The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

I THE COMMISSIONAIRES IN THE CITY. Since the recent jewel robberies in the city, fifteen of the principal firms in Cornhill, including jewellers and watchmakers, have joined together in availing themselves of the services of members of the Corps of Commissionaires, for the protection of their shops and houses at Bights and on Sundays, and a number of picked men have been assigned to that particular duty. Two go upon duty at seven o'clock every even- ing, and remain until midnight, when they are relieved by two fresh men, who keep watch and ward until six in the morning. At uncertain times in the night a superior officer goes the round assigned to the men to see that they are wide awake; and as an additional guarantee for vigilance, tell-tale clocks, similar to those in use at the lobbies of the Houses of Parliament are about to be adopted to show that the commissionaires appointed to this duty patrol their beat a given num- ber of times during the night or any lapse in that respect. The district as yet under their supervision extends only from Birchin-lane to Gracecburch-street, but it comprehends an immense and varied mass of movable property of great value. The experiment has given great satisfaction to those immediately con- cerned the watchmen are exemplary for their vigi- lance and good conduct; a sense of security is thereby engendered: and their services, when once it becomes known that they are available for this particular pur- pose, will probably become in much greater request in the city and elsewhere. The shop of Mr. Walker, in Cornhill, where the greatest of the robberies was com- mitted, is now all through the night regularly lighted with gas in the interior, and exposed to the full gaze of persons passing. An iron grating encloses the whole front of the shop, in place of the ordinary shutters, and an iron safe, containing all that is most costly on the premises, instead of being reflected in a mirror in a back shop, as at the time of the robbery, is placed in a conspicuous position in the front shop, where it is to be seen through the whole night by any one passing. The same arrangement obtains on Sundays throughout the day, and the extreme pub- licity thus given to the contents of the shop night and day is supposed to be the greatest safeguard against robbery.

THE ALLEGED MURDER OF A WIFE AND CHILD AT WOOLWICH. On Monday evening Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, resumed, at the Royal Oak Tavern, Wool- wich, the inquiry respecting the death of Benjamin Jones, an infant, whose body was found in the Thames under circumstances that have given rise to a charge of wilful murder against his father, Thomas Jones. The court was densely crowded, and the proceedings were regarded with great interest, as it was known that the accused was also charged with the murder of the child's mother. The following additional evidence was now pro- duced Louisa Beer said she was sister to the prisoner's late wife, who died on the 30th of April, and the child was born on the 14th of that month. Witness had charge of the infant for about a fortnight, until the prisoner's mother came to keep house for him, when she gave up the child to her. The prisoner's another after about ten days left, and the prisoner then asked her to take care # of the child again, which she did, but had only had it five days when the prisoner told her to bring the baby to him in half an hour, as he had engaged a per- son in London to take oharge of it. The witness then repeated evidence she had previously given as to the identification of the clothing of the infant after it was found in the water Other witnesses were examined to prove this point. Henry Smith, a painter, said that on a Thursday night a short time since, either the 15th or the 8th of June, he was larking with two girls in New-street, Woolwich. It was about ten o'clock. A woman came and told him that Jones wanted to see him outside the Ship and Half Moon public-house. Witness continued, I went and saw Jones, who said, "Hallo, Harry, where can I get a boat ? I said, What do you want of a boat at this hour of the night ? He answered, My landlady has given me half-a-crown to go and drown some cats and dogs which I have now under my arm." I said, "It is very strange for her to give you half-a- crown to drown cats and dogs at this hour of the night." Jones answered, "No, it is not. I may as well do that as nothing," and "I have drowned them m the water-butt." He said that he would not throw them into the river from the bank as there might be a bother; and he asked me for a piece of string to tie them up tight, and said that they would sink because he had put a flat iron with them. I asked him to give me the iron for my mother, but he refused. We went down to the stairs and got a boat from a man for a pot of half-and-half, and we gave two boys a penny each to row it. We went towards the arsenal. I again asked him for the iron, and tried to get at the bundle, but he would not let me. We rowed out into the river to the middle, and he threw the bundle in. We rowed away. He turned round and looked, and sud- denly exclaimed, 11 Ob, good God! it has not sunk. Let as row back." I could not see it in the darkness, and I said, No, no, I am not going back to your — cats and dogs. Row ashore, boys." Nothing more was said. Two boys, Alfred Brewer, and Thomas Nolan proved rowing a boat out in the river on the night of Thursday three weeks, for two men, who said they were going- to drown puppies. The Ct roner said that be would not conclude the present inquiry until he had taken the inquest upon the body of the child's mother. The Court was then adjourned. The Exhumation of the Body of the Child's Mother. Mr. Carttar, the coroner, accompanied by Dr. Stuart, Inspector Brown, and a body of police of the R division, proceeded with a jury to the churchyard of St. Nicholas, Plamstead, where the remains of Mrs. Mary Ann Jones, the mother of the murdered child, had just been exhumed. Large crowds were assembled, and looked on at the proceedings with some degree of awe. The deceased was much decomposed, and when Mrs. Holman, the person in whose house she had lived, was asked if she could recognise her late lodger, she burst into tears, and said that she could not. She ultimately, however, stated that she would be able to identify the shroud and the stockings by certain marks and by the letters "M.A.C." The coroner and jury then proceeded to the Plume of Feathers Tavern, in the village of Plumstead, for the purpose of hearing the evidence. The depositions of Louisa Beer and Mrs. Mary Holman, who witnessed the funeral of deceased, were taken, and the coroner then adjourned the inquiry for the medical evidence, and to give time for a chemical analysis to be made of the stomach and viscera of the deceased. During the afternoon, the accused, Thomas Jones, aged twenty-three, was brought up on remand, before the magistrate, at Woolwieh. He is an intelligent- looking young man, and made no statement whatever. The evidence taken was not so full as that given be- fore the coroner's court. The prisoner was remanded for a week.

1 IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. f la the House of Lords, on Thursday, the Lunatic f %lums Act (1853) Amendment Bill passed through com- hdttee. 1 v The Fortifications (Provision for Expenses) Bill, the Malt B Bin, the Harbours Transfer Bill, the Trusts Adminis- 9 Nation (Scotland) Bill, and the Kingstown Harbour Bill, *ere read a second time. The Public-house Closing Act Amendment Bill was read a r 'Mrd time and passed. A number of other bills were advanced a stage, and tneir 3 0ldships adjourned. the House of Commons, Sir G. Grey'moved tpe second e Ning of the Clerical Subscription Bill, the object ot which i- U° give effect to the unanimous recommendat.on ot a f ^mission which inquired last year into the teiats a d t Acriptions required to be made by ir ^tablifhed Church, with a view to removing the complexity 1 anI! number of those subscriptions. 5 Jttr. Whiteside expressed his satisfaction at the attam- t J|8&t of uniformity of subscription acceptable to all sections ,fc 2 ^e church. He, however, was of opinion that this See should be earned out in the same mann^ aS the .^tides were prepared, namely, by a synod of the church, 6 H he inquired when a licence could be granted to convo- # on to enable it to consider the alteration of the canon [J ^ch related to subscription, urging that it would be & Jpfoper to put the matter before that body after an Act j Parliament making those alterations had passed. i .After some observations from Mr. Buxton, Mr. Briscoe, 'r. S. Lefevre and Mr. Hadfield, d The Attorney-General said that the bill did not absolve the <H !'«rgy from their allegiance to the doctrines of the church, wtaake any change in her doctrines and formularies; but 1 did afford relief to those who had scruples in minor patters and enabled them to preserve their connection tith the church with a good conscience, and in that respect a valuable measuie. With regard to the consulting tte convocation of Ireland, it would have been necessary » create that body solely for that purpose, whereas in Eng. it. d it was in active existence; while in this latter case, j. the convocation was actually in session, it was desirable i have its concurrence in a measure of this kind. ,After some observations from Sir W. Heathcote, Mr. ^roy, an(j Mr. D. Griffith, if Jhe bill was read a second time. gt The Colonial Goyernors Retiring Pensions Bill was taken 0Coramittee, and passed through that stage. tfr Consolidated Fund Appropriation Bill was read a rftfcjthe Controller of the Exchequer and Public Audit Bill through committee. -p. ge [The County Courts Equitable Jurisdiction Bill passed jff !A°lgh Committee. i«0 8? the second reading of the Indemnity isil, Hadfield moved its rejection. iS^a division, the second reading was carried by 3? to 18. OS The Turnpike Trusts Continuance BiH was taken m com- ilf Fttee, when Mr. Locke having moved an amendment on the L4 division was taken, when forty members not being pre- 00 lac tlle sPeaker was sent for' tlie adj°urnrnent took i» 8" ft J* the House of Lords, on Friday, Lord Stanley of X~. fJ?erley pointed out that the dissolution of Parliament was to be delayed by the state of private business m that K^se. He suggested that it would be desirable to make an $per, ag in i§57 and 1859, so that bills which could not be got if |r0ugh HOW should be resumed in the next Parliament, ih* L °rd Redesdale said he would on Monday or Tuesday M make a statement as to the private business. He « feinted, however, to its being handed over to the next ses- F0» b5i e°nversation ensued, in the course of which Lord # Kpy and Lord Chelmsford objected to hurrying the disso- Dt i0l» at the cost of the private bills. jj, ussell urged that the dissolution ought not to be og discussion then took place in reference to a pro- i I Tk crease of the episcopate. Partnership Amendment Bill was ordered for a third 01 'eet¡,g, after some discussion, and, several bills having j& fivr advanced a stage, the House adjourned at nine # Th House of Commons had a morning sitting, at which rtCUL V" bills were put forward a stage. Amongst them was -Hftet ppr?Priation Bill, which passed through eommittee S"ll conversation. propolis Fire Brigade Bill was considered and $1 n third roadies'* IVi 6 ^Oor-Iaw Board Continuance Bill was considered m S^mittee aSd after some discussion, aU the clauses save C8e otio^'were struck out, thus making the bill simply a *2 i^Huance bill. A o&the evening sitting, Mr. Magmre brought up the report W ivj}6 select committee on the Landlord and Tenant Act The report was read at the table, and recom- moditications of the Act. 4 fonr1 the questions had been disposed of, on the motion .$! MY adjournment of the Housfli to Monday, rif oir-^td raised a discussion in reference to the testing rL cables. He argued that the testing should all be # W7° by Government, and that private makers should not C0* Red., I Milner Gibson said the Government had not licensed WHA makers, but had licensed a machine. If they had .-j V°ne so there would have been no machine in London aJ K the Act came into operation. lacussio Sa V, discussion was continued by Mr. Humberston, Mr. »*. fffUy, and Mr. Henley. Corry called attention to the policy pursued as 0 WW Rojal Naval Reserve, to which Lord C. Paget wlsC'^aniland called attention to the claims of the Sat- 5 W^ield Force and the Goa Frontier Field Force to the ft Mutiny Medal. 5^1 V18 having been disposed of, Mr. Hennessy originated a '111' C^sation on the report of the Land Tenure (Ireland) ^Ht the motion for adjournment was agreed to. bills were advanced a stage, and the House ad- Jfld d at a quarter to ten o'clock.

House of Lords met on Saturday at eleven o'clock, JfcWv Purpose of forwarding by a stage a number of pri- aPJloM ~iUs. There were only two. or three lords present. ^JjWi edesdale, the chairman of the committee, presided. following bills were read a third time and passed:— Eoads; Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway ktpt'ons): Bishop's Castle Railway (Cleobury to Min- « 5 Glasgow tfew North Road, &c.; Carnarvonshire Elliott's Trust Estate; Wrexham, Mold, and » kffl'a Quay Railway (Dee Valley Branch); Stonehouse # (jft^Msworth RaUway; Tottenham and Hampstead Junc- « Railway (Deviations) &c.; Furness Railway, Mid U Railway (Western Extension); Mellis and Eye Rail- W', Bishop's Castle Railway (Extensions to Craven s iktth Wrexham and Minerva Railway; Newcastle- wlta Improvement; SoutliNortkumberlap.d Railway; ffifayGas; Glasgow City Union RaUway; Aberdeenshire (fifj 'iS?a; Port Glasgow Police and "Water; West Riding and 'P WJ?y Railway; South Devon Railway, and Scarborough >i'' V*hitby Railway. jjJ standing order No. 178, section 9, was dispensed with al )>8j 5tion to the Alexandra (Newport) Docks Bill, Strath- j- Viva lwa,y> al)d A-kojne and Braemar Railway. I-Redesdale moved the following notice in standing 30% a r 0-179, section 1:—" That this day shall be considered jjll(Wetting day with respect to any petition praying to be #•' tlT uPon the merits against any bili mentioned in either '\3lMo58 two classes of private bills, except to any such bill llJ n ll was read a first time on Friday last," was agreed to, and the House adjourned at I!j ^lutes past eleven. i I —— House of Lords, on Monday, Lord Redesdale said now twenty-one bills before committees, and ■ 5fc "»»foBtp0p^moK if an understanding were come SlKsh^nents would not interpose unnecessary y. We Reason why the whole should not be di^p y jK^ Earl^f Devon moved the second reading of^^th| ijlt k ^tholic Oath Bill, and said he smcerely hopea diy Passing the bill, .their lordships would remove t al)ihty which now oppressed their Roman Catholic- i^Tkl Subjects. a k^'tae?irarl of berby moved tliat the bill be read a secona sti bpi- day three months., The noble earl observed that ijgg that it was neither wise nor expedient, under circumstances, to adopt a measure, the effect of t#e o w°'ild be to subvert one of the leading principles oi llji j/^holic Emancipation Aet, which had been accepted »%e. Wl, satisfactory, and complete arrangement of all Arties. The question at issue should be decided only by b^eZr^h Was for the good of the empire at large. If the f( '"Went would take up the question and prepare an VHa^ieh all classes could take without injury to Pro- ^stitutions, he would willingly assist them; and if give such a promise then he would abstain from idSfut their lordships to divide upon this stage of the bill. not consent to any alteration of the oaths CM not provide for the security of the Established e or lu Ireland, and the maintenance of the property of £ a1.)U'ch. i^ussell was of opinion that the existing oaths security to the Established Church which could ltlia ^lvenin a less objectionable form. He regarded the )11 Ani.e°ntrary to the intentions with which the Emancipa- the?, framed, and. certainly as contrary to the spirit H ah^.e. The best course was to give to Roman Catholics th« „ Just liberty, and to rely upon the Protestant feeling ,aa Sft °,Untry and the conviction of Parliament as to what for the country and essential to the maintenance The j,0a and property. arl p Harrowby opposed the bill. atM >rey supported the bill on similar grounds to those r<3, T?Y Lord KUKSPII. Lord St. Leonards, Lord C helms- '4r4jfSe Marquis of Westmeafch, and Lord Stratford do k vedp °PPOsed, and tlv) Marquis of Clanricarde and Lord tW ^pported the ill. T c, 10a., a.division the second reading was negatived by 84 6*efr. a maiority of 21 against the bill, which was lWa W ^.appropriation Bill was brought up from the Commons, l^d a first time. Mtu, lordships adjourned at half-past ten o'clock. House of Commons, on the order for reading the 'dlt'. d Fund (Appropriation) Bill a third time. 0 Lt4 given ill a less objectionable form. He regarded the )11 Ani.e°ntrary to the intentions with which the Emancipa- the?, framed, and. certainly as contrary to the spirit H ah^.e. The best course was to give to Roman Catholics th« „ Just liberty, and to rely upon the Protestant feeling ,aa Sft °,Untry and the conviction of Parliament as to what for the country and essential to the maintenance The j,0a and property. arl p Harrowby opposed the bill. atM >rey supported the bill on similar grounds to those r<3, T?Y Lord KUKSPII. Lord St. Leonards, Lord C helms- '4r4jfSe Marquis of Westmeafch, and Lord Stratford do k vedp °PPOsed, and tlv) Marquis of Clanricarde and Lord tW ^pported the ill. T c, 10a., a.division the second reading was negatived by 84 6*efr. a maiority of 21 against the bill, which was lWa W ^.appropriation Bill was brought up from the Commons, l^d a first time. Mtu, lordships adjourned at half-past ten o'clock. House of Commons, on the order for reading the 'dlt'. d Fund (Appropriation) Bill a third time. Sir H. Cairns called attention to recent acts of miscon- duct by the members of the Irish constabulary at Belfast and Sligo, and animadverted on the refusal of the inspector- general to institute an investigation in one case, and on the lightness of the punishment inflicted on the offenders in the other case. Mr. Hennessy having spoken, Sir R. Peel remarked that, whatever might be the opinion entertained of their report, there could be no doubt that the committee had paid the most assiduous attention to the subject, and considered it fairly and honestly. Of course he could not take upon himself to say what steps the Govern- ment would be prepared to take next year. After some further discussion of no public interest the bill was read a third time and passed. Several other bills were forwarded a stage, and tae ±ionse adjourned. In the House of Lords, on Tuesday, Earl Granville stated that the Government, after due consideration .of the state of private business, had come to the c<snclusl 3 nTnpT,j. public interests required that the dissolution of Pa ia e t should not be delayed after public busiDCss had been con- cluded, and it was their intention to bring the session to a close on Thursday, 6th July. „ The Prisons Bill and several other bills were advanced a stage, and the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, at a morning sitting, Colonel W. Patten called attention to the state of the private busi- ness of the House, and to the report of the committee on the Court of Referees on Private Bills, and moved a stand- ing order to the effect that the chairman of ways and means, and such other persons as the Speaker might ap- point, shalLbe referees to form one or more courts of at least three members-the chairman of each court to be a member of the House. He suggested that, looking to the onerous nature of the duties, the chairmen, though mem- bers of the House, should be paid. After a 14ng discussion it was arranged that the motion should be confined to a standing order continuing the referees, and the question of payment of chairman post- poned to next session. The Clerical Subscription Bill and the Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill, as amended, were considered. The County Courts Equitable Jurisdiction Bill, the Ex- piring Laws Continuance Bill, and the Poor-law Board Con- tinuance Bill were read a third time and passed. At the evening sitting, Mr. Longfield called attention to the report of the com- mittee on the Leeds Bankruptcy Court, and observed that twice within three months a distinguished member of her Majesty's Government had caused formal inquiries to be made into the distribution of the patronage at his disposal, and had been known to have allowed officials to be pushed from their places in order to bestow them on members of his family. The hon. gentleman then, at length, went into the circumstances of the inquiry before the select com- mittee, and inquired what steps the Government proposed to take in consequence of the report against the parties implicated by it. The Attorney-General protested against this motion as prematurely made, before the evidenee taken by the select committee was in the hands of members; and yet the House was asked to reverse the decision ef the committee at once. He argued that on the facts it must be taken that the Lord Chancellor was no party to the alleged corrupt arrangements between his son and the other parties con- cerned, for the Lord Chancellor had for a long time re- frained from communication, either personally or by letter, with his son; nor was he answerable for amy act of his son assuming to exercise influence over his father. The Govern- ment had determined to lay the evidence taken by the committee before the law officers of the crown, to decide whether the persons implicated could be subjected to criminal prosecution. After some discussion, in which Mr. G. Hardy, Mr. Den- man, Mr. Hennessy, and other hon. members took part, Lord Palmerston expressed the pain and indignation with which he had listened to Mr. Longfield's speech, while admitting the right of one party to attack individuals of another; yet he must say that such persons had always had fair play in that House, which the Lord Chancellor had not received. It appeared that Mr. Longfield had made asser- tions not borne out by the evidence. He regretted that the hon. member had taken a course so unusual in the House. The subject then dropped. In answer to Mr. C. Forster, „ Lord Palmerston said that the prorogation would tak place on Thursday week, the 6th July. The House then adjourned. In the Honse of Commons, on Wednesday, the motion of Mr. D. Griffith, the Tests Abolition Oxford Bill was with- drawn. The Postmaster-General Bill was read a second time. Mr. Hibbert withdrew the Capital Punishments within Gaols Bill. The Bank Notes Issue (Scotland) Bill was withdrawn. The Clerical Subscription Bill, the Turnpike Acts Con- tinuance Bill, and the Colonial Docks Loans Bill were read a third time and passed. The other orders, chiefly consideration of xiords amendments, were gone through, and the House ad- journed.

ARREST OF GOVERNOR MAGRATH. The New York correspondent of the Daily News says :-Probably no better illustration of the complete prostration of the South, physical and moral, could be presented than the arrest of Governor Magrath, of South Carolina, a few days ago in Columbia, by a lieutenant and two men, without the slightest attempt at resistance either on the part of the prisoner or the inhabitants. Four years ago there was hardly a man in the State whose blood would not have boiled at the thought of the governor being carted off from the capital in an ambulance by three Yankees. The spirit of the people is completely broken. Magrath was, before the war, a judge in the United States District Court in Charleston, and an indomitable fire-eater, secessionist and pro-slavery man. While in this position, in I860 Charley Lamar brought over a cargo of negroes in the famous yacht Wanderer, and landed them openly under the nose of the officials. The case came before the couit, and Judge Magrath delivered an opinion on a motion of the district attorney, for leave to enter a nol. pros., declaring the act of Congress, making the slave trade piracy, to be unconstitutional. This judgment was received with great rejoicing throughout the South, and was published as a pamphlet. After Mr. Lincoln's election he became one of the foremost and fiercest advocates of secession, and occupied a prominent position in the convention which passed the ordinance which took South Carolina out of the Union. During the fight lie stood firmly by the Confederacy, and sacrificed in its behalf the resources of his un- fortunate State without any stint. After Johnstonc's surrender, he coolly prepared to continue the exercise of his functions, and issued a proclamation directing all the Confederate stores within the limits of his jurisdiction to be distributed amongst the inhabitants. This called forth a fierce order from General Gillmore, at Charleston, warning Magrath against the assuming any authority, and forbidding the inhabitants to obey him. On seeing this the governor felt that it was all over with him, and he issued an address, laying down his authority, which is, I think, in many respects the most remarkable document of the day. An humbler and franker confession of utter defeat and despair has never been put on paper. Considering from whom it came, and to whom it was addressed, and where it was published, its importance, as an mdi- cation of the condition of the South, cannot be well over-estimated. If heart and hope are so utterly lost in South Carolina, where can we expect the Federal Government to meet with even a breath of resistance. Magrath closed his official career in a manner benVcmg his proclamation, by quietly marching off a prisoner between two private soldiers.

THE SCOTCH ELECTIONS. Lord Eloho has written the following reply to a letter from the Protestant Electoral Union of Scot- land St. James' s-plase, June 10. Gentlemen, I have to acknowledge the receipt of a lithographic circular letter, dated 'Protestant Electoral. Union of Scotland,' commencing with Dear Sir,' and signed 'J. H. Skinner, President; W. G. Cassels, Hon fc>ee.' "By this circular I am requested to reply to the following questions1. Will you support a motion for the withdrawal of the Maynoeth grant and of all other grants for the support cf Romanism P 2. Will you support or oppose any proposal in Parliament for the endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland out of the Consolidated Fund or otherwise? In reply, I have to state that, personally, I have not the honour of your acquaintance; that, ^publicly, I have no knowledge of the existence o e Protestant Eleotoral Union of Scotland;, and that, politically, I do not recognise the jurisdiction of an^ such self-con- stituted body. I deny the right of this or any other self.constituted political association to attempt to, usurp the functions of the constituencies, and thus to interfere between a representative and his constitu. ents, or between candidates and electors. It is a direct interference with the freedom of election, and an unconstitutional attempt to lower the representa- tive of a constituency to the level of a delegate of a sectarian political association. I have now for eight- een years had the honour of representing the county of Haddington in Parliament. I have invariaoly declined, as regards my constituents, to limit my free- dom and discretion in the exercise of my Parliamentary duties by any pledge. To that course I intend to ad- here. Hitherto I have enjoyed the confidence of my constituents. That confidence I hope to retain, and I I do not believe it will be forfeited or diminished by my denying, on their part as well as on my own, your right to interfere between them and me.—I remain, yours, &c.,

AGRICULTURAL MEETING IN FRANCE. The agricultural meeting for the department of the Seine-et-Oise has just been held at Houdans, and proved one of the most brilliant that has taken place for many years past. The number of persons present was not less than 15,000. The show of animals was large, and was particularly noted for a number of Norman and Swiss cows, heifers, &e. The mares and foals formed one of the most interesting portions of the exhibition, and bore witness to the care bestowed on the breeding of horses in the department. The Houdan breed of fowls, for which the district is cele- brated, was also much admired. Ploughing matches and trotting races also took place. At the distribu- tion of prizes, M. A. Darblay, the deputy-president of the association, occupied the chair, and among the distinguished persons present were M. Baroche, minister of justice, and Count de Saint-Marsault, pre- fect of the department. M. Darblay opened the pro- ceedings with an address, in which, after referring to the previous meetings of the society, he touched on the situation of agriculture at the present moment. The rich crops before us," he said, reminds us that agriculture is suffering from the low price of almost all its products, in consequence of two abun- dant harvests not only in France but in the neighbour- ing nations. It is not, however, in the diminution of the production that a remedy is to be sought for, but in an increased yield on the same extent of land. The Government must, however, afford assistance. The average produce of wheat per hectare (2J acres) is in France from fifteen to sixteen hectolitres (2 bushels 4 each), while in England the yield ia nearly double. The reason is not that the soil of England is richer, but that England not only feeds a larger number of head of cattle in proportion to the extent of her terri- tory, but the farmers there employ twenty times more foreign manure. The Government ought therefore to abolish the differential duty on guano imported in the vessels of other countries, and even offer a premium. The suppression of canal and river dues would also diminish the cost of carriage in France. There was reason to regret that the committee on the budget should have rejected the bill for abolishing the duty on brandy used tn improving the quality of wines (vinage), as such a measure would encourage the cultivation of beetroot, by the planting of which in the rotation of crops the land ia so greatly enriched. The soil is the most productive of all undertakings in France, and yet the example of England proves that the yield may be largely increased (loud applause). The Government ought to encourage agricultural exertions by according honorary recompenses, of which it shows somewhat too great a parsimony with respect to that branch of enterprise. Every year, in each department, let the farmer the most deserving, designated by his fellow-agriculturists, receive the Cross from the Emperor, and the wonderful effects of such a course would soon be observed. The emulation would be immense, and the State would not have to lay out anything in the shape of money. Far from expending, the State would gain enormously, as the production would be increased in every district" (renewed applause). The proceedings were terminated by a banquet under an immense tent. More than 700 persons sat down, among them being the Minister and the Prefect, the President and the committee of the Association. with the farmers and their wives and children. M. Darblay proposed the health of the Emperor, asso- ciating with his name the Empress and the Prince Imperial. The toast was received with repeated cheers. This was followed by a toast To Agricul- ture," by M. Baroche, who, in a speech which was frequently interrupted by applause, referred to the reforms which have taken place in the legislation by which agriculture has been usefully infiuenced during the last few years. The regime of free trade, he sa;d, has not caused the fall in the price of corn, as the customs returns show that the exports of that article were four times the value of the imports, while the distillation of beetroot, the manufacture of sugar and colza oil, and the breeding of cattle had opened to agriculture new and abundant sources of profit. The prefect, in proposing The Department," gave an outline of the progress made of late years in the Seine- et-Oise. Nearly 65,000 children of both sexes, he said, frequented the free schools, and while the number of children not receiving instruction was a few years back 4,000, it is now only 1,050. The produce sf the land in the department, estimated in 1830 at thirty- three millions, has now increased to fifty-eight mil- lions, and the direct taxes have risen from five millions to ten millions. The evening passed over most agree- ably, and the urbanity and tact of the chairman were universally admitted.

MR. JEFFERSON DAVIS' TRIAL AND CONDUCT. The New York Times refers to the trial of Mr. Davis in the following positive terms :— We can say authoritatively that the Government has positively determined that Davis shall be tried by a civil tribunal. At first the Cabinet was about equally divided upon the question whether the traitor should be tried by a military or a civil court; but within a week past the question was definitely settled .that a civil court should try the case. Where the trial is to take place has not been discussed folly, and there is no good reason for believing it will not take place here under the indictment already found." A Washington letter in the New York Daily News repeats the complaint of the ill treatment of Mr. The falsehood about Mr. Davis having been dis- guised in female apparel is now exploded, and only brings ridicule upon those who believed it. It served its purpose, however, and probably not one in a thousand of those who heard the falsehood has since seen its contradiction. Ihe inhuman treatment which Mr. Davis has received, however, since his .incarcera- tion in the dungeons of xortress Monroe deserves to bo placed before the world in its true colours. I herewith send y°u. the tacts as I have learnt them. The conduct of Mr. Davie, ever since he has been imprisoned in the fortress, has been exactly what those who were his former associates in the United States Senate would have expected from him. He knows that it is useless for him to struggle against his fate, or to repine at the misfortune which has be- fallen him* He has, therefore, accepted his misfortune in a spirit of true Christian resignation. He has never given utterance to an angry sentiment, nor used language unbecoming a gentleman. The man is to be pitied, indeed, who is credulous enough to believe that Jefferson Davis railed at his gaolers or at the Govern- ment, that he threw his food at the head of the attend- ant, that he knocked down two of his guards in succession, and that he violently resisted the guards while they were placing the shackles and manacles upon his limbs. Any man of common sense would know that it would do no good to act thus, and Jefferson Davis has never for a moment forgotten hienseif or the position which he occupies in the eyes of the world. At some time not far distant the secrets of his prison house will be revealed. Mr. Paris is entitled by the usages I of nations to the treatment of a general officer and te the food and table service pertaining thereto. Evesy European Government would have recognised tiat right, and Mr. Davis, knowing that it was his, do- mandad it in firm but courteous language. Herefiteed to eat the coarse food brutally thrown down beforw him, and his right to proper food has since been grudgingly allowed. The placing of the manaoies upon his limbs is an outrage for which there is me excuse. He was not violent; he did not knock dovra either one sr two of his guards; he had done nothtBgr affording the slightest pretext or provocation for suc-fc an outrage. It was done to gratify the most malig- nant feelings of revenge and hatred, and it wag not authorised by President Johnson. It is pretended that the brutal act was ordered by General Miles, &A that it was sanctioned by telegraph by Secretary Stanton. No resistance, except by words, was to this last indignity.^ Who but a crazy man wo»M have thought of resisting a party of men composed of an officer. a blacksmith, and four strong soldiers Z armed to the teeth, with eight more soldiers at hand? All these facts, I repeat, wiil one day be known to the world."

SIR JOSEPH PA.XTON'S PUBLIC USEFULNESS. The Builder has the following -Daring the Cri-, mean war he secured the establishment of the Arinf Works Corps of "navvies." It may be considered owin-g to his exertions that the Thames Embankment is now in progress, and that the Low-l6vel Sewer is not being constructed along the Strand, which latter route the engineer, had been compelled to take in$a consideration, seeing the apparently interminable D' delay as to the originally designed route by the river side. Of works to which Mr. Paxton's name mnst b« attached as architect there were several. Indeed, they might be said to have commenced before the period of his connection with, the building of 1851. The village of Edensor, near Chatsworth, was rebuilt from his de- signs, and is considered a great improvement in-point of taste upon what had been done before. The farm- buildings at Chatsworth were also his. After 1851 he designed and carried into execution the house at Mentmore, in Buckinghamshire, for Baron Meyer A. de Rothschild, M.P., illustrations of which have been given by us; also the Dairy and Cottage, and the labourers' cottages at the same place. He was the architect of the mansion at Ferrieres, in France (thirty miles from Paris, on the Straaburg line), which was erected by Mr. Myers for Baron James de Roths- child, and of the lodge and entrance. He also made extensive alterations and additions to Lismore Castle, in Ireland, for the Duke of Devonshire, a building which we have illustrated; and he bad laid out the grounds of Burton Closes, near Bakewell, the seat of Mr. John Al'.card, the house being designed in some measure under his directions. Besides these works, he had the planning and superintendence of some im- pOTtant public parks and gardens.

JTrmita anh Counttg fjlarkeis. Money Market CITY, Juis E 23.—In the stock market to-day little change has taken place in prices. Foreign stocks are unaltered. The demand for Money to-day is only moderate, but rate for best paper is maintained at 3 per cent. Short loans GD. English Government Securities are obtainable in the Stock. Exchange at 2 to 24 per cent. Consols are now quoted A to 90 ex div., both for money and account (July 6). The official business report is as fellows :—Three per Cent: Con-- sols, for money, S9; ditto for account, 90; Throe per Cents. Reduced, S9J; New Three per Cents., 83%, 89J; Baak Stock, 247, 249; India Five per Cent. Stock, 104i, I, ditto Bonds, 175 prem.; Four perCent. "enfaeed" rupee paper, 90-J; and Exchequer Bills, Is, 4a prem., par.—The railway market is inactive to-day, attention being partly devoted to the fortnightly settlement. London aDd: North Western stock is now quoted 123„ to i; Great Western, 6S| to 69; Midland, 134 to 1; Lancashire anfl Yorkshire, 121 to Caledonian, 132V to 133J; South Eastern, 84 to -I; Great Eastern, 49i to f; London and South Western. 9S to 99; Metropolitan, 142f to 143}. Foreign and Cfeicnial Railway Securities are inactive. The CorA,Traide. MARK-LANE, JUNE 21.-0nlya limited supply of Eng- lisil Wheat at this thy's market, and a good deman4 prevailing rather higher terms were obtained; a clear- ance was nearly made: white at 42s to 49a; red, 37s to 43s; and Talavera, 443 to Me per quarter; the quality was again principally good. Arrivals of foreign have muck fallen off, and purchases to a fair extent were made; there is a slight advance in the value: the terms obtained were 37s to >-47s; and for prime, 439 to 538. Market firm for-: American, and several parcels sold: white at 43s ty and red, 40s to 42s; supply was limited, and for the present likely so to continue.—Flour was readily purchased: t'hs terms obtained were for best town-made, 37s to 40a; seconds, 33s to 35s country-made, 28a to 32s; French, 30sto 32s per s&ek; and American, 21s to 25s per bar.-There was dulness in the Barley trade, and prieesranged weak: foribign selling at 22s to 30s English at 24s to 28s per quarter fat distilling |ahd grinding, of the former supply large.—Malt' met a fair sale: pale brought 54s to 62s; and brown, 478 to 52s.- With Oats the market was only moderately supplied, a.nd demand being brisk, advanced terms were obtained; English and Irish potato selling at 228 to 258; feed and black, 18s Gd to 22s 6d; Scotch, aa to quality, 19s 6d to 26a M ? and foreign, 18s 6d to 25s.—Beans sold readily, and at stiff prices: Mazagan brought 34s to 37s; tick, 36s to 39s; har- row and pigeon, 3Sg to 45s.—Peas in fair demand: white aDd maple at 36s to 40s'; and grey, 34s to 36s.—Bye still dull of sale at 25s to 278.-11. fair business in Maize at 28s 6d to 30s. Transactions in Linseed were to a large extent, the terms being for Eastlndia, 53s to 58s 61; and Odessa, 55s to 55s 6d per quarter. MARK-LANE, JUNE ZS.-Modera.té supplies of English. Wheat came fresh to hand to-day, mostly 'in good condition. The trade for both red aad white ruled firm, and Monday's advance in prices well maintained. Demand for English, and foreign Barley steady at late improved quotations, and supply limited.—Oats changed hands freely at quite late rates supply moderate.—Beans met a firm, inquiry at ex- treme currelicies.-Peis in short supply at steady request. —In Flour sales progressed steadily on former tenns. LIVERPOOL, JUXB 20.—The market moderately atsfcendod Fair business doing in Wheat at fully Friday s prices.—- Flour nominally unchanged. Beans, Oats, and Ostlne&Z dull.—Indian Corn steady: old mixedj. 2811 6d; new, 27s 6d.; Gulatz, 29s 3d to 29s 6d. ,¡, COTTON, LIVERPOOL, JUNE 23.—Market quiet on receipt of American news, and prices rather easier. Holders offfec cotton freely. Sales 16,003 or 12,000 bales. TALLOW, JUNE 28. — Market firm. Town tallow is quoted at 40s 6d, net cash; Petersburg Y.C., on the spot, 41s 9d; October to December, 43s; Deeember, 43 6d. HOPS, BOROUGH, .JUNB^S.—Little or no alteration in the hop market since Monday. Trade quiet; prices firm. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES,-GOVEKT GARDEN, JUNE 24. —Outdoor produce of excellent quality is now abundant. IX strawberries there is good supply, peas are also plentiful. Cherries are extensively imported; prices for them vary from 6d to Is 6d per lb. Grapes and pineapples are now abundant. Cob nuts fetch fi om 50s to 60s per lOOlbs. Aspa- ragus is still well supplied, a, IS also broccoli. Good new kidney potatoes fetch from 2s. to 4s per dozen lbs. Flowens chiefly consist of orchids, heaths, azaleas, pelargoniumac mignonette, and rosea. Cattle Market. R METROPOLITAN, JUNE 25.—We have a considerable in- crease in the supply of beasts. The] average quality is by no means good, and consequently there are buyers for the choicest descriptions, at a slight reduction for late rates. A large number of inferior quality, remain unsold; The number of sheep and lamb3 is much larger than has been jtnown for a very long time. We have a fair demand, but prices are rather reduced. The calf trade is dull at lower rates. From Germany and Holland there are 3,330 beasts. 11,550 sheep; 390 calves, and 20 pigs. Scotland, 450 beasts. Ireland, 40. Norfolk and Suffolk, 1,160, and 920 for the Northern and Midland Counties. Per stone of 81bs.; s. d. s. d. Best Scots, Hfd3. 4 10 5 0 Best Short-horse. 4 S 4 10 2nd. qual. beasts 2 8 3 3 Calves 3 8 -5 .0 Pigs .3 0 4 8 BestDns&J-bdss. 5 8 o 10 Per stone Of 81bs. 8. d. 8. d Best Long-wools 0 0 0 a Do. do. shorn 5 ''2 5 4 Ewes & 2d. qua). 0 0 0 0 Do. do. shorn. 4 4 4 g Beasts atmarket, 5,480; Sheep and Lambs, 54,200; Calve. 427; Pigs, 370. „ The Produce MarJtet. MINCING-LANE, JUNE 26. Sugar has been largely purchased, and rather improves in value stook is on ttw? decrease, and likely so to continue. The terms obtained to- day were: for Mauritius, of brown quality, 2Ss 6d to 32s: yellow, 32s 6d to 34s 6d; grainy, 34s to 41s white Bengali 34s to 37s; grainy, oos to 42s; date, 24a to 33s; natwe Madras, 26s to 29s; Jaggery, 24a to 27a. Havannah, brown, 30s to 32s; yellow, 32s 6a to 37s; Floretts, -S8s to 40s; and white, 41s to ,428 6d. Bvisiness iu sugar larger, the terms obtained being, for brown lutops., 42s 6d; common to fine grocery, 42s 9d to 45s j tittlers, 42s 9d to 46s; and pieces, 338 to 38s.— In Cocoa much business red Trinidad at 6Gs to 100s, and grey, 60s to 65s.-A large demand for Green Tea, and stiff, prices paid: a good trade for Congou, and races full up, ranging for low to good common at Šcd to J.1}d; other sorts., Is to Is lOd; fjne and choice, 2s to 2s lOd.—Bice much in request.— Many transactions in Spices, and prices stiff; Ceylon Cinnamon brings 1B 2d to 2s 8d; Penang Cloves, Is Id to Is 3d;.Zar\zabar, 3-idto3}3; Blaok Pepper, 3dto4Jd ■ white, 5id to h;, Pimento, *Zld ti:) 2d; and Cochin 110s.—Dried Fruit atiii rolls in value: at 17s to 29s; Valencia Saiste's, 8315 to 86s, and selected, 38s tc 405.—There is a more ready sale for Saltpetre, rates for Calcutta, as to refraction, 24* M to 26s, and British refined 28s 6d to 29s,- Market for Provisions in a strong position Cork Butter, as to quality, brings 823 to 130? fine Freia!an4- 114s to 116? j and Irish Bacon, 5ta to 74s.