The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

J HINTS UPON GARDENING. FORCING HOUSES.—Do not omit all necessary stopping, tying, and arranging the young growths in late vineries, as the vines grow quickly now, and need frequent atten- tion. In thinning out the berries upon bunches of royal vineyard, Trebiano, West's St. Peter's, and Hamburgh grapes, intended for use from December onward, do not overlook the fact that, if left too thick they will, when fully grown, be the reverse of what is needed to ward off the damps of winter. Cut freely away, therefore, in order that air may be evenly diffused throughout the bunches. Be careful not to load the vines with too great a crop, as it is only by the formation of well-matured fruit that a good and long hanging crop can be secured. Stone fruits, generally, will be much benefited if, at the time of stoning, or just anterior to that event, the plants receive a copious supply of liquid manure if a good syringing be given to the upper parts at the same time it will be all the better. Pines generally will soon need shifting, prepare, therefore, a plentiful supply of the necessary soil for that operation as previously advised. HARDY FLOWER GARDEN.-Finisb staking carnations, pinks, and picotees, and so secure the spindles that no injury may befall them. Transplant seedling pansies as frequently as any have fully occupied the spaces allotted to them individually; they like a soil containing an abundance of well-decomposed leaf-mould, more espe- cially at this their earlier stages of growth. Secure each plant firmly at the base, thus to encourage any roots which may be formed upon the base of the main stalks. Beds or patches of ranunculus may be assisted materi- ally at this season if a good mulching of well-rotted manure be placed over their roots. Violets generally should now be divided and transplanted. The Czar, which is a great advance upon other single varieties, if a constant succession of flowers be needed throughout the winter months, should be treated in two separate ways. Old established plants should if necessary have all suckers removed from around them. These, „by simply keeping them free from weeds during the summer, will form fine masses for autumn and early winter blooming. Where a sufficient stock does not exist, old plants may be pulled into as many pieces as possible, provided some stem is attached to them, and a few roots. These, or indeed the suckers dibbled in some 8 in. or 12 in. apart, will make fine plants, which, generally speaking, will supply a succession of blooms after the older established plants are over; Neapolitan violets will succeed, treated in a similar manner. To form fine stocky plants, however, strong crowns only, with abundance of roots, should be selected. Remove from such all side shoots, or suckers and dibble them into a good rich loam with abundance of leaf-mould, in an open warm situation be careful however not to bury the crown too deeply. Sowings should now be made of wall-flowers, Brompton stocks, sweet williams, dianthuses, &c. Pinch all seed vessels off out-door tulips, so soon as they have begun to look shabby, and so direct the plants to the formation of good bulbs, for flowering the following season. HARDY FRUIT GARDEN.—Do not delay removing all superabundant shoots from peaches, nectarines, cherries, &c., and especially all stronger misplaced ones, which, by appropriating an undue supply of the energies of the tree, are likely to impoverish in an unnecessary degree all lesser ones. Pinch back all stronger growing ones which may be necessary to retain, thereby diverting the sap to other weaker channels. Be very careful in operat- ing on any at this advanced date not to slit the rind of the more permanent wood at their base to obviate do- ing this it is at all times better to cut them off with a keen-edged knife. Finish thinning the fruit upon apri- cots, and commence the same process with peaches and nectarines, doing them only partially this time. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Sow seeds of green curled endive and of Knight's protecting, Walcheren, Snow's, and Alexandra broccolis, for a successional supply. Make final sowings of scarlet runners and beet; also another sowing of dwarf French beans. These latter may now be sown in the open quarters. Prepare a trench or two for early celery; these should be 10 inches deep, put the plants in six inches apart. Do not continue to cut young plantations of asparagus beyond this date, but rather afford it an opportunity the better to establish itself for future usefulness. Plant tomatos against walls in sunny aspects. They do well planted upon south borders with the ground around them covered with slates, upon which to grow and ripen their fruit.— Gardeners' Chronicle. -0-

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. YOUNG Bennett, since his return to New York from the yachting trip to England, has been made much of by everybody, his father honouring him with the inser- tion of his name at the top of the editorial columns as "manager." THE great Midland Counties archery meeting will take place at Leamington on the 12th and 13th June. That will be the 16th annual gathering of the toxophilites of the Midland Counties. Most of the crack shots of the United Kingdom will be present. TOMBSTONE fame is curious in the turn that it takes. For instance, there will soon be erected in Newcastle churchyard, a tombstone bearing an inscription which, after recording the name and age of the departed, closes thus :—" Deceased was one of the best shooters in the North of England. He killed 59 head of grouse at seven double shots." THE YORKSHIRE MOORS.-The birds during the months of January, February, and March looked very healthy, but the searching and destructive east winds which prevailed during the latter part of March destroyed the top of the herbage, and rendered it to a great extent unfit for food. It is to be feared that the eggs and birds will have suffered to no small extent. THE attendance at the opera concert of the Crystal Palace, on Saturday, the 1st of June, was unusually large. Mdlle. Adelina Patti and other artists of the Italian Opera sustained the principal parts in the con- cert. Mdlle. Patti was encored in both her songs. The brilliancy of the day, combined with the varied colours of the ladies' dresses, made the scene one of great gaiety, especially as seen from the great orchestra. An un. usually large sale of season tickets took place at the doors of the Palace, and inquiries respecting the great festival benefit concert, June 26th, as well as for the fireworks exhibition on next Wednesday, were very numerous. The return of admission for six days ending Saturday, June 1, gives 41,508. THE second annual gathering of the King's College school for athletic sports took place at Beaufort-house, on Saturday, and the proceedings were honoured by the presence of some 300 or 400 spectators, including a large number of the fair sex. The course was in good order. The sports commenced with a 100 yards race open to all ages heats, 14 entries. Heat 1 W R. Bryant 1, W. J. Huggins 2, J. Stagg 3. Won by nearly a yard. Heat 2 C. Hague 1, J. Hutchins 2, L. G. W. Godden. Final heat: Stagg 1, Bryant 2, Hutchins 3. Won by six inches. Time, llf see.-100 Yards Race, for all 4 under 16 years of age, 12 entries Heat 1 T. Ack- land 1, S. Willis 2, C. D. Smith 3. Heat 2 J Kemp 1, T. M. Fry 2, H. P. Ryland 3. Final heat: T. Ack- land 1, J. Kemp 2, S. Willis 3. Won by half a yard in 12 sec., the winner being loudly cheered. The other contests were of an equally interesting and exciting character, and the presentations of the prizes by Miss M'Clear were received with great applause. PIGEON SHOOTING AT PARIS.—BelPs Life informs us that, as a novelty, a series of international sweepstakes has been inaugurated at Paris during the Grand Prix week, and the Emperor's munificence in giving a magni- ficent trophy to be shot for gave a very high tone to this aristocratic reunion, which took place last Friday on the picturesque Pelouse of Madrid. The skill of the two nations in shooting underwent a severe test for the Daily Telegraph Cup victory, however, declared for England. There were 59 competitors for the Emperor's Cup. The shooting was very bad, and by the sixth round 28 were out of the competition, the Marquis du Lau being the one who had up to this time shot all his birds, Mr. Norris having alone scored five out of six. After the 8th round, when the French marquis had missed a bird, things looked more promising for English competitors, for the Duke of Hamilton, Mr. Peters, and Captain de Winton were knocking over their birds in good form, and Lord Clonmel was shooting well, although he had an unlucky succession of fast birds. At the 10th and final round seven tied at eight-viz., the Duke of, Hamilton, Mr. Hambro, Marquis du Lau, Mr. Peters, Mr. Dora, Baron d'lvry, and Mr. Norris. The two latter and Mr. Dora were put out at the 11th bird, leaving the contest to the Duke of Hamilton, Marquis du Lau, and Mr. Peters, who hit his bird with his second barrel. Mr. Peters killed, his last bird well, and won the cup. The Marquis du Lau was second, and Mr. Hambro third, beating the Duke of Hamilton, through the latter hav- ing killed his bird outside the boundary.

CLA131 TO THE TITLE AND ESTATES OF THE EARL OFBREADALBANE AND HOLLAND. The Lord Chancellor, Lord Cranworth, Lord West- bury, and Lord Colonsay sat in the House of Lords on Friday to hear an appeal from the decision of the First Division of the Court of Session in Scotland, in the case of Campbell v. Campbell. The appellant was Lieut. Charles William Campbell, formerly of the 19th and now of the 2nd Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, and he claimed, as against John Alexander Gavin Campbell of Glenfalloch, to be sixth Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, Viscount of Tay and Pentland, and Lord Glenorchy in the peerage of Scotland. The competitors claim through a common ancestor, William Campbell of Glenfalloch, who was their great-grandfather. The respondent claims through William Campbell's second son, and the appel- lant through his sixth son. The Attorney-General, Mr. Moncreiff, Mr. Anderson, Q.C., and Mr. J. Shiress Will appeared for the appel- lant and Sir R. Palmer, Mr. Mellish, Q.C., Mr. G. Young, Mr. James Adams, and Mr. Robert Berry repre- sented the respondent. The arguments in this appeal, after having eccupied the attention of their lordships for several days, were brought to a conclusion last week. The value of the estates involved in the appeal is very considerable, and indirectly the earldom of Breadalbane is also involved. The point upon which the case turns is whether a valid marriage, according to the laws of Scotland, took place between James, the second son of the common ancestor, and Elizabeth or Eliza Blanchard, or Ludlow. James Campbell died in October, 1806, and after his death Eliza Blanchard or Ludlow alleged that she had been married to him, and in the character of his widow applied to the War-office for pecuniary assistance in the following letter, dated the 23rd of June, 1807 I am the widow of Captain James Campbell, late quartermaster in the 1st battalion of the Breadalbane Fencibles, at the reduction of which he got a company in the Cambrian Rangers, and when that regiment was reduced, from ill health he was rendered unfit to enter again into his Majesty's service, and on the 24th October, 1806, my husband died insolvent, and left me with three children without the smallest means of sup- port. I applied to the half-pay agent respecting the Widows' Pension, and have made oath before a magis- trate but as I unfortunately lost my marriage lines in America, I am informed it cannot be procured. My husband was ensign and lieutenant in the 40th Regi- ment of Foot during the war with that country. At » the end of the year 1780 he came to England to recruit, and in September, 1782, I was married to Mr. Campbell in Edinburgh, by Mr. M'Gregor, the Gaelic minister (who is also dead), as is Ensign William Willox, of the 40th, who was the witness to our marriage; and the June following we went to America in the fleet that took out the pre- liminaries of peace 25 years ago. The present Gaelic minister have been wrote to, and he says that he got no register from any of his predecessors. I have adminis- tered at Doctors' Commons for four months' pay due to my husband at his death, and I have a power of attorney, which he sent me from Gibraltar at the time he was in the Cambrian Rangers. I beg, sir, you will excuse my being thus particular, as my motive is to obviate any doubts of my being Mr. Campbell's lawful wife." The contention on behalf of the appellant was that at the time of the alleged marriage Eliza Blanchard was a married woman, her husband, Christopher Ludlow, of Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, being then living; while, on behalf of the respondent, it was alleged that even if Eliza Blanchard, said to have been married to Christopher Ludlow, were the same person who subse- quently married James Campbell, the pretended marriage between her and Christopher Ludlow was null and void, by reason of such marriage having been contracted with- out the consent of her guardian, she being a minor at the time. In answer to the respondent's contention that his father must be deemed legitimate, because his parents were man and wife by habit and repute, the appellant declared that inasmuch as the intercourse between the parties had had an adulterous commencement, no mar- riage, by habit and repute, according to the laws of Scot land, could result from it. At the conclusion of the arguments, Their lordships postponed judgment until the return of Lord Westbury from abroad.

THE HEALTH OF LONDON. It appears from the return issued by authority of the Registrar-General that in the week that ended on Satur- day, May 25th, the births registered in London and 12 other large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,309 thedeaths registered, 2,580. The annual rate of mortality was 22 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of 1,016 boys and 980 girls, in all 1,996 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of 10 years, 1857-66, the average number, corrected for increase of population, is 2,026. The deaths registered in London during the week were 1,118. It was the 21st week of the year; and the average number of deaths for the week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1,304. The deaths in the present return are less by 186 than the estimated number. The deaths registered from zymotic diseases were 197 from diseases of the brain and nervous system, 155 from diseases of the respiratory organs, 158 from diseases of the organs of circulation, 53.. Thirty-two deaths from smallpox, 14 from measles, 16 from scarlatina, 41 from whooping-cough, 28 from typhus, 16 from diarrhoea, and two from choleraic diarrhoea were recorded. Two hundred and six persons died from phthisis, 80 from bronchitis, and 51 from pneumonia. A carman, aged 45 years, was thrown from a wagon died on 18th May in the London Hospital (inquest).

AGRICULTURE. I AGRICULTURAL CROPS OF 1867. Mr. H. T. Turner, the well-known land agent of Rich- mond, Yorkshire, thus writes to the Times on the 31st Mav "My professional engagements during the last few weeks nave again taken me over a great portion of the Midland and Northern counties, and thinking that some of your readers who have not had the advantage may like to know what is the present appearance of the crops in those important districts, I shall be glad if you can make room for a letter on the subject. In consequence of the general coldness of the spring all autumn-sown crops bad a backward look until the fine warm fortnight we had at the end of April and be- ginning of May greatly pushed them forward. "1 think I never saw spring-sown corn come up better but the cold weather we have had from about the 10th of May up to yesterday has given a check to the growth of all grain crops. The week before last I was in the comparatively mild county of Nottingham, and on one night the thermometer there indicated 4 deg. of frost. Last week I was in the county of Durham and during Wednesday, the 22nd, as I walked over some farms, I was in the course of the day three times white over with snow. We think such weather unseasonably cold and un- pleasant, and unquestionably it retards the growth of crops but beyond this delay I see on good dry land no injury done, while on poor undrained land it has turned wheat yellow and oats blue. On all good and well-managed land I think wheat is looking promisingly. It may give us a full average crop and at a favourable season in the year. On poor, wet, or badly managed land the wheat crop ooks as it usually does at this period—thin, yellow, and late. It is, however, a great comfort to perceive that thorough drainage is each year gradually reducing the extent of wet land, and it is only just to add that the rising generation of farmers are slowly surmounting the old-fashioned prejudices of their fathers, and trying to practise the better modes of cultivation which they see their more advanced neighbours have succesfully' adopted. Barley brairded well, and on all dry, good ground looks very promisingly. Oats generally look like producing a good crop, but on thin, poor lands there are many large fields looking puny and blue. Beans and peas look beautiful everywhere, in spite of the ravages of the slug which some farms have suffered from. Pastures on all good land, and especially the feeding pastures adjoining our great rivers, are full of rich grass, and having got such a cover now they are not likely to suffer much from drought this year, unless we have a very dry, hot summer indeed. "Potatoes have been extensively planted, and at a good season. Swede turnips have been largely and favourably sown. The weather has not been warm enough to give us much fly, and we may hope the plant will be out of danger before that pest appears. Butchers' meat of all kinds, except bacon, continues at a high rate, though not quite so high as it was last year. There is every prospect of those prices being maintained. "Wheat commands a great price-saiffcient to bring here all the wheat the rest of the world can spare. In a private letter which I saw a little while ago, which had been sent from Australia, the writer stated they were working night and day there to get wheat put on board ship for England. Ordinarily an extra shilling per bushel in the price of wheat has enabled us to get an abundant supply from America, but this year America has enough to do to meet the wants of her own population, and 72s. per quarter in our markets has failed to bring any wheat from a country we thought we might safely rely upon for sup- plies to any extent." THE HAT CROP IN IRELAND.—The Northern Whig says We have the satisfaction of stating that the abundance of herbage in almost every variety of pasture land has already made rapid improvement in the condi- tion of stock. The bareness of keep, even in the best farmyards, caused owners of cattle to send them out to the grass fully a fortnight sooner than usual; but that has not had the slightest effect on pastures. Every field looks beautifully green, and, in the great majority of cases, cattle literally wade through the grass. In con- nection with this gratifying state of affairs, we have the prospect of one of the most ample yields of upland hay ever produced in Ireland. The early meadows look exceed- ingly well; and if the weather sets in fine, so as to give farmers the opportunity of winning and harvesting the crop, there will be cheap and abundant fodder for the coming winter. Late meadows give promise of large turns-out, and the harvest for such grass will be fully a month earlier than usual. All this cannot fail to give still further impetus to the rearing of farm stock and now that the actual value of Ireland's horned cattle runs close up to 40 millions, the prospect of an abundant crop of hay becomes especially important.

THE MODEL GOVERNMENT OF CHILI, AND HER WONDERFUL RESOURCES. Private advices from Chili by the last Pacific mail bring intelligence that th&protracted dispute with Spain had in no wayunfavourably affected or tended to check the great commercial, agricultural, and general indus- trial progress of this model country. The religious and political freedom and good government whicILhave so long prevailed in Chili, fostering patriotism and content- ment in the breasts of an industrious, sober, and intelli- gent people, were perfectly undisturbed; and so devoted are the Chilians to the prosecution of industrial pursuits, that a complete solution of the recent Spanish difficulty is expected by the next mail. Chili and her people, regarded from any point of view, show a pattern to every nation in the world, Great Bri- tain not excepted. It is exactly half a century ago since this rising country secured her independence, namely, in 1817, at the victory of Meypu, gained by San Martin; and during the whole of that time law, order, and political tranquillity have been strictly maintained whilst the most rapid strides have been made in the arts of peace and in general national pros- perity. This remarkable national unanimity, love of order, and absence of all political excitement, may be attributed to the invariable good Government vested in the President, council of four Ministers, and equitable representation of the people, at the Congress composed of fifty-six members the complete religious toleration absence of all slavery and the general education of the people, there being upwards of a thousand public schools for gratuitous instruction, and nine per cent. of the entire revenue of the country annually appropriated for this laudable purpose. The Chilian Government has also long devoted great attention to and applied nearly the half of her revenue in public works, and her canals and public roads are now considerable, and have greatly improved internal communication. About 500 miles of railway have been completed, and 2,000 miles of tele- graphic communication, whilst the executive is now actively engaged in planning and executing new lines for the great agricultural and mineral traffic. It is a remarkable fact that for very many years nearly the whole of the foreign trade of Chili has been with Great Britain. Chili is very rich in staples—bullion, silver, copper, wheat, pulse, hides, tallow, fruits, and drugs and imports large quantities of linen, silk, hard- ware, capers, leather, perfumery, and spirits. Chili is the great entrepot, and re-exports to Peru, Bolivia, and Central America. Her geographical position, like that of Great Britain, is eminently advantageous for extensive commerce. The long line of sea-board, indented with fine natural harbours, and the equable climate, neither too warm to destroy or impair the energy of the in- habitants, nor yet too cold to prevent vessels entering the harbours at all seasons of the year. Chili possesses great, and for its size, perhaps, unequalled mineral wealth. There are between 200 and 300 mines of gold, silver, and copper, the productions of which can be annually increased. More than half of all the copper used in England comes from Chili. The sea fisheries are most valuable, and capable of very great extension. The agricultural resources of Chili are little known in this country. Combined with great fertility of soil, there is a genial climate, so that European grains and many of the tropical productions come to rare perfection. Cattle breeding is a most, important branch of rural industry, and though by no means so profitable an occupation as in the Argentine Republic, yet the thousands and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep which rove in the Haciendas of Chili bring comfort and affluence to the agriculturalist. Chili is perhaps the only country in the world which has, we believe, for 30 years had annually a surplus of revenue over the expenditure, notwithstanding that the great portion of this expenditure is applied to public works. Chili has perhaps tlie smallest public debt of any civilised country in the world, not exceeding .£1 per head on the entire population. Taking into consideration its vast internal resources and wealth already developed, this is very small. Even this, however, has not been allowed to remain, as more than one-half has already been redeemed with unerring' punctuality. There is no country, neither in the old nor in the new world, whose national integrity stands higher, and whose national faith has been more honour- ably upheld. Chilian Stock has long been a favourite investment with the British public, and although, like everything else, it has lately been unreasonably de- pressed, yet no doubt the rise which has recently taken place will now be rapid, in keeping with the intrinsic excellence and safety of the investment. Between Great Britain and Chili there is an identity of physical features, a community of interest and feeling, and a most profitable commerce—all of which must tend to draw closer the reciprocal bond of intercourse and lasting friendship.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR NEAR SLIGO. TWO MEN SHOT. A most mysterious afftir has occurred near the coast- guard station of Sheedagh, within eight or nine miles of Sligo. Early on Saturday morning as Joseph Clarke, one of the coastguards of that station, proceeded towards the beach, he there found two men, named James Nolan, aged 25 years, and John Smyth, lying on the sandbank in a helpless condition, both being dangerously injured by gunshot wounds. They declined giving their names, but stated they belonged to a brig which was seen during the evening of Friday hovering about the bay, and which sailed for Glasgow, after the boat's crew bad left the wounded men on shore. When asked the name of the brig they refused to give it or that of the captain; they said that they sailed from Malaga, that they had been drinking below" with the remainder of the crew, when a row ensued between them. They state that the remainder of the crew were Spaniards; that they (the wounded men) came on deck, when to their surprise they were followed by some of the Spaniards, who discharged their revolvers at them. They were immediately removed to the coastguard station. In a short time after the chief officer of the station arrested a third party found loitering on the shore, who also stated he belonged to the brig which was seen in the bay on the day previous. He states he is a native of Cork, and that he came on shore in a boat in company with the mate and another man to leave the two wounded men on shore, where they might get the assistance of a medical man to dress their wounds, but that the mate and his companion returned to the ship with- out him. In the course of the day the three men were conveyed to the residence of Ormsby Jones, Esq., J.P., Sheedagh, and on being interrogated as to the name of the ship or commander, they stated they had for- gotten the name of both. Mr. Jones then committed them for seven days for further examination as suspicious characters, when they will be brought up again for further examination. They were brought into Sligo late on Saturday night, on the magistrate's warrant, and lodged in the county gaol. The two wounded men -had to be conveyed in a cart filled with straw., They remain in the gaol hospital in a precarious state. There was found on the person of Nolan the sum of 10s. 8d., on Smyth X4 in gold, and on Nugent 9s. They state that there has not been any wages due to them by the master of the ship. The, three prisoners have all the appearance of persons of the better class of society, and it is sur- mised that they have given a fabricated account of the whole matter, and that they do not appear to be sea- faring, men. The whole matter is shrouded in mystery up to the present..

———<! r ———.t PETITION FOR INCREASE OF SALARY FROM INLAND REVENUE EMPLOYES. A meeting of the officers employed in the excise branch of the Inland Revenue was held on Saturday evening at Albion-hall, London-wall, to consider the present rate of their remuneration with a view to its increase. Mr. Meikle occupied the chair, and in his opening .remarks said the pay of their branch of the service was totally inadequate to the length of service and labour performed, The increase made in conse- quence of the agitation of 1856 and 1857 was by no means sufficient, and was hampered with conditions that rendered it almost useless. He took the opportunity of denying that their present agitation would, as ru- moured, injure their positions. Their board was too enlightened to deny the right of Englishmen, which they were then exercising. The various speakers in laying the matter fully before the meeting, stated that there was a vastdisproport-lon between the pay of the excise branch and other branches of the service that whilst they who were agitating commenced with a salary of iC94 or JE95 per annum only rose after 30 years' service to P,150 per annum, the officers employed in branches of the same service, having no more onerous or responsible duties to perform, commenced with, salaries of X110 per annum and rose within comparatively short periods to incomes of J6500 per annum. Applications had been made on the subject to the Treasury and to the Excise Board, and whereas in the latter instance the reply had been that the application was common to all branches of the profession, and could not be entertained, the reply in the first instance was that the salaries were adequate to the duties performed. This was indignantly repudiated, and an appeal to Parliament was urged, and resolutions were passed pledging support to the Glasgow Committee in the agitation already commenced, and adopting active steps towards a combined meeting of delegates from all p 9 parts of the country.

MARRYING A WIDOW: A BAD BARGAIN. At the Liverpool Bankruptcy Court, lately before Mr. Commissioner Perry, the case In re Henry Redding was heard. The indebtedness of the bankrupt amounted. to zCl,,382, while the assets were X3,984, showing a surplus of £ 2,602.' The circumstances were peculiar. Mr. Redding, it appeared from the statement of Mr. Evans, his solicitor, belonged to one of the first families in North Wales. He was not in business, and resided at Menai Bridge, in January, 1867, when he married his present wife, Mrs. De Burgh, a widow, with an annuity of £ 200, and considerable expectancies. She was a young oe person moving in good society, and apparently with ample means at the time the bankrupt made her acquaintance. Before, marriage the bankrupt. made no impertinent inquiries, nor did she, possessing that in- 'tuitive feeling of delicacy which belongs to her sex, make any remark as to her pecuniary position. The parties were married and proceeded on their wedding tour, and re- turned indue course, when thje husband, to his surprise, \yas welcomed by a process-server, who was the bearer of no less than five messages from the Queen in the shape of writs for Xl,283, being for debts contracted by his wife during her widowhood. The bankrupt, Mr. Evans stated, had endeavoured to make an arrangement with these creditors by allowing them 2100 a year, but had failed, and had since offered that the whole of his wife's property should be applied in liquidation of her debts, but from this arrangement she withheld her assent. Under these circumstances the bankrupt, who owed no debts on his own account, was, to the humiliation of his family and himself, obliged to resort to the Bankrupty Court, where he now appeared for the purpose of pass- ing his examination and applying for his discharge. Mr. Alfred Kent, on the part of the assignees, made no objection to the application, and the bankrupt accord- ingly passed and obtained the desired discharge.

CURIOSITIES OF A COLLECTION.—At a recent meeting in Exeter-hall, the collection, amounting to upwards of £ 50, was made up as follows:—Four sovereigns, six half-sovereigns, 55 half-crowns, 39 florins, 349 shillings, 486 sixpences, one franc, one half-franc, 101 fourpennies, 221 threepennies, 546 pennies, 13 penny stamps, 456 halfpennies, two sous, and 28 farthings. A CRIMSON DINNER PARTY.—About two weeks ago delicate pink cards, to the number of twenty or more, were issued to announce that a "crimson dinner party" would be given by one of the most fashionable and wealthy ladies, residing on Murray-hill, whose name we are not at liberty to mention. It was literally a "crimson dinner." Everything was crimson; the tablecloth had a crimson border, a foot deep, with bordered napkins to match, and all the plates, dishes, platters, coffee cups, fruit standards, finger bowls, &c., were of crimson glass or china. The dinner was served in the most elegant and expensive style, and the dishes were placed on crimson silk mats, with gilt fringe—the silver on the table being valued at 10,000 dollars. The dining-room was hung with rich crimson silk, and beside the plate of each guest was placed a beautifully choice bouquet of crimson lfowers—the waiters wearing crimson cloth coats a I'Anglaise. After having sat four hours at the table, the ladies withdrew to the drawing- rooms, and left the gentlemen to their wine and cigars. Some of the gentlemen then seemed to imagine they must keep up the feature of the entertainment, and accordingly drank considerable "red wine," and soon their faces became flushed to a crimson colour. The guests separated at a late hour, having passed a most enjoyable evening.

FACTS AND F ACE TIlE. --4-- DESIGNING MFN.-Architects. No dust affects the eye like gold dust, and no glasses like brandy glasses. A WOULD-BE Joe Miller asks us, if two hogs- heads make a pipe, how many will make a cigar ? AN artificial florist lately described himself as "head gardener to the ladies." ARTHUR," said paterfamilias, I did not know till to-day that you had been plucked." Didn't you ? he replied hopeful. I knew it at the time." ONE might have heard a pin fall," is a pro- verbial expression of silence but it has been eclipsed by the French phrase, You might have heard the un- folding of a lady's cambric handkerchief." A RIDDLE above par, says the Spectator of June 1st, is going about on the ritualistic question. Why was Eve the first Ritualist convert ?—Because she began by being eve-angelical, and ended by taking to vest- ments. WHAT is that animal which has the head of a cat, and the tail of a cat, and the ways of a cat, and yet which isn't a cat?—Professor Owen can't ten, but rather thinks it doesn't chew the cud. Well, it's a kitten. THE proprietor of a forge, not remarkable for correctness of language, but who by honest industry had realised a comfortable independence, being called; upon- at a social meeting for a toast, gave Success to forgery." I WOULD not be a woman, for then I could not love her," says Montague. Lady Mary Wortley Montague says, The only objection I have to be a man is that I should then have to marry a woman." As SEVERAL neighbours of a rather dishonest man, who kept a turner's shop, were discussing his wonderful skill in his art, one of them remarked that, skilful as he was, there was one thing which he couldn't turn." What is that ?" was the general inquiry. An honest penny," was the satisfactory reply. A FARMER wrote as follows to a distinguished scientific agriculturist, to whom he felt under obliga- tions for introducing a variety of swine Respected Sir,-I went yesterday to the cattle show. I found several pigs of your species. There was a great variety of hogs, and I was astonished at not seeing you there." DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM.— Archbishop Manning stated the other day that during a long sojourn in foreign countries he had seen only two drunken men, and not one drunken woman. The worthy Archbishop had not the right tip" to make discoveries of such a character, it may be well presumed, and such a seeking would not be exactly in keeping with the cloth he wears. VERY KIND INDEED!—A curious advertisement appeared the other day A kind master is wanted for a dog, which the present owner is compelled to part with on account of its savage nature." His benevolence to the brute, respect to himself, and want of consideration for the future owner are curiously mixed up, and make an advertisement as eccentric as anything that appears in English papers. THE FIRST WIG. We are informed by a learned authority that Saint Louis, who lived in 1267, had the honour of being the wearer of the first peruke. He was ordered to cover his bald head for fear of catch- ing cold, and the amiable, and inventive, and beautiful Queen Blanche conceived the idea of covering it with hair, therefore begged a lock of hair from each courtier whose hair resembled his Majesty's. The chignon controversy having died out, this may afford matter for learned dis- cussion. SPARE MY BLUSHES.—A lady's crinoline be- came loose and fell off the other day in the Palais Royal. Great was the hilarity of the public and the distress of the fair one. But onward she went. A gentleman who had the courage to pick up the fallen property, and to run after the lady with it, received a detonating smack on the face as his reward. The lady then burst into tears, and retired with her property into a shop. LIBELLING A CONGREGATION.—Parson Green, an American preacher, in the habit sometimes of draw- ing upon a box of sermons bequeathed him by his father, who was also a minister, upon one occasion got hold of a sermon, by mistake, which the old gentleman had once preached to the State Prison convicts. I It opened well, and the congregation were becoming deeply interested, when all at once the parson surprised them with the in- formation that, had it not been for the clemency of the Governor, every one of them would have been hanged a long time ago." A BACHELOR'S REFLECTIONS.—I wish that I had been married 30 years ago. Oh I wish a wife and half a score of children would start up around me, and bring along with them all that affection which we should have had for each other by being early acquainted. But as it is, in my present state, there is not a person in the world I care a straw for and the world is pretty even with me, for I don't believe there is a person in it who cares a straw for me. WHILE the Woman's Rights Convention was in Session in Albany a horse-car was crowded. There entered a severe-looking female. An old gent rose to give her a seat. Be you one of those women-righters ?" he asked. I be," replied the ancient. You believe a woman should have all the rights of a man, do you ?" "Yes, sir, I do," was the emphatic answer. "Then," said the man, "stand up, and enjoy them like a man and she had to stand up. THE LOGIC OF EARLY RISING." He who would thrive must '-rise at five." So says the proverb, though there is more rhyme than reason in it, for if He who would thrive must rise at five, it must naturally follow, He who would thrive more must rise at four, and it will ensue, as a consequence, that He who would still more thriving bo Must leave his bed at turn of three And who this latter would outdo, ■-c Will rouse him at the stroke of two. And, by way of climax to it all, it should- be held that, He who would never be outdone,. Must ever rise as soon as one. But the best illustration would be, He who would flourish best of all, ■" Should never go to bed at all. HOOD'S ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.— The Echoes we fear will not answer. Alien" is foreign to his subject. W. "Tears of Sensibility had better be dropped. B." is surely humming.— The" Night Thoughts" are not admired, because the author was Young.—" T." says that his tale is out of his own head. Is he a tadpole 1—" Y.Y. A word to Y's is sufficient.—The Essay on Funeral Ceremonies of Different Nations" should be printed in dead lan- guages. We decline it on the part of the English.—" Mr. R." complains that we are backward in forwarding his paper. Does he mean by the clause to take us for Orabs 1-The Sonnet to Miss Tree" is forwarded by the twopenny post.—" The Captive is to be restored. -The Essay on Agricultural Distress would only increase it. PLEASING NOTIONS DISPELLED.-A fine art Critic completely disposes of the vulgar error that the joint called the Sirloin received its name from being knighted by Charles II. It appears to have been called so as early as 1620, before Charles II. was born, and was then spelt "Sur-lpin." Elmore's picture of the Oxford student watching his wife knit, and thus invent- ing the knitting-machine, we are likewise told by those lovers of hard facts and spoilers of fancy, is based on an error. The inventor was a parish clergyman of Notting- hamshire. He, it is true, fell in love with a knitting girl of his village and invented the loom. He married her, but got no advantage out of his invention. The ribbing part of the machine, for Lee's loom wove a plain web, was added by Jediah Strutt, a Derbyshire farmer, who made a splendid fortune out of the inven- tion which had ruined Lee, and thus laid the foundation for the Peerage now enjoyed by his grandson, Ed. Strutt, Baron Belper of Belper. The story in its new form has lost all its poetry.