The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

¡;-=: THE COUBT. This Queen, the Prince and Princess Christian, and '« Jibe junior branches of the Royal Family, have spent phe Caristmaa at Osborne. \1{ THE Qcieen and the Royal Family saw the American lyaohts Henrietta, Fleet-wing, and Vesta, under sail off 03borne on Saturday afternoon, the 29th ult., they having been ordered round from Co .vea by Commodore M'Vibkar, of the New York Yacht Club, by her Majesty's desire. THE Qaeen and their Royal Hi ghnesses Prince and Princess Christian, Princess Louise-, Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, attended Divine service on Sanday morning at Whippingham Church. The Rav. G. Prothero officiated. MESSES. ELKINGTON had the honour on Saturday £ submitting to the inspection of her Majesty the al:'ld manufactured by them which they intend to ex- hibit at the Paris Exhibition of 1867, the subject of whíh is from Milton's Paradise Lost." W" regret to hear, says the Court Jowrnal, that her -iajesty caught cold on the day of visiting the MiUaolenm of the Prince Consort. The caM resulted a moat painful attack of face-ache, from which the Qaeen is still suffering. HER Majesty has signified her invention to publicly ,open the Albert Memorial Asylum, at Collingwood- court, Bagf-hot, in Jane next, and, at. the same time, to lay the foundation stone of a dining-hall and chapel. The rumber of children now in the asylum is 162, in- volving an annual expenditure of 43,000. The inau- guration of the institution, which was established about two years ago, has been postponed from time to time, in the well-placed hope that her Majesty would at length consent to perform the inceptive rites. THE Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh spent the Christmas week with their visitors at Sand. fingham. Their Royal Highnesses had several days' shooting on the Sandringham and Houghton estates. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, attended by the Viscountess Walden, took several drives in the neighbourhood. The Duke of Edinburgh, attended by Lieutenant Haig, left Sandringham for London on Friday, and returned on Saturday afternoon. The Prince and Princess of Wales, with the Dake of Edin- burgh and suite, proceeded to Holkbam on Monday to Spend the week on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Leicester. Mr. Dixon, of Norwich, has had the honour of attending at Sandringham-bouse for the purpose of presenting to the Prince of Wales the silver spades used for planting the trees in Chapel- told on the occasion of the recent Royal visit to Nor- wich. The spades were presented by Mr. Dixon on be- half of the late Sheriff and Mayor of Norwich. His Royal Highness graciously accepted the presents, and expressed great satisfaction in receiving them. The told medal presented by the Prince of Wales for pro- fioiency in classics and mathematics among the pupils 4t the King's Lynn Grammar School has been won this year by Mr. A. Flaxma-a for the second time. The examination was conducted by the Rev. J. F. iJateman, M.A., Fellow of St. JohVa College, Cam. bridge. Mr. Flaxman last year gained the medal for taodern studies, and this year for classics and mathe- matics. He obtained 382 marks out of a total of 400, taining full marks in three of nine subjects, and very I nearly full marks in all the rest. I ON Saturday afternoon a special court of the Elder brethren of the Hon. Trinity Corporation was held at the Trinity-house, Tower-hill, for the parpose of Swearing in the Right Hon. Benjamin Disraeli, M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Right Hon. Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., President of the Board of Trade, as Elder Brethren. The Duke of Edinburgh, the Maatar of the Corporation, attired in the handsome Uniform of the body, =d whoon arrividg at the entrance hall was received by Capt. Arrow, tbe deputy master, and the Elder Brethren, presided as chief of the court. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sir Stafford Northcote, who were elected at a previous court in the place of the late Lord North. brook and Admiral Sir W. Parker, also wore the Uniform of the brotherhood. On the ceremony of Swearing in the new members being concluded, the prince and the Elder Brethren retired to the model toom and partook of an elegant entoetainmant. His loyal highness, on leaving, proceeded on a visit to the Prince of Wales at Sandringham. IT is understood that in the spriajr additions may be expected to the members of the E >yal Family. The accouchement of the Princess of W doles may be looked for in March, that of Princess Christian ira April, and that of the Princess Mary of Cambridge about the same time. The Prince of Wales, who on bis return from Russia was very uawell, consequent upon the fatigue of travelling and the change of diet, as quite reeoveied his usual health.

POLITICAL GOSSIP. AT the council held, by the Qaeen at Osborne on Friday, Parliament was ordered to be further pro- togaed to Tuesday, the 5th of February next, then to baoet for the dispatch of business. LOBD TALBOT DE MALAHIDS has publicly stated that at no distant time, »ud, wi*b a settled state of affairs in the oonatry, a royal sojourn m Ireland will Ii> ?a currently reported that Lord Craaborno has Offered the bishopric of Calcutta to upwards of twenty gentlemen, and t&at it is still vacant. MIDNIGHT on Saturday was the latest time for receiving private hills to be brsught before Parlia- ment during the text Session; 316 only were de- posited in the propel office. Private bills lodged last year were 633 in number. ,r IT is stated that Professor Fawcett, the blind M.P. for Brighton, is about to be marrie to Miss Garrett, ob sister of the well-known doctresa, Miss Garrett, of Upper Berkeley-street. ACCORDING to private letters from Rome, Mr. Gladstone has been suffering from a severe attack of ulcsrated sore throat, which had confined him to the house for upwards of a week. The right bon. gentle- tpn-n has now regained his accustomed health, and will shortly leave Rome upon his homeward journey. The Dake and Duchess of Argyll and Mr. and Mrs. Cariwell are still in Rome. THE Lords of the Admiralty, says the Army and Navy Gazette, have exhibited a WiiOO discretion in ordering the Vulcan and two other almost useless vessels to be broken up. The Vulcan in an iron ship of 1,764 tons, and has engines of 400 horse power. She waa constructed by contract by Mr. O. J. Mare, and her prima cost to the public was £ 66,01)0. She is now about 27 years old, and therefore haa worn tolerably well considering that the mode of manufac- turing iron was IiOb so good when she was built as it is at the present day. THE Covjrt Journal eays:The Chancellor of the Exchequer is, it is said, Yet, in favour of any scheme bearing 0- the large proposal of paying off the National Do-t, and whatever fanos schemes he may have to flOmt-Irid dozens are credited to him—this one will not be aiw,ng f,he lot The public may pay it off if they like, and <n.ake a vigorous pull altogether to do so. Indeed, one ^ividual— a Mr. Booth, of Aber- deen—has generously »0me forward and made a beginning. It only wanteilthis, perhaps. The Chan- cellor of the Exchequer acknowledges the gift, which is 7s. 6d. THE Manchester Gtiai,gi,an P"OlishAs a jetter, dated July last, addressed by Lord Soa Vsbury to Mr. Philip Grant, of Manchester, which disoKg0a f.j3e fa()4; Df a seat having been offered to th9 wnv ia tke pj.6sent have do,ilined cabinet. Lord Shaftesbury says: 1 have declined office with a sea.t in the cabinet, as 1 "jsh to be un- fettered, and give the residue of my nM given already some 33 years) to the social wei "m-H Df the working classes. Lord Derby's GoveTyimellb is very friendly to your cause; you map publish it e,,or,.v ""here on my authority, but I desired leisure for the £ oib, and freedom, which I could not enjoy when bound. t» a cabinet." j ME. ARTHUR KAVANAGH, the new member fortol1 £ C"*vty of Wexford, who defeated Mr. Joha Pope HecMaaey, a low weeks since, baa taken a house at the West-end of tab metropolis, and means to devote his attention for the Season to his political duties. The hon. gentleman canjerk himself into a seat with- out difficulty, and can even cover the ground of 10 or 2Q yards &9 quickly as most people furnished with orflinary limbs. He will be able to sign-, the Parlia- ment roll, &3 he caa write with a pen fixed in a mechanical arm, using his month to guide the plume, but how he is to shake hands with Mr. Speaker when iatrodnce&tothat distinguished. fanationary remains to be seen. APROPOS W-. the difficulties of the new Irish M.P. ia taking bis Seat and rising from it to address the Honee, it may le mentioned that on more than one occasion have members addressed the Honee seated. Lord Orrorey ths spoke in December, 1669 On a memorable oocaB-m, when he came to denounce the Peace made by Lord Bate in 1762 with Spain '■ V 'V x .tOf( f and France, the Great Commoner Pitt, as I historians call him, did the same. Mr. Jesse thus describes the scene: The doors of the I house were thnwn open, and the striking figure of the Great Commoner, supported by his attendants, and pale almost to ghastlinees, presented itself before the astonished assembly. He was dressed in a suit of black velvet; his legs and thighs were wrapped in flannel; his feet were covered with buskins of black cloth. His servants having sat him down within the bar, several of his friends hurried to his assistance, with whose aid, and that of his crutch, he reached his accustomed seat. He had the appearance, writes Walpole, of a man determined to die in that cause, and at that hour." In later times other M.P.'s havo spoken, owing to the courtesy of the House, seated. From Hataell'a Precedents of Proceedings in the Honse of Commons we learn that Mr. Wickham did so in July 1805, and Mr. T. Wyndham in 1811. AT the recent Guildford election Mr. Gafth took several opportunities of animadverting upon Mr. Bright, charging him with being a ba.d master, stating that" hs had never dared to stand for Rochdale," that "he had been hooted away from his own premises," tiat," own people distrusted him," that "janch men; e rather a curse to the country than otherwise," i se on. The papeis containing these reports been forwarded to Mr. Mills, the manager of Mr. Bright's works at Rochdale, have elioited the following reply" Roohdale, Ded. 25th, 1866. Dear Sir,—Pardon me for not sooner replyiBg to your note of the 20th. I have the papers you sent. Mr. Garth does not seem a gentleman on whom many words may be expended with profit. I have not the smallest hesitation in any in? that his reference to the business relations of Mr. Bright was a wilful, malig. nant, and premeditated falsehood I hope the legal knowledge of the hon. member for Gaildford will be able to comprehend the meaning of this. I am, dear Sir, faithfully yours, ROBERT MILLS. Mr. D. M. Stevens." THE Spectator says" The House of Representa- tives in Congress has often had orators who have amused us, but they have now got one so wonderful that he amuses themselves almost as much as Mr. Whalleyamusee the House of Commons. Mr. Rogers, democrat, of New Jersey, who spoke of the Dred-Scott case (just eight years old) as decided' in the early history of this country,' believed that the President would go down to posterity one of the brightest jewels which ever illumined this ooantry,' and, not content with sending down poor Mr. Johnson to posterity as a luminiferous jewel, he answered for it that the Almighty God would at least have his (Mr. Johnson's) name written in letters of gold on the altar of Chris- tianity;' bat where the altar of Christianity is, and how his supporters were to enjoy this remakable sight, bhe member for New Jersey did not explain. Mr. Johnson is certainly unlucky in his supporters, as wall is in himself."

THE ARTS, LICTEELLTURE, &e. M. VICTOR HUGO is writinz a new romance, of which the seene will be laid in England. ME CHABLES DIOKENS will give a public reading if Barbox Brothers." and the Boy at Mugbv," in the town of Leeds, in the course of a week or two. THE third volume of General Todle ben's "History of the Siege of Sebastopol," and the third volume of Mr. Kinglake's History of the French and British Alliance in the Crimea," will appear in the course of the year. DR. FORBES WINSLOW has written a pamphlet on Uncontrollable Drunkenness considered as a Form of Mental Disorder," with suggestions for its treat- ment, and for the organisation of sanatoria for dipso- maniacs. M. Louis BLANC and his brother are residing at Brighton, where the brother is busy in preparing for the Paris press an elaborate and exhaustive Dic- tionary of Art," to be published under the direction of the French Minister of Instruction. THE old Chantry Chapel at Kidderminster—a very interesting relic in its way-has been restored by Mr. Hopkins, at the expense of the Earl of Dudley. A GRAND picture, representing the downfall of Poland, by M. Matejko, a national artist, is exhibit. ing at Cracow, preparatory to its being sent to Paris, where in the Palace of Art and Industry it will appeal to the generous sympathies of the Frenoh. A BUST of Lord Macaulay has, with the permission of the Dean and Chapter, been placed in Westminster Abbey by his sister, Lady Trevelyan. It rests upon a handsome bracket, designed by Mr. Scott, in the immediate neighbourhood of the grave and of Addi. son'}. statue, in Poet's Corner. THE Danish sculptor, Jerichau, is at present in Rome executing in marble three groups, all of which are destined for England. The first, the bridal gift of the large landowners of Denmark to the Princess of Wales, and a cast of which is at Marlborough- house, represents Adam awakening, and finding, for the first time, Eve by his side; the second, Women surprised while Bathing, has been ordered by the Princess of Wales. A STAINED-GLASS window has been ereotea in Kingsworthy Churoh, Hampshire, to the memory of the late Lord Northbrook. The following is the in- scription :—" This window is dedicated by the people of Kingsworthy to the memory of the Right Hon. Francis Thornhill, first Lord Northbrook, of Stratton, in grateful acknowledgment of his generous benefac- tions in the parish, and in the hope of perpetuating the influence of his pious and beneficent example. He was born April 20, 1796, and died Sept. 6, 1866." THE annual report of the Dublin Society's School of Art has been made, and states as follows with regard to the progress of the school during the past year. There are 431 students, of whom 226 are ladies. The class of artisan-students to which we must look for ap- preciable results of the society's efforts comprises 24 clerks, 15 teachers, 9 lithographers, 8 house-painters, 7 carpenters, 6 builders, 9 salesmen, 5 artists, 5 upholsterers, 3 stucoo-plasterers, 3 engine-fitters, 4 architect's apprentices, 3 draughtsmen, 3 engineers, 2 printers, 2 cabinet-makers, 2 coach-painters, 2 leather-dressers, 2 shipwrights, 3 stone-carvers, and 2 bricklayers. The payments made by these persons for tuition amounted to more than X418. THE large painted window for the choir of St. Paul's, in London, which has been for some time past in course of preparation at Munich, was expected to be ready early in this month. The subjects depicted are from the life of St. Paul. The cartoons were designed by Schnorr, and Professor Strahuber is the artist, who was asked by, Sohnorr himself to carry his designs into effect. Inspector von Ainmiller was requested in like manner to take in hand the archi- tectural accessories. The window is intended for the principal place in the middle of the choir. The win- dow is divided into two parts. The upper and prin- cipal parts represent the "Vision" seen by the Apostle, and in the lower portion Ananias is seen coming to St. Paul when blind. To the right and left the donor (rhomas Brown, Esq.) and his wife are represented in a kneeling posture, and beneath are their coats of arms and other decorations. The com- position and the architectural pnrtion-chiefly from motives by the English architect, Penrose, who super- intends the works of restoration—are thoroughly excel- lent. Besides the six other windows which are ordered for the choir of St. Paul's, the Royal establish- ment is also executing a large window for the Town- house of the city of Edinburgh, and two smaller ohapel windows in the Greco-Russ style for Count Golowin, the former Minister of Instruction at St. Petersburg.

OUR MISCELLANY. A Wish for '67.— S end us, 0 gracious Power, a good new year, I n which the past one's ilia may not appear. X enodoohy be still our England's fame, T o treat the stranger as ourselves the sama. Y ear of great hope! may olass with class accord. S chism be healed, and ohurohes preaoh the Word E nlighte'nad be the age; to all be peace- V ain is all warfare! may it ever cease. E ndowed with goodness by fair Sixty-seven, N o rule on earth but what is law in heaven. F. A. LEWIS, in Sunday Times. SoDg for Christmas Time.— (" Whtn Will it Be ?" &o.) Old friends, new friends, Married ones and single, Tried friends, true friends, Mingle, mingle, mingle. 'Tis Christmas time, the old bells chime, And carol rhymes are ringing, Each joyous sound that echoes round Sweet joy to mem'ry bringing. The cheerfuj blaze our spirits raiso, With smiles and kindly greetings, In happy throngs with grateful ssnga, And Christmas merry meetings. Old friends, now friends, Let your glasses jingle, Tried friends, true friends, Mingle, mingle, mingle. Bright berries glow with mistletoe In every nook and cranky, j- What sin to miss a loving kiss From sweetheart or dear granny. Though Time's rude shocks have changed our locks, To silver from the raven- Still Roones like this were meant for bliss, Oar yearly blissful haven. Old friends, ndw friends, While our pulses tingle, Tried frionds,true friends, Mingle, mingle, mingle. Here's to our sovereign lady Qaeen, Whom each true Briton blesses! Here's to the Prince of Wales, and all Oar princes and princeas,es Here's to the brave on land and wave, The bulwarks of our nation, Oar bands, our peers, our volunteers, The good in every station! Old friends, new friends, Let your glasses jingle, Tried friends, true friends, Round the glowing ingle. Mingle, mingle, mingle. By John Ortin, author of 11 Mary Gray." The Women's Emancipation Movement. —The partisans of emancipation insist that the present status should be frankly accepted, that women should no longer be educated with the idea that marriage is the sole or principal aim of their existence, as it certainly is regarded at present, both by the majority of women themselves, and by the other sex. They would have them see, to use the words of a modern author, that there are othey prizaa in the lottery, of life besides matrimonial ones: and thev believe that in so doine thev would improve the tone of the female mind, and render a valuable serv ice to humanity. They demand that every sooial and political career should be thrown open to them; that commerce and industry should be so modified as to permit of their taking their due share in both and, in short, that they should occupy in every respect a position analogous to that of men. -Social Reform in England. By Lucien Daveslis de Ponies. Boxing.—During my boyhood the rage for glove boxing was so great, that on one afternoon the park was cleared of all the leading young men of the day, on account of a challenge given and accepted between the lata Lord Mexborough and my old friend Fletcher Norton, of Elton Manor, to set-to in Jackson's rooms for what in Bell's Life would be oalled a bellsful"- that is, to see which was best man at giving or taking hard blows. Both were light weights, and very well matched—both pupils of Jackson-and they were known as about the best men of their inches. Beauty rode on horseback then in Hyde-park, as beauty rides now, though in much less abundance, gracefully can- tering on the grass or sitting beneath the old elm trees, that not only threw their Bhadows on the turf below, but ever groups of deer. Yet the park was, that afternoon, deserted'by the fairest and best, to see the Peer and the Commoner have a bout at boxing1. Jaokson a rooms were thronged; and divesting them- selves of coat and waistcoat, the champion of the light weights pulled on the gloves, sparred a little and then went to work in earnest. For a time it was doubtfui whether the Upper or Lower House-the Peer or the Commoner-would win. Mexborough was quickest at out-fighting, while Norton proved himself the stronger in a rally. Eventually the strength of the latter prevailed, and Mexborough was ,°Je* the beDcke8, when everybody colliii^Ug -Qrwntley Berkeley's Life and Re- 1x18 Own Cause.—In earlier days kiri^frienfls would have wbispered that a young fellow whd waited his time in writing plays could not possibly any in studying hia profes- sion but the censurt^ yr judgment, of tho town took, property enough perhaps another tone, in Talfourd's case. it expressed an adairing surprise that any one se learned in the law had Jver had leisure enough to win a atrav but brilliant 1 in a _:I.L, J ° poeta. CJolley Cibber, we bekeva, presents the only known instance of an aotor pWding in person at the bar. Ina creditors of Steele claimed a sum which he had assigned ito his partners, Cibber, Booth, and Wilks. Cibber argued his and their cause. He was the most impudent man of his day; bat he confesses to have been dreadfully abashed in the presence of court and judges. When it came to the critical moment." he tella us. the dread and ftnnvaliAn&i'ywi I of what I had undertaken so disconcerted my courage that, although I had been used to talk to above fifty thousand people every winter for upwards of thirty years together, an involuntary and unexpected proof of confusion fell from my eyes; and, as I felt myself quite out of my element, I seemed rather gasping for life than in a condition to cope with the eminent Grators against me." The brilliant actor, however, reoovered his self-possession, and won a verdict for himself and partners against two accomplished advo- cates, who had the stuff in them which subsequently made of both a couple of excell,nt Lord Chancellors.— Jeaffreson's Book about Laivyers." Queen Charlotte's Wedding-Her Majesty described her life at Mecklenburg au one of extreme retirement. They dressed only en robe de chanibre exoept on Sundays, on which she put on her best gown, and after servioe, which Was very long, took an airing in the coach and six, attended by guards and all the state she could muster. She had not dined at table at the period I am speaking of. One morning her eldest brother, of whom she seems to have stood in great awe, came to her room .in company with the duchess, her mother. Be told ber to prepare her best olothes, for they were to have grand cowvert to receive an ambassador from the King of England, and that she should for the first time dine with them. He added, You will sit next him at dinner; mind what you say, and ne faites pas 1'enfant," a favourite expression of his, try and amuse him, and show him that you are not a fool." She then asked her mother if she were to put on her bInA fcahh*. « bijoux ?" Mon enfant," said the duchess, tu n'en as point. ^*e Qaeen produced her garnet earrings, which were strings of beads, sewn on a plate about the size of half-a-erown, and-were then in fashion, but whiab, as she said, a housemaid of these days would despise. Thull attired, she followed her mother into the saloon, and Mr. Drummond was introduced to her. To her great surprise, her brother led her out first, which she sup- posed he did because it was her first apoearanca. Mr. Drummond sat on her right hand. She asked him about his journey, and of England, and then added, On me dit que votre Roi eat tres extrememenfc, beau et aimable," which seemed to raise a smile from both j"? j1 A dnke' A libt]e frightened, she next added, Apparement vous etes venu demander la Pnneesse de Prusse.. On dit qu'elle est tres belle, et quelle sera votre Reine?" "Je demande pardot^< votra Altease, je n'ai aucune commission pour celaf* And the smilea were so striking that she had not courage to open her lips again. In a few minutes, however, the folding doors flew open to the saloon, which she saw splendidly illuminated; and there appeared a table, two cushions, and everything pre- pared for a wedding. Her brother then gave her his hand, and led her in, using h,s favourite expression, Allons, ne faites pas l'enfant- tu vas etre Reine d'Angleterre." Mr. Drummond then advanced. She was laid upon a sofa, upon which he laid his foot, and they all embraced her, calling her la Reine." [fhe following L relates to the ceremony after the Qaeen's arrival in England.] Just, she said, as they entered Conatitution- hill one of the ladies said to the other, looking at her watch, "We ehall hardly have time to dress for the wedding." "Wedding!" said the Qaeen. "Yes, madam, it is to be at twelve." Upon this she fainted. 1 Lady Effingham, who had a bottle of lavender watsr in her hand, threw it in her face, and the carriage almost immediately stopped at the garden gate of St. jRmea a Palace. Here stood the king, surrounded by his court. A crimson cushion was laid for her to kneel upon; and, mistaking the hideous old Dake of Grafton for him, as the cushion inclined that way, she was very near prostrating herself before the duke, but the king caught her in his arms first, and all but carried her up stairs, forbidding any one to enter. Here she found breakfast, which she much needed, and, looking up, saw a very different face from the black old duke. From this moment she said she never knew real sorrow until his illness.—Jesse's Life and Reign of George III.

EXTRACTS FROM PUNCH." & "FUIT." A BOX FOR BLIND MAN'S BUFF. Sit down to eat and drink on this J!Ja.d day, And blest be he that first cries, Hold, enough! Gorge, boys and girls; and then rise up to play. Ton can. A game in season's blindman'a buff. The ready fillet round the seamless brow Of youth or maiden while quick fingers bind, Beneath the golden-green pearl-berried bough, What fun it is to play at being blind! But some at blindman'a buff with eyes unbound Might join, for whom less sport that game would be; Because it is their life's continual round The blindmaa's buff of those that cannot see. If ooor, for alms they can but grope about. Bat saienca to their need assistaaoe lends; And knowledge, at one entrance quite shut out," Puts veritably at their fingers' ends. Thus they who else would starve to labour learn. Does that consideration strike your mind ? Their living do you wish that they should earn, Instead of crying Pity the poor blind r Then know there's not a charitable dun, Subscription seeking at your gate who knocks, That more deserves your bounty than the one Who for the blind requests a Christmas box At Oxford-street's two hundred-and. t..nth door Inquire within about the blind man's friend, Or send your guinea, if you like, or more; As many more as you can spare to send. A CUE-RIOUS CHRONICLE. I came up from my country home, Left turnips with a tear, And farm-3 ariis where I used to roam Through all the changing year. I thought I played a pretty game At billiards, but alas! My vanity was turned to shame- And thus it came to pass. I went into a room one night- A little man was there, With suaail pea-jacket button'd tight, And little head of hair. A little pyramid for fan We playedthe balls ran in, And soon that little man had won 1, My little store of tin. My coat I took from off its peg, I left the fatal place, And then I found that little leg," Had .ta'en my pipe and oase.l So back to Mortou-Mad-ouaa-Clay I went, done very brown, And never since have dared te play At pyramids in town. A eAROTTER S CHRISTMAS. At the Leeds Winter Assizes a poor fellow, named Michael Gaity, was oonvlcted of a street robbery, com- mitted on the 15th of September last at Bradford. He had the miaforttuie to be tried before Mr. Justice Lush j 4 for the robbery appears to have been acaompanibd by < violence; and Judge Lush is accustomed to take care that the law recently enacted for the punishment of that species of crime shall be carried out. Moreover, a previous conviction h*d been proved againat poor Guity, and, although only twenty-six yearB of ago, he appeared to have led, for many-of thom, a life of crime. So— His lordship sentenced the prisoner to ten years' penal servitude, and said that as the Legislature had recently given the power topunish by flogging crimes of this nature, and as the present! case seemed a very proper one for the exercise of that power, he should further order the prisoner to receive twenty-four st okes with the cat-e-mine-tafla be- fore the commencement of the sentence of penal servitude. The day fixed for the chastisement allotted to Michael Guity was not named. Time is usually allowed a convict to prepare for the scourge. Perhaps, if imchael has not baen flogged -as yet, his flagellation was postponed till after Christmas. We affectionately invite our dear roughs to consider what a Christmas, in that case, he must have passed. Together with all the rest or brethren in bonds, he waa probably re- galea on Christmas Diy with the "castomary old English fare-roast beef and plum-pudding." With what appetite could he have nartaketa of Christmas cheer when "whipping cheer" awaited him P A victim of ruffianly violence may derive some satisfaction from imagining the emotion with which Mr. Michael Guity, anticipating the reception of two dozen lashes, most have heard the wisi, possibly addreased to him, of A merry Christmas and a happy New Year." That, by tbe way, ia a. compliment of the season which we take this opportunity of paying to that judicious provider of whipping cheer and a warm back for garotterfi, Mr. Justice Lush. DUTIES TO BE REPEALED. Those which every numskull and bllsybody is always fancying he owes sooiety. Those which are usually mentioned, in a general way, at public meetings, as being expected by England to be done by every man. Putting master's library-table to rights. Bringing in candles before they are rung for, when the twilight dees remarkably well to make love in. Officiously buckling the straps of an old traveller's luggage, and thereby provoking him to unseemly wrath. Beating mats on deor-steps, or against area railings. Garnishing hot, boiled fish with wet handfuls of cold, raw parsley. Watering plants on window-sills that overhang the foot-path. Pouring out bottled beer briskly, "to give it a head;" and, in short, All duties which are not "pleasures" to other people than those who are eo very fond of performing them. A PARCEL OF PROVERBS, &c., COMPLETED, Take time by the forelock—to have his hair out. Follow your leader-in your daily paper. The proof cf the pudding is in the eating—a great deal of it. Never look a gift-horse in the moath-Ies., yon should find false teeth. The hare with many friends-was eatea at last. A stitch in time saves nine-or more naughty words, when a button comes off while lousredressing in a great hurry for dinner. One man's meat is another man's poison-when badly cooked. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched —by the patent Incubator. Love is blind—and unwilling to submit to an opera- tion. First catch your hrA-then cook it with rich gravy. Nil Diisperandum-PERCY VERB. A CONVERSATION.—A FACT. SCENE.-A Station on the Meti-opolitan Railway. First Porter (reading a Christinas Number ).-Mugby Junction! Ugh, Magby, or any other junction. Second Porter (well informed).—Ah! that means Rngby, that doos 1 Mngby Rug by! First Porter.-Oh, does it ? Second Porter.-Yes, Ragby-and there's a large School there-that's the Roy at Mngby. D'ye see P Mystified Passenger.—Well, I'm-. [Exit. REMINISCENCES OF TURKEY IN EUROPE. By a Oit. Oh! if I were a bird, At Christmas time, you see; A turkey much preferred Would surely be by me. < For sausages would then » Reward me for my pains, Declaring me to men An Alderman in Chains. SCIENTIFIC.- We understand that a serious diffi- culty is just now occupying the attention of the savants. It is alleged by one party, and denied by the otuer, that whale oil ie not an animal but a mineral production. The former base their assertion on the ground that the whale has several pair-o'-fins about him. ALAS, OF RICHMOND HILL.—The Richmond-hill Hotel was sold the other day by auction—or rather by diminution. It only fetched seventeen thousand pounds and bad cost f.,rty. We understand it is to be opened as an inn with a new Bign—"The Loss of Richmond hill." FEMALE PASSENGER to Railway Clerk: "A ticket for Blankton, pleae." Clerk A single ticket, ma'amP"F. P.: "No, no! for a married woman." BOTANICAL.—A student at South Kensington in- forms us that one of the peouliartes of the "Tallow Tree of China, about which one reads so much just now, is that its branches are can die-sticks. SHPRT BUT AFFECTING DOMESTIC ANECDOTE.— A cruel stepfather unmercifully beat his two stepsons. The elder went for a soldier, the younger went for a policeman. CON BY OTJE, COCKNEY.- Why is Reform like a gazelle? Beoaaee it ie a Brighte\ed deer. LITERALLY TRUE. By an Algebraist.-What is the worth of woman ? JJouble-yoa-Q man! I :):4

AN EXCITING -SCENE. A most remarkable escape from drowning occurred on the Mersey on Monday evening. It appears that the steamer Waterlily, which left New Brighton for Egremont and Liverpool at a quarter to five, arrived about five o'clock at Egremont, and having embarked her passengers, cast off and proceeded towards Liver- pool, having in tow one of the river police-boats and one of the customs- boats, the latter under the charge of Mr. Henry Lloyd, tide surveyor of her Majesty's Customs. When the steamer had reaohed abreast of Seacombe point (it was then quite dark), an alarm was raised by the river police that a man had been ewept past their boat by tbe backwater from the steamer's paddle- wheel; #bat as to aiarm was raised on Doard the steamer, it was considered doubtful whether, supposing tbe object Was a man, he could be alive, as, if he had fallen from the steamer, some one must have seen him fill. Notwithstanding, however, the order tq let, g0 was given by those in charge of tbe two boats, the tow rope of the cus- toms boat being cast off from the boat, and her head turned towards where the nufortanate man was supposed to be. It was, as we have said, quite dark at the time, and a very strong ebb-tide was rurmiag, which soon carried the boat a considerable distance down the river. Fortunately, howjever, after pulling about for some time, they at last discovered the /top of a. man's head, which waS instantly seized, and tho man was got into the boat, apparently quite exhausted. He was brought over'to Liverpool and taken to the receiving houee. where. after anrilvivir the oeual restoratives, he so far recovered as to be pro- nounced out of danger. It transpired that he had, in company with his brother, ieft New Brighton in the Waterlily, and being under the ibfl ience of drink, had left his brother sitting on deck, and by some means had fallen overboard unobserved, the brother being unaware of the accident until informed that he had fallen overboard, aDd was then in the receiving house. His name is Wilson G&a efch, residing in Birkenhead. This ia but one of many instances in which Mr. Lloyd and his gallant crew have been instrumental in saving life on the river, and it is to be bcped that their gal- lantry will not go unnotified by tbo-e who are em. powered to reward Buoh prompt and valuable services.

Mr. Melville, banker, loq: "Mr."Burton, I pre- sume?" Mr. Burton: Y«s." Mr. Melville: J'I cent for you. I give a party to tlibt, and want a little amusement for them. I cannot administer it myself, for I unfortunately am a b»nk«?r, and not a comic singer!" And," continued Burton, I unfor- tunately am a comic singer, and sot a backer!" ,f