Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

A RITUALISTIC CLERGYMAN ON EPISCOPAL ISOLATION. Thd present Bishop of Rochester is by no means in favour with the ritualistic portion of his clergy in that part of his diocese situated in South London, and some time ago he publicly stated that ho should leave certain churches in a state of "isola- tioa." He has so far kept his word, never, on any occasion, having officiated or visited several well- knower ritualist churches in the neighbourhood of Kennington, Walworth, and Camberwell since his appointment as bishop. At a festival held at St. Austin's Priory, New Kent Road, Father Nagee, the provost, commented very freely on the courso which the bishop has thought it right to adopt. The pro- vost said he felt that he was isolated there. The Bishop of Rochester said that isolation was his prin- ciple. Did they ever hear of such a principle P Did they ever hear of a bishop saying," this is my policy. I shall go to America, and take myself from you." [The bishop is at present on a visit to America.] If that was the policy or the principle of the shepherd of the church, then he (Provost Nugee) did not know what a shepherd meant at all. A shepherd was a man who was popularly supposed to know his sheep; he did not insolate them. The Bishop of Rochester knew him and his congregation. He hAd said to the bishop, "Come and judge for yourself* But no, he simply "isolated" himself. p WaS ^le ac^on a true bishop of the church of God, then he (the speaker) did not know what that church was. The church was simply bowing to public opinion, and he hoped the time would come when the bishops—about whom he did not wish to speak in unkind words—would see how fatal was this policy of isolation which the Bishop of Rochester spoke about. When a man spoke in such a wsy, he could not be aware of his responsibility, and the real duties of his office.

A committee has been formed to place in the Church of St. Barnabas, Pimlico, a picture in mosaic in har- mony with those already there, and a brass in the chancel, in memory of the late Rev. F. L. Bagshawe, the vicar, formerly master of the Society of the Holy Cross. The Revising Barristers will hold their Courts in England and Wales between the 15.th of the present month and the 31st of October. James Wilde, who shot his fatherT8 servant at Wavertree, Liverpool, has, by order of the Home Secretary, been removed to a lunatic asylum. Florence Foster, a mariied woman, has been com- mitted for trial at Lambeth Polico Court, London, on the charge of having ill-treated a child, her niece. For tho defence, it was said that the child, who boro bruises, was uncontrollable. The Empress of Russia would seem to have placcd a premium upon the marriage of the Prince of Bulgaria, for it is stated that her Majesty has ex- pressed her intention of giving a parure of diamonds, valued at 800,000 roubles, to the future Princess of that province. Albert Henry Houghton, butcher, of Humber- stonc, Leicester, and Joseph Wilson, also a butcher, of Little Gunnersby, near Grantham, have been each fined and costs, at the Guildhall Police Court for sending deceased meat to the London Market. It has been contemplated by some that, under the Judicature Acts, the incomes of barristers will do crease. Wc may mention that during the recent summer circuit a Queen's Counsel received in fees no less than £3,800. for work done at twoassize towns. —Law Times. POUTV?OOL Printed by HUGHES & SON, at their General Printing Offices, for the Proprietor and Publisher, HENRY HUGHES, Junior, of Penygarn, ill the parish of Trevethin, and published at the FKEE PHESS Office, Market St.—Sept, 6,1879.

Ward 3, Highgate Infirmary, London, N., August 30, 1879. To the Ed tor of the Free Press, Sir,—Will you. kindly oblige by inserting in the PONTYPOOL FREE PRESS the enclosed lines—"That Little Chair." I have recently published a small volume of verse, Musings in an Infirmary Ward." Our ward assistants here are, with few exceptions, from Pontypool & neighbourhood, and numbers of the FREE PRESS are sent them weekly by friends; therefore this poem, and others which I purpose sending, would interest them and, maybe, others of the subscribers to this excellent local paper. I am, sir, yours truly, ARCHIBALD CAMERON.

THAT LITTLE CHAIR. (By Archibald Cameron, author of Musings in an Infirmary Ward,"$r. I saw in thee a bud of hope. I pictured thee a woman grown, To be to me a stay and prop When age had marked me for its own. But, oil! how transient earthly joys There came two angels bright and fair, In search of some sweet floweret prize They plucked one from that little chair. One year hath flown but where art thou That once did prattle by my side ? That little chair is vacant now, Thv prattling tongue for ever tied. Only a year since thou, my child, Surrounded by thy toys sat there Sad thought gives birth to anguish wild, When I look on that little chair. I see the boom on thy soft cheek, The light of love in thy blue eye, And fondly fancy thou dost speak, Till that chair brings the choking sigh. I feci thy chubby fingers still, Playfully pulling at my hair But turn away to weep my fill, When I look on that little chair. How vain the thought, to think that time, From hearts bereaved, affection draws, As Sowers in a congenial clime A mother's love still verdant grows. I cannot stay my grief for thee, So oft I've stooped to kiss thee there But stooping now, I only see A teardrop in that little chair.

MYNYDD MAEN. I love thee, dear old Cwmry I love thy ancient songs, The warlike sons and grand old bards that to thy name belongs But dearer far than bardic crown or laurel wreath of fame, Are the sunny slopes and rugged breast of dear old Mynydd Maen. I love thee, dear old Cwmry I love the very air That sweeps the mountain's lofty brow, the valleys broad and fair: 'Neath summer skies and sunshine, in autumn mist and rain, Bright, changeful, ever-beautiful, is dear old Mynydd Maen. I love the sons of Cwmry: I love the workmen brave, Who toil for bread in darksome mines, to find, alas a grave; Loyal and true, their names ne'er swell the mighty roll of fame,— No marble tablet guards their J e,tin the vales of Mynydd Maen. Ye toiling sons of C wmry, be hopeful, brave, and strong! Despair not though your harps are mute, and hush'd the voice of song; Oh, trust in God and do the right; your trust will not be vain The dark cloud's silv'ry edge shall gild the brow of Mynydd Maen Cwmbran. J

WIT ASi) HUMOUK. THB farmer for the fair.—The husbandman. How to mark table linen—upset the gravy. THE HIGHBST Ar PRO B.ILTIo-r.-Applause from thE gallery. A LAST FAMRWELL.—A shoemaker giving up his business. c o LST US be collected,' as the water-rate said to the income tax. TALK Italian to an organ-grinder, and he will soon move on. DRIVE your cattle on the ice if you want cowslips in the water. THERE is no beautiful spring in Niagara. It is all fall there. TREES begin to die at their tops men begin to dye there too. WHY is the letter i' never too late?—Because it is always in time. THE man with crow's feet about his eyes probably has sufficient caws. A NEW boat club style their boat-house, Golgotha, the place of skulls. A KITCIIEX Proverb, Things rubbed against a greater becomes less. BntXED AT THE STEAK.—The fingers of the servant who was cooking it. A KEJ.LOW should never kiss a girl on a mountain, because mountain's speak. WHAT title should be bestowed on the man who drinks beer r-The Knight of Malta. THE man who was kicked out of the house by an irate parent didn't laugh in his leave. LET the richest man in the world give away a penny and he at once becomes a penny-less. THB fellow who asked for a lock of his girl's hair, was informed that 'it cost money,' hair does. THE smaller the girl the larger the wax doll neces- sary to appease her incipent maternal affection. THE keeper of a 'sample loom" calls his prime old brandy Comfort,' because everybody like to take some. 'E'B moved into our own house now,' said Spilkins, 'and we have quit the pay-rent-al roof for ever.' COMPLIMENTS are the coin that e pay a man to his face. Sarcasms are what we pay him with behind his back. A LADY up town, joking about her nose, said, had nothing to do with shaping it; it was a birthday present.' WHY is the woman adjusting her false braids like the whipping of her son ?-She is applying a switch to her hair. A PHETTY girl won a musket at a lottery. When they gave it to her, she asked, Don't they give a soldier with it A L\ curiosity never reaches the female standard until someone tells him that his name was in yester. j Jay's paper. TAKE away my first letter, take away my second TAKE away my first letter, take away my second letter, take away all my letters, and I am still the same.—The postman. HAVE you a mother -in-law ?I asked a mantof a disconsolaet-looking person.—' No,' he replied ;1' but 1 I've a father in gaol. ALTHOUGH a lady's husband should neglect to give -i her a good dress, she should not seek revenge by giv- [ ing him a good dressing. A YOUNG Physician asking permission of a lass to kiss her, she replied, No, sir; I never like a doctor's bill stuck in my face.' En; was the first, and we reckon the only woman who did not gather up her dress in both hands and shriek at the sight of a mouse. A MAN may love his wife with the fervour of a clear- j drift blast-furnace, yet he will not smile when she trumps over him at whist. ONCE they started a female seminary in Utah. It flourished well but, just in the height of its prosperity, the principal eloped with the whole school. SOME wretch has the audacity to remark that the ladies deck their heads with ilnwers in memory of the men who have been killed by milliners' bills. A WOMAN was recently offered five pounds if she would remain silent for two hours. At the end of tiftcen minutes she asked, 'Isn't the time nearly upP A REPORTER of a C'alifornian free fight says:- Colonel was shot once in the left side, once in the right shoulder, and once in the drinking-saloon adjacent. A YOUNG lady we know is so delicate and ethereal a creature, that on losing a hair-pin from her head, the other day, she caught a bad cold that hung on for a week. A CYNICAL man insists that the fewer relations or friends we have the happier we are. In your poverty they never help you, in your posperity they always help themselves. 'to sleepy boy) Come James, you ought to be up with the lark on such a beautiful morning., Matter-of-fact boy: That's all right; how'm I goin' to get up there ?' AN old maid had a cat and a canary. The cat died. She had him stuffed and placed in the cage of the canary, saying, I have put the dear creature where he always desired to be.' A HE- I-EC KEI) husband slid, in extenuation of his wife's raids upon his scalp, 'You see, she takes her own hair off so easily, she doesn't know how it hurts to have mine pulled out." 'WHAT a sour temper that labouring man who works for you has,' said one man to another. Yes,' was the reply but if his temper is sour, the rest of the labouring man is sweet.' How is it, miss, you gave your age to the census- taker as only twenty-five, when you were born the I same \car 1 was, and I am thirty-nine:' Ah you I have lived much faster tliau I, su\'

ANOTHER RAILWAY ACCIDENT. A railway accident happened on Monday evening on the Great Northern line close to the Nottingham station. It appears that a passenger train consisting of live carriages an engine and guard's van left Piuxton, Derbyshire, for Nottingham, in which town it was due at 6.U. On getting within a shoit distance of the destination, when the steam had been shut off and speed reduced to five miles an hour, the engine missed the points, and ran into an engine that was standing on the other line. A serious col- lision was the consequence, over twenty persons being injured, though none very seriously. Mr. Heely, district inspector, who happened to be riding in the guard's van, was much bruised. The driver escaped unhurt, but Lightfoot, the guard, was s, riously injured. The injured passengers were attended by Dr. Buckoll as soon as possible, and were able to go to their homes.

BRUTAL MURDER IN YORKSHIRE. On Monday, at Rawcliffe, near Goole, before Dr. Grabham, coroner, an inquest was held on the body of a man known only by the name of "Jack," who was understood to be a native of Buckinghamshire. He was about 22 years of age, and abuut oft. Gin. high, and worked at a line puller. Some jealousy seems to have been caused by some workmen with whom "Jack" was loea ly clasfcd getting the best part of a field, which they alleged to be their line to pull. Two men, named Frederick and Richard Barrett, were at the Neptune Inn, at Rawcliffe, with several companions, amongst whom were two others named Johnson and Cunningham. Jack" with two men named Hooker and M'Dermott, were also there, and there were a few words between the par- ties during the evening, in which, however, "Jack" took no part. The Barretts, with their companions, left the house first, and waited until the others came out. Abont 20 yards from the door of the inn they set upon "Jack" and M'Dermott, and the former, when on the ground, was kicked by Fred Barrett, and also by Richard. He was dragged by his companions to the edge of the green, but never spoke, and in five minutes, when Dr. Chamberlain arrived, he was dead. Hooker immediately charged Fred Barrett with the murder of his comrade, but when the police arrived he had gone away, and was not apprehended until past ten o' clock, when he was found near the ferry over the Aire, fighting with some men. His brother Richard, who was also near the spot at the time, and who was seen to kick the deceased, was also apprehended. Dr. Perkins, who made a post-mortem examination of the deceased, proved that on the right side of the head, in front of the ear, there was a wound, probably caused by a heavy boot, and that the brain in the part corresponding with the wound was extensively lacerated. After hearing the summing up of the coroner, which closed an inquiry extend- ing over several hours, the jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder against the brothers, who were committed for trial at the Leeds Assizes. M'Dermott, who was also attacked, was not so seriously hurt, and was able to be called as a witness.

CAPTAIN WEBB IN AMERICA. The York limes says :—" Captain Matthew Webb, the Englishman who swam across the English Channel in 1875, swam on August 13th, from Sandy Hook Point to Manhattan Beach, ten miles in a direct line, in a little over eight hours. An ebb and a flood tide had to be encountered, and the distance actually swum was not less than sixteen miles, the ebb tide carrying the swimmer some distance out to sea. The feat was accomplished with the greatest ease, and Captain Webb could, without doubt, have gone on for a number of miles further. Before starting he was rubbed all over with a greasy preparation known as vaseline,'made unusually thick, expressly for him. Then, putting on a tight-fitting blue cap, and a pair of very small swimming tights, he was ready to start. After getting well out from shore, he went off at the rate of 29 strokes a minute—a very rapid rate. This was only for a few minutes, and he soon settled down to a steady pace of 2-3 to 2 7 strokes a minute, which he maintained. He has a peculiar and very powerful way of swimming. Lying flat on his breast, he puts his arms out straight in front of him, the palms of his hands touching. Then, drawin" his legs well up, he gives a powerful stroke with his feet, stretching his legs out behind him at the end of the stroke as straight as a broomstick. He does not move his hands until the momentum given by his feet has entirely ceased, and then he brings his hands back in a graceful curve. By this plan he has a propeller constantly at work without a moment's intermission. He swims very low in the water, putting mouth and nose slightly under water with almost every strcke, and blowing a little, porpoise fashion, when his head is out again. When- ever his shoulders appeared above the surface the water ran off the grease as readily as off a duck's back. The start having been made at 8.38, Webb averaged about 26 strokes to the minute in the first hour, and passed the black and white striped fcuoy, off Sandy Hook, at 9.22. Up to .1.30 o'clock, when Coney Island was in plain sight. Captain Webb swam without taking a moments rest, without changing his position in the slightest, md without taking any nourishment. As Robinson L'rusoe has been known to say, the wind was there blowing a gale, and the sea ran high,' and the captain Irew up to the boat and asked for a drink of porter in a bottle. There was no porter aboard, so he was given a mug of beer. A little salt water crept over the rin of the mug before the beer was drunk, but Lhe swimmer took it all down. Webb then asked for 'a bit of beef—a fat bit,' and ate a few mouthfuls of roast Le. f. This was the only nourishment that Webb bok. About a mile and a half off Manhattan Beach, Captain Webb was swimming up and dowp. to kill Lime, among the breakers, till five o'clock, before which hour his contract would not allow him to land. At five o'clock a rocket was tired, and he landed amid much cheering. His eyes were greatly inflamed by the salt water, and his body was covered in spots vvith incrustations of salt. He did not seem to be fatigued, but walked rapidly up to the second storey of the bathing house, washed the salt off in a bath- tub, ate a hearty dinner, and returned to New York in the evening. He could easily have reached Manhattan Beach before three o'clock if his contract nad permitted. It is stated that the sea was rough, md the representatives of the Press found their little team lsunoh anything but pleasant."

THE ARCHDUCHESS ELIZABETH AND QUEEN ISABELLA. Accompanied by her mother, the Archduchess Elizabeth of Austria, the future Queen of Spain, ar- rived in Paris, incognita, at five on Saturday after- noon. The august ladies were received at the station, the Gare d'Orleans, by the Marquise de Molins, wife Jf the Spanish Ambassador by Count Kuefstein, the Austrian Charge d'Affairs, and the Countess Kuef- stein, and other persons of distinction. The Marquis de Molins, who was in another carriage, handed the Archduchess out of their own, and at the same moment the Countess Ivuefstein presented them with two superb bouquets of rLd and white roses. After the usual presentations had been made by the Spanish Ambassador, the Princesses and a lady of honour drove to Meui ice's Hotel, where apartments had been retained for them. Queen Isabella, impatient to see the affianced bride of her son, called on the Arch- duchess at eight o'clock in the evening, accompanied by the Marquis and Marquise D'Alta Villa. As soon as she entered the room the Archduchess Marie Christine advanced to meet her, and, falling on one knee, raised her hand to her lips. On your knees, before me exclaimed the Queen, helping her to rise, are you not the financee of mybeloved She then embraced her tenderly, and the Queen and the two Princesses showed much emotion. In the conversation which followed, and which was most affectionate, the Archduchess Mario Christine announced her intention of devoting herself to her future husband, but of abstaining entirely from politics. I shall reign over Spain with Alfonso," said she, "but I shall not govern. I made this reso- lution when I saw him for the first time as my botrothed, and I vow that I shall keep my word." The Archduchess also begged Queen Isabella to go to La Granja for the wedding, and after some hesitation her Majesty consented to do so. "What a charming girl! was the Queen's exclamation to her companion as she drove away; how happy I am that she is to be the wife of my son."

The E'ntr'acte says :—Last week we took some piiinp to find out tho numerical dimensions of the audiences of twenty of the principal London music halls, and the result of our investigation shows us that from Monday, August IS, to Saturday, August 23—both dates inclusive—no less than 172,000 persons were admitted to these twenty establishments. In reply to the application of Captain Carcy for three months' leave of absence, the Horse Guards sanction a sufficient exteiition of the Lave already granted by Prince Edward of Sjxe-Weimar to enable him to send his application in duo form through the officer commanding the depot of his regiment at Jersey. Captain Carey has left Ports- mouth for Jersey. In the course of a Board of Trade inquiry at Hull, into the loss of tho steamer Bergos, near Cape Freels, Newfoundland, on her voyage from Montreal to London, with a cargo of wheat, sheep, &c., the captain stated that on two occasions after the ves- sel got on the rocks, from 300 to 400 fishermen plundered the vessel of everything they could seize. At a meeting of the committee for collecting funds to establish the proposed bishopric of Liverpool, Mr. J. Torr, M.P., the treasurer announced that thetotal amount subscribed was of which £46,000. had been actually paid in. The committee propose also to establish six c;>.nonries, and appeal for an in- dependent subscription fof purpose. Ficderick Law, 18, cashier at the Junior Oxford and Cambridge Club, has been sentenced at the Marlbor rough Street Police Court, London, to one month's hard labour for embezzling Os, 9d, the money of his employers, the total amount of his defalcations being supposed to be about .£:)0. Prisoner admitted hid guilt, and stated that he had lvsfc the money in betting "n horse races. J

PULPIT SKETCHES IN PONTYPOOL No. V-—WESLEYAN CHAPEL, HIGH ST. The rapidity with which Methodism has spread over these kingdoms and in other lands may, at first sight, bo regarded as marvellous. To us, two causes appear to lie at the root of this remarkable progress the earnestness of the founders and adherents of the system, and its adaptability to all classes in the matter of preaching. But while the earnestness of the Methodists has undoubtedly done good and sub- stantial work, it has sometimes degenerated into fanaticism, and even into burlesque. Glory Bill and the Hallelujah Fiddle are calculated to awaken the laughter of the profane and the sor- row of the truly pious. Yet, in spite of occa- sional vagaries on the part of its extreme sec- tions, the Methodist Church in all its branches has been characterised by a wholesome en- thusiasm which is really refreshing in these times of cold formality and philosophic veneer. Without some degree of honest enthusiasm no church can hope to prosper. The rushing flood is healthier than the stagnant pool- b And the changeless stillness of life's stagnation Is worse than the wildest waves could be, Rending the rocks eternally. In regard to what we have ventured to lay dowu as the second cause of the swift spread of Methodism—viz., its system of preaching—a word or two will suffice. Much has been said for and against local preachers. That they are fre- quently endowed with large abilities and con- siderable teaching power is generally admitted. That they reach a certain class of the community better than regular ministers is often asserted, though not so free from doubt. On the other hand, they are frequently men whose souls have never been thrilled by contact with great thinkers, either in life or books, which would render them more capable of taking a broad and comprehensive view of the truths which they attempt to expound. The great advantage of local preachers is that they cost comparatively nothing. All that is wanted is a place wherein to have a meeting the rest is easy. Thus it is that the Methodists can subsist and even flourish in out-of-the-way localities where every other dissenting denomination has had to hide its di- minished head. On the present occasion, however, we did not go to the Wesleyen Chapel to hear a "local brother." An obliging friend informed us of an evening when the Rev W. Way was expected to preach according to the plan and as we had often heard of Mr Way, we determined to be present. The Wesleyan Chapel in High St. is a neat and unpretentious building. The interior is fitted up in modern style with considerable taste. With much politeness we were shown into a seat. The congregation was large and respectable, and sang with the fervent vigour which marks Dissent rather than the cultured lauguor which is apparent in Episcopal church music. To our non-cesthetic taste, however. hearty singing has a wonderful charm. We feel our spirit lifted high upon the billows of sweet sound, and borne out into an ocean of Sabbath calm and contentment. Mr Way took as his text Luke xvi., 22, The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom the rich man also died, and was buried." The preacher in his opening ob- servations laid stress on the fact that death is no respecter of persons. He flings his dart as fearlessly at a Priuce Imperial or a Rothschild as he does at the meanest pauper. After death, the text shows us, we pass into another land. Lazarus was carried away by angels. Now the angels must have had something to carry so that the theory which says that man is nothing but bone and muscle and nerve is here shewn to be false for the body was left behind, and yet Lazarus was carried away. The fear of death is pretty general, and many holy men are not free from it. Alexauder the Great when near Babylon with his army determined to enter that city but, on hearing it had been predicted by an astrologer that if Alexander entered Babylon he would die there, the great conqueror passed on without entering—he was afraid of death. Let us look at the text to see if we can find how to meet this fear, and how prepare for death. In the first place, the text shows us that the religion of Christ is no respecter of persons. Without entering into the details of Eastern mendicancy, it is perfectly clear that Lazarus was as poor as a man can be yet when he died lie was carried straight to Abraham's bosom. In the teaching of Christ it is plain that His re- ligion was not intended for any select class to the exclusion of others. The beggar Bartimeus was welcomed as freely as Zaccheus, the rich publican. The poor widow of Nain met as kind treatment as the wealthy Centurion. Again, in the promises of Christ, rich and poor, bond and free, high and low, are alike included. Further, facts shew that the Gospel of Christ is adapted to all. A century ago social life among the upper classes in England, especially as regards religious affairs, was disgracefully loose j now, family worship led by the head of the family, is not uncommon among the nobility. Missionaries, too, are carrying the Gospel not only to the polished French freethinker, but also to that most miserable of the races of the earth, the Pa- tagonian. In the second place, the preacher observed that the religion of Christ is the only thing that gives us confidence to meet death. W The part played by the angels iu the text is hot to be lightly overlooked. While he forbore to quote the numerous texts that shew the important functions of angels, he was of opinion that they have a nearer relation to us than is generally acknowledged. A friend of the preacher, a sound scholar and a man of emi- nent piety, lay dying. The dying man and his son had conversed during a large part of the night, and the old man's conversation had never been more intelligent. About an hour before he died he said to his son, "Do you see them, John ?" What, father ?" The angels, John they are there waiting for me 1" It is not very improbable, continued Mr Way, that God occa- sionally sharpens the dying believer's mental perception so that he can see things which or- dinarily remain unseen. I hear a voice you cannot hear, That says I must not stay I see a hand you cannot see, That beckons me away But the great result that the religion of Christ produces in this connexion, is the reinoval of fear. When a man is afraid he is thoroughly demoralised. He becomes helpless. And there is nothing makes one so much afraid as guilt. The believer having made his peace with God, his guilt is pardoned, his fear is effaced, and he can meet death with perfect confidence. More- over, hope, the hope of being with Christ, powerfully assists the believer. As an old poet says, A hope so grea and so divine May trials well endure. In the third place, Mr Way made a few obser- vations on the prospect of heaven. When Han- nibal was ciossing the Alps with his army, some of the soldiers complained of the difficulties in the way. Soon they rpaphed the highest point of ascent, and" Hannibal called up the com- plainers to look. He pointed out to them the sunny slopes and wealthy cities of fair Italy, saying that after overcoming a few more ob- stacles they would reach their destination. There was no more grumbling the prospect they saw was enough to invigorate them. So the prospect of heaven encourages believers To go back to the latter part of the text, we find that the rich man also died, and was buried. But, as we afterwards find, he did not then become extinct. All of us must die and be sure we shall not become extinct any more than Lazarus and the rich man. Are we, then, prepared to meet death ? May God help 08 so to live on earth that we may be identified with truth and good- ness, and ultimately company with angels in heaven Mr Way delivered his sermon in strong, clear, and distinct tones, but his voice was not re- markable for flexibility or pathos. n the ar- rangement of his discourse into numerous heads and sub-heads, Mr Way followed a plan which was more popular in bygone times than it is now. If the preacher desire that his hearers should remember the leading features of his sermon, then he must have great faith in their memories when he extends his homily to the sixteenth head as we have heard of one gentleman who did. Saint Paul, it may be presumed, was a man of considerable earnestness and vigour of speech yet, even under his preaching, Euty- chus, poor fellow, overcome with sleep, fell from a third-storey window. Nevertheless, the prac- tice of dividing a sermon into heads' has advantages, if not carried to excess, as it enabled tho preacher to group his thoughts arouud lead- ing ideas, and it assists the people to carry away a distinct outline of the argument. Mr Way's method of division was certainly calculated to make a strong impression on his hearers and j this we take to be one great aim of preaching. A further good, old-fash oned trait of this sermon was that it possessed "body"—to use the significant phrase of a valued friend. It contained the outcome of much reading and I thinking, in no way resembling those produc- tions which, —like Byron's Bride of Abydos,— are thrown off in a few hou s, and which—un- like Byron's poem-arc, in most instances, to- tally worthless. Mr Way's style was more plain and practical than poetic. There are some men who gild and sublimate the commonest actions and objects of every-day life by the warmth of their imagination but, in Mr Way's case, A primrose by the river's brim, A yellow primrose was to him, And it was nothing more. In a sermon which covered so much ground it is not unnatural that there should be some weak places. For instance, the contrast between the widow of Naiu and the Centurion will scarcely bear the interpretation put upon it. In the case of the Centurion the miracle appears to have been the result of faith in the other case it appears to have been the spontaneous efflux of divine compassion for the bereaved. There is nothing whatever in the narrative to shew that the widow was extremely poor consequently a contrast based on the assumption of her indi- gence is rather strained. Again, Mr Way proves somewhat concerning angels and materialism from the parable of Lazarus and Dives; but that parable is a well-known debatable land in theology, and if taken literally—as Mr Way has taken a part of it—the results will be startling. The function of angels is one of those mysteries that lie on the outskirts of the Christian religion. What relation those viewless messengers bear to the form of Greek Pantheism endorsed by St. Paul in his address to the Athenians, might form the subject of a curious ii quiry. Mr Way asserts that the angels cafried off tho soul of Lazarus and left his body behind but the pa- rable shews that they carried off both soul and body. For, Abraham at one .side of the gulf and Dives at the other were eac. in pro- pria persona, the bodily parts anu icings of men being ascribed to them and, by parity of reasoning, Lazarus must have been there in per- son also. Moreover, the soul, being immaterial, is not reeoguizable by physical eyes but Dives lifted up his eyes and recognized Lazarus, therefore soul and body were together. In fact, by a literal interpretation of this parable, we have angels carrying away dead men, bodies in two places at the same time, and other absurdi- ties alike repugnant to reason and to revelation. The purport of the parable-and, indeed, the aim of Luke's whole Gospel—seems to be the teaching of a broad human sympathy, and not the office of angels in the unseen universe, nor the exact conditions of our future life. We have d welt on these points at some length, not in a carping spirit, but because the sermon was of such general excellence that we followed it with more than usual interest. There was a staid, sober, self-reliant air about the discourse which at once attracted our attention. Certain- ly, a luxuriant imagination and a nimble fancy are not the gifts of Mr Way; but there is a practical power within him, and an aptness of illustration, combined with a plain strength of expression, that forcibly impress his audience. While you listen you do not expect a gorgeous I display of rhetorical fire works,nor a word-picture aglow with life and tinted with artistic deli- cacy, but you feel no painful fear that he will break dowu or lose himself: he has always complete control of his subject, and he possesses the valuable power of imparting his information in such an interesting manner as to rivet the attention of his hearers. Should any readers who have not heard Mr Way be induced by our remarks to visit the Wesleyan Chapel in High Street, we are sure they will not regret the visit.

THE PONTYPOOL AND TALYWAIN RAILWAY. This important link of communication, be- longing to the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company, which has been four years in construction, has just been completed, and on Thursday week was inspected by Colonel Rich, R.E., the inspecting officer deputed by the Board of Trade, previous to its being opened for passenger traffic; Mr Roberts, tho engi- neer Mr Boucher, and Mr Watkin, and other officers of the Company, who went over the line, testing all the bridges, and examining minutely all the works and appliances for con- ducting the heavy mineral and passenger traffic which is expected to pass over it. The inspect- ing officer expressed his approval. The railway commences by a junction with the Eastern Val- leys main line at Trevethin Junction, near the railway bridge in George Street, Pontypool, and in order to gain an elevation of about 320 feet to form a junction at Talywain with the London and North Western Railway from Talywain to Blaenavon, Brynmawr, Abergavenny, &c., de- scribes an ascending curve past the Tranch Col- liery, Cwmffrwdoer and Cwmnantddu Valleys, Pentrepcod, Suatchwood, and Pentwyn (where a junction is made with the Ebbw Vale Com- pany's private railway), and crosses by a high embankment over the Sychan Brook to Taly- wain. The gradients, though heavy—the steep- est being one in 48—are no exceptions to the ordinary run of railway gradients in South Wales valleys, and are so far favourable that they are with the load and not against it. There is a somewhat extraordinary curve in crossing the Cwmffrwdoer and Cwmnantdda valleys. It traverses three-fourths of a circle, so that when standing at the upper end the commencement of the curve is seen at a considerable depth but a very short distance off. The Cwmffrw- doer branch railway and stream are crossed by a massive stone bridge 40ft high, aud the Cwm. nantddu branch railway and stream by a via- duct of four spans, between 40 and 50 feet high, also built of masonry, with brick arches. When the line was in course of construction a great landslip took place at Snatchwood, and the rail- way embankment was moved bodily down the hill, so that a deviation of the line became necessary to avoid the treacherous ground. A massive concrete wall supports the embankment between Pentwyn and Xbersyohan works for about 350 yards, soon after passing which a tunnel spans the ptivate railways of the Ebbw Vale Company. This bridfaj is built upon an old tip, about 60 feet above the natural Sychan Valley, and a high embankment is carried over the bridge, so that the height from the natural fiurfape to the rails is more than 100 feet. Ample giding ropqi has be,ep provided at the terminus to accommodate the traffic which is expected, and it is to be hoped that there may soon com- mence a long and prosperous period of healthy activity which will not only benefit the iron and coal masters, and the working population of the district, but also give a fair return to the Monmouthshire Company for their very large outlay in constructing the line.

The Halstead (Essex) Board of Health, having been unable to obtain a reduction ip the price of the gas supply to the street lamps of that town, have resolved that, if no reduction be made in response to another application, they will advertise for tenders to light the town with oil. The middle of Atrgust being usually the height of the yellow-fever season in the Southern cities, nd only Memphis being now aillicted, the general belief is that the South this year will escape a widespread epidemic with resulting distress. A number of engineers who have recently returned from the Gold Coast have presented a memorial to Sir .Michael Hicks-Beach, asking tbe Colonial Office to grant a concession for the construction of a narrow- railway lirje on that const, one of the branches of which is intended to run. to Coomassie. Figaro says that the Masons of the lodge called the Vrais Freres unis Inseparables have lately conceived a fantastic ceremony of initiation. They blindfolded a new postulant, and did not remove the bandage until the novice was five hundred metres above ground in the cradle of the captive baloon. The Vrais Frères" have since received a large number of requests for admission to their lodge from economical people who are anxious to make an ascent in the balloon. CLOSING OF MESSRS BOOKER/S WORKS.—TBE Pentyrch and Melingriffith Iron and Tinplate Works nr. Cardiff were closed on Saturday by order of the official liquidator of the late West of Eng- land Bank. Over fifteen hundred men were paid off, the furnaces were blown out, and men were engaged in closing up all entrances to the works. These works are known over Europe as Booker's Works; were established in 1740, and had never stopped till Saturday. Three villages have arisen around them, whose inhabitants were depending on the Works for support. Some of the old men entered the Works as boys; and a great number have families, who are now, consequently, in great distress; Nearly 6,000 people are thus rendered destitute,

PURGATORY. BY VERITAS. But Rome with forccrics and magic wand Soon raised It cloud that darkened every land, And thine was smothered in the stench and fog Of Tiber's marSles and the I'ap.tl bog: Then priests with bulls and briefs and haven crowns, And griping fists and unrelenting frowns, Legates amI delegates with power from hell, Though heavenly in pretension, fleeced thee well; And to this hour, to keep it fresh in mind, Some twigs of that old sejurge left behind.—Cow TEE. PURGATORY—The Priest's kitchen.—Italian Proverb. I regret that multiplicity of pressing engagements has prevented the continuance of my letters with that regularity which I could wish; but I now hope to con- tinue them with as little interruption as possible. I come now to consider a subject which is scarcely less important than those I have already dwelt upon and viewed in connexion with the Sacrifice of the Mass; it rises into a subject of the first importance, because it affords interminable scope for the fullest operation of all the falsehoods and deceptions which are practised by means of that enormity and blasphemy. The Sacri- fice of the Mass is the mighty lever, and Purgatory is that which affords purchase for that lever to perform its marvels. Without Purgatory there would be much less demand for "propitiatory Masses," as they are called, and the market of Masses (for, as we have before seen, Masses are a marketable commodity) would be permanently and fatally paralysed. The inevitable consequence of this would be that the principal source of wealth to the Church of Rome would be drained up. Thus it will be seen that the doctrine of Purgatory is an all-important subject. It is my object at present to set forth its nature and examine its proofs to show the utter untenableness of it as a doctrine of the Christian Church in the light of reason and revelation and to expose the ignorance and superstitious fear which it fosters and perpetuates, and the gigantic and systematic robberies and frauds which are practised by means of it upon a deluded and in- fatuated people. That the dogma of Purgatory may be fairly and clearly understood and exposed, I shall proceed accord- ing to the method I have adopted with the previous subjects, viz., that of stating, investigating, and con- troverting the more important points and arguments. I.—I give a statement of the dogma in its nature and scope, in its theoretical and practical aspects. mote from the teaching of the Church herself ana fro v b. i i;> Church. I must, however, ask to briefest statements of it, as a full ahd b. vu sw. ment of the dogma would extend an article upon it to almost an interminable length. The following is a part of the decree of the Council of Trent, passed at its 25th Session :—" This holy council commands all bishops diligently to endeavour that the wholesome doctrine of Purgatory, delivered to us by venerable fathers and sacred councils, be believed, held, taught, and everywhere preached by Christ's faithful." In the creed of Pope Pius IV he says, and teaches all to reiterate, I constantly hold that there is a Purga- tory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful." The Holy Church, as may be expected, in the plenitude of her charity, goes through the delightful exercise of cursing all who dis- believe or assert the contrary to the various statements connected with Purgatory. The great Cardinal Belarmine also, with evident satisfaction, declares They must go directly to hell who do not believe in Purgatory."—i)e Purg., lib. i., cap. 15. Belief in Purgatory is therefore a testing point of disqualification for hell; and it would seem also that a man, although he believe all the other ab- surdities of Rome, yet if he believe not in this as well he will be plunged headlong into hell. This will suffice to show the importance which the Church of Rome at- taches to Purgatory. In order to understand Purgatory the more fully, we make a feiv enquiries respecting it. (1) We ash, What is meant by it ? As the subject does not figure prominently in the Douay Catechism, nor is indeed explicitly stated therein, we shall look for our answer to the more im- portant Catechism of Pius IV. Here we are told It is a middle state for souls which depart this life in God's grace, yet not without some lesser stains or guilt of punishment which retards them from entering heaven." Here let the words be noted Purgatory is for souls which depart this hfe in God's grace,"—that is, those who have been made holy by the grace of God in every age, not exempting even their Holinesses the Popes of all ages, those paragons of purity, those impersonations of holiness, they must all take Purgatory on their way to the celestial mansions. It is true, no doubt, that much effort is always put forth to facilitate the passage of all the holy Fathers through Purgatory, that they may pass with as little delay as possible to the blessed abodes. Purgatory, then, is a middle state of purga- tion for those souls who die in the grace of God. The only souls, according to the belief of the Church of Rome, which ever passed straight to heaven without taking Purgatory on their way were the souls of the ancient Patriarchs, the souls of the Apostles, and the soul of the Virgin Mary. (2) What is the local posttwn of Purgatory ? Faber, a distinguished polemic of the Church, says it is situated uuder the earth, near the centre, on the brink of hell."—Faber. Disputat., torn, iii, p. 448. Peter Dens declares that "Purgatory is situated under the earth, contiguous to hell."—Dens' TheoL, torn. vii. Belarmine says "it is adjacent to that in which the damned are punished."—Bel. Opera., torn, ii, De Purg. But another distinguished anther, Alexander Natalis, speaking with authority upon the matter, says That it does not at all belong to faith.—Concerning the place, whether it be in this world, or upon earth, or in the dark air where the devils are, or in the hell of the damned, or in some place underneath nearer the earth, that the souls are purged, &c." Now, in order to understand these oracular declara- tions as to the local situation of Purgatory, I should say that the most accomplished, philosopical, and least superstitious of the theological doctors of the Church of Rome divide the spirit world—the Popish limbo— with great accuracy and precision into four grand divi- sions. The first and lowest is hell; the second and next to it is Purgatory and the third is called Limbics infantum, the abode of unbaptised infants. Here, we are told, these little helpless victims, through no neglect of their own, but through want of care on the part of their parents, or of intention in the performance of the ordinance on the part of the priests, are doomed for ever to suffer the loss of heaven's blessedness. The fourth and uppermost is what they call Limbus Patron, the abode of the souls of those saints who had died before Christ's coming in the flesh, and which on the ascension of Christ accompanied Him to heaven, leav- ing this part of limbo untenanted ever since. How learned these theologians are in the geography of the invisible regions Thus the local situation of Purga- tory in the spirit world is next to hell. (3) What are the nature of the elements of Pur- gation ? Belarmine says It is the general opinion of theo- logians (t.e.. Roman Catholic theologians) that the fire of Purgatory is a true and proper fire, and of the same quality with our elementary fire." Again: "Almost all theologians teach that the damned and the souls in Purgatory are in the same place and tortured in the same fire."—De Purg., lib. ii, cap. G. The seraphic doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, teaches that the same fire which tortures the darned in hell, cleanses the just in Purgatory." How material fire can take such purifying and tor- turing effect upon disembodied spirits needs all the subtlety of these mighty theologians to understand. But what a delectable region, this of Purgatory and what a comforting doctrine, this, to those souls which depart this life in the grace of God (4) How is Purgatory divided? The Rev Antonio D. Gavin, whom I have before re- ferred to, tells us that the dismal region of Purgatory is divided into eight apartments that the lowest are occupied by the poor, and the uppermost by royalty; and that the degree of torment suffered by souls in Purgatory is in proportion to the dignity of the apart- ment they occupy. Mr Gavin tells us also that it is within the power of the priest, by means of purchased masses, to remove souls from the meanest vaults to the more honourable abodes, if the living so desire it. In connection with this he gives the following incF "I knew shoe- maker's wife, vei" n' lios of honour, ov do *.■ rauciscan tnar, and tolu him that she desired to know whether her father's soul was in purgatory or not, and in what apartment ? The friar asked how many masses she could spare for it. She said two and the friar answered, Your father's soul is among the beggars.' Upon hearing this the poor wo- man began to cry, and desired the friar, if possible, to put him in the fourth apartment and she would pay him for it; and the quantum being settled, the friar promised to place him there the next day. So the poor woman ever since gives out chat her father was a rich merchant, for it was revealed to her that his soul is among the merchants in Purgatory." Now what can we sa.y but that the Pope is the chief governor of that vast plaea, and priests and friars the quarter-masters that billet the souls acoording to their own fancies, and have power, and give for money, the king's apartments to the soul of a shoemaker, and that of a lady of quality to her washerwoman."—(Master Key, vol. i., p. 166.) 5.—What kiwi of sins are punished in Purgatory ? Not every kind of sins may be eliminated by the flames of Eurgafcory and sq the Church of Rome has, in the superabundance of her spiritual knowledge and autho- rity, classified all sins under these two heads-mortal sins and venial sins; mortal sins, unabsolved, hurry the guilty to hell-venial sins deserve nothing worse than Purgatory. But, by the way ,the author of Kirwan's Letters to Bishop Hughes," says (and he was well able to testify on the matter, being brought upan Irish papist) I always saw that the about mortal sinners, that every- body would say went to hell, could always have Masses said for them as if they went'to Purgatory; and that less ■itioiial suindrs, that people would say went to purgar tory, were sent to hell if their friends could not pay for Masses for them." Den's (Theology) is very learned upon this point. He gives it thus Venial Sin—the vitium, the evil propen- sity, the habit of sin or the inclination to sin in nature. Mortal Sin-the peccatunv, or act of sin. Now, he says, the act of sin is much worse than the vicious habit of sin, or the corrupt propensity. This reads well in the light of Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, and in the light of those other words which he uttered—" Out of the head proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts," §co. Is Jt pogsible^o conceive that arl act of sin cain be worse than an eyer-abiding corrupt propensity to sin-a HEART which has sunk into the habit of forging lies, slander, ^cc. ? Impossible; and it would be perfeotly easy to prove the oontrary. Dr Doyle, in a catheohism prepared by him for the instruction of Roman Catholios in Ireland, popularised the above distinction in tho following manner: When is a theft mortal sin ?—Ans. When the thing stolen is of considerable value or causeth considerable hurt to mv neighbour." If the thing stolen be not of consider- able value, or causes no considerable hurt to our neigh- bour, then, of course, it is of a renwl nature. Again, When is a lie a mortal sin ?—Ans. When it is any great dishonour to God, or notable prejudice to our neighbour." When a lie is no great dishonour to God, and not of notable prejudice to our neighbour, then of I course it is vmwl and of slight imjwtw-e, Dr Bailly, in his celebrated work used in the teaching of priests at Maynooth College, is still more practical in his explanation, Ile says that a certain amount stolen from a person of rank might be only a venial sin, whereas if the same were stolen from a peasant it would at once become a mortal sin. lIe says that Roman Ca- tholic theologians make four distinct classes of men. The first, the illustrious who live in splendour; the sccond,those who are moderately rich the third, the han- dicraftsmen who live by their manual labour; the fourth the begging poor." Now, to constitute theft a mortal' sin, according to Bailly, it would be necessary to steal from the first-class not less than fifty or sixty pence; from the second forty pence from the third, if the trade be a lucrative one, twenty pencc but if less lu- crative, ten pence;" with regard to the fourth class the amount is reduced to a minimum. This is how the Church of Rome distinguishes, with great nicety, between theft and theft, and between the punishment for similar thefts from parties in different circumstances. A servant, if he finds his master's trade a lucrative one, may steal thirty pence as often as he likes, and take care not to go beyond this sum in one theft and he shall only go to Purgatory but if he ven- ture to steal, in one theft, forty pence and over he shall, at death, go straight off to hell, unless he be absolved before this by the prifsl Hear this, tradesmen of Pontypool and the country around; and what does our moral nature say respecting this practical theology taught to the priests of the Church of Rome at theCollege of Maynooth, as a prepa- ration to meet the exigencies of their penitents ? The sum of it is this, that he who pilfers considerably or beyond a certain amount which rtllypriest might de- termine, from his master, &c., and thus becomes guilty of mortal sin, goes to hell; and he who only pilfers 1110- derately or below a sum determined 'by the priest, is guilty of venial sin, and goes to Purgatory. Thus I have given a fair statement of what the Church of Rome teaches respecting Purgatory; but I have pur- posely omitted many of the extravagancies taught by ignorant and unscrupulous priests in those countries where they have full scope to work upon the ignorance and superstition of their enslaved victims. fTo be continued.)

PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE MARRIAGE LAW. Mr. R. P. Blennerhassel, M.P., announces that, subject to suggestions he may receive, and further consideration, his bill for the amendment of the mar- riage laws of England and Ireland will contain four „ -)ns, which may be briefly stated as -no clergyman of the Church of England shall De liable to any punishment for refus- ing to marry any divorced person to marry in the church of which he is incumbent, or for refusing to publish the banns of any divorced person. 2. That in ase of marriage after publication of banns, the banns shall be published in the churches of the eccle- siastical districts wherein the parties to be married shall dwell, but it shall be lawful for them to be married at any church within an extended defined area. 3. That it shall be lawful for Nonconformist ministers and Roman Catholic priests, under proper restrictions, to solemnise marriages in buildings re- gistered for marriages without the presence of the registrar. 4. That no marriage otherwise lawful which has been actually solemnised in the presence of an authorised minister of religion or civil officer in an authorised place shall, after the parties have lived together as husband and wife, be annulled or declared void on tho ground that any preliminary proceedings required by law have not been duly ob- served or that the marriago took place after the pre- scribed hours. ==

< A CANNIBAL IN ITALY. The Assize Court at Perigua has just condemned to death a man named Thomas Tongari, who not only murdered his brother but also ate him. The two brothers, Thomas and Sebastian Longari, bad been on bad terms for a long time, and on Good Fri- day last Thomas waited for his brother as he re- turned from mass, and coming up behind him in a sequestered spot knocked him down with a blow from an axe, and then chopped his head off. Having done this, he belaboured the body with his knife, took out the heart, lungsand other organs, and placed them upon one side with the head, while he cut up the rest of the body in small pieces and concealed it in a ravine. Taking the head and viscera home with him, he pulled out tho teeth and eyes from the head while the intestines he fried and gave to his wife and children to eat. The other pieces of the body were found soon afterwards, and the crime was traced home to him, but when confronted with the remains he was so cynical in his attitude that someone remarked "I believe he would eat macaroni upon them," little thinking what had really happened. When his house was searched his wife at once guessed what a horrible meal she had eaten, and her husband frankly told the police that it was so, and declared that he would do the same thing over again if he had the chance. I

A FACETIOUS JEW. Baron Aaron, a Jew, and dealer in cheap jewellery, has been charged at the Guildhall, London, with causing an obstruction on the footway in Now Broad- Street, by selling cheap jewellery.—Edwin White- way, said the prisoner created an obotimoiirvn nv sell- ing cheap jewellery on the footway in New Broad Street, and foot passengers had to go into the road to get past him. He asked him to go away, but he refused, and he was obliged to take him into custody in order to remove the obstruction. The defendant was very abusive, and they had great trouble to get him to the station-house.—The defendant said that he was born in England, and wanted to earn an honest living, but the polico would not let him. It would be better forthe inhabitants of the City if they looked after the thieves, instead of looking after him. He produced a toy of a girl skipping by turning a wire, and said that that was one of his articles of trade. He then went on to say that the officer Whiteway and his companion fancied them- selves Dick Whittington and their cats, but they had not their cats with them, so he took one and offered it to him (Whiteway). Here the de- fendant pulled a pretty little buff kitten out of a bag, and placed it on the table before Mr. Roe, the chief officer of the Court, amid much laughter. The defendant went on to state that he also offered another to the other officer, so that there might be two Dick Wittingtons—(loud laughter)—but they would not receive them. He produced from his bag a second kitten, the counterpart of the first, and put that on the table also, to the amusement of the whole Court. He then went on to state that he had arrived by train just before he was taken, and had been playing a mouth organ (he commenced playing the mouth organ in Court amid roars of laughter), but the police would not let him alone. He produced from his pocket two speaking dolls, dressed as police constables, who rose their hands, with staves in them, wheneverthcir stomachs were squeezed. These things, he said were of more use to the City than their brothers in blue (the police)—(laughter,—and it would be better if they would look after pickpockets, and let respectable people like him alone. Yowel, the gaoler, said the defendant had been here twice for obstruction. On the first occasion he was discharged, but on the second he was sent to prison. Alderman M'Arthur told the defendant that he could not be allowed to obstruct the thoroughfares, and his r marks about the police was most improper. 11. had been sent to prison for seven days for a similar offence, and it seemed to have no effect (n him 11'1 therefore pay a fine of 20s., or go to pri.-o.i for fourteen days, with harn labour..

The annual meeting of the Incorporated Law So- ciety is to be held at Cambridge this year, taking, place on October 4, 5, and 6. m:, Dominicans of Paris have presented to the l'ope- a costly cope set with precious stones. The report is current in Conservative circles that no successor will be appointed to the late Lord Gordon. Liberals hold that should the Government fill up the vacant place they ought to give it to Lord Young. Scientific explorers are very active just now in Russia. Besides the Great Central Asian railway scheme, a committee of engineers has been formed to trace out a route for a line intended to unite Nor- thern and Southern Caucasia, and most important of all, explorations are to be commenced immediately with a view to discover a route for the projected union by water of the Caspian and Black Seas. The City and Guilds Institute having granted £,100 per annum for purposes of technical education to University College, London, have l-esolvcd that the grant be appropriated in maintaining the chair of chejnijial technology, and that of engineering and mechanical technology. The salaries throughout the whole North British Railway system have been reduced, the directors setting the example by accepting reduced fees. It is said that the number of persons affected by the re- duction will bo over 12,500, and that the saving thus effected will amount to about £50,000. a year. "An Actor," writing in the Era, denies the truth of the statement that Ur. BucksLone is in absolute want. The last benefit given for him realised OVCI £1,200. Mr. Clarke has been allowing him per week for some time past, and he has an annuity cf £60. per annum from the Royal General Theatri- oal Fund. Some days ago the French press spoke of King Humbert of Italy being in bad health. A gentleman f H recently had an interview with the King Jf Italy says that this statement is entirely erronc- JUS. His Majesty is in the enjoyment of perfect health,being in no way affected with any pulmonary qctwn. J Epps's COCOA.GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING.— By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well- selected cocoa, Mr Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame."—Viril Service fJqr.eHe.-2 Sold only in packets labelled "Jauieu Epps & Co,, JiumoeupatUic Choiiiistsj Loudon,"

SEPTEMBER FASHIONS. The rage for warm, positive tints still continue?, some daring effects being obtained in their combina- tion. The old-fashioned" Carmelite red" is very popular, and is worn chiefly on a background of dark blue, and a mixture of yellow with the red trimmings A very rich effect is thus produced. Anotherfavour- ite trimming is that of red sparingly used on light grey or buff ground, with a spray or two of blue and orange flower trimming and plenty of lace; this, though not so positive in colour as the first method, gains by a certain delicacy of tint. The material for dresses is for the most part a woollen, for travelling and walking dresses a soft, supple, and good wearing material. Such dresses, if intended for both in and out door wear, are made "Princesse" shape, with an out-door coat or casaquin or with a separate skirt, accompanied by some form of coat or corsage a basques, equally suitable for la rue or la maison. Very good velveteen is most fashionably employed as trimmings to such costumes, or used for underskirts. Silk is much ucel for kiltings, &c., but these collect a quantity of dust, besides fraying quickly at the edges, and are neither so serviceable nor so economi- cal as a good quality of the Velours Anglais. Bourro delaine, striped with brilliant colours or with shaded stripes, cachemires, peluches, and Scotch plaids are already making their appearance. The newest silks for autumn wear are brocaded stripes of two or three different colours, and stripes formed of small sepa- rate designs, or arabesque figures in graceful curves. These are particularly effective in douanicr blue on gold colour, prune on pink, claret on grey and car- dinal, or ruby on cream. Some of the stripes are an inch wide, and alternated with twill satin. White, ivory, and cream bareges and muslins will be used for evening wear. Black and gold will this autumn be in greater favour than ever, especially in velvet, satin, and silk. Plain black gienadine, trimmed with bouillonnes and plisses over black silk or satin, the garniture separa- ted by gold braids, worn with a black corsage, embroidered or trimmed with gold, will bo a very leading style, also for dinner and evening dress. The most fashionable colours for autumn wear will be the bleu marin, douanier bleu, moss green, myrtle jareen, olive green, several shades of grenat and red, tete de negree and puce, violet, bronze, bronze vert for the dark colours; for the more brilliant ones cardinal vieil or dore, vert de lac, vert d'argent, some light blues. Tho introduction of gold shades is rivalled, however, by the use of lace, which contests with the colours the palm for elegance, and is used profusely wherever possible.. Jackets of brown and grey are much worn, especially for the seaside or country. There is every scope for variatiou in the shape of hats, some being very large, with wide brims turned up on one side; others, "cabriolet" shape, with large space under the brim in front. the Gainsborough," also with turned-up brim, but in a quieter and far more elegant style and the Tyrolien," with the wide brim and pointed crown, being the favourites. The "Diana Vernon," with brim raised at each side, and a long feather en ama- zone, is tres bon genre, and generally becoming. Then there are the toques or rink hats, with loose crowns and close brim raised all round. The favourite material is straw trimmed with ribbons.

CHARGE OF THROWING VITRIOL ON A YQUNG LADY. At the county police court, Manchester, on day, before Mr. E. Walmsley, an elderly woman, named Marguerite Stafford, of Nuttall Street, Open- shaw, was charged with throwing vitriol on a young lady named Eliza Fox, of Bolton Road Birmingham, The prosecutrix is on a visit to her brother s. On Friday night, she was passing along the street, when the prisoner, who was standing at tne door of her house with her hands behind her, suddenly threw some liquid upon the prosecutrix's dros. Prosecutrix ran into her brother's house, and an examination showed that what had been thrown upon her was vitriol, which had burned her dress, and which injured the hands of Mrs. Fox, the brother's wife, when she took hold of the garment to ascertain what the liquid was. Information was given to the police, and the prisoner was taken into custody. It was stated that the accused had no pro- vceation for throwing the vitriol except that she had been summoned by Mrs. Fox for assault a short time ago, and was fined by the magistrates for the offence. In answer to the charge, prisoner denied having thrown either vitriol or any other liquid upon the prosecutrix.—Sbe was committed for trial at the assies,