The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

EPITOME OF NEWS. The latest enthusiastic expression of Mr. George Francis Train, of tramway notoriety, with l'sgard to himself, is that he is a steasu-engine in braeohes." Going Ahead.—An aged clergyman, the other glided from the marriage service into the service t: the churching of women! On making up their books to the termination of the last year, the banking firm of Messrs. Preseott, Grote, Cave5 and Co., celebrated the centenary of the establishment of their bank, which was opened on the 1st of January, 1783. Admission of Attornevs. As many Ls 110 ap- "cations will be made next term and in the Hilary nation to be admitted attorneys of the Common Courts. > boy named Masson, aged 10, has jnst died Calais from having swallowed an agate marble. .ter being a short time in his stomach, it produced ioas of appetite, inflammation, swelling in the abdo- men, followed by death. The Liverpool shipwrights, who had been ex- pelled the shipwrilhts' union for an alleged infringe- ment of the rules, to the deprivation of the sick al- lowance of one of them, carried the case before the Liverpool magistrates, the other day, who made an order in their favour, and against the union. Curious Obituary Notice, The Atlanta (Georgia) Messenger gives the following odd notice of a deceased citizan of that waa the father of 11 Konfl) 5 of whom married 5 sisters. He had 189 grandchildren and at his funeral, two weeks ago last SAbbntb, two horses were stung to death by bees, and another came very near losing his life by the same." Death of the Murderer Sykes--The convict Sykes, who was to have been executed on the 15th, diad in Leeds Gaol on Saturday night. Ha sank from the bleeding of an ankle fractured on the 23rd ult., when he escaped from his cell and threw himself from 3 gallery. At mid-day, on Tuesday, a woman fell down in the street opposite Woodin's Shades, at the corner of Widegate street, Bishopsgate street, through the slippery state of the pavement, and her head coming into contact with the stones she sustained such injury as resulted shortly after in her death. Ths assistants in the large clothing establish- ments at the east end of London have issued an appeal ;;0 the public, complaining of having to work on Sundays. Several of the principal clothiers have con- sented to close their establishments on Sundays from January 7. A man and woman named Brandon have just been charged before the Tribunal of Correctional Police in Paris with annoying a neighbour Darned Fauconnet, by having trained a parrot to repeat the words, Fauconllet is a thief, a miser, a pig, &c." They were fined 16fr. each, and ordered to pay between them 50fr. damages. A proposal bag been made by Sir T. Beauchamp, Tice-chairman of the Norfolk Cattle Plague Associa- tion, for the slaughter, in a certain way, of all diseased cattle throughout Great Britain. The hon. baronet proposes that the Government should pay liberally for the beasts thus slaughtered, and he contends that by this means the disease would be effectually exter- minated. Distress in the Southern States of America. —A writer from Charleston says that he recently met an old woman who begged assistance. Struck by her appearance he questioned her, and discovered that she was the widow of a Major in the Soots' Greys, who had emigrated to the Southern States. Her sons had fallen in the war, her home was burnt, and now she had to beg for sustenance. In the first 11 months of the year 1863 we im. ported from abroad 89.518 oxen, bulls, and cows in the first 11 months of 1864, 141,778; in the first 11 months of 1865, 196,030. The increase in the number of sheep and lambs imported has been much greater, the numbers being 380,259, 412,489, and 763,084 in the three periods respectively. Death of Sir Francis William Sykes.—On Saturday intelligence was received of the death of Sir F, W, Sykes, Bart. The deceased baronet was born at Basildon-park, near Reading, in 1822, and having entered the army served for some years in the 97th iSegimenfe of Foot. In 1843 he was appointed to the 2nd Life Guards, and in the following year he retired from the service. He is succeeded in the title by his brother Frederick. Longevity in a Metropolitan Workhouse. -At the meeting of the Greenwich Board of Guar- dians the other evening, the deaths of twelve of the inmates were reported as having occurred during the past month, their united ages amounting to 948 years, or an average of seventy-nine years each. The eldest was ninety-three, and the youngest seventy-two ars. Jacob Ellis, aged three years, whose parents -side in Bell's-yard, Commercial. road, was playing at le front window in the first floor, on Tuesday, and ning the momentary absence of the mother got upon ,ae sill and Ml headforemost on the pavement. He was picked up and conveyed to tbd house of a surgeon, bat died shortly after from fractured skull. Gustav Werner, the proprietor of the Zoological- gardens at Stuttgart, has been very nearly killed by one of his own lions. His life was only saved by the presence of mind of his daughter, who seized a wooden bench, and smashed with it two glass windows sur- rounding the cage. This diverted the rage of the animal, and caused him to release his hold of Werner, who was instantly rescued from his perilous position. His wounds are severe, but his recovery is expected. A writer in the Hants Advertiser gives a list of ?orriv ?'nd summer flowers that were to be seen in un- prote^"1' gardens at Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight, on 0hriiltmas Day. In this list are mentioned gera- niums, luschias, calceolarias, stocks, roses, violets, pansies, mignonette, jessamine, convolvulus, helio- tropes, verbenas, French marigolds, Cape asters, orange oleander, m-rtle, primroses, carnations, and green peas and apple-trees in bloom; a second crop of ripe figs, new potatoes, and green apples were also to be seen. The Weather in America.-Montreal papers of the 22nd of December state that until within a few days it had been like spring; but on the 21st it was intensely cold, and six or eight inches of snow fell. The St, Lawrence was frozen nearly halfway over. It is stated that at Ottawa the thermometer was 2 degs. below zero on the 15!;h, and 15 degs. below zero on the 16th. A few nights before that, a very old man, the mail carrier from Iowa city to Washington, Iowa, tring caught in a storm and getting his horse fast in s, arud-hole, was frozen to death. A Clever Scotchman.—The intelligence has r^acl-ed England of the death of Robert Crichton Wyllifc, Minister of Foreign Affairs, &c., to the King of Hawaii—a gentleman who had raised himself, b; hís indomitable perseverance and talents, to a high position of honour and fame. He was born at Hazol- batik, in the parish of Dunlop,on the 13nh of October, 1798, and wa4 the second son of the late Mi. Alexander Wyllie. of Bazelbank, and Janet Crichton; of Cut- dtraw, Stewartfm. A Substitute for Card-leaving.-A. Florence correspondent w)ites There is an excellent charity "1(3ee, called the Orphan Asylum. Well, the name of a very person who gves five francs to the charity in question at Christmas? time for this purpose is printed on a broad sheet, ana placarded over the walls of the city. And it is undeiqtood by mutual consent that every one whose name appears in that document shall be held and considered to have duly called and left his card upon every person who might expect such an attention from him." At Madrid the weather M so severe that there is skating on the river. In Italy we^hear of snow. It is tolerably cold in Pans. Only it this genial clime of England which poets have forgotten to sing about doas sunshine reign. At Ventnor the rose, honey- suckle. myrtle, thistle, and such like, are in full blossom, and peas and new pitatoogi-joice the inward man of the race that inhabit the locality. Even Paris i3 foggier than London, and it is clear, from all account's, that to go farther in any direction would be to fare worse. Extraordinary and Brutal Murder.—A dreadful Office was committed on Thursday at St. £ >snis. A boy named Sorel, aged four years, was playing near his father's house, when two men induced him under some pretext to accompany them to a retired spot, where they strangled him, and then beat out his brains with stones. A woman at work in an adjoining field gave an alarm, and one of the men was overtaken and arrested; he, however, refuses to state his motive for the crime, or to make known his accomplice. The second of the murderers got clear away. Typhus Fever in Lancashire. —Typhus fever is very prevalent in Bolton and its neighbourhood. One medical gentleman alone has had forty cases under treatment within a few days past; and of the work- people at one place, Messrs. Tunnicliffe and Hamp- son's, upwards of fifty of the hands had to leave their employment in consequence of the epidemic. Horrible Death of an Engineman. On Friday, at Messrs. Horn's Flint Mills, Castleford, near Pontefract, Joseph Broadhead, assistant engineman, wa,s on night duty with another man who had charge of the engines. The latter, noticing that one of the en- gines had suddenly come to a stand, called out to his assistant to know the cause. Receiving no answer, he went to a part of the building where deceased had gone, and there found him dreadfully mutilated and dead, his brains being scattered in all directions. It is sup- posed the unfortunate man had been oiling some part of the machinery, when his head had come in contact with the governing balls. Warner, the Cork Fenian informer, was seen safe home by the police to his lodgings in Dublin, on oomisg up from Cork but after dinner, on Thurs- day, he proceeded to a public house in the neighbour- hood, where he commenced speaking about Fenians and Fenianiam to a number of persona who had aB sembled in the place. Some warm words ensued, when Warner produced a revolver, which he flourished. The landlord succeeded in getting all the disputants out of his house, and when Warner reached the road it is stated he was knocked down, severely beaten, and one of his eyes nearly knocked out. Suieio e of a Young NVoman.-On Saturday an inquest was held at Wapping on the body of Sophia Griffiths, aged twenty-eight years. The deceased, a domestic servant out of place, could not get a character from her last situation, and wag very miserable in consequence. On the 5th ult. she went out and never returned. Her dead body was found floating in the Thames off the entrance of the London Docks last Thursday. She was fully dressed, with the exception of her bonnet. She had evidently been over a month in the water. A verdict of "Found Drowned in the Thames was returned. The Fenian Trials.—The trial of Charles J. Kickhasj, at Dublin, was coneladed on Saturday. The I prisoner addressed the jn ry in a clever and temperate speech, the gentlemanly and respectful tone of which was favourably commented on by Judge Keogh in his charge. The jury, after twenty miuutes' absence, I found the prisoner guilty. The prisoner said he had endeavoured to serve Ireland, and that he was now prepared to suffer for Ireland. Judge Keogh sentenced him to fourteen years' penal servitude. Kiokharn was the third prisoner named as a member of the executive committee of the republic in the absence of Stephens. The others, Luby and O'Leary, were sentenced to twenty years. Christmas Fare. The following quantities of Christmas fare were delivered at the London station of the Great Eastern Railway, from the 19th to the 25th of December, 1865:-0xen, 1,163; sheep, 4,094; calves, nil; pigs, 545; turkeys, 14,083; geese, 18,708; ducks, 1,601; hares and pheasants, 1,856; flour (sacks of), 15,530; beer (kilderkins, hogsheads, and barrels of), 9,950; oranges (boxes of), 1,016; dried fruit (boxes of), 1,979; nutg (bags of) 454; oysters (barrels of), 1,879; ditto (in bass), 29 tons; potatoes (sacks of), 7,990; meat (packed in hampers), 366 tons; poultry, 283 tons (including one consignment of 28 toias of geese from Norwich); fish, 319 tons; milk, 91,652 geese from Norwich); fish, 319 tons; milk, 91,652 quarts. Funeral of Sir Charles Eastlake.—The re- mains of the late Sir C. Eastlake, P.R. A., have been consigned to their final resting place in tho English cemetery, Florence. The body was conveyed by rail- way from Pisa, and was accompanied by Lady East- lake, who was met at the station by many sympathi- sing friends that followed the body in a long cortege to the cemetery. The funeral service was very im- pressively performed by the Rev. Mr. Greene, British chaplain, of Pisa, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Pendleton, chaplain at Florence. Among the many mourners present were the Hon. Mr. Elliott, her Majesty's Minister at Florence, the Rev. C. B. Elliott, Mr. Web- ster, E.A., Mr. Archer Shea, Mr. Hiram Power, the American sculptor, Mr. Faller, Mr. Kittowe, and many of the English residents and visitors, all anxious so manifest their respect for the late artist. The Queen.—The New York Times observ-eFi. Of course no loyal American can fail to be gratified at the prospect of her Majesty's complete resumption of her Royal duties. The Queen has, all through our contest for national existence, manifested a sympathy with, and regard for, the welfare of the Union, which have endeared her to us all. We know how far her direct interposition has been exerted in our behalf, and we have heard how prominent a place the works of William Ellery Channing holds in her library. The lady who, by her domestic life, has become a pattern to English women, arid by her public career proved her wisdom and foresight, by her restoration to public life, gladdens the hearts of her subjects no less than those of our countrymen who know her bast." Fenian Turnkeys in Gal way.-On Saturday the board of superintendence of the county prison of Gal way held a meeting to inquire into the finding open of a cell in which a Fenian prisoner was confined. About three weeks ago one of the turnkeys, named Maude, was going his usual rounds, when he found the cell-door open, and immediately reported the cir- cumstance to the governor. On that gentleman in- quiring into the case, he found that it had been done several times before. Accordingly, the board met on Saturday, and, after a long inquiry, decided on dis- missing two turnkeys. A watchman, who had been engaged temporarily, was also dismissed. Since the cell-door was found open a guard of police, consisting. of one constable and four sub-constables, do duty in the gaol. The Ups and Downs of a lecturing Life.— An itinerant lecturer, whose real name is W. C. Han- nah, but whose professional designation is St. Vien Augustus Malenza, was charged before the Liverpool magistrates, on Saturday, with plundering another lecturer, a coloured man, named J. C. Thompson, alias Hetham Tomanza. The two lecturers worked" the various towns of England in company, and joined at the expenses of travelling, lodging, &e. While Thompson was absent from Liverpool, however, for a short time, Hannah appropriated a quantity of his books and papers (including MSS. of lectures, &o.) and took fresh lodgings. When Thompson returned he acquainted the police, and Hannah was apprehended. Hannah's defence was that the articles wers hia own J property. The ease was rendered^ intensely ludicrous J by the extravagant politeness which was manifested by the prisoner and the prosecutor. The prisoner was placed under a general remand. Another Human Sacrifice to Crinoline.— An inquest was held on Thursday at the London Hospital on the body of Mrs. Taylor, aged twenty- eight years, wife of a carman, residing in Princes- court, Bethnal-green. On Christmas-eve deceased was dressing one of her children in front of a fire, when her gown touched the bars. She instantly became enveloped in flames, and before they could be extinguished she was so severely burnt that she ex- pired on Saturday from the effects of her injuries. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death by fire." Honesty in Adversity.—Mrs. Shane, the wife of a watchmaker, who lately had a shop at 29, Queen's- road, Chelsea, made the following application at the Westminster Police-court She said that in Septem- ber last her husband sold off all he possessed, and told her to go into the country and stay with her friends till he came to her. She was now in much distress with her three children, and had seen nothing of her husband, though she had received a small sum of money from him. Her husband had given into her possession a box containing watches and jewels left with him to be repaired, and she now wanted to know what she was to do with them.—Mr. Selfe told her she ought to restore the articles to their rightful owners. Her con- duct, he said had been most honest and praiseworthy. Railway Collision.—An alarming collision oc- curred on Friday evening on the North Devon rail- way. It appears that the down train which left St. David's Station, Exeter, at 6.23, when near Copple- atone, about seven o'clock, came into collision with two broad-gauge goods trucks, which, by some blundering arrangement, were left upon the line. The passengers in the down train were greatly shaken by the collision, but happily no serious injuries were inflicted. The trucks, however, were thrown off the rails by the violence of the collision, causing this line to be blocked up to such aa extent as to put a stop to the traffic for several hours. The mail train from Bideford was among those so detained, and did not I • r arrive at Exeter till midnight; many persons were, 1 from the same cause, detained at the Exeter stations, and were for some time unable to proceed northward. Death of Mr. Ramsay, of Barnton. We have to record the death of Mr. Charles William Ramsay Ramsay, of Barnten and Sau- chie, near Edinburgh, a gentleman who, though little more than twenty-one years of age, was well- known a,a a keen sportsman and supporter of the Scot- tish turf, and as a regular rider to the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire packs. He died in consequence of an ac- cident, at first deemed trivial. Returning with a party of ladies and gentlemen from Carstairs. where he had been to a ball, he was riding outside a private omnibus, when the vehicle waa driven under some trees. A bough swept Mr. say from the roof of the carriage, and he received a small wound near his knee, but apparently no other injury. He thought so little of the hurt that he went about as usual, and hasted more than onco after having received it. Bat it did not heal, erysipelas supervened, and, despite every medical care, he died in consequence of the ac- cident. Insubordination on Board Ship. — On Saturday five men of the crew of the ship Zadkiel, of 728 tons, the property of Messrs. Glynn and Son, wero charged before Mr. Baffles, at the Liverpool Police-court, with having refused to proceed to sea. The vessel sailed on Tuesday last for Chili, and met with rather severe weather. When off the Skerries, the five prisoners told the captain that the forecastle was not sufficiently dry, and that they would not pro- ceed further on the voyage. They consented to work the vessel back to Liverpool; and the captain, having no alternative, put her about and came back. When the vessel was ready to go to sea 'again, the prisoners refused to go in her. The captain, the first mate, and the builder stated that the vessel was tight, well found, and in every respect a superior ship. Other witnesses corroborated this statement, aad oaa of the crew stated that tho forecastle was perfectly dry. The prisoners consented to return to their duty and proceed. to sea, and they were discharged with a caution. An Imitation of the Davenport Brothers.— A Brussels letter says A performance d la Davenport Brothers' was given here two nights back at the pretty little Theatre ftfoliere, by an English officer on half-pay.' The theatre was crowded to excess by the English and Belgian families, and many were unable to get even standing room. The hat was sent round daring the performance, and about 150fr. col- lected. After all the expenses are pai'd, about 500fr. will be handed over to the trustees of the fund. This fund helps poor English, who, by illness or otherwise, are in need of assistance, and passes on many who come destitute to Brussels from England, and thus enables them to join their friends at home, and not perish from starvation in a foreign land. About 5,000fr. are given away annually, the half of which sum was made up by the subscription of the late king. The thanks of all the English are due to the officer who, by his exertions, has added so materially to the resources of this really charitable fund. The Jamaica Commission.—In noticing the fact that the Jamaica Committee has dispatched two legal gentlemen to watch the proceedings of the Royal Commission, the Pall-mall Gazette, says: We have reason to believe that the Celonialoffice has promised to afford these gentlemen every facility in collecting information, but has distinctly refused to recognise their locus standi before the commission." The latter part of this statement is quite inaccurate. The Colonial- offioe has "distinctly refused" nothing of the sort. It leaves the Royal Commissioners quite free to con- duct their inquiry in their own way, and there is not the slightest reason to suppose that the commissioners will refuse to recognise the locus standi of the gentle- men to whom Mrs. Gordon and others deeply con- cerned in the proceedings have resolved to entrust their cause.-Star. A Vessel Blown Up.—On Friday evening, about half-past seven o'clock, a very serious explosion of Shotfeon coal gas occurred on board the brig Eaphomia, of West Hartlepool, lying in the Victoria Dock, .Hartlepool. The vessel was loaded and ready for sea, and the hatches were battened down, but as she had not her complement of hands on board, it was not in- tended to proceed on her voyage to France that night. The master, William Bayfield, was down in the cabin, locking up, an apprentice named Alexander Kean was standing amid-ships, and the rest of the crew aboard ware aft, when the coals in the hold exploded. The explosion burst open the decks and blew the appren- tice on board a vessel, lying alongside, and pieces of j the desk planking and showers of coal were sent flying in every direction. Kean, when picked up, was found j to be a good deal burnt about the face, forehead, arms, j and hands. The captain was fpitched to the other side of the eabin, and the explosion forced out the cabin skylights, which were blown to pieces. The master and his lad were, much hurt by the explosion, but the crew escaped. The vessel's deck, however, is a complete wreok. Another Violent Gale.-A violent storm of rain and wind broke over the metropolis and for miles distant on Sanday night, and lasted with oc,,a- sional intermission till midday on Monday. In Alfred- square, Walworth-road, a considerable portion of the roof of some of the newly occupied housas was dis- ot placed, letting the rain fall through in torrents. At about twelve o'clock the roof of the house of Mr. Thearle, jeweller, 198, Fleet-street, was blown off into the road, with a fearful crash. It was a. slanting roof towards the street. There were scores of vehicles in the neighbourhood at the moment, and hundreds of persons constantly passing, but happily not the slightest accident occurred.. Mr, Thearle's is one of J the old houses on the northern side of Fleet-street, a j few yards from Temple Ear. The roadway was soon j cleared. Another Railway Outrage.—Henry Dibbles, I a merchant's clerk at Gainsborough, was charged } before the magistrates at Retford last week with j indecently assaulting Miss Godson, daughter of a farmer living at Tarehaai, on the 26th ult, From the young lady's statement it appeared that she was travelling from Sheffield between six and seven o'clock in the evening, prisoner being in the same carriage. There were no lights in the carriage. Near Shireoaks the prisoner came close to her and put his hand up her clothes. She at once complained to her mother, who was in the same carriage, that the prisoner had been taking liberties with her, and the matter was mentioned tg the authorities at the next station. The Bench fined prisoner 40s. and costs, and thought that the railway company ought to light their carriages properly, in order to protect their passengers. Burnt to Death.-Dr. Lankester has recently I held an inquest at the Crown, New Winchester-street, Clerkenwell, on the body of William Frederick Marsh Thirst, aged four years, who was burnt to death. It appeared from the evidence that on Friday, the 9th December, deceasad, who did not reside with his parents but with Mrs. Marsh, of Winchester-street, was left alone for a short time in the front parlour. A fire-guard waa placed before the fire, as the child was known to be fond of playing with fire but; as the little fellow afterwards told Mrs. Marsh, he reached over the guard to touch the kettle and the sleeve of his pinafore caught fire. He was discovered in flames, and was so seriously burnt before they could be ex- tingnished, that he afterwards died in the Great Nor- thern Hospital from the injuries he had received. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned. Fatal Fall of abalcony at Dalston.—Mr. Richards, the deputy coroner, held an inquiry on Tues- day at the Three Compasses Tavern, Dalston, teach- ing the death of Mr. Francis Garland, aged fifty-six years. Miss J. Garland, No. 20, Norfolk-road, Dalston, said that the deceased was her father. He was a com- mercial traveller, but he had lately been out, of employ- ment. On Saturday the deceased said that he would clean the front parlour window, and went out and stood on the balcony for that purpose. He leaned against the iron railing, and the balcony and the de- ceased fell into the area beneath with a great crash. The back of the deceased came in contact with the stone' coping of the area, and he was dreadfully injured. He was picked up, and a doctor was sent for, but he died a short time after. Matthew Pope said that hearing a loud crash ha rushed to tho area of No. 20, Norfolk-road; he there found the deceased lying in an insensible state. The Portland stone balcony had been smashed to atoms, and it presented the appearance of a mass of sand. The weight of the deceased had evidently proved too much for th^ strength of the balcony, which had only been sup- ported by an iron cornice at each end. A juror, said that the balconies in question were only made for ornament, and not for use. The heaviest weight that a Portland stone balcony would bear would be that of a number of flower pots.. He had noticed several servant girls standing oca and their lives were always in danger Dr. White proved that the cause of deceased s death was injury to the spine. The jurv retarned a verdict of "Accidental death." The dead body of a gentleman was found by the Eavvies on the Thames Embankment, on Tuesday, in a caisson near Waterloo-bridge, in an advanced state of decomposition. After some time the body was got out and conveyed to the dead-house The description given by the police is as follows -viz., respectably dressed, the colour of the clothing not ascertained, a set of false teeth set in gold, a gold eye-glass. No money was found, but a penknife was in the pocket. This has led to the supposition that the unfortunate deceased was ill-treated and robbed and then thrown over the bridge, the body falling into the caisson where it was found. Information has been forwarded to the coroner. The Duke of Beaufort's hounds, last week, roUowed a fox on to the rails of the Midland Railway. Foxes are getting up to this dodge, having risen in their scientific attainments, and keeping pace with the maroh. of intellect of all classes. They know that there is a good friend indeed and in need in the engine. In this case had it not been for the engine- driver pulling up his iron stead, there would have been an end to one of the finest packs in England, and the fox would have obtained peace f«r a time—until the next pack was got together for him to serve the same trick. The duke sent the engine-driver a < £ 5 note, in memory of his care of the lives of the pack. The Mr. Fay who is exposing the Davenports at New York is not, it seems, the individual of that name who has bean travelling with the conjurers in Europe. At one of the seances of the Davenport Brothers at Hanover-square-rooms, last week, a gentleman present managed to seize the spirit hand at the window. The audience encouraged him to hold on till the cabinet could be opened, but he was unable to do so for long, as he declared the hand wriggled so that it got out of his clutch, though it was as much flesh and blood as his own hand, Who is Worthy?—The ceremony of blessing the hat and sword which the Pope is accustomed to send each year to some prince, defender of the Church, has just taken place according to the prescribed forms; bat, as has occurred during the last few years, there being no sovereign who possesses the necessary quali- fication, the hat and sword have been both sent back to the papal depository. The Midland Metropolitan Terminus.—The directors of the Midland Railway Company have recently invited designs for their metropolitan termi- nus and hotel from a limited list of architects, with a view to securing the finest architectural elevation that can be obtained to represent them before the public. Designs were submitted by Messrs. G. G. Scott, B.A., E. M. Barry, Owen Jones, H. Darbishire, T. C. Sorby, G. Somers Clarke, and F. P. Cockerel!, of London; and from Messrs. E. Walters, Lockwood and Manson' Hine and Evans, and W. Lloyd, of the provinces! After much deliberation, a Gothic design by Mr. Scott has been selected for execution, at a cost of about < £ 300,000. This design recalls many points noticed in his original design for the Government offices. Premiums have been awarded to Messrs. G. Somers Clarke, E. M. Barry, and T..C. Sorby, as rank- ing next in the order of merit. The site for the build- ing fronts the Euston-road. The Fire in St. Katharine's Docks.-Al, though more than a week has elapsed since the great fire occurred in the D stack of warehouses in St. Katharine's Docks, and several steam-engines have been day and night playing on the ruins, a consider- able body of fire still remains beneath, which at inter- vals blazes- forth. This occurs in K warehouse, burned down to the third floor, where there was an immense quantity of property stored. Up to Wednesday last one of the river steam, floating engines and two land steamers continued at work, and it was doubtful if the fire could be wholly extinguished until the goods which fill up the chasm of tha half-gutted building were got out, so as to get at the firs beneath. Gangs of labourers were employed for this purpose, and it was expected that this will be effected in a few days. The amount of salvage property recovered has been very large as many as twelve barge loads have daily been removed from, the dock to a suitable spot adjoining the Victoria Docks, The directors are still engaged in their inquiries as to the origin of the fire. A Man Abducting his own Wife.—A lady and gentleman residing in the vicinity of Cork, Ire- land, were married in the early part of last year, but for some months past have not lived together, the lady residing with her father, and the gentleman occupying a house of his own. A suit for divorce, instituted by the lady, is pending, and on Friday last the husband adopted a singular method of defeating it. For a couple of days before he had a carriage and pair in readiness at a livery stables, and on the day in ques- tion the carriage, with the husband- in it, and sevei al men in a car behind, started from Cork, and shortly after getting into, the Blackrock-road, a carriage was seen in advance. In this, as it afterwards turned out, was the gentleman's wife and a female friend, out for a drive. They were overtaken, their carriage stopped, the doors opened, and the lady sought to be taken out by her husband. Her friend, aoon after the carriage waa stopped, got out, but she herself defied all efforts to remove her. While the straggle continued, the men that had in the car afte? the gentleman held the lady's coachman and the Morse: but finding after over half an hoar had elapsed that it was useless to continue trying to get the lady out, the gentleman retired, and his wife was allowed to return to her father's residence. An inquest on the body of Eli Sykes, the Batley murderer, was held on Tuesday at Armley Gaol. Mr. Mason, the deputy-governor, said he told the convict, after his attempted suicide, that it was a silly thing to do, and Sykes replied it was, but that it would save his mother. The chaplain deposed that he had had conversation with Sykes, and that the latter had mentioned to him Townley's mitigation of punishment, as if he hoped his own sentence would be commuted to penal servitude. Sykes added, however, it Would have been better to have perished on the scaffold than to die such a death as Townley. Sykes appeared perfectly sane, but had used harsh and improper language to the warders since his attempted suicide, and had attempted to remove bandages and promote bleeding, with the object of extending his illness, so as to extend the time for the pardon he evidently antici- pated. The jury returned a verdict of felo de se; and Sykes's body was interred within the precincts of the gaol. A Scene in a Hail way Train. — The train which left Huston-square^at seven o'clock on Saturday evening was the scene of a great excitement among the second-class passengers, and which it may be as well to bring before the public. The passengers who came a few minutes before the time found the compartments or boxes devoted to the second-class ticket-holders without lights, and on speaking to the officials they were informed that the lamps would be put in as quickly as possible. Thus induced to enter the train they waited quietly enough for the promised lights, but the train started off, with the whole of seventeen compartments crowded with passengers totally unpro- vided. As the train moved slowly from the platform the occupants of each compartment, thinking they only had been overlooked, as there was a truck-load of lighted lamps at hand, calling out for the mistake to be remedied, aad when the train arrived at Camden (Chalk-farm) several gentlemen jumped out to speak to the officials. They were, however, only laughed at by those in authority, and told it waa "nothing new." Nearly the whole of the beguiled passengers then shouted out for" lights, and exclamations, loud and deep too, were made against those who had sent a train on a long journey in this uncomfortable plight. This want of lights converted the usually quiet body of travelling people into a yelling, bawling mob, into whose grasp it was well a director did not fall, and the calling for lights was kept up for several stations. A Gentleman Charged with Assaulting the Police.—Mr. John Keith, or Grant (both names being given), gentleman, of No. 2, Thristle-grove Brompton, was charged before the magistrate at Westminster with being drunk, behaving in a dis- ojderly manner, and also with assaulting M'Gee. The canstable said he waa in Piccadilly °n Friday night, when he was called by a cabman, in consequence of the defendant, who was very drunk, having got into his cab, and refusing to say where he wished to be taken to. While ho waa talking to the cabman, the defendant jumped out of the cab and knocked him down. He was obliged to get assistance to take the defendant into custody, and on the way to the station the defendant struck him several times, but did not hart him much.—The defendant said he was roughly used.—Mr. Ku-ox observed that it was very likely the defendant was if he was drunk and violent.-A witness having corroborated the constable, the defendant said he had no recollection, of th I- matter.—-Mr. Knox remarked that it was all very well for the defendant to say he had no recollection of the matter, but he had knocked down a constable, who was only doing his duty, and the police must be pro- tected. If the defendant had injured the constable, he would have sent him to prison for two months. As it was, the defendant would have to pay 40s. or have a month's imprisonment, New Rules and Regulations for the Uivoree Courts.—On the 6th of January, new rules and regulations for the Divorce Court were issued, There are as many as 174, besides twenty forms to be used m the proceedings. They took effect .from Thursday, the 11th instant, on which day all former rules were revoked. A suit, as before, is to be commenced by petition, and the petitioner is to verify the facts, and niutt deny all collusion in the matter. With respect to suits in formd pauperis, there is a rule to the effect that any person desirous of prosecuting a suit m formd pauperis fa to lay a case before counsel, and obtain an opinion that he or she has reasonable grounds for pro- ceeding, and no person shall be admitted to prosecute a suit in jormd, pauperis without the order of the Judge Ordinary. Where a husband is admitted to sue as a pauper, and neglects to proceed, he may be called upon to pay costs, though he has not been dis- paupered. The rules were sanctioned on the 26th ult, by Sir James Plaistad Wilde, aad will come into operation on the 1st day:of Hilary Term. In addition to previous arrears, a list of cases for the approaching term in this court has been issued, showing that there are only eighty-one cases set down for hearing, besides twenty-six standing over by consent of the parties. .A Novel Application for Payment of a Debt. At the Aston Petty Sessions, la.st week., before Messrs. Joseph Ledsam and A. S. Evans", Samuel Smith, labourer, was charged with stealing 21b. of beef and lib. of cheese, the property of Edward Furber. On Tuesday the prisoner was drink- ing in the house of the prosecutor, the Three Tune, Erdington, and shortly after his departure the articles mentioned were missed from the pantry. The police being communicated with, the prisoner was followed to the Green Man Inn, and a portion of the stolen property found in a basket by his side. He pleaded guilty, and elected to be tried, summarily, was sen- tenced to twenty. eight days' imprisonment. After his sentence, Mr. Lam by, relieving officer for Aston parish, demanded Zi Is. 9'd. from the prisoner. He explained to the bench that some time ago the Erd. ington magistrates made an order for 9d. a week on the prisoner, towards the support of his (prisoner's) father, who was in the workhouse. Prisoner was able to earn plenty of money, but was addicted to intem- perance. For forty-one weeks he had paid nothing on the order, and the parish authorities had never been able to meet him to demand the money, which was a requisite process before proceedings could be taken. He was glad to meet him accidentally that day, and would take care that he did not again escape. Mr. Evans thought that the prisoner would be per- fectly safe for a month. S erious Charge of Robbery.George Augustus Fletcher was charged, at the London Mansion-house, with stealing bonds of the value of X10,000i the propeity of the Union-bank, from the Melbourne branch of that bank twelve months ago. About the period mentioned a robbery to a large amount was committed at the Melbourne branch of the Union- bank, and among the property stolen were a number of bonds of the Government of Victoria, amounting1 in value to £ 10-000. The prisoner was employed at the time of the robbery as cashier at the bank, and very soon afterwards he absconded, and was traced to Buenos Ayres, where he was lost sight of, and nothing was heard of him until Friday, when he surrendered himself to a City police. constable named Harrison, and charged himself with having committed the robbery in question. The bonds, the property of Mr. Lewis, a merchant in Australia, had been deposited with the bankers for security; the strong box was broken open, and the bonds bad been abstracted.—Mr. Newburn, the eashier of the Union-bank of Australia, proved the above facts, and he stated that the bank were not the prosecutors at present, on account of no warrant having been obteinQd.-Alderm- Finnis said: that, in addition to the difficulty that had been suggested, he doubted whether any tribunal in this country could legally take cognisance of the case. The prisoner was then discharged, but he consented to enter into recognisances to appear and answer the charge at a future day if he should be required to do so. The Sovereigns of Europe.—Therd are at the present moment forty-three reigning sovereigns in Europe. Of that number ten belong to the Roman Catholic religion, but one is excommunicated; thirty are Protestants, one is of the Greek orthodox church, and one a Mahometan the forty-third is the Pope. The Catholics are, two Emperors of Austria and France; five Kings--of Bavaria, Belgium, Spain (a Queen), Portugal, and Saxony; two Princes-of Lich- tenstein and Monaco; the exeommunicated sovereign is King Victor Emmanuel. The thirty Protestants are, eight Kings or Queens—of England, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Hanover, Greece, and Wurtem- berg; six Grand-Dukes-of Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Mecklenburg, Schwerin, Meoklenburg.Strelitz, Olden- burg, and Saxe-Weimar; seven Dakes- of Anhalt- Brunswick, Nasaau-Saxe-Meiningin, Saxe-Alfcenburg, Saxe-Coburg, and Sleswig-Holstein; nine Princes-of Lippe Detmold, Lippe Schaumburg, Reuss Greiz, Reusa-Schleiz, Schwartzburg-Sonderhausen, and Wal- deck; the Elector of Hesse-Cassel, and the Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. The Greek orthodox sovereign is- the Emperor of Russia, and the Mussulman, the Sultan of Turkey. There are also seven republics in Europe; two exclusively Catholic—San Marino and Andorre and five in which the majority of the inhabitants are Protestants.—Switzerland, Hamburg, Bremen, Frank- fort, and Lubeck.-Galignani. What am I, to Do P—Cecilia Williams, a young woman, bonnetless, all but shoeless, without any stock- ings, having a small neckerchief, the corners of which scarcely met across her otherwise bare shoulders, and a skirt-apparently the only body garment she pos- sessed-fastened closely around her loins, was charged, at Worship-street Police-court, with soliciting alms in the public streets. As she stood in the dock her teeth chattered, and her frame shivered sadly. She was described as a hawker of stay-laces and combs, and without any home or habitation. Polioe-ooaatabia Thomas, 53 H: On Saturday morning I saw the pri- soner near the hospital in Mile-end-road in the state she is now, and, as now, shivering. A large crowd was around her;, she begged, and I took her into custod v She told me that she had no home, no friends, and therefore must do something to save herself from star- vation. Mr. Ellison: Is she known? Mr. Arthur Safford (clerk): It is very proper that you should be acquainted, sir, with the fact of the prisoner having been charged here not more than a week since with stealing two files from a shop which she entered, aa stated, under the pretext of begging. The owner gave her into custody, and she was, when evidence had been heard, remanded, but the prosecutor not after- wards attending, she was discharged. prisoner: did not steal anything. Indeed, I did not even go into the shop. When I was discharged from here I had neither home, friends, nor clothes. Moreover, I was hungry. What was I to do; and what am I to do now ? The prisoner was sent to prison for fourteen days. Hotel Robberies.-At Manchester Police-court, last week, a stylishly-dressed young man, who gava the name of William Oill, was charged with stealing a quantity of wearing apparel, from the Royal Hotel, Mosley -street. Mr. John Gill, a commercial traveller, came to the hotel on Sunday night, and on the follow- ing evening missed his portmanteau and contents. He acquaintedtbe servants with his loss, and then in- formed the police. Saspicion rested upon Hill, who had been staying there-a. few days, and had left that night. He was apprehended in Liverpbol on Wednesday last, when he confessed the theft, and said where the missing property was to be found, which has conse- quently been all recovered. The portmanteau had not been taken from the hotel, but cut open, and after being emptied, left under the bed which the prisoner had occupied. He was sentenced to prison for three months. Hugh Parker and Thomas James Whitehall, two night porters employed at the Clarence Hotel, Spring-gardens, were also charged with stealing a quantity of cigars and other particles, the property of their employer, Mr. Biney. The prosecutor having missed money from the till, as Well as other property,, information was given to the police, and on Wednes- day morning Sergeant Spibey went to the Hotel and was shown a quantity of cigars and a bunch of skeleton keys which had been found in Parker's coat pocket. Parker was unable to give a satisfactory account of them, and he and Whitehall confessed to the officer that they had been systematically robbing their em- ployer for the last five months. They were each conju initted to gaol for four mrinthf.