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THE IMAGINARY MIRROR OF PARLIAMENT.

PEMBROKESHIRE ASSIZES.

[No title]

1ífjtfllattrOttfj.

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1ífjtfllattrOttfj. LUNACY TRIALS.-(BY ANTICIPATION.) HIGH COURT OF LUNACY.—APRIL THE FmsT, 1844. (Before the Right Hon. Sir Phelim O'Hoax, Sir Solomon Slyboots, and Sir Donald M'Quack.) This being the day appointed for the first sittings of the High Court of Lunacy, pursuant to an Act passed last year (1843) for establishing a commission for the trial of all persons suspected of partial insanity or dôwnright mono- mania, with a view to their safe confinement in the new National Bedlam, just erected on the site of the old Fleet prison. When the names of the jury had been called over, and each had taken his seat, the senior Judge, Sir Donald M'Quack, delivered a remarkably spirited, but somewhat incoherent charge, which was in happy accordance with the character of the Court; after which the trials commenced. The first case entered into was that of Richard Cobden, Esq., who, it was proved, had been for some years afflicted with a distressing Anti-Corn Law monomania. He fancied that the repeal of Corn Laws was the cure for everything— that it prompted education—morals—religion—literature— law—marriage—celibacy—Puseyism—Anti-Puseyiem— dissent—and orthodoxy. That it would reduce taxes—make the landholders rich by reducing their incomes—and giv.e every full-grown manufacturer six clean shirts, a new pair of Sunday breeches—a handsome wife, and as many children as he pleased-and that immediately the question was carried the Millennium would come Witnesses were called to prove these statements, and among them was a doctor from Dorsetshire, who proved that Mr. Cobden was constantly thrusting Anti-Corn Law tracts under his door way, and jerking them in at the window, greatly to the annoyance of his wife, who the other day was knocked down by a bundle which was flung in at the kitchen window, and hit her in the left eye. Counsel for the defence having been heard, an old woman named Bowring was examined, but her testimony soon broke down, for it was ascertained beyond a doubt that she was just as mad as Mr. Cobden. The third case was that of Mr. Thomas Attwood, who laboured under the deplorable hullucination that gold and silver were the chief curses of a country and proposed its regeneration by stuffing every man's purse with rags, in the shape of one-pound notes. Rags, he said, were the salva- tion of a nation, and be should never be happy till he saw all England turned into a large rag fair—rags were every- thing. Mr. Cobden, from the box where he was placed— Rags be Corn-Law Repeal is the thing." Mr. O'Connell—"No, Repeal of the Union is the only cure for every grievance." "No," said a gentleman in the crowd, whose head was dripping wet, and who shook all over with an ague, the cold-water cure is the great panacea." "Not so," said another individual, "mesmerism is the great cure for all public and private evils." The Court was just expressing its opinion of these un- courteous interruptions, when our reporter left.—Sun. RIOTS AT CANTON.—Mr. Thorn has been several days in Canton collecting evidence in the matter of the late insur- rection, and we understand it tends to confirm the statements made to her Majesty's Plenipotentiary by the British merchants in their letter to his Excellency, dated the 23rd inst. An eye witness has informed us that during the very scene of the tumult five Lascars were seen to walk leisurely and unmolested from the point to the Danish hong, which is a clear proof that the multitude who were then destroying the British hong had not vengeance on the Lascars for their object; indeed, many of the compradores and hong pursuers told several foreigners that the quarrel with the Lascars was only a pretext, and merely precipitated the long-intended and organized outbreak and that four parties of 500 each, all dressed alike, with distinguishing badges, and armed with swords, and with powder-bags in their girdles, had instantly assembled, pulled down the garden wall of the British con- sulate, and pelted oft. the workmen who were repairing the verandah with stones and brickbats—Canton Register, Dec. 27. THE CONVENT OF LA TRAPPE.—The Journal de la Somme publishes the following statement: — "Some time since an Englishman of distinction was visiting the convent of La Trappe, at Piquigny. The Abbe presented to him in succession the monks condemned to perpetual silence, and on introducing one of them he added, You see here, my Lord, an unfortunate soldier, who having great fear of the cannon at the battle of Waterloo deserted the field, and, despairing of his honour, sought a retreat in our com- munity.' At these words the brother changed colour, his eyes became inflamed with rage and pride, and the dreadful conflict which was engaged in his heart was evident in his face but his eyes having turned upon a crucifix, he joined his hands, fell upon his knees before the Abbe, and with- drew pale and silent. The Englishman, much affected at this scene, demanded of the Abbe why he had so severely apostrophized the unfortunate man My Lord,' replied the Abbe, I did so in order to demonstrate the empire which religion exercises over man. This brother was one of the bravest officers in the army he performed prodigies in that battle, and you saw the indignation which my false accusa- tion caused him but, at the same time, you were a witness to his resignation and his humility.' A land-slip had taken place at Troy ten dwellings were buried beneath the ruins. Fifteen men, women, and chil- dren were taken out of them dead, and seventeen seriously maimed. RECENT DISCOVERIES IN SCIENCE.—VENTILATION OF HOUSES.—Mr. A. Liddell, of Glasgow, read to the British Association, a paper on the Ventilation of Houses, which consists in drawing off the foul air from each room by a pipe leading to the chimney of a steam-engine, which has been attended with the most beneficial results as regards the health of the inmates, and particularly by a great diminution in the number of fever cases. The plan has been tried in the Glasgow Fever Hospital, in which the beds for fever patients, &c., were fitted up with the tubes for carrying away noxious effluvia. A similar plan for the ventilation of ships and steamers has been introduced by Dr. Reid, by leading tubes from the berths into a stove on deck, or in steamers, into the chimney. Mr. Liddell stated that the expense for a house of 60,000 cubic feet was only 40 lbs. of coal in twenty-four hours. Sir John Robinson observed, that it was highly satisfactory to find sound principles in regard to ventilation making their way amongst the people of this country; but it was at the same time to be regretted that ineffective plans should be resorted to, when the very best plans had been many years before the public. MELANCHOLY J ATE OF A BRIDE.—The Province, a Lyons journal, relates that about 4 o'clock in the morning of the 26th ult., as a wedding party were returning to Ainay from Etroits, where the marriage feast had been celebrated, the bride, a pretty young village damsel, stopped behind the rest for some purpose unexplained. Having waited for some time without her rejoining them, her friends went back to seek her; but although they spread in every direction, and passed the whole of the day in exploring the country round, they could gain no tidings of her. At length, on the fol- lowing morning, news was brought that she had been found in the night by a stranger, bound t<1 a tree, with her hands tied behind her, and with her mouth filled with sand, in a wood called Tate d'Or. She was still alive, and medical aid was called to her relief, but she was irrecoverable, and died in the afternoon of that day. No cries of distress were heard at the time she was first missing, and, when taken down from the tree, the nuptial wreath of orange-flowers was still on her head, and all her bridal ornaments were on her person. Upon a post mortem examination not the slightest trace of any other act of violence upon her could be dis- covered except that which caused her death. We understand that it is the intention at the Horse Guards to so arrange the reliefs of regiments from foreign stations, that corps may remain four years at least in the United Kingdom. We should like much to see this ar- rangement, for we fairly confess we cannot understand how the regiments can be kept fully four years at home, without keeping regiments fully twenty years in India, and more than ten years elsewhere.—Naval and Military Gazette. THE QUEEN'S VISIT TO IRELAND.—A rumouris rife in well-informed circles that a difference has occurred between Her Majesty and Sir R. Peel and the Duke of Wellington, respecting Her Majesty's intended visit to Ireland. The rumour has it that Peel and the Duke were strongly op- posed to it, but that Her Majesty, with much warmth, declared that she would come to Ireland in the approaching summer, let her Ministers say against it as they will.—Globe. MAGNIFICENT PRESENT TO THE SULTAN ABDUL MEDJIB.—A most superb and elaborately-finished specimen of English manufacture, intended as a present from Ali Ef- fendi, the Turkish Ambassador, to the Sultan, was on Monday morning inspected by Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, at Buckingham Palace. This costly present, which was manufactured by Mr. Taunton, of Norfolk-street, Islington, at a cost of 500 guineas, is an umbrella, of little more than the ordinary size, covered with rich brocaded crimson satin, manufactured in Spitalfields expressly for the purpose. The whole of the metal of which it is composed is of pure gold. The handle, which opens with a secret spring, contains a gold chronometer, the dial of which is about an inch and a half in diameter. The part containing the chro- nometer unscrews, and beneath is a sun-dial and compass (the plate of gold), set with a valuable brilliant of the first water and upon this portion of the handle being unscrewed, the following articles are beautifully arranged, in six com- partments:—A thermometer, a pencil case and watch-key, a knife with two blades, the star and crescent engraved on either side of the handle, a comb, a toothpick, and an ornamented circular case, containing, in three divi- sions, 25 leads for the gold pencil-holder. In the next compartment of the handle is a mirror, set in a bor- dering of chased gold. The tube, which is of gold, highly-engraved, with a design of scroll work and flowers (when divested of the handle and ferule, the latter of which contains a powerful microscope, richly ornamented and carved in gold), is so ingeniously contrived as to form a telescope, with a 20 miles' range, having a sliding tube to adapt it to various sights and distances. The whole is en- closed in a red morocco case, lined with green velvet and white satin, with the star and crescent emblazoned at the four corners and in the centre. The two massive handles and the locks, keys, and hinges are of solid gold. Her Ma- jesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, after minutely inspecting this elaborate piece of workmanship, expressed themselves in terms of the highest approbation of the taste aad jpgeftijity displaced iu itu wattitfactvue by I'wiUvii.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

[No title]

BUTE DOCKS, CARDIFF.

A HEART TO BE LET.

dFact, iPtrttott, antr :11atttíæ.…

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