The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

THE BIRMINGHAM WORKING MEN'S INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. Opening Ceremonial. The indKatrial exhibitien of 'the working men of .Birmingham and 'the Midland counties was opened in Bin glelv-hELD, on Monday. The inaugu- ral ceremony was preceded by a public procession Through the principal thoroughfares of the town. The procession consisted of the mayor and town council, the m*stmtes, -the,volniitoers, CLe fire -b*rigades, and other local bodies. The in-door proceedings commenced a little after two o'clock. The Rev. Dr. Miller, rector of St. Martin's, presided. Among the gentlemea seated in front of the orchestra were Lord Lvttelton, Lord Leigh, Mr. Newdegate, M.P. Mr. Bromley, M.P. the Mayor (Me. H. Wiggin), Mr. Elihu Barritt (United States Consul), Mr. George Dawson, M.A,, Rev. Dr. M-Kenzie, fievs, W. R. Sale, C. Vince, Archdeacon Musgrave, &c.&,o. The proceedings commenced with the singing of the Old Hundredth Psalm by the choir, assisted by the orchestra, numbering in all 200 performers. Prayer was then offered up by the President, who also made a few introductory remarks. Ho iga-id they mllStbearin mind the peca- liar obaraater of the exhibition in order to fully ap- preciate its merits. It was not an exhibition of the manufacturing skill of Birmingham and the Midland counties in the large-sense of the phrase. It was an exhibition of articles produced by Working men and women either in their own "particular branches of itt'oour, or, what was more interesting to him, pro- duced in their leisure hours-and in times of sickness, decerning to their own genius or fancy. Keeping this in view, he thoughtthey would have no reason to ae disappointed in the exhibition. The Right Hon. Lord Lytteltonthell delivered the -riaugural address. Having pointed out the mutual depetadmeeof elassesandthedesirability of intercourse lor the purpose of making society more compact, he insisted that'it'was the dnty of aU to work whatever might be their .position, and he characterised such ex- hibitions of industry as a mutual'encouragement to all dasses to do their share of this general duty. Speaking of the particular ^exhibition before them, he said he doubted if a more beautifulor ekiifal exhibition could be brought togetherin any part of the world. He then pro- ceeded to argue that the progress of handicraft labour was such as to ensure the perfect development of the material resources of the country in the ratio of the increase of .-population, and to forbid the fears enter- tained by some evaa a hutsdred years ago that the country would be exhausted through the overgrowth of population, fla concluded with a tribute of prilise to Mr. Gladstone for the part he had taken in develop- ing the national wealth of the-coautry. After the adojjtion of-complinaentary resolutions, the Mayor de- clared the Exhibition opened, and the proceedings ■•arminated on the tinging of the National Anthem. After six o'clock theexkibuioa was thrown open at a shilling.

COMMITTAL OF TWO YOUNG LADIES "S FOR PASSING BAD MONEY. On Monday a large number of respectable persons attended at Hereford Police-courb, which was crowded to excess, to sss two itekipectably-dressed young women, Boso Smith and Catherine Smith, sisters, who had been apprehended on a charge of uttering one eounterfeit half-crown at the shop of Messrs. Work- man, ironmonger, and with attempting to pass another half-crown at the shop of Mrs. Parker. It appeared that they went to Workman's shop for two- penny worth of blacking, on Wednesday, for which the prisoner Catherine tendered a counterfeit half- arown, and obtained the change. They then went to Parker's forsixpennywodh of stationery. Rose offering a balf-ero wn to pay for it. She was told by the shopman that it w-as bad, to which she replied that she was not aware of it, and that she had taken it that morning at Workman's shop, and would go back at m'ie and towards Workman's shop, situated a few doors lower j down the street, but the shopman who watched them, saw that they turned into the butter market. This gave rise to suspicion, and on going to Workman's he found that a bad half-crown had been received from the prisoners. The police were at once communicated with, and the superintendent subsequently appre- hended the prisoners at a public-house- Thay told him when charged with the offence, that a gentle- man' like him ought to protect ladie3 rather than insult them. At this time they were standing opposite the ire-place, and heating something drop into the grate (there being no fire in it), the superintendent searched, and discovered a purse containing one half-crown, three florins, and twenty- four shillings, all counterfeit. A purse was subse- quently found on the prisoner Catherine, containing £ 3 17s. 5d., all good money, and one eounterfeit shilling. All the counterfeit coins were wrapped in separate pieces of paper, so that they might not rub against each other. The Mint authorities having de- termined to prosecute, the prisoners were both com- mitted for trial at the ensuing City Sessions, the magistrates accepting bail in two sureties of £100 each for each prisoner. They are respectably connected and their father lives at Pontrilas, near Abergavenny. -Birmingham Post.

DEATHS FROM DESTITUTION. Dr. Lanke-ster held an inquiry at Hampstead, touch- ing the death of Mr. Charles Dear Smart, aged forty- one, who was found dying under a tree on Hampstead Heath. Dr. W. H. Cook said that the deceased was brought into the Hampstead Workhouse on Monday morning. He was in a sinking state from want of nu- trition. Ordered him to be placed in a warm bath, and in a short time he revived, and was able to take a little nourishment. He stated to witness that he had been a master tailor, but that he had become reduced in cir- cumstances in consequence of the failure of his busi- ness. He said that he had always been a sober, steady person. Shortly after making this statement his strength began to sink, and he expire(I the next day. The cause of his death was chronic hepatic disorder, aggravated by want of food and exposure. Inspector James Webb said that he had been informed that the deceased was, in the year 1852, churchwarden of the parish of St. Clement Danes. Verdict, Death from disease, accelerated by want of food and exposure." In the evening of the same day Dr. Lankester held an inquest on the-body of a man unknown, apparently about severity years of age. Polioe-eonstable Alexander Sinclair said that on Thursday morning he foxmd the deceased on the ground, near an out-house in a market garden in Highgate-road. He was dead. Nothing was found in his pockets but an old knife, that had evidentally been used to out groundsel. It had been raining hard, and no doubt the deceased had been ex- posed to the wet and cold all night. Dr. Murry, parish surgeon, said that death had resulted from inflamma- tion of the lungs, accelerated by exposure. The coroner, in summing up, said that it was a melancholy fact that this was the second case of a similar kind that he had held that day. The jury returned a ver- dict in accordance with the medical evidence.

UNVEILING THE ALBERT MONUMENT AT COB UPG. The special correspondent, in writing from Coburg on Saturday night, says:— The ceremony is over, and the whole of the pro- ceedings may be pronounced a grand success. There was nothing wanting to make the celebration all that could be desired, not a hitch or contretemps of any kind occurred. The weather has been magnificent in the extreme, if anything too brilliant and warm. The scene of to-day's celebration Was, as already remarked, the market-place, which had been besieged by crowds of spectators since an early hour in the day. On arriving there at three o'clock, and showing the ticket I had received through the courtesy of the burgo- master, I was at once admitted to the gallery set apart for visitors from a distance. This occupies the east side of the market- place, and, like the two tribunes or galleries reserved for persons of distinction, and standing on the west and north sides, was tastefully deco- rated with evergreens. By a little after three o'clock every available seat Was oscttpiefl in all t the three spacious galleries. On the south side Was erected an elegant raised pavilion intended for the Queen, the Royal and Daeai families and guests of princely rank, together wiih_ diplomatists and Ministers of the highest class, lb was some time time before the Eoyal guests made their appearance, and in the interval there was opportunity to observe what was passing. The scene presented by the market-place was in the highest degree brilliant and animated. Stretching from the two extremities of the Royal Pavilion, and meeting at the monument, so as to forma semicircle, were two double lines of maidens, attired in w-hite, one half of them,those to the left of the Pavilion, wearing a red sash, carried round the waist and over the left shoulder, while their companions on the right half of the semicircle wore sashes of dark green. All the maidens wore garlands round their heads, and each carried a chaplet of ever- greens and flowers in her hand. This portion of the spectacle was extremely tasteful and pleasing. Fiom the windows of every house about the market-place as well as from a hundred tall and painted flag-poles, regularly arranged along the galleries, streamed num- berless flags and banners of every nation whose Royal house was interested in the ceremony. At a quarter to four his Serene Highnsss Duke Ernest, the reigning sovereign, drove up with the duchess from the castle to the Pavilion. In rapid succession followed the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Crown Prince and Princess (the Princess Eoyal) of Prussia, Prince Louis and the Princess (Alice) of I Hesse, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, Duke Ernest of Wurtemberg, Prince Christian of -Schleswig-Holstein-Augustenburg, and the Duchess Adeheid (specially invited by her Majesty), Prince Augustus of Sasoiay, Prince Philip and Princess Amalie of Saxony, the Duke and Duchess ctf Brabant, Princes Alfred and Arthur and Princess Helena of Great Britain. Ten minutes after the arrival of the last of the Royal company the guns of the fort began to fire, announcing the fact that her Majesty was leaving the palace. In another minute the Royal carriage, preceded by a number of outriders, came in sight, the band strnek up "God save the Qieea," and at length we saw her Majesty, accompanied by her three youngest children. The ceremony of reception by the Duke was quickly over, and iwr Majesty, after Kissing her daughters, and saluting several of the other guests, took her seat in the place of honour in the front centre of the Pavilion, immediately opposite the statue. The Queen, like her royal children, appeared in the best of health, A few seconds afterwards the Gesang- vereine sang a chorale to the air of the English national anthem. The Burgomaster of the capital then stepped ia front of the statue and delivered a brief address. In 'another second the signal was given, the veil was drawn, down, and a splendid gilt bronze statue of the Prince Consort, designed by Theed, of London, and exeauted by Leonz-Harold, of Nurem- burg, was disclosed, to view. During the solemn I silence that reigned over that vast assembly while the Burgomaster uttered his speech, it was evident to one aear the Pavilion that the moment was more than usually trying to more than one of the British Prineesses in the front rank. Her Majesty was likewise deeply affected, but suppressed as much aa possible the external expression of her natural feelings. After a solemn silence of a few seconds another chorale was sung by the assembled musical societies; then the maidens, aaiid the pealing of the church belkiand thunder of the guns, went in order to deposit their gariandson theraiiing of the statue. With this the appointed ceremonies, as-laid down in the programme.* were over. But her Majesty sig- nified her wish to walk down a.nd inspect the statue more closely. In a few minutes a path was cleared, and the Queen, followed by her children and the whole of the princely guestsl In their order of precedence, passed through the crowd and approached the monu- ment. Her Majesty walked tStowly round it, inspect- ing every detail with the greatest interest, and express- ing the highest approval of the whole work. The return to the pavilion, the departure of the Roy al party and all the company under deafening cheers, repeated in the case of the Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of Prussia, the Duke of Saxe Coburg, and the Grand Duks of Baden, was all the work of a few seconds. Then occurred a final cha- racteristic incident. The church bells were ringing their merry peals, and the crowd had broken up, when the band again suddenly struck up the air of God Save the Queen," A road was rapidly opened in the dense masses, and we saw that, after leaving the guests at the neighbouring palace, her Majesty, ,e.tJ'J'<L_. to take one last fond look at the statue df her late; consort on the day of its inauguration. Her Majesty slowly drove round the monument, gazing on it with the deepest interest, amid the respectful silence of the crowd. At last the Royal carriage moved away, tak- ing the Queen from our view, and thus bringing to a conclusion a festival as successful in all external re- spects as it was touching and beautiful in its inner meaning.

THE MURDER OF MAJOR HE VERB. Coroner's Inquest. Thomas Hills, Esq., the coroner for West Kent, opened the inquest on the body of Major Francis Horatio De Vere, at the Sun in the Wood public- house, on Thursday morning, before a very respectable jury, with Mr. Honey as foreman. The jury having been s worn, The Coroner said that the jury so well understood the nature of their duties that it would not be neces- sary for him the (coroner) to explain them, but the murder of Major De Vere was now so well known that it was only requisite to say that their duties would be confined to two points-'firstly,the cause of death; secondly, whether any and what degree of criminality attached to the act of any one in causing the death. The jury then proceeded to view the body, which waa laid out in the room to which the gallant officer had been carried (No. 3, officers' quarters), and where he died. His countenance, though very paillid, was calm aud placid. On the return of the jury to the iiKjuest room the following evidence was taken Arthur George Durnford said: I am lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. On the llth the men of the engineers were on parade, in Sfcroihpton Barracks. Major Da Vote,wag the commandiiisr -offiner at the time, On the-parade. The deemoiod wft* first captain in tb*,e iind -mmicyr,in'tht. -British army. Be "was thirty-six years of age. X waspYesent on payade. About one o'clock -pan. I heard the report of a rifle, and on looking round I saw Major De Vere in Captain Frederick Hime'a arms, apparently in a fainting con- dition. I went to render any assistance I could. Major DeJYere ejaculated Oh, my God twice, and immediately became insensible. We got about half way off the parade, when, by directions of Dr. Leddall We laid the deceased on the ground. In consequence of an observation made by a bystander I went to the guard room and sent men to be posted at the back doors of K and L houses to prevent any man leaving them. I also went to post man at the front door. On arriving at K hoase I saw asapper named Mason, and called to him to halt. He said toe man who had fired the shot waa in that house. I vvejit to an up- stairs front-room, and there I found Sapper John Currie of the Royal Engineers Standing in the room by himself. There was a, smell of burnt powder in the room. I said to hitn, "Did you do this P and he re- plied, "Yes, sir." I than asked for his rifle and pouch. He pointed them out to me. Th«yifle -was in the arm- band, andthe P*Ueh ww, haugizbg vpon the peg at the j heud of the bed. TheTifle had just been discharged, and there was deficient from the pouch one roaad of ball-cartridge and two caps. There was an exploded cap on the nipple of the rifle. He said nohing more to me. I went with him to the guard-room, and ha was placed in custody. When I saw the Major in the arms of Captain Hime, I noticed blood on -histr&wsers coming from under hie ooat, and I also found blood on my own coat and glove from assisting. I have the rifle and pouch in my charge. William Mason deposed: I am a sapper in the Royal Engineers. On the .116h inst. I was cook's mate at No. 3 room, at K house, in Brompton Barracks. About a quarter-past one I heard a noise, but did not know what it was. I thought it was the fall of a wall of some building. I looked out, and on the parade I saw Major De Vera in the arms of some of the officers. The coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder" against John Currie. The warrantwas then given to Superintendent Everiat for lodgment at Maidstone Gaol, and the inquiry terminated.

CONVICTIONS FOR SELLING DISEASED MEAT. James Spencer, a meat salesman, of No. 6, High- street, Whitechapel, and George James, same business, of No. 3, in the same street, and who are also, slaughtermen, on a large scale, appeared before Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, to answer charges of having in their possession each a quantity of beef on their premises for the purposes of sale and in- tended for the food of man, which was unfit for human food. Mr. Alfred Turner, solicitor and clerk to the White- chapel district board of works, conducted the prose- cution Mr. Fearniy, solicitor, defended Spencer. On Monday, the 14th of the present month, the carcase'.of an*ox found'ia Mr.Spancer'aalanghter-house, and dressed in the usual manner, and four quarters of beef seized in .Mr. Jameses shop, were brought to this court,- and on the evidence of Mr. Farrar, Go- vernment veterinary surgeon, Mr. John Liddle, medical officer, and Mr. James Coward, sanitary in- spector to the Whitechapel Board, that the meat was diseased, unfit for human food, and ought to be destroyed, the magistrate made bia order condemning it, and it was sent to a knacker's hoiling-house. The snockmgappearanee of the meat waa in itself suffi- cient justificatiou for the magistrate-'e erdar. Mr. Turnar, in opening the cases against the defendants, described them as highly res- pectable tradesmen," who had never been convicted before. The carcase of beef in Mr. Spencer's slaughter-house, was with other and good meat. The four quarters of beef in Mr. James's shop were with a large quantity of good meat. Mr. James let out the front of his shop only for retailing meat. In the first front of his shop only for retailing meat. In the first case the defence set up was that a cowkeeper named Charles Kilby, of Kentish town, had a eow off its feed, and being alarmed in consequence of the prevalence of the cattle plague, he seat it to Mr Spencer's slaughter-house to be killed, with direc- tions that it was to be sent to the knackers if it turned out to be diseased, and to be sold for human food in the usual manner if the animal was sound and good. Mr. Kilby also stated that the cow came over from Holland three weeks only before it was affected Frederick Mallett, in the service of the defendant, sai(i the cow was very poor, and that it was intended to send it to the kiaackees lyard. Mr. Paget was not satisfied with the defence, and said meat of the disease d O""d''1" fh ""I."1.7_t. The defendant was represented by Mr. Turner aa a respectable man, and hoping he would avoid all com- plaints in future, he fined him 40s. only. In the second case against Mr. Jamea, Mr. Liddle said the four quarters of beef formed the carcase of what was called in butcher s siang a wet un." The meat was ilabby, moist, and diseased, and, if eaten by man woman, or child, would be highly injurious to health. The defendant said he bought a heifer at the Metro- politan Cattle Market on Thursday, the 10th of August, and it was slaughtered in the usual manner. The meat was perfectly sound and wholesome. He was confirmed by two butchers' men, named Harrington and Francis, who said the meat had nothing sus picious about it. Mr. Paget was of opinion the beef was diseased and unfit for human food. The defendant kept a shop for the sale of meat as well as a slaughterhouse. This was a much more serious case than the other. The supposition was that the four quarters of beef would have been cut up and sold in small quantities if it had not been seized, and it might have spread disease very widely. The defendant had already suffered loss and exposure, but that was not sufficient. It was extremely im- portant the sale of bad meat should be prevented. Meat of this bind was purchased by the poor, and not by the rich, who obtained a higher class meat, and gave full price for it. The poor, who were unable to protect themselves, and ought to be protected by vestries and district boards, bought the low-priced meats. He fined the defendant £ S, and if he was convicted again a very large penalty would be in- flicted The fines were instantly paid.

THE ROAD MURDER. Consta/nee ]KOntB Dr. T-ohn Charles Bttckncll, of HSllmorton-frall, near Rugby, who, with the permission of the Lord Chan- cellor, examiflBd the atJOTSBd ftnr the purpose of ascer- taining whether there were any grounds for supposing that she was labouring under mental disease, has at the request of the criminal herself communicated the following details of her crime, which she has confessed to him and to Mr. Rodway, of Trowbridge, her so- licitor, and which she desires to be made public. She says that the manner in which she committed the crime was as follows:— A few days before the murder ishedbtained possos- sion of a razor from a green case in her father's ward- robe, and secreted it. This was the sole instrument which she used. She also secreted a candle with matches. by placing them in. the corner of the closet in the garden, where the murder was committed. On the night of the murder she undressed herself and went to bed, because she expected that her sisters would visit her room. She lay awake watching until she thought the household were all asleep, and soon after midnight she left her bedroom and went do wnstairs and opened the drawing-room door and window-shatters, She than went up into the nursery, withdrew the blanket from beneath the sheet and the counterpane, and placed it on the side of the cot. She then took the child from his bad and carried him downstairs through the drawing-room. She had on her nightdress, and ia the drawing-room she put on her goloshes. Hav- ing the child in one arm she raised the drawing-room j window with the other hand, went round the house and into the-closet, lighted the candle and placed it on the seat of the closet, the child being wrapped in the blanket, and still -sleeping; and while the child waa in this position she inflicted the wound in the throat. ¡ She says that she thought the blood would never come, and that the child waa not killed, so she thruat the razor into its left, side, and put the body with the I blanket round it into the vault. The light burned' out. The piece of flannel which she had with her was ;om from an old flannel garment placed in the waste- bag, and which she had taken some time before and sewn it, to use in washing herself. She went back into her bedroom, examined her dress, and found only two spots of blood on it. These she washed out in the bason, and threw the water, which was but little dis- coloured, into the foot-pan in which she had washed her feet. She took another of her nightdresses and got into bed. In the morning her nightdress had be- come dry where it had been washed. She folded it up and put it into the drawer. Her three night- dresses were examined by Mr. Foley, the police super- intendent, aud eke believes also by Mr. Parsons, the medical attendant of the family. thought the blood stains had been effectually washed out, but on holding the dress up to the light a day or. two after- wards she found the stains were still visible. She secreted the dreas, moving it from place to place, and she eventually burned it in her own bedroom, and put the ashes or tinder into the kitchen grate. It was about five or six days after the ahlld s death that she burned the nightdress. On the Saturday morning, having cleaned the razor, she took au opportunity of replacing it unobserved in the case in the wardrobe. She abstracted her nightdress from the eiothes' basket when the housemaid went to fetch a glass of water. (This, it may be remembered, exactly confirms the evidence of the housemaid, Mrs. Rogers—formerly Cox—-as given at the examination at Trowbridge.) The stained garment, round in the boiler-hole had no connection whatever with the deed. As to the-prisoner s meutal condition, Dr. Bucknell adds:- An opinion has been expressed that the peoaliari- ties evinced by Constance Kent between the ages of twelve and seventeen may be attributed to the then transition period of her life. Moreover, the fact of her cutting off her hair, dressing herself in her brother s clothes, and leaving her home with the in- tention of going abroad, which occurred when she was only thirteenyoars of age, indicating a pe Juliarity of dis- position and great determination of character, which foreboded that for good or evil her future life would be remarkable. This peculiar disposition, which led her to such singular and violent resolves of action, seemed also to colour and intensify the thoughts and feelings, and magnify into wrongs that were to be revenged, any little family incidents or occurrences which provoked her displeasure. Although it became my duty to advise her counsel that she evinced no symptons of insanity at the time of my examination, and that so far as it was possible to ascertain the state of her mind at so remote a period, there was no evidence of it at the time of the murder, I am yet of opinion that owing to the peeuli- anties of her Constitution, it is probable that under prolonged solitairy confinement that she would become I — ""oJ -• -• .#" -A

THE FRAUDH ON THE BIRMINGHAM BANKING COMPANY. Benjamin Taylor, boot upper maker, of 67, Camden street, Birmingham, and Henry Kelly, builder, of 18 Grove-street, Camden-town, were again brought up on remand before the Lord Mayor, at the justice-room of the Mansion-house, in the custody of Detective- Sergea.t Webb, on the charge that they, in the month of May last, in the City of London, did unlawfully combine, conspire, and confederate together, by divers false pretences and subtle devices, falsely and frau- dulently to obtain to themselves, and in pursuance thereof unlawfully did obtain, of and from the Birming- ham Banking Company (London), large sums of money, the moneys of the said banking company (London), with intent to cheat and defraud them of the same." Mr. Lewis, of the firm of Lewis and Lewis, solicitors, of Ely-place, appeared, as before, for the prosecution.; the prisoner Taylor was defended by Mr. M. Williams, barrister; the other prisoner was undefended. Mr. Thomas Francis Shaw, gub-ma-aager of the Bir- mingham Banking Company, signed the deposition he nad made at the last hearing; and produced iffty-three cheques which had been drawn by Taylor upon the between the 5th of April and the 17th June, f}T^ i whole of feheae cheques had been paid by ? »ank. The amounts of these cheques were greatly m excess of the amounts of the bills of exchange which Taylor had deposited with it. In other words, the cheques werernuoh more than represented by the bills. There was a balance to Taylor's debit, including the banking charges of £ 72 6s. 6d., but that was before the bills were returned. The balance now to his debit, in- cluding the bills retained since the last hearing at this court, was £ 2,«8. The baak still held two of his bills, and both of these would most probably be re- turned. The evidence given on a former occasion by Mr. Wm Foster, clerk to Mr. Beaumont, solicitor to the Birm- ingham Banking Company, having been read over and signed by him, Mr. Lewis applied for a further remand until the 4th of September, when he thought he should be able to complete the evidence for the prosecution. Mr. M. Williams made an application pro forma that Taylor be admitted to bail, and said that if his lordship refused to grant it, recourse would be had te the judge in chambers. Taylor had executed a deed in bankraptcy, and the creditors were naturally anxious to have every facility afforded them for obtain- ing access to him, but that was not obtainable while he was in custody. Mr. Lewis opposed this application, and said Taylo owed about =040,000. He thought the safest course was to leave him where he was, and where his creditors could always find him. The Lord Mayor refused to take bail for him, and remanded the case until the 4th of September. The prisoner Kelly requested that a sum of i £ S and a watch, which had been taken from him by the police at the time of his apprehension, might be restored to him. Mr. Lewis opposed this application also, and said that any demand of this kind from a man lika Kelly, who had swindled innumerable people, was oat of the' question, and ought never tb be allowed. The Lord Mayor refused the request, and the prisoners were reoonveyed to Newgate.

FRIGHTFUL DEA TH OF AN INSURANCE SOOIifjTY'S SECRETARY. A painful feeling was occasioned on Tuesday morning, shortly before eight o'clock, in the neigh- bourhood of New Bridge-street, Blackfriars, in conse- quence of a report that Mr. Riobard Ray, secretary to the Rand-in-Hand Insurance Society, whose offices are situated in that thoroughfare, had com- mitted self-destruction by jumping from the second- floor window. It seems that the unfortunate gentleman resided in the house with his family, but at the time of the sad occurrence there were only his daughter, himself, and the servants in the house. His wife is staying in the country, whenca he only re- turned a few days since, leaving her behind. The deceased rose on the morning before fmy one else in the house, and, having cleaned and dteased himself, he proceeded to a window in the front room on the second floor and precipitated himself on to the pave- ment in Bridge-street. To show his determination, it may be observed that although the railings below are some distance from the house, he succeeded in escaping them, falling two or three feet in front. There were several cabmen on the rank close by at the time, and they assisted in raising the shattered frame of the unhappy gentleman, which was at once removed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in a cab, where life was found to be extinct. His daughter arrived at the hospital shortly after his removal thither, but only to learn the melancholy fact of his death. The de- ceased had been some years in the society, and was much respected and no cause can appear to be as- signed for his fatal resolution. He was upwards of sixty years of age. The painful news has been communicated to his wife. Another aceondt says, Mr. John Ray, the brother of the deceased gentleman, states that his Unfortunate relative -returned to London from Folke- stone on Monday night, when he was in good spirits and perfect health, and in speaking of his family said he hoped they would have pleasant weather at Folke- stone. The brother says that he had never threatened to destroy his life, and that be was not in pecuniary difficulties. He is of opinion that death was caused by accident. He appears to believe that as his brother was leaning out of the window for the purpose of ascertaining whether there were any rain clouds, he fell out. This opinion is founded upon the fact that the deceased was very anxious about his family having fine weather. No person was in the room at the time of the fatal occurrence." '(.

SUICIDE OF A YOUNG WOMAN AT MAJBA-MILL. An mquiry.was-held by Dr. Lankester, at the Provi- dence-hall, Paddington, last week, relative to the suicide of a girl named Mary .Higgiflas, aged twenty- two years. The deeeased was a domestic servant, but being out of place was livillg with her mother at 28, Devonshire- street, Westbourne-road. She war, keeping com- pany with a yonng man named John Fowley, and several witnesses detailed the particulars of th& quarrel which led to her suicide. It appeared from their testimony that on Saturday last the deceased and lever were in the Green Man public-house in the ^dgware-road, and that she found a sixpence. Her friend^ proposed that she should spend it, but she sa'id, I like a young man to spend money on me, and not I upon him," As she was leaving the house with-thelsixpaiioe she aocidently knocked Fowley'a pipe into his moath. He boxed her ears, in Bta-jrifely saying that she did it on purpose. She catfght hold of his scarf and twisted it. In his evidence he stated that she nearly strangled him, and to prevent that calamity he knocked her down. Her head and face were out open by the fall (In the pavement, and her dress and apron were covered with blood. Sheapplied to two police-constables to take her lover into custody; but her sister, Alice Higgins, deposed, they said that as he was her young man she would never appeal against him in the morning, and the best way would be for her to summons him. She complained after- wards that she felt quite lightheaded. She said to her sister that she should never get over that quarr^j and that she would punish Fowley "in another waT- On Tuesday night she wished her friends good-bys, saying that she was going out. She left her crinoline outside her mother's door, and went out and had so01? ganger beer. The next morning her body was t'onnd floating in the Regent's canal at Maida-hill.. ci The Coroner having remarked upon the case, that there was no doubt whatever that the deoea80 had committed suicide, but as no witnesses had her throw herself into the water it would be better return an open verdict.. The jury accordingly returned a verdict, That decsased was found drowned in the Regent's ca,n*l at Maida-hill, but that how she came into the w»1' there was no J evidence to prove."

♦ A Woman Killed by a Bull On Sunday raot^ ing last the wife of a respectable farmer nana M'Causland, living on the main road to 0>nagb., n. Six Mile Cross, county Tyrone, went to a fieldaoj ing the house to look after some cattle. t nately for the poor woman she wrapped herselt P some sort of covering which she was not in the j. of doing. Amongst the cattle was a bull, whia%er knowing the woman in the strange dress, ran^ and attacked her with fearful violence, kiliiQg before any one could render assistance. She has

;=. CHOLERA PANTO IN SICILY. li-ie ignorance of the Sicilians on the subject of the ih'fcdtl xi epidemic now prevalent in some parts of Italy, is manifested in rather strange ways. The Florence eca-respondent of the Daily News says:—People are described as rushing madly about in all directions Kifcirely absorbed in the subject of the preventive Bidaeuxes. Besides this, another strange form of axdiemect, generated tilsvthrough fear, has given rise to strarigeecetlea at Carini and other com- snaaeE in ■Sicily, where bills have been placa • b>- the enemies of the Government announc- ing that the dreaded epidemic is dis- seminated through pjiison-ous influences," propa- gated by the destruetiiionof:the doomed population. The poor ignorant;people, who had previously made the wildest •eurffiiies as to the object of the census, art caidf rstan ding why their names, date of birth, &c., should ba required of them, seem now suddenly to ha..ve foaud the clae to the mystery. They wanted to know our numbers and names in order to make ai-their victims," say they, "by sending us poison aader cover of tiBedisiBes, fumigatiou3,' disinfecting substances: these they use, now they know whom to destroy." In oonsequence-ef this ignorant prejudice, which is becoming deeply rooted in the minds of the people, a fearful scene took place in the hospital ward i>Î the Conoezione at- Palermo the other day, on occa- sion of a certain process of "purification" which was beiag performed by two of the attendants. Whilst ihese were using some chloride of lime for the purpose iiOCH'e named, they were indignantly pointed out by au infuriated woman -as ".poisoners" in process of earryiag out their nefarious vocation. At the sound Gf the dreaded word "poison," sick men and invalids :4l rose and rushed at once towards the supposed tioisoners," in <ordtr to make away with them. They -)ui d have been despatched in a trice had not the itias interfered in time. Thus we see the same "6 the same results in the history of cholera in the sntury as stained the annals of the Milanese in IGth century, when was believed that the plagne insmittedthrough "agents "who "poisoned" city wells.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 1' (Medical ',Times) 'have been favoured with a proof of a "Return from th& Metropolitan Association 'if Meaieaiofficeri of He,%Ith, of the number of cow- sheds, of cows, and, so far as could be ascertained by inspection and inquiry, the number of cases of the oattle plague-that'have existed in each parish or dis- trict from May 1 to August 13, 1865." There appears to be forty-five parishes or districts, and returns are made from all except Islington, Charleston, City of London, St. Luke's, and Kensington. St. Marfcin's-m- the-fields, and ;St. James's, Westminster, have no cowsheds aadao jcows. The Strand has "two, kept -with a 'licence; and four illA-gally--i-e-, wit-holt licence." In the-former, 74; in the latter, 46 frOTH keta. Considering that there is a heavy r i if-y atefaehed-to the keeping caws without a licence, b t-p f »n»8 groat slackness in the local authorities that J they do not enforce it. Including these in the Strand; s pe irs- that <16,176 «ows are usually kept within the "lit'ar-a distridt to, which we suspect 3,000 ought to be the parishes from which no return has been received. Insevsral parishes where the epidemic has jwevai'ed'the numbers afce greatly Tedaced; thus, ic Mar^lebone there-are'only 746, whereas the usual niim .ber is 3S,114r, The districts in whish the murrain is kpown ta haveappe^ed are—St. Marylebone, in 279 Holborn, 39: Hampafaad, 125; St. Pancra.s. 110; Clerkenwell, 277; Mile-end layid St. George's East, 60 Poplar, .34; Ciipham, 25i 'Lambeth, 24; St. John, South wark, 35 Leo and Kidhrook, 15; New- ton, 5, But (he return States that these numbers <tI2 uot to be relied upon, as they are of necessity de- rived from'information supplied by the cowkeepers, motivea for secrecy are obvious. A Committee of the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council met in the Oouncii Chamber at Whitehall, on "Friday, to take into consideration certain measures'having for their object the preven- tion of the spreading of the cattle plague m United Kingdom. The'Lord Chancellor, Earl de Grey and Ripon, and Mr. Secretary Cardwell were present. A committee of their lordships, at which Sir George xrev and Mr. Card wsll were present, met again in the r f ia the Conneil Chamber at half-past; six when their lordships determined upon the issue of aa order to prohibit the importation into Ire- 1 from any port in Great Britain of any cows, hfeifera, balls''bullocks, oxen, or calves. Mr. Wad- dington, the Solicitor-General, and the Clerk and Deputy-Clerk of the Council were in attendance upon their lordships.

A OATTLE PLAGUE IN AMERICA. The Memphis Bulletin has the following We learn from a gentleman who has just returned from Philips and Crittenden Counties, Arkansas, that the planters in the Mississippi bottoms have been and are still suffering severe loss by the death of their horses, mules, cattle, and hogs by a- singular disease, which is carrying them off in great numbers. In the early part of the summer an incredible number of black gnats made their appearance in the bottoms, and at- tacked not only cattle and horses, but also birds, wild turkeys, deer, and other game, with such ferocity as to kill in a short time quite a number of them. After the disappearance of the gnats a disease broke .1' out among the cattle, horses, and hogs, and has been raging for some time, and is still prevailing, though the indications now ate that the epidemic- for such it appears to be-is abating. This disease resembles very closely erysipelas, the attacked swelling up, sometimes under the breast, at other times oh the side, but more frequently under the throat, and dying in generally from twenty-four to forty-eight hours after being^attacked. Our informant conversed with several intelligent planters who have been great sufferers by this strange disease, among them a physician eminent in his profession, ani all of them concurred in the opinion that it was closely allied to erysipelas, and also that the visitation of the gnats in the early part of the summer had some influence in producing the disease. It is thought that the great amount of poisonw hichwasnecessarily absorbed into the system by the bite of the guat-which is a most poisonous insect-is developing itself in the disease which is now ravaging the whole animal race in that region. Some cases, when taken in time, are cured by precisely the same treatment practised in cases of erysipelas, painting with iodine the affected parts having a fine effeot. The loss of gtook, especially of hogs, has been very great. One planter in Walnut Bend has lost over 200 hogs and seven horses and mules, besides oxen and milk cows. Another, living a short distance above the one named, has lost thirteen mules and horses, and hogs and cattle in proportion. This is only two of many similar instances of losses sustained. On Saturday morning it was reported that two men who had been treating their Oattle for the prevailing disease had been similarly attacked, their throats swelling up in an alarming manner."