The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

POLITICAL GOSSIP. --+- IT is intimated that the Lord Chancellor intends to bring in a bill next session for the repeal of useless and obsolete Acts, of which the mere schedule of titles occupies 256 folio printed pages. Some of them relate to the Government of the American colonies-now the United States. Better late than never. TEN clergymen have been elected to the Massachu- setts House of Representatives. Four of them are orthodox Congregationalists, two are Universalists, one is a Christian Baptist, and one a Unitarian. SHOULD present prospects continue, Mr. Gladstone, it is said, will be enabled to make a remission ef taxation in 1866 equal to that in 1865. The last revenue quarter's returns were marvellously good, and, to every one's surprise, Mr. Gladstone's estimates were considerably under the revenue receipts. MR. MAULE, who has been appointed third member of the Jamaica Commission, is not, as has been erroneously stated, a relation of the eminent judge whose name he bears, but a son of the late Solicitor to the Treasury. THE Yorkshire people expect that Dewsbury will be enfranchised. The inhabitants of Batley, who number 17,000, think they ought also to be included in the scheme, and have therefore held a meeting and re- solved that they "should form a part of the said borough." Seeing that "the said borough" is not likely to come into existence just yet, the above ap- pears to be a very useful resolution.. N IT will satisfactory to the Irisfa public, says the ■Dublin Evening Mail, to know- that the name of the Earl of Belmore has been added to the railway com- mission. With Lerd Belmore and Colonel Monsell on the commission, Ireland, north and south, will be well represented. A CONTEMPORARY says that the Devon county magistracy numbers but four less than three hundred, of which number ten boast the distinction of Right Honourable, eight possess the title of Honourable, and twenty-five have the privilege of prefixing "Sir" to their names. LORD LOFTUS, the new English Ambassador at I)eriin has already taken leave of the Bavarian Colirt,Iand will shortly arrive in London, after having had an interview with Lord Napier at Berlin. The Ilew Ambassador will take up his residence in the Prussian capital in a short time. GOVERNOR ETRE resided for some time at Bath, and his old frienda are getting up a petition to the Government to support him, and are hopeful that the Jamaica question will lead to a great party fight, and bets are offered that Earl Russell will not be in office at Christmas, 1866. A JUSTICE of the Peace writes as follows to a Dublin paper in reference to the "panic at the Castle :"—" You cannot imagine what mischief it has done, and how country families are frightened by all the warlike preparations they read of from day to day. Panic is most contagious, and it should be the duty of Government to put it down, in place of in- creasing it. These absurd warlike preparations, more- over, play into the hands of the Fenians. They in- crease their self-importance, and render them more bold, as they think they are really feared. I hope common sense shall return to our rulers with the new year." LARGE placards on the walls of the Palazzo del Commune" and other buildings announce to the citizens from the Gonfaloniere the provisions of the new law legalising civil marriage. This is in truth one of the most important steps in advance which Italy has yet made; none can tell how important who do Hot know from Bear observation all the complicated evil results which the ecclesiastical regulations respect- ing marriage, and the obstructions thrown in the way of it. have caused in the social condition of the people. No opposition to Mr. Denison's re-election to the Speakership, nor any amendment to the Address, is IP, present anticipated. Mr. Dodswn will be permitted -take his seat as Chairman of Ways and Means TTon.rsu^ opposition. For the first time for many X. Peel will not sit on the Treasury bench. n Q*t, notwithstanding his huff with Earl u a f ho probably be found on the third bench E-B. Lvtton, General Peel, an^r' Sir John Pakmgton u-en a naii :n Lord Stanley, as m past times, will be found au in aoa frQnt 0pposition. bat there will ^icuous absence of many of the rank and ^jlfj^ervative party. >,« Bail rewU0^ Fun ha9 a carieatnre entitled John tline from Business; Triumph of Uncle Sam /'•Tififona fended by his daughter Columbia and The Tritons are Gordon Bennett, of the Cullen Bryant, of the Evening Post HoraoeYorhlS?> of the Tribune; and Raymond, of the-New Jroi'fc Uncle Sam, as Neptune, is attended by 5°^ and handsome Columbia to the shore, f very 8fcou4: and matronly Britannia, in spectacles Balmoral boots, is handing over to ^ung6r siater a broken trident and a crafflPle. ,agna Charta. Behind her, in an invalid's chalr> John Bullj in a very dropsical condition. **13 tiSht arm ia bandaged "Fenianiam," his left' P&uperisnj swollen right leg is labelled Aristocracy, t ancl 'DI, his left are the word's National Debt." IS wal,stj°Qa,t; pocket is ticketed Free Trade," and the orit-b. be- hind his pillow is insoribed "French Alliance. Ahe page-boy behind, with a sorrowful counten&Qce> doubtless intended for Lord Russell. Away In the distanoe is the smoke of the Minnesota, the Wabash, the Powhattan, and other war vessels. Britannia hands the trident and Magna Charta, to Columbia, with this neat speech:—"My dear Columbia, take this trident and rule the waves; poor J. B. is getting feeble, with Fenianism in one band and French Alliance in the other (let alone National debt on both legs); and I do hope you will rule 'em acraighter than I have done lately."

After Storms comes a' Calm !-A gentleman talking to another on the subject of marriage, made the following observation "I first saw my wife in a storm; took her to a ball in a storm; courted her in a storm; was betrothed to her in a storm; married her in a storm; lived with her in a storm all her life; but, thank heaven, I buried her in pleasant weather."

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &e. THE second general Exhibition of Water-colour Drawings will open at the Egyptian-hall, Piccadilly, on Monday, the 5th of February. WE regret to learn, says the Athenceum that there is every probability of the closing of the Lambeth School of Art, which furnished so many fortunate students to the Royal Academy at the recent distribu- tion of medals. Lack of funds, consequent on the re- cent Minute," as affecting Art-schools, is the cause of the failure. I THE figure of Apelles, designed by Mr. Poynter for the wall-arcade of the South-court, South Kensington Museum, has been executed in mosaic on a, gold ground, and will soon appear in its place. We are glad to learn that it is intended to confine these deco. rative works to a single plane of representation, so that the little models of buildings, perspective views and the like, which now injuriously affect several of the designs exhibited in the arcade, will not be con- tinued. AFTER many perils, the scheme for erecting an archaeological museum at Athens seems likely to be put in practice. The Greek Government has granted a site for the edifice on St. Athanasius'- hill, and approved the plans proposed by Prof. Lange, of Munioh, for the erection and arrangement of the desired structure. Of its kind, nothing can be more desirable in Greece than the formation of a place of deposit for the countless treasures which turn up from the soil of the country, and, until now, have had but the hope of a home there. M. Bernardiski, a Greek merchant of St. Petersburg, offered, some time since, to give 200,000 francs in the first instance; and when a beginning was made, an equal further sum of money towards the cost of the building in question. More subscriptions have been received, and the Government of Greece has decreed the commencement of the work. RARE fragments of rich old Rome are daily turning up from out of the grave of the Eternal City. The Mount Palatine is being pierced, by Papal authority, and thence have recently come to light new traces of the gorgeous Imperial Palace fresooed chambers, superbly adorned with bassi rilievi, marble columns, one or two statues, fine though mutilated, and a bust of Britannicus of the best period of art. At Ostia discoveries equally interesting have been made; and among the vines, near the Baths of Caracalla, Monsig- nore Guidi has come upon a magnificent mosaic, repre- senting a skeleton, life size, with the inscription, in Greek letters, signifying Know Thyself." This last is supposed to be of the time of the Antonines. AT this season of the year we always find new music introduced. Amongst the new songs which are easy to learn and pretty in composition we might mention The River Ran between Them," the words by T. S. Le Faner, Esq.; this song has the merit of being easy to sing and play, and is in every respect an Eng- lish ballad. Next we have "The Irish King's Ride," the words of which are spirited and graphic, and the music to match. Next we have My Heart is like to Rend," a song which has words in it of a very superior character, approaching even Burns occasionally in their simplicity and genuine, heartfelt pathos. The following is a specimen:— I'm weary of this world, Willie, And sick wi' all I see; I cannot live as I lived, Or be as I should be. But fold unto your heart, Willie, The heart that still is thine, And kiss once more the white cheek Ye said was red lang syne. And then we have Ouvane's Silent Shore," which is a ballad in the Irish style—that is, with the phraseology and measure peculiar to Irish music. Both words and music are by Miss Philp. Oavane's Silent Shore" will, doubtless, take its place among the popular national ballads of the day. MESSRS. CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALPIN have issued th-is week a new magazine, under the title of The Working Man," which will be especially devoted fVlA intnlWfcnal soaial wolW Of tho working. of The Working Man" are o pea for discussion upon all matters relating to the interest of the above-named class, and every fact relating to the moral promotion thereof will receive due atten- tion from the literary staff employed upon this journal. From a careful inspection of the firiat number we can confidently say that this publication promises to be one of much utility.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. The Rinderpest. The cattle plague returns show another terrible increase, the seizures amounting to 7,700 against 6,200 in the previous week. There are better days, how- ever, in store. Scientific opinion is swaying more and more to the theory that rinderpest is small-pox, and an extensive series of experiments has already been commenced. It is delayed chiefly by the deficient supply of vaccine matter, but this obstacle will in a few days at farthest be removed. On Wednesday a Mr. Hancock was exhibited at the meeting of the Pathological Society as a man who had actually taken the cowpox from a beast with the disease, and the Lancet has taken up the theory in earnest. If the ex- periments succeed, the wild propositions now current in county society may all be laid aside. It is as easy to vaccinate a baby beast as any other baby and our herds may be placed finally beyond risk either from foreign or home infection. Whatever the result, it is worthy of note that the instant the question passed out of the hands of the cow-doctors hope revived.— Spectator. The Poor-law Guardians and the Commis- missioner. Mr. H. B. Farnall, the Csmmissioner of the Poer- law Board, has exhibited an union of good sense and good feeling which the officials of other public boards would do well to imitate. Instead of instigating the Central Board to issue stringent and stereotyped regu- lations to direct the operation of the Houseless Poor Act in the various parishes and unions of the metro- polis, he has requested the attendance of the guar- dians of the different districts to meet him in an amic- able conference that there might be a mutual inter. change of sentiment and of experience on the subject previous to any authoritative direction being issued. Several delegates from the different metropolitan boards of guardians met Mr. Farnall according to in- vitation on Saturday, at St. Martin's-hall, Long-acre. The judicious course adopted by Mr. Farnall met with a general approval, and helped to prepare the way for a courteous and general acceptance of the suggestions made by him on behalf of the Poor-law Commissioners. The two chief recommendations consisted in advising tho application of a labour-test throughout all the unions of the metropolis, and the adoption of one uni- form dietary. The conference terminated with a general assent to the advisibility of adopting these two suggestions. The success of the Houseless Poor Act may be said to depend on the co-operation of the various parishes in carrying out its requirements; and,at the same time, an harmonious parochial intercom- munication will afford the best guarantee that no single parish is inundated with applications for admission while the casual wards of other more-severely con- ducted parishes are tenantless and deserted. A geaerally satisfactory result ia claimed for the work. ing of the Aot. The accommodation obtained under its provisions for the casual nightly poor is estimated at 2,000 beds, while the claimants for nightly shelter amount only to an average of 1,238 destitute persons; and the public exhibition of homeless and houseless persons, so lately the great source of scandal, ia mate- rially mitigated, if not entirely removed, from our streets. Mr. Farnall gave some interesting details as to the pauperism existing in the metropolis. ing to his statement, out of the three millions of people living in London there is only three in_ a hundred of the whole population accepting parochial reef, and 1,200 casual poor destitute of the shelter of ?. borne is a small residue out of such a vast aggrega- inf11 Pe°P'6 in one centre and community. The between Mr. Farnall and the authorised administrators of the Poor-law conducted in .-i^s-hall will be productive of good, as it will conci atethe sympathy of the guardians, promote cnenes of action araoag the various parishes, and tend w e lubrication and easy working of thePoor- laW Act, v imparting to it the impulse of one har- monious a. InlnIstration.-The Press. The Jamaica Question. Notwithstanding difneulties, we think the Govern- ment has done rigbb Ben(j Commission, and that, even if its immediate purposes should be defeated by the difficulties to which we have referred, much I good -will result from the investigation. Of course, 1 the Government oinciais may refusa to aaasver any questions at all, and resolutely hold the Commissioners at arm's length; but, unless the stories which we have heard are altogether false, or are grossly exaggerated, there must be plenty of black and brown people in the island who will be only too glad to get an opportunity of telling their story and claiming redress for their wrongs. The bare fact that the authorities refuse to answer, if they do so, will be in itself by no means unimportant, and if, on the one side, there is a pro. fusion of evidenee, and on the other persistent cautious reticence, the public will know what to think and Parliament will know how to act. We doubt, how- ever, whether the authorities will consent to take up the purely defensive line indicated above. We are in- clined to think that they will deem it more manly to avow and boldly justify their conduct. Certainly to do so would be the best way to make a favourable impression on the English nation. The question is, after all, too wide a one to be converted into a mere lawyer's busi- ness. Means will be found to avoid such a result. The main facts are notorious to all the world, and if the island authorities refused to give an account of them they could readily be proved. Hence the bold course will really be the most prudent one. The sub- stantial question is as plain and untechnical as any question can possibly be, Was the outbreak suppressed with unnecessary severity? What was the justifica- tion of the extreme measures which, beyond all ques- tion whatever, have been resorted to ? We are bound to hope and believe that satisfactory answers to these questions may and will be forthcoming. At all events, we must not assume the contrary; but if such answers can be given, and if they are as broad and plain as the necessity of the case requires them to be, they had better be given at once, and before the persons ap- pointed by the home Government to receive them.- Pall-mall Gazette. Mr. Bright's Speech at Rochdale. The position of the Reform question is simple and easily stated. The new Cabinet is practically pledged to introduce a measure of enfranchisement; it is pledged by the character and the history of its chief membera it is equally pledged by the fact that it has consented to receive the support of the Liberal party upon that implied condition. Should it "shelve" Reform—we use another favourite phrase of the trimmers-it will stand self-convicted- of having re- tained office under false pretences, and of having deluded a trusting people. Lord Russell and Mr. Gladstone, pledged to Reform, are supported by those politicians who asserted and recorded their strength au the last election; in other words, by the vast majority of English, Irish, and Scottish voters, who have distil ctly confirmed the policy of Peace, Retrench- ment, and Reform. The Tories, knowing this, are making ready for a struggle. We could wish that they were wiser; but at least we are aware what they mean. They are opponents, but they are not traitors to a cause to which they have rendered lip-service. The so-called "Moderates" are reluctantly compelled to support the Government. It remains only to be seen what will be the course of action pursued by those who are vaguely termed "Radicals," and who are equivocally dubbed "extreme." On this point the speeches of Mr. John Bright are all important, and they prove that he has emancipated himself from many of the prejudices that formerly tended to nullify his splendid powers; that he is no longer the mouthpiece of a sect, but the spokesman of a people; that he is ready to accept any well-considered measure which will en- franchise a greater number of Englishmen that he is becoming, in a word, national. We welcome the aid of so grand a combatant, so fearless a popular tribune; and we look forward to the time when men of his stamp, having reconciled themselves to practical statesmanship of the day, shall propose measures in the Cabinet itself instead of supporting them upon theplatform.-Telegral)h.

OUR MISCELLANY. Anticipating JSvezxta.—Threo yoars since, at a country-house near London, five Cabinet ministers being present, there arose a discussion as to what would happen on the sudden death, or resigna- tion from illness, of Lord Palmerston. Ifc was agreed, item, con., that Lord Russell would, as a matter of oourse, succeed to the Premiership, and Mr. Gladstone to the lead of the House of Commons. The late Sir George Lewis, laying his own personal claims aside, was foremost and strongest in urging the superior qualifications of Mr. Gladstone; and on this occasion he made a remark which, as it has been more than once misunderstood and misquoted, we repeat Never mind about the prime minister; I could supply you with three or four very tolerable ones from the House of Lords at any time. Whenever you are speculating on fresh combinations, begin by naming your House of Commons lead er.Praser's Magazine for January. N oteS.-Duties fulfilled are always pleasures to the memory.—Proud looks lose hearts, but courteous words will win them.—Wherever there is authority there is a natural inclination to disobedience.—When the curious or impertinent would pick the look of the heart, put the key to reserve in the inside.—Fidelity, good humour, and complacency of temper outlive all the charms of a fine face, and make its decay invisible. —A crowd is not a company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.—Creditors have better memories than debtors; and creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.—In company, set a guard upon your tongue; in solitude, upon your heart. —A great talker never wants enemies; the man of sense speaks little and hears much.—Though the ways of virtue are rough and craggy, yet they reach to heaven. The Sports of Ancient Mondon,And here we are sorry to say that one of the chief sports of the schoolboy of Henry II.'s reign can in no, wiiie be ap- proved of, for we learn that cockfighting was a com. mon practice. Each boy brought his own bird for the fray, and, what was worst of all, this was done with the sanction of the masters. But we are glad to find that they had more rational sports than these. At certain times the whole youth of the city betook themselves to the suburban fields, where they had animated contests at ball, school being pitted against school, and craft against craft. These contests were so attractive as to bring the elder citizens on horse- back to witness them. On the Sundays in Lent there were sham fights on horseback, in which the sons of the greatest nobles in the land took part; and, during the Easter holidays, there were representations of naval engagements on the river. Throughout the summer there were various games of running, leaping, wrestling, shooting with the bow, or 'slinging stones. The girls, too, with Arcadian simplicity, enjoyed them- selves in the moonlit evenings with dancing in the open air to the music of the harp. In winter, skating was the favourite sport of young and old. It is curious to observe that this skating took place on that great lake which washes the northern walls of the city." This was what is now Moor(ields, concerning which Strype tells us that this Morefield was, in ancient writings, called Magna Mora, because of the great extent of the more or mere."—Once a TVeek. Dunrobla Castle. -Daurobin Castle is by far the most magnificent ducal or baronial residence in Scotland. Its lofty towers rise with a sovereign look above the woods that embosom it, and send the sun- beams from their white walls and battlements far across the Moray Firth. The castle was originally founded by the second Earl of Sutherland, AD. 1097. His name was Robert; and hence the name of the castle, DIlDrobin Hill, or Hold, of Robert. The present edifice was added to the ancient castle by the father of the present duke. It combines the inter- mingling features of a French chateau, a Scottish baronial palace, and a Highland stronghold. The interior of the edifice is finely arranged. The state rooms for her Majesty are truly magnificent in arrangement and in aspect. A princely hospitality adds to the charm and life of the whole. The duke is popular with the clergy for his liberality to the mantses and incumbents of the churches of which he id the patron. Seldom do they ask for an alteration, improve- ment, or addition to their residences and glebes, and find it refused. The duchess is eminently beloved wherever the lands of the Lady of Cromartie or of the Bnkea of Sutherland extend. As Countess of Cromartie, and inheritor of the earldom .and estates of her forefathers, the earls of Cromartie, nearly the whole of the county of Cromarty, from the German to the Atlantic ocean, belongs to her. She is also patroness of many livings; and in every instance it is well known to be her anxious, and it is generally her successful, effort to se- cure for every living a pious and faithful pastor. Her Grace may be found any day in the "shielins" of the I poor, or by the bedside of the sick. Whatever the castle can supply of food or raiment or medicine to such, she invariably places at their service. These 1 and other acts have deeply endeared her, and sur- rounded her with an affection and a popularity of which one even in her exalted position may be justly proud.—The Quiver. Mistresses and Maids-Though only a house- maid, and having been when first out a nursery, yet as far as that goes might have had a house of my own, if hat William Chirrup hadn't gone to the bad, and I'm sure it worrits me to think of, though no fault of mine and been beholden to nobody; and not being able to read well when I was young, in conse- quence of being left-handed, and kept mostly to wash- ing small things, yet I've picked up a bit through the cook at the last place being deaf, and not able to read without glasses, and so getting me to read those lovely stories to her which the boy used to push be- tween the area railings, and only a penny a number though the heroines were always ladies and such like, which were cheap at the price. But, as I was saying, I read very well now, except the hard words, which Robert James, the footman, pronounces, though he says the meanings are not to be made out without such atudy as might iajure his constitution; and we always manages to get a look at the papers of a morn- ing, and the number of murders is really awful. Bat I don't want to write about them, but about the letters which the papers put in about servants and missuses; and I don't think that either the one or the other writes either, that's what I don't. I don't say the missuses are all wrong, though some of them do go on awful; and, naming no names, there was one of mine she was elderly she was, and used to put on her bonnet when she came into the kitchen as if she didn't live there, all on the front of her head, with her cap stick- ing out behind where the back hair, only she hadn't got any, ought to be, and she did poke about and go on about the kitchen stuff. But as I was saying the missuses aia't always wrong. And a good deal they have to put up with to be sure, and some servants as I know, if I had been their missus, short work I would have made with them for being so dirty and saucy. I know how work ought to be done, and no wonder missuses are angry when saucepans ain't clean and plates no better.-From The Experiences of Jemima Jane," in Cassell's Illustrated Fo/mily Paper. ( Submarine Spectacles. Everyone that has 1 made the experiment must have remarked that, when the eyes are opened under water, vision becomes ex- tremely indisdinct, little more, in fact, being perceived than a uniform mass of light. This arises from the eye- ball, which is very convex—its radius of curvature not being more than an 0"31 of an inch-forming, by con- tact with the water, a plano-concave aqueous lens, having a very high dispersive power. Such is not the case when we merely look through the water without touching it, or when we lOOK through the glazed aper- tures in divers' helmets, the eyes being in such apparatus kept out of contact with the water. It is evident that, to render vision distinct under water, when the ball of the eye is in contact with the fluid, it would be suf- ficient to counteract the effect] of the aqueous plano- concave lens by a convex lens of glass, &c. Calcula-' tion shows that a double convex lens of flint glass, each surface of which has a radius of curvature equal to 0-48 of a.n inch, would just answer the purpose. In addition, a convex or a concave lens of moderate power would be required for adjustment with the peculiar sight of individuals and the refractive power of dif- ferent kinds of flint glass. Mr. F. Falton has con- structed and tested such an apparatus, and found it to answer well; except that, when using it, the eye has not the power of accommodating itself to different distances; so that the range of vision does not ex- tend to more than about three yards. It will never- theless, it is expected, be found useful to pearl divers, collectors of sponges, persons examining the hulls of ships under water, or looking for what has fallen into the water, and bathers, &e. Amphibious animals have the power of seeing equally well in air and water: yet, with the exception of the sea calf, the eyes of all of them are very convex.-The Scientific Review. Leisure Hours.—Half an hour's over-work often is enough to make your entire evening an unhappy one. It leaves you fretful and impatzeufc, morbidly sensitive, cross. You find the remarks of your friends 1 and relatives for that evening miserably un philosophic. I paltry, personal; the gossip of your sisters-in-law is insupportable, yet yeur wife seems to enjoy it. You wonder what is coming next. Will it ever stop ? Do they know how delightful silesce is at times ? Did they not- tell that story, correcting one another pre- cisely as BOW, at least twice before in your hearing ? You feel the world becoming too coarse for a man of refinement and sensibility, and mourn over it in gloom. Why did you not half an hour ago give over that languid mental drudging ? Why did you not quietly (hurry would be certain failure) read one chapter of the Vicar of Wakefield," or of Amelia," or of that delightful fiction Sir Roger de Coverley," or of Jane Austen's novels? If you had done this the world would gradually have come to rights; your room would not appear so dark, nor your books so repeilant, nor all your relatives so very stupid. It would never have occurred to you that your life was a monotonous one, made up of a great number of days each like the other; it really is not so monotonous, with little children growing up about you, hurting themselves and requiring solace, saying every day some new wise thing, and effecting such extraordinary improvements by stoae walls, canals, and artificial lakes, in your back garden. Life would have seemed not so miserable after all; your forehead would have cooled, and your eyes cleared, and your brain grown tranquil; then, too, your voice would be softer, your words less strictly to the point, and you would be giving your opinion, in quite an animated way, on that piece of family history which now appears so despicable. You are most blameworthy for the first and casual offence; refusal to amuse your- self at the right time, consequent exhaustion of nervous force, with no adequate return of work done, and pride in the thought that you were taking a great deal out of yourself.-Frazer's Magazine.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. The will of William Borradaile, Esq., of Worthing, was proved in London on the 16th ult, and the per- sonalty sworn under =0100,000. The testator died on the 11th of November last, at the age of sixty-five. He has left the following charitable bequests:—To the Sassex County Hospital, Charing-oross Hos- pital, Brompton Consumption Hospital, the Dread- nought Ship Hospital, the Corporation of Friends of the Clergy, and the Governesses' Benevolent Institu- tion, each a legacy of .£500; to the female school at Ramsgate for the daughters of Naval Officers, £ 300; the British Orphan Asylum and the Cumberland Bene- volent Institution, each X200 and to the Wells Infir- ma,ry and Dispensary, the Worthing Infirmary and Dispensary, and the Home for Seamen of All Nations, each X100. The will of the Rev. Simon Hart Wynn-Nanney, rector of West Barkwith and vicar of Bargh-on-Bain, Lincoln, and of Maesynewydd, Merionethshire, was proved in London on the 21st ult.; the executors and trustees appointed being Thomas Phillips, Esq., solicitor, Plymouth, who alone is acting, and Edward Lawton Hannon, Esq., proctor, of Borden, Kent, to whom a power is reserved. The personalty was sworn under .24,000. The testator, on succeeding in June last to some family estates in the counties of Denbigh, Merioneth, and Flint, assumed the additional surname of "Nanney." The will bears date Sept. 16, 1863; and he died on the 15bh of November last. To his wife ho leaves an annuity of £ 200; also an annuity to his adopted daughter, Alfreda Kirby, of £ 100, with a power of disposition over the same by will to her children and appoints his sister, Mrs. Kirby, residuary legatee for life; and at her deoease the property is to I be divided equally amongst her daughters. 1 The will of Mr. Joseph Holland, formerly ofDenoigh- lodge, St. John's- wood Burlington Cottage, Turnham- green; and late of Chis wick, coach-builder, was proved in London by the executors and trusteeS-Mrs. Ann Holland, the relict; John Wills* the Esplanade, Ealing; and John Newson, °f ~t. Peter's-square, Hammersmith, coach-builder. he personalty was sworn under £ 30,000. The w* is dated in 1860, and two codicils, 1863 and July 20, 1865. The testator died on the 25th of Ja]Y last, at the age of seventy- three. He has left to each of his excutors a legacy of £100. and has divided the reElt of his property between his wife and three daughters. The will of Mr. George Treadaway, late of Hayes- house, Hayes, formerly of. Washington-house, Weat- bourne-grove, and Chepstone lodge, Paddington, was proved in London, under X35,000 personalty. The executors are John Harris, of Westbourne-grove, and William Bontcher, of Sussex-roa(,I, Kensington. The will is dated 1859, and a codicil the 8t.h of October last. The testator died on the 13thof the same month. To his son, George Frederick Treadaway, he has be- queathed certain houses and premises in the Harrow- road, in which he had enried on business as outfitter, draper, and clothier, and has left him his stock in trade and other property; and, after makingjeeveral bequests and annuities, bequeaths the residue of hie property to his wife for her life, and then to his chil- dren by her, being his seoond marriage.—Illustrated L o n cl o; t NCIVS.

EXTRACTS FROM" PUNCH" & FXIF. The Bachelor Uncle's Lament. I mark'd his neatly-twisted tie, I caught by accident her name, I saw the timid couples fly Where'er the dashing dancer came; With lilac gloves and polished boots | He waltzed beneath a band of Cooto's. Thicker and thicker grew the crowd, And ruddier grew his plsasant face; In vain I raised my voice aloud, Of Charlie I could find no trace; As usual he had met his doom, And flirted in an ante-room. And will he ever thug behave, Nor know his doting uncle's care ? Alas I came too late t9 save The youth, this time, from woman's snare. Soon will the morning papers tell, How my poor nephew danced and fell. Don't Be ia a Hurry, "Tltke your time, Miss Lucy."—American Song. Never, since the days of Baron idunohausen'a post- boy, have pleasant tunes been so frozenrtp ia a post- horn as in that of Mr. Secretary So ward. He assures us that England's words of condolence on the assassi- nation of the late President Lincoln have been thoroughly appreciated in America. But it has taken more than half a year to thaw this harmonious strain of the Secretarial post-horn while, in the meantime, several discordant blasts have escaped from it. Few balmy airs have we had from Mr. Savfard's trumpet, but plenty of Ala-ba-my ones. The Schoolmaster Gone to the Dogs. Is the following advertisement cut from a sporting contemporary a serious one or a joke ? WANTED, an UNFURNISHED HOUSE or COTTAGE, » i with shooting, stabling, and a few acres of land. Hunt- ing preferred, and near a good dog's school. —Address H D. D. IT House, C- L-. Country squires have been accused by some writers of housing their poor labourers worse than their pigs. But surely they do not pay more attention to the edn- cation of their hounds than to that of their hinds. We wonder whether classical Latin is taught < at a geod dog's school, and should like to know if a fpack could be taught to draw, and if so, whether drawing wonid be considered an extra. The Young* Housekeeper's F/iend. How TO KNOW WHEN MEAT IS FREsH.-Keep it until it gets bad, and you will then learn exactly how fresh it was at first. HOW TO GET A GOOD SERVANT.—Keep on dis- charging the bad ones till you meet with ono that suits you. HOW TO DISCOURAGE THE PEBQIMSITB SYSTEM. —Never buy anything of anybody. The Language of Flowers. How the language of flowers is known," remarked A, Contrives my surmises to banlk." Why, it's easy," said B, what a flower would say To discover-of course from its (s)talk." Dr. Pussy's Evening Hymn. I nightly pitoh my roving tent A day's march nearer Rsme." A GRIEAT IRISH FACT.—The Irish Republic is flourishing in America, but not only flourishing. It has arrived at the maturity of a State that has rebel- lion within its own bosom to put down. The Fenian President at New York finds himself under the neces- sity of disavowing the acts of a Fenian Senate, self- constituted in opposition to his Government. The Republic of Ireland thus appears to exist in quite as high perfection as it would if its President occupied. the C),stile at Dablin, and College-green were in a state of revolt. SELF-HELP AND SMALL SALARIES.—It appears that the Clerks of her Majesty's Customs are grossly under- paid. Cannot Government help them? There is no honest way ia which they can help themselves; and they have large opportunities of helping themselves to the public money. It is no small credit to them that they have, as a. body, faithfully abstained from resorting to thoonly self-help in their power. QUESTION BY THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.— Government have given the Master of the Bolls a peerage. What do they mean to do for Mr. Baker ? THE BITTER CUP.—How annoying it most be to a teetotaller to have a bottle-nose THE SINKING FUND.The Royal Humane Society's Income. A POPULAR PERFORMANCE.—The Masque of Auri- Comus. PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT LIMITED LIABILITY.- Marriage.

A THIEF AND HIS DIARY. On the 19th of December there died suddenly at Weehawken, from congestion of the brain, one Winkel- mann, a German Lutheran Minister, who was employed as a professor of languages in the Polytechnic Institute kept by a Spanish gentleman named Villavrede, ohiefiy attended by young Spanish gentlemen from Cuba- The examination of the deceased's effects revealed some remarkable transactions in which he had been engaged. For some time past various articles belonging to the young gentlemen had disappeared in a mysteri- ous manner. In July, two of them at play on the lawn, placed their vests and watches under a tree, and on going there to resume them could not find them. Suspicion fell upon the servant girl and the gardener, and they were both dismissed. The professor was never suspected. After his decease, in looking over his effects, a number of pawn tickets were found for clothing, watches, jewellery, and other articles. A diary was also found in which he kept a minute daily record of all his transactions, and in which he had noted down all the thefts committed by him, and the disposition he had made of the property. Under the date of July 6 was entered :—" Half-past nine p.m., drank a bottle of wine; stole it." After the search for the watches and, vest was the following entry:—" They have sent a policeman to search for the watches; he will find them, oh! yes—perhaps." His getting intoxicated in New York and sleeping in the station-tou.39 was also set down in the diary. It contains such particulars that the police expect to recover much of the stoles property.-New York Times.

SUICIDE OF A Z/4 W-STATIONEB. An inquiry was held on Saturday afternoon at Ne., 1, Colebrook-row, I»hDgton, by Dr. Lankester, reten- tive to the death of Mr. Thomas Rice Steele, ngf-d sixty-one, a law-stationer, having chambers at Ne- 89, Chancery.laDe. It appeared that on Wednesday last, a clerk named Mills, in the employment of She de- ceased, found him dead in his office. It was at firs thought that he died from natural causes, but on a post-mortem examination being made, a sjnall punc- tured wound was found under the left nipple of the breast. The wound communicated wiih the per;- cardinal and went, as the medical man said, with ana- tomical precision through the left ventricle of the heart. A law-stationer's bodkin WS found by the side of the deceased, and the doctor stated that the wound was such a one as would b.:3 produced by the bodkin. The bodkin, when fonsd, had no stain of blood upon it; but the vest and shirt worn by de- ceased had been opened by him previous to his com- mitting the deed. The evidence of the brother-io-jaw of the deceased went to show that the latter was or a very nervous and excitable temperament, and Had lately been in much trouble about the state o* hi*- eon's mind. The coroner, in summing tip, remarked that the case was an apt, illustration of the utility or Dost-mortem examinations, as no idea had been enter- tained up to the tieaa the body was examined, that the deceased had made away widi himself. A verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was re- turned. f

Action against U. Tniers, the Historian Count de Movnier has brought an action againec M. Thiers for having attributed to General Count de Se'gur a feat or arms which occurred before Rheiaaa in the campaign of 1814, consisting in the defeat of & division of the allied army and capture of eleven gr-aa, the honour of which, exploit the count claims fou- Tiis f«ti-er. The case was to have been pleaded on Satov-. dav in the First Chamber of the Civil Tribunal, but m! Haze, counsel for M. Thiers* obtained a postpone- meat.