The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

TOVTN TALK. BT OtTB. SPECIAL COEBBSPOKDSNT. --+-- read*rs vi& understand that we do not 'tola, owrssfees Tispoi* for ow aiilt Correspondent's opwvvo«« THE general election has not passed off without rioting acd disorder, in addition to -which sad deaths from misadventure and excitement have to be chronicled. But the general election has had its humorous side. A steady perusal of many of the electioneering addresses might have been pro- ductive of an equal amount of astonishment and amusement. Varied, indeed, have been the quali- fications of candidates, and in queer language have they been brought before the notice of the electors. What, for instance, will be thought of a candidate who strongly advocated a Parlia- mentary enactment to protect insect-eating jbirds," and was most anxious for u the limitation of vermin. So warm was this gentlemen in his advocacy of Reform, that he boldly declared that 4i if there was not next year an extension of the franchise, he would organise a system of emigra- tion that should show non-electors a remedy in their own hands against taxation without representation, by going en masse to Bunker's Hill, and leaving their Norman tyrants to cultivate their broad acres, and delve the mines themselves.' Here again, in strong contrast to our staunch Re- former, is a true-blue Conservative. He winds up a very lengthy address, which is said to be brisi-liric, with antithesis, epigram, and rhetoric," with the following glowing simile :—Should the Tory party be rent asunder," he says, "I shall be fc)uud, if in the House of Commons, with, that part left, like the robe of the king in the prophet's hand One always looks to Oxford or Cam- bridge for some good mots at election time Oxford, where on this occasion so much excite- ment prevailed, contributed several. Perhaps the best is that which directly alludes to the fact of Archdeacon Clarke being the chairman of Mr. Gathorn Hardy's committee, and his bishop having voted for Mr. Gladstone. These are the verses — When the versatile Bishop of Oxford's famed city- Cast his eye on the chairman of Hardy's committee, Says Samuel, from Samson a metaphor taking, 4 They plough with my heifer" -that is my Arch- deacon.' But when Samuel himself leaves his friends in the lurch, To vote with the foea of the State and the Chuich, He proves fcej ond doubt, and the spectacle shocks one, That Dissenters can plough with Episcopal Oxon." One of the candidates for perhaps the most closely- contested of the metropolitan boroughs, and who was said some long time ago to have been mixed up with rather doubtful transactions, was publicly presented at the nomination with a pack of cards. Acting on the impulse of the moment, he turned this unkind joke to his own favour without hesi- tation he extracted the King of Hearts from the pack and pinned it on his coat. Loud and enthu- siastic cheers greeted this sharp trick. Not even the excitement of a general election has had the effect of thinning the numbers of the volunteers encamped at Wimbledon this year. The camp is fuller than it has ever been before, the shooting on the whole has considerably im- proved, and never did such good fellowship and such esprit de corps prevail among a number of men assembled together for purely patriotic mo- zll tives. No pleasanter day can be spent than in a visit to the camp. The scene is one perfectly new ] to Englishmen, and one of which we may all be justly proud. Nothing pleases the volunteers more than a visit from their friends and relations they like showing their tents, and are proud of giving an insight into their daily life, and demon- strating how they can rough it-not that all have any occasion to do this. Some are most luxurious fellows, and bring their servants down with them, and invite the ladies of their acquaintance down to champagne luncheons served on real tables, and assisted by such vanities as silver forks and spoons. But the volunteers do the work they make the lobster salads, and cook the potatoes, and wash up the dishes, and put everything in order. And the ladies look on in astonishment, and wonder at an exhibition of that kind of energy which might be turned to account-so they say-when the camp is struck, and brick walls and not canvas enclose the gallant volunteers. The working classes of the city are to have an exhibition of their productions mechanical, artistic, imitative, and industrial. The guarantee fund amounts already to nearly £ 1,000. Some novelty in the affair is already announced. Special prizes are offered for the best methods propounded for cleansing, paving, and lighting the streets; for the prevention of accidents to foot passengers in crossing crowded thoroughfares; for the pre- vention of the noise occasioned by the passing of railway trains through the towns and last, but certainly not least, for the prevention of railway accidents. There is an importance attaching to these subjects that commends them at once to the attention of the public and I have no doubt the forthcoming meeting will be productive of some clever suggestions. The directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Com- pany having evidently been aware that the Great Eastern has been "delaying long" for her coil, have now determined that she shall" delay no more." The great ship is off, has landed her ex- cursion passengers at Yaientia, and all interested in this marvellous undertaking are hoping for fair weather and no storms. Before starting, every portion of the apparatus was finally ex- amined, and pronounced perfect-the cable, in particular, being in such a condition that the sig- nallers expect to transmit four words a minute. Messages will be transmitted from the ship after paying out each fifty miles of coil, so that the public will be able to watch her course, from day to day, almost as closely as those on board. On arrival at Newfoundland, a message already pre- pared is to be transmitted to the directors, and the receipt of this will be considered proof that the line is opened. The account in the Times is from the pen of Dr. Rassell, the well-known Crimean correspondent of that journal. The directors could not afford accommodation for other representatives of London papers further than Yaientia but Mr. Reuter will supply the deficiency, his agent doing duty for all except the Times. The price of meat in London is something alarming. Thrifty wives are at their wits' end what to do, and I have already heard of a meeting of working men who have passed a resolution only to taste meat on Sundays. When the demand is greater than the supply, as at present, somebody I must certainly give in. Z.

I OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. -+-- Dr. Pritchard's Case. ^_Mrs. Taylor comes to the house in good health. She dies in a few days from the effect of the very poisons which the prisoner had been purchasing, and which were more slowly but more cruelly killing her daughter. And Dr. Pritchard falsely informs the registrar that she died of "paralysis and apoplexy "-stating the duration of the first disease at twelve hours, while it was proved that the old lady had been moving about the house, to all appearance in her usual health, if not spirits up, till within three hours of her death. These are only a few of the leading facts which, taken in conjunction with the prisoner's denials, and all the probabilities of the case, tell so fatally against the convicted murderer. Examination of the evidence in detail only serves to strengthen the conviction which these outlines of the case are fitted to convey, that the acsused has most righteously become the convicted. And it is instructive and encouraging to find that the murderer has in this case, even to a greater extent than in many other cases, unwittingly and unwillingly helped to deliver himself up to his doom. The clumsi- ness of his explanations and falsehoods aroused the suspicion of the medical men who attended his wife. The choice of a mineral poison, and the clumsy method of its administration, made one of his victimes while alive, and even more both when dead, mutely testify against him. And the circle of proof that he was the murderer was rendered complete—te the utmost ex- tent that in cases of poison it is possible to make it- by the discovery in his depositories of the remains of the poisons with which he had worked, which it might have been the work of but a few minutes to destroy.— The Scotsman. I. It was shown in evidence that Mrs. Taylor had made a will leaving a sum of £ 2,000 to Mrs. Pritchard, and in the event of her death to Dr. Pritchard, who was to have the interest until his children should attain the age o £ twenty-one, when the principal would become his own. Hence it was obvious that the doctor had more or less interest in the death of the two ladies, irrespective of any further purpose which might be served by the removal of his wife. It was argued for the defence that he had no need to desire the death of Mrs. Taylor, as she was disposed to assist him to the best of her power while alive. But it also appeared that Mrs. Taylor was not perfect master of the money in which she was interested. The funds were in the hands of trustees, who had given a somewhat unwili- ing consent to the loan of < £ 500 which the doctor had obtained in June, 1864. Nor is it easy to say how far the prisoner may have been influenced by the fact that his wife evidently knew a little too much of his pecca- dilloes. While he wept at her bedside she declared him to be a hypocrite," and her expressions to Mary M'Leod were still stronger. Undoubtedly there is much of mystery and complexity in this extraordinary case. No one link of the chain may be very strong; but there are many links, and their combined strength is irresistible. There is the purchase of enormous quantities of poison by Dr. Pritchard, and the dis- covery of such poison in the bodies of the two ladies. There is the fact that the food and medicine supplied to them gave signs of the presence of poison, and, in some instances, actually yielded poison to the analyst. No individuals but Mary M'Leod and Dr. Pritchard had the opportunity of regularly and frequently in. troducing these ingredients, and of the two it is in- cacnlably more probable that the doctor performed the deed than the girl. After a trial of nearly five days' duration the verdict of guilty is recorded against him, and he,is left for death, nor can we expect that public opinion will do otherwise than ratify the verdict.— Dawr News. The Recognition of Italy by Spain. The ex-King of Naples is in consternation. The approaching recognition of Italy by Spain troubles the repose of the heir'to the Bourbons of Naples. He is beginning, we are told, to see that his hopes are no longer anything but unstamped coin which will soon cease to circulate even amongst his friends. The recognition of Italy by Spain is not only an act accepted by the nation, but one which the majority of the country wished for. Although refusing to give the explanations asked by M. Nocedal as to the negotiations entered into, the Minister for Foreign Affairs uttered some words which deserve to have attention drawn to them. He declared that Spain had not allowed herself to be drawn by any foreign influences, and, refuting certain objections which we for oar part think ridi- culous, but which certain politicians attach some weight to, he stated that the recognition of Italy is by no means contrary to the Constitution, which for- bids the alienation 0f any part of the Spanish terri- tory, because in the terms of the pragmatic of Charles Ill., the crown of Naples could not in any case be united to that of Spain. He maintained also that the question of the recog- nition of the kingdom of Italy is in no way a religious question, as M. Nocedal tried to represent it, to dis- turb the conscience of the Catholics. The Pope himself. said the Minister, will one day be led to recognise Victor Emmanuel and accomplished facts and would M. Nocedal and his friends pretend then that Pius IX. would cease then to be a Catholic ? -L'Opinion Natiorude. The natural reserve which the Government has and with respect to the affairs of Italy cannot prevent us from, saying what will be the principles which will guide the renewal of relations between the Courts of Florence and Madrid. If perpetuating a state of things which isolated us from Europe, which increased the enemies of the dynasty and the throne, which fomented agitation at home and deprived us of all influence in the Cabinets of the great Powers, was a peril, it would be complete abdication on the part of Spain, if she did not draw all the advantages possible from the digloinatie act which is about to be per- formed. Alter Austria there is no nation in Europe which has so many interests in Italy, binding her to a Con- servative and Catholic policy, as we have. We have no territory in the Peninsula, but etili it is unposslble to forget treaties which impose rights and duties on our country, and, above all, that we are the first of Catholic nations for unity of creed and our lawful participation in all that interests and affects the Papacy. No one can suppose that our presence at the Court of Italy and the restoration of diplomatic relations between that kingdom Spain signifies that we approve of the annexation of Tuscany, Naples, and Sicily, or that we have given up those reserves which will be brought forward on the day, which will arrive, when the Italian question will be definitely settled in the Councils of Europe. With regard to the Papal States, our duty is still a high one, and may be now more fertile in results. Spain, when recognising the Italian kingdom, does so on the supposition that Rome and the patrimony of the Holy Father will be guaranteed by Catholic Europe and respected by Italy, and preserving her complete liberty of action, to use her influence that the Holy See may receive indemnification and com- pensation for the loss of the possessions which, in fact, do not now constitute a part of the States of the Church. If our recognition was the sanction of lamentable acts, or might serve those whose pro- gramme is the annihilation of the temporal power and the independence of the Papacy, Spain would be the last of the Catholic powers in the universe. 031 e' A revelation in the foreign press gives ns reason to believe that the Government of the Queen under- stands the obligation of honour and duty imposed on it by its traditions and the religious sentiments of the Spanish people. We read last night in authorised publications that Franoe and Spain are about to join in making an attempt to bring about a reconciliation between Russia and Italy. It has always been our ideal, and hence it was that we opposed a policy of isolation which destroyed our influence to the loss of the Holy See. What could we do in Italy persisting in our attitude ? What Catholic interest did we serve there F What weight could our disinterested counsels have in Florence? None whetever.-La Epoca, a Ministerial Madrid Paper.

REMARKABLE ESCAPE OF A SEA-SIDE VISITOR. A young lady, who is a visitor at Hartlepool, had a remarkable escape the other evening from drowning. She was on the rocks opposite the Farwell-fields, which project a great distance seawards, gathering seaweed, when the tide was low, and having sat down upon an elevated rock went to sleep. No one had, it appeared, observed her. In the course of time the tide flowed and completely surrounded the rock. The water at length reaching her she awoke, and at once observ- ing her perilous position began screaming and waving a handkerchief as a signal of distress. The waves at this time were dashing against her feet, and as each breaker rolled in the danger of her situation increased. After remaining for some time with the tide creeping upon her, the signal was observed by some persons on the cliff, who set to work to devise some plan for rescu- ing her. It was quite evident that there would not be time to bring a boat from the harbour, as the waves were breaking strongly on the rock, and threatening to wash the young woman into the sea. As no one about could swim, it was decided to make a raft of some scaffolding poles and planks, and a number of workmen were engaged on this work when an Irish- man came up and proffered to go out to the rescue. A life-buoy and a long rope were procured. The latter was tied round the Irishman's waist, and he went off on his errand of mercy. The rock was about 100 yards from the shore, and a delay was occasioned in conse- quence of the rope being too short, but on more being obtained the Irishman proceeded, and, amid the cheers of numbers of people who had congregated on the beach, he brought the young woman safely ashore.

Thirteen Persons killed on a Railway in Prussia.-A collision took placeat Buckan on Monday night between a passenger train from Halberetadt and a goo<?.s train coming from Dortmund. The locomotive, tender, and six passenger carriages were shattered to pieces. Thirteen persons were killed and many wounded, but the exact number of the latter has not been ascertained. A frightful catastrophe occurred a few days back on the Seine, off La Mailleraje, by the blowing up of the steam tug La Impeatrice. She was just weighing anchor to return to Havre with two vessels when the explosion took place. Thirteen persons were on board at the time; five were killed, and, with the exception of the pilot, all the others were more or less seriously injured. Immediately after the accident the tug sank, the injured persons being saved by a steamer lying near. The pilot was leaning over the side of the vessel when the explosion occurred. The persons killed are M. Coquin, the steam tug company's agent, the first and second engineers, and two stokers. Por- tions of the boilers were projected to a distance of more than half a mile from the scene of the accident. Royal Birthday at Wind sor.-Wednescl ay being the 43rd anniversary of the birth of her Royal Highness Princess Augusta Caroline, the event was celebrated with the usual Royal honours at Windsor, the bells of the Chapel Royal of St. George and parish church of St. John ringing out a merry peal early in the morn- ing. Her Royal Highness, who is the second child of the late Adolphus Frederick Duke of Cambridge, was born on the 19th of July, 1822, and married on the 28th of June, 1843, to Frederick William Gustavus, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz. Accident at the Foreign-office.-On Tuesday morning a shocking accident occurred at the new building for the Foreign-office, now erecting in White- hall, to a young man named Hy. Ciifton, residing in Matthew-street, Westminster, who, in consequence of one of the scaffold boards giving way, fell to the ground from a height of fifty feet. Several of the other workmen had a narrow escape. Clifton was taken to Westminster Hospital. His legs are broken and his head and body much injured; he is not ex- pected to recover. Births, Deaths, and Marriages.—The rate of mortality throughout the kingdom still continues very high. Last week it amounted, in the eleven principal towns of the kingdom, to 2,874, which was at the ave- rage rate of 26 in the 1,000. Of these the highest was Liverpool, which stands at 35, the lowest Bristol, which does not amount to more than 19. London was two below the average last week; usually it is only 1. Of the total number of deaths 1,392 took place in London, which was about 50 above the corrected ave- rage for the last ten years. The births in all were 3,673, of which 1,928 are ascribed to London, or about 40 above the average. Confederate Help for Maximilian. The Houston, Texas, correspondent of a New York paper za, .vs -Among the abnormal phenomena growing out of the war is now to be seen a body of trained' "nd warlike troops, estimated at 10,000 or 12,000, mostly Missourians, who have been rendered home- less by the destructive effects of the war in their own State, marching towards the Mexican fron- tier to enter the service of the Emperor Maximi- lian. They are commanded by General Shelby, also a Missourian, who is spoken of by those who know him as a brave and capable officer. These men started from Shreveport on the first intimation of the probable surrender of the department, and, being well armed and driven to desperation by their circum- stances, weuld have laughed at the orders of tne com- manding general had he sought to enforce obedience. They started about the 18th ultimo, taking with them such government transportation and supplies as they needed. They are now far beyond the reach of successful pursuit, if not already across the frontier. Curious Sheep Stealing Cdse.-Al, the recent Assizes held at Chelmsford, a man named King was indicted for stealing 'or|y*?lx sheep, value XIOS, the property ef the late Lord Maynard, but which would now belong partly to Mr. Gibson, the Rev. G. E. Symonds, and Mr. Cheinns, at Little Easton, on the 14th of July. The shepherd had left the flock in safety on the previous evening, and looking out from his window early next morning, saw the prisoner driving them away. He, did not, however, interfere, e concluding that some change was being made by orders of Lord Maynard. Subsequently the prisoner offered the sheep for sale and was arrested. A legal difficulty in the disposal of the case arose from the absence of proof as to the present ownership of the sheep, no probate of Lord Maynard's will being produced. This was at length got over by proof as to the possession of the sheep by two of the prosecutors, and by putting in the name of Sir J. Wilde, Judge of the Probate Court, in the indictment. The iury said they had no I difficulty in making up their minds as to the stealing, and were of opinion that the prosecutors had had pos- session of the sheep. Therefore, by the instruction of I his lordship, the jury found the prisoner guilty of stealing twenty-seven sheep from Mr. Gibson and Mr. I Symonds, and nineteen from the Judge of the Probate Court. Several convictions were proved against the prisoner, who was sentenced to eight years' penal j servitude. Valuable Diet for Invalids.—The Peaei Semoule is I delicious; very nourishing and easy of digestion; it gives ■choice dishes for the Dinner-table; and is much prized for '? Children and Infants. Sold by Grocers, &c. J. Pisow, Ipg. j WICH, MABVFACttvitEB. Agents, Hicks Brothers, £ !.<?, |

AMERICA. Sentence on the Conspirators. Telegrams from N ew York announce that, in accord- ance with the findings and sentence of the military commission, approved by President Johnson, the con- spirators Payne, Harrold, Atzerott, and Mrs. Surratt would be hanged on the 7th July. IVhdd, cnold, A O'Laughlin are sentenced to imprisonment for h>e> and Spangler to six years in the penitentiary^ ~.A0 4th July was celebrated with the usual festivities throughout the country. President Johnson is re- covering.

THE PRUSSIAN BUDGET. A Royal decree has been published in Berlin on the 18th inst. declaring the budget of 1865, as proposed by the Ministry, to be the financial law for the current year. The King adds to the estimate of the Minister of Marine the sum of 500,000 thalers for the construc- tion of rifled cannon for the navy, respecting the em- ployment of which amount the Minister will make a special report to the King at the end of the year. The above decree bears date Carlsbad, 5th July, 1865, and is countersigned by all the Ministers. The report of the Ministers and the budget fixed by them have also been published.

# ITALY AND AUSTRIA. The Italian government," says the Independaiict Beige, has replied, in a note addressed to its envoy at Berlin, to the observations contained in the dispatch of the minister of Saxony, Her Von jBeust- The Florence cabinet does not admit the distinctisD between the political question and that of the treaty of commerce, which Herr Von Beust wishes to keep apart in the negotiations between the Zoll* vorein and Italy. It therefore emphatically refuses to enter into any negotiation which is not based upon the recognition beforehand of the Italian monarchy.'

ANOTHER GREAT JEWELLERY BOB- BERY IN MANCHESTER. Some time during* Monday night, or early on Tues- day morning, the shop of Mr. M'Ferran, jeweller? Victoria-street, was entered by thieves, who got safely off with the more valuable portion of the stock, esti- mated as worth about < £ 13,000. It will probably be remembered that when the shop of Mr. Howard, jewel- ler, in Market-street, was entered, in February last, an attempt had also been made to break into Mr, M'Ferran's shop, by getting into a passage behind the premises, and entering the grocer's shop held by the executors of the late Mr. Tebbutt. The same plan appears to have been adopted on the present occasios, and unfortunately with too much success. Scaling the iron gate next door to Mr. Tebbutt's shop, the thieves, by means of false keys, entered a passage by some stairs, into an office, and then appear to have broken through the wall, thus gaining access to Mr. Nathan's shop, which is next to :M.r, M'Ferran's. The wall was two thicknesses* and having achieved this the rest of the busiNess ws,S comparatively easy, as only a single brick wall sepa- rated the two shops of Mr. M'Farren and Mr. Nathav- This wall was broken through, and the thieves then found themselves inside the jeweller's shop. more valuable portion of the stock was removed, bn* a large quantity of silver and plated goods were leit untouched. The thieves carried off between 500 anw 600 watches, gold and silver, and pins, rings, brooches, and other articles of jewellery, of the total estiniatea value of £ 13,000. Mr. M'Farran's shop was not leis until nine o'clock on Monday night, as stock was being taken; and until the return of the assistants a:>ollt half-pafct eight next morning no suspicions were en- tertained that any robbery had been attempted. u course the police were immediately made acquaints with the affair, and they are now busily engaged 1JJ investigating it. Two chisels were left on the pre- mises. A sum of £ 500 has been offered for the appre' hension of the thieves.

FALL OF TWO HOUSES IN CHANDOS- STREET, COVENT-GARDEN. At six o'clock on Tuesday evening a fatal calaffli^ occurred by the fall of two houses in Covent-garden. One was formerly known as the White Swan Tavern, but bad been closed fer son10 time, the lease having expired, and the proprietor, Duke of Bedford, objected to allow it to be again as a public-house. The other was for many years; and until recently, an oil warehouse, in the occupation of Messrs. Armstrong and Co., oil and colour mer- chants, adjoining the extensive premises of Messr0' Barker and Co., coachmaker to his Royal the Prince of Wales, and also adjoining, on the side, the offices of the Friend-in-Need Loan Society' at the corner of Chandos-street and For some time past both houses had been in 0 demolition, with a view to rebuilding, and the lVi>% portion of both tenements had been partly remov? „ It has been suggested—and no doubt the imDutatl011 will be the object of investigation—that the front Vot' tion had not been sufficiently shored. Be this as it the whole of the front portion suddenly gave way> fell forward into the street with a tremendous cr&,s Two men who were engaged at the time in some of the massive beams supporting one of upper floors were completely buried in the debris. workmen at Messrs. Barker's gave prompt and 6 cient assistance, and speedily extricated the tw° g(j fortunate men, placed them on shutters, and coneY it them to Charing-cross Hospital, where, e was found that life was extinct. Two other men seriously injured. They also were got out and re .ove to the hospital by Messrs. Barker's men one of "1 0 is not expected to survive. A valuable horse* f property of the contractor, was buried under a fallen rubbish. Had the accident taken place an later, the consequences would probably have IPO much more terrible, as at seven o'clock a workmen leave Messrs. Barker's premises.

Agents wanted throughout theWorld,^Bg. of Butcher's PatentPensyKet Bing Ci4ng- valuable to every smoker, & will find a ready sale aw r. comsts, stationers, publicans, &c.—Apply by tid,« titan,p,id envelope, to H. C. Butcher, 364, Strand, ^&at xfr 1g tiaiitt Uouidi aiui Oo.'e Cbarri S.5 ^erododiy the best, pjeoararicm tot cleauam.: «n« HO'.dbT/»UiKirfnEaersa»fl.3b.«tni3to.—is.Thiw km'"0*" fof Jzfa Satisfying, Strengthening., SocrtW1^ f&nts, agreeable, digesibltv, nourishing lor £ >" PATENT (cooted) PreyeDte acidity and wM. gg, 04 oileapest food. Of ohymisw, in cametars,, *d„ Sa„ H-> The Himalaya Tea Pure tbesiifc. .t is and of excellent quality; being the ^rarest TeftinH fa V0" 5t. wholesome, therefore the best and cheapest- Sol" Holman'a T'ootboelxr Specific .6 the tstr.m&V relieves without injuring the teeth it- *w«ew 744. a»a#*r* jfe,n is recommended by muiy eminent dewtisla. ■'L jnfalliR jJt post free, 18 stamps. HOIIMHU'C SlM»ral««ie IS pet-. raigia. Ague, faceache, Kheuiuatitm, Nervousness bottles, vs.lid.SSs.SKi.: of &JIChemists,or fa-UoUn*- e Inetnrat Gort or 'I'ootilnd.Buntefs Sei Jd. pe-1 date ami permanent relief. Sold by all Chemists* 1

HEALTH OF THE PRINCE IMPERIAL. The Moniteur of Tuesday says :—"The Prince lro- perial. who had been slightly indisposed for the last few days, has almost entirely recovered."

I SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS. j THE fruits of over-speculation continue to affect India in a remarkable manner. The last mails from J the East bring intelligence from Bombay of a ruin- I' ous character. Failures, the papers say, take place every day, and mercantile men know not where it I ma,y end; few houses are considered safe, and commerce is crippled to such an extent that it appearsj quite in a chaotic condition. One reason for this is the probability of the cotton supply again being found in America, and companies which have been formed in India to produce this article discover that it cannot be grown and ex- ported from that country at the price it can be produced in the United States, where it is indigenous to the soil. IVE shall not touch upon politics this week further than to remark that there appears to be little change in the opinions of the nation since the last general election, although more than six years have intervened. All parties profess to ad- vocate progressive measures, and whether Lord Palmerston, Earl Derby, or Mr. Gladstone be at the helm of affairs, the voice of the people will be respected, and natural rights and privileges will be afforded them. T'HB^case of the Hon. Richard Bethell—that ¡I son of the Lord Chancellor who has been the medium through which such scandal fell upon one of the highest subjects of the realm-has appeared again before the Bankruptcy Court, and the extraordinary features in the examination was the claim of Mr. "W elch, the Registrar of Bankruptcy for Leeds for a thousand guineas, the sum -of money which was said to be advanced to the bankrupt in the shape of a bribe for his in- I fluence with his learned father in obtaining the situation. The commissioner considered, however that it was only a friendly loan, and allowed the creditor's claim. SPEAKING of courts of justice, the trial of Miss Constance Kent has absorbed considerable in- terest. Many sympathise with the criminal on account of her youth; yet there are many who are not forgetful of the troubles of mind and the pains of heart this tragic event has thrown upon near relatives of the family. A SINGULAR case was brought before the Lord Mayor of London. Messrs. Kitchen and TurnbuU, hop and seed merchants, were accused of having infringed the Merchandise Marks Act, by selling a quantity of hops with the brand" East Kent" upon them, when, in point of fact, they were grown in Sussex. The Kent hops were proved to be of more value in the market than those grown in Sussex. The producer of these hops lived at Mountfield, in Sussex, and they were marked with the name of the village only, but after they came into possession of the defendants, the addition of a black horse and E. Kent" was added. The second purchaser kept them in his possession from the time of the purchase in 1862 until May last, when he discovered that, although they were good hops, they could not be denominated Kentish." The defendants claimed that the Act prohibited prosecutions of this nature unless undertaken within three years of the purchase, and one year of the discovery of the fraud. The Lord Mayor decided tkat, as the discovery was only made in May last, it came within his jurisdiction, and fined the defendant in the value of the hops sold, < £ 80; a fine of < £ 5, and 10 guineas costs. The decision was appealed against, and will probably come on shortly before a higher court. All eyes are at thepresent moment fixed upon the Emperor of the French. He has done many wonder- ful things, and he hopes to accomplish many others. Some years ago his Imperial Majesty proposed a European Congress, which our readers will remem- ber was frustrated by the troubled state of Europe. It was then remarked by the late Mr. Cobden that the Emperor would not be deterred by one disap- pointment, but would renew his project until it was successful. According to the recent hints in the semi-official organs of Paris, this prophecy is correct, and a new scheme is before us. The Emperor, they state, is prepared with a project to form a congress, not only for the settlement of European differences, but for a general agreement to the disarmament of the great standing armies of Europe. It is said that Russia, Prussia, Spain, and Italy have given their assent to it; and if these powers can afford to do so there is no reason why England and Austria should not join them. The proposal is so humane, so thoroughly consistent with the larger and broader humanity of our own day, such a fitting adjunct to our professed Christianity, and so completely in accordance with the principles of common sense, that it is a pity to throw the slightest doubt upon its practicability. The whole Continent is at the present moment burdened with debt, and perhaps England is the only European country which makes both ends meet. There are, however, dif- ferences now pending on the Continent which z, make the proposal in our eyes rather Utopian. A time will come, we are told in Scripture, when the lion will lie down with the lamb, but that will be scarcely less remarkable than Austria and Italy shaking hands at the present day, and coming to a eordial understanding upon political and religious matters. There are also other diffi- culties in the way, instance the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and Prussian despotism; but "man proposes, God disposes;" and, after all this might be one of the instruments in the hands of the mighty Ruler of events to evangelise the nations of the world, and to hasten the coming of that great day when all the world shall be at peace. THE last mail from America brings us the intelli- gence that on Friday, the 7th of July, four of the assassins of the late President of the United giarr.s namely;, Harrold; the Booth, the actual murderer; Payne, who attempted the 'I murder of Mr. Seward the German, Attaerott, who sought tÐ slay the-then Vice-President of the United Slates, now the President, Mr. Johnson; and the woman, Surratt, who harboured these persons, well knowing their intentions — were hanged at Washington. Three others of the I gang—viz., Arnold, O'Loughiin, and Mudd (the medical man who attended to Booth's legs, and pro- I vided him with crutches), have been condemned to imprisonment for life the eighth prisoner, ¡ Spangler, the stage carpenter of the theatre in whick Mr. Lincoln was so foully murdered, and who cleared the stage to facilitate the escape of Booth, has been sentenced to six years in the Penitentiary. Thus ends the first act of this ter- rible tragedy. Let us hope that justice is avenged, and that the State prisoners who have not been guilty of secret murder may be treated as pri- I soners of war only. The more merciful their treat- | ment by the President and the Government the sooner will the enmity cease which now only partially exists in the South. We trust to find that in a few months commercial enterprise will have succeeded war all over the vast continent of America, and that both North and South may be once more united in the bonds of peace and friend- ship. Mr. ROBERT DEBENHAM, the surgeon who was I charged with manslaughter, for shooting a man on his own premises whom he believed to be a I burglar, took his trial on Wednesday at the Central Criminal Court. After a lengthy hearing the jury acquitted the prisoner from wilfully taking life, and Mr. Debenham was discharged.