Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

AUTUMN. The trees are stripp'd and bare, ) Their foliage strewed around; They've cast away their tresses, t To be trampled on the ground Once they were green like emeralds, But now they're sear'd and dead; Their sun-lit robes of beauty Are o'er the pathway spread. As garments once well-worn, Although not cast away, When changed into another form Will useful prove some day,— So trees, in seeming death, For life may yet be found To be prepared by Autumn's change, And so they pass their round. We call them dried and dead, But nature never dies; By chang like day and night, All in succession rise Earth goes to earth,—the gases, too, To their own sources fly, To animate some other forms When Spring again is nigh. If dead, instead of changed, Earth's succour would decay; The sap, the bud, the blossom Would for ever pass away They'd not return when spring-time Should make leaf and bud appear, But a barren gloom would reign,— There'd be no changing year. Like nature, 80 with man We, too, shall never die; A change awaits us all; Though sear'd, and brown'd, and dry. The chrysalis contains the germ Of life, though it seems dead,— 'Tis only waiting for the Spring To raise its drooping head. So man contains life's germ,— from buds and blossoms, he Will some day ripen into fruit, Whate'er that fruit may be. Pleasant it may prove to taste. Or nauseous, perhaps, be found It may a blessing prove to all, Or, weed-like, curse the ground. J. II.

THE SMUGGLERS. BY J. W. DEWSLAND. I REMEMBER, when I was about ten years of age, there came on a Saturday afternoon, in the spring of the year, two neighbouring farmers on a visit to my father. They spent several hours in the parlour with my parents, convers- ing very warmly about something, which, at the time, I was too young to understand. On taking their leave, I heard Harris, one of the two farmers, saying— The truth is, there is no risk at all, whilst the profits are fabulous. Last year I invested ten pounds, which brought me fifty pounds clear gain." "Pooh-pooh!" said the other farmer, whose name was Davies, a tall man, over six feet high, and stout in proportion-" pooh-pooh said he,in a contemptuous the fact is, Dews- land is afraid. He has no courage." Before my father had time to make any re- ply, my mother, with a hot flush of anger on her face, rushed to the rescue. You say he has no courage, Davies. Yes, he has courage. He has courage enough to do whatever is right; and I hope he '11 never have the courage to do anything that is wrong. And I take it that this rash affair of yowrs is wrong —very wrong. It is playing with gunpowder. It is not only dangerous, but dishonest; and we are fully resolved that whoever may join you, we will have nothing to do with sJlmg- gling." This last word was altogether new to me. I turned it over and over in my mind, saying to myself, Smuggling! smuggling! I won- der what does it mean r" Nevertheless, I knew at the time, from the tone and emphasis with which mother pronounced the word, that it did not mean anything good. I ought, perhaps, to say in this place, that for many years prior to this event, a great deal of smuggling had been carried on from time to time on the St. David's Coast. Retired sea captains and sailors, together with a few of the boldest farmers, had derived much gratifying gain and more gratifying excitement from this illicit trade; and, at the time referred to, the risk of the transaction was nothing very alarm- ing. The district being so far from the madding crowd," policemen were almost un- known and as for revenue officers and coast- guards. none could be found on that bold and rocky coast nearer than Milford Haven, which lies at a distance of thirty miles from St. David's. Like most people who live near the sea, the inhabitants of that unfrequented coast generally regarded smuggling as by no means an evil, but, on the contrary, they looked upon it as something daringly clever and profitable, which ought to be upheld in spite of all inter- meddling revenue-officers. Owing to this tra- ditional, but mistaken view of the case, many respectable farmers, of otherwise irreproach- able characters, were nothing loth to join" in spoiling the Egyptians," as they called it. The two farmers I have mentioned were men of this class. They came to our house bent on enticing my father to unite with them and others in chartering a vessel to France, for a cargo of tea and sugar, tobacco and brandy. But all their special pleading proved fruitless; my father would have nothing to do with such a nefarious affair. Davies and his friend, though disappointed at the failure of their visit, were not deterred from carrying out their project. They pro- ceeded to other farmers, and easily got the sup- port of the requisite number. Shortly after, a vessel from St. David's, called the Dolphin, under the command of an experienced old cap- tain, was sent over to France. A contraband cargo was purchased, and in due time the ves- sel arrived off the Welsh coast. For a week before her arrival she had been most anxiously expected and watched for. Everything was ready for the unloading of the cargo. Large caves in the rocks, known to none but experi- enced smugglers, were carpetted with sacks and mats to prevent the damp from injuring the expected goods. As soon as the Dolphin was sighted, a fire was kindled on an appointed rock, as a signal to the ship that no danger was apprehended, and as a notice to the farmers to come together for the unloading. No sooner was it dark, than the vessel, which had been tacking to and fro, at a distance of some five or six miles from the shore, sailed in towards the land, and dropped her anchor in a narrow creek in the bay. About forty or fifty men might be dimly seen on the water's edge impatiently waiting for the first boat. In a few moments the keel of the boat is heard grating on the hingly beach. And now the work of unload- ing goes on actively and silently throughout the short summer night. By the time the dawn begins to peep over the eastern hills be hind them, one third of the cargo is safe on shore, and everything seems to promise com- plete success. One incident, however, occurred which was scarcely noticed at the time, but which in the end marred the whole enterprise. A drunken sailor in one of the boats was dan- gerously noisy—cursing and swearing both loud and deep. Now, Davies, the tall farmer, though he delighted in the sin of smuggling, could not "abide" the sin of swearing. Like many other people, the farmer was quite will- ing for people to do wrong in his way, but in no other way. Accordingly, he sternly com- commanded the sailor to desist from swearing, and when he refused to do so, Davies rushed to the boat, dragged out the culprit to the beach, and shook him as a terrier does a rat. This done, he hnrled the sailor back into the boat with as much ease as if he had been a mere toy in his hand. Davies, however, in punishing an- other got himself punished at the same time. In the scuffle he sprained his ankle so severely that he was barely able to crawl to his house, which stood within a few hundred yards of the water's edge. But in after years, Davies was often heard to say that this was the moat fortu- nate accident he ever met with. On the follow- ing night the discharging of the cargo was pro- ceeded with with as before, only Davies was not present, owing to his sprained ankle. On the I second nigbt, the drunken sailor, breathing ven- geance against the farmer, slunk off in the darkness, and made his way as fast as he could to the nearest Custom House. He had thirty miles to walk before reaching it at Milford Haven. He arrived there, however, in the after- noon, and at once lodged information with the revenue officials that a cargo of contraband goods was being discharged at St. Bride's Bay, near St. David's Head. Shortly afterwards, a sloop-of-war, called the Firefly, having on board fifty soldiers and coastguards, armed to the teeth, was on her way to the Welsh coast. Whilst she is beating up the Channel in the darkness and against the tide, the crew of the smuggling craft and the farmers are, for their life, unloading the last portion of the cargo and they are all the more expeditious in their movements, because a suspicion is entertained that the noisy sailor had turned traitor, and had gone down to Milford Haven to inform. By three o'clock in the morning, the last chest of tea and the last bale of tobacco were safely stowed away in the caves, and then a shout of triumph was raised by the farmers and sailors, which, in the still morniug air, echoed and re- echoed among the rocks. This over, the Dol- phin stood out to sea for about five miles, and there waited for the turn of the tide and the morning breeze. Whilst she is dropping her anchor on the opposite side of the bay, there is to be heard, breaking the sweet silence of the dawn, the rumble of carts on the hard roads, driving away the smuggled goods into the inte- rior of the country. The farmers, delaying on the beach, are gathered in groups, talking over their success with an unusual degree of glee and satisfaction. Whilst thus engaged, they are suddenly startled by the loud report of two guns fired on board the Dolphin. It was a pre- arranged signal of danger. Every eye is now turned in alarm towards the smuggling craft. They see her spreading her sails, slipping her cables, and dashing out into the channel like a frightened sea gull. What is the matter What is the matter is the one question on every lip. In another minute the mystery is solved. The Firefty-a revenue cntter-rounds the cape and enters the bay, under full press of canvas. But, greatly to the surprise of the startled men on the beach, the sloop-of-war, instead of starting off at once in chase of the fugitive smuggler, draws near to the land, and sends out a long boat bearing ten soldiers, and the treacherous, drunken sailor, who acted as their pilot. They landed within twenty yards of the smuggled cargo, and at once entered the cave with yells of rago and shouts of victory. Ten minutes before that beach was alive with sturdy farmers and their servants, but now not a man was to be seen. All had suddenly disap- peared into the narrow defiles and behind the bold projections of the rocks. No sooner had the long-boat reached the land than the Firefly turued in chase of the receding smuggler and now began the tug of war. The Firefly was known asone of the fastest sailers in the Service, but the Dolphin was nearly her match. A can- non shot was fired after the fugitive smuggler, but owing to the distance, the shot fell harm- lessly into the sea. The report of that shot was heard four or five miles inland, and produced there the utmost consternation. It awakened us children from our morning slumbers. It frightened the milkmaids in the fields, causing them to run home breathlessly, under the firm persuasion that they would be all murdered before night. It was heard by the carters as they drove away their bales and kegs, atid their terror knew no bounds. On hearing the report of the second gun, they stopped their carts, tript their costly loads into the wayside ditches and then whipping their horses into full speed, they gallopped away from the coast, almost maddened with fear. On hearing the loud reports of the cutter's guns, my parents, accompanied by all of us children, ran down to the beach to watch the chase. A crowd of people was there before us. While the two ships were sailing out in the di- rection of the Irish Coast, becoming smaller and smaller iu the blue distance, the excitement of the crowd on the beach baffled all description. I could hear my mother saying to father, I am so glad that we refused to be enticed into this unrighteous business." She had hardly finished the sentence when father, pointing to the Fire- flyshouted, See, see, the Revenue cutter is on bre-the cutter is on fire Thank God," re- sponded devout Maliy Shone; "I hope she'll burn to a cinder 1" Now this Maliy Shone was quite a character in the neighbourhood she possessed strong individuality bordering on ec- centricity. That worthy man, Deacon Roberts, of Tyhen, used to say to her, "Mally, people are very ready to find fault with you, but in spite of what they say, I agree with you that you are a good woman, for you are, without a doubt, one of the ''peculiar people" which dubious compliment was always accepted by Maliy as sincere praise. She was remarkably religious in her way, and yet if mischief was afoot any- where in the parish, she was certain to be there. She was warm-hearted and self-denying, al- most to a fault, and yet her noisy tongue was the terror of the whole village. The last time I saw her she was kneeling on the wet sands amid the drenching spray of the sea, endeavour- ing to stanch the blood which flowed from the wounded arm of a sailor, who had been washed in from a wreck, and who lay bruised and half- drowned on the beach. But whilst thus acting the part of the good Samaritan, Mally's capa- cious pockets bulged out with stolen copper, and her apron was crammed with pilfered tallow from the wrecked ship. She was always very thankful whenever a vessel, especially a foreign ship, went to wreck on that rocky coast. She was accustomed to say that it was God's way of providing for the poor. And as for smuggling, it was a well-known fact that she had a finger in every metaphorical pie that was baked in the neighbourhood. Consequently, when she heard it shouted that the Government cutter was on fire, she very devoutly (thanked God for it. Hisht.hisht!" said Deacon Roberts hisht, Maliy. The coast-guards are only doing their doty. Every sin deserves to be punished, and I have always maintained that this smuggling business is a sin." A sin Mr Roberts a sin, do you say But before Maliy could proceed any further in defence of smuggling, she was silenced by a loud cannon report booming above our heads, and reverberating among the rocks. The Firefly is not on fire," said old Captain Jones. She is only firing her guns after the Dolphin." When the smoke had cleared off, we could see that the smuggling craft had changed her course; she seemed now to be returning to the bay. Oh, the blockhead ob, tbe idiot!" exclaimed au excited young farmer. What does old Captain Evans mean by coming back ? He'll be caught in the bay as sure as fate." He is not returning to the bay," replied Captain Jones. "Trust old Bill Evans for that! a cuter Captain never walked a deck. He is making for Ramsey Souud, and if he can only reach it before he is overtaken, it will be all up with the coast-guards for the Firefly dare not enter the narrow strait; if she did, she would be certain to strike against some hidden rock in less than three minutes. But Bill Evans knows every inch of the Sound, and is able to sail his ship through it on the darkest night." On hearing these encouraging words, the anxious crowd began to shout, "The Dolphin is safe. Bill Evans will escape." Not too soon," replied Captain Jones. "Don't shout before you are out of the wood. Don't you see that the breeze has risen, and the Firefly is gaining every minute upon the Dolphin." The chase now grows hotter than ever. The smuggler has yet six miles to sail before reach- ing the entrance of Ramsey Sound, and though losing ground, she is still over balf-a-mile ahead of the cutter. The coast-guards are by this time well aware of the trap laid for them they know that they have but a very bare chance of overtaking the foe before she'll gain the dangerous strait; accordingly, they press on with more speed than ever, and are gaining per- ceptibly ou the Dolphin. In less than twenty minutes the distance between the fugitive smuggler and her pursuer is diminished into about a quarter of a mile. The gating crowd on the beach hold their breath with excitement. Ten minutes more aud the fate of the.smuggler will be decided As the end approaches, the guns of the revenue cutter are firing fast and furious bnt the untouched Dolphin still con- tinues to bound forward as a bird. Another half-a-mile, and she will be safe. The crowds are shouting, She will escape," She will es- cape." But to their dismay, they now see, through an opening in the smoke, that the Fire- fly is within a hundred yards of the smuggler. Another round is fired, and when the smoke clears away the brave little Dolphin is seen standing motionless on the water—a riddled hulk It is all over with her. So," said father, that is the end of the Dolphin.. Let us now, children, go home to breakfast, and then come back as soon as we possibly can to see the end of it." On our return to the beach, an hour after- wards, the first sight we witnessed was the sloop of war sailing into the bay with the rid- dled smuggler in tow. When we reached the crowd we were told that Bill Evans and his crew escaped. It seems that as soon as old Captain Evans saw his little craft disabled, he launched a boat, into which he and his hardy men jumped and under cover of the smoke, reached Ramsey Island before the coast-guards suspected their flight; once there, amid the hundreds of its rocky caves, Bill Evans and his men had nothing to fear from the pursuit of a thousand coast-guards. Knowing this, the re- venue officers made no attempt to follow the crafty fugitives. The Dolphin, however, was caught, of which feat the coast-guards were ex- ceedingly proud.. In a short time, the Firefly drops her anchor in the bay, with the Dolphin in the rear looking frightfully battered and rid- dled. I wonder what will be the next move ?" said Captain Jones. We Jiad not to wait long for an answer. The long boat, manned by six soldiers, returned from the cave to the Firefly; into this boat about fifteen or twenty other sol- diers jumped, and then rowed ashore. On reach- ing the beach they loaded their rifles. After which they passed through the crowd with a quick step, which soon became a sharp run. This procedure appeared so strange to the farmers that they looked at each other in mute astonishment. Scarcely, however, before a question could be asked, the soldiers are seen surrounding a farm house which stands about four hundred yards from the beach. It is the house of Davies, the tall farmer, which is en- tered by the officer in command and the drunken, treacherous sailor. In about quarter of an hour Davies, with gyves on his wrists, is marched down limpingly to the boat, between two sol- diers. His wife and servants follow with loud wailings, in which they are joined by all the women on the beach but the expression on the face of the men is stern and fierce. The most defiant of their number are to be seen picking up large stones from the shingly beach all ap- pear to stand in readiness for a scuffle, as if bent upon rescuing Davies from the soldiers. The soldiers perceiving this threatening look of the farmers, hold their rifles ready for action. But Davies, seeing the folly and madness of such an affray, cries out, "Don't move; be quiet I'll be back again before the harvest." The men, observing his cheerfulness and confi- dence, drop the heavy stones from their hands and permit the soldiers and their prisoner to pass on to the boat unmolested. No sooner had they reached the ship than the anchor was weighed, the sails wero spread, and the Firefly, well satisfied with her day's work, glided out of the bay with the riddled Dolphin in tow. Davies was seen standing on the stern of the receding ship, looking back on his home and friends, and waving a handkerchief as a sign of farewell, but the friendly neighbours on shore felt too sad to give him even one cheer of encouragement. Many were in tears all were sorrowful they stood on the beach as silent and solemn as if they had been present at a funeral. Not a word was spoken, not one moved away, till the two ships had quite disappeared in the blue distance. Then the crowds dispersed, wending their way homeward sadly and slowly. Deacon Roberts, coming along with my father, said, This is a transportation affair we shall never see Davies again." Roberts was mis- taken. In less than three months Davies was back home again, a sadder and a wiser man, and also poorer to the extent of some two or three hundred pounds. Not that any of this sum was spent on fines, for he was fully acquitted. The money was employed in securing the services of the ablest solicitors and barristers he could find. His trial took place at Plymouth. It lasted nearly two days. The chief witness against him was the drunken sailor. Fortunately, however, he made a mis- take as regards the night. He gave evidence that he saw Davies assisting in unloading the cargo of the smuggler on the night of the 21st of June, whereas it was clearly proved by the Evidence of Dr. Owen and Davies's servantsthat he was at home on that night, and unable to move owing to a sprained ankle. Thus Davies got free, as by the skin of his teeth. A few days after his return, Davies called at our house, when father asked him, Well, Davies, what do you think of smuggling now ?" Davies replied, "T think three things of it: Thirst, inat tha game is not worth the candle then, in the se- cond place, I have learnt by bitter experience that our sins are sure to find us out; and, lastly, I believe that this affair has given the death- blow to smuggling on this coast." This pre- diction has been fulfilled; from that day till now no attempt at smuggling has been made on that coast.

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. W. REES, OF BLAENAVON. On Thursday, the 4th inst., a very interesting ceremony took place in the English Baptist Chapel, Broad-street, Blaenavon, viz., the pre- sentation of a beautifully-illuminated address to the Rev Wm. Rees on his retirement from the pastorate, together with a tea and coffee ser- vice to Mrs Rees. At five o'clock the members and numerous friends sat down to an excellent tea pro'vided for the occasion in the schoolroom, after which they repaired to the chapel, where the presentations were to take place. A great number of people were present to do honour to Mr Rees, among them being the Revs S. R. Young, of Abergavenny, and J. Meredith, of Brecon. Mr GiH was first proposed as Chairman for the evening, but not being in his usual health he begged to be excused, and the Rev S. R. Young was then elected to fill the chair. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, stated that when he came there that evening he did not expect to find himself placed in such an honourable position, but he readily accepted the post, and would discharge the duties to the best of his ability. After a few more remarks, he called upon the choir to sing. The Rev Mr Griffiths read a portion of the Scriptures and offered up prayer, and Mrs Clark and Miss Morgan then played a pianoforte duet, which was very nicely rendered. Letters of apology for non-attendance were read from the Revs Evan Thomas, J. Edwards (Forge Side), and J. Morgan (Llanwenarth). The Chairman, in commenting upon these letters, said that none were better able to judge than the inhabitants of BIaenavon whether the sentiments contained in them were well-founded or not. It was about 30 years since he came to Blaenavon first, and there had been some great changes during that period. He received his first fee at Garnderris, where they paid him two shillings for preaching one sermon, which he thought was Is lid more than it was worth. A great improvement had since then been effected in the place of worship in which he found him- self that evening. Then the chapel was very much smaller than it is at present, and better than being simply a large place of worship, it contained a good congregation. He recollected that many years ago, when he first began preaching, he found some difficulty in retaining his self-possession. He had one very strong point which he endeavoured to instil into the minds of his hearers, which he took from this passage of Scripture, If ye love me, keep my commandments if we kept His command- ments, it would be a proof that we loved Jesus Christ. Well, in the midst of this, bis sermon, someone got up and said, "if, that's the point." That was the point, of course; if we did not obey the commandments, our professions of re- ligion would would be of no avail, and were mere outward show. A duet by Miss Protheroe and Mr J. Davies, entitled The A.B.C. was very well rendered, and was applauded by the audience. The Chairman then called upon the Rev J. Meredith to address the meeting. Mr Meredith said Mr Chairman and Christian friends, I think that the programme for this evening is for the most part a musical one, and I will not therefore take up your time by making a long speech. Our Chairman, in his address, gave expression to two difficulties, and one was the difficulty of expressing one's self. I can express myself better in Brecon than I can here, so you must not expect much of a speech from me. When I heard that Mr Rees was to receive a presentation, I was only too glad to come and express my great respect for his character. There is the point. I could preach you a ser- mon, because I preach one every Sunday, but I am not going to do so now. I will endeavour, as well as I can, to give expression to the senti- ments with which I regard Mr Rees. I owe, personally, a debt of gratitude to Mr Rees—the living influence of his sermons affects me now —and I have derived a great deal of benefit from his ministry, and his inspiring influence I shall never forget. Considering the depression of the times, the efforts now put forth to give Mr Rees some substantial proof of regard speaks volumes for the affection with which he is re- garded by brethren and if ends; and I am quite sure that Mr Rees will very much appre- ciate this in the future, as it was given him in a time of very great depression. I sincerely wish him and his beloved partner long pros- perity, and may he live long to preach the glo- rious Gospel and bring many souls to Christ. The Rev. E. Jones, M.A. I can assure you that I feel very happy to be present this even- ing. I am happy to be present here this night to hear and see what is to be seen, and because we have proof that your late pastor, Mr Rees, discharged his duties to your entire satisfaction. And it must be pleasant to Mr Rees to witness such unmistakeable proofs as are presented here this evening of his having done his work well in this place. Auother reason why I feel ex- ceedingly happy to be here to-night is that we are furnished with a proof that public society appreciates real worth and Mr Rees is satis- fied, I am sure, with the respect that is evinced for him. I heartily wish him and his wife a long life. I am very glad to think that he is not going to leave us now, and we shall have his presence in Blaenavon. Perhaps he may— who knows?—again be the pastor of this church, to preach the glorious truths of the Blessed God. Song (Mr J. Davies). Chairman I have now the pleasing duty of asking Mr Edwards to kindly come forward and perform the principal business of the evening by making the presentation to Mr Rees. Mr Edwards: Dear Brother, the part allotted to me at this meeting is a very pleasing one— more pleasing on account of your being one of my most hearty and, I believe, one of my most faithful friends. Although I have not had the honour and privilege of sitting under your ministry in this chapel, I have had the pleasure of hearing you preach, and being in your com- pany and I have always thought your society would make those with whom you came in con- tact wiser and better, encouraging them in the paths of integrity and piety. I believe that I made your acquaintance before most, if not all, the members of the congregation, so that my love and respect for you have not assumed their present dimensions in a day or a year, but have been maturing from that time until now. I think it would not be too much for me to say that our friendship partakes of the nature of that which subsisted between Jonathan and David. I am very glad, indeed, you are not going out of the town. On behalf of myself and friends, I am very happy and very pleased to present you with this address, which I think you will find has been beautifully executed.— [Mr Edwards then read the address, which had been excellently got up, and was as follows] An Address presented to the Rev w: Rees on his re- signation of the pastorate of Broad Street- Baptist Church, Blaenavon. Reverend and Dear Sir,—It is with mingled feel- ings of sorrow and joy we present you with this address on your resignation of the pastorate of Broad Street Baptist Church. We are sorry that after a ministry extending over the period of seven years and a half, marked with an unusual degree of prosperity, you have come to the determination to resign the over- sight of the above church and congregation. But we are glad that in taking a retrospective view of the years you have so devotedly and successfully laboured amongst us, our hearts are moved with the deepest feelings of gratitude to the wise Disposer of All Things for bringing you amongst us, and for blessing your arduous labours to the edification of His people and to the conversion of many souls. As soon as you entered upon your pastorate at this place, your whole energy of both mind and body was given to the work, a new life was infused into all or- ganisations connected with the church, and great re- ligious prosperity followed—the Sabbath School flourished, and the sanctuary was crowded with an overflowing congregation. You had the privilege during your pastorate of admitting into the fold of Christ, by the rite of baptism, about two hundred and fifty persons, and of giving them the right hand of Christian fellowship. It was soon found that the regular attendants on your ministry were too numerous to be comfortably accommodated in the said chapel, and a new chapel was built in anotner part of the town, in which you have had the pleasure of seeing a church formed and a worthy pastor settled. In your public capacity as pastor, superior intellectual ability,large-heartedness, and fervent emotions, sanctified by the grace of God, have made you a man of distinguished power and usefulness. You spared no labour on your prepara- tions for the pulpit, so that your sermons were always adapted to enlighten and stimulate the intellect, to awaken the conscience, to purify the heart, and to elevate the tone of our entire being: which were in- variably delivered with considerable amount of energy, andj we believe, of unction from above. In your more private capacity as pastor there was discovered in you a gentleman of strong will, great in tegrity, a friend indeed, and a pastor absorbed in his high calling, most faithful in the discharge of his onerous duties, and at all times ready to minister to the necessities of the poor and nffiicted. And you have been always ready to identify your- self with all movements conducive to the welfare of the public generally. You have done your part well, on behalf of political and religious liberty, as a mem- ber of the Blaenavon Branch of the Liberal Associa- tion for Monmouthshire and also for the good cause of elementary education, as one of the most useful Managers of the Blaenavon British Schools. And now, Dear Sir, as your pastoral connection with the above church is, by your own choice, severed, we beg to express our cordial regard for you, and our most sincere and ardent wishes for your pros- perity and happiness in your future sphere of labour. May you and Mrs Rees be spared for many years to serve your generation,and adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour. On behalf of the forementioned Church and Con- gregation, and other friends at Blaenavon, we are, Reverend and Dear Sir, very truly yours, THOMAS HUBBALL, Chairman of Committee; WM. EDWARDS, Treasurer of Committee; R. HUGHES, Congregational Minister; WILLIAM MEREDITH, Senior Deacon of Broad Street Church; CHARLES A. BIRD, Secretary of Broad Street Church DAVID JONES, M.A., Calvinistic Methodist Minister; GEORGE REES, Secretary of Committee. The tea and coffee service was then presented to Mrs Rees by Mrs Jayne, with a few remarks suitable for the occasion. The Rev W. Rees, in responding, said Mr Chairman and many Christian friends,—There are times when the tide of the feelings of the human heart rises high, and when words are al- ways found very inadequate mediums for ex- pression. Such I feel the present to be. I will not occupy you long in returning to you, on be- half of myself and my beloved wife, the grateful acknowledgments which we feel for the honour you have done us both this evening. We shall ever appreciate the tokens of your love and es- teem which you have now presented to us. They shall be placed in the very best place we have in the house and your hearts, which are here embodied and represented, shall have the best place in our hearts. We shall appreciate them because they represent a considerable sum of money, but we have greater and stronger reasons for appreciating them. They represent something in our estimation more valuable than anything that money can represent. We shall appreciate them because of the catholicity of spirit which they represent. I am fully aware that the church at Broad Street have had their full share in this matter, but I rejoice in the fact that there are many other friends in the town who are represented as well. We shall look upon them not as embodying the respect and appreciation of one congregation only, not of Baptist Churches only, but of all denominations and of many individuals. We appreciate them on account of the times and the circumstances under which you have subscribed for them. We have passed through a period of great commer- cial depression, and when this depression had reached its climux, and when we are in its very crisis—although, I hope, about to emerge from it-these tokens have been presented to me and my wife. No one would feel more sorry than myself if this had been the occasion or the cause of diverting a single sixpence from going to the rescue of any poor person, but my experience is that those who contribute towards these tokens before us are the very parties who take care of God's poor. I appreciate them, too, in my ca- pacity as a minister of the Gospel and they prove, my dear friends, that it is still possible, now nearly at the close of the nineteenth cen- tury, for a minister of the Gospel who endea- vours to discharge his duties to the best of his ability, though characterised by many imper- fections, to meet with the love and esteem of his congregation and the friends around him. There have been many drawbacks during the seven and a-half years of my ministry here; but I am happy to stand before you, with God as my witness, to warn men and to bring them to Christ Jesus; and as long as I live it is my intention to devote myself to the great and glorious work of making known the unsearch- able riches of Christ. Accept then, my dear friends, on behalf of myself and my beloved wife, our sincere and heartfelt thanks for these tokens of your respect which you have presented to us. I have ouly one thing more to say, and that is to express my thanks to Mr Young, who has shown his friendship towards me by coming up from AbArgavenny this very oold evening, and to my brethren in the ministry. I thank them most heartily for the kind feeling they have manifested towards me, and I hope I shall ever be worthy of their confidence. (Loud ap- plause.) Several other gentlemen addressed the meet- ing, among them being the Rev. W. Griffiths, Mr Gill, and Mr T. James, all speaking of Mr Rees in the highest terms, after which a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for pre- siding. The Chairman, in responding, said he had listened with very great satisfaction to the words that had been uttered with respect to Mr Rees. They must have been true words, or they would not have been uttered before such a large audience. It was a great thing to have one's good qualities recognised and appreciated, and he thought Mr Rees had received that recogni- tion to-night. He considered that a great re- sponsibility now rested upon Mr Rees, to retain that high place in the esteem not only of this church, but of all the inhabitants of the town. Mr Rees had plenty of force left in him, and he trusted that force would find expression in his again preaching the Gospel wherever anopening could be made for him. In conclusion, he begged to thank them for the kind expressions towards him, and to express the sincere enjoy- ment he had received that eveniug. Miss Morgau sang a song specially adapted for such an occasion, which was very nicely rendered.—A vote of thanks was then passed to the performers and the ladies who had so kindly assisted at the tea-table, the proceedings being closed with singing by the Choir.

THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE CZAR. A strange rumour is current to the effect that the Russian Embassy in London, as far back as last July, had information of a plot to blow up the Czar while travelling on the railway. Precautions were accordingly taken, though it was impossible to tell when the attempt would be made. It now appears that the mine was dug in September or October last, and the tunnel leading to the railway embankment was 160ft. long, 3ft. high, and care- fully lined with brick.

PRESENCE OF MIND. An extraordinary story of presence of mind comes from Pottsville, Penn. A miner was employed on a shaft on Sharp Mountain. He had lighted a fuse, and was climbing to the surface by means of pegs in the side of the shaft. When within a few feet of the top one of the pegs gave way, and the un- fortunate man fell to the bottom, 30 feet below. One of his thighs was broken, and the splintered bones were pushed through two pairs of pantaloons. Notwithstanding his terrible injuries, he had suffi- cient presence of mind to crawl to the lighted fuse, which had burned to within a few inches of the charge, and to smother it. If he had not done this, he would have been blown to pieces when the ex- plosion took place. He then crawled back to one of the earth buckets, got into it without assist- ance, and was hoisted to the surface.

THE LONDON CATTLE SHOW. The 82nd annual cattle show of the Smithfield Club was opened on Monday. It is the 18th that has been held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, and, as far as the cattle are concerned, the number of en- tries is considerably in exccss of those of last year arid the year before- This is accounted for by the fact that this year the have rescinded the rule prohibiting any »nirv»'. which had taker a prize at a frovincial show witiin enfi month from the 1st December from being exhibited: consequently a considerable number of recent prize winners figure in this year's show. Friday and Saturday being the two days on which animals were admitted, were, as usual, exceptionally busy days, and by nine o'clock on Monday morning, the hour at which the judging commenced, everything was in proper order. The show is divided into 76 classes, comprising 439 ex- hibits. Thirty-two of these classes are devoted to cattle, 31 to sheep, and J 3 to pigs. The actual number of cattle is 239, as compared with 182 last year; there are 150 pens of sheep, against 156 last year and 50 pens of pigs, against 63 last year. The aggregate amount of prizes, including champion plate and cup, &e., considerably exceeds £3,000, and it is possible for the same to win as much as £220, viz., as first prize in its class according to class, £25; silver cup as best of its breed, silver cup as best steer or ox in the classes, and the champion plate as best beast in the show. Among the exhibitors are her Majesty the Queen, who had five entries in the cattle classes, and four in the pig classes; and the Prince of Wales, who has ten entries in the cattle classes, three in the sheep classes, and one in the pig classes. It is noted as a remaikable circumstance that his Royal Highness has completely taken the Elace of his illustrious mother in competition in the levon classes, he having five entries and the Queen but one. These classes this year maintain their average number, and it is said that among them are some remarkably ood specimens. The Ilereforda are spoken of as being exceedingly good, and the shorthorns, of which there are 63, being the class in which the main increase in number occurs, will certainly be able to hold their own in Jthe compe- tition f°f prizes. In both ot these classes the Queen ana tne Prince of Wales compete, among other notable exhibitors being Mr. John Walter, M.P., Colonel Buller, Ir; John Overman, Mr. Neame (of Faversham), the ivirl of Darnley, Mr. Wcrtley, Colonel Lloyd Lindsay, Earl of Egmont. Earl Spcncer, Lord Tredegar, the Earl of Dunmo> e, and v. Richard Stratton, who carried off the grand prize of iaet year's show.

1 AN ECCENTRIC DUKE, In an account of the life of the late Duke of Port. land the Times says:—His Grace never took an active part in the proceedings of the Upper House, but he steadily supported with his vote the Conservative Administration of Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli. He was better known in turf and sporting circlos He was the owner of magnificent estates in England and Scotland, but in his later years he became some- what of a recluse. His father, having become im- pressed with the id, a that there was about to be a scarcity of oak, planted a tree wherever he could until his park at Welbock Abbey, Nottinghamshire, war almost a plantation when he died, in 1854. His son and successor, the subject of this memoir on taking up his residence at Walbeck, proceeded to improve the estate, cutting down the surperfluous timber, and laying out the park on the most improved principles of landscape gardening. He constructed the most perfect series of kitchen gardens in the kingdom, with hot, fruit, and forcing houses, and spent much of his time and great part of his incomo in putting his seat in the most perfect order for re- ceiving and entertaining guests in ducal style; but, owing mainly to the state of his health, he kept no company and gave no entertainments on any occasion A local contemporary, in speaking of his Grace's endeavour to con vert a stream through his park into a' lake six miles long, says:—" Hundreds of labourers were employed in this and other work on the estate in hand at good wages, but on one condition—no one was to speak to him or saluto him. The man who touched his hat was at once discharged. The village doctor and the parson had the same orders. Tho tenants were informed of the duke's wishes, and if they met him they were to pass him • as they would a tree.' Yet he was [constantly about his domain, planning and superintending improvements." He was, however, in spite of his eccentricities, an ex- cellent landlord, both in England and Scotland- draining and building on a large scale, and keeping his farms in first-rate condition. To every useful country work and every charity he was ready to sub- T } roads, churches, and schools upon the I ortiana estates are scarcely surpassed by those on any estate in the kingdom.

WIT AND HUMOUR. A STOLEN kiss has been defined as peaches me scream.' IT'S a game of "bluff when you try to scale precipice. JONAH is reported to have been the first man whe struck oil. My son, emulate the nrule; it is backward in deed* of violence. A YOUNG lady remarks, The most awful thing about the city is its offal.' THEUE is a wide difference between 1 printing' t kisa snd 'publishing' it. A NEW YORK lady calls her lover Stop, because he never goes until he is told. A BROXEX preserve vase suggests the Chinese lan- guages, because it is a jar gone. A MAN who declared himself to be intoxicated with music was considered air-tight. IT is one of the curious ways of the world that a male hair-dresser often dyes an old maid. 'DOCTOR,' said a lady, 'are colds contagious?' No, madame, but they are catching.' THE man who trifled in courtship found himself suddenly launched on the sea of matrimony. FRANKLIN says that iich widows are the only second- hand goods that will sell at prime cost. THEY say that oysters have improved, but to us they seem to be going down—by the half-dozen. A SHOEMAKER has perhaps more interest in woman's right—and lefts—than anybody else. AN enthusiastic lover in Texas says that his are a pink portico to the soul beyond.' I HE late husband, when he finds that somebody has stolen the keyhole out of his door, and diffidently rings the bell, knows exactly who "the Coming Woman is. IT is not easy to understand the craving of a man for tobacco, until one sees a fat person climb a lamp- post late at night for the purpose of lighting a brown paper cigarette. By our Irish contributor: What is the difference between a waltz and a young wife of sixteen who has just lost her husband?—One is a giddy whirl, and the other is a widdy girl. ( A MATHEMATICIAN, being asked by a stout fellow If two pigs weigh twenty pounds, how much wiL a large hog weigh r' replied, Jump into the scales and I will tell you immediately.' A HANDBILL announcing a temperance picnic wai- conspicuously headed N. B. 'Take notice, I sup- pose,' said a man who stopped to read it.—' Oh, no,' replied his friend: no beer.' A RATHER gaily-dressed young lady asked her Sunday-school class What was meant by the pomps and vanities of the world ?' The answer wa" honest, but rather unexpected Them flowers on your hat." A SOUTH AMERICAN plant has been found that cures bashfulness. It should be promptly tried on the man who leaves the hotel by the back window be- cause he is too diffident to sa) good-bye to the cashier and clerk.

A committee, with Mr S. Morley, M.P., as chair- man, and Mr John Holms, M.P., as vice-chsurman, is being formed for urging upon the Londonchool Board the advisability of securing the entire ser- vices of its chairman by the payment of a salary. Well, my dear, how did you enjoy yourself at the Tea Party?"—"Oh, very much. mama; Mrs Jones had splendid Cake and such nice Pastry from FURLOW'S, in Crane-street, Pontypool.—ADVT. ^IOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT.—Sores, wounds, ulcera- tions, and other diseases affecting the skin are amendable by this cooling and healing unguent. It has called forth the loudest praise from persons who have suffered for years from bad legs, abscesses, and chronic ulcers, after every hope of cure has long passed away. None but those who have experienced the soothing effect of this Ointment can form an idea of the comfort it bestows by restraining inflammation and allaying pain. When- ever this Ointment has been once used, it has established its own worth, and has again been eagerly sought for, as the easiest and safest remedy for all ulcerous com- plaints. In neuralgia, rheumatism, and gout, thesaine application, properly used, gives wonderful relief.

On Monday morning an explosion of firedamp took place at the Rhondda Merthyr Colliery, Tre- herbert, by which one man, named John Hughes, was very severely burnt. Excuse me, madam, but I should like to ask you why you look at me so very savagely !Oh, I beg your pardon, sir; I took you for my hus- band Hollo I say, what did you say your medicine would cure ?" Oh, it'll cure everything-heal anything!" Ab, well, I'll take a bottle; maybe it'll heel my boots-they need it bad enough!" THE REV JOHN SHEWARD, of Milton, Kent, writes October 29tb, 1878 :—"My nerves were so shattered that I dreaded the simplest duties, and lost all energy and pleasure in the performance of them. The despondency I endured became almost unbearable. Since taking COBDEN'S PILLS the change in my health for the better is very marked. I have lost that horrible depression, my nerves are much stronger, and my general health very greatly improved. I cannot express how truly thankful I feel for the remarkable and pleasing change." COBDEN'S QUININE AND PHOS- PHOROUS PILLS give strength, energy, and vigorous vitality. Infallible in Neuralgia.—Ask for COBDEN'S PILLS," 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d., and have no others. Any Chemist will get them if they are not in stock, or they will be sent, Post Free, on receipt of 33 or 54 stamps (great saving), by the Sussex Drug Co., 135, Queen's Road, Brighton. Local Agent: -E. B. FORD, Chemist, George Street, Pontypool.

LOSDOxN CORRESPONDENCE. Considerable importance is attached to the rumour that General Ignatieff is to be the new Russian Ambassador at Rome. A telegram from Vienna states that this step has been resolved upon as a counter demonstration to the Austro- German alliance. Russia, elbowed out of being only indifferently viewed by France, con- templates taking to her bosom the Italian Kingdom. Mr. Sergeant Cox has left an income ot £30,000 from papers alone. At the time he pur- chased two of them they were insolvent. His distinguishing trait as a proprietor was his respect for the rights of editors. A friend asked him to get a book reviewed in one of his papers. "I have no power," said he: "my editor de- clined to review my own book." His illness was at first noticed by a page boy; and it is thought that had prompt measures at once been taken, consciousness might have been restored. Apropos, I believe it was one of Mr. Delane's canons never to let a writer for the Times write against his convictions. General Roberts begins to fear that he has made a mistake. Not being a literary man himself, he cannot imitate Caesar and write his own commentaries. No newspaper will publish the communications which he instructs his lieutenants to write, and no correspondent? will submit to the terms which the new regula- tions impose. So he has caused to be unofficially intimated to the Simla authorities that they may discreetly allow some of the correspondents to "slip through," upon condition that they look after themselves. One correspondent has already gone; others are likely to follow; and in a day or two we shall have some trustworthy news from Afghanistan. ♦ # The partial destruction by fire of the Wesleyan Chapel in the City Road will have pathetic in- terest for Methodists in all parts of the world. The building was raised mainly through the exertions of John Wesley. It was his first regular chapel in London, and within its pre- cincts rested his remains for a period of thirty- five years. Previously the father of Methodism had conducted his services at The Old Foun- dry," which he .held on lease only. For many years the new chapel was the head of London Methodism. Wesley laid its foundation-stone in 1777. On Sunday, 1st November, 1778, he opened the building by preaching in it. Tho memorial pillars, recently erected in the chapel at considerable cost by Mr. Waddy, Q.C., have also been seriously injured. In a little church off the City Road there is a clergyman whose nervousness is a local parable. Having given out a hymn last Sunday, he forgot to make an announcement until the organ was pealing its loudest. "Oh, stop! Stop, stop!" he cried, to the great surprise of the congrega- tion. The organist pulled up very short. Then, with perspiration on his brow, the parson turned to the congregation, and began—"During the singing Gf this collection, the hymn will be devoted to the purposes of-" Then he saw his mistake. It was too late to mend it. He looked round in horror and paused, forgot what he was going to say, made a tremendous attempt to recover his memory, and, failing, cried with piteous plaintiveness, "The purpose of—what— what I told you this morning." The whole con- gregation burst into a loud laugh, which no effort could restrain, and the remainder of the service was nothing better than a "merry noisa." # Tichbornism is coming on. It has a candi- date now for the Tower Hamlets. He has hitherto been unknown to fame by the style and title of Mr. Parrett. The strange thing is, how- ever, that this Mr. Parrett is to be found any- where but in the Tower Hamlets. He pursues the cause of poor Tichbourne" by addressing meetings everywhere else but in the borough whose favour he seeks. He appeared on Wednes- day at Penge on a still stranger mission. By agitation in Penge he hopes not so much to improve his own chances of return to the Tower Hamlets as the claimant's chances of return for Nottingham. Penge being in Surrey, and Nottingham 100 miles away, the delicacy of this method of electioneering is equalled only by its futility. As things stand, the Tower Hamlets has a plethora of candidates. There are already three so-called Liberal candidates for the two seats—Mr. Samuda, Mr. Bryce, and Mr. Lucraft. With a Ticbornite thrown in to make the bal- ance, Mr. Ritchie, the Conservative member, feels easy about his return to the next Par- liament. # Mr. Mackonochie does not believe in the royal supremacy, and he rejects the courts of the Queen; but her Majesty, personally, looks with great pity upon him, and would befriend him if she could. It is well known that she felt deeply the necessity of sending Mr. Tooth 'to prison, and she is greatly indisposed to have another clergyman in gaol for conscience' sake during her reign. I am disposed, therefore, to believe the rumour that she has intervened to avert, if she can, a grave scandal. Mr. Mackonochie, however, is not likely to be amenable even to the gentle persuasion of the first lady in the land. He was as defiant as ever on Monday. The illegal incense poured out* in more than wonted profusion, and every act was done which the court had condemned. Father Tooth and a band from Hatcham were present to "assist" in a breach of the law and a defiance of the courts. Meanwhile, Lord Penzance, the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, and Premier are in con- stant correspondence, and can come to no decision. Certainly if the Court of Arches is like any other court it does not act like any other court. No other judge but Lord Penzance would be guided by primates, the Premier, and ministers of state as to his judg- ment. # You will eeasily understand with what ner vous eagerness the earnest patriot clutched the Trade and Navigation Returns on Monday. Until the scale before our eyes was removed by the Guildhall speech, the figures of British trade had given us little but anxiety. Now we have learnt that sulphuric acid will dissolve even a general depression and make it crystallise again into great prosperity. Chemicals are the test of a nation's riches and to chemicals we turn. I am happy to say that we are doing famously the depression of trade is all a myth. We im- ported in November, 1877, only £77,000 worth of chemicals last year it fell to £73,000. This year it has risen to £85,000. In November, 1877, we exported £161,000 worth of chemicals; in 1878 £163,000; last month £180,000. It is true that our export of cotton manufactures for the month is less than it was in 1877, that less linen has been sent out this year than last, that the woollen and worsted trade is doing less than ever; the manufacturers of cotton and wool will not be misled chemicals are up The re- vival of trade is in full blast, and the country is saved. The total imports for the eleven months of the year is £326,000,000 against £338,000,000 last year and £361,000,000 in 1877. The total export for the eleven months is £174,000,000, against £178,000,000 and £182,000,000. But the iron trade is really doing well, and brings the month of November into a better comparison with its predecessors. The total iron exported in November, 1878, was hardly more than a million and a half; for the November just pased it is more than two millions.

Madame Albani has been singing with greal success in Lucia at Florence. A fine eagle has been captured on the Chaussey Isles, near Jersey, after it had killed a sheep. The flax-spinners Springfield and Markinch, Fifeshire, have voluntarily increased their employe; wages to the extent of 5 per cent. The Scotia. and Kangaroo, of the Telegrapb Construction and Maintenance Company, coauMnced laying the African cable. An "1e?lnJ burst ot barbarities and bloodshed is reported by the Rangoon papers to have taken platt tive* the departure from Mandalay of our reprcsenia. tl ve. Mr. Prest, of Jesus College, Cambridge, has been re-elected as President of the Cambridge University boat Club, and will have the turning out of the next university crew. Advices have been received from Commander St. 1 p'lair,|in the Dido, off Bonny, up to October 28, stat- ing that the Pioneer had gone with the Acting-Con- pil to enquire into affairs in the River Niger. Hugh Bums, Patrick Kearns, and Mary Ann rracey, who stand charged with the murder of Patrick rracey, the husband of the last-named prisoner, at Widnis, have been committed for trial. A collision between a torpedo boat and a Gov- ernment steam-tug occurred the other day, in Stokes 3ay, near Portsmouth, by which the engineer and wo of the stokers of the torpedo boat were seriously 1 niured.

The card room hands in the employ of Messrs. Qrmerod Brothers' mill at Todmorton have accepted a further 5 per cent, wages reduction. It iastated that Dr. Seaton, who not long since succeeded Dr. Simon as medical officer of the Local Government Board, has resigned his appointment. The captain and six hands of the Norwegian barque Clara, lost at Hasborough Sands have been landed at Harwicy the smack Louisa. The late Miss Fanny Hersee has bequeathed a totheJNational Society for Promoting the Education of the poor in the principles of the Established Church. The marriage of Mr. Edward Strachey, eldest sou jf Sir Edward Strachey, Bart,, of Sutton Court, Somerset, with Miss Constance Braham, niece of the late Frances Countess Waldegrave, will take place in ihe course of next month. English Roman Catholics, headed by Sir G. Bow- yer, have subscribed to purchase a picture by Francis, the Bologna artist of the 15th century, and present it io the Vatican Gallery, which does not possess any )f his masterpieces. The East and North of Scotland Liberal Associa- n?nj mt,enc^ Publish a verbatim report of Mr. Gladstone's speeches and proceedings in Scotland, aIr. Gladstone, we are informed, has revised his speeches for this publication. PONTYPOOL. P/inted by HUGHES &|SON, at their General Printing Offices, for the Proprietor and Publisher, HENRY HUGHES, Junior, of Penygam, in the parish of Trevethin, and published at the FREE PRESS Office, Market St,—Dec. 13,1879,