The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

TOWN TALK. BY OUR SPECIAL C03&&ESP0NDENT. Ow rtukn mH urwlerstomd that we do not hold ottrseives rtrpm- rible for W fbie Correspondent's opinions. T- CHARLES LAMB, in one of his inimitable essays, divides men into two classes: those who borrow, and those who lend, and he assigns a decided superiority to the former. He invests them with a kind of royalty. They lay all men under tribute, they make a decree like Caesar that the whole world should be taxed, while they are humble enough to perform the invidious duties of the publican. The delightful essayist dwells upon their jaunty carriage, their rosy appearance, the lightness of their step, their more than royal appearance of freedom from care, their princely way of speaking money. To refuse them anything they may ask of you is a thing not to be thought of the tone of careless contempt in which they speak of the trifle they require, the absolute right which they evidently believe themselves to possess to whatever may happen to be in the pockets of other people, forbid so absurd an idea. Besides, ther I really is no time for reflection, the crown or hr-t- sovereign is extracted as quickly asatooth by a.Lrst- rate dentist; it is done by the single twil of a masterly hand. It is only, How are you my dear fellow" (here there is a patro-nisi-5 squeeze of your fingers)? "Have you a -rown about you? Ah, thank you! Good by." And away goes our friend to collect h1 income some- where else. This is one of Ways living on what Thackeray calls "Nothing a year," of which not a few in Londordva^ themselves. This is the dull season for sue2 gentlemen. They have I at present to content,,hem selves with such com- paratively humble Vrds as your correspondent. In Fleet-street, tlY other evening, one of them asked me for a wlf-crown. Presently I saw him driving in a inn>som cab I walked home that evening myg1^ and, unless tired, should have thought i4 sheer extravagance to take a cab. I have en done in this way about half-a- dozen times in as many days. A half- crown or any amount that one can afford, for chat matter, is never thrown away if given t, those who need it; but it is only little short of a crime to encourage men who make it their trade to levy this kind of black mail- men who are moral ruins, their tower of self-respect prostrate, and their whole building hastening to inevitable decay. I HAVE given you a glimpse at these gentlemen very much because there is really very little town talk at present. Jones, who used to be a cyclopeodia of news, is studying "Murray's Guide." Brown is deep in a work by an experienced tourist, in which it is shown how you may starve yourself and go up and down the Rhine for £ 5. Robinson similarly employed. Excursion trips here and there, Mr. Cook, eligible watering-places where good shooting may be had, are the only subjects much discussed now-by the few who are here to discuss them. At Button's—where lawyers and literary men do congregate—there are still the pale young sylphs in waiting, but the shrewd, wrinkled faces, the high foreheads, the bald and semi-bald heads, the eye-glasses and the whiskers, the Q.C.'s, the magazine writers, the students of the Temple and Lincoln's-inn, are nowhere to be seen. For myself, I feel" as melancholy as a lodge in a warren." I feel baked. I am sick of this huge brick-kiln of a London, and the moment this letter is finished I shall wipe my pen and pack up. and be off for three days at least. But where ? That is a question I have not time to settle at present. WHEN a lover of fish cannot get whitebait he" has to relapse on the less delioate eel or whiting. The quidnuncs, in default of more enticing mattersf are discussing in a languid manner—quite in keeping with the thermometer—the Fenians. Some persons affect to think there is little or no Fenianism in Ireland; but of its wide-spread existence amongst the lower class of young men in that country there cannot be much doubt. Fenianism is a very small mountain, which can only bring forth a very small mouse, which may successfully hide itself from Sir Robert Peel's cats under a good-sized cabbage-head or an umbrageous potato-stalk. Regarded* from the point of view it would wish to be—namely, as for- midable to England-anything more absurd, more outrageously ridiculous, it would be impossible to conceive. Just think of the intelligence of young fools, who imagine that people will leave America, break up all their ties, and come over to liberate Ireland from the most powerful nation in the world-to which three-fourths <C).f the Irisk people are loyal! Let us hope that IFenianismis one of the last feeble outbursts of a spirit -which has been, since this country has treated Ireland with an enlightened policy, the greatest impediment to its progress. Some make the mis- take of supposing that the Roman Catholic clergy encourage Fenianism. The,truth is that the great mass of the priesthood are against it. Since the French revolution, the Irish priesthood have never as a body fostered rebellion. The way their brethren in France were treated taught them a lesson they have never forgotten. in '48 the attempts at rebellion would not have been such a miserable collapse but for the priests. They are, indeed, partially responsible for Fenianism. They have in their schools encouraged a mistaken, nationality, a half-smothered hostility to England, which could not but result in Fenianism or some- thing like it. Atpresent, the priests and the Fenians are at daggers-drawn. Many will not give absolution to Fenians. When last in Ireland, I. attended a meeting in which the names of Arch- bishop Cullen and some other bishops were hissed at, because they were opposed to the movement. They don't like the fruit. Why then not cut down the tree? They have raised a spirit which it will require all their power to lay. Nor will that spirit have been raised in vain should it teach them to sow in the minds of the rising generation seeds that will grow up in loyalty and in content, in a pride anything but slavish in the union of the two countries, and in a noble ambi- tien to contribute to, and share, their mutual glory TRJ shooting of Sergeant Sherlock by Foy has "ivn new life to those questions-which arose out of the murder of Major De Vere. A large number persons seem to think that the soldiers are trCited too severely. They even say that the dis- cipline is too rigid. If they are treated ",th tyranny they have no remedy. I even ieard some utter the rather dangerous and wholly superficial remark, that such crimes did food, and that only for them there would be yJthing but the most frightful oppression in the-,mY- They failed to see that danger so u-certain would never make a man watch his eve Y word and every act, They were advised by humorous.friend of mine to write to Earl De oXrey, and propose that every ten or five years a1- unpopular officer should be shot by way of M counterbalance to the tendency there is v over-great severity. By this way, he Lqaii they would obtain all the advantages of TDich they spoke, and with as small a saeri-Ice of officers as possible, besides taking awal temptation from the soldiers to be- come mu-erers. Others say that it is ridiculous to ba poking for causes and casting about for -= reme(les for these things; that you will always hav in the army, as in other places, wild nature's; ajj, as a natural consequence, such catastrophes, .hich, if they prove anything, prove the necessity of severe discipline. Others again say, Why, in times of peace, serve out powder and ball ? failing to see that anything like distrust or fear would be highly inexpedient. The advocates of strict dis- cipline would leave the punishment of such men as Foy in the hands of the military authorities. But it is replied, that under the gravest charge that can be brought against a man, a soldier would then be without the privilege of being tried by his peers; and it is just possible that the military and civil tribunals might ultimately come to have different standards of punishment for the same great crime. The most intelligent persons with whom I have spoken seem to think that, without making any very sweeping changes, a system less severe might be tried. The experiment, they say, could do no harm; and it might result in the conviction that an army would lose nothing in discipline or effi- ciency by being allowed a little more liberty, and being treated with a little more consideration. I HAD some conversation this morning with an acquaintance of Louis Jordan and his reputed wife Angelina. I learned that he was a little rat-eyed man, that he was rather severe on Angelina, that they lived well, that Angelina was either brought up or resided a long time in France, and that she was anything but happy with Monsieur Louis. The reader is aware that I speak of the swindler, who, after representing himself as an agent, took in so many innocent foreigners from St. Peters- burg to Lis bon. PEOPLE are laughing at the way the Germans I have been done in the affair of Schleswig Holstein. But when they forget Prof. Max Muller and the Germans, they express themselves rather indig- nantly at the hypocrisy and treachery of both Austria and Prussia; These nations have acted like two scheming attorneys who should fight out a case for a plaintiff, and, having been successful, pocket everything for costs. Why does not Punch give us a cartoon of Austria and Prussia eating the oyster, and Germany, surrounded by metaphysical treatises, meekly receiving the shells from her generous friends ? Z.

SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS. ALTHOUGH politics are at a discount, and mat- ters connected with the State have no absorbing interest, there are many things to record which will be read by the English public with some degree of pleasure. First, our most Gracious Queen has paid a long-promised visit to the birth- place of her: lamented husband, and has returned in health. to British shores, welcomed by her people. Her Majesty had gone to Germany spe- cially to inaugurate the Albert statue in ColQgne I and a great day it was in the history of that city when the Queen of England, Surrounded by the immediate members of her own and her late hus- band's family; took part in that ceremony. Several neighbouring monarchs, wished to have been pre- sent, but her Majesty had expressed .a desire that the celebration shouli be regarded, as strictly a family affair. The people;, however, assgmbled in crowds, and on this occasion there was no excep- tion to the rule that favourable weather generally attends the Queen's visits. As her Majesty's car- riage entered the matkot-place of Cologne the ,band played the National Anthem; then Queen Victoria, dressed in deep ifiourningy and escorted by the reigning Duke of Cobul-g (Prince Albert's brother) and her second son; Prince Alfred, who is heir-presumptive to the dukedom, mounted the platform. A' lengthy" address was then de- livered by the Bergermeister, and the statue was uncovered. It is of colossal size. In the left hand of the Prince is a baton, and the right hand rests upon a plan of the Great International Exhibition, which is fixed on a stone by the side of the figure. A number of young ladies, adorned with green and pink ribands, then came forward and laid flowers on the monument, after which the Queen and her family deposited their garlands. About this the Times special correspondent happily says: That, I believe, was the essentially German part of the performance; it was the touch of nature that came home to every man's bosom. One could almost have cried out' Music, awake him; strike!' and expect the transforma- tion in The Winter's Tale reproduced before us." Her Majesty went through the ceremony with her wonted command over her feelings. The Princess of Prussia and Princess Louis of Hesse were visibly affected. The inauguration scene was then over, and the Queen returned to Rosenau, where the Prince Consort was born; and here she has visited every spot that was associated in her mind with the good Prince Albert. Her people sincerely hope that, now all has been accomplished which a loving wife can perform in memory of a dearly loved husband, she will return to those duties, of State which her Majesty, during a prosperous reign, bad so faithfully fulfilled prior to her painful bereavement. TEE five days' festivities at Portsmouth in hono-Qr of the French flee t have passed over with great eclat. The officers and men of the English fleet, and the crowds on shore, watched the de- parture of our allies amid the booming of cannons and the hearty cheers of the assembled thousands, evidently evincing the delight of the people that the two great nations of the earth cac. meet as l friends rather than as enemies. Now thai, qll is over and done with, it is impossible to look uponj the events which have taken place at Portsmouth but with satisfaction. The old naval town has, on this occasion, worthily represented England, to say nothing of Scotland and Ireland, and has, on the whole, made us, perhaps, quits with the good folks of Cherbourg, who-first entertained the English officers on French ground. But though such festivities would lose much of their effect if repeated too often, the kindly feeling that prompted them cannot be cultivated too much on both sides of the Channel. THE desire of improvement and the solid aspects of England are matters for congratulation. The working men's exhibitions that are taking place throughout the kingdom .serve to show the in- terest persons in higher ranks of life take in the artisans and the working population. Perhaps no better instance of this can be set forth than the "Working Men's Exhibition" at Birmingham, which was inaugurated a few days ago. The inaugural address was delivered by that philan- thropic nobleman, Lord Lyttelton, and he was supported by the mayors of the various towns in the midland counties, by aristocrats, dignitaries of the church, and large employers. The noble lord, in the course of his speech, after having com- mented upon the industrial workshesaw before him, and turned to the features of the age which he believed had tended to raise the masses to their proper position, said-" I look at the literature of the day in its lighter and more popular character. The works of fiction, I am very well assured, in which now for many years past the upper classes have taken most pleasure, have been those which have purported to deal with the daily life of the classes below them; and, taking the converse, I have often been very greatly struck with what I have observed in reference to the literary taste of the poorer classes in London. I walk about the streets of London, when I am there, as much as anybody, and in the humbler streets we see in these days of cheap publications the shop windows full of small and cheap works of fiction and periodicals, which circulate among the working classes of London. I would engage to say that, with hardly an exception-I doubt whether there be one in one hundred cases—the subjects of those works of fiction, and the little pictures by which they are illustrated, relate to the lives of the upper classes, and represent them as taking part in the social well-being of their fellow men. This is our desire, and these are the feelings we hope to cultivate." A SIMILAR exhibition has been opened at Wake- field, where Lord Houghton and the Archbishop of York took part in the proceedings, and at which meeting both noblemen complimented the work- ing classes upon the progress they were making, and in the advancement of the masses in a social position, contending that cheap literature had much to do With this progressive state of things. LORD PALMERSTO.NL',g visit to Bristol to open the Industrial Exhibition there, is a great topic of con- versation. We feel proud that the noble Premier of England gives such encouragement to works of art, science, and industry; and well we know that his lordship, with that peculiar tact which he possesses, will amuse his audience, whilst his good advice will prompt them to further energies. His lordship will be the guest of Lord Fitzhardinge, and is expected to arrive at Berke- ley Castle on the 18th inst., and on the following day will inaugurate the opening of the Working Men's Institution. After the inaugural ceremony a dinner will be provided for ladies as well as gentle- men. TURNING to matters which have recently been commented upon. The speculation as to the future of Algiers is a topic which politicians seem scarcely- to understand. Let it be remembered that that country conquered by France, and taken from the Arabs, was intended for French colonisa- tion. The conquerors had done with it, as we have done with Australia. Their convicts were sent there, who, after serving the probationary time, were allowed to settle in the colony. Free emi- grants also went there under French protection. But the Arab tribes rebelled, and confusion was general throughout the country. The Emperor Napoleon paid a visit there a few months ago, to see the real state of affairs. And now comes his Imperial decision. The colony is to be divided into three zones, at various distances from the sea. The first-th, at embracing the sea shore-is to be under a, purely civil command; the second, farther into the interior, is to be entirely military, with the exception of Tiemeen, an agricultural district, whicl1 is to be guarded by the military power. The third zone, the remote interior, which includes the desert of Sahara, and other sandy plains, is to be abandoned to the Arabs, who will be under the protection of France, but allowed to govern themselves as they please. This is entirely on the principle of a conqueror, "What is useful I retain; what is useless becomes yours." ALARMISTS have talked about the cholera visit- ing English shores. We are thankful tc?, say that the advance of that terrible disease has been very Blow, and we hope that the sanitary regulations which are being enforced throughout the kingdom will allow the disease to pass over us mildly, if it is the will of Providence that we should be again affected by this scourge. THE cattle disease has made its appearance in many parts of the country, and has been clearly proved by one notable case to be an epidemic. Miss Bwrdett Coutts' whole herd of Ayrshire cattle' has been stricken with tie disease, and almost the whole of them swept off, although no infection could have reached them. For first, as the Observer states, "the Lord hid been some time at Holly-lodge; therefore- it was not tainted with any imported cattle. Secondly, ^he herd was in excellent condition, and thb cows were yielding from sixteorr to eighp&en quarts of milk per day. Thirdly shndp in which the animals were milked ar- clean, navy, iinie^washed, and every kind of or<irre removed, besides being also well gravelled. The pasture on which they fed might be termed ^ot unly good, but rich, and the water which iiijy drank v>r&3 as pure as water well can be. T a '-sliort, so far as food and treatment could go to keep a herd of cattle in first-class con- dition, -I- .,y wekeevervtliing that could be desired. Yet th; animate sank rapidly, and some of them ex- hibit! I the worst characteristics of the disease. Eoaon, the heio man, who was deeply affected by the loss of MB herd, informed us that as mere stimu- lants givfuto ^heajiimal?, after certain severe pur-1 r gations, there had been consumed by two cows alone (one of which has Survived) eight bottles of whisky, two gallons of brandy, two dozen and a half of port wine, and other strong drinks, all of which were of no avail, except in the solitary iR- stance named. The cattle, under the several stages of the disease, exhibited the usual pheno- mena of pleuro pneumonia. They appeared, ordinarily speaking, either excited, with staring gaze, protruding eyeballs, and watery eyes,: or depressed and relaxed, with a dull, dim look, and a flow of mucus from the eyes and the nose. In all the animals a cold shivering, and a coolness of the horn, the ear, and the extremities were ap- parent, with staring coat, trembling of the mus- cles, and increased respiration. Foam and saliva flowed from the mouth, and the lungs of the animals exhibited the same appearance, being much beyond their natural size in almost every instance." Still we are thankful to say that the cases are less frequent than they were a few weeks ago, and we trust that the disease will very shortly be entirely eradicated. THE cattle trucks on the various lines of Rail- way have recently been thoroughly cleansed and washed down with chloride of lime, and the poor animals are provided with a drink of water. If these things had been practised before, numbers of cattle might possibly have been saved. We trust that the good effect produced by cleansing the cattle trucks will be extended to passenger carriages, and that railway officials will see that the health of the people is not injured by the filthy state in which, these are allowed to remain.

AMERICA mi. NEW YOBK, AUGUST 24 The court-martial ft, the trial of Captain W re-assembled yesterday. The Judge-Advocate nounced that the former commission had been < solved and a new one convey composed of the s. members. The specifications OF charges were RITA to the previous one with tfee ew>tion of the na of Lee, Seddon, and Northrop be^g omitted from charge of conspiracy. Wirtz's c^nse! objected fresh proceedings, and asked for tme to prepare defence. Eventually, however, he ¡;:lr'Jd case. The president of the court thei Judge-Advocate to defend Wirtz. n. ) The Mississippi Convention have effect Secession ordinance, and repeated all \<e by the Secession Convention, with theexceP4n^f revenue ordinance. t> -J J. T l. x YOEK, AUGUST25 President Johnson telegraphed to the Govenor Mississippi, congratulating him on the progressmao by- that State towards re-admission to the Unioi also said that the Habeas Corpus Act would be retort and the troops withdrawn so soon as the Stat Kt progressed sufficiently to have returned to her tC ance. The Pennsylvania Democratic Convention haveiv Mr. Johnson their qualified support. They deiai that measures shall be passed to give the ou immediate congressional representation, and tcsa them from negro suffrage; also to stop the rnrc and punishment of individuals by comt-martial. The steamer Brother Jonathan, from San Fraicie for Portland, was wrecked near Cape Lincoln. 81 had from 200 to 300 passengers on board win lost with the exception of fifteen. The Mississinni August 26. The Mississippi Convention have memorialist M pardon Mr. Davis. < seated to Mr 6T Belgj,an lister, has beervw Tre «ch"ged0lmS0°' TheHerald states i*a-, V. Gaiado asked per eion of Mr. Johnson to racist an infernal ioto condolence and congratulation from tie Em ror Maximilian,; which, however ground that the Preeti Jent did not re(Jii!e theW ence of the Empire of The rumours that « n;r«^a*>verakjeat loan shortly be issued have nc/sr oonilrmed The paroled prison; yrnom no charges rn, pending will be fllrnkbed with passports oondj. a ally that they doLnot,-L""cll tt the President's IfftVc* r <- r ;■ intherebeUionmc: ,i passports. E. ■^etchum. has iniea arrc „e<i, president Johnson has ordemi f jrty-aeven T»VH and. brigadier. generals to be mustered out. The ship Francis Cuttmg has cleared from hob for JJVBrpoo1, with a oargt of cotton valued ittnjf naif a million dollars. <•

r THE CHOLERA fN^SPAI^ The Official Gazette of Madrid, Sept. o, pcblia^ royal decree, declaring the ports of B .rriai.a, ini province of Castellon, and Curthafena, in the pi-ov{ £ of Murcia, to be infected with cholera. At Gibraltar, two persona htire hew &Ata(kid wt cholera, but in neither iaaJac y1K)f fatal. 'I ¡

Destructive Fire npar tfie Hayc arket ETRAORDINARyDF.J,T,( ')jJ'" )t VOL SB.— about two o'clock o* nioriung s n br< out on the premiso belonging.to Mr Bentiey, oe, 21, Rupert-street The vorkshops at the rea? w< burnt out, and mother vcrluhop behind No. 22 wl considerably d'maS°d by Sre nd water. A rifle voic teer made himself very coaapi ;uoc8 at the fixe. Up1 going home in same strt 3^ he loaded bis ri< placed the-1111?. in ^i' mocuh, ina. having:law*)* the ham»er> discharged the c ontents into hi* hef causinrairaost instaatar.,30uo «'e;ith. It appears ftt the e-ld-ce adduced at the in jue t that tha,&ees" at fmes gaTe way to drink, which, g to l1li6. cp-testimony, had brought <-h i softness of the brai- /•verdict of Suicide Wl le of unsound misd"^ returned. Now ready, price IS.—■" 'CL- Peofcfts SJihtina." The Cure of Indig-estii n, Debility/ „ Diseases resulting from excass, im seaeaiaKv By John Harvey; M.D., P.A,.&, 31, London, W. & BAKER and BAKM5 *i -i the ftdi b*nefit of/ Reduced Duty 011 all tlv r j- cki t Teas, whioi» iff* best and chEmpest. GoodJifch 212* Sd. per lb. ji Satisfying, Stren^h«p.li Soott^-Sr Ofceapeat food. Of ohymistg, in oaalt on The Himalaya Tea Co. and ofeflSGeWewtgwahty; being th ai us# rt wholesome, therefore the be«t wv -i Instant Cur. ofTootbjrt •-?$*>*■ date and permanent reliel Sold br J> In consequence, of tbc or Teas are now suppue<i. *>?* A.ioBts E'.Y'SZw.w#-4' rrrwEB.. Every Genuine Pa -wt ih f 1<71W