Monmouthshire Merlin

THE TURKISH BARBARITIES. St. Petersburg, August 14.—Communications re- ceived in semi-official quarters from persons belonging to the Red Cross Association, who are tending the wounded Servians, represent that the official com- plaints of the Servian Government respecting Turkish barbarities are confirmed. It is added that notwith- standing the advance of the Turkish army, the resolu- tion of the Servians to continue the struggle remains firm They are prepared for the worst, even for the sieo-e and eventual capture of Belgrade, and a guerilla system of warfare is now being actively organised. In well-informed quarters a denial is given to the re- 1—ted rumours of mediatory steps on the part of the powera aDll the statement of the Berlin lost negotiations have been proceeding since the 10th ;r1' Adrian and ton. Cabinet, ,-ith •he object of affording jowt protection to Servia *iUUbt the Turks> js declared to be wholly unfounded,

PREPARATIONS FOR A GENERAL MOVEMENT. Nissa, August 13.—Preparations for a general movement are nearly completed. Osman Pasha has joined Ahmed Pasha at Kujaze- vatz, and the Servians are retreating everywhere. Belgrade, August 12.—Rumours of disasters are flying about here. However, I ennnot believe that the Baiij;t Pass has been forced, but it is not unlikely that Mustapha Pasha lias moved with the Nisch army to capture an important position at the south ol Aiexinatz, No news of Osmr.n Pasha's march. He was last heard of before a dangerous defile. The Princess' Legion left last night for Milano\atz and the Timok. Drs. MacKellar, Attwood, and tour others have arrived, renresenting the Knights of St. John, and Lbut. Gordon, who gained his experience in the Ashantee war, is hero also, organising an ambulance for the league. in aid of the Christians. He has already two doc! ors with him, and two more are come to- night with Misses Pearson and Maelaughlan.

A CHANGE OF DYNASTY DISCUSSED AT BELGRADE. Belgrade, August 13.—The Ministers sat in council all the forenoon of yesterday, and after the Princes arrival invited the assistance of several notables of the town who had opposed the war. The resignation of Ilistics was broached, but not decided upon.

PRINCE MILAN DECLARES HIMSELF TO HAVE BEEN BETRAYED. The Prince is said to be very acrrry and disheartened, and declares himself to have b-^en betrayed. is a story eirculatinfr that. two peasants addressed him with inoft. insulting expression? as bis carriage changed horses. It Is untrue t.hnt 7vis<s hnstened to Semen- dria in the hope of turning him brick..TJWcs went no further than the first stage on the road, and that only out of courtesy.

TURKISH DEFEAT. Zara, August ] n. — Intelligence received here announces that there was an engagement yesterday between the Turks and Montenegrins near Kuci, lasting the whole day. The Turks are stated to have been repulsed, and pursued from Fundina to Pod- goriUa, and to have lost many killed and wounded, a quantity of arms and war materials, and several flags. Ragusa, Aug. 15.—Twenty thousand men are stated to have taken part in the engagement near Kuci, in which the Montenegrins were victorious.

THE BULGARIAN ATROCITIES. Constantinople, August 15 (Evening).-Blacque Bey, Director of the Press Bureau, and Yvantcho Effcndi, members of the Council of State, set out to- morrow for Bulgaria. The object of their mission is to institute a fresh inquiry into the atrocities alleged to have been committed by the Turks in that province.

SERVIAN, BULGARIAN, AND BOSNIAN REFUGEES. Belgrade, Aug. 14.—Two Austrian steamers with four barges all full of Servian refugees from Negotin and its vicinity arrived at Belgrade this morning. Fifty-five thousand Bulgarian and Bosnian refugees are said to be on Servian soil. Two Austrian steamers, I am informed, are authorised to transport these help- less people to Roumania or Austria, as they may elect. The military situation, according to the latest informa- tion, remains practically unchanged. Horvatovich, reinforced by troops from Tchernaieff, remains at Banja, on the southern road into the Morava Valley, opposing the Turks marching from Kujazevatz. The Yankova Klisura pass, in front of Banja, has been evacuated. Colonel Becker is entrenched opposite Lukovo, on the northern road from Saitschar into the Morava Valley, and is opposing the advance of Osman Pasha, from the direction of Widdin. The Servian positions near Banja and Lukovo are connected by a lateral road with telegraphic commu- nication. The defect of this position is that the fall of one extremity insures the abandonment of the other while they are at the same time too far apart to support each other. The Turks are advancing very leisurely on the eastern and south-eastern lines of de- fence. Pkstii, Aug. 14 (Night).-More than thirteen thousand Servian refugees have crossed the Danube into Hungarian territory, and are increasing daily in number, notably from the neighbourhood of Semen- dria.

AN UNPLEASANT AFFAIR AMONG MEDICAL MEN. BELGRADE, August 14,—At Belgrade a number of English and foreign medical men have arrived, and a very unpleasant affair has occurred through the con- duct of one of these gentlemen. The English party here represent the National Society, the Brotherhood of St. John's and the Christian League. The most Prominent person of the Christian League, Dr. 'homas, took the very unusual course of officially denouncing Dr. Lazeron, who was connected with the National Aid Society, as a Turkish spy, and actually laid this information before the Minister of War. The consequence of this conduct on the part of Dr. Thomas —conduct which has excited a very strong feeling among his confreres and all the English here generally -has been the sudden departure of Dr. Lazeron for England. It has, moreover, greatly paralysed the action of the societies not connected with the Christian League. Seven medical men, among them Messrs. MacKellar, Hare, Attwood, and Saddwith, under the leadership of a young officer, Dr. Gordon, will proceed to-morrow to tho °front, so that if there be another battle the wounded will have a fair chance of being properly attended to. r.. Vienna, Aug. 14.—A portion of the Servian Crown jewels has been'sent to Vienna as security for a loan of iv> 000 flnrins Negotiations for a further loan, at usurious rates of interest, have been broken off. The British medical officer attached to the embassy at Constantinople has given an opinion on Sultan Murad's condition. Ho does not consider the Sultan in a hopeless state, and recommends that, if possible, he should alter his habits of life.

PRINCE MILAN AND THE WAR. ST. PETERSBURG, August 15.—The statement pub- lished by a Vienna newspaper that Prince Milan contemplated putting an end to the war with lurkey, and that he had communicated his intention to the representatives of the great Powers, does not agree with the intelligence received here from Belgrade. On the contrary, it is reported that demonstrations in favour of a vigorous continuation of the war have taken place. The statement that M, Biotic has sect in hia resignation is also denied,

THE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION. Despatches received from America confirm the re port that unpleasantness has existed between certain exhibitors at the Philadelphia Exhibition and the British Commissioners. One of the Commissioners has been summoned home to England, and he took his departure from America by the mail steamer leaving on the 10th instant.

THE HEAT IN SPAIN The heat in Spain is fearful, and exceeds any Re- corded since 1850. In Madrid there are hundreds of persons sleeping on the roofs of houses and in balconies. In Seville people sleep in open streets. The tempera- ture marks 101 in shady rooms. Madrid is wholly deserted, and its streets are silent. A further tele- gram adds that the heat in Andalusia is increasing, and forty field labourers have died at Seville of sun- stroke or apoplexy. The vines are failing, owing to the scorching heat.

THE VANGUARD The Vanguard will be sold, as she lies on the Kish Bank, on the following conditions :—Two-thirds of the purchase-money to be paid within fourteen days of the acceptance of the otfer, and the remaining third within six months. The whole of the articles, including money and plate recovered from the wreck, to be the property of the buyer the buyer is to engage to offer to the Government, and the Government engages to buy of him, all the guns, projectiles, anchors, and chain cables which may be brought from the Vanguard to Kingston, or any harbour in the kingdom, uninjured, except by the action of the water, at the price of £ 250 for each of the ten 12-ton guns, A'68 for each of the four sixty-four pounders, t-23 for each of the four 12- pounders guns, and S20 for the 9-pounder gun; S5 for each of the inch-gun projectiles £ 20 for each ton of brass pieces for projectiles _E2. 9s. per cwt. for each of the two 85-cwt. anchors; i'2s. 9s. per cwt. for the one 75-cnrt. anchor il. 3s. per cwt. for the other anchors; « £ 1. Is. 6d. per cwt. for the 175-tons of chain cable. The buyer must unoertake to remove the masts to the satisfaction of the Trinity Board, by Oct. 1st, 1877; should he fail to do so, Government to be free to remove the masts at the buyer's expense.

THREATENED OUTBREAK IN SOUTH AFRICA. The Nyanza, which arrived at Plymouth on Satur- day, brings the following intelligence, dated Cape Town, July 21:— Various rumours are current on the frontiers of the British possessions in South Africa in respect to the aspect assumed by the natives, and it is thought that a combined outbreak is not impossible. The most important piece of information is that Kreii and Gangelizire have entered into some compact, and that others of the principal chiefs have joined them in a combination for some definite pur- pose, generally supposed to be an attack on the colony. The Municipal Commissioners of Qneens- town have met to consult upon plans of defence. They have removed the gunpowder from the outside of the magazine to places of safety, and have arranged matters fo as not to be taken by surprise. The Representative says the reconciliation of Jvreli and' Gangelizire is little more than a conjecture, and there are no reasons whatever, beyond wayside gossip, for supposing that a universal combination of chiefs has been made, but admits that the possibility of war is freely discussed amongst the natives, and that it is absolutely necessary to take every possible step to protect the colony."

The Bishop of Ely, in officiating last week at the re- opening of St. Mary's Church, Bourn, Cambridgeshire, spoke strongly against the old pew system, describing it as selfish, unchristian, and wicked On Saturday the colliers at New Engine Colliery, Forest of Dean, were discharged under notice, it being intended to discontinue coal getting. The shafts, how- ever, will be extended. It. is said that Herr Wagner has been so delighted with the "Life of Schopenhauer," lately published by an English lady, that he has presented her with a ticket for the performances at Bayreuth. The Rev. L. Tyerman, author of "The Life and Times of John Wesley," has now in the press a biography of George Whitefield. Original letters, pamphlets, and documents, in many instances quite unknown to Whitefield's previous biographers, have come into Mr. Tyerman's possession. The musical doings at the Philadelphia Exhibition have been unfortunate first, there was the break down of the Forest Mansion Garden Concerts, under the direction of Herr Theodore Thomas secondly, there was no contest of the leading bands in the United States, not one of them appearing, owing to some mis- understanding; and, thirdly, there is the bitter war raging impugning the decisions of the jury as to the pianoforte prizes. Two young men, the one belonging to Glasgow and the other to Alloa, were drowned while bathing at Fairlie, near Lares, on the 11th instant. They had been bathing from a boat, but it is not very clear whether they had taken cramp or gone beyond their depth. The attention of some parties on the shore was attracted by seeing the boat drifting away out to sea, and on a search being made, the bodies were discovered. The young men had intended staying over the holidays in Fairlie. J Mr. Davis, F.G.S., and F. A. Lees, F.L.S., have in preparation a description of the West Riding of York- shire, under the title of West Yorkshire: an Account of the Geology, Physical Geography, and Botany of the West Riding." It will be modelled to some extent upon the plan of the North Yorkshire of Mr. J. Gilbert Baker, and will be illustrated by geological sec- tions of special interest, photographed by the Autotype Company s permanent process. In the description of each dale, mountain, moor, marsh, or level tract, the species of plants Inhabiting each will be mentioned, whilst a detailed enumeration of the sDecies with which the botanical student is more especially con- cerned, will form a "Flora" of the Riding. Each division of the work will be illustrated by a coloured map. CURIOUS Cai'tikf. OF A Thief and Contv.mplated Suicide.—Last week, a somewhat, clever capture was made at Scarbro' of an hotel thief, who, there is every reason to suppose, had determined to commit suicide That mornmg a letter was sent by a commercial traveller at Hull to the manager of one of the Scarbro' hotels, warning him to beware of a man, u Dane by birth, who had on the day previous decamped from the Cross Keys Hotel at Hull wltk a coat and a pair of trousers belonging to the writer. This letter was shown to the Chief Constable, who, although he was not in possession of a description of the delinquent, and was totally ignorant of his presence in Scarbro'] gave instructions to Detectives Thompson and Saunders to look for the runaway in case he might have arrived in the town. The officers at once repaired to the Spa, and there, amidst gaiety and fashion, they espied a person who had a very suspicious appear- ance. Saunders, who can speak Danish, challenged the man in that language, and was immediately answered. A few moments' conversation resulted in the man's arrest, and, on being searched at the police station, a couple of pawn tickets relating to the stolen articles were found upon him. In his pockets were also found a five-chambered revolver (loaded, capped, and cocked), shot, caps, and a powder flask; in addi- tion to which was a purse, containing two shillings and a letter, which ran as follows:—" The public 1-1 Ludvig Theodore Neilson, born in Denmark, of Charles T. Neilson, have got a brother in London. Yon will find two letters to my family; please post them. As they are in Danish, you will not bo able to read them. Reduced'circumstances and a bad con- science are the fault of my death.—L. T. Neilson.' On the front of the envelope containing this letter was written: To the English public," and on the back was remarked—"The other letters are written in Danish, so it is no use opening them." The prisoner has been handed over to the police authorities at Hull,

CROSSING THE ATLANTIC IN AN OPEN BOAT. Alfred Johnson, a. Danish seaman, who started from America on the 15th of June in a small boat, landed at I Abercastle, Pembrokeshire, on the 11th. The boat in which Johnson accomplished his remarkable voyage is called the Centennial, of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is only 30ft. over all.

SUSPECTED MURDER AND ROBBERY AT YORK. On Saturday, an inquest was opened by Mr. J. P. Wood coroner, and adjourned for a week, respect- ing the death of Robert Volens, 43 years of age. a married man, living at Acomb, near York, and the father of nine children. The deceased was an engine- man in the service of the North Eastern Railway Com- pany, and employed at their water works building ad- Joining the bridge which spans the Ouse, connected with the Scarbro' line. Thomas Starsmore, a signal- man, found the deceased laid near the water works, at a late hour on August 10th. He was moaning, and the signalman attempted to lift him up, asking him if if he was hurt, and he replied in the affirmative. On inquiry being made if anybody had attacked him, no reply was given, as unconsciousness took place, followed by death in a few minutes. Dr. Anderson made a post-mortem, examination of the body, and ascer- tained that the organs generally were healthy. The apical cord was broken, and several ribs fractured, showing that the deceased had met with a violent death. A broken watch guard was round his neck but the watch, which he had with him a short time'before, was gone, and also his purse, which con- tained a small amount in silver. A diligent search has been made for the missing property, but in vain, and there is some ground for believing that he has been robbed and then murdered. It ought to be stated, how- ever that it was the duty of the deceased to go occasion- ally to the top of the building to ascertain the quantity of water in the reservoir, and it is just possible that he may have fallen down and thus been killed; but if that were the case his watch and purse would have been found in his possession.

GREAT TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION IN RULL. A great temperance demonstration, under the auspices of the United Kingdom Alliance, took place at Hull on Saturday afternoon and evening. Three processions, consisting of trade, friendly, political, and temperance societies, together with a number of carriages, bands, and banners, met in the Corporation field, and, forming into one immense procession, paraded the town to a large field, where four meetings were held. The principal speakers were Mr. Wilson, M.P., Sir Wilfrid Lawson M.P.. Mr. W. Saunders, and Dr. Lees. Resolu- tions at each of the four meetings were unanimously passed the first in favour of a petition being sent to the Government, asking them to introduce a bill next session to suppress intemperance; the second in favour of a petition being sent to Parliament in favour of the Permissive Bill and Mr. Cowen's Licensing Boards Bill; the third, that a petition should be sent to Parliament in favour of Mr Wilson's Sunday Closing Bill; and the fourth calling upon the Town Council of Hull to ap- point public-house inspectors. At the evening meeting, held in Hengler's circus, letters of apology were read from the Archbishop of York, Cardinal Manning, and the following M.P.'s:—Messrs. B. Whitworth, A. Sullivan, J. Cowen, E. Jenkins, T. Burt, and 0. M. Norwood. The same resolutions were passed as at the afternoon meeting. In supporting the second resolu- tion. Sir W. LAWSON, in replying to the argument that the prohibition party had made but little progress in the last two or three sessions, said it would indeed have been a miracle if they had advanced in a brewers, Parliament. He believed in two or three years Ireland would follow tho example of Scotland, and close public- houses on Sundays, and when Scotland and Ireland got that boon surely the time would not be long coming for England They had got a new adversary in the shape of a live bishop. The Bishop of Peterboru' had said the Permissive Bill was immoral, unconstitutional, and tho- roughly mischievous. He thought the Bishop had no right to speak in that manner. It was unworthy of him to speak thus of a measure he did not understand.

SURRENDER AND IMPRISONMENT OF THE KEIGHLEY GUARDIANS. The members of the Keigbley Board of Guardian* have at last found that law is stronger than opinion, and they are now all lodged within the confines of York Cnstle, there to remain— should no unexpected hiatus bring about their release—until the 2nd November next, when they will be brought before the Queen's Bench division of the High Court of Justice, to answer Cer- tain trespasses and contempts. It will be recollected that on August 11th the demonstrative anti-vaccinators of Keighley proved stronger than the officers who, armed with warrants from the High Sheriif of York- shire, went from Bradford to attach" and convey to York Castle the six unarrested guardians the omnibus containing the captives being dragged from the repre- sentatives of the law at the railway station, and the guardians being set at liberty. A truce was entered njto, one of the conditions of which was that the guar- dians should surrender themselves to the sheriff's officers, at Leeds, on Saturday morning, and this engage- ment was honourably kept. On Saturday morning the half-dozen "outlaws'' met at Keighley railway station, whence they proceeded by the Midland train for Leeds at 9.11. The names of the six guardians, who were loudly applauded as they left the station, are Messrs. R. A. Milner (chairman). J. B. Sedgwick, David Normington, Titus Ogden, Hezekiah Tempest, and janies Newbould. At Shipley the sheriff's officers, who bad remained over night at Bradford, joined the train jn which the attached guardians were travelling^ and friendly greetings were exchanged during the journey. Arrived in Leeds, the guardians were allowed to sea their friends, an i take leave at the Queen's Hotel, and amongst those who were there to express sympathy were Alderman Tatham and Mr. Ken worthy, members of the Leeds Town Council, and a large company of local anti- vaccinators. Shortly before eleven o'clock the guardians and the law officers repaired from the smoke room of the Queen's Hotel for the North Eastern Station to proceed by the 11.5 a.m. train for York. About 20u0 people — some of whom had accom- panied the guardians "from Keighley or tho gberiff'8 officers from Bradford—were assembled, and the captives were frequently cheered, the general jjuzzaing being varied by ejaculations of Down with the Tory Government," Self-elected martyrs, Three cheers for Miller," and One more for the Keighley jjeroos." The officers and their charge took seats in a couple of first-class compartments, and. after ten minutes bad been occupied by cheering, shaking of hands, and bandying of good humoured satire at the expense, first of the framers of the vaccination laws, and then upon the anti-vaccinators, the train loft the station. No at- tempt was made to rescue the martyrs," aad good ovdfcf was maintained at the Midland and North Eastern Station by a strong detachment of police.

The English church at Spa, built by the subscrip- tions of the English and American visitors, aided most liberally by the Belgian Government and the commune of the locality, has been consecrated by the Bishop of Q.uildford, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Harrison, the English chaplain, and other clergy. Tny: Saj.auy of THE NEW 35ccj>:sta.sticat. Judoe. — jjr. John Hassard, who has been appointed registrar of the province of Canterbury, in the room of Mr. Fi ancia gart Dyke, deceased, has consented, to set aside £ 420 a year of his official salary towards providing the stipend whwb is to be attached to the office to be held by jj}Td Penzance under the proposed Ecclesiastical Offices and Pees Bill." Dr. Tristram, the chancellor of the diocese, has addressed a letter to other ecclesiasti- cal oflicials in the province asking them to assist in like maDuer. Mr, Allpout and tiieMidland'Railway.—Alluding to the recent presentation to Mr. Allport, general 11lanager of the Midland Railway, the Railway News gays "The compliment paid to Mr. Allport is of a 'port, kind which should be most acceptable, inasmuch as it is the expression of an intelligent recognition of Bier- liDg qualities, by those who have had abundant oppor- tuniti«s of seeing them brought into active service in the administratton of the difficult details of railway mamlSeme'it. The office of general manager of an im- portant railway is one which involves an immense aulount of responsibility. In the successful discharge of its duties qualities of the highest order and most varied description are continually required. Prompt- ness of decision, quickness of perception, and precision in matters of detail are daily required in the manage- ment of the affairs of a railway. 13ut, in addition to the qualifications for the successful ad ministration of a railway, Mr. Allport has identified himself in a re- mark-able manner with the progress of the Midland, and be has, under circumstances of extraordinary dif- ficulty, obtained for the undertaking a position of perfect independence, and has gradually and surely built the company into one of the greatest railway sys- tems of the country. That has been the aim and ob- jeot of his life, and now, when success has crowned his efforts, and the completion of the Settle and Carlisle line has given the system its northern outlet—when the company holds a commanding position in many other parts of the country, and has established impor- tant alliances with other companies, it is the good for- tune of Mr. Allport to receive, in a form which he can appreciate most highly, the tribute of respect, esteem, and attachment which, during many years of strife and contest, he has won from his fellow-workers,"

GREAT SECESSION FROM A MINERS' UNION. So large a nuriber of Warwickshire miners have seceded from the union that the allowances for widows and orphans, as well as sick benefits and superannuation grants, have had to be temporarily suspended. Mr. William Crawford, late secretary to the Miners' National Union, has written a letter condemnatory of the seces- sion. He says, viewed from every standpoint, to weaken, much less to destroy, your association argues sheer madness; and if done, the men will be made to feel the blighting and blasting effects of their own overt acts for many years to come.

NEW SLA V E CIRCULAR. The following instructions respecting reception of fugitive slaves on board her Majesty's ships have been issued :— Lokd Tsxtbuden to THE Skcretaky TO the ADMIRALTY. Foreign Office Aug. 10,1876. Sir,- "rith reference to your letter of tho 23rd of De- cember last, I am directed by the J £ url of Derby to ti ansuiit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, the accompanying draft of in- structions to be issued to the commanders of her M. iesty's ships and vessels with regsrd to the reception of fugitive slaves.—I am, .vc., (Signed) Tkntkudkn. (Iuclosure.) Reception of Fugitive Slaves. To all oommanders-in-chief, captains, commanders, and commanding cf.icertJ of her Majesty's ships and vessels. The following instructions are to be considered as superseding all previous instructions as to the receipt of fugitive slaves :— 1. In any case in which you have received a fugitive slave into your ship and taken him under the pi otec- tion of the Uritish Hag, whether within or beyond the tentorial waters cf any State, you will not admit or tD- tertain auy demand made up; n you for his surrender on the ground of slavery. 2. It is not intended, nor is it possible, to lay down p.ny precise or general rule as to the cases in which you ought to receii e a fugitive slave on board your ship. You are, as to thi-i. to be guided by considerations of humanity, i aúd these considerations must have full effect given to them whether your ship is on the high seas or within the territorial waters of a State in which slavery exists but iu the latter case you ought, at the same time, to avoid conduct which may appear to be in breach of in- ternational comity and good fitb, 3. If any person, within territorial waters, claims your protectiou on the ground that he is kept in slavery con- trary to treaties with Great Britain, you should receive him uut.il the truth of his statement, is examined into. This examination should be made, if possible, after com- munication with the nearest British consular authority, and you should be guided in your subsequent proceed- ings by the result. 4. A special report is to be made of every case of a fugitive slave received on board your ship.

SERIOUS DISTURBANCE AT AN IRISH NATIONAL CELEBRATlON. Eight thousand Irishmen assembled on Glasgow Green on Saturday, and marched in procession to Springburn. where several resolutions in favour of Home Rule and the release of the Irish political prisoners were adopted. Whilst one of the leaders was addressing the assembly, a shot was fired, striking a boy. Mr. Fer- guson, who presided, alluded to the fact that a number of Volunteers were practising at a range in the vicinity, and expressed strong indignation at their conduct in firing into a field where were assembled peaceful citizens. He said he would hold the police responsible for the death of the boy, and called upon them to stop the firing. A large number of Irishmen thereupon proceeded to the rifle range and seised the rifles of the Volunteers, whom they abuned so much that several bad to be assisted heme. The disturbance assumed a serious aspect, and a body of Glasgow police had to be sent for. The boy who is shot is named Maxwe'l. He was conveyed to the Western Infirmary. It is strongly believed that the shot was fired not from a rifle, but from a revolver.

Last week. a. monument was erected in the south trausept of Dunfermline Abbey, to the memory of Lady Augusta Stanley. It is composed of a bas relief, cut iu white marble, from a beautiful design of Miss Mary Grant, London. In the central panel there is a figure repre enting Lady Augusta Stanley being carried up- ward by an angelic group. Pulling THE Nosk OF A Town COUNCILLOR.-At the Portsea Police Court, last week, Mr. Moorshead, town councillor, was fined one shilling and costs for pulling the nose of Mr. Booth in the public street, another councillor, who declined to retract observations he had made concerning the defendant at the council meeting. A C.iN-scrr.KrE-STRicKKx Criminal.—A man named John Hainsford was charged before the Loftus-in Cleve- land magistrates last week, on his own confession, with assaulting Richard Goldsworthy on Saturday, the 26th February last, at New London. He was remanded for a fortnight. In the meanwhile his depositions have been forwarded to the Home Secretary. George Bon- field was committed at the last York Spring Assizes for committing the assault in question on Richard Golds- worthy, on the same date, at New London, and is at present undergoing a sentence of eighteen months' im- prisonment. Phinck LIWPOLD.- Very recently Prince Leopold has been elected President of the Royal Society of Litera- ture, in room of the late Bishop Thirlwall. This is an honour, to one so young, almost unprecedented. The Prince, however, has long shown, like his father, superior and refined taste, and he willingly placed him- self at the.bead of a new Shakesperian Society, and with heart and hand promotes its objects. In every European country literature is more honoured than in England, which gives its Uts¡yma to the sword and not to the pen. Were Shakespeare himself to come among us he would-receive from France the highest grade of the decoration of the Legion of Honour; but so averse nre all our Governments to recognise mere literary talent and eminence, that it is a question if the Bard of Avon would be permitted to wear it.-Isle of Wiyld; Advertiser. Succkssfuu ELOT E?,n:xT.- -A few days ago the wife of a publican, named Beldam, eloped from Blenisham Hampshire, with a cattle salesman named John Archer: The latter is a married man with four children and on bhe day he disappeared he had been entrusted with & large number of sheep by various farmers in the neigh- bourhood. The woman also appropriated a considerable sum of money belonging to her husband, and took away with her the whole of her wardrobe. Hearing of the affair, and determined not to be fleeced, one old farmer traced the pair to Liverpool, and came upon them near the docks. His threat to give Archer into custody bad the effect of making Mrs. Beldam open her purse in the interest of her new love, and the determined farmer went away well satisfied with the proceeds of the sale of bis 30 fat sheep. The two then hastened to one of the Cnnard steamers, and had sailed for New York be- fore the police had time to prevent their departure.

SERVIAN VICTORY. > Bet^radk, Aug. 13.-The following intelligence has been received here from the army of the Drina: Two batallions commanded by Cismits Joranorics, which bad gone on a reconnoitring expedition to the south of Belina, took a Turkish position near Janja. They had been suddenly attacked by the Turks, but needed after thirteen hours fighting in completely driving them back. The town of Janja was fired upon during the engagement. A Servian corps of observa- tion was quartered round the town of Belina at the time. The Turks are stated to have lost 200 killed, while the Servian losses are given as only six killed.

SERVIAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF RECENT ENGAGEMENTS. Belgrade, August I I.-An official account of the series of engagements between the Turkish forces under Dervish Pasha, and the Servian army under Tcholak Antich gives the following particulars. On the 8th inst. Dervish Pasha, at the head of sixteen battalions. commenced an attack on the Servian army of the Yavour district. The engagement, which has been going on during the last three days, has had no decisive result, which is chiefly < o be attributed to the efficiency of the Servian artillery. A Servian detachment, under Captain Hish, was engaged throughout the conflict, which was of a most obstinate character, on the 8th inst., from 3 a.m. until 11 p.m., and on the 9th inst., from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Servian artillery had been handled throughout must effectively. The Turks, up to the present, have lost 2000 men. The losses of the Servians are 250 wounded the number of Vjied is unknown.

FIGHTING AT JAVOR. Semi,ix, August 12.-Conflrmatory news has been received here of the victory obtained by the Turks over the Servian troops at Javor. It is stated that the losses on both sides were heavy, but further details have up to the present not come to hand.

AMNESTY TO THE BULGARIANS. Constantinople, Aug. 11.—The Sultan has granted a complete amnesty to the Bulgarians implicated in the late rising. The only exceptions made are as re- SMr Is the leaders and those who took an active part in the revolt. Orders have been given to set all the other prisoners at liberty,

EXPECTED ADVANCE OF THE TURKS AGAINST BELGRADE. Vienna, Aug. 11.—The Political Correspondence of to-day publishes the following telegraphic intelligence from Belgrade:—"An impression is gaining ground in the War Office here that the Turkish army will concentrically advance agaiust Belgrade. For this reason the capital is being strengthened with fortifica- tio-s measuring a mile and a half in circumference. All the heavy ordnance stores in the arsenal of I.ragujevatz are being taken to Belgrade. The Minister of the Interior has contracted for a speedy supply of a large quantity of provisions for Belgrade, which place it appears to be the intention of the Servians to defend ^sloug as possible. Prince Milan is still at Belgrade. p great battle is believed to be imminent between arga and Alexinatz.

ARREST OF AN EDITOR. 8e.mi.in; August 11.—M. Paulovies, editor of the Tanitchar, has been arrested here for political reasons.

THE PRINCE NIKITA. Hagusa, Auir. n.-Prince Nikita has halted in his Warch towards'sienitza, undertaken with the object of joining the Servian army. The Prince has deferred the execution of this plan, in order to prevent Dzelladin i ash a from proceeding to the relief of Mouktar Pasha. Yesterday 8000 Turks were landed at Antwary on their way to Podgoritza.

AI FGED OFFER OF ENGLISH INTER- VENTION. Skmlin", August 11.—It is believed here in military circles that a strong stand will be made at the Banja pass if the Turks advance in that direction. It is thought probable, however, that they will endeavour to draw away Tchernaieff to a pitched battle. Dr. Sandwith has arrived at Widdin, and is pursu- ing hig mission to obtain recognition by the Turks of the Geneva Convention. Over 50 doctors and nurses from Russia. have arrived here to attend to the sick nncl wounded.

QUINCE MILAN OFFERS TO ABDICATE. Bkhlin, Aug. 10.—It is said here that Turkey has confidentially informed the European Powers of her readiness at any moment to open negotiations for peace, but that she will not by any means consent to an armistice which would only conduce to the advan- of the rebels. From Belgrade I hear that credence is given to the ™"Port that the Principality will lie made over to iN lkit.a Petrovich, when Prince Milan shall have abdi- cated or have been deposed by the Sultan. flofa??.berv!an army is utterly dispirited by its recent wholVcount a Pan>c-like alarm prevails throughout the Prince Milan has alreadvoffered to abdicate, but was restrained from doing so by advice from high quarters abroad.

THE BULGARIAN AMNESTY. ^o.nstastjxoi'lb, Aug. 14.The following is the espalch sent by tbe Porte to its representatives abroad, relation to the Bulgarian amnesty:—"His Imperial lajcsty the Sultan, our august master, moved by his sentiments of paternal solicitude and exceeding clemency, has been pleased to grant a full and com- plete amnesty to all the individuals who were impli- cated in the Bulgarian insurrection, and to those whose trial is not yet terminated. Excepted from the Imperial clemency are those who have already been eentenced, and those who having been accused of being the chiefs and organisers of the insurrection have already been delivered into the hands of iustice. All the others who are in cus- tody will be set at liberty on giving due security. All prosecutions in connection with the events in question will be stopped and henceforth none will be pursued or arrested on this head. At the same time, however, the special tribunals to which the preliminary inquiries have been entrusted will be suppressed, and the sen- tences passed on. Those coming under the above men- tioned exceptions will be referred to the ordinary tribunals."

T, SER\IAN VICTORY. 13 (Evening)._The following official } Ch is published here:—A Servian detachment, nesting 0f two battalions of troops, with two guns, ..J.01'1' 'he command of Tchnisch and Javanovieh, cus 01 communication between Brchka and Tousla, ahd Occupied positions above the river Jani ie, near Tre- Janijar, and Tcoutak. On Thursday the Turkish army attacked the Servians on all sides with force 0f Bashi-Bazouks and Redifs. The en- j^. £ einent lasted until noon, when the Turks re- f^lved reinforcements of lied its and Nizams from Bjelinn, and fighting then became desperate, u j., Jer^ervians oeeupied excellent positions, from which j ie I'urks attempted to disiodgo 1hem. The engage- s lasted till four o'clock in the afternoon, when the n,ervian artillery began to inflict heavy loss on the j^ui"kish columns. The Nizams unsuccessfully charged 'le Serviana, and at nightfall the Turks were repulsed q. *11 directions. After resting for an hour, the ar^an8 resumed their forward march until they rtved before Tzrljeno, where they encamped. The "gagement lasted, altogether, 13 hotfrs. The Servians J^ght bravely. The Turks lost 200 killed and ounded. The Servian losses were 8ix killed and 15 wounded.

WAR TO TIIE BITTER END. Bet,grade, Aug. 14.-The rumours lately current or approaching Ministerial changts are now dying out, as Prince Milan has declared the state of the Servian forces to be satisfactory, and announces his resolution of continuing the war to the bitter end. An aide-de- camp, with despatches from General Tchernaieff, arrived here yesterday evening. A large force of Servian troops is now concentrated at Banja. Many volunteers of many nationalities are arriving at Bel- grade. THE SULTAN'S HEALTH.

Constantinoi'Le, August 14.—The Levant Herald of to-day learns that Dr. Eisendorff, of Vienna, who hag lately arrived here, has expressed his opinion that with rest and care the Sultan's nervous system may be "estored, as it is not permanently affected.

ACCOUCHEMENT OF THE PRINCESS NATALIE. BELGRADE, Aug. 14 (Morning). — The Princess Natalie of Servia has been safely delivered of a prince, and the mother and infant prince are doing perfectly well. A salute of 101 guns has been fired this morn- ing in honour of the event.

ENGLAND AND THE EASTERN QUESTION. Brussels, August 14.-The Russian organ Le Nord of this evening publishes a leading article on England's policy in the East, in which it expresses an opinion that the causes of what it calls the ambiguous policy of the British Government are to be looked for in the debates in Parliament. After discussing a number of conjectures, the article continues:—We think the Cabinet has been tempted by self-love, and the desire of consolidating its power, to make a brilliant coup, flattering to the vanity of the nation, and has been encouraged in this policy by the false information received from the English Ambassador at Con- stantinople. The English Cabinet now sees that it has made a mistake, and the English public, disgusted at the monstrosities of Mussulman fanaticism, de- mands a more humane policy. A transition is neces- sary, in order to Ve-enter into concert with the the European Powers. This transition is now going on, and will make itself felt. The Ministry will need to have recourse to that which might have been ac- complished three months ago. The task of bringing about the concert of the European Powers is much more difficult at the present time than it was before but the complete entente of Europe is so precious that the Powers will have to open their arms to Mr. Disraelí."

FAILURES IN AMERICA A list compiled by Messrs. Dun and Barlow, of the Mercantile Agency, and published in New York, shows that in the first half of the present year there were as many as 4600 failures in the United States, the total liabilities reaching 108,415,429 dols., and in Canada there were 858 failures, with liabilities amounting to 12,694,236 dols. Compared with the corresponding half of last year, the number of failures in the United States shows an increase of 1037, and the amount of the liabilities an increase of 31,571,163 dols. But the United States return has this favourable feature, that in the year 1876 the number of failures in the second quarter was fewer by a thousand than in the first, and the liabilities were less by 21,000,000 dols., and a like result is shown also in Canada, encouraging the hope that the worst is past.

GREAT ROBBERY AT A RAILWAY STATION. A serious robberv was committed s few days ago at the railway station at Milan. Commander Giovanni Antoniatis had put down his travelling bag in the first- class waiting room, and '.vent to take a turn on the plat- form until his train should arrive, and when he went to look for his property it was gone. He hastened to in- form the authorities, and stated that it contained pro- perty exceeding 500,000f. in value. Of that amount, 375,000f. were in Egyptian Treasury Bonds payable in London, 125,000f. in bills, and over 29,000f. in gold, and French and American bank-notes, besides some valuable jewellery. The telegraph was immediately set to work and the police informed, but as yet no trace of the valu- able property or the thief has been discovered.

THE WORKING MEN OF LONDON AND THE TURKISH ATROCITIES. At a meeting in Clerkenwell on Sunday evening, a com- nmtee representing the working men's clubs and political organisations of London, was appointed to organise a great demonstration of workmen in Hyde Park to denounce the Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria, and to call upon the Government to take immediate steps, in conjunction with the other European powers, to prevent the repetition in Servia of outrages described as a disgrace to civilisation. The meeting will be held on Sunoay, the 2dth.

THE ALLEGED ATROCITIES OF THE OTTOMAN TROOPS. The Press Association has received from the Imperial Ottoman Embassy in London a document, of which the following is a translation :—" London, Sunday.—The agents of Servia, by order of their Government, are en- deavouring to propagate in Europe the belief that the Imperial troops wilfully burn the Servian villages, and they even go so far as to allege that the Circassian auxiliaries provide themselves with cans filled with petroleum, which they carry to the field of battle, in order the better to accomplish the work of destruction. This double accusation, as ridiculous as it is improbable, is completely false. If any Servian villages have been set on fire, it has only been in the heat of combat and by accident, whilst since the oommeuceirent of hostilities, sixty vill^sts situated within the Ottoman territory, and inhabited by Christians as well as by Mussulmans, have been burnt by the Servians.

THE BALHAM INQUEST. It is hardly too much to say that the inquiry as to the death of Mr. Bravo is, in every way, one of the most disgusting public exhibitions which have been witnessed in this generation. Opinions may diifer as to the neees- sity or propriety of so extended an investigation, but there cau at least be no doubt that the manner in which it ba, been conducted throughout has given just offence to all rational and decent people. The daily mess of loathsome scandal put before the public in the news- papers the gloating zest with which the audience in court, ineluding evell so called ladies, gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the spectasle of a woman, to whom reputation was dear, having wrung from her, by questions as cruel as the rack, an open confession of dishonour, not only as a general admission, but in pre- cise detail; the unsavoury revelations of social life aud ruannerll brought out in the evidence; the coarse wrang- ling and vulvar levity of some of those who might have been expected to set an example ol legal decorum, and the prevailing looseness and disorder of the whole proceedings make up a picture of the most unpleasant kind. Not only the ordinary amenities, but the rules of evidence and procedure of a judicial inquiry, were -on. tinnally broken through, the Coroner sitting in blank helplessness, and apparently quite incapable of keeping counsel in order, or confining the examination of wit- nesses within due limits. All sorts cf mere hearsay stories were allowed to pass as evidence irrelevant and in other ways improper questions were unduly pressed upon witnesses who ought to have been protected by the presiding official; and, in short, the proceedings were little better than a tie-vesty of judicial investigation. This inquiry has been allowed to serve the ends of professional sensationalism rather than those of justice, and a not unnatural sympathy has been excited for per- sons who in themselves very little deserve it. The morbid curiosity of certain classes has been delightfully tickled by piquant glimpses into the recessea of social life, and it may be admitted that the infatuated Mrs. Bravo, the fascinating Dr. Gully, and that discreet and exemplary duenna, lIhs, Cox; never in the way and very quiet," always ready to take a charitable view of suspicious circumstances, and never hesitating to accept an obligation from a friend—make up a group which in its ilesh-and-blood reality has an interest beyond the novelist's reach. The case, in fact, has been a great study in the morbid anatomy of human nature, and from that point of view may be pronounced a success. As a judicial incident, however, it is much to be regretted, An inquiry of the most inquisitorial character has been stretched far beyond the immediate question to be de- termined, and a system of speculative fishing for evi- dence introduced into judicial proceedings which cannot fail to weaken and discredit them. It might be dan- gerous in another way to restrict too sharply or formally the kind of evidence which may be offered at au in. quest; but it is obvious that when such a wide rsnge of inquisition is allowed, the exercise of power ought to be entrusted only to competent and cautious hands. Satin da;/ L'evu iu. A more unsatisfactory inquiry never terminated in a more unsatisfactory verdict, and the only result gained by the public is a doubn whether, after all, the public examination of accused persons will go much help the ends of justice as the Recorder of London hones. Spcc- tutor. Curious Rcmoub.—A London correspondent writes: -1 hear on good authority that an unhappy lady, whose domestic affairs have been too prominently before the public of late for her peace of mind, has received a considerable number of letter: containing proposals of marriage. What a study Balzac could have made out of this circumstance But it is only fair to conclude that if many of these offers were dictated by cupidity, or by maudlin and semi-drunken curiosity, others may have been prompted by a coarse and ignorant notion of ten- dering sympathy and consolation.

The death is announced of Mr. F.,Calvert, the Con- sul at Dardanelles, well known to all visitors to the Troad.

.z-L LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY. The half-yearly report of the London and North Western Railway Company, to be submitted at the general meeting to be held on Saturday uext, is issued. It shows a net disposable balance, including £ 39 043 brought from last account, of £ l,iitw,2i2, out of which a dividend at the rate of six per ceiit. per annum is re- comiutndtd, leaving a balance to the credit of the next half-year of £ 40,219. The passenger receipts amounted to £ 1,710,370, showing as compared with the cor- responding half of last year an increase of £ 18,090; whilst the goods and mineral receipts were £ 2,046,815. exhibiting an increase of £ 5339. A hope is expressed by the directors that in the next session the Chancellor of the Exchequer will take steps to give effect to the recommendation of the Select Committee upon the question of the passenger duty, and the report of the committee is appended.

TRIAL OF R. BANNER OAKLEY. THE SENTENCE. The trial of Richard Banner Oakley, for obtaining money by false and fraudulent representations, was resumed in the Central Criminal Court on Saturday. The Solicitor-General replied on the whole case for the prosecntion. The learned Recorder, in summing up, expressed his dissatisfaction at the course taken by the Rev. Dr. Good, one of the trustees of the bank, who had not only been duped himself, but had promised to induce the Rev. W. Robinson, who had applied to him for informa- tion relating to the bank, to deposit money with the de- fendant, on condition that half the money so deposited should be applied to a claim he himself had upon the bank. The Kecordtr. in reading the evidence of five of the witnesses, pointed out that they had deposited their money with tho prisoner on the representations contained in the balancv-sheet He also called their attention to the ci;enmstauce that at the time the prisoner said. all expenses are made out of the earnings," there was a loss amounting to £ 15,000. The jury would have to consider—First, if all the statements of the balance-sheet were true, and, if they were untrue, were they so to the knowledge of the prisoner, and made to induce persons to pay money into his h;'nds, he knowing, when he made these statements, that if the truth had been told, the depositors would not have entrusted tneir money with him. Then, were they of opinion that nny of these persons were induced by these false statements to place their money in his hands. If they entertained any reasonable doubts on these points—if they entertained any doubt as to whether these witnesses bad placed their money in the pri- soner's hands, not trusting to speciried statements in tho b/dance sheet being trae, but in the general belief and hope that they would obtain 18 per cent, for their money they would give him the benefit; of that doubt. H, on the other hand, they thought the ststsments were un- true, to the knowledge of the. prisonei, they would then find him guilty of this indictm.-nt. After three minutes' consideration, the jury found the prisoner guilty. The prisoner, in reply to the usual question whether he had anything to say, made the following statement:- If I had means to bring forward witnesses to show the value of these securities, you and the jury would have come to a different decision to what you have. I had the ful est ground for believing in the value of them, and I am sure it will ultimately be seen that my opinion upon them is just and true. The Uc:order: The Court cannot come to the conclu- sion that any evidence you could give would justify the statement in the balance sheet. It is clear that you made statements that you must have known were false at the time, and, by means of them, you obtained sums of money from persons of all classes that enabled you for a time to carry on This concern. It is just possible that jou may have believed, iu your wild ties?, that you would be able to keep up for a considerable time, but that does not justify or extenuate this criminal a;-t— this continued system of fraud, as it seems. The sentence of the Court is that you be kept in penal servitude for five years.

STEALING L?OOO EROM RICIIABD BANNER OAKLEY. Robert Summersby, a respectable-looking young man, was charged at the Central Criminal Court on Saturday with having stolen a banker's cheque for payment of ;MOOO, the property of Mehard Banner Oakley, his master. Mr. Straight pr osecuted, and Mr. M. Williams defended the prisoner. The prosecution had been insti- tuted by Mr. M'Lean, trustee in the matter of Richard Banner Oakley. Since the eommencement of proceed- ings Mr. M'Lean had received £ 805 from the prisoner, who had assigned to him his furniture and the partner- ship of a business in which he was interested. ]n February, 1875, there was an advertisement in one of the papers for a clerk to Mr. Oakley's bank. The prisoner replied, and obtained the appoint- ment. In October Mr. Cole forwarded a cheque to be invested in the bank, and soon afterwards it was paid into the Birkbeck bank to the account of the prisoner. When taken into custody the prisoner said he bad been given the £ 2000 by Mr. Kemp, sub-manager of the bank, to prevent his making a noiee." Mr. Kemp was dead at the time the statement was made. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and Mr. Williams hoped,, under the circumstances mentioned, the Court would p&9:< a lenient sentence upon the prisoner, who had already been imprisoned during two months. The Recorder sentenced the prisoner to fifteen calendar months' hard labour.