The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

SUMMMIf Of PASSING ESEMTS. THE hard frost which set in with the new year, and was exceedingly severe while it lasted, -is already numbered among the events of the past. It attained the height (or depth) of its intensity on Friday, the 4th inst. On Saturday a southern breeze sprung up, which gradually strengthened, and a general thaw throughout the country set in, which caused considerable floods in various parts of England. A MOST extraordinary announcement reached us on Wednesday, concerning affairs in America. The House of Representatives has passed a resolution for the impeachment of President Johnson. His trial, it is rumoured, will take place before the Senate, the Chief Justice presiding. THE Governments belonging to the North I German Confederacy are making active prepara- tions for the elections to the new Parliament, which is to assemble on the 15th of next month. The most important provisions of the electoral law enact that every citizen of the State, if bearing an irreproachable character and having completed his twenty-fifth year, is elector for the Parliament. The election is effected by an abso- lute majority of the votes givea in an electoral district. On each average number of 100,000 souls of the population, according to the latest census, one deputy is to be elected. Each repre- sentative is to be elected in a separate electoral district. THE poor Poles, for whom such sympathy was felt a few years ago, are fash losing their nation- ality. The Emperor of Russia has issued three ukases, the practical effect of which will be to introduce the Russian system of administration into every detail of government in Poland. One ukase regulates the management of the finances, another that of the post-office and telegraphs, and the third maps the whole of Poland into eighty- five districts, arranged. under five provincial governments. fl THE rumours concerning home politics are numerous and conflicting, and must be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. It is certain, "however, that Cabinet ministers are bestirring themselves for the coming Session, the leading ministers are all in London, and Cabinet meetings are the order of the day. Of the rumours to which we referred, John Bull "has reason to believe" I that her Majesty will open Parliament in person, and that among the measures to be announced j from the throne will be one for the Confederation of the North American colonies; also measures | affecting Ireland, besides those for the reform of the Poor-law and Bankruptcy, to say nothing of the representation of the people." We do not know how much importance may be attached to a statement made by the Westminster Gazette (the new Roman Catholic paper), namely: We II believe it to be a fact that the Government do not intend to bring in a Reform Bill this Session, though they are willing to meet the question by resolutions of the House, or by appointing a icolaraisaion. A dissolution before resignation is one of the courses resolved on, in order to appeal from the House of dommons to the country." The Imperial Review, a Conservative paper, "believes II it is the intention of her Majesty's Government to propose early in the ensuing Session such altera- tions in the Conscience Clause as will remove the j objections to its practical effects which are at pre- j cent so etrongly felt by all churchmen." Again, the authorities are certain that a reform in the I representation of the people will be mentioned in the Queen's Speech. Such are the rumours; most of them we believe only to be guesses, as it strikes I us that the ministers themselves have not at pre- sent determined upon their policy. MANY out-of-Session speeches have been warm and personal. Mr. Guedella, a member of the Reform League, has written a letter to Mr. j Lowe, asking that right hon. gentleman, in con- sideration of the admirable conduct of the working classes in recent demonstrations, to retract his J acousations against this body. In reply, Mr. Lowe « charges the Reform League with having fastened upon him statements which he had never made, with having loaded him with virulent abuse, and striven to make him the object of the hatred, per- haps a mark of the vengeance, of the ma-sees of the people; and with dignity says, With such a body and its leaders I have no courtesies to inter- change, and I leave the case to the judgment of the country." MR. BRIGHT has been, perhaps, more attacked than any other man in those out-of-Session speeches, and a correspondence has taken place between that gentleman and Mr. Garth, the re- cently elected member for Guildford, concerning the latter's address to his constituents, in which he said, Mr. Bright had been hooted from his i own premises in Rochdale, was distrusted by his own people, and dare not stand for his own town; that during the cotton famine he did not subscribe a halfpenny for the relief of the distressed, but, instead, wished to lend money to the unemployed, | to be repaid by instalments extending over a number of years, in order to have these people as his serfs and to do what he pleased with them." Mr. Bright replied that he has nev<-r been hooted from his own premises; that he has been asked several times to become a candidate for Boehdale, and might, as could be confessed by the Conserva- tives, represent Rochdale now if he wished; that he had subscribed as liberally as others to the re- lief fund, and that the remaining charge regarding the proposed loan is false from beginning to end, both as to fact and motive. Mr. Garth, in answer to this, says he has no personal knowledge either of Mr. Bright or Rochdale, but that his state- ments were based on printed reports, on some of I which he had been unable to lay his hands. In acknowledging this last letter, Mr. Bright writes, I come to this conclusion-thit you wished to get into Parliament, and were not particular as to the path which might lead to it. You threw dirt during your canvass, doubtless knowing that, if needful, you could eat it afterwards. There are men who go through dirt to dignities, and I suspect you have no objection to be one of them. All this indicates that the Session of 1867 will be rather a hot one for politicians. WE are very sorry to find that the cattle I plague still lingers to some extent amongst us, I and in consequence of its re-appearance in certain parts of England, a relaxation in the laws of J transport, which local authorities were permitted to grant, has been withdrawn, and stockowners and purchasers wishing to remove cattle have once more to have recourse to a magistrate for per- mission. As the new year advances we have the several, statistics of the past, and though our revenue returns are prosperous there are some not very pleasing reflections. For instance, the stream of emigration appears to increase year by year. We have before us the returns of the numbers who left England last year. From Liverpool only, Ilo fewer than 122,393 persons sailed from that port for our colonies and the United States. Of this number there were 10,000 whose nationality was unknown. There were, however, 36,145 English, 46,697 Irish, 3,047 Scotch, and 20,870 foreigners. It is given as a rather remarkable fact that the Southern States of North America have been in favour with the Irish emigrants during the year. AGAIN, we have an official return for the last ten years-viz., from 1856 to 1866, of the number of accidents in coal mines, and it is rather appalling to think that the coal fires which afford us such comfort in the winter have cost on an average nearly a thousand lives per annum. Of these, 2,019 deaths have arisen from explosions through fire-damp, 3,953 are due to falls of earth, &c.„ 1,710 to accidents in connection with the shafts, and a variety of miscellaneous causes add 2,234,1 bringing the sad total up to 9,916. After such a statement, says a contemporary, we may well take the words of the fish-wife in Caller Herrin," and apply them in another direction to the coals we burn- Ye little ken their worth; Wives and mithers, maist despairing, Ca' them lives of men."

DESTRUCTION OF A PORTION OF TEE PORTLAND BEE A K WATMB. From an early hour on Saturday morning the wind blew great guns from the south-west, accompanied by one of the roughest and highest titles that have been known since November, 1824, whan the Weymouth Esplanade was partially destroyed and three men atowned. The sea had been breaking over Portland Breakwater all the morning with great power, when at about three o'clock a portion of the staging, which connects the two portions together, and through whiah I ships are destined to pass when the work is completed, was washed away, as was also a staging around the circular fort at the outermost end. About three hours afterwards another portion succumbed to the strength I o? the storm. Great fears were entertained that the lamp at the extreme end of the breakwater could not be lighted, as no joffimunicatioi) now existed with it. In such weather as prevailed curia g Saturday this would have been attended, probably, with the most serious oonts- quences. Captain Ball, harbour master of Portland accompanied by a few brave fellows, risked their lives in a Portland lorrett," and succeeded in eiTeoting a landing and lighting the lamp. A light well known to mariners as the "Jack in the basket," situated at the entrance to Way mouth harbour was also washed away, and the coast is strewn with portions of timber from this structure and the breakwater. At the time of our writing the wind hee considerably abated, blowing gently from the south-west. The Commodore, steam tug, has been lying for the last 48 hours with her steam ap, in readiaeae for any emergency. -O—.

Collision on the Metropolitan Bail way.— On Saturday morning an "accident took place at the I Farringdon-road station of the Metropolitan Railway, which occasioned considerable alarm among tihe passengers of the train due from Kensington at 9.14), and a local train immediately following. It seems I that the train from Kensington had stopped at the I station for the purpose of setting down passengers. While it was in that position a local train from Kig's. cross was nearing the junction. The fog was very thick at the time, and the driver of the last train was unable to distinguish the arm-signal of the narrow gauge line which indicated danger. The consequence was that the "looal" ran into the train staudiikf; at, the station, and many of the passengers were much shaken, and the engine of the last train greatly injured. Two gentlemen, named respectively Barrage I and Steel, received severe cuts about the head and face; but they -,vere enabled to be removed to their hoipes after having received medical assistance. The collision did not cause much delay, and the traffic between Paddington and Moorgate-street was carried on as usuaL The driver and fireman of the looal train escaped unhurt. < John Oosncll and Co.'i Cherry Tooth Paste, Price 140 M. Secidedto the best preparation for olemisias and preserving the teetU Sold bj sll perfumers md ohemiata,- 68, Upper ThMnetsireet, Loadofti The only medicine which gives immediate ease to the most severe Cough, Asthma, &c., is Dr. Lococx's PULMONIC WAFERS, as the shortest trial will prove. May be had of all nhAmiHt.a.

SERIOUS CASE OF POISONING IN I NORFOLK. Before the Docking bench of magistrates, four I persons, named John Grief, 51, Susan Grief, 51, Mary Grief, 27, and Sarah Grief, 23, were brought up a few 1 days ago on a charge of poisoning two if not three I illegitimate children, at Shernborne, an adjacent village. The prisoners John Grief and Susan Grief are husband and wife, and Mary Grief and Sarah Grief are their daughters. The legitimate family of the Griefs consists altogether of 12 children, of whom eight are living at home. The names of the children supposed to have beenrpoisoned are AlfreeMMof, who was five years and six months old at the tizaa ul his death, and who died Nov. 6, 1866; Ann Maria, Grief, the child of Sarah Grief, who was 15 weeks old at the time of her death, and who died April 13, 1866; and Jemima Grief, the child of Mary Grief, who died is 1860., The bodies of the children Alfred Grief and Ann Maria Grief have been exhumed, and an abun. dance of arsenic has been found in them; as regards the third child, Jemima Grief, the result of the chemical analysis is not yet known. The children, although illegitimate, appear never to have been affiliated, and it may be added, as an illustration of the immorality prevailing in the family of the Griefs, that Sarah Grief has had another illegitimate child, which is still living, while she is now again enceinte and near her confine meet. The death of the child Ann Maria Grief appears to have excited no suspicions, but the case was different when Alfred Grief sickened and died in November. Thia child was taken ill en Saturday, November 3; on the Sunday he was better, and on the Monday he went to school, but he was sent home in consequence of being very ill; he con- tinued to grow worse until about one a.m. on the Tuesday, when he died. The pOOl." little fellow seems to have vomited green matter, and a green foam was also observed about his mouth; these symptoms of arsenical poisoning, of course, provoked remark, more especially as no medical man had been called in, although the parish doctor might have been sent for without any expense to the family. Subsequent in- quiries showed that the child Ana Maria Grief had presented similar symptoms, and had died without the attendance of a medical man. John Grief, the male prisoner, carries on the Occupation of a sheep dresser, a business requiring occasionally the use of arsenic, but when he was interrogated on the subject he danied at first that he had any arsenic in "his possession. He made this statement on the 19th of November, but arsenic was found in his house notwithstanding. The male prisoner also stated that whenever he had any arsenic he was careful to keep it looked up in his "coffer," but the arsenic discovered was not found there, but on the top of the bed in which the prisoner and his wife slept. The wife, Susan Grief, had also denied having any arsenic in the house. ThÐ male prisoner is understood to have endeavoured to make it appear that he had left some bottles about containing a mixture which he had used in his business, but these bottles, when found, were under the stairs, and quite out of the reach of any one. There were a few drops in the bottles, colataining a mixture of tar, soft soap, and arsenic, but the poison was not in the state in which it was found in the bodies of the children, in which it,was detected pure and simple. The male priEoner was arrested November 26, and has since been in oustody ia Norwich Castle. Susan Grief and Maty Grief were a* rested on the 22nd of November, and Sarah Grief on the 6th of December; the female prisoners have been in Wymondham Bridewell, and were brought up from there a few days ago, while John Grief was brought up from Norwich. The prisoners all denied, when arrested, that they knew anything about the matter. Sergeant Rose, of the Docking division of the Norfolk police, applied for a re- maud, and no opposition being offered by the prisoners, the application was acceded to, and the accused were again remanded to Norwich and Wymondham. When the oaee is again gone into, it will be completed so far as the magisterial inquiry is concerned. It is perhaps right to fstate that, although the narrative given of' the ease is derived from official sources, eome of the details have not yet been deposed, to on oath.

TEE SPBEAD OF SMALL-POX AMONGST THE POOR. An inquest was held on Friday by Mr. Humphreys, the Middlesex coroner, at the Alma Tavern, Alma- afcreets New North-road, upon the body of a girl named Elisabeth Brace, aged IS years. The facts declared were as follows :—A few months back, the mother of the deceased took a room in a house in Alma-street at Is. 9d. a week, representing that she only wanted it for herself and her daughter. In1 a little time. her llusband, a wawh Enisher, oame home unknown, apparently, to the landlord, and took np his abode there; then a second child, nine years of age, was quietly introduced to the little room. Thia was acquiesced in by the landlord; But a month ago a grown-up daughter, who had been in service, and who had been seized with the small-pox, was sent home from the hospital "cured," the father B&id, but, according to the lord, quite uncured. She had been sent from her situation to the Whitechapel union, and then to the hospital, where she had been treated a-nd discharged as cured. The landlord became alarmed when he heard of this last addition to the family in the one small room, and he said that either she must get a situation and leave, or all should leave. A fortnight ago she got a situation, and left. But almoatonthe day she left the girl Elisabeth took the small-pox to all appearance from her. The parents concealed the fact from everybody, fearing that the landlord would forthwith turn them all into the street. No doctor I. was sent for, and for a fortnight the child was left a helpless, prey to an attack of the most virulent type of small-pox. On Wednesday she died. So closely did the parents conceal the fact of the child's ilinesa that on Sunday last, when she was in a dying state, the mother, in answer to an inquiry about her on the part of the landlady, who had missed her, said that she was gone to a situation. When she died the father went to Dr. Ls-onard, parish surgeon, and asked for a certificate of death, apparently with the idea I that if he could get t-hat and a parish coffin, he could smuggle the body of the girl out of the house, without letting the fatal secret become known to his landlord. But, or course, the doctor could not give a certificate in a. case of which he knew nothing, and upon his going to the house his inquiries first made the other occupants aware of what had occurred. I, The father said that he was out of employ, and that he had no chance of getting another lodging if he had been turned out of his present one through letting it be known that the deoeased had the small-pox. The deceased had been vaccinated when four months old, but he bad not asked' Dr. Leonard, who vaccinated her, for a certificate of the fact at the time. Eliza Bruce, the mother, also said that the deceased ha.d been vaccinated but she said that a certificate had been given. She had not got it, because she bad been required to hand it back again to get a powder. Dr. Leonard said that the deceased died from con- fluent small-pox. The attack was so malignant that the child could not have been vaccinated, or, if vaccinated, the operation must have been defective. The room in which the family lived was entirely too small for such a family, and of course was quite unfit for the deceased to be in while in email-pox. The Coroner said that the case disclosed such culpable negligence on the part of the parents in not procuring proper treatment for the deceased that it was doubtful if a verdict of manslaughter shbuld not be returned against them. The inquiry would have to be adjourned to give time for consideration, and for evidence to be produced as to whether the child had been vaccinated. Dr. Leonard said he had no recollection of having vaccinated the deceased. The case was then adjourned.

The Singular Change of Frisonera.—John Adams, the man charged with answering to the name of another prisoner, that of Philip Bovill, on arriving at the Clerkenwell House of Correotion, so that they might exchange sentences, was again brought before tha. magistrate on Saturday, together with Bovill, and charged with conspiracy to effect the release of the latter before the expiration of his sentence. Bovill was sentenced to two months' and Adams to two weeks' imprisonment, and on their way from the police-eonrt to the prison they made the agreement- Adams being influenced by the fact that he had a bad log which he expeoted would require two months for its cnra, and the bribe of a shilling when he came out. At the end of the fortnight Bovill was discharged as if he were Adams; but in a day or two afterwards the latter altered his mind, and confessed the imposition. Both the men were committed for trial Ih consequence of the Reduction in Duty, Homman's Teas are supplied by the Agents EIGHTPENCE per lb. cheaper. Genuine Packets are aigued Ilomiman & Co., Lomion."

TBBS CANDIAN INSURRECTION. COWSTAXTINOPLB, Jan. 5. To-day the whole ef the island of Candia is again subject to the authority of the Sultan. There only remains to clear the island of a few foreign adventurers who have taken refuge in the mountains.

f TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 7. A deputation of Bulgarians has presented an address to the Sultan, professing devotion to his Majesty's Government, and also expressing their wish to be re- lieved from the obnoxious pressure of the Greek churcn. Great exasperation prevails among all classes of the Turkish population against Greece. The present relations of the Porte to France are stated to be highly satisfactory.

FRANCE. PARIS" Jan. 7. Judgment waa given to-day in the case of the students prosecuted by the Government for holdit) g illegal meetings and belenging to a secret society. Protofc, Tridon, and Edmond Lovraud were sentenced to be impriaoneril for 15 months; Gen ton and Levraud 311 for one year; Vugilliere, Calavaz, Bazin, Meiesnier, Vuleneuve, aud Vaiasier for six months; and all the ethers for three months.

ANOTHER SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE IN C ALGERIA. ■' MARSEILLES, Jan. 8. Intelligence received here from Algeria announces that another shock of earthquake was felt there on the morning of the 4th inst. during the prevalence of a very heavy ram. No mishaps had occurred.

SPEECH OF KING YICTOR EMMANUEL. FLORENCE, Jan. 1. _At a reception given to-day by King Victor Emmanuel to a deputation from the Italian Parlia- Majefty thanked the senators and deputies for the sentiments of perfect devotedness which they expressed in their own name and in the name of the country. "The new year," said the King, reminds Italians that they have now secured the independence of their country, and with it an improvement in the civil administration and increased public prosperity. Dating the period independence of their country, and with it an improvement in the civil administration and increased public prosperity. Dating the period of peace upon which we are entering, we shall not cease to devote our attention to the army.1 The army is not only necessary for the preservation of that independence which it so greatly contributed- to acquire, but is in itself a solid guarantee for internal security, and an element of moral unity, and of that civil traitlJlIg which renders disciplined nations strong and capable of accomplishing great deeds."

THE NEW YEAR'S"*RECEPTION AT THE TUILEBISS. PARIS, Jan 1. At the reception held to-day at the Tuileries, the Emperor addressed the following speech to the diplo- matic body:— The opening of the new year furnishes me an opportunity of expressing my wishes for the stability of thrones and the prosperity of nations. I hope that we are entering upon a new era of peace and concilia- tion, and that the Universal Exhibition will contri- bute towards calming passions and drawing closer the general interests." His Majesty thanked the diplomatic body for their congratulations, and begged them to convey to their respective Governments the expression of his sentiments of friendship. The Emperor, addressing the Archbishop of Paris, saoid I "When I see at the head of the parish clergy a prelate so deeply devoted to the interests of religion as well as tothosEI of the State, one who everywhere supports by his words and actions the great principles of.-faith, oharijfey, and conciliation, I say to,myself, Heaven will hear hia prayers.' Those prayers are for France a blessing, and for me a new source of con- solation and hope."

< MEXICO. I Nsw YOBK, Dec. 26. Ortega ia reported to be advancing agaiaet Juarez. Intelligence received from Vera Cruz, via New Orleans, dated the 20th inst., state that the French have seized the oustom-house at Vera Cruz, with a quarter of a million of dollars of imperial treasure. It is. reported that 1,000 French troops have left for France. The French steamer Anama; arrived at Vera Criia on the 14th, bringing 200 French troops and a large quantity of ammunition.

AMERICA. NEW YORK, Dec. 26. Tranquillity being restored in Missouri, General Grant has countermanded the order for stationing national troops at Lexington and other points. Increasing dèinöralisation ia reported among the | The ¥*eedmen's Bureau ia working satisfactorily in Alabama. | The New York Herald says the President has de- I aided firmly to adhere to his reconstruction policy. J The President has revoked the Exequatur of the i| negroes of Virginia and Carolina. | The ¥*eedmen's Bureau ia working satisfactorily in Alabama. | The New York Herald says the President has de- I aided firmly to adhere to his reconstruction policy. J The President has revoked the Exequatur of the j consuls from the countries recently annexed by j Prussia. j It is understood that General Sherman asd Mr. • Campbell returned on account of the inaccessibility j and unpopularity of the Juarez Government. A change is expected in the Mexican policy of the Federal | Government. | It is reported thai; General Sheridan's management of affaire in the department of the Gulf is to be made I the subject of Congressional investigation. M. Berthemy, the;hew French minister, was pre- sented to ■•the President yesterday. Hopes were ex- pressed for the continuance of friendly relations be- tween the two countries. Another Sweetsburg Fenian haa been sentenced to j It is understood that General Sherman asd Mr. • Campbell returned on account of the inaccessibility j and unpopularity of the Juarez Government. A change is expected in the Mexican policy of the Federal | Government. | It is reported thai; General Sheridan's management of affairs in the department of the Gulf is to be made I the subject of Congressional investigation. M. Berthemy, the: new French minister, was pre- srint,ed io,,tho PrOIidzlit yesterday. Hopes were ex- pressed for the continuance of friendly relations be- tween the two countries. Another Sweetsburg Fenian haa been sentenced to | death; several others have been released. The ship Westminster, from Calcutta for London, was captured in the Pacific Ocean in September by Chinese pirates. A portion of the crew were murdered, and the remainder were set adrift, but were sub- equently rescued. The Portuguese Minister at Washington is dead.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS AGAINST PRESIDENT JOHNSON. The Times has received the following telegram (by j the Atlantic cable) from its correspondent at Wash. inilton. The Hoaee haa passed a resolution directing a committee to inquire into offences (oommitted by) the President by a hundred and eight Ayna to thii fcy-tight Noes. This is the first step to an impeachment. The Iington. The HOUFQ haa passed a resolution directing a committee to inquire into offences (committed by) the President by a hundred and eight Ayna to thii fcy-tight Noes. This is the first step to an impeachment. The Sadicals are determined to press it. The President I has vetoed the Negro Suffrage Bill." ¡

SERIOUS GALE IN THE METROPOLIS. The gale of Monday night and Tuesday morning has occasioned not only destruction of property, but leas of life. Between five and six o'clock on Tuesday morning,the gale was at its height. The wind was chiefly from S.W. aad S.S.W., but it frequently blew with sudden squalls from all points of the compass, and it was then that the most damage was done. So stromg waa the wind, that on the Brighton and South Coast, the South Eastern, and the London", Chatham, and Dover railways, it was with difficulty the drivers of trains during the night could make head against it, and they were necessarily late in reaching their various termini. The guards state that for at least 60 miles on the south coast the wind for three hours blew with the force of a hurricane, tearing up small trees by the roots, and in many places strewing the lines with broken branches, so that great caution was rendered necessary in running the trains. Indeed, their state- ments are fully borne out by the appearance of one or tw-I of the parks. Below bridge, near Deptford, two men belonging to a vessel from Goole were drowned by a boat, in which they had been ashore, being capsized by a sudden squall. One belonged to London, and the other to Gople. ——♦

Crystal Palabe.-It is gratifying to know that the Palace has not suffered either from the snow of Wednesday, the frost of Friday, or the tremendous gale of Saturday night. The screen shutting out the., burnt portion has been effectively strengthened under Mr. Edwin Clark's directions, and has resisted the wind in the most satisfactory manner. Inside the Palace all is going on as usual" and there is nothing ta show that any extraordinary event has happened, i