only insist that two cannon, many prisoners, and one flag have m6en taken. The troops are in high spirits.; The weather is fine..

THE CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. HEAVY FIGHTING AT BATOUM. ALLEGED DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS WITH 2000 KILLED CONSTANTINOPLE, June 25 (10.40 a.m.)-A des- patch from the governor of Trebizond an- nouncea that yesterday morning., the Russians attacked the outworks of Batoum from four I different quarters. A hotly contested engage- ment ensued, which lasted until evening. Dervish Pasha having brought up a reinforce- ment of eleven battalions, the Russians were repulsed in several successive attacks, with a. loss of 2000 killed. On the Turkish side an aide-de-camp of the Pasha, 6 officers, and 80 men fell. The frigate Muhbiri took part in the fight by destroying Russian fortifications. On the 20th inst., several Ottoman ships left Sukhum Kale, and landed three battalions and two batteries at Tschamtschara. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 25 (6.35 p.m.)-The following telegram has been received here from Dervish Pasha, bearing yesterday's date :-On the 23rd inst. several attacks of the Russians were repulsed. To-day five of our battalions attacked the enemy, and compelled him to withdraw the bat- teries which he had moved to the front, and to retreat with a loss of 1500 killed and many wounded. Our troops captured a large quan- tity of arms. Darkness coming on we were unable to bring up our artillery, and did not occupy the entrenchments which had been abandoned by the enemy. We therefore re- turned to our former positions. PERA, June 25. The report of a Turkish victory before Batum is confirmed, the Russians lo&ing 5000 killed and woundod.

RUSSIAN VICTORY. FAIR PASHA KILLED, AND A LARGE NUMBER OF TURKS TAKEN PRISONERS. ST. PETERSBURG, June 25 (Official).-General Teigonkassoff defeated the Turks under the command of Faik Pasha on the 16th June, near Zeidikiow. Faik Pasha was killed, and a large number of Turks were taken prisoners. ST. PETERSBURG, June 25 (Evening).—The following further official intelligence respecting the defeat of the Turks on the 16th inst. has been received here dated Masra, Sunday:— The column commanded by General Tergu- kassoff defeated the Turks under the command of Ferik Mehemed Pasha on the 16th inst., between Zeidekau and Deli Baba. The Turks defended themselves with great obstinacy, but the Russians achieved a complete victory, com- pelled the Turks to take flight, and made many prisoners. Ferik Pasha was killed in the en- gagement. The Russian losses were 27 killed, two officers and 119 men wounded. The Rus- sians behaved admirably.

RECAPTURE OF BAYAZID. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 23 (Official).—In Asia the Ottoman army has taken Bayazid. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 23.—According to the reports current here the Kurdish cavalry have entered Bayazid, and occupied the town. The Russian garrison had entrenched itself, awaiting the arrival of the Turkish regular troops before it would capitulate. Meanwhile a truce had been agreed to between the Russians and the Kurds. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 23 (11.30 a.m.).—The news of the recapture of Bayazid is con- firmed to-day. It seems that Sheik Abdul- lah's column, which left Van some weeks ago, effected a union with the forces of Faick Pasha. The above junction caused the left wing of the Russian army, which attacked the Turks opposite Deli Baba. to fall back. It appears that Mukhtar Pasha's forces have been enabled to effect the junction with Faick Pasha's troops, thus rendering the position of the Russian left wing untenable. The Sultan's aide-de-camp has arrived at Constantinople, bringing private report to his Imperial Majesty as to the military operations at Sukhum Kale. Fresh reinforce- ments are to be sent to the Caucasus. Mehemet Bey returns to his post with strict orders to push forward the military operations of the Turks. Reinforcements are also being despatched to Batum, a position which is now considered to be even stronger than it was formerly. Prince Hassan of Egypt is about to leave for Schumla, after a consultation with the Turkish Commander- in-Chief as to the movements of the Egyptian army.-Special Telegram in the Observer. RUSSIA AND THE SUEZ CANAL. ST. PETERSBURG, June 23.-The Golos of to-day, discussing the possibility of England acquiring the Suez Canal, says, Russia would be less in. clined than any other Power to prevent such an arrangement, for in that case it would be found impossible to settle the Oriental question in a manner harmonising with the interests of Russia. Other Powers would probably judge the matter differently, but that would not affect Russia. The Continental Powers could not count on the co-operation of Russia, because if the canal were to pass into the hands of England Russia's hands would be free, and she would be relieved of the necessity of restrain- ing her freedom of action in order not to excite the apprehensions of other Powers for who9«i neutrality Russia has sometimes to pay verv dearly.

THE OCCUPATION OF MATCHIN BY THE RUSSIANS. PARIS, June 26. A telegram from Ployesti says the Russians retain possession of Matchin, notwithstanding the efforts of the Turks to dislodge them. The Czar has decorated many of the men who were wounded during the crossing of the Danube. The Russians are removing their head-quarters to Controceni, near Bucharest. (From the Special Correspondent of the Daily Ntus.) BRAILA, June 23 (Evening).-I have just re- turned from Matchin, which place the Russians- occupied this morning at seven o'clock without resistance, the Turks having abandoned it last night precipitately after yesterday's battle. The Russians were soon informed of the fact by the inhabitants bringing the news. Contrary to the predictions of the Turcophiles, they did not mas- sacre or maltreat the inhabitants on leaving, but the Circassians drove away all the cattle, horses, and live stock they could find, pillaged the shops. and houses, but committed no other acts of violence. The whole population of Matchin does not reach ten thousand at present. They are wholly Christian, the Turkish portion having left immediately after the declaration of war. The Russian forces crossed yesterday and occupied the town this morning. This afternoon General Zimmerman crossed over with about two thousand men and four cannon in steamboats, and kindly invited me to accom- pany him. We had no sooner entered the Matchin branch of the Danube than I perceived that the whole question of crossing by the bridge was a mere pretence. The road to Mat- chin is still under water. Although the Cos- sacks have passed over it, they were obliged to swim their horses in many places. It will take several days yet to put the road hi a condition for the army to pass. Although the bridge will still be useful for the passage of the army and supplies, it seems to have been built rather with intent to deceive than with the object of crossing. At any rate the bridge could not have been avail- able for the passage of the army for several days yet. It is very solidly constructed of trestle- work and rafts, not pontoons, as stated in yes- terday s telegram. It takes the steamboat about two hours to get from Braila to Matchin, because the current is very strong. Upon ar- riving we found the Russians already in posses- sion. The inhabitants, formed in a procession, with banners and holypictures from the churches, came out to meet General Zimmennan, headed by three priests in their robes, singing and chanting, and calling down blessings on the heads of the Russians. Each priest held in his bawl a gTnfl.il wooden.. cross. The Russian General and officers took oil their caps, ic.> ;erl the crosses devoutly, while the priests sprinkled them with holy water, and the population cheered loudly. This is the true meaning ot what the Russophiles and Turcophiles call a. war of conquest. The Russians are hailed here, as they will be all over Bulgaria, as deliverers. Most of the inhabitants of Matchin, however, are real Russians of the sect known as Old Believers, who fled from persecution a hundred years ago. The Russians were welcomed by the population most enthusiastically. The town has a tumbledown look, cha- racteristic of all towns under Turkish rule. The General, after reviewing the troops, returned to Braila this evening. I have learned many details of the affair of yesterday which I had not obtained at the time my last telegram was written. General Zimmerman thinks the Turks numbered about 3000, with' 250 or 300 horse, and four guns, of which two were used in the fight, and two in the battery at Matchin. He says the Turks seem to have been fully informed of his movements in advance, and he found them on the alert and prepared for the attack. They fought with great bravery and resolution. Several of his men were wounded by bayonets,, which shows that there was close, hot work. It was rendered all the more difficult for the Rus- sians by the fact that the boats only sufficed to transport 1800 men at a time, and the swampy nature of the ground on which they were landed, covered as it was with tall reeds growing in the water knee-deep, made it impossible to bring the four pieces of artillery they had brought over into action until they were no longer needed. The Turkish cavalry behaved splendidly, and charged boldly into the Russian infantry sabre in hand. One Russian officer and several men were killed or wounded with the sabres. The Russian attack was made on SntK sides alone the narrow ra^ge 0* bills which extend past Vakareni and Oarbma toward Galatz. The Russian loss is between one hundred fifty and two hundred killed and wounded, of whom three officers were killed and two wounded. The Turks have retreated towards Medidje, on the line of the Kustendje Railway, so that the whole north end of the Dobrudscha may be said to be abandoned by them. It is not likely they will make a stand this side of Silistria. General Zimmerman, whose corps, the 14th, will cross the river as rapidly as possible, and will be joined by the 4th corps now in the direction of Reni, will march south with the greatest despatch. It is not known yet whether this army will form the column of advance be- tween Varna and Shumla. It seems probable, however, that to these two corps will fall the duty of reducing Silistria, and perhaps Shumla. It further seems likely that another passage of the Danube will be attempted somewhere between Giurgevo and Turna-Magurelle within the next few days, without awaiting General Zimmerman's advance, which cannot be avail- able to turn the Turkish positions about Rust- chuk under three weeks-a delay which the rest of the army is in no way disposed to suffer. We may, therefore, expect to hear of serious fighting yet before the whole Russian army gets over the Danube. THE TURKISH ARMIES ROUTED WITH TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER. VIENNA, June 26. Advices from Belgrade leave no doubt that a convention has been concluded between Servia and Roumania for combined military oporations as soon as the whole Russian army shall have taken up strategical positions on the Turkish side of the Danube. The Presse pub- lishes a telegram stating that in the most criti- cal moment the Montenegrins routed both the Turkish armies with tremendous slaughter.

BOMBARDMENT OF RUSTCHUK. Destruction of the English Consulate. RUSTCHUK, June 25.-The Russians opened fire upon Rustchuk from six batteries at three o'clock this afternoon. The Turkish quarter first suffered, the shells from the centimetre guns taking effect. Many buildings were struck, including the Konok, now used as a hospital, where the Red Crescent flag was flying; the American church; and the prison. Later in the evening a steady fire was directed upon the quarterwhere the foreign consulates are situated. The English Consulate received four shells, and is demolished. The Consul escaped unhurt. The French Consulate has also suffered- UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT OF THE TURKS TO CROSS THE DANUBE. BUCHAREST, June 26. — Five boatloads of Turks who attempted to cross the Danube nw Turtukai yesterday, were compelled to retire owing to the heavy the from the Russian guns. RUSSIAN OCCUPATION OF HIRSOVA. FIRES IN WIDDIN AND RUSTCHUK. PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF AT BUCHAREST. BUCHAREST, June 26.-The Russians have occupied Hirsova, on the southern bank of the Danube, a place of some strategical importance which has been evacuated by the Turks. At day-break this morning a very brisk canonade commenced from all the Russian and Rouma- nian batteries on the whole line of the Danube. Yesterday a fire broke out in several parts of Widdin and Rustchuk in consequence of the bombardment from Russian and Roumanian batteries. The Czar has left for Giurgevo. Prince Gortschakoff arrived in Bucharest to- day, accompanied by a staff of the Russian Chancellerie. Up to yesterday 28,000 Russians had crossed the Danube at Ibraila. THE RUSSIANS IN THE DOBRUDSCHA. A Vienna telegram dated noon yesterday says, the Russians in the Dobrudscha are pro- vided with six days' rations for man and horse. They have commenced the march from Matchin to Tchernavoda, by way of Hirsova.

THE CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. TURKISH VICTORY AT HALIAZ. ERZERUM, June 26. On the 22nd, Mukhtar Pasha attacked the nussians at Haliaz, driving them out of their entrenchments. The losses of the Turks are about 2000, those of the Russians 3000. THE TURKISH VICTORY AT BATUM. PARIS, June 26. A telegram from Pera brings confirmation of the victory of Mukthar Pasha at Batum. The losses were heavy on both sides, and more than a thousand prisoners were taken. CONSTANTINOPLE, June 26.—The Bassiret an- nounces a victory of Ahmed Mukhtar Pasha, in which the Russians are stated to have had many killed and to have lost 1000 prisoners, three guns, and 400 horses. The same paper states that Dervish Pasha, Turkish commander at Batum, has driven the Russians over the river Joruk Su.

Mr. Wm. LIoya Garrison, the veteran anti- slavery leader, was present in the lobby of the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 19th, forsome time. He met with a cordial reception at the I hands of hon. members. Mr. Garrison was taken by Mr. Bright to the tea room, where he received many visitors. Before long he will proceed to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dnndee, and will also I make a brief tour in the Highlands. He proposes to return to the United States about the end of August.

THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL. The Paris correspondent of the British Medical Journal writes: — "His Majesty Don Pedro d'Alcantara, the Emperor of Brazil, has rendered himself BO deservedly popular wherever he has been, that I think a separate notice of his visit to Paris would not be unacceptable. I shall speak of his Majesty, not in his official capacity as a sovereign, but as a simple savant-a title he seems to prize more than anything else. Don Pedro is a most indefatigable man; and the interest he takes in all that touches the arts and sciences, works oj industry in general, agriculture, public instruc- tion &o., found him wherever there was any. thing new to learn. Few travellers know Paris so well f°r he was to be seen everywhere; and he' might have been seen any day on the boulevards drinking his hock' or sipping his sherry cobbler' like any other mortal. Notwitli- standing the various occupations that took up much of his time, the Emperor never missed a single weekly meeting of the Academy of Sciences, of which he had been selected corresponding mem- ber. This election is considered an exceptional favour as by the rules of that learned body the door is shut against sovereigns. But Don Pedro is more than a sovereign, he is an Academician; and as such, during his stay in Paris he served as representative between his French colleagues and the savants of his own dominions."

THE STATE OF THE CABINET. Referring to the rumour that Sir Stafford Northcote intended on Mbnday asking for an extra- ordinary vote, the Standard says whatever may be the cause of the vote it is really time that we should have heard the last of stories of fatal dis- sensions amongst her Majesty's Ministers. The Cabinet is not divided in any sense which could be said to convey comfort to the Opposition. As to differences of opinion, such as may exist among honourable men zealous for the advancement of their conntry's good, they have never been the exclusive possession of either party. It is remarkable, indeed, how the very same organs which are accustomed habi- tually to sneer at the solidity of Conservative opinion, and to speak with ill-conceived envy of Egyptian statues," are prone to seize upon every F rumour which breathes a discord in the Conserva- tive camp. A divided and scattered Opposition will of course naturally look for a divided Ministry. But there is no ground whatever for supposing that the Ministry are disagreed as to the general tenour of their Eastern policy. The dissensions so hopefully calculated upon exist only in the imagi- nations of the party which has failed in inducing the country to accept their views. There may be differences of opinion as to the degree in which British interests are affected by passing events; there is perfect accord as to the interests them- selves and the time and mode of defending them. There is no present occasion for any alarm, nor has any one raised alarms who has authority to speak on behalf of the Government. Should the time come when it may be necessary to take fur- ther measures in defence of the national interests, the House of Commons will naturally not be kept long without the confidence of the ministry.

THE BRIGAND LEONE. A correspondent at Rome writing on the 20th inst. shys :-Antonio Leone, the pride of Sicily and the hero of many a popular dialect song, is really dead, and his memory now belongs to the history of his native island. He was betrayed into the hands of justice by a messenger of his own, and perished like a hunted tiger shot in "a jungle, pursued by huntsmen who either would not or could not take alive so fierce a monster. Surrounded in a field of tall wheat, and the centre of a converging fire he kept his numerous foes for two hours at bay discharging his rifle 21 times without effect. Yesterday his photograph, taken after death, was exhibited in Rome, and his coarse, heavy coun- tenance dissipates every notion that it could be- long to other than a vulgar malefactor. However, his deeds found warm admirers near and distant, at home and abroad. Among the opima xpolia to grace the triumph is a letter from a Russian lady, who is shown to have been so struck by the brigand's great renown that she promised to greet. him on the earliest opportunity. A special official conveyed as a gift to Signor Nicotera, the Home Minister, his arms enclosed in a precious case, and the fortunate bearer was at once bounteously deco- rated with an order of chivalry. Cavillers say these trophies are the property of the State, and ought by law to have been offered at public auction, where a peacèfulcontest between an enamoured Russian and an eccentric Englishman might have procured for them a substantial price to mitigate the charges incurred in the pursuit and stamping out of bri- gandage generally. So great a flourish of trum- pets respecting this single feat of arms is made that sober and reflecting people may be excused asking whether to compass the death of Leone has been the sole motive of expending the enormous sums granted by Parliament in aid of the authori- ties to tranquillise Sicily, and occasioning the re- tention in an island of 2,000,000 inhabitants of an army half as large as that with which England keeps in good order all her Indian possessions.

ENGLAND AND RUSSIA. •A. perusal of the despatches of Lord Derby and Prince Gortschakoff on the Abject of the relations between England and Russia as affected by the present war leaves (says'the Tinies) the impression that Prince Gortschakoff is right in the concluding paragraph of his letter. There is no difference, he writes to Count Schouvaloff, in the views which have, been exchanged with reciprocal frankness between the two Govern- ments which cannot be arranged so as to main- tain their amicable relations and the peace of the East and of Europe. We do not pretend that there is at this moment perfect agreement between our Foreign Secretary and the Russian Chancellor. There are points of divergence which can be easily indicated, and the importance of which could be easily magnified. But there are differences such as yield to honest discussion. If the temper of friendship is preserved between the two ministers and two countries, we shall be in no danger of quarreling over these differences. If this temper is lost, the quarrel has already begun. The efforts of all patriots, whether in or out of Parliament, must, therefore, be directed to the maintenance of the spirity of amity. Lord Derby's despatch was written by way of response to the Czar's declarations made to Lord Augustus Loftus at Livadia at the beginning of November last. The Czar, going beyond the usages of autocrats, then gave our ambassador the most positive assur- ances of the limitations of his designs. should he be forced to wage war against the Porte. He pledged his word of honour that he had no inten- tion of acquiring Constantinople, and that, if ne- cessity should oblige him to occupy a portion pi Bulgaria, it would only be provisionally, and until the peace and safety of the Christian population were assured. The aims of the Czar being thus precisely defined, Lord Derby seized the oppor- tunity of Count SchoUvalofFs return to Russia on a short leave of absence to communicate to him with equal frankness the views of her Majesty's Government, that they might be explained at length to the Czar. And there now comes as a reply Prince Gortschakoff's despatch, in which the position taken at Livadia in the autumn is emphA- tically restated. What was then anticicipated as a probable danger has become a reality. The Czar is at war with the Porte; and his Chancellor declares that he is at war for the purpose of ob- taining for the Christian populations of Turkey effeotual guarantees against the intolerable abuses of Turkish administration. Forced to pursue this purpose alone, he is resolved not to lay down his arms without having, completely, surely, and effectually guaranteed it; but the war will not be extended beyond what is required for this clearly declared object. Accordingly, the Russian Chan- cellor meets the observations and cautions of the Foreign Secretary point by point, until the dif- ferences between them are reduced to very narrow dimensions.

Signs of the approaching close of the season begin to assert themselves. Mr. Hare announces the last weeks of the Court Theatre, and more than one house which has obtained no great show J of patronage has relinquished its attempt to struggle against ill luck, and is allowing the season to drift as it may to an end,

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will and codicil, dated November 28th, 1876, and March 6th, 1877, of Mr. James Graham, late of No. 11, Cornwall terrace, Regent's Park, who died on the 17th ult., were proved on the 7th inst. by David Kennedy Porter, Alexander Frederick Stewart, and John Thomas Agnew Patrick, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 250,000. The testator gives to the executors, who shall prove his will and act in the execution of the trusts of his estate, jBlOOO each; to the said Mr. D. K. Porter his resi- dence, with the furniture, plate, pictures, household effects, horses, and carriages; upon trust for his brother, David Graham, for life, £30,000 Three per Cent. Stock; a like sum of stock is also given upon trust for his sisters, Mary Ann Graham, Anne Cheesman, and Charlotte Thomas, in equal parts, for their lives, and subsequently the whole for the children of the said Mrs. Chees- man (except his nephew, Robert Sucking Chees- man) and the only son of the said R. S. Cheesman by his first marriage; for distribution to the per- sons named in a seated paper £6000, free of legacy duty; upon trust for such schools, hospitals, in- stitutions for the relief of the poor, and generally for such charitable or benevolent institutions in the island of St. Vincent as his executors shall determine, £ 10,000.—The will, dated May 15, 1868, of Mr. Edwin Louis Samuel, formerly oi Liverpool, and late of No. 9, Kensington gore, and of No. 60, Old Broad street, banker, who died on March 28th last, has been proved by Mrs. Clara Samuel, the widow, Samuel Montagu, the brother, and Edward Wilson Yates, the surviving executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 200,000.— The will, dated February 26th, 1877, of Mr. Henry Spicer, late of New Bridge street, and of the Highlands, Putney Heath, who died on April 4th last, was proved on the 5th inst. by Mrs. Sarah Spicer, the widow, and Henry Spicer and Edward Spicer, the sons, the acting executors, the per- sonal estate being sworn under £ 140,000. The testator leaves to his wife J61000, his household furniture, plate, pictures, and effects, and his resi- dence absolutely, and for life the rents of certain property and the dividends of £ 25,000; to his act- ing executors, £ 50 each; to his brothers and sisters, and to his friends, the Rev. Henry Allon, D.D., and Thomas Bamford, JB100 each; to each of his seven sons, Henry, Edward, Alfred, Robert, Arthur, Herbert, and Walter, f15,000 each; to each of his daughters Sarah and Julia, JB9000, and there are some properties specifically given to his said daughters and his son Henry. The residue he leaves to all his children in equal shares.—The will, with one codicil, dated May 5, 1875, and March 27, 1877, of Mr. George Giles, late of The Maples, Bon- church, Isle of Wight, civil engineer, who died on April 9 last, was proved on the 26th ult. by Mrs. Elizabeth Meadows Giles, the widow, J. Lankester, Thomas Smith Rowe, M.D., and Henry Bailey Rowan, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 55,000.—The will and five codicils, (dated respectively June 21, 1865; June 30, 1869; October 20, 1871; April 24, 1874; October 13, 1875: and December 19, 1876) of George James, for- merly of Melbourne, Australia, and late of Ridge- way, Southampton, who died on January 18 last, were proved on the 26th ult. by Jabus Stanley James and George James, the son, the executors, the personal estate being sworn under £ 45,000. The devises and bequests relate entirely to testator's wife and children.—The will, dated January 10, 1877, of Mr. Charles Edward Cawley, late M.P. for the borough of Salford, of the Heath, Kersal, Salford, Lancashire, who died on April '2 last, was proved in London on the 8th inst. by James Chapman, Richard Heaton Smith, and Rene James Tahourdin, the personal estate being sworn under £ 25,000. There are several legacies. To his wife, Mrs. Harriet Cawley, the testator gives the policy on his life, with the bonuses, hit residence, with the furniture and effects, and £650 per annum for life; and the rest of his pro- ierty to his daughter. Illitst-rated London News.

THE BRADLAUGH CASE. (From the Timet.) But "well-intentioned people" are proverbially weak, open to delusion, and liable to the commis sion of foolish acts. In the interest of the public we look to the act alone and consider whether 01 not it is mischievous and a violation of the law of the realm. It is impossible to doubt that this book is mischievous and corrupting in the hands of the many thousands to whom it has found its way. Unhappily, the great moral facts of this metropolis are too suggestive of- the ideas which really form the attractions of this book. It is a present, it is stated, from America to this country. But for a very long time past London has been plied with works the professional and even scientific character of which thinly disguised a too evident purpose to prey on the diseased imagination. The plea of arresting the excessive increase of population ought not tc be allowed to pass without more challenge than it has received from the court and the jury. Wf may be ready to admit, indeed we must admit, for so the doctors and their female coadjutors often pronounce, that there are many cases in which it is expedient that the command to increase and multi- ply ought to be modified in some way or other. But this can only be in most exceptional cases. Tc make them the law of society, or even the prevalent usage, would be in fact to subordinate all that it good and healthy and strong in society to all that is bad and sickly and weak. We might as well treat all the world as incurable patients because some are out of health, all the world as paupert because some can hardly earn their own bread, all the world as mad because some are not quite rational, and 71 the world as utterly wicked because some are wanting in stability of cha- racter, as believe this a proper book to be put into the hands of the majority oi people or its advice good for the world gene- rally. Of course, after the verdict especially, we have no wish to call in question the intentions; of the publishers. They may believe the book the best present they could make to a young man or young woman, indeed to a whole family, about to enter life upon a career of utility and honour. But, on the other hand, we are also aware that there are persons who sincerely believe the greatest service they can render their innocent neighbours is to strip them of everything they fondly regard as a virtuous sentiment or right principle of action. There certainly are per- sons who think they are only opening our eyes and breaking our fetters when they reduce goodness, and even affection, to a calculation of material consequences. Indeed, some do not leave us the trouble of a calculation, for they tell us, and think it the very best of good things. that we grow out of our antecedents and upon them by laws so irresistible and uniform as to save us from responsible action. Happily, the real truth is that the world is greater than one man or one opinion, and since we have to choose between Mr. Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant on the one hand, and certain reserves and proprieties surrounding the first laws of nature and the do- mestic hearth on the other, we are glad to find that this well-intentioned pair are not held to have established a right to dictate new rules of action and new conditions of existence to a reluctant and. as it feels, an insulted world.

By an explosion in the Tunnel Pit, Aberdarc, last week, one man was killed by the afterdamp while trying to rescue his comrades. Two men were burnt. e The other day, at Portsmouth, a marine being requested not to walk on some newly planted ground, struck a coastguard officer, killing him on the spot. The marine absconded. AN OLD N OVELTY.-An ingenious American has succeeded in discovering a device which for years past has been old-fashioned in this country. Who does not know the door-reflector," a "familiar West-end contrivance for informing those inside the house who happens to be ringing the bell? A little arm or bracket is attached at a convenient height to the door post; to this is fixed a piece of looking-glass of any size, and at any angle re- quired, and the thing is complete. In the States the idea has been applied to railwav trains, the object being to give the engine-driver the oppor- tunity of keeping an eye on the rear of the train without taking the trouble to turn his head. No doubt the office filled by the train-reflector is one of some importance; but to claim this as <.n invention and make a fuss over it is rather too bad.-Iron.. A committee has been formed, consisting chietiv of members of the Old Wagner Society, such as Lord Liudsav. Mr. Dannreuther, Dr. Huetrer, and otheis, ior the purpose of presenting Kerr Wagner "With a testimonial. The Examiner learns that the committee desire to raise about £1::0\1, this being the sum which Wagner consented to forego in order to insure the payment of the singers at the Albert Hall concerts. A COLNTY COURT BAILIFF IMPRISONED. — At Nuneaton petty sessions', last week, Edward Knock, under-bailiff to the Nuneaton County Court, was charged with being drunk and assault- ing Fanny Chitham, married woman. Evidence was adduced to show that prisoner went to com- plainant's house for the purpose of serving an ex- ecution for debt, and as the money was not forth- coming, he commenced removing the furniture, some of which he broke. Words ensued, which resulted in the prisoner striking complainant. The magistrate characterised the affair as most dis- graceful, and sentenced the accused to one month's imprisonment, without the option of a fine. A CLERICAL DETECTIVE.—Few people know that Dr. Jowett is not only the first of living Greek scholars, a most admirable preacher, and head of the most intellectual oollege in Oxford, but also a clever detective. Yet such is the fact. A story is being told of him to the following effect:—Some time ago one of the students of his college lost a bundle of bank notes. Instead of proclaiming his loss far and wide, he went to Dr. Jowett ana told him of it. The master told him to be of good cheer, as he felt pretty sure of recovering them. He took down from his pupil the correct numbers of the notes, issued hand-bills offering a reward, but gave the wrong numbers. The thief, thinking he was all safe, thereupon went to the bank and presented one of the notes to be changed; but the cashier had received the right numbers, and promptly arrested the man and recovered the property. -Mayfair. AN ENGLISHMAN'S HOUSE HIS CASTLE.-A respect- able working man named Lawrence Gilhooley was charged at the Warrington Police-court, last week, with not having his house registered as a lodging- house. The case for the Corporation was that the defendant had taken in two lodgers without regis- tering his house as a lodging-house. Defendant said he did not keep a lodging-house, and he had no more persons in his house than. it was adapted for.' At the same time, he protested against his house being visited by a lodging-house inspector and a policeman with a bull's-eye lantern, at two o'clock in the morning, and turned on his wife and children. He was sure the legislature never con- templated such an outrage on a working man's privacy. Had they come in the daytime, he would have given them every facility for obtaining their information.—The Magistrates' Clerk: You should not have allowed them to come in.—Defendant said they would have put a wrong construction on his actions.-The Bench dismissed the case, but recommended the defendant to get his house registered. THE HOLY THORN.—For some centuries the Abbey of Glastonbury, in Somersetshire, rejoiced in a holy, hawthorn that was said to have the habit of coming suddenly into blossom on Christ- mas Day. The monastic legend affirmed that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea, who came at Christmas to Glastonbury for the purpose of founding a church; but the people being dis- inclined to hear his preaching, he prayed for a miracle to convert them; and having in his hand a staff of hawthorn wood, he stuck it into the ground, and it instantly became a tree covered with blossoms. The prodigy, of course, properly impressed the infidels; the church was founded, and the holy thorn was held in high venera- tion till cut down by the zeal of the Puritans in the great rebellion. Some descen- dants of it, however, that were nursed from its scions, are still extant in various places, and pre- serve the habit of blossoming in winter; but they are not uniform as to time—some flowering in December, others in January and February. The holy thorn of Glastonbury was an exotic, brought from the East by some early pilgrim; from its nature it bloomed late in Dec2m her-hence the tradition. Formerly it was customary to present a branch of the old holy thorn, carried in solemn procession, to the King and Queen of England on Christmas morning. The flowers of this vene- rated tree were long a favourite sign for hostel- ries, particularly in the vicinity of Glastonbury. Bosom's Inn, in St. Lawrence lane, London, is a corruption of Blossom's Inn. The sigu is (or was lately) the effigy of St. Lawrence, the deacon, sur- rounded by a border of hawthorn blossoms. In France, old traditions said that our Lord's cross was made of the hawthorn; whence the French called the tree Epine Noble, or the noble thorn, and believed that it emitted audible groans on Good Friday. -Garde-ner's Magazine. SHOPLIFTING EXTRAORDINARY IN PARIS. — The Tribunal of Correctional Police tried last week three foreigners-two women and a man— natives of Venezuela, and persons of good family, on numerous charges of shoplifting. The defend- ants were Mdme. Pulgar, wife of a former general and representative of the Republic in Paris; her niece, Mdme. Lopez; and the husband of the latter, aged 24, and who described himself as a colonel in that South American country. The women were elegantly dressed, of attractive and distinguished appearance, and formed a striking contrast to the usual occupants of the prisoners' bench. Mdme. Pulgar is even said to possess a certain fortune, and lived in great style in the Champs-Elysees. They were arrested after the theft of a sapphire ring at the shop of M. Boucheron, and on their apartments being searched a great quantity of stolen articles were found, most of them still bearing the tickets of the Lonvre, Bon Marche, Printempts, and other drapery establishments. The defendants had evidently committed the robberies, not under the influence of temptation, but on a system of plunder, for many of the objects taken could have been of no possible use to them. The practice followed appears to have been for Madame Pulgar and M. Lopez to occupy the attention of the shopkeepers, while the younger woman laid hands on anything near her. She now attempted to assume all the guilt, and to extenuate her aunt and husband, pretending that they knew nothing of the thefts. The Court condemned the young wife to eight months' imprisonment, and the aunt and husband to a year and a day (which term will require them to undergo their sentence in a central prison where the regime is more severe) and to afterwards remain five years under police surveillance. TREES IN TOWNS.—The planting of trees in towns has of late years become a common prac- tice, but many failures occur, owing to the trees selected not being adapted to the soil and climate in which they are expected to flourish. Some valuable remarks on this subject were made bv Mr. R. H. Alcock, F.L.S., at the meeting of the Manchester Field Naturalists and Archaeologists' Society, at Handforth, a few days ago. Mr. Alcock", who has paid particular attention to tree planting in towns for many years, gave the result of expe- riments he has made in planting trees in close proximity to his mill in the outskirts of the town of Burv, and said that the tendency to attribute 'L every fauure in plant cultivation in towns to smoke involves a fallacy which requires to be guarded against. He finds that rhododendrons, i<"r instance, grow very well in his neighbourhood, regardless of smoke or soil, although they will not "row at all in the purer air of Evesham, in Wor- cestershire. Again, the plane tree, which flou. rishes in Paris and London, will not grow at Bury. Poplars make rapid growth at that place, but soon die. Limes, notwithstanding the smoky at- mosphere, grow well in Bury and in Manchester. Among other trees which appear to flourish in smoke are the c7vch elm, sycamore, birch, horse chestnut, and Turkey oak. Mr. Alcock has grown three or four plants of the ash for about four years, and they seem to do well. The beech also grows well, and he has not lost a single tree during ti e last twenty-five years. Many shrubby plants will also grow well. The holly or the hawthorn will grow anywhere. His experience of the laurel ip adverse. The laburnum, on the other hand does uot mind the smoke. On the whole the effect of a smoky atmosphere on some trees seems to be favourable rather than otherwise;" and cer- tainly flowers appear to flourish m London to" judge by the brilliant colours of the balconv and window gardens now relieving its dinginess.— Vail Mall Gazette.