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A RAMBLE IN SWITZERLAND.
A RAMBLE IN SWITZERLAND. (By our London Correspondent) Having been in that state of mind with which a used- up traveller, spoken of by the late lamented Albert Smith, of facetious memory, was afflicted-the said traveller being uncertain whether he should go to Algiers or Rlmsgate-I decide on going to neither, but to Switzerland. But this frame of mind is certainly not produced by having been everywhere and seen everything, but rather from the difficulty of seeing something frefsh-to me-in a very brief holiday. Allow me to ask the reader to accompany me. He (of course my companion must be of the masculine gender) need but bring money, a knapsack, and a walking stick for we will pedestrianise as much as may be agreeable—perhaps more—and will not promise to keep to a beaten track of railways and diligences. I cannot offer the reader much instruction I will not bore him with bard, dry facts, nor persecute him with statistics, which are so useful for argument, but for nothing else I cannot promise to be his guide, philo- sopher, and friend but, hoping that I may not prove a thoroughly tedious companion, I merely ask him to read my impressions de voyage, as a solitary rambler, and it may be that one out of many may perchance decide to go and do likewise-and very likely won't do it even if he so decide. Having epent a day in Paris, where I have been requently before, and still will go, some other day, if Fortune smiles, I go by railway to Basle. A pros- perous thriving city it is, and the beauties of nature are evidently not marred, as they are in many places, by the miserable poverty with which people so favoured by natural advantages have to contend. Basle is, in many respects, the chief city in Switzerland the most commercial, the most important, the most political. It is beautifully situated on both sides of the Rbiae. There are great differences observable in various parts of the city; in the newer parts refinement and luxury, or, in other words, high-pressure civilisation in the older parts, laborious industry and harder fare but nowhere are there observable those signs of destitution which are, unhappily, so common in England. What- ever else I may miss, I always like to go to the Cathe- dral, and that of Basle is well worth a visit. Jt may not be regarded as very beautiful-certainly I have seen many far more beautiful-but then it is very ancient and picturesque. It was commenced, they say. in the year 1010, or rather a cathedral that stood here was begun at that time, and some marvellously grotesque figures are pointed out that are some seven or eight centuries old. Like most oil cathedrals, it has two histories, as it were, and the first history (or rather tradition) of Basle Cathedral comes down to an earth- quake, which destroyed great part of the ancient edifice but even the second history dates back for three centuries. There are some splendid views about Basle. The view of the town itself from the rrincipal bridge is a very charming one, but commend me to the extensive command of scenery that you obtain from the Pfalz, or place, which is 80 feet above the Rhine, and which is beautifully laid out with chesnut trees. From this high plateau you have a lovely view of the Rhine and of part of the Black Forest. As I have no inten- tion to serve as a guide to the reader, I will only say that there are plenty of good hotels in Basle, as, indeed, there are in most other towns in Switzerland, the only difficulty being that you usually find out when too late whether such and such an hotel is good, bad, or indii- ferent and there need be no bother, under ordinary circumstances, because you can speak neither French nor German. The Swiss shame us in the matter of language, and at nearly all the hotels some waiter or other speaks English enough to prevent his charging you twice. It is strange how words long familiar to you echo and re-echo in your mind as it were when you find yourself, after long years, in a position identified with those words. By the margin of fair Zurich's waters were the words which recurred to me again and again, in mental connection with an old familiar tune, when I first stood by the lake of Zurich. And Zurich is deservedly called fair, whether allusion be made to the town or the canton. The town, if not beautiful as a whole, is charmingly picturesque in parts, and every- »Wre presents signs of business activity, contentment, and prosp««^yj though it needscareelyloe adaed that an 0-ide observer -it were, can form a very inadequate idea ot the center foment of a people. The dwellers in and about Zurich :'av; at all events, no reason to be dijra'iided with itf r natural position and or Heir political and social laws. The lake of Zurich is with habitations of all classes, and Embody can say by looking about l irq where t!d' town begins or ends ) but po matter; all ir picturesque and benuti- ful, especially to a rare oar who h. been chiefly accustomed to the comparatively dreary and dull citics i of England. I confess I fvlt rather glad that there were no objects of remarkable interest in Zurich, such as one feels he must see, but the cathedral ought to be visited if only because it was here that Zuinglius, the celebrated Reformer, preached and there are some museums, whfre you may, if a lover of antiquity, revel in the remains of distant ages. But for my own part I would rather take a ramble on the Katz bastion and in the Botanical Gardens. This is an elevated promenade, and a favourite alike with visitors and denizens. From it you can see, afar off, the Alps and if this be your first view, as will be probable enough, you will become sentimental accordingly. If you be a lover of the picturesque you may spend hours about here, the views are so varied, and the h.ke and the town appear under such varied aspects through the changes of light or of weather; but they are always interesting. The trip by rail from Zurich to Schaffhausen is a very agreeable one, and a strangely picturesque little town is this same Schaffhausen. It is noted for its marvellous old houses, with oriel windows and anti- quated carvings and ornaments. Here and there you may see some fresco paintings on the walls, but they are more curious than beautiful. The whole town will well repay you for a long ramble about it, noting the antiquities and curiosities of the place. You can to a great extent read the history of the town on the walls oil its houses. Or if you prefer the beauties of nature to the memorials of antiquity (though nature's handi- work is after all infinitely older than men's) you will find some lovely walks on the outskirts of the town. One thing you must do; you must have an agreeable ride (I can't help using so many adjectives, but really they are deserved) for a franc to the Rhine Falls some three miles from the town, there the scenery is delight- ful, and you see the lovely Rhine in a sportive humour. From Schaffhausen you may well spend a few hours in an excursion to the Freudenberg, or in a railway trip to St. Gallen, the latter a busy little town noted for its muslins and its cottons the former a mountain commanding a most extensive view, the chief objects of interest being the mountains of St. Gall and the Ap- penzell, and the beautiful lake of Constance. From Gallen you may go to Ragatz by rail, and thfn, as a matter of course, you will go to the baths of Pfeffers. I did so, and found the walk, of an hour or so, about the most romantic walk I ever had. The little water- falls are perhaps more picturesque than convenient, but that matters little. You have some fresh sensations, and that is worth something. The baths are natural hot baths, about 98 deg. Fahrenheit, and are praised up to the skies by all who have any connection with them. Altogether it is a strange, weird, wild-looking place, but not particularly attractive except as a curiosity. Leavin Ragatz you go-st least I did-to Rapper- Ecbwyl by rail, and you find it-at least I did—a curiously picturesque old place, with an old castle, old walls, and an old church—in fact an old place alto- gether and if you come away without memories of that marvellously lonsr, narrow, and apparently unsafe bridge—nearly 5,000 feet long—it will be a wonder. From Rapperschwyl to Horgen by steamer is an agree- able trip from Horgen to Arth by steamer and from Arth to the RighL There I did a stupid thing—as- rended a pied towards the Righi, and had a toilsome fxcthior walk of more than an hour, when I could have gone by omnibus in twenty minutes for a franc but then, during this wearisome ascent, I kept consoling lD) self that I was ascending the Righi! When I reached Goldau I had had quite enough of it, and joined a party to ascend to the summit on mules. ( So much has been written about the Righi that, rathtr than record my own impressions, I prefer, for once, to quot", from an authority, Mu;ray," whose red-covered books you see now and again wherever you go on the Continent. From this I learn that the Righi is 5,910 feet above the sea level. No wondtr, therefore, that at such an elevation the charges at the inn on the summit should be also very high. About 1:0,000 persons are said to visit this hotel in a year. the arrangements are generally good, but complaints d inattention and incivility are Eometimes made. It is fair to remember that the const.ant presence of a crowd of hungry and impatient guests must try to the very utmost the patience and activity of the entire household. Travellers not on foot should bring cloaks with them, as the cold is often intense and the thermo- meter, marking 76 deg. in Lucerne at mid-dav, was 37 deg. on the Righi at sunset and 31 deg. at sunrise. The house is warmed with stoves even in summer. The following notice is hung up in every room- (I give the translation) :— Travellers are warned that it is for- bidden to take the bed-clothes on going out to visit the luncmit." After a description of the noise, confusion, and excittment of this inn (which I can vouch to be unexargerated) my guide says: "Whether the innate have slept or not, he, together with the whole household, is roused about an hour before sunrise by the grating sounds of a long v,, ..e;i horn v.l.'ch is played untill very particle of 8?eep is dispelled from tc« household. Then com- mences a general stir and commotion, and everybody hastens out with shivering limbs and half-open eyes to gaze at the glorious prosptct of » auoriae from the Righi. Fortunate are they for whom the view is not I marred by clouds and rain, a. very common occurrence, as the leaves of the album kept in the inn will testify. Indeed the following verses describe the fate of a large majority of those who make this expedition:— Nine weary uphill miles we sped, The setting sun to see Sulky and grim he went to bed, Sulky an,l grim went we. Seven sleepless hours we tossed, and then, The rising sun to see, Sulky ar.d grim we rose again, Sulky and grim rose he. Long before dawn, an assemblage of between 200 and 300 persons is often collected on the Righi Culm, awaiting the sunrise, to enjoy this magnificent prospect in the cold. A glare of light in the East, which gra- dually dims the flickering of the stars, is the first token of the morning it soon becomes a streak of gold along the horizon, and is reflected in a pale pink tint upon the snows of the Bernese Alps. Summit after summit slowly catches the same golden hue the dark space between the horizon and the Righi is next illumi- nated forests, lakes, hills, rivers, towns, and villages gradually become revealed, but look cold and indis- tinct, until the red orb surmounts the mountain top, and darts his beams across the landscape. The shadows are then rolled back, as it were, and in a few momenta the whole scene around is glowing in sun- shine." I am fortunate in being able to add that I do not think this stirring description is at all exaggerated; but whether others are equally fortunate or not, to ascend the Righi to see the sun rise is one of the many correct things to do when you have a ramble in Swit- zerland.
ONE OF THE WORLD'S NOBILITY.
ONE OF THE WORLD'S NOBILITY. The beautiful statue which is to commemorate the magnificent philanthropy of Mr. George Peabody was unveiled on Ftiday, in last week, at the ba':k of the Royal Exchange, London, by the Prince of Wales, amidst the applause of a dense crowd of spectators, amongst whom were many distinguished persons. After lunch, which was served in the Banqueting- room of the Mansion-house, the Lord Mayor proposed the health of the Queen, the only additional toast be- ing that of the Prince of Wales. In proposing this the Lord Mayor said :— We are met this day to do honour to a man who, by his great benevolence to the pLor of this metropolis, has not only won the hearts of the citizens among whom he has lived for so many years, hut of the nation at) arjze. I have no need to prai-e him, if,r he has been actuated by .Mich nobility of purpose as to make it quite unnecessary. He has delighted to do good to his fellow m.n. and in his great gifts to se, k the amelioration of the humblest class of our 11"01,1.. T around me those who have fought to perpetuate amongst us the memory of that distinguished Americau citizen, and I am rejoiced we have here to-day that eminent servant o' art to whose hand this great work wa3 entrusted. The t< at having been drunk most cordially, his Royal Highness, in the course of a brief reply, said :— To me the pleasure is very great in being here to-day, to unveil the statue of so great and so good a man. The name of Mr Peabody will go down to corning generations as the great philanthropist who sought not his own honour, but your city's good, in a way which entitles him to the lasting gratitude of my fellow-citizens. (Cheers.) The company then dispersed, and formed a proces- sion to the Royal Exchange, and every window, roof, balcony, and inch of ground that would admit of use was occupied by spectators as far as the eye could reach. Sir B. Phillips, chairman of the Committee, then addressed the Prince in an admirable speech, which told the tale of the work at which his Royal Highness was to assist. The worthy Alderman, during his address, said This statue will commemorate an act almost without a parallel in Knglishhistory. It is the spontaneous expression, the free-will gift, of a generous and grateful people and the testimony of their homage to a good and philanthropic citizen exemplified during his life It will proclaim its own history, and point a moral and adorn a tale." It will tell to future generations how a plain arid earnest man, horn in another country, settled among u- and by a long, prosperous, and honourable career became one of our merchant princes, and, having realised a king y fortune, conceived the i<tea of distributing it in his life, not with the object of self-aggrandisemtnt, but for the god-like purpose of ameliorating the miseries assuaging the woes and elevating the social and moral condition of his fellow- creatures. But there is something in the free and unsectarian chllfacter f George Peabody's gifts broader, deeper, grander than the gifts themselves, for they are like the genial dews froni i)e;iv,D--tht-y bless no special flower. but impart fra- grance, sweetness and strength to all they light upon. astJy. h t us hope that this statue, erected by the sons of free England to the honour of one of Columbia's truest and noblest citizens, may be symbolical of the peace and good- WIll that exi.-t between the two countries, and that a people tpringirig from the same ft ck speaking the same language, and inspired and animated oy the same love of freedom and liberty, may live in uninterrupted friendship and happiness. These passages were warmly applauded, as were also several sentences praising the work of art which Mr. Story had provided. In reply, the Prince of Wales thus spoke lam sure you all must feel gratified at the speech we have nst listened to. Allow me to say that amongst tbe many diries which I have to perfoi m, none confd g ve me greater pleasure than t.. assist iu the nuveilinz of t his sta'ne. Tie of George Peabody is too well known for me to do more than merely prmou ue it to you at the same time it tf, r is me the deepest gratification to pay a tribute of respect to tkat great A maruafl, to that great piuUathropiit, to that—I may say-great citizen of the world. (Cheers.) England can never adequately repay the debt of gratitude which she, and London especially, owes to him whose wonderful charity has been so liberally distributed. For one not born ia this country to have given, I believe, more than a quarter of a million pounds sterling is a tiling unequalled, and his name will go down to posterity as that ci a man who lias ivied to ameliorate the sufferings and to elevate the social,and ihere- fore moral, character of his fellow-creatures. I have not yet seen the stafhe, but having had the privilege of an acquaint- ance wi h the sculptor, Mr. Story, for the space of ten years, I am sure it will be worthy of the man to whom it is dedi- cated. In concluding these few imper'ect remarks, let me thank Mr. Motley, the American Minister, for being present to-day, and let me assure him how glad I am to take part in this-I may almost say national-ceremony, because it gives me the opportunity of paying a tribute to his distinguished countryman. I can assure him that my feelings towards America are personally the same as they ever were; nor can I ever forget the reception I experienced nine years a,-o in that country. ly earnest wish and hope is that England and A merica may ever go together hand in hand in peace and in prosperity, (Loud cheers.) The business of unveiling was soon despatched. Is it your Royal Highness's pleasure that this statue should be uncovered ?" inquired Sir B. Phillips. If you please," answered the Prince of Wales. Then in a moment the cords were loosened, the linen covering was removed, and the massive figure of George Peabody ic his arm-chair appeared to the delighted assembly, who cheered and cheered, while the Prince and others congratulated Mr. Story upon his successful piece of art. Eyes were then turned to the American Minis- ter, and Mr. Motley, after a pause, came forward and said [ thank you sincerely for this kind reception. I thank his Royal Highness for the cordial words he has spoken. I shall not, in the brief moment allotted its, attempt to pronounce a tit eulogy upon the great philanthropist, George PeabJdy- nor is it necessary. His name alone is sufficient Most fortunate and generous of men, he has discovered the secret for which misers might sigh in vain-the art nt keeping a great fortune to himself as long as time shall last. In this connection I have often thouelit of a famous epitaph inscribed on the monument of that old Earl of Devonshire who was termed the good Earl. Said he, -1 What I spent, that I have; what I saved, that I lost; that which I gave away remains with me." So may we say of Peabody. But as a monument is to be erected, I am glad the difficult task has been com- mitted to the hands of the American sculptor who has been my intimate friend for many years. During a recent residence in ftome I had the good fortune of seeintr this statue which has just been unveiled in the busy heart of England's great metro- polis by the Royal hands of England's Prince, and grown day by day under the plastic fingers of the artist. I saw Mr. Pea- body and his statue, sitting as it were side by side, and often debated within myself without coming to an accurate condu- sion whether on the whole the statue were more like Mr. Peabody, or Mr. Peabody more like the statue. Both seem to wear the same gent.e, sympathetic smile, the same genuine and manly presence. It is a delightful thought that i he passing thousands who go through this crowded mart will see Georne Peabody almost as accurately as if in the flesh; and that future generations long unborn-the, I fear, never-ending procession of London's poor-will become well familiar with the features of their great benefactor. (Loud cheeis.) To calls for Mr. Story, that gentleman made a very effective reply. He uointed to his work and added, That is my speech. The statue isa faithful likeness of Mr. Peabody, and has cost £;3,000, which has been raised by limited con- tributions from all classes.
-----THE ANGLO-AMERICAN BOAT-RACE.
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN BOAT-RACE. The annually-recurring excitement of the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race will this year be doubled by the race to take place at the end of August between an Oxford four and as many from the American Uni- versity of Harvard, New England (says a London con- temporary). These gentlemen, although splendid representatives, of that great natural strength and vast resource upon which America prides herself, labour under great dis- advantages. It is not unfair to suppose that (n their native rivers the art of rowing is not so highly cultivated nor carried to so high peifeccion as in this country. They have been accustomed to go without a coxswain, the stroke working the tiller with his feet. Finding, on sending their challenge to the Oxonians, that a coxswain is indbp?ui-able to the safe navigation of our rapid, narrow, and tortuous streams, the American gi-ntl,m(-n, determined to row at all risks, set to work to accustom themselves to row with what to them seemed to be seven or eight stones of dead weight in the boat. It was no reliet to the stroke to be free i from the stterin to which he had been accustomed it was a great incubus to the ciew to find their boat weighed cown at the stern in a manner quite new to them. On the grand, broad, and smoothly flowing waters of their immense country, a few feet to the right or a few feet to the leit of them were deviations of small consequence. Here, in the tidal c irrects of the Thames, an eccentri- city of that kind may lose a race. The New England collegians have their boat races as have the Old, but the fact that they are new is against them. Perennial victory of the Haivard 'Varsity crew over that of Yale, Newhaven, Connec- ticut, is not as the victory of Oxford over Cambridge. Still they have never been beaten by amateurs at home, and so may be accepted as fair representatives of the boating power of the class who in America cor- responds with our Oxonian3, as far as the different social organisations of the two countries will allow of comparison. During their passage across the Atlantic in the City of Far is, they were treated with special favour and consideration. On their arrival at Liverpool they were met by Mr. H. L. Sherlock, of that town, who paid them every attention. The London and North- Western Railway Company gave them a saloon car- riage for their journey to London, and ordered par- ticular attention to be paid to their comfort. Since their arrival in London, Air. Stanton, of the firm of make and Picksley, the bankers there and at New York, has been of much service to them, while the London Rowing Club have not only given them a third of their Loat-house, but have met them in the most frank and cordial spiiit. The crew at present stands thus Arthur Porter Loring, Boston, captain and bow oar, list 2:03. William II, Simmons, Concord, Massachusetts, 13st, a very powerful oarn,an. Silvester Warren Rice, Roseburgh, Orect'-n, ll3t 61b, noted for great length of read ar!d pow-r of endurance. George Cliicajto. stroke, li t I lib, a spleudici ath!ete. Artiiur Buruham, Chicago, 8st coxswain. ir. William blackie is their business agent. It is, of course, impossible to avoid comparisons between the Harvard and Oxford crews, and it may be &3 well to say at once that if al l the Harvard crew are equal to Mr. H. Simmons, and if his skill be at all in proportion to his power :.nd phisique, a more dangerous fou i-oar never appeared on the Thames water. There not one in the Oxford boat, wno, a? A specimen of manlo-d, csii compare with Mr. Siaiiiiohs. Hi, iinst, head, limos, contour, require a sculptor to portray them ?;.d-quately, ard s:.i.u'd the crew win, a goodotafcue of tiii- \rt r.tieiaa?!, titiw r ia class u*.«l or modern siiiiiltiudc, would do great credit to any monumental site in either country. To avoid all possibility of any imputation of unfair- ness, steps are already being taken to secure a clear course on the Thames over the usual run from Putney to Mcrtlake. It was on account of the danger of in- terruption on the metropolitan river that when Hamill, the American oarsman, rowed, the Tyne was chosen as the scene of the contest, both sides feeling sure that among the sturdy northmen tne rules of fair-play would be observed. In that race the high training, skill, and experience of Keiiey completely vanquished the untutored strength and awkward style of his rival. To this event the same conditions will, no doubt, to some extent apply. On the one side there is prestige, training, style, and experience on the other, dubiety, strength, and freshness. The Oxonians know every inch of the course, and are accustomed to the Thames. The Harvard* are not only strangers to the course, but strangers to the river and to the English modes of row- ing and manner of boat-racing. They brought over with them a boat fully forty-nine feet long, four feet longer than an English feur, as well as deeper, broader an l heavier. Our racing craft are long and straight, resting on the water from stem to stern, and cutting through the surface as an arrow cuts the air. This American boat is sli-Ltly curved at both ends, and i'0, though she may be more buoyant, she will be less under Control, and will carry more wood than is necessary. The Oxford five-for Mr. Woodhouse is with them as a reserve in case of accident—are quietly ensconced in the pretty and secluded summer villa at Black Pots, on the leit bank of the Thames, below Eton, kindly lent to them bythe head.master. From th-re the four daily take exercise in a heavy gig, receiving the benefit of such adv.ce as some of the Eton masters are so well qualified to give. The crew consists of- St lb St lb F. Willan, Exeter. 11 9 S. D. Darbishire, Balliol 11 3 A. C. Yarboroiigh, Lin- W. S. Woodhouse, I'ni- coln 11 7| versity 11 0 J. C. Tiling, University 13 7 J. H. Hall, Co. pus (cox.) 7 3 It will be seen that in this list are the very pick and choice of Oxford's rowing men. Four times has Mr. Willan pulled an oar in the winning boat against Cam- bridge, twice Mr. Tinne, and twice Mr. Darbishire, twice Mr. Yarborough, and once Mr. Woodhouse. All with the exception of Mr. Darbishiie are Etonians, and have rowed well in the Econ eights at Henley as well as in the University crews at the same regatta. Mr. Yarborough won the Oxford sculls over the Uni- versity course of a mile and a quarter
LETTER OF THE QITEEN TO MR.…
LETTER OF THE QITEEN TO MR. PEABODY. The Boston (U.S.) Poit, of July 12, says It would be difficult for any one to psy a more delicate or graceful conip iment than that which Queen Victoria has just paid to our muniti, ent countryman, Ge rge Peabody. Mr. Peabody, as is well understood, left England very unex- pectedly, and without allowing his departure to be known beyond a narrow circle of his friends. Bu*. the fact of his embarkation, and of his extremely feeble health, found its way into the English journals, and soon came to the know- ledge of her Maj-sty, who, with that goodness of heart which his always characterised her, and which Americans have never failed to appreciate and admire, give immediate ex- p e^sion to her reelings in the fo lowing autograph note, which, we learn, has been received by Mr. Peabody within a few days past, and of which we have been fortunate enough to obtain a copy Windsor Castlp, June 20, 1869.—The Queen is very sorry that Mr. Peabodv's sudden departure has made it impos- sible for her to see him before he left England, and she is concerned to hear that he is gone in bad health. She now writes him a line to express her hope that he may return to this country quite recovered, and that she may then have the opportunity, of which she has now been deprived, of seeing him and offering him her per- sonal thanks for all he has done f-ir the people." The note was transmitted by Mr. Arthur Helps, the Clerk of the Privy Council, who adds that the Quern also com- manded him" to be sure and charge Mr. Peabody to report himself on his return to England." How much there is in such an act of consideration and kindness on the part of Queen Victoria, towards one whom all Americans are proud Of, to soften the asperities growing out of public controversies between the two nations! The exquisite portrait of Her Majesty, which she sent to Ntr. Peabody two or three years ago is now at the Dan vers Tnstitute in the same apartment with the beautiful gold medal presented to him by Congress, in the name of the people of the United States. Hut a little note like this, coming so plainly from the Queen's heart, as well as from her own haw), has a significance and a value far above any mere material gifts, however costly.
------A CONVICT SENTENCED…
A CONVICT SENTENCED TO DEATH. At the Dorchester ^ss'^es last week, Jontih Detbridge was indicted for the »i> ful murder ot Joseph Xi cvett at I'orHanc!, 0:1 the 24ch of March. Th<- asked the prisoner if he wished to have counsel assigned to him. He said he should not, as he conid say what he wished for himself. Tbe facts, as they appeared from the statement of cnüDsd and from the evidence, were simple. The prisoner was a convict at the prison at Portland, under a sentezice of seven ye**s' penal servitude. The con- nets were employed nfton tite -r. at Port- land. The deceased was an assistant warder of the pr;Kf»n,_ a man wr.u bore an excellent character, a perfectly humane and kind officer. On Tues- day, the 23rd of March, the deceased had charge of 25 convicts, and he was asisted in his duty by another warder named Holmes. Among the 25 convicts under their charge was the prisoner. On that morning the duty the prisoner had to perform was to assist in the construction of a battery, bi work being to dress stone which lined the battery. The convicts weie marched to the battery and Trevitt took up his position in the works. The prisoner was supplied with a pick, which was tipped with steel. All went well for some time, but shortly before ten o'clock it appeared Trevett had given some directions to the prisoner, which seemed to irritate him, and he said he should do it as he liked. Trevett told h'm he must told speak to him like that. The prisoner said he should speak to him as he would to another man. So things remained. The officer whose duty it was to make his rounds passed somewhere about eleven o'clock. 1 he work proceeded. About ten minutes after this the prisoner was obstrved by one of the convicts to leave his place and go up a plank he then went round the battery to the back of Trevett and struck at him with the pick. Trevett fell down. Tmnie- dUtely after that the prisoner jumped down and rushed at the unfortunate mai and struck him two most fear- ful blows with the pick on the head. He then threw down the pick and ran away. but was met by another warder, who stopped him and took him into custody. The convicts when they saw the prisoner striding Trevett endeavoured to get to him, but could not do so on account of the stones which were in the way. The deceased was taken to the prison hospital, and a surgeon was sent for. His skull was found to be dread- fully fractured. The poor man never rallied, and died about half-past three o'clock in the afternoon. It appeared tnat on the 1st of March the deceased reported the prisoner for insolence, and he was punished for it, and this seemed to have rankled in his mind. The prisoner then said, The next time he runs me in it shall be for something." Run in" meant reported. The case for the prosecution having closed, The prisoner wished to ask the Governor about his character. The Governor said it was very bad. He was a man of ungovernable temper, but at times his ccnduct was exceedingly good. His threats were very violent. The prisoner said he had been several times punished for small offences, which he could not avoid. He could say no more. The learned Judge said he did not know what the prisoner could say. The jury had heard all the evi- dence, and they would say what their conclusion was. The jury at once pronounced a verdict of Guil y. The learned Judge, with much feeling, passed upon the prisoner the sentence of death.
TRIAL OF A FARMER FOR WIFE…
TRIAL OF A FARMER FOR WIFE MURDER. At the Lewes Assizes the Lord Chief Baron tried Jeremiah Stubberfield, a farmer, who was indicted tor the murder of his wife at Ashburnam in May last. This was an extremely painful case, as it rested on the evidence of a child of the persons concerned. Accord- ing to his account, when he awoke in the morning he saw his father kneeling over his wife and squeezing her throat. The child stated that he said, "You'll hurt her," and that his father said, "Yon hold your tongue." The poor woman was found to be dead. The pri- soner appeared to have lived on affectionate terms with her, and, so far as appeared, there was no motive tor such an act. insanity seemed to have been hereditary in the family, for the pri-soner's father was some years ago sent to a lunatic asylum, and his grandmother committed suicide. Tne prisoner himself had, however, shown no particular signs of insanity, but having been for some months much depressed in spirits, his friends had been on the alert, fearing that his mind might become deranged, as his father's did. After a few witnesses had been called, the jury found him "not guilty on the ground of insanity."
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Tn connection with the above pad case, the Daily News, with a (tesire to prevent a similar tragedy by arousing atten- tion to premonitory admonitions, remarks:- It is very painful to rote an increase of, cases in which verdicts are given upon grounds of insanity. At Lewes A-size on Friday a farmer was charged with the murder of his wife in May last. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner had lived on "affectionate terms" with the voor woman who was strangled by him in a sudden fit of madness. Then there was that sad occurrence at Rottingdean, where a child was thrown over a cliff by a nurse only recently libe- rated from an asylum. It is hard to believe that these people did not exhibit premonitory tokens of their terrible privation of reason. There is, We know, the strongest prejudice in certain classes against even recognising this visitation, and it is appalling to think with what recklessness men or women of this order will intermarry with a full know- ledge of consequences, including perhaps a series of ferocious homicidal paroxysms. The question of in- terference is one, of course, that should be cautiously raised, but it would be well if in seme manner a healthier tone of feeling on the subject prevailed. There is no story in literature more pathetic than the tale of Lamb's care of Bridget Elia, and yet with all his care we know the desperate sffliction which fell upon them both. Dr. Winslow and others have registered many of the warnings which precede mad- ness, but it should be remembered that an hereditary taint is not alone a warning to those who have reason to fear it in themselves but a mi-fortune which may involve responsibilities necessitating an austere self- control. The Rottingdean case has another moral Should patients from lunatic asylums be given the charge of chi'dren, especially when it is notorious that in seasons of cerebral excitement their conduct i vicious and hysterical; and when a calamity occurs through want of thought and judgment in this way, who is morally in part accountable for it
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A distinguished Russian lady, after a short effort at the roulette t. blo at Jfculeo, last week, carried away 62.00V llAl104
SHOCKING ATTEMPT TO MURDER…
SHOCKING ATTEMPT TO MURDER IN BERKSHIRE. A labourer named William Sherwood, twenty years of age, has been apprrhended by Superintendent Iremonger, of the Helks police, for having ma(le FL determined attempt to mur- der a fellow workman named John Woodward, at Shottes- bro k, ne ir Maidenhead. It appears that information reached Superintendent Iremonger early on the morning of the 19 h that a Hian had been found nearly murdered iu Shotteshrnok-lane. The officer immediately drove there, and found Wood- ward lying near the middle lodgeat Shotteshrook Park, in a fearful condition, having receivtd several severe cuts across the head, ard a sualler or.e in the throat, evidently inflicted with a kii The superintendent left the man in care of Dr. Plavne, of Maidenhead, by whose directions the poor feHow wa removed to the Royal Herks Hospital, at Reading, where his injuries were promptly attended to. It was found that Wood- ward had been stabbed in no less than seven places on the head, and that an attempt had been made to cut his throat. Superintendent Iremonger at once instituted in- quiries, which resulted in the capture of Sherwood, whose clothes the officer examined, and upon his trousers observed a quantity of blood, which Suerwood had undoubtedly attempted to remove. There were also spots of blood on the front and sleeves of his shirt, and also upon the leathern strap he wore around his waist. In one (,f his pockets Superintendent Ire- monger found a clasp knite covered with blood. Mr. W. Sharp, juo., farmer, of Shottesbrook, found a piece of iron 2 teet long in a wheat field a few yards from the spot where the injured man was attacked. There was a pool of blood by the road side, and Wood- ward managed to crawl from the place to the Lodge in question. The prisoner has been examined before the Maiden- head bench of magistrates and remanded, as Wood- ward now lies at the County Hospital, and is at present unable to attend before the magistrates and give evidence.
THE LAW OF DOG STEALING. --
THE LAW OF DOG STEALING. At the Salford Police Court, on Monday, a man named Keely was charged with stealing a dog. Mr. Leresche, for the prosecution, stated that the complainant W8>S Henry Kerfoot, and the defendant was a bailiff in the Salford County Court. They were in company together in a public-house, along with some other persons, on the 17th July. Keely (defendant) had a Skye terrier with him, which he mi-ised after having been in the house some time. Defendant, after complainant had left him, accused several persons of having stolen the dog, and ultimately he suspected the complainant. Accordingly he, along with several others, went to the houe of the complainant, and knocked at the door for admission. The complainant's wife went out, and the defendant asked for his dog. He was told that the dog was not in the house, and that the complainant knew nothiug about it. Keely (the defendant) replied that he would take the com- plainant's dog till his own was returned, which he did, and had refused to give it up. The Magistrate asi, ed if that constituted a felony. Tvi r. Leresche thought it did. The Magistrate sai,l he did not think so. If a man was to get his watch stolen, and he was to take a watch belonging to the Hian who had stolen his until his own was returned, that would not be a felony. Mr. Leresche 1 think it would be a dangeious doc- trine to lay down. The Magistrate: A man goes to a house where he supposes his dog, which has been stolen, is concealed. He says to the man whoin he suspects of stealing the dog, I am sure you have my dog, and I shall keep yours until mine turns up." Is that felony ? Mr. Leresche I should say that is a case. There is no doubt it is a quite clear case of civil trespass. Tne Magistrate Then go into a civil courc. Upon your own statement I do not think it is a case of felony. Mr. Leresche: The deg was taken by main force. I hope my watch will neper be taken in the same cir- cumstances. The Magistrate No jiry would convict in such a case, therefore I will dismiss it. It is clearly a case for his honoui in the couxty court. Mr. Leresche Then tie bailiff will be tried in his own court. (Laughter).
--------A DISCOVERY IN VENICE.…
A DISCOVERY IN VENICE. Travellers visiting Veiace ought to know of a spot whose very existence has been half forgotten, but which has lately been nade accessible (says a writer in the Pall Afall Gazeite). Wh-ther because of a general change in the relative level of the Venetian laaroons and the mud islands that support the city, or of a local subsidence of the soil under the great weight of the Church of St. Mark, the ancient crypt gradu- ally sank below the level of the adjoining cand. After several ineffectual attempts to resist the influx of water by raising the pavement, the effort was aban- dontd as hopeless. Somewhere about 1580, the original tutranci was walled up, and for more than two cen- turies the place seema to have remained undisturbed. Soon after the Austrians b-ca're masters of Venice, some ecelesi.,i le-I antiquary callea to mind the fact that the marble coffin believed to contain the body < f St. Mark hid "been It-ft id thd centre of the crypt, supported on four stone columns. The cathedral authorities were auoved to s-cuon an opening was made through one of t hp'small windows iu the vault- iag of the roof. The crypt was found half-full of salt water, but the precious f „.]<?, supported at a height 01 5 feet above the pavement, was found untouched. It was solemnly raised into the church, where it has since remained, the opening was again closed, and for a further period of over sixty years one of the most curious portions of this wonderful fabric was lost to sight- almost to memory. Thanks to the energetic intervention of Signor Torelli, the present active pre- fect of Venice, it is now as accessible as when first constructed. When the water had been pumped out, and the layers of concrete rem >ved that had been introduced to raise the level of the ordinal pavement, there was no great difficulty in making ",he structure quite watertight bv means of excellent hydraulic cement, the materials of which are found near Bergamo. The architecture is of great interest, and Vill doubtless furnish matter for much discussion when more generally known.
Illisttllimcoiis ,|ntc[[ixjcua,
Illisttllimcoiis ,|ntc[[ixjcua, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. "A DAWM OF PKACE!"—At the meeting of the Dublin Town C-uncil, on Monday, Alderman M'Swiney praied "the noble and chivalrous conduct of the Premier," and hoped that the passing of the Church Bill wou'd be a dawn of peace. He believed but one feeling predcininated among the mass of the people of Ireland, and that was, to live in peace with their Protestant felloe countrymen. They wished to see all obstacles remoced, and that no bairier should separate them. The great bone of contention being now removed, they should hail with joy any overture on the part of their Protestant friends for the good of the country. He believed those sentiments were shared by the organs of the Conservative press." A MYSTERY ExPDAiNED. Sonie surprise, not unmixed with alarm, was excited recently in Paris, in consequence of the water supplied to the pu blic by the Administration being deeply tinged with violet. Some uersons said that a uuttititv of adulterated wine had been thrown away at Bercy; others pretended that the drain pipes from the slaiighterhouf-es at La Villette had burst; a third hypothesis was that on the approach- ing fete day of the Emperor an ancient custom was to be revived of letting the public fountains flow with wine, and that a few csF3ks had been poured into the conduits as an experiment. The mystery was soon ex- plained. Several casks of a dye called orcball had been left by the canal where the La Villette reservoir receives its supply, and one of them having been upset and fractured, the stuff inside had fallen out and found its way into the water. The dye is said to be harmless. DEATHS BY DROWNING AT JBKSEY. — TWO unfortunate tourits met their death by drowning nt Jersey, on Friday in last week. The names of the de- ceased were Charles Augustus Mason, and Lewis Jones Randall. With a iriend, Mr. Henry C. James, they went to bathe in St. Brelades Bay, when Mr. Mason, being, it is supposed, seized with cramp, called out for help. Tlis two friends swam towards him, when Mr. Randall also cried for assiitance. Mr. James made a gallant attempt to save them both, but as his own life became endangered thereby, he was compelled to desist, and the two unfortunate deceased were carried away by the current, Mr. Mason's body being recovered in about an hour afterwards, and Mr. Randall's at eleven o'clock at night. LONa HAIR AND SSORT.- Our primitive ances- tors, the Britons, and like them the Gauls, allowed thuir hair to grow undisturbed. It often reached below the waist, and men like Caractacus must have looked curiosities. Conquered by the Romans, the Gauls and Britons were ignominiously clipped. In his enumera- tion of the Gadic tribes led into captivity by Cse-iar, Lucian speaks of the Lignses "now shorn but ere while possessed of,an abundant fl,)w of hair." Those of the Gauls who obtained their liberation hastened to let their hair grow again in order the more to mark the im- portance they at'ached to flowing locks, they took to shaving their slaves. It is thus that Ausonius speaks of four young boys and four young girls, all shorn, as being a customary present to a rich Gaul on his wedding- day. At the beginning of the fifth century Pharamond established his kiugdom in the prov nee which thence- forth took the name of Prance. The Gauls were reduced to a state of bondage, and the Conquerors laid ruthless scissors upon their victims' polls. From this time it became a generally understood thing all over Europe that long hair was the exclusive appanage of the great and noble. Not only serfs, but free peasants and bur- gesses, were forbidden to go about otherwise than cropped. The glebe slaves on a nobleman's estate were even (during the fifth, sixth, and seventh centuries) shorn altogether; and it is from this custom that the practice of saluting by taking off the hat arose. The act of uncovering the head amounted to saying See, mir I am your servant; I have no hair. "-Dickens's All the Year Round." SERVED HIM RIGHT !-At the Devon assizes, on Monday, Mr. Justice Lush heard a case of atrocious cruelty to a child. The accused, Thomas Bickle, la- bourer, of Plymouth, was charged with an attempt to murder his son, Charles Bickle. The prisoner, on re- turning home in a state of drunkenness, asked for his child and threatened to throw him into the tank. No motive for this threat was known, and no notice was taken of it, but on his landlady going into the yard she discovered the child in the tank, which was full of wattr. She took it out and it was examined by a medical gentleman. It was insensible. Prisoner, when charged with the offence, said if the chi!d was not dead it < u^ht to be. When in custody he said that if possible he would have fhoved his landlady into the water as well. He was found guilty. His lordship said it was a case showing ther sad tflvcts of (hinK. The sent, n e was seven years-penal sirvitude 'f the prisoner had not been recouorriended to mercy it would have been penal servitude for life. TUB METAL Cup-ic.-A girl, aged eighteen, was admitted to Laib >isibre she had been overworked and undeifed, and was now subject to violent headache, cramps, palpitation and pa nful prickings in the chest, general numbness, vomiting, and other distrtssing symptoms (says Galignani). Dr. Burq, learning that ahe had been treated with tonics, especially withitOX4 applied plates of that metal and steel to various parts of her body. (For these applications small metal disks are used they are laid on a given spot, and secured there with strips of sparad rap). He foretold that iron externally would do no good since it had failed internally. Silver, platinum, and gold were tried in turn, and this tinie in the shape of rings on the fingers. The hands being kept under the bed- clothes, it was found that gold had restced some sen- sil,ility to the finger to which it was applied. All the other metals were now di-carded, and gold fixed upon a3 the proper specific, Dr. Burq was so certain of the result that he explained beforehand to the bystanders what would he the successive modifications the patient would experience in the course of the gold treatment. The preparation selected was chloride of oxide of gold and sodium, in doses of one centigr. taken daily before dinner. The quantity was gradually increased to four centigr. and in little more than a month a perfect cure was obtained. GETTING OUT OF TRAINS. The prevalence of the pracdje of getting out of trains, while still in motion, has induced a civil engineer of New York to state, for the guidance of the public, that "the true method" i, not to jump, but to step lightly from the carriage, keeping your face in the direction of motion, let go the rail at once, keep the head and body well thrown back, and, if the train is going at speed, step out quickly the moment your feet touch the ground. DRIVING THROUGH THE GUARDS.—The Etoile of Brussels says:—A very regrettable incident took place on the occasion of the Te Deum celebrated two days back. The carriages of the members of the Court of Cassation were descending the Treurenberg, escorted by some detachments of the regiment of grenadiers, when the equipage of the Pope's Nuncio arrived by the Rue Royale. The coachman of his excellency, who perhaps thought himself rather be- hind time, attempted to break through the escort, but the sergeant who brought up the rear having ordered the driver to desist, the latter replied that he was re- solved to pass, on which the other and a soldier crossed their bayonets before the carriage, but the coachman still persisted in spite of that demonstration. The sergeant then seized one of the horses by the bridle on seeing which the driver used his whip with such energy, that the other, receiving several cuts on his own person, was obliged to let go the reins, and the Papal carriage dashed through the escort at full trot. Pil.TRIPACTION.-The Naples Correspondent of the Athenccum writes The Patria informs us that the Provincial Deputation has granted the use of a portion of the old monastery of Santa Maria H Naova for the exhibition of a human body, which has been petrified by Prof. Abbate. Tne public are admitted gratuitously t-vice a week to witness this spectacle. The Professor informs us that. according to his system, the petri- faction of the body of a child would not cost more than 100 froncs. A private letter, inviting me to pay a vifit to Santa Maria la Wuova, says that Prof. Abbate would be glad to mike his discovery known in England. By a simple and not co-itly process he has also found the means of preserving meat in a perfect state for any length of time, although ex- posed to the atmosphere. WARDED IN A DRKAM !-A few days ago a serious accent occurred in Bulmer village to a pi v nic party going to Castle Howard. The party made the journey in an omnibus, and it seems that the wife of one of the men hesi ated to join the pirty, and tried to persuade her hiisi.%i,d not to go, bi-cause she had dreamt a week before that they were in an omui- bus and were IIp"et on going through a village and greatly injured, fright, awakening her. The man and his wife, however, did go, but on reaching Bulmer the woman became greatly excited. Not only, she re- marked, was the omnibus that which she had seen in her dream, hut the village was that in which the ac- cident she dreamt of happened. The words were scarcely uttered when the omnibus was upset, and a scene of great confusion resulted. Those on the out- side were thrown to the ground with great violence; one man was rendered inweiiSiblH bv the omnibus falling upon him, and several sustained rather serious injuries. The woman to whom the accident was revealed beforehand was hurself badly hurt, but her husband's was the worst case, he sustaining a di-docation of an ankle. Medical aid was quicklv procured, the sufferers were relieved, and afterwards conveyed to their homes. Every incident of the accident seems to have been pictured in the premoni- tory dream. VERDICT AGAINST AN INSURANCE COMPANY.- The Imperi 1 Insurance Company (Limited) defended an action brought against them at the Stafford assizes to recover the amount of a policy effected in their office on the life of John Bailey, of Hanley, deceased. The poHcy was effected in August, 18b7, and the deceased had made theusual statement that he was not consump- tive. The company bad, however, found out that he had consulted a Dr. Arlidge, who had told him that he bad signs of incipient consumption, and enjoined care. They therefore refused to pay the amount of the policy (E3010), on the ground that the deceased had made a falie and fraudulent statement. It was proved that the company's own doctor had found no tendency to consumption, and the mother and widow of the de- ceased man swore that they never knew of his suffering from that disease. The jury gave a verdict for the full amount of the policy. A NOT FOR NATURALISTS TO CRACK.—A Glas- gow correspondent, is responsible for the following :— Weel, lapses, ye"ll no guess what has time into my mind just now. I'll just tell you. I see we are a' three Pe way, and if we,are spared to hae bairns, and they be g"y! what wid >e say to name them after our brither? Ye ken he has been a glide blither to us a' besi,ie-. It's no likely that he'll tak' a wife DOW, and ai he is weel to do. he'll leave a* to thb bairns, his ain namesake.'). Now, Jeanie, as ye're the anlde»t, I wid like to hear what ye say til't, and if ) e ayree, i'm siiure Mary will no object, for ye see it will be showing our kind feeling to Andrew and, besides, what is no to he lost sight of. it will be to our bairns' gude. Do ye baith a^ree?" "Ye", yes." The above is almost the literal conversation of the youngest of three married sisters, who had met at the eldest sister's to drink tea. The occurrence took place about twenty years ago, and in due course the sisters gave birth to three boys. But now comes the wonder- ful circumstance. The uncle squinted with one of his eye., so did the three boys; and, more particular y still, all on the left eye, the same as the uncle. The writer had this narrative from one of the si-ters, and two of the young men are personally known to him. PoBLiic PiTinoNS.—A further return of petitions presented to the House of Commons, comprising the period from the 14;h to the 20th inst., has been issued. For adoption of the ballot in parliamentary elections the petitions have risen to 97, bearing 22 994 signatures For extension of the elective franchise to women 227 petitions have been presen ed, the number of signa- tu es attached being 52.148. Against the Lords' amendments to the Irish Church Bill 165 petitions were presented, signed by 14,295 persons. A petition from Nuneaton (presented by Mr. Newdegate), in favour of the amendments, bears 265 name, Against the bill for legalising the marriage with a deceased wife's sister the petitions numbered 209, and the signatures 3,023. In favour of the bill 206 petitions have been sent in, signed by 11,515 persons. For inspection of monastic and conventual establishments 14 508 persons have affixed their signature to 87 petitions. Seventy-five persons connected with the East Indian army have petitioned for redress of grievances. For public aid to assist emigration six petitions have been presented, signed by 373 persons. The Vestry of Clerkenwell, and also of St. Maw, Islington, have petitioned against the Metropolitan Bo.rd of Works (Loan,") Bill. The Parochial Schools (Scotland) Bill has called forth 40 petitions, with 64 signatures, against it, and 39 petitions, with 5,683 signatures, for alterations in its provisions. The Permissive Bill still continues to elicit petitions in its favour from all parts of the country, the total number now being 3,867, and the signatures 770.882. THE AROBBISHOFS AND BISHOPS OF THE IRISH CHURCH.- L'he following letter appeared in The Times. of Saturday It appears by your report of last nisrht's debate in the House of Lords that Lord Cairns stated that he had received a letter from the Archbishop of Dublin relative to the resig- nation of their seats in the House of Lords by the Irish pre- lates. I did not hear Lord Cairns' speech, but I learn on good authority that he informed the House that the letter he re- ceived was signed by the two Archbishops of Ireland. [t was, in facl,, a j dot letter from the Archbishwp of Dublin and m) self, in which we placed our resignation in his ba>.ds, and expressed our confidence that every Bishop on the Irish Bench was equally willing with ourselves to make the acri- fice, if it could 111 any way be used to mitigate the calamities of our afflicted and desolated Church. I have the honour to be your obedient servant, MARCUS G. ARMAGH. July 23. THE ABYSSINIAN AIU,,DICFIS -'I be gamekeeper, Macdonald, who accompanied Mr. Powell and his party to Abyssinia, has arrived at Coldrahall, Mon- mouthshire, the seat of the unfortunate gentleman. Macdonald states that Mr. Powell had completed his elephant i-hooting, and had determined to visit South Abyssinia in order to secure crocodiles and sea cows. Macerer and the Swedish missionaries were strongly opposed to his going there, but he persisted, and the journey was commenced. Mrs. Powell and their little son John were with him. After two days' march the Tika tribe passed them. Macd maId and the natives were about six miles in the rear with the baggage, when they were attacked by the Tikas, and had to escape for their lives. They then received informa- tion from a Swedish missionary that Mr. and Mrs. Powell and their child had been murdered, but he is not able to say anything more retpecting the unfor- tunate affair. The family have received intelligence to the effect that the bodies were decently interred by Protestant missionaries. Mr. Powell had with him about £.500 worl h of fire-arms, besides other valuables attractive to the natives, which proved too great a temptation to them, and, in order to secure the booty, there is no doubt they resolved to murder the party. A spear thrust scarred Macdonald's hand in the attack by the Tile as. If revenge is any satisfaction, the wretches who committed the brutal murder will have a heavy account to settle with the Abyssinian chief they are under and the surrounding tribes, who have vowed to exterminate all those who had part in the crime. IFITSRFATIONAL RIFLE CONTFST AT LLKGE.— The Belgians, anxious to return the cordial welcome given to their Garde Civique at Wimbledon, are orga- nising a grar;d international lifle contest, to take place at Lie.-e, irom the 15th to the 20th September. The programme of the feres is a very inviting one Inter- national contest at short distances official reception oy the authorities review of the Garde Civique and the foreign riflemen, probably by his Majesty the King of the BeJgians musical contest open to foreign societies grand banquet to the visitors in the Provin- cial Palace of Liege balls excursion to Spa; inter- national shooting match at long distances at Spa, and fetes given by that city return to Liége, and depar- ture for Brussels for the celebration of the annual na- tional fêtf's. The committee offer prizes of the total of 20,000 francs, and the railway companies will make considerable reduction of fares in favour of foreign riflemen. DEBTS OF BOROUGHS.—The debts of some of the municipal boroughs of Enaland are of considerable amount. The annual accounts made up the 31st of August, 1868, how the debt of Manchester to be £ S:i8,2d4; of Halifax, £ 737 869; <,f Birmingham £ 627,373 of Oldham £ 534,849 of Newc;istle-upon- Tyne, £ 274,506; of Preston, 21()S 97-5. The to'al of secured debts is £ 4.900,743, and 13 boroughs sent in no account. The amount borrowed on security in the year was £ 5S16(;6. The expenditure on public works ia the year ending the 31at of Ausust, 1S68, was I 1.113,086; at Manchester, £ 414 812; Liverpool. £ 127,802 _Newcastle, £ 95,960; Halifax, £ 93,293: Oldham, £ 73,660 Birmingham, £ 70 8 7. The debt (p¡i¡wipAl) pa.idd iu t.b.'eAr WM FATAL SHIPWRECK.— On Friday, in last week, the Greenock ship Renfrewshire arrived in the Clyde fr.-m Quebec with eight of the ban Is and two ffi :er of the ship IIm'mon'a, of Aberdeen, which waslnsDii an A'l.ntic gale in the beginning of the present month, together with eight ro. n, in lu ling the captain, first DJae. carpenter, and sailmaker. From information supplied by the survivors, it appearsthat theHarmonia left Quebec for Aberdeen on the 5th of July, and shortly after being at sea encountered a terrific gale, which completely disabled her and left, her at tbem>-rc\ of the sea. She heeled over and drifted alnng in th trough of the sea, and her cargo being of timber it wat- found impossible to rkht her. It was while endeavour- ing to secure a sail over one of the hatchways that the captain, mate, and six others were swept off by the waves, which at the same time carried away the poop, in which two unfortunate seamen had been working. The survivors, after suffering greatly from want and exposure, were picked up by the Renfrewshire, and brought safely to Greenock. The Harmonia, which when seen by the Renfrewshire was lying a helpless log on the water, was abandoned. THE DE PE-T PIT IN ENGLAND.—At the Rose Bridge Collieries, Ince, near Wigan, Mr. Bingham, manager to John Grant Morris, Esq., has just proved the seam of coal known as the Arley. at the enormous depth of 810 yards. At this pit, on the 3rd of March. 1862. the celebrated Wigan cannel was (in this belt) first found at a distance of 600 yards from the surface lately the yard mine was found at 673, and now the valuable Arley is struck. It is stated that this pit is now the deepest perpendicular shaft in the world, and that it works the deepest mine yet proved in Britain. When the "dib bole" at the bottom is sunk, the total depth will only be threescore yards short of half a mile. A SIGN OF WARM WEATHER.—From various atmospheric and other indications, it seems tolerably certain that we shall be more than compensated for the unusually cold weather of spring and the early part of summer by a protracted period of extreme heat. One of the most forcible and unerring system of this is the rc-mai kible appearance of glow-worms. A few nights ago no less than fifty of these beautiful creatures were seen by a gen leman between Aldborough and Mel- sonby; the effect of this sight was most picturesque. The lane, for the space of a mile, presented one brilliant glitter, and we have heard that similar sights have heeu witnessed, at d.fferent times, in the/sarp.e neighbourhood. It is not often that a single low- worm is seen in the North of England, but the sight of fifty or more in a row is certainly most curious and un- usual.-Chamber of Agricultural Journal. DRTJNKENNKSS.—The numbpr of offenders com- mitted to prison in England and Wales during 1867 for drunkenness, di-orderly conduct, or vagrancy, who bad previously been convicted of those offences Jive times, was 4 992 of these, 148 were in Wales, and 1,101 in Middlesex and London. EMIGRATION TJ AUSTRALIA.—In the year 186.3 12,809 souls sailed from ports of the United Kingdom for the Australian colonies and New Zea- 1>1,1"11-1-7,245 malf-8 and 5,564 females; for Victoria, 6 3,782 males and 2,784 femalep for New S inth Wales, 1.318—viz., 707 males and 611 females; for Queensland, 6,<5—viz 385 males and 300 female- for South Australia, M51—\iz., 200 males and 151 females; for Western Australia, 168 -viz 44 males and 124 females for Tasmania, 18-viz., 11 males and 7 feml, s for New Zealand, 3 703 viz., 2,116 males, and 1,587 females. The 12.809 emigrants comprised 1 493 who described themselves as general labourers 1.364 gentlemen, professional men, merchants, &c. 488 agricultural labourers, gardeners, carters, &c. 443 farmers, 245 miners and quarrymen 152 cbrk". 680 males of other trades and occupations; 1,367 married women; 1,864 female servants, domestic and farm 2,075 children under 12 years of age. It is 213 ears sinett the emigration from the United King- dom to the Australian colonies and New Zealand was so small. In the preceeding year (1867) it amounted to 14,466, the number emigrating from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, being 4,460. VOLUNTEER ACT AMENDMENT.—A bill, prepared and brought in by Captain Vivian and Mr. Secretary Cardwell, to amend the Volunteer Act, 1863, has been printed. The bill enacts that where any person neglects or reluses to deliver up any property (whether arms. clothing, appointments, ammunition, or public store!-) in his possession or keeping as an officer or volunteer, any justice of the peace may issue a warrant empower- ing the person therein named to enfer premises and search for the property, and if found to remove it to such place as may by directed by the Secretary of State. Notwithstanding any suchseizure and removal, the same penalty may bo enforced against any person and the value of any such property may be recovered from the person neglecting or refusing to deliver it up. Section 29 of the principal act, which relates to the wrongful buying and selling of the property of a corp- or administrative regiment shall extend to the pawning and taking in pawn of such property. The command" ing officer of any corps or regiment may appear in any court, by the adjutant or serjeant major authorised in writing under the hand of such commanding officer. THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.—However great may be the late triumphs achieved by the Prussian army (re- marks the Pall Mall Gazette), it seems, nevertheless to be the most unpopular service in Europe. The domineering of the officers, the poverty of the soldier, and the strictness of the di-c pline render life to many almost intolerable. To prove this, it is necessary only to state tliak according to German statistics, there were in 1868 no les, than 134 suicides in the army of North Germany. The total number of deaths amounted to 1,344. This fright ful proportion is four times greater than that -hich exists in the armies of the Confedera- tion. We find that in the army of Northern Germany there is one suicide for every 2,233 soldiers in Denmark, one for every 3,900; in Saxony, one for every 5,000; in Badtn, one for every 9,000; in Wiirtemberg the proportion is the same as in Norway- one for very 9,784 in France there is one suicide for every 10,000; in Swtden. one in every 15,000 in Bavaria it is the same as in Sweden and in Belgium there is one in every 17,800. It may also be remarke i that between 1849 and 1852 the proportion of suicides in the Prussian army was only one to every 9,000 soldiers. DISTURBANCE IN A CHURCH.—A sermon was preached on Friday evening, in last week, in St. Mar- garet's Church, Liverpool, by Mr. Bennett, of Frome. The church was densely crowded, the majority evidently having no sympathy with the rev. gentleman. In the course of his sermon Mr. Bennett spoke in very strong terms of Henry VIII., Oliver Cromwell, and William and Mary, and paid that the Reformation was the beginning of mischief in the Church, whereupon a large number of the congregation loudly expressed their di-sent; and one person rose to his feet aud exclaimed, "Out, Protestant Churchmen!" This cry brought several other persons to their feet, and some of them left the church. A number of policemen were introduced to maintain order. The interruption lasted for some time; and when order was restored Mr. Bennett resumed his discourse. PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.—An ac- count of the gross public income and expenditure of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the year end-d the 30th of June, 1869, has just been published. During that period the customs yielded 222.486 000; the excise, £ 20,576.000; stamps, £ 9,332,000; taxes (land and assessed), ±.'3 448,000 property tax, £ cS 838,000; Post Office, R4 660,000; Crown lands, £ 361,000 miscellaneous, 23,454,032 13s. 7d. Under the head of expenditure for the same period stand £ 26,636,614 17s. 6,1. for the interest and mauagement of the permanent debt, terminable aiinuities, interest of Exchequer bonds, Exchequer Bills, and Bank advances; CI,841,493 2.4. lOd. for charges on Consoli- dated Fund; £ 44.930,151 13s. 3d. for t-upplv services. The total income was £ 73.155,( 32 13s. 7d. total ordinary expenditure, B73 408 259 13s. 7d. excess ot expenditure over income, £ 678.2^7 balance in the Ex- chequer on the 30th of June, 1869, E4,736,584 lozi. Id. A Tows RKBOILT IN Two MONT[Is.-The town of Helena, Montana, almost entirely destroyed by fire about two months ago, has been rebuilt. Now the principal business streets show scarcely a trace of the great tire. Within sixty days 124 new buildings have been put up, woith not less than 30.1,000 dols. Fully half of this amount has been expended upon substan- tial stone structures, which take the places of light frames, and still more are in process of construction. And this is in a town of 8,000 inhabitants, tituated among the spurs of the Rocky Mountains, far away from all the facilities for rapid construction which abound in the East. -New York Times. STRANGE SUICIDES.—A French paper says A woman of the commune of Nouziers lately had the frightful idea of burning herself alive. She con- structed in the middle of a field, with straw and faggots, a funeral pile, on which she placed herself, and then set it on fire. The corpse was found com- pletely calcined. The deceased was about fifty-five years of age, and had long suffered from an incurable malady." The Hungarian journals relate the follow- T _L 1- T 1 nig Da" weeK, t) Olln otehaleski, a shopkeeper, at Pesth, loaded a pistol, and discharged the contents into hi" heart. He had previously written the follow- ing letter to a fri-nd :—'My dear friend,—I have de- cided to kill myself to-morrow. Life is insupportable. I adore my wife, but she has grown so stout-she that was of so ravishing a figure when I married her. Adieu, my friend tell my wife that I prefer to die rather than be unfaithful to her, or to separate myself from her by means of the law. Farewell, and pity me. A SINGULAR COURTSHIP !-The late Rev. Dr. Wightman, of Kirkamboe, was a simple-minded clergy- man of the old school. When a young man he paid his addreses to a lady in the parish, and his suit was accepted on the condition that it met the approval of the lady's mother. Accordingly, the doctor waited upon the matron, and, stating his case, the good woman, delighted « his proposal, passed the usual Scottish compbment, Deed, doctor, you're far owre gmd for our Janet. I'm sure ahe's no guid eno' for yon." Weel, weel," was the rejoinder, "ye ken best: so well say nae mair aboot it." No more was said, and the social intercourse of the parties continued on the some footing as before. About forty years after ^d -j e<*811 bachelor and the lady an NARROW ESCAPE.—A few days ago, when the great wheel at Laxey, Isle of Man, was revolving only occasionally, owing to the want of water, a gentleman walked up to the wheel, and seeing it stand- ing still, he got over the protecting 1 ailing and on to the interior part of the wheel, with a view to a close inspection of its construction. He had scarcely got on to the wheel when it began to move, and in an in- stant, before he could get off it, the ponderous piece of machinery was in full swing. Fortunately the gentleman's presence rf mind did not deaert him. Grasping one of the Fpokes, he stuck to it as if strug- gling f _>r life, and, consequently, was carried round with the wheel, which made three revolutions before it stopped. DARING ESCAPE OF A PRISONER IN A RAILWAY TUNN.EL. -An escape of the mott daring character wa- effected on Friday evening, in last week, in the Peni- stone Tunnel of the Manchester, Sheffield, andLincolit shire Railway, by a young man mmed John ElKotfe who had been apprehended <">tk the previous day f01 horse-stealing. He was conveyed" to Barneley on Friday, and was remanded to Nottingham, and, having been placed in the custody of Superintendent Stamford of the Notts Constabulary, he was taken by the 6 2*> p.m, train, geaisely haadoufied and pUoect Hfrwmt two superintendents. Nothing occurred until the train gotintoa short tunnel bctwe,-n Silkstone and Priii- tone, when the prisoner, who bid no doubt been vat;hing his opportunity, one despirnte iff >rT. I .]Tlt open the door and threw himstIt oit. Ttw u.oven ent was so sudden that for a moment the offices were •jaralysed. The train was stepped as quickly as p,.s- -1 hie, and a rigorous search was made for the tu It" s. e, who, however, up to Saturday evening, was still at liberty. THE PRICE OF BUTCHERS' MEAT.—The Caur- '•ier de la Boucherie of Paris contains an article ulon r,he rising prices of butchers' meat a'] over which has attracted serious notice in France. Ail the French markets have been gradually rising f^r tho pist six years, so much so that the Advance C( n-titutes t considerable surcharge upon the consumption of the country. Choice parts are double the price they were and inferior joints are fully one-third higher. It was thought that the opening of the new markets at La Villette, Poissy, and Sceaux two years ago, wotfld have lowered prices in Paris, but the result h a-i been quite the opposite, and the advanced prices of Paris have been met by corresponding movements at the provincial markets, for instance at Aix. Bordeaux, Caen, Chartres, Dijon, Lisieux, Nimes, Rouen, Tou- ouse, and Lyons. In some places meat is f-ven dearer than in Paris. It is the same in England, with- standing great supplies of cattle from Holland, Bel- gium, and Germany. In Holland and Belgium fat cattle have not been so dear for two years as they are now. In Germany beef and mutton have not a,i'ancd so much as in France and England, because the O,)[j. sumption of pork is greater but in Prussia there has been a distinct advance in all descriptions of meat, and in Italy the rise is still making progress. This re- view, adds the Counter, will give some i 1ea uf the present state of the trade throughout Eurr-pA It establishes the fact that prices are as high as con-umer«l can bear, that any further advance will gravely com- promise the' trade and on these grounds breeders are urged to increase their efforts to furnish greater sup- plies, while the French government is recommended, if a most important branch of trade is to be maintained, to encourage breeders in such efforts. CURIOUS HISTORY OF A BANKNOTE.—At the last meeting of the Bethnal-green Board of Guardians a letter was read from the manager of the eastern branch of the London and Westminster Bank stat ng that a £ 5 note paid in by the guardians to their account had been presented at the Bank (if England and payment refused on the ground that they had a disputed claim for it, and also on account of its dilapidated condition. The history attaching to the note in question was a very peculiar one. Jt had been found by an inuoite of the Betbnal-Green Workhouse in a pair of bracei purchased by him from another pauper in the house, and the braces having been washed previous to the discovery of the treasure, the note was of course in a very ragged condition. The guardians claimed the note towards the man's maintenance, and directed the master to take it to the Bank to ascertain its genuine- ness. The Bank authorities lefused to cash the note. On the above letter being read Mr. Scrimgeour thought the best course would be to protest the note in the same manner as they would a bill which was dishonoured. A resolution to adopt the course suggested by Mr. Scrimgeour, was, after some discussion, adopted. THE NIIWBHONET.—The proposed newbayo:.et of the English infantry is to be one with the ba-, onet p liut, a sword edge, and a saw back. The committee, in recommending this saw-sword bayonet, appear to have had in view the fact that bayonets will hence- forth be less frequently used than in former tim-a as weapons of offence and defence they, desired, there- fore, to substitute an instrument of more general utility. With the sword tdge a sheep was cut up into joints and with the saw back the shiubone of an oy a Norway spar 2} inches in diameter, another oi inches, and a 3-inch balk of very tough dry elm were sawn through. Thus the eoldier will have a tool as well as an effective military weapon, and one with which he can clear away wood, cut iiaateriils for fas. cines and gabions, or he can use it, if he likes, as a knife for cutting up his rations. A WONDERFUL INSECT.-The scavenger beetle is one of the most useful of all insects, as it really p r- f. ,rm the duties indicated by its name. In hot climates they abound in many villages, which are always sweet and clean, and very unlike those that have to trust to the clean linessof the natives. No sooner are any pieces of offal or excrement dropped than, attracted by the scent, the scavengers are heard humming along as fast as their wings will carry them. Thmy roll away the droppings of cattle at once in round pieces, often as large as billiard balls; and when they reach a place fitted by its softness for the deposit of tht ir eggs and the safety of their youug, they dig the a, il out from beneath the ball until they have quite let it down and covered it. They then lay their eygs within the mass. While the young grubs are growing, they devour the inside of the ball before coming above ground to beyin the world for themselves. The beetles, wuh their gigantic balls, look like Atlas with the world on his back only they go backwards with their heads down, and push with their hind legs, as if a boy should roll a snowball with his legs while standing on his head. Dead birds, lizards, and all sorts of unpleasant things are thus got rid of and made useful t,) the young of this important little beetle.-Woi-ld of Wondtrs. THE DOTCHMAN'S NosE-In the course of a case investigated last week at the Waterford petty -e"sions a witness named Larkin gave an amusiiig account of a scuffle he had with a Dutchman who had been taking some liberties with a young woman under Larkin's protection. He said "During the quarrel with the Dutchman, I had my lip bitten by him. I bit his nose in return, and took such a ca ch of it as cvused my teeth to meet (laughter). He bad plenty of nose left. I did not bite ir. off entirely. There was a little excitement during the row with the Dutchman. Some women were screaming at the row more w-te laughing." The mayor observed that it was rather startling to bite off a man's nose. It was cert ai n i y a novel mode of fighting. Complainant said that atter getting his lip bitten he would have bitten off all the Dutchman's nose if he could. A Boy MUKDKRED !—A murder has been per- petrated in the village of Haversham, about a mile and half from the Wolverton Junction on the London and North Western Railway. A young man named William Mobbs and a boy named Thomas Newbury were at work on Thursday evening in last week, in a field. The boy was found in the course of the even. ing with his throat cut and quite dead, his head b-ing nearly severed from his body. Near the place wh re the body was found was picked up a knife, which has been identified as belonging to Mobbs, and a fm,wk frock has been found in a thick hedge near, which has also been identified as belonging to Mobbs. The police, upon going to Mobbs's house, found that the clothes which he wore on Thursday evening were covered with blood. Mobbs was soon afterwards ap- prehended. An inquest was held on Monday, when the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Mobbs, who was then committed for trial. VERY LOTAL !—The Empress EugeDie receutly journeyed to Berck-en-Mer to inaugurate the new bus. pital for sick boys requiringsea air, and must have been amply rewarded for the fatigue of the journey by the applause which greeted her (says the Court journal). The humble tributes of admiration set up along 1 lie road gave proof of their genuine nature. Oa one ai ch, composed of gra. hay, and tares, stood a cow as large as life inside WM pl.-iced a boy to low in the most natural fashion possible but just as the Imperial car- riage passed beneath, unable to contain his enthusiasm, he thrust forth his head, and the astonishment of the spectators may be conceived when the cry of "Vive rImperatrice r' issued in stentorian accents from the jaws of the animal. On another arch stood a live tisherman, throwing his net. As the Imperial carriage drew nigh the net was thrown with a more and more unsteady hand, and at last at the most important moment of all away it flew from the grasp of the holder, entangling the horses of the carriage following first in her Majesty's suite. N< RSING THE BABY !—An a.musing incident, which the reporters do not mention, occurred at the Woolwich Baby Show (says a London Contempo- rary). A young man of the true music-hall type took particular notice of one baby, and asked the mother to allow him to feel its weight. She readily assented, and while he was turning round to ¡¡pek to a friend the mother vanished. In vain he looked out for h. r, and equally in vain did he try to get some one else to hold the infant. Women tittered and mt-n chaffed The temporary guardian at first tried to think it a joke, but a few minutes of such a joke is enough, and an hour is too much but for an hour was the skittish young mother absent, strolling among the flowers, mayhap, or perchance taking refreshment. At the end of that time she turned un, and claimed her child The too-curious spectator will, perhaps, never ask to hold another baby. P10 NONO AND HIS GOLD.-A good story is related of a child admitted to the cabinet de travad of the present Pope. In preparation for the (Ecumenical Council, his Holiness orderedfrorn his architect ceitain embellishments, the plan of which was brought for his inspection by that gentleman's little boy. Charmed by the plan, his Holiness opened a drawer full of gold, and said to the child, "Take a handful of coin us a reward for the beauty of your father's work H..lv Father," replied the child, t&-ke it out f.,r me, your hand is bigger than mine!" Pius IX., with the kind- liness which is his characteristic, could not help smiling, and obeyed the child. °' A PRACTICAL MAN !—An adventurous inventor of some new life-saving apparatus is making arrange- ments to test his machine very practically. He pro- posed to be dropped in mid-channel, between England and France, from the deck of a sailing vessel or steamer and to be left to bis own resources for saving himsr-lf' and even victualling himself, until some passing ship comes along. He hails from America, and wondertul tales are told of what has been done in that country with the invention. THE CENTURY PLANT.—The century plant now about to blossom in Rochester, United Slates ("'Y8 the Rochester Express), has reached a height of 15 feet 9 inches, and will probably reach 20 feet. It has 20 branches and buds now visible, which are to bear the clusters. The lower branches are about 15 ii ches in length and 5 inches apart, where matured, and they gradually shorten until they reach the top. The lowermost arm is 11 feet 6 inches from the ground, arid there are 105 distinctly formed buds in this cluster We estimate there will be 1,500 flowers on the plant. In other plants which have flowered in England and elsewhere, thee aims when fully developed have mea- sured 4ft. to 6Mt. in length, and the cluster of flowers from 14in. to 18in. diameter. The single flower is not handsome. It is only four to 5 inches in length, (f a greenish yellow colour, but very fragrant. 'J he great beauty is the wonderful pyr&midal candelabra ihapo or form which it attains when in full bloom, the ltice clusters and numerous flowers in tach, which will appear at the ends of the arms or Lranchts, the lower ones being the longest, and gradually ÜOI'tI nir, in pyrsmidal form till they rhlh the top, wheie there will be a h uge cluster of floweis. This paitk-ulsr plant was brought fr' m Canandaif.ua to Rochester thirteen years ago, and has been in the potseshion of Messrs. Piost and Co. ever since. Its 8e is very accurately fctrnwr, havirg been purchased in 1809 by tl e Izto fion John Greig, of Conandaigua, and owned bv Lim Untu 1856, when it was purchased by the Rfesi-rs. Frost, making it about seventy yeais of age. It 1 as thirty leaves, averaging 4.tft. to fir. in length, of a bluish.green colour, finely marktd with yelh w stripes -he lea»ts being 6in. to 9in. in width and 3m. to .5AR. thl at tho bYe.