The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

I TOWN TALK ] BT OUB 8PECIAL COBBE3PONBSNT. .1 Ow fMAm will understand that we do not hold ourselves resron i libit far ow abb Corresponded'* opinions. ;• SNOW in the country is not an unpleasant thing. j To lo jk from your comfortable room on the Downy flakes, Softly alighting upon all below," is rather a welcome occupation. To see the hills and dales, the trees and hedges, covered with the thickening mantle," is to have an old scene pre- sented to you under a new and not unpicturesque aspect. The redbreast comes hopping to your window-sill, and having thrown it a few charit- able crumbs, you may draw your chair near the fire, or, if you like, with Cowper, Wheel the sofa round," and learn, by means of your newspaper, the pleasure of which he sisgs- "To see the stir Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd." But in London, the "fleecy shower" means a hQst of urchins crying through the street, "Want y door done, m'm?" slush, ankle-deep, when you go out; a second horse to your cab; deadly missiles, called snowballs, aimed at windows of said cab; horses falling, breaking their own limbs and those of human beings as unfortu- nate. And then, what an offensive sight are slushy streets! One whole dpy wag, allowed to pass before anything was done to clear the streets. On Friday some disastrously feeble efforts were made to render the streets fit for traffic. I say disastrously, for I saw at least half-a-dozen horses lying under vehicles of various kinds. In the afternoon of Friday the horse of a poor man fell as he was turning round Clerkenwell Prison, and broke his leg. To see the wretched animal shrinking as he was led limping away might have suggested a doubt whether the theory of animals being almost insensible to pain, lately propounded in one of our ablest reviews, can be with safety subscribed to. Where was Bumbledom ? Do Vestries, like certain animals of a sluggish circu- lation, relapse into torpor, during the winter months ? Oh, Mr. Bumble, with Dickens and his followers cracking their whips above your head; with a host of reviewers applying their lances to your most tender parts; with leader-writers dwelling disrespectfully on the inertness of your manly form, and completely ignoring its dignity and aplomb; and with all the excuse your enemies derive from your recent demeanour, I tremble for your existence. ON Saturday I heard Miss' Emma Hardinge, at St. James's-hall. As a rule, professional orators can only be given a second or third-rate place. They are of the shop, shoppy. You can never forget that they are orators." Miss Hardinge is no exception. She has all the faults, too, of American oratory: violent gesticulation, a turgid style, and a habit of doing the wild-beast-in-his- den style of thing. Still, there is no doubt that Miss Hardinge has power—as, the cant phrase runs; and some will, perhaps, think her all the more powerful because she has very little taste. THREE striking papers, descriptive of the casual wards in the Lambeth Workhouse, have appeared in the Pall-mall Gazette—on Friday, Saturday, and Monday evenings. In the first paper we are told how the visitor to the casual ward drove to Lam- beth in a neat but unpretentious carriage," how he obtained admission, how he took a plunge inabath containing a "liquid disgustingly likeweak mutton broth," howhedesperatelymunchedhis toke (bread); and in this and the following papers the writer details some of the conversations, and only dares to hint at some of the practices heard and wit- nessed during that weary night. The Observer sneers at the "swell," while appending a report of Mr. Farnall's, elicited by the article of the swell," and pointing out that he was shown into an "irregular" ward, from the miseries of which casuals will in future be spared, by having lodg- ings provided for them. This,.too, in consequence of the article of the "Swell." The Fkneur also glances askance at the brougham. I confess I don't see why the brougham should not have been mentioned. There can be no doubt the writer —who is a man in a high position, and well known in the literary world-went in a brougham. What harm to tell simply what took place ? Seeing that an abuse needed correction, and that the very surest means of correcting it were taken, the man who so completely sacrificed one night's comfort for this object, and the excellent paper to which he contri- butes, deserve) in my opinion, the thanks of the public. A casual wardis certainlynotthe best place, even with the luxuries of toke and skilley Spatiosam fallere noctern "—to have a quiet sleep. A man named Robert Scully has been starved to death in Bethnal-green Workhouse. I hope our "swell" will pay a visit there; and I for one shall not object to his taking his brougham. A MOST amusing sentence occurs in a report of a charge of manslaughter that appeared in the Star of Monday: "On Tuesday night witness called .on her, when she was rather the worse for liquor, and the landlady was in her company, but her health was good." As I in-Ltionecl the Star, I may as well tell you of an emeuie arising out of an article on "Pot-house Politicians" that appeared in an evening issue of that paper. Charles Dickens, in the preface to the second edition of Nicholas Nickleby," tells us how he got no end of letters from Messrs. Squeers, who thought he had aimed at them. A debating society, where very able speeches, .1 understand, are occasionally to be heard, thinking itself spe- cially marked out, took up the cudgels against the Star. Their proceedings were again sketched, and nobody could read of the inflamed Orators without amusement. A few evenings ago-led by these circumstances—I paid a visit to this ancient forum. Papers containing the first obnoxious article were handed round. On this occasion some of the orators professed themselves flattered, while others thought they did well to be angry." I should think the proprietor is rather glad, as it must draw attention to his place. The waiter is unfor- giving-his white tie was libelled. It was a deli- cate point in which to hit a man of hi3 profession. When I saw him it was pale enough, any way, but whether with anger-I know it had a fretful little curl—or with bleaching, I am not expert enough say. A S.4B case occurred at Worship-street Police Gowrt Saturday. Elizabeth Stevenson, fourteen A 8.0 case occurred at Worship-street Police Gowrt 9R Saturday. Elizabeth Stevenson, fourteen years of age, and but too evidently "lost," was I charged with having robbed her father. May my curse be on you up and down for ever," was her address to her father as she left the dock. It is impossible to believe that this child was properly brought up. As the opening of Parliament draws near political gossip becomes more earnest. Will the Government last? Is it strong enough? Must it not fall on the question of Reform ? are questions anxiously debated in Conservative and Liberal clubs. It is a general belief that the Government will not live through a session. I venture to doubt this view. The Government is not as strong as it might be; but in relation to the Opposition it is not weak. ON the 18th inst., the remains of Sir Charles Eastlake were borne to Kensal-green, where his friend Thackeray rests. There were not so many there as when the great novelist was buried. There was, of course, a largeTnumber of artists. One missed the remarkable figure of Leech, which, was so prominent on the occasion of Thackeray's funeral. HILARY TEEM commenced on the 11th. The attendance at the Temple has not been so full as usual. The inclement weather frightened the Irish students, who preferred losing a term to be- ing lost themselves. Z.

SUMMARY OF PASSING EVENTS. M. • !■■ EVERY mail from America. conflrms the intelli- gence that the people of the United States are quietly settling down to commercial pursuits, and that they are fast forgetting former feuds, and be- coming once more united. There are a few disaf- fected States, who grumble at entering the Union again, but they are very few and a proposition suggested by a committee of Southerners is likely to free the country of those who are unwilling to support the Constitution as it at present exists-c viz., to emigrate to Brazil, where there is a large extent of country very fertile and quite unculti- vated. The difficulties which were supposed to exist between England and America consequent upon the Alabama, &c., are fast dying out; and there is a Reeling springing up that in this pro- gressive age it should be the* noble aim of two great nations, like these old and new coxlntries, to kill war in revenge for its killing, so many. It has even been said that such an. idea may become a practical fact as soon as both countries can settle down quietly and practically to consider the question; and that a congress of all nations may yet be assembled to mark out a course by which disputes ean be arranged without resorting to war. A COMMERCIAL treaty between Austria nd England, long talked about, has now been ratified and published, and it is believed to be another great step in the union of nations, bringing us nearer to each other in friendly relations and commerce. By article No. 1, Great Britain secures to the subjects and commerce of Austria the same advantages as were given to the subjects and com- merce of France by the French treaty. By article No. 2, the commerce and subjects of Great Britain are, with a few specified exceptions, placed in the position of the most favoured nation in relation to Austria. The goods on which there was formerly almost a prohibitory duty, are not to be charged now-niore than 25 per cent. of the value, and after the year 1870 only 20 per cent. Other clauses, more or less technical, reducing import and export duties, follow; and, by a final protocol, the British plenipotentiary engages to recommend to Parlia- ment the abolition of the duties payable on the importation of wood and timber into the United Kingdom, and also reductions upon other articles not included in the treaty. Austria, so long put down amongst the most despotic of nations, is raising herself in the scale of civilisation. She has already partially acknowledged the rights of Hungary, and, by permitting the Hungarians to have a Parliament of their own, has treated these noble people, who have so long struggled for liberty, with a reward that will merit their grati- tude." As to Spain, few persons in England appear to care much about her. There has been a revolution. There appears to be two Richmonds in the field, each of whom is desirous of being Prime Minister of that country. In reference to the two person- ages, first Marshal O'Donnell, who is supposed to be of Irish origin, holds the reins of Government; he is said to be a man desirous of progress, and. of governing Spain on civilised principles, of pro- moting her commerce, and of giving more freedom to the people, with the hope that the vast natural productions of the country may be turned to her advantage. In this scheme he has been baffled by the bigoted and narrow-minded views of the Queen, who is said to be selfish in the extreme, and desirous of usurping a despotic sway over her people. Being thus opposed by his Sovereign, no wonder he should find opponents without—and thus has sprung up General Prim. He is supported by what are called the Spanish Progressistas, who are more tired of their Sovereign than the O'Donnell party, and would probably dethrone her were they in power, and would set all religion aside, and endeavour to make Spain a menacing Power to other nations, and usurp authority wher- ever possible. At the moment when this civil war is going on, the Chilians, who believe themselves to be oppressed by Spain, have gained their first victory in their conflict with the mother country. A Chilian war corvette has captured a Spanish gun-boat, and in consequence the blockade of the ports has been raised. The Peruvians have come to the aid of their persecuted neighbours, and it seems not improbable that Spain will have to eat humble pie." The sympathies of England are with the colonies, as there is a belief that both Chili and Peru have been oppressed by the mother country. THE Extradition Treaty [between England and France, which ceases in June, according to notice from the Emperor Napoleon, is likely to be re- newed upon a fresh footing. We never anticipated thattheFrenchEmperor intended that there should be no treaty existing between the twonations where- j by persons convicted of crime should be given up.. It is now suggested that the French Government j will propose a general code for eases of extradi- tion, which shall be framed by an international •' committee, composed of representatives of all tke Governments of Europe. THERE is little to say about politics. The style of invitation sent by the chiefs of political parties to their supporters, asking for their pre- sence in the House of Commons on the 6th of Fe- bruary, differs much in composition. That of the Conservatives is very earnest and anxious; that of the Ministers polite in the extreme. Mr. Glad- stone says that he hopes to see members present, if it will be consistent with their convenience to attend." An influential gathering of the Con- servatives of Devon took place at Newton Abbot, last week. There were present on the occasion the Earl of Devon, Lord Courtenay, Sir Stafford North cote, Sir Laurence Palk, Mr. Kekewich, and other leading men in the county; and the speeches delivered on the occasion advocated a firm" ad- herence to old principles, without, however, op- posing moderate measures. Again, Mr. Bovill, who was entertained at Guildford by his constituents, made a strong speech in advocacy of reform and the extension of the franchise. He said: He fearlessly asked which class was likely to send the best members to Parliament-the most intelligent and more educated, or the least intelligent and j less educated part of the community ? Judg- ing, by the experience of the great Reform Bill," says the Spectator, "we should say a union of the two." Lastly Mr. Hughes, the new member for Lam- beth, in a recent speech, said, The true test of a Liberal was whether he had or had not a thorough sympathy with the people." IN domestic matters, we should observe that the storms of wind, the fall of snow, and the floods which have occurred, have done considerable damage throughout Great Britain. One of the most serious accidents occurred at Yarmouth. A ship in distress was seen in the offing, and though the sea was mountains high, two lifeboats nobly put out to the assistance of the ship wrecked. One of them had her rudder unshipped while crossing the bar. At that moment a sea struck her; she was capsized, and her crew was turned underneath her. There were sixteen in number; four struggled out, but the other twelve were, un- happily, drowned. WITH the sanction, and under the encourage- ment of the Society of Friends, Mr. Harvey, of Leeds, and Mr. William Brewin, of Cirencest er are about to set out for Jamaica on a special mission for the purpose of finding out the whole truth concerning the recent slaughter in that colony, and of reporting it to their countrymen at home. About twenty years ago Mr. Harvey was the companion of Joseph Sturge on a somewhat similar visit to that island. It is thought, there- fore, that his report will be peculiarly valu- able, as he can compare the present state of the country with the past. AN important middle-class education movement has been set on foot in London. At a meeting held last week at the Mansion-house, it was deter- mined to raise X100,000 for the purpose of estab- lishing a good middle-class school at Finsbury, whereat from 800 to 1,000 children may be edu- cated at a rate of payment not exceeding X4 a year. It is believed that this large sum will soon be raised, as many of the City merchants have promised large subscriptions, some of them putting their names down for a thousand pounds. EVERY DAY we are more convinced of the neces- sity of having some control over railway directors and managers. A letter in the Times the other day stated that a night train, in which the writer travelled, left the London and North-Western Rail- way without lights in the carriage^, notwithstand- ing the remonstrances of himself and fellow- travellers; and that the porters and guards, instead of seeking to remedy this monstrous neglect, indulged themselves in the sport of somewhat broadly "chaffing" their victims. Now, if this be true-and we have no reason to disbelieve the statement, since it has not been contradicted—it is a stigma upon railway manage- ment, aad points more clearly than ever to the necessity of Government surveillance. A MAN named John. Scott was appointed on the staff of the Herts police, on approval, and ha is said to have hit upon the ingenious device of setting fire to stack-yards in order that he might, by being the first to raise an alarm, give indu- bitable proof of his vigilance in protection- of property. Three fires occurred and he wasaot suspected, but on the fourth occurring suspicion fell upon him, and he is now lodged in the county prison. Well, John, Scott will have a. fair trial, and wejiave no doubt, if he is found guilty, such a. sentence will be passed upon him us will (Jeter others from following his example.

THE GREAT SNOW STQR} £ Particulars of considerable damage throughout the country .during the heavy storm of Thuraday-jiave reached us. In Great George-Street, Westminster, fallen wires were entwined round several lamp-posts, and in Regent-street they were hanging from one end to the other, and the drivers of the various vehicles had to move them on one side in order to pass. Similar damage was experienced in the Euston-road, Black- friars-road, Farringdon-road, and in most of the leading thoroughfares in the City—in some oases the lamps being carried away. The result of the mischief has been the stoppage of all telegraphic communica- tions with the provinces, but the Electric and Inter- national Telegraph Company are enabled to forward messages to the Continent., The loss to the District Company will be great, but as most of the Electric Company's wires are underground in London it is thought the communication, so far as they are con- cerned, will soon be resumed. The snow caused much delay on the several railways, and in many cases the traffia for a time was entirely stopped. Several casualties have occurred involving broken legs and arms, and injuries more or lees severe, and it was reported that a driver on the South Eastern Rail- way was killed by a telegraph wire snapping, which struck him on the head and killed him immediately. Extensive damage to the telegraph wires is reported on the Great Western Railway, and also upon the London and South Western. At the Crystal Palace the fall of snow was very heavy. In many parts it drifted three or four feet deep, and it may be taken as. a fair average that the fall throughout was nearly twelve inches deep. In the Camberwell-road a gauge taken showed the snow in the highway to be seven inches deep. At Dulwich, near the Greyhound, it was eleven inches deep, and near Forest-hill it was twelve inehes. Vehicles coming from the direction of the Crystal Palace were with difficulty enabled to descendthe hills, but those bound for the opposite direction were completely stopped. Seventeen vessels are on shore at Portland, driven in by the gale, some of which have sustained great damage, and disasters are reported from all parte of the coast, attended iE, many cases by loss of life. Inundations. The rapid thaw which set in on Friday night has been the occasion of much flooding in the north- eastern districts. The whole of the low.lying portions of the country have suffered severely, more especially Tottenham, Edmonton, and the adjacent parts in Essex. Each brook, dyke, and rivulet, was converted into a rushing stream, overflowing its banks and flood- ing the fields and roads. The sudden melting of the snow on the uplands of Colney Hatch, Southgate, Finchley, &c., caused vast torrents of water to rush through the districts named, causing great loss and inconvenience to the inhabitants. Water- lane at Edmonton was utterly impassable to pedestrians, and the horses in the omnibuses at nine o'clock on Saturday evening, where the road dipped, were well nigh breastdeep. Scarcely a house from that point, Citywards, as far as the Red Lion in Tottenham High-road, but has some evidence of the flood to show, and the inconve- nience has been so general, though, so far as we have been able* to learn, fortunately unattended with serious results. The whole of the neighbourhood on either hand of the Angel at Edmonton was sub- merged, and the road in front of that hotel resembled a_mill-race from seven until nine o'clock, when a sub- sidence began. At Tottenham great disaster was for some time apprehended. For some distance the Moselle runs parallel with the high road, at times maintaining its original character as an open rivulet, and at others being conducted by culvert work beneath the streets, and in a portion of its course the pressure of its waters has heaved upwards a considerable length of roadway, and the foundations of many of the houses built along its bed have been seriously injured. The whole of the Broad-lane wasfloodedand navvies im- proved the occasion and seized the opportunity of turning an honest penny by conveying foot passengers upon their backs from one piece of rising ground to another. The consternation at this point was -in- creased by the roof of one of the newly-erected houses, near the Marisfield- road, falling in, and the occupants of the house were carried upon the shoulders of men to adjoining houses. In Lordship-lane and at Stoneleigh South considerable damage has been done by the water flowing into the houses and sapping the foundations. In Charles-street, a place inhabited principally by gardeners and navvies, and where the underground kitchens were lfooded, as were also the ground floors, the residents had to take refuge upon the first floors. Some parts of the Eastern Counties Rail- way were flooded, but happily not so much so as to materially interfere with the ordinary traffic of the line. The whole of the Essex marshes are under water, and between Lea-bridge and Edmonton the embankment of the line of railway is the only dry place, the fields and marshes upon either side being a wide expanse of water several feet deep. On. Satur- day evening the water between the Tottenham-station and the high road reached up to the boxes of the wheels of the carts called into requisition to trans- port the passengers who alighted at the station. At twelve o'clock on Monday the waters had risen some 200 yards up the Lea Bridge-road, towards Clap- ton-gate, and great fear was entertained that the worst was to come, as it was considered that there wotild be a rush of water from the heights of Hertford, which are elevated some seventy feet above Lea Bridge. The flood gate was as soon as possible thrown open, and every precaution taken to lower the water. The poor inhabitants have been placed in a pitiable condition. The occupants of the one-storied houses, nearly all of whom were in the habit of adding to their means of subsistence by the rearing of pigs, fowl, &c., have succeeded, not without much anxiety and trouble, in transporting themselves and their little stocks to the two and three- storied houses of their neighbours; but the condition of the now crowded occupants of these half-flooded domiciles is sad in the extreme. These houses were all completely surrounded by what presented the ap- pearance of a somewhat troubled sea, above the surface of which, in many parts, were to be seen the tops of stunted trees, of brick walls, hedges, garden boundary walls, and what seemed to be the roofs of some sort of sheds. All the top windows of these ill- situated houses were crowded with human heads, the property of these unfortunates whose sad necessity obliged them to domicile therein. It appears that these poor people had been thus cooped up since five o'clock on Sunday xnorning* that during the whole of that day they were observed to be thus wistfully keeping a constant look-out for the going down of the flood; that during the whole of that time they have had to be supplied with food by the most ingenious and extraordinary means; and that, in consequence of there being only one spirit- licensed public in the neighbourhood, and which was also under water, some of the unfortunate drenched inmates of the inundated dwellings have requested in vain for a smail stimulant, there being no other spirit establishment within some miles. During the whole of Monday all the Hackney and Essex marshes and adjoining tracts of country have been completely covered by one sheet of water some feet deep, through which the Great Eastern line runs, but it is a gratifying fact that the business of this important line does not seem to have been in any way interfered with. Some of the roadways throughout the large district in question are quite impassable except by boats or horse-drawn vehicles. It is hoped that public sympathy will come to the assistance of the luckless sufferers by this unforeseen incident. The traffic on the Bristol and Exeter Railway was interrupted a short distance below Collumpton incon- sequence of the flooding of the river. The fall of snow in Devonshire has been very heavy, and the sudden thaw which set in caused an accumulation of water in all the rivers and streams. At the particular spot in question the river was crossed by a wooden bridge, over which the train leading Exeter at 3.20 on Satur- day morning passed in safety. On the next up train— that leaving Exeter at 4.15 p.m.—.arriving at the bridge the water had risen to such a height: over the bridge as to extinguish the engine fire and to bring the train to a sudden standstill. The passengers were all got out in safety, but the engine and train up to Saturday night had not been removed, and a portion of the line has been washed^ away. All traffic across the bridge was at once entirely suspended. The fast" down train leaving Bristol at 2.30 p.m., returned in the evening with some of its passengers, stopping at Bridgwater, from which place intelligence of the occurrence was telegraphed to Bristol, all telegraphic communication with Bristol and the metropolis being also interrupted from all stations below, in conse- quence of the wires being broken in the late gale. On Monday morning the Thames at Windsor rose very rapidly at Windsor, and an immense body of water, vastly increased by the floods from the west- ward, poured over the land in the vicinity, submerging in its irresistible course many hundred acres of meadow and field. The whole of the fields crossed by the Great Western Railway viaduct, and known as the Goswells, were laid under water, which latter reached to the backs of the houses nearly as far as Clewer. The long back gardens in the rear of the houses and shops on the west side of Thames-street, the Principal thoroughfare in the royal borough, were Completely covered. Opposite, on the Eton side, or north bank of the river, matters are even worse, the whole of the Brocas and land between the baC«is of the houses on the west side of Eton and the Great Western Rail- way being submerged,'and converted into a large lake, which extends from Windsor to the Rev. S. Hawtrey's Mathematical Schools at Eton College. At the latter place the water rushed through Barngpool-bridge in torrents, and meeting over the grounds at the rear of the outbuildings, in Its onward progress ibaek to the Thames, swamped the land upon the river's bank at the 11 Playing Fields, and taen nearly inundated the Home-park, between, the South Western Railway- bridge and that at the Datchet-road. Standing on the North-terrace of Windsor Castle the meandering course of the Thames from Maiden- head to Staines presented the aspect of a succession of inland lakes in consequence of the great quantity of land submerged in this district. At Wraysbury, Egham Meads, and Staines, inundation is very ex- tensive. It is years since such an inundation was, witnessed here. — + ;—-

Dr4-akFast TBevera ge -tiomceepathic Practitioners, and the MedI- enii rofession generaUy, recommend cocoa as hejng the most healthful of all borages. When the doctrine of homeopathy was first introduced into tnig country, there were to be obtained no preparations 01 cocoa either attractive to the taste or acceptable to the stomach the nut was either supplied in the crude state, or BO unskilfully as to obtain little notice. J* i2pps» of London, homoeopathic chemist, wag induced, in the year 1839, to turn his attention to this subject, and at length succeeded, with the assistance of elaborate machinery, in being the first to produce an article pure in its composition, and so refined by the perfect trituration in the process it parses through, as to be most; acceptable to the delicate stomach. For general use Epps g cocoa is distinguished as an invigorating, grateful breakfast beverage, with a delicious aroma. Pr. Hassall, in his work "Food and its Adultera- tions, says;—" Cocoa, contains a great variety of important nutritive principles; every ingredient necessary to the growth and sustenance of the body.* Again, "As a nutritive, cocoa stands very much higher than either coffee or tea." DirectionsTwo teaspooniuls of the pow4er in a breakfast cup, tilled up with boiling water or milk. Secured in lir,l i-lb.. ),-Ib.. and I-lb. labelled packets, and sold at is, 6d. per %r<K€Z8t confectioners, and chemists.

AMERICA. „ NEW YORK, DEC. 29. Cxensral Strong, who has returned from Texas, re- ports a fearful destitution amongst the black and white inhabitants. Lawlessness and crime, as well as a spirit of secession and of hostility to the Government, Prevail throughout the interior. The New York Times asserts that the correspon- dence with France, regarding Mexico, will be laid betore Congress as soon as it assembles. It is repre- sented tiiat the correspondence will show that the Government has at no time had any purpose or thought of abandoning the Monroe doctrine. It has pursued the course which seemed most likely to secure the. practical establishment of that policy, and at the same time save the country from another war. The whole matter concludes the New Yorle Times, would now be submitted for Congressional action, and if Congress sees fit to insist upon a more hasty solution of the problem at the cost of war, no ebstacle will be placed in its way." T. NEW YOBK, JAN. 4. •IT .1S,S j .C0nSressi0nal military commission will introduce a bdl, increasing the peace establishment of the army to 100,000 men. 11 A semi-official Washington dispatch states that Mr. Seward's trip to the South Atlantic has no noliti- cal object. He will be absent three weeks. •U U Herald hints that the Mexican question !TTT •LS?tled FEY a division of Mexico between the United States and Maximilian, the latter ceding to the former the northern provinces Tamanlipus Now Leos, Coahilua, Chihuahua, Sonora, and the peninsula of Lower California. The same paper denies that the French and Federal Governments have arrived at an understanding concerning the Mexican question. It is known, however, it says, that Maximilian has not met his pecuniary engage- ments with Napoleon for the keep of the French troops in Mexico, and that Napoleon will not support a military force there at his own expense.

REPORTED SUICIDE OF ADMIRAL PAREJA. According to letters received in Paris on Monday from Madrid, intelligence. had reacted that city asserting that Admiral Parej a, *oomman«!er of toe Spanish squadron off the Chilian coast, had committed suioide. • >

• "-————:———— 1 .ollouo# MURDER AT PORTSMOUfH. A brutal murder was committed ill the borough of Portsmouth early on Friday morning. The name of the victim is Caroline Shoreland, and she is repre- sentecl to have been the wife of a seaman serving OB board the Victoria, flag-Ship, in the Mediterranean. She was a woman of dissolute habits, about twenty-seven years of age, and lived in Caledonian- place, Hereford street, Frattan- path, Landport. She was observed to leave her hous-e about eleven o clock on Thursday night, at that time being apparently quite sober.. Nothing more was heard or seen of her by the neighbours, until about twenty minutes past two o'clock in the morning, when a woman living next door, named Bennett, was awoke by sOtmdgof quarrelling in the deceased's house, as if the woman was being ill-used. She then feard a soream of "Murder," and the exclamation, Oh followed ;by unusual stillness. Although several neighbours were aroused by the same cries, it does not appear that anybody went to the woman's assistance. Shortly after the sounds had ceased, Mrs. Bennett heard what appeared to be the heavy steps of a man, and the outer door close. The woman did not make her appearance at the usual hour next morning, and as the day wore on the suspicions of her neighbours were aroused. An entrance was effected through the rear of the premises, and the woman was discovered lying upon her back in the lower room of the house, with her dress in such a condition as to indi- catethenstureof the assault which had been made upon her. Her head was encircled in a pool of blood, and, although there were no appearances to indicate the infliction of deadly wounds with any sharp instrument, her features were so much swollen and disfigured by bruises that identification was almost impossible. She had, indeed, been literally beaten to death. In- formation was, of course, given to the police, and it is said that suspiaion rests upon a man in whose com- pany the deceased was seen the previous night.

SWANBOROUGH V. SQTRERN. Mr. Bovill said in this action, which was brought y the plaintiff, Mr. Swanborough, the lessee of tfirmmgham Theatre, against the well-known actor, Mr. Sothern, for an alleged breach of agreement, a verdict had been found for the plaintiff, with damages. Mr. Sothern intended to have moved for a new trial of the case, but fortunately a negotiation had taken place between the parties, the result of which was that after a statement had been made by Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, he should ask their lordships to permit that verdict to be set aside, and a juror withdrawn by consent. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine: This was an action which occupied _a considerable time in trying, which was brought far an alleged breach of agreement, the de- fendant (Mr. Sothern) alleging, in his defence th, he was unable to fulfil his engagement owing to ill- health. Mr. Sothern gave evidence at the trieJ, a# n/r am now instructed^ to gay, 0n behalf ot Mr. Swanborough.' that, although at the time he believed Mr. Sothern was attributing more to the state of his health than he was justified in (ioir-9, the evidence of 3lr-_ Sothern had convinced him tha6 he was acting in good faith, and that he was in reality seriously ill at the time Under these circumstances the parties have met together, and have agreed upon terms whi#h are- satisfactory to both. I scarcely t.fciii> it necessary to say that under these circumstances Mr. Swanborough withdraws all imputations upon Mr. Sothern. iM*- The arrangement is perfectly satiefac- b°th parties, and I must, therefore, ask your lordship to permit the rule to be drawn up in accord- anoe with the terms of the agreement. Mr. Justice Blackburn If the parties have agreed to the terms we have no objection to them." j5} Judgment accordingly.

— ■» r The ex-Royal Family of France. Th("r Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale are expected to arrive on a visit to Frances Countess W» £ degrave, and the Chief Secretary for Ireland on the 17th inst., and on the 19th the countess will give » grand ball at the Chief Secretary's ]odg'». His Eoj^- Highness the Count de Paris, arrived on Saturday at the Chief Secretary's lodge, Dublin, from yjsit,mg Count and Countess de Jarnac, at Thomastowis, and on Monday left the Right Hon. Chichester ^orSeseue, M.P., and the Countess (Frances) Waldegrave's resi- dence for York-house, Twickenham.