The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

AGRICULTURE. ♦ GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSED FOOT IN HEALTH AND DISEASE. The following suggestions on the treatment of horses' feet is given by "Veterinarian," in the Field. It is not contended that the adoption of the most perfect and scientific system of stable management will entirely prevent disease in the feet; on the contrary, causes which are occasional in their action, and only exist under certain unusual conditions, may operate with equal force upon parts which have been carefully protected or recklessly exposed. Inflammation of the vascular structures of the foot may follow a hard gallop, notwith- standing that every care has been taken to preserve a healthy state of the parts and although the hoofs may be tough and elastic, an accidental concussion may establish disease in the navicular bone. Such affections, depending as they do upon causes which only operate occasionally, cannot be certainly guarded against; but brittleness of the hoof-horn, sandcrack, seedytoe, thrushes, and contraction may be prevented by ordinary means. When a horse is suffering from disease, either affecting his feet or any other part, the general system of management often requires some special alteration to suit the new circumstances of the case. Sick horses habitually maintain the standing position, and this, in itself, is injurious to the feet, which require to be care- fully watched and frequently examined during the progress of any constitutional disease. If any unusual warmth is detected in the feet of a horse suffering from influenza, or bronchitis, or other disease bordering upon the inflammatory, immediate action must be taken, or an attack of fever in the feet is inevitable. The first thing to do is to remove the shoes and well pare out the soles, after which the feet may be soaked in warm water, and then covered with warm poultices of bran and linseed-meal, and kept moist by being occasionally dipped in warm water. Should this treatment not be found sufficiently active, bleeding from the toe will be necessary; and the warm applications must be con- tinued. In any case, when a horse has been ill for some time, it is desirable to remove the shoes and well clean out the feet, using tar dressings occa- sionally, and, if necessary, apply wet swabs, at least during the day, when they can be kept wet. When the disease from which the animals suffers is likely to be followed by a long period of convalescence, it is good practice to remove the shoes altogether after the first fortnight or three weeks, and allow the horse to lie rough," taking care that there is a sufficient covering of litter-or, what is better, tan- upon the floor of the box, to prevent the hoofs being broken. The fact of the animal not being required for work furnishes no reason for neglect; on the contrary, the necessity for extra care is indicated from the circum- stance that, the attention being concentrated upon the most prominent point, the disease for which the horse is under treatment, minor evils are likely to escape ob- servation. Thus it has happened again and again that a sick horse, whose complaint has been the subject of un- remitting care, has recovered from the acute disease only to die or be rendered useless by a subsequent attack of fever in the feet, mainly resulting from the absence of that observation which would have led to the detection of the earliest symptoms of disease, or probably alto- gether have prevented its occurrence, by dictating the timely adoption of the necessary preventive measures. When the presence of some local affection renders it undesirable to exercise the animal, the feet, again, are likely to suffer from inattention; and, in addition, it may happen that one foot is compelled to support an undue share of the weight of the body, in consequence of the disease in the opposite limb preventing the proper exercise of its function. In this case it becomes neces- sary to arrange the shoes so as to equaliselthe pressure as much as possible. This may often be done by putting a high-heeled shoe on the foot of the deceased extremity, while the shoe is either removed from the other foot, or T educed to a mere tip. In cases of disease affecting the feet, very great care in the treatment of these organs, irrespective of the medical or surgical means employed, will be called for. Many cases of disease of the foot are incurable, and the horse can only be kept in working condition by means of palliative measures. These principally consist in keeping the feet cool, carefully removing all foreign bodies which might injuriously press upon a tender sole, preserving the pliability of the horn, and adjusting the shoe in such a manner as to afford protection and avoid pressure upon parts which are not capable of supporting it. The most simple plan of keeping the feet cool and moist is by means of wet swabs tied round the coronet. The plan of the clay bed has gone very much out of fashion, and in reality there was little to recommend it. The arrangements necessary for the proper application of the clay were troublesome; and, after all, it may be questioned if any mere good was gained than would result from the use of wet wrappers round the hoof, particularly if the shoes are removed, and the floor well covered with tan. During the time that animals are under treatment for foot-lameness, it must be recollected that the hoofs are still growing, and that if left for a long period un- touched it will be difficult to get them into proper shape again. Therefore the attention of the farrier should be called to them at least once every month or six weeks, in order that the heels may be lowered and the toes shortened; otherwise, in consequence of the rapidity of the growth of the horn, the feet will become upright, and the frogs, being removed thus from pres- sure, and kept in constant contact with the wet manure which accumulates in the feet, will become rotten. The use of tar both to the wall and sole is as necessary while the horse is lying idle as when he is employed in active service even when he is turned out to grass the feet require attention, particularly when the ground is soft and wet. The difficulty under such circumstances is to get the hoof to grow in the right direction there will be plenty of material formed, but it will require fre- quent trimming and training, or the very luxuriance of the growth will be a source of embarrassment.

HINTS UPON GARDENING. FLOWER GARDEN.—Newly-made lawns require a little special care at this season. If the grass is thin it must not be mown and swept in the usual way, for the roots of young grass suffer from the effects of a hot sun when there is not a close bottom to preserve moisture. It is a good plan to mow early, and leave the mowings till the evening, then sweep and clear up, and the grass will have twenty-four hours from the morning before the sun comes on it again, or, reckoning from the day before the mowing, thirty-six hours, which will materially assist in promoting a thickening of the bottom. Where walks look dingy, a turning with a fork and a good rolling is often as effectual a reviver as a supply of new gravel; but if the old gravel is of trifling depth or a bad colour, a new coating will complete the beauty of the garden, and give it a necessary finish. Carnations, picotees, and pinks may now be propagated by pipings on the north side of a fence, or in pots half filled with sandy loam. The old plan of striking them in heat and in exciting composts is quite exploded as a fallacy. Ranunculuses will want water frequently they cannot endure drought. Pansies strike readily from short side-shoots the old hollow stems will strike also, but never make good plants; the new growth is that to be depended on. Dahlias not staked should be attended forthwith indeed, the stakes should be put in at the time of .planting, so as to avoid damage to the roots when they have begun to grow. Perennials should be sown for next, season's blooming, so as to get strong plants. Sow thin in nursery beds, and prick out the plants in rows as soon as they make rough leaves. If left crowded together they grow spindled, and never make strong plants. Roses need abundant supplies of water now, and green- fly must be kept down, or the bloom will be im- poverished. As the hurry of the bedding-out is now over, a little time may be found to look over briers intended for budding soon, to cut away weak ill-placed shoots, and shorten in the strong rambling shoots on which buds are to be entered. Americans newly planted must have abundance of water overhead, as well as at the root. Remove by carefully snapping out with finger and thumb the dead blooms of rhododendrons and azaleas, to prevent seeding. Auriculas will want occasional fumigating keep them in a cool place, on a hard bottom, and pour water amongst them on the ground surface to cause a moist air. Asters may now be turned out in the places where they are to bloom make the ground rich, and choose showery weather. If the place is infested with snails, plant a few small lettuces behind the back row, which may be pulled up as soon as the asters are well rooted. Annuals of quick growth, sown now, will bloom late for succession. Nemophilas never make a better effect than from sowings in June, in moist, shady places. Asters and balsams to be planted out during moist, dull weather. Cinerarias may now be earthed up, to promote the rooting of the suckers. Throw away all seedlings of inferior quality, and propagate only the best. They require a cool shady place while making suckers, which are to be removed as soon as rooted. Sow seed for next year, and pot off rooted cuttings. Camellias may be got out in a shady place, on a bed of tiles or coal-ashes, and kept frequently watered. If kept in the house, there must be air on night and day. Dahlias planted out to be staked before the roots extend. Plant out all that are in pots at once; they will do better in the ground now than with any more nursing. Pansies Take cuttings of the best, look over seedlings, and root out and destroy all inferior ones. Sow again for autumn bloom. Tulips Remove the shading, and let them have the benefit of rains and dews. Hollyhocks Stake at once, and tie in as soon as the stems are tall enough, and frequently look at the ties to see they do not cut their swelling stems. Heavy manuring in the first instance is preferable to watering with liquid manure, but in poor soils liquid manure may be used abundantly. KITCHEN GARDEN.—The ground will be now for the most part covered, and everything in full grpwth. The hoe must never be idle; weeds grow faster than the crops, and exhaust the soil rapidly, and if allowed to seed make the mischief worse. Next to keeping down weeds, the most important operation is that of watering. Plants lately put out should not be drenched to excess, or the chill will check them more than a drought would, and it is better to trust to moderate watering and shade combined than to keep the soil soddened about plants that have barely taken root. Cucumbers, gourds, toma- toes, and capsicums may be put out; the soil should be rich, and for tomatoes a sunny aspect must be chosen. Sow beet, early horn carrots, scarlet runners and French beans, turnips, lettuces, radishes, cabbages, spinach, en- dive, cauliflower, and peas and beans. All salad plants should have a shady position, or they may run to seed. In sowing peas and beans it is best to depend on the earliest sorts at this time of year, as they are soon off the ground, but Knight's marrow and ne plus ultra are good peas to sow now for late supply.—Cropping Sow succes- sion beans, marrow peas, lettuce, Portugal cabbage, cauli- flowers, Walcherin broccoli, stone turnip, and turnip radishes. Celery to be got into trenches as fast as the ground can be made ready by the removal of other crops. Take up each with a ball and do not injure a single leaf. Hoe over those that are established in trenches, to break the surface that has been hardened by watering. -Gardegzers' Magazine.

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. PRIVATE THEATRICALS AT CAMBRIDGE.—We are requested to state, says the Times, that the performances of the A. D. C. (Amateur Dramatic Club) have been arranged to take place on Monday, June 3, and five subsequent nights. The Ladies' Nights are Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8. The performances on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, will commence at 7.15 p.m. Applications for tickets may be made to any members of the club, or at the A. D. C. Rooms in Park-street, between twelve and one o'clock daily. The number of tickets being limited, early appli- cation is most important. II OTTERS IN YORKSHIRE.—The Stockton and Durham otter hounds have had fine sport in the Derwent country the last week in May. After three day's drag" and enormous fields of sportsmen, they have killed a large dog otter, 281b. in weight, the full pack pursuing in deep water. During the three days the otter had been pursued nearly 30 miles from home before he gave in. The Scarborough visitors have rarely had such sport as during last week. NEW RECREATION-GROUNDS IN LONDON.—The Poplar recreation-grounds, situate between the High-street and the East India Dock-road, were formally opened on Friday by Sir J. Thwaites. The grounds occupy about five acres in extent, and adjoin the churchyard of St. Matthias, which occupies nearly the same area. After the formal opening a cold collation was partaken of in a spacious marquee erected for the purpose. The grounds were purchased at a cost of X12,000, towards which the Metropolitan Board of Works contributed Y.6,000, and 21,500 has been'realised by the sale of old materials. The remainder is borrowed, and 20 years allowed for its repayment. THE BRITISH REGATTA IN PARIS.—According to the circular which has been issued by the promoters of the British regatta, open to all the world, to take place on the Seine on the 9th of July, the subscriptions already received towards carrying out the object amount to bej tween 12,000f. and 13,000f., the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh having each given 2,500f. There are to be four classes of competitors one for amateurs, and comprising eight, four, and pair- oared boats, skulls, and canoes. The cups which form the prizes range in value from 125f. to 3,000f. Another class for watermen, in which the prizes will be purses of from 300f. to 2,500f. a third class for men-of-war's men, with money prizes from 300f. to 750f. and the fourth competition will be for yachts' men, with money prizes of from! 300f. to 750f. In addition to these sports, arrangements have been made for an ocean race for yachts, the start being from England on the 4th July and for rowing boat races on the Seine under French management on the 7th and 8th July. The course which has been selected for the regatta is at St. Cloud, down stream, and is about a mile and a quarter in length. It is stated that Mr. Bennett, jun., of New York, intends coming over to England in a 98-ton yacht, to contend with the Duke of Edinburgh's Viking on equal terms in a match round the Isle of Wight.

ARCHERY MEETINGS FOR 1867. The programme of public matches remains much about the same this year as last. Mr. Merridew's meeting at Leamington on the 12th and 13th of June offfers its customary attractions—a prize list value £100 —one of the most fashionable gatherings of the season, and a shooting-ground possessing incomparable advan- tages. There are five scor6 prizes offered for both ladies and gentlemen, who will each shoot the usual rounds, subject to the regulation that winners of the first or second prizes at the National Meeting, within the last three years, will be barred the white and black rings, and winners of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth prizes within that period the outer circles only. With these restrictions the competition will be open to the United Kingdom. The second open match is at the Crystal Palace, and is fixecl for the 18th and 19th of July, being the Thursday and Friday previous to the Grand National Meeting at Brighton; and the proximity of time and place may possibly induce many who had intended to be present at only one of the meetings, to attend both. There is every reason to believe that the competition at Sydenham will not lack either skill or numbers. A newly organised business committee, of which Mr. R. Butt is the secretary, have placed matters upon a basis of stability and importance. Brighton is to be the scene of the great toxophilite event of the year-the National—a suitable piece of ground has been found for the purpose at Preston-place, and the committee have established their head-quarters at the Old Ship Hotel. The Mayor the Lord-Lieu- tenant of Sussex (the Earl of Chichester); Sir Francis Goldsmid, Bart., M.P. Sir W. J. W. Baynes, Bart. Sir E. W. Burnaby, Bart. General Sir W. M. Gomm, G.C.B. Mr. Henry Fawcett, M.P. Mr. C. Freshfield, M.P. Mr. J. Goldsmid, M.P. Mr. P. F. Robertson, M.P. and Mr. James White, M.P., are amongst the supporters of the meeting, whilst the following archery societies are represented on the committee of manage- .=- -u- ment, of which some new members have been elected Royal Toxophilites, County of Dublin, Edinburgh, Woodmen of Arden, West Gloucestershire, Long Mal- ford, Cheshire, Cheltenham, St. Mungo (Glasgow), Leeds, Lichfield, York, West Somerset, Raglan (Monmouth- shire), Sherwood, Thirsk, Vale of Mowbray, and the Royal Company of Archers. Messrs. H. Peckitt, C. M. Caldecott, and A. J. Wilkinson will resume their duties as judges and a very influential local committee is composed of Aldermen Martin and Brigden, J.P. the Revs. J. Griffith, and J. H. North, Dr./ R. Pearce, and Messrs. E. Bright, C. Burrows, J. G. Cockburn, H. Dowell, H. G. Philpott, H. F. Stocken, and H. P. Tamplin hon. local secretary, Mr. E. Maitland. The secretary of the National Society (Mr. O. Luard) has pre- pared such a programme, that the meeting at Brighton promises great things, whilst the selection of the town will render it exceedingly popular with archers in all parts of the country, who will have an opportunity of visiting Brighton during the height of the season. Everything that depended upon local liberality and energy- for ac- complishment has been carried out in the best possible spirit, and with most unexceptionable taste. Of the general prizes offered for ladies, the Silver Bracer and Badge being the most enviable distinction that can re- ward the success of the premier archeress, there are six for gross score (ranging from X20 to E12) two for most golds and best golds and eight others rewarding the greatest scores, the greatest number of hits, most golds, and best golds, at the two distances respectively of 60 and 50 yards, at which the fair competitors will shoot the National Round on both days. There are many skilful shooters in the societies at Hove, Worth- ing," St. Leonards, &c., and therefore the "local" prizes will invoke more than an ordinary display of competi- tive merit and interest; and for such achievements as may be accomplished by this special class of archers, eight rewards, equally divided among the sexes, are offered namely, £7 for the first gross scores X6, second ditto X5 most golds and X4 best golds. For gentle- men, in addition to the Champion's Gold Medal, now held by Mr. George Edwards, ten gross score prizes (commencing with E20 and finishing with £ 8) offer inducements for renewed attempts to equal or surpass those deeds that spoke loud the doers' on many a previous anniversary. In addition to these prizes, which will be awarded for value only, the following will be set down for gentlemen For the greatest number of golds, and for best gold, £6 each- the York Round being shot each day greatest score at 100 yards, 80 yards, and 60 yards, £ 5 at each distance; most hits at those distances, X5 at each; most golds, X5 ditto, ditto and for the best gold, X5 ditto, ditto. In Ireland there will, this year, be all the usual meet- ings-National, Leinster, and Ulster (at Armagh); whilst in Scotland the committee, who met at Edin- burgh last week, determined that the old town of St. Andrews, in Fife, shall receive the National Society on the 29th and 30th of August next. The various clubs throughout the country are now fixing their prize meetings among others the Anglesea for August 6th and 7th, and the South Devon for July 10th, August 7th and 28th at Powderham. We hear that Captain Whitla, whose secretarial exertions con- tributed so much to the success of the Ulster Grand Meeting at Belfast last year, is exceedingly ill, we believe at Bath, and is not likely to shoot in any of the great matches of 1867.

THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW. The Duke of Cambridge, in forwarding to the Minister of War the report of Major-General M'Cleverty of the volunteer review at Dover, says he is most happy to express his fullest concurrence in the favourable remarks which, that officer has made. "I was much struck," says his Royal Highness, by the great improvement which I observed during the marching past of the force, in many of the minor details of organisation, and the admirable regularity with which every corps passed the saluting point was worthy of the highest approbation. The regularity with which the different corps were brought down by the railroad companies reflects the greatest credit on the staff of those companies, and the general arrangements made by Colonel Erskine and his assistant inspectors for collecting so large a body of volunteers from such long distances, and insuring their arrival at the appointed time and place, deserve my warmest commendation. The co-operation of her Majesty's navy, under Captain Commerel, adde greatly to the effect of the day's proceedings, and I heartily join with the major-general in his request that, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may be informed of the gratification experienced, both by the army and by the body of volunteers on the ground, at the pre- sence of a portion of the fleet."

CARDSHARPERS AT THE RACES. One of the great nuisances in connection with horse- racing is the existence of cardsharpers. These human excrescences infest the railway stations, take possession of the carriages, hang about the approaches to the race- course, and, in fact, are disgustingly obtrusive at every available point. The open and undisguised manner in which these ruffians are permitted to exercise their lawless calling is a disgrace to the age, and a reproach alike to the police authorities and the railway executive. On Wednesday, at London-bridge Station, the 5 "three card" fraternity mustered in strong force, and, although their faces must by this time be perfectly familiar to the railway guards and policemen, there was not the slightest attempt to check or thwart the numerous robberies that were being planned or in the course of actual execution. In fact, we should imagine that the guards and ticket collectors must stand in," or they would warn the un- suspecting from listening to the invitations of men, who stand at carriage doors and endeavour to force victims into compartments, where they are almost certain to be robbed, even if they have sufficient courage to refuse to tempt Fortune-save the mark! —at the plausible solicitations of these ruffians. The sum of 8s. to Epsom and back is rather a stiff charge, and out of the immense revenue that the railway company must thus reap from the frequenters to the race course, they might surely afford to employ three or four detectives to prevent the impudent and wholesale robberies that are constantly being perpetrated. In the absence of any protective measures, however, let us warn our readers to endeavour to steer clear of these attempts on their pockets. Whenever playing cards are introduced by a stranger in a railway carriage, no man should be induced to play unless he has some loose cash that he is particularly desirous of getting rid of. And as for listening to the invitations of the little knots of hang-dog villains who haunt the approaches to the race course-well, none but donkeys turn aside to crop the thistle at the expense of being sttilig.-Spoi-ting Life.

WHISKERS IN THE NAVY. Lord Henry Lennox has just issued a terrible pro- clamation, which will spread terror through many thou- sands of hearts not usually accessible to fear. It seems that a custom is somewhat prevalent" amongst officers in the navy of wearing whiskers of such in- ordinate size and length as to resemble beards, which, latter are forbidden by the printed instructions." This must not be The naval supremacy of Great Britain is perhaps, hanging at this moment on a hair-we must look to it! Officers will accordingly be good enough only to wear the same length of whiskers as the seamen and marines. This is all very well for the forecastle demo- cratg but what is to become of the "pretty officer" when he goes to the fine old crusted Port-Admiral's ball ? It is, of course, a question of taste and fashion. Now-a-days, it seems to be generally accepted that clergymen and naval officers are to shave. There is good precedent so far as the service is concerned. Nelson and the men of his school would have looked on a moustache as rather worse than a mutiny but then those old heroes saw nothing ridiculous in a pigtail. Drake, however, and the men of his school, who did a good deal of tough work with much slender means, had whisker, moustache, beard-the complete affair. On the whole, we confess to a sneaking kindness for the use of the razor on board ship—clean shaven lips and chin, somehow, help to fill up that idea of smartness" which, both in Jack and his master, is worth purchasing at any reasonable price.-Daily Tekgrcuph,

A MYSTERIOUS MURDER. On Friday morning a deliberate murder was com- mitted on the estate of Sir Hanson Berneys, in a small village called Barton Bendish, about eight miles east- ward of Downham-Market. The deceased, Benjamin Black, was about fifty-five or fifty-six years of age, and had been employed on the estate all his life, and his father before him. He had lately acted in the capacity of woodman, and was remarkable for his quiet and un- obtrusive habits. On Friday morning last, about four o'clock, when in bed, he heard the report of a gun, and got up and went to a plantation called Barton Lays," from which direction the report was heard. The un- fortunate man was never afterwards seen alive. The body was discovered by five labourers going to their work in hoeing wheat near the wood in question. No time was lost in giving information to the authorities, and Superintendent Watson, of Downham-Market, was put in possession of the facts so far as they are known. The inquest was held on Saturday before Mr. T. L. Reed, deputy coroner for the Hundred of Clackclose, and a respectable jury, of which the Rev. S. G. Read was foreman. After viewing the body the following witnesses were examined Anna Black, sworn, said: I am the widow of Ben- jamin Black, the deceased. On Friday morning, at four o'clock, we were in bed. The deceased asked me if I had heard a gun, which I had not done. He then dressed himself and left the house. I did not see which way he went, but some time after I heard the report of a gun it was a loud report, and appeared to me to be outside the wood. The report did not appear to echo. It might take 20 minutes to walk to the wood. The report took place in as short a time as he could get to the wood, but I did not take particular notice. I did not see him again alive. The deceased was brought to my house in the course of the morning. I never heard him say that he was at variance with any one. He had money in his pockets. He took his purse out the night before. He had two half-crowns, a shilling, and a sixpence, which he said he would send the child to Fincham with to pay the poor-rates, and said he had money enough in his pocket to pay the men, meaning the men working in the wood. I took half-a-crown out of my pocket to make up 8s. 6d. I He handed me back 6d. He had a bag purse made of cartoon." He put the purse in his pocket before he went to bed. I have not seen the purse since. He was always in the habit of going to a wood called the Lays the first thing in the morning. He was a woodman, and had the care of that wood. Charles Kidd, of Barton Bendish, saw deceased on Friday morning at a quarter past four. About half an hour after he saw him he heard the report of a n while he was in his master's stable. Robert Wing, of the same place I work for Mr. George Read. I was employed hoeing wheat near the Lays. On Friday morning I was going to my work about a quarter or twenty minutes past six. I had to go through the wood. As soon as I got through the gate of the first field, into which the wood gate opens, I saw something lying, and when within 100 yards I saw it was a man. I had four other men with me, who also worked for Mr. Read. We saw at once that he was dead. I thought his nose was bleeding until we moved him, when I saw he was shot. His fingers were cold, but his wrist was warm. He was bleeding. I saw blood drop from his face; I saw it running from his eye to his whisker, and thence dropping on the ground. We found a pool of blood under the head as large as my hat, some fluid and some clotted. He was lying on his left side, with his knees drawn up, his hat on, his head upon the ground, and his face rather turned back and upwards, his arms lying limp and useless. We sent for Robert Clarke, Mr. Read's shepherd, who brought a cart. I went into the wood to search for footmarks, and found in a gladeway a broken bottle, having some hop leaves inside, also a piece of paper like what is used to wrap sugar in, containing about two common charges, some of which was spilt. I gave it to the police-officer, Balls, who came up to me afterward. Near to the place where I picked up the paper I found a fresh foot- mark it might be five or six yards from it. It was the footmark of a man, the impression not perfect, but the heel and ball of the boot and shoe seemed to be left. The impression of square-headed nails was visible in the mark left by the ball; they were middle-sized and square. We afterwards found several traces of footmarks, but none plain till we got on the top of the hill in the wood, possibly a furlong from where we found the paper and first footmark. This footmark showed the heel, the balls, and the toe, and resembled the footmark near where the paper was found. Both were made by a person going in a con- trary direction from the body. We saw no more foot- marks in the wood, but we saw a trail, as if some per- son in walking had brushed off the dew from the grass. We followed the trail to the opposite side of the wood, and thence by the side of the hedge bounding the wood. At the corner of the field there is a gap over which he appeared to have passed, and through a piece of vetches cornerwise to a stile. This trail was continued by turning down under the fence, to the end of which we went, and left it on that side of the wood in the direction for Fincham. Clarke and I then went back to the body the nearest way we could. During my search I found some small pieces of shattered paper by the side of the clap-post of the gate and a ditch. I examined the paper, which seemed like the paper containing the gun- powder. The gate where the deceased was shot was off the hinges, upon the spur of the gatepost, and not fastened. When we first found the deceased his watch appeared to have been half drawn out of his pocket, which was drawn up with it, and the ring by which the chain was attached was broken off, and the chain laid loose oil the waistcoat. When we first found the de- ceased one of my companions went into the wood to call Hubbard Lingley, who is a nephew of the deceased, who was working in the wood. My companion said, Hub- bard, come here." I saw him join my companion in the wood, and after talking a minute they came to the body. I think Hubbard Lingley said, Oh, my uncle! my uncle! I saw the tears run down his face, and he wrung his hands. I heard him mention the deceased's watch, but I cannot say what he said about it. He also said something about deceased's purse, but I cannot say what. He put his hand into the deceased's pocket, but did not take anything out. He afterwards said, "There is nothing there but my uncle always carried his money with him." Robert Clarke, of Barton Bendish, shepherd to Mr. George Read, gave evidence corroborating that of Robert Wing in every particular, he being his companion in the researches through the wood. William Cater, of Fincham, surgeon, was called, and said From information received, I went, on Friday morning, the 17th, to view the body of Benjamin Black. I found him lying upon a sofa in his cottage, about eleven a.m. He was dead, and death had resulted from a gun-shot wound in the left eye and from several shot wounds in the upper part of the left chest. I cannot say for certain what vital organ was injured, but deceased evidently died from gun-shot wounds. Those wounds could not possibly have been inflicted by. himself. He appeared to have died the instant he was wounded, with: -t: even a struggle. I am of opinion the gun must have been held at a distance of twelve or fourteen yards from his head if from a short distance the shot would have "balled" and entered the head in a lump, instead of dropping the shot, which caused the wounds in the left breast. I cannot say, without making a post-mortem examination, whether the shot entered the body in an oblique direction, as if fired from the ground, or whether the shot struck the body point blank, as they would do if fired'from the shoulder. The inquest was then adjourned.

♦ GOOD WINE NEEDS NO Busii.-A gentleman gave a friend some first-rate wine, which he tasted and drank, making no remark upon it. The owner, disgusted at his friend's want of appreciation, next offered some strong but inferior wine, which the guest had no sooner tasted than he exclaimed it was excellent wine. "But you said nothing of the first," remarked his host. "Oh," replied the guest, "the first spoke for itself; the second needed a trumpeter."