Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

A COMFORTABLE BED-" One of the most com- fortably-formed beds" (says a correspondent of the Athenaeum, writing from Naples) "that I ever saw is in one of the private magazines of the National Museum. It had just been brought over from Pompeii, and was one of two beds found amidst the ruins of that city a few months ago. The material of which it is made is bronze, inlaid with silver, highly decorated after the Greek style, whilst at the extremities there are amorini beautifully executed. The length of the bed is about nine feet, the width five feet, and its height from the ground two feet; so that the votary of Somnus had only to throw himself upon it without the aid of scaling ladders, and ran no chance of breaking his nose by tumbling out. When found, it was, of course, disjointed by the superincumbent weight; but the character of the fragments, the impression on the ashes and the carbonised wood, left no doubt as to its real form, and so it was Yestored in Pompeii, and, after having been submitted to the inspection of the critical antiquary in the magazines of Naples, wilj be shortly placed in the public rooms."

A FAITHLESS WIFE. In the Divorce Court last week, Mr. Wheelwright petitioned for a divorce, on the ground of his wife's adultery. The petitioner is the manager of a bank at Halifax, and was married to the respondent in 1855. They lived together in great happiness up to 1866, and there were two children the issue of the marriage. The co-respondent, Mr. Cresswell, was a medical gentleman, in extensive practice at Halifax, and attended the petitioner's family. He was a mar- ried gentleman, and there was great intimacy be- tween the two families. The petitioner had no sus- picion of anything wrong between the co-respondent and his wife until July, 1866, when lie received an anonymous letter hinting at some misconduct which had been observed between them. This letter tb* petitioner at once showed to his wife, and she, without denying its contents, directly left her husband's home, and had never lived with him since. A few days after she wrote to her husband's sister confessing her guilt; and on making inquiry the petitioner found that on the night of the 25th June, 1866, his wife had slept with the co-respondent at the "Queen's" Hotel, Leeds. He then commenced the present suit. The adultery was clearly proved, and the jury gave a verdict for the petitioner, with damages to the extent of 21,500 against the co-respondent. The Court accordingly pronounced a decree niri, with costs.

ATTEMPTED MURDER. A frightful outrage was committed on Friday last at the house, 11, Artillery-passage, Norton-folgate, London. It appeared that the house referred to is tenanted by a person named Grossmith and his wife, coffee and eating-house keepers. They employed an assistant, named Arthur Mackey, aged nineteen. About nine o'clock on Friday morninc Grossmith went out to make some purchases, ana during his absence a quarrel arose between his wife and Mackey, who snatched up a rolling-pin, and beat her about the head and face till she became insensible. A neighbour, hearing the screams of the woman, hurried in, and found her lying behind the doer, ana Mackey standing in the shop covered with blood. He was accused of having attempted to murder Mrs. Gros- smith, and after denying that he had done so, he ran out of the place and made off. The police were called in, and, on a search being instituted, the rolling- pin, covered with blood and hair, was found, together with an iron meat lifter, with a hook at one end and a handle at the other, about four feet in length, also covered with blood. Sergeant Ken- wood, stated the facts to Mr. Ellison, the magistrate, who immediately intimated his intention to take Mrs. Grossmith's deposition. Accompanied by the chief clerk, Mr. Wood, the chief usher, and one of the representatives of the press, he proceeded to the house in question, where, in a room on the second floor, she was found stretched upon a bed and dreadfully injured. Mr. Ellison, after consulting with the doctor in attendance, asked her if she could tell him who had wounded her, but she was so ill as not to comprehend the question. The magis- trate remained for half-an-hour, thinking it possible that she might rally sufficiently to reveal the author of the outrage, but beyond a few broken words and ejaculations, such as "Why isn't it done?" "Will you leave me alone ?" &c., no answer was returned to his questions. Shortly after Mr. Ellison had left, the injured woman managed to say that Mackey had beaten her in the most brutal manner with the rolling- pin, and that she feared she should not survive.

THE ROMANCE OF SWINDLING. At the Central Criminal Court, in London, Carl Krauthau- gen, alias Krauthausen, twenty-eight, clerk, was indicted for unlawfully threatening to publish certain letters, with intent to extort the sum of 440, under the following cir- cumstances It appeared that in 1867 the prisoner had an inter- view with Mr. Rimmel, perfumer, of the Strand, re- I presenting that he was in distress, and would gladly accept any situation by means of which he might earn a crust of bread. Mr Rimmel, commiserating his condition, took him into his service as a clerk, and gave him a box containing a number of letters and correspondence of a private nature to classify and arrange properly. Among these letters were several which Mr. Rimmel had received from Mr. Elsinger, watch-maker, of Regent-street, in reference to the foundation of a French hospital on a site near Leices- ter-square, and these letters came under the notice of the prisoner. Some time elapsed, and, in consequence of the recommendation of Mr. Rimmel, the prisoner was appointed as secretary to the committee of the hospital. Soon afterwards the attention of Mr. Rim- mel was called to an article in the Standard, copied from the Figaro, exposing a systematic swindler, and in which a name occurred which led the committee and Mr. Rimmel to think that it related to the pri- soner, and he was asked if he had any namesake or relations of the same name in Paris. The prisoner having denied all knowledge of the contents of the article, Mr. Rimmel suggested that he should furnish him with his carte de vixite, in order that it might be sent to Paris to a Baron Espeleta, for the pur- pose of identification or otherwise. The prisoner refused to do this, and then resigned the office of secretary, stating that he considered it be- neath his dignity to defend himself against such an imputation. After this he wrote letters to Mr. Elsinger, asking him to meet him at a certain time, so that he might make some communication of imports ance to him, and Mr. EIsinger sent his clerk to the spot. The prisoner then stated that he had certain letters in his possession which had been sent by Mr. Elsinger to Mr. Rimmel, and which he would give up if he (Mr. Elsinger) would consent to give him a written character and the sum of £ 40, by which he might proceed to America. The clerk promised to inform his master, and the prisoner afterwards had a personal interview with Mr. Elsinger, when he asked the same amount for the letters. This was objected to, and then the prisoner threatened to publish them, or send them to the different persons whose names were mentioned in them, and this constituted the offence with which he was charged. The letters con- tained nothing whatever that could possibly injure either Mr. Rimmel or Mr. Elsinger, and the learned Judge said that he would not have given a halfpenny for them. The article in the Figaro was a racy account of the transactions of a notorious thief and swindler, whose exploits for their romantic character were said to throw into the shade all that Balzac, Eugene Sue, and Ponson du Terrail had ever invented. At the begin- ning of 1867 a foreign nobleman residing in Paris, Baron Francois d'Espeleta, took into his service, as steward, secretary, and general superintendent of his household, a stylishly-dressed man, who had been recommended to him for activity, industry, intelligence, and, above all, for honesty. He enjoyed his master's confidence, and was looked upon as a model steward but soon after his engagement the Baron and his family were mysteriously robbed of their money, jewellery, and valuables of every description, and the steward did everything he could to discover the thief. Still the robberies went on undiscovered until the 3rd of June in the same year, when the Baron requested his stockbroker to sell various securities, representing a sum of 75,000f. (or 23,000), and in the course of the day handed the stock to the steward to take to the broker's, and bring back the money. The steward left the house and never returned, but sent a com- panion named Sebilla, a dashing young fellow, to tell the Baron that his steward had been overtaken by a domestic calamity, that he had been compelled to attend the death-bed of his father, and that, as soon as his filial duties had been discharged, he would return. This was a ruse to save time it pacified the Baron, but he lost his securities, which were exchanged for money by the steward and his friend. Sebilla, in March last, was arrested at Brussels, where he had succeeded in selling, at the branch office of Messrs. Rothschild, in that city, 2,000 forged obligations of the Orleans Railway Company, and then the transactions that had existed between him and Sebilla were re- vealed. The prisoner was found Guilty," and sentenced to six months' hard labour.

A CURIOUS CASE. In the Court of Exchequer, in London, the cause of "Mor- ley and another v. How has been tried. This was an action on a guarantee for £ 200, alleged to have been given by the defendant on behalf of his son to guarantee the payment of an account for goods supplied. The plaintiffs are the eminent London warehousemen, and the defendant's son was in business as a hosier. The plaintiffs agreed to let the defendant's son have goods to the amount of £100. and had a guarantee for that amount from the defendant, but as the son's subsequent dealings became of a more ex- tensive nature a guarantee was required for a larger sum. The defendant's son failed in business, and made a composition deed, under which he was to pay certain bills of exchange. The stock supplied by the plaintiffs to the defendant's son was sold by him, and he swore at the trial that he had paid over a part of the j)ro, ceeds to his father to take up one of the bills given under the deed of composition, but which his father had failed to do. The son at the time of his failure owed the plaintiffs upwards of £300. The defence was that the defendant's signature to the guarantee was a forgery. Mr. Phelps, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys, was called, and swore that the defendant called upon him after he had written to him on behalf of the plaintiffs, and begged of him to ask his clients to stay proceedings until he could in some measure recover himself, and that if the threat to issue a writ was carried into execution he would not defend the action, but go to the Court of Bankruptcy and at once apply for protection, Not a word was said by the defendant that the guarantee he had given was for AI(X) and not for £200. A gentleman from Xl. Pholpgotce swore thai, although the defendant and his solicitor had upon more than one occasion inspected the guarantee after action brought, it never was suggested for a moment that the instrument was a forgery. Several letters and other documents admitted to be in the defendant's handwriting were put in, and compared by witnesses with the guarantee in question, and they all swore that to the best of their belief the signature to the in- strument was genuine, it was urged by the defendant on the plaintiffs that they had better come in under the son's deed and take the composition. On the part of the defendant, the defendant himself swore point blank that he had never signed the guarantee for £200, and his son swore that he did not believe the signa- ture to be in his father's handwriting. There was only one figure in the guarantee which bore the smallest resemblance to his father's writing. Mr. Prideaux, in summing up the defendant's case, said it was useless for him to attempt to disguise the fact that the issue the jury were called upon to decide was whether the defendant had committed wilful and corrupt perjury, for he did not for a moment suggest that there was any complicity on the part of the plaintiffs, gentlemen of the highest re- spectability, with the transaction. The defendant had posi- tively sworn that the signature was not his, and the father was corroborated by his son's belief that it was not. It would be difficult for the jury to say that an old and respect- able man like the defendant would get into the witness-box and deliberately swear to an untruth, and by so doing im- pute the committing of forgery to some person. Mr. Pope, in replying upon the whole case, said that the evidence of proof of the defendant's signature was over- whelming, and the defence set up was a wicked attempt by downright perjury to get rid of an obligation which the de- fendant, by signing the guarantee, had taken upon himself. The son had had goods to the amount of 4300 from the plaintiffs, which had been sold, and the father had improperly, if not most dishonestly, put part of the proceeds into his own pocket; and now for the first time, and to the surprise of the plaintiffs and their attorneys, set up a defence of forgery. Baron Martin summed up, leaving the matter to the jury, who immediately found a verdict for the plaintiffs —Damages, 2200

A TRADE UNION OF BISHOPS! The Rev. J. E. Thorold Rogers, in a letter to the Morning Star, characterises a recent gathering at St. James's Hall as a trade union of bishops. "Disguise it as one will," he says, the motives which led the numerous prelates who met in St. James's Hall to lift up their voice against Mr. Gladstone's resolutions, were substantially the same with those which animate the counsels of .Megsr? ,:ef. Marti-, CitfiTerT and ei2'er' an HowelL T" .1, to be sure, below the character of those org/ ons with which the last-named indi- viduals associated. The secretaries of trade unionw ;t that the material and, indirectly, the Xl." lii.v^ests of the workmen are identified with the success of the union. The prelates admit that the real interests of religion are not compromised by the success of Mr. Gladstone's resolutions, and even by the final victory of the Liberation Society, when- ever that may come." Mr. Rogers does not desire the downfall of the English Church as an esta- blishment, but he thinks it is endangered by episcopal trade-unionism. At the present time," he remarks, "the condition of the agricultural labourer in the southern and midland and western counties is more deplorable than at any previous period of English social history. The squire is non-resident, and his place is occupied by a farmer who holds a tenancy from ye^r to year. He thinks less of the labourer than he does of his pigs. He has to make his profit, and to give his vote as his landlord wishes. He has neither time nor inclination to think of his labourer beyond the fact that if the labourer's condition falls below a particular line he must come on the rates. The pre- carious tenant has neither interest nor sympathy in his neighbour's condition. Here the parson is of great use. He has to live amongst these poor wretches. He does all he can, in a blind, puzzled way; he tries to better them. The Liberation Society know very little of his work; but God does, and so do some of the ecclesiastical adventurers, who trade on his work, his sympathies, his prejudices. I should be sorry to see him cleared out. But I fear for him, because as soon as ever the political influence of the Church is gone, the patrons of benefices will clamour for the secularisation of the tithes, or, as it is technically called, for their impropriation. Canon Girdlestone has done some work. Will there be a succession of such canons ? I think not, if the bishops assemble in St. James's Hall very often."

CHARGE OF BIGAMY. At the Southwark Police-Court, in London, Mrs. Annie Rickaby, stated to be twenty-four years of age, and daughter of a retired officer residing at Sherborne, was charged on re- mand with intermarrying with Robert Mills, on the 22nd of January, 1866, her first husband, Charles Reeve, being then and now living also with intermarrying with Dr. Humphrey Purnell Blackmore, physician, of Salisbury, at Perth, on the 1st of October last, her former husbands being then and now living. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine prosecuted, and Mr. Ribton de- fended the prisoner, and Mr. H. Allen, the prosecuting officer of the Associate Institute for Enforcing the Law for the Pro- tection of Women, watched the case on behalf of the society. Police-serjeant Letty stated that on the afUrnoon of the 20th of last month he was on duty at the Tower-street police- station, when a telegram was received from Exeter for an officer to be in attendance on the arrival platform at the Waterloo station. Witness proceeded there, and on the arrival of the train at a quarter past two, the prisoner, who was in travelling costume, got out of the carriage, and two gentle- men alighted from another, and gave her into custody for bigamy. He took the prisoner to the Tower-street police- station, where the charge was entered. She had with her riding-whips, saddles, and a quantity of luggage. In answer to Mr. Ribton, on behalf of the prisoner, the witness said that the telegraphic message came from Mr. Vallance, solicitor, Moorgate-house, London. Dr. Black- more was with him when he gave her in charge, and he ac- companied them to the police-station, and signed the charge- sheet. Mary Ann Sparks, dress-maker, Carlisle, said she knew the prisoner, and on the 22nd of January, 1866, she was present at St. Cuthbert's Church, Carlisle, when she saw her married to Mr. Mills. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Marshall, in the presence of the clerk, Mr. Little, and wit- ness. She saw them sign the register, and congratulated them on leaving the church. The certificate produced was a correct copy of the parish register. In answer to Mr. Ribton, the witness said she did not know the prisoner at the time, and had never seen her since the marriage until in custody on the present charge. The Rev. Matthew Pierrepoint, M.A., said that on the 2nd of June, 1863, he married the prisoner at Cardiff to Julian Reeve, and he produced a certified copy of the register. On Friday, the 24th ult., he saw Reeve alive and well. In cross- examination by Mr. Ribton, witness said he could identify the prisoner among a thousand women. Mr. Ribton here said he had no wish to enter into many matters which, if inquired into, would shonv.that the prisoner was more to be pitied than blamed. Since she had been in custody the charge against her had varied from Dr. Blackmore to Mr. Mills, the former now having withdrawn himself from the scene, for what reasons were best known to himself. It was possible that the Rev. Mr. Pierrepoint and Miss Sharpe were mistaken. The prisoner's father also had received a letter from Reeve's mother stating that he was dead. The magistrate observed that the rev. gentleman had sworn to seeing Reeve alive and well on the 24th ult. Mr. Ribton then asked for a further remand to inquire into that. Besides, the prisoner had a petition in the Divorce Court against Dr. Blackmore, for adultery. The magistrate understood Dr. Blackmore was petitioning the Divorce Court for a nullity of marriage in consequence of her previous marriage with Mills. Mr. Ribton said that was so, but not a word was said about Reeve. In point of fact, when she married Mills she was not aware that he had a wife living consequently that marriage was invalid. Under all the circumstances he thought a further remand should be granted. The magistrate told him there was no necessity for that, as her case was complete. He therefore committed her to the Central Criminal Court for trial, and accepted bail for her appearance.

BURNT TO DEATH. In London, on Saturday, Dr. Lankester, the coroner for Central Middlesex, held three inquests at the Bank of England Tavern, Paddington, on the bodies of three children, each of whom was burnt to death. The coroner first investigated the case of Annie Peace, aged two years and seven months, the daughter of a brick- layer. On Tuesday in last week the mother left the child in a room on the second floor with a fire unprotected by any guard. At the time she was sitting on the floor in the middle of the room. On her return, in about five minutes, she saw the child on the landing screaming, with her clothes nearly burnt off. The child said, "Annie played with the fire, mother." Mr. Smith, house-surgeon at St. Mary's Hos- pital, described the burns, from which the child expired the following morning, no hope of her recovery having been entertained. The second case was that of Minnie Atherton, aged six years, the daughter of a butler, who was burnt to death on Tuesday last. The mother went downstairs to light the copper fire, having previously placed some sticks of wood under the kettle to make the water boil. She had no sooner left the room than the unfortunate child got out of bed and stood on a chair before the fire, so that she might see in the chimney-glass to comb her hair. There being no guard on the fire, her night-dress became ignited and enveloped her in flames. The mother's attention was drawn to the deceased by a neighbour, who heard the piteous shrieks, and on rushing upstairs she saw the child naked on the stairs, her bedgown and chemise having been burnt. There was a younger child in the room sitting in a chair. The deceased was immediately conveyed to the hospital in a blanket, where she died the same morning from the shock. Wrlie third inquiry was on the body of Edward Spearing, aged two years and seven months. The deceased was the son of a sawyer, and on Tuesday evening in last week his mother put him to bed at twenty minutes to six, and then went down stairs into the kitchen. Shortly afterwards she smelt fire and heard her child screaming. She instantly ran upstairs, and saw him standing on the bed enveloped in flames. The bed was on fire, and his night-clothes were burnt off him. He was taken to the hospital, where he died the same evening.' The mother said that her husband had placed a cast-off waist- coat on a side1. o.ird, under which was the child's bed. The de- ceased had taken the waistcoat into the bed, and, finding some lucifer matches in one of the pockets, he ignited them and set fire to the bedclothes. Four of the half-burnt matches were found on the floor by the side of the bed. The coroner remarked that there were from 1,500 to 1,600 deaths from fire annually in England and Wales, but there were many who suffered that were not re- corded, there being one death to fifty recoveries. The above number was exclusive of men who died from fire-damp in mines. Boys under five years old were particularly liable to become burnt, being more mis- chievous than girls, and up to that age wearing cotton clothing. Women were the next xn number. Man w«r« nwdoia burnt, owing to tbtir woollw md unin- flammable dresses. He urged that families should take the precaution of using the cheap solution which renders dresses uninflammable, and in no instance should directors of theatres allow their female per- formers to go upon the stage without their dresses having been previously rendered incombustible. He further recommended that every family should be possessed of a fire-guard, which could be obtained at the small price of 4d., and would answer the purpose, and be a protection to life. On Saturday an inquiry was also held at the London Hos- pital, touching the death by fire of Jane Perry, aged fifty- three years. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was a widow. She was in the habit of wearing a crinoline, and on Saturday, the 2nd inst., she placed a candle on the floor at the top of the stairs while she searched for some clothes on the landing. Her crinoline caught fire, and the flames spread to the clothes which she was getting from the basket. She screamed out, and a next-door neighbour came to the front door and knocked. She ran downstairs and opened the door, she being then all in a blaze. With great difficulty the fire was extinguished, but she was so charred all over the body that death was inevitable. She was re- moved to the hospital, where the house surgeon did what was possible for her relief, and she lingered till Tuesday, when death put an end to her sufferings. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death by fire."

A TRAGIC AFFAIR. The following fearful occurrence has taken place at a farm at Compton, near South Petherton It appears that a farmer named Hayward resided at the farm with his wife, Ann Hayward, and his brother-in-law, Mr. George Best. They have lived amicably together, but Hayward has been unwell for some time past. On Thursday morning in last week he, his wife, and Mr. Best partook of breakfast about half-past seven o'clock. At eight o'clock Mr. Best left the house to look after the stock. Half-an-hour afterwards Hayward ran out to him saying, George, come in, you are wanted." Mr. Best went into the kitchen, where he found Mrs. Hayward quite dead sitting in a chair. Blood was flowing from a wound in her back, and her clothes were burning. MI. Best ran out for assistance, and met the murderer, whom he accused of shooting his sister. Hayward replied, "Have I?" and went into the house. It appears that immediately after Mr. Best had left the kitchen the de- ceased commenced churning butter. Her husband quietly took a gun which belongs to Mr. Best, and loaded it with powder and No. 4 shot; he then stealthily walked behind °f gun between the railings oV tne cuurn,.<^4 Buot her through the heart. Her death was instantaneous. Parvejr. oi South Petherton, was soon on the spot, and examined the body. From a post-mortem examination of the body it was found that the entire charge had passed through the body without being scattered, through the large blood-vessel near the heart, and lodged with the wadding in one mass underneath the fourth rib. The murderer was taken into custody by Sergeant Ashman, who found upon him percussion caps. To the sergeant pri- soner admitted that he shot his wife while she was sitting in the chair. An inquest was held upon the body, when the medical testimony showed that prisoner has been in a low state for some time past, but Drs. Harvey and Norris agreed that prisoner was of a sound mind, and capable of managing his own affairs. It was proved, however, that about six months ago he attempted to commit suicide, but was prevented by his wife and one of his workmen. He had also visited the sea side in order to recruit his health. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder, and prisoner was committed upon the coroner's warrant to take his trial at the next Somerset assizes.

STRIKING A BLOW FOR OLD IRELAND! In Chicago, on the evening of April 23rd, a Fenian meeting was held in the second storey of a building rather insecurely erected. Some 300 or 400 Irishmen were crowded into the apartment, and they cheered and stamped vociferously, in token of their approba- tion of the Fenian sentiments uttered by various orators who were present, among them being "General" O'Neil, the President of the Brotherhood, and James Gibbons, the Vice-President. The repeated stampings weakened the building, and, finally, when Gibbons concluded a fiery speech by exhorting his hearers to rise and strike a blow for Ireland, the applause was deafening from the excited crowd, and in the midst of the tumult the floor gave way, and with a crash carried the applauding multitude down through the lower floor into the cellar of the building, where beams, and timber, and rubbish of all kinds rained upon them. A scene of great consternation ensued, but the sufferers were quickly rescued, many being dragged out from the cellar more dead than alive. By this accident one man was killed outright, five are in a dying condition, and about thirty were wounded, many of them seriously. The sufferers are all Irishmen, and it is surprising from the nature of the accident that more were not killed.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION. Sir Stafford Northcote has received the following telegram from the Commander-in- Chief in Abyssinia:— DALANTA, April 21. Upwards of 30 guns and mortars were destroyed in Magdala, 15 of the guns from six to 50-pounders, five of the mortars from 6in. to 20in. calibre. Gates of Magdala blown up, and every building burnt on the 17th. Nothing but blackened rock remains. Widow and son of Theodore pro- tected in British camp as far as Tigré. Troops return march commenced on the 18th, Hope to reach Zoulla between the 25th and 30th of May. Wounded going on favourably. Troops well. ROBERT NAPIER. The energy and prudence with which the great general, Sir Robert Napier has accomplished his task, has at last reached the desired end, and those who have been kept in bondage by a silly and semi-savage monarch, are on .their way to their country and their homes; and as this splendid victory will gladden the heart of every true-born Briton and every lover of freedom, the following, from from the pen of a London contemporary, will be read with interest The British army in Abyssinia is on its way home again. It has accomplished its mission, liberated the captives, vin- dicated the honour of England, and punished the tyrant, who has expiated with his life the outrage which at length aroused a long-enduring people to this summary and signal act of retri- butive justice. Theodore is dead. He died on the spot where we found him-in the midst of his army, in his chosen rock fortress, 400 miles from the sea. We are leaving a chaos behind us, but we cannot help that. We are leaving the throne of the Negoos to be battled for by rival claimants- the Sultan Menilek of Shoa, Gobayzye of Lasta, and Kassai, Prince of Tigré. Our commander does wisely to keep clear of all complications with any of these chieftains. Not one of them has helped us with a man or a gun. One and all will be glad that we have prevailed against the common enemy but if he, instead, had prevailed against us, we have no doubt they would have been eager to enlist on his side, and take their chance in sharing the plunder of our army and our stores. We can quite understand their backwardness in coming forward to our aid, and we are glad now that our commander never thought of asking for it. We have no debt of gratitude i to pay them, unless it be for this-that though they were one and all assured that with our small army and seemingly feeble armament we stood no chance with Theodore, they yet allowed us a peaceful passage through their country, and took our money for the provisions needed by the army. WTiat sort of reputation shall we leave behind us in this country which we have so rudely invaded and taken by storm, which our commander has marched through from end to end, finishing at last with his Veni, vidi, met ? What will the Abyssinians think of us after we are gone ? It will be a memory of something baleful, wondrous, and strange, of beings like the magic-working Afreets of Eastern story. They will confess that we are not to be despised, that we cannot be insulted with impunity, that we can smite our enemies wherever they may chance to be, take vengeance on those who have offended us, though they seek refuge in the centre of Africa, amid inaccessible mountains, with wall upon wall of precipice girding them round with adamantine barriers. The punishment of Theodore, so promptly and so surely executed, will be a salutary lesson to all the savages of Africa and Asia. It will be talked of for years to come in the tent and in the harem, by barbarous chieftains trading for ivory and slaves, by pilgrims to M ecca, and swarthy merchants in de- sert caravan, by Christian and Mahomedan, Ulema and Priest, by Turk, Persian, and Indian. The blow which has been struck at Magdala will resound for a generation to come through the whole uncivilised world, over which it seems the destiny of England to exert either a material or a moral influence. The vast sum which has been expended in the enterprise has been well laid out. It may save us a still vaster expense in years to come. When we are told that Sir R. Napier destroyed Magdala, that all the buildings in it have been razed, the gates blown up, the fortifications levelled, and that nothing is left of the place but a blackened rock, we are not to suppose that any very ferocious act of vengeance has been perpetrated, or that thousands of innocent persons have been rendered houseless. Except as a fortress, Magdala was nothing. There was no town on the rock—scarcely even a village. Magdala, in fact, was more like Konigstein on the Elbe than any other place which we can call to mind in Europe. It was a strongly-fortified escarpment, a camp and a prison, no residence for peaceable civilians, but a place of strength for an army. We shall hear all about it when the prisoners, so wondrously liberated, return'to us with their pathetic history of long wearing suffering and agony of hope deferred. Whatever Magdala was, it is a thing of the past. There is an end for CY"1' of tlv.t cruel prison-house where our brave countrymen lingered so IUIIg-of those walls which echoed to the clanking of their iron chains. No dun- geon floor is left, like that of Cliillon, where the sympathising traveller may mark the footsteps of another BONNIVARD worn into the stone. The lion of Abyssinia is dead, and his rocky lair is laid waste. The thirty guns and mortars which were found in Magdala, and have been blown up by Sir R.. Napier, appear, from the account given of them, to have been formidable weapons, and fairly constructed in a scientific manner. Up to this time we have been somewhat incredulous as to the strength of artillery which has been ascribed to Theodore. This con- firmation of the fact, that he far excelled the attacking force in the weight and number of his guns; coupled With the fact that not one man of the Anglo-Indian force was killed, either in the battle of the lntli April, or the assault of the 13th. increases our wonderment to such an extent that we are more anxious than ever to be furnished with the full details of this extraordinary achievement. It was the proud boast of the great Duke, the hero of a hundred battles, that he never lost an English gun." Sir R. Napier may take pride in the fact, and we are proud of it for him, that he has carried through to a successful issue one of the greatest military en- terprises of modern times, without the sacrifice of the life of one of her Majesty's subjects. Nothing is said in the telegraphic dispatch about the soldiers of Theodore's army who had been taken prisoners. We may imagine that they were sent about their business when they had given up their arms. The widow and son of Theodore were taken care of as far as Tigrê. We do not know whether they are to be brought home to England, or whether it is proposed to place them in safe hands among their friends in Kassai's country. These poor people have done us no harm, and have already suffered enough for the folly and wickednew of husband and father. We have no doubt that wlMtortr ia itmamtel. gia, Mr Agbon Wapiqc will tmt them with much indulgence and all possible leniency The chief and the army are on their way back. The started from the camp at Dalanta on the isth of Apri and it was expected that they would reach Zoulla about th 25th of May, or a few days later. The march back will be fa more rapid than the advance. There will be no exploration necessary, and no road-making. Of the active army not more than one-half was in the front. The rest were at depots at Zoulla, Senate, at Attegerat, and at Antalo These detach- ments will now face right about, and turn their focitsteps homeward. The whole long distance will only be •; j the army in front. The remainder will have to march, g 200, some 150, some 100, some only 40 miles. The embarkation ot troops and stores will take some time but we understand that abundant means of transport are already provided, so that there will be no unnecessary delay in evacuating a country in which we have done our work, and bringing back our brave men to England and Bombay.

GONE THROUGH A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE! In the Court of Common Pleas, in London, the cause of Kemp v. Manlove has been heard, and was an action brought to recover from the defendant, a broker at Liverpool, the amount of a butcher's bill for meat supplied to the defendant's wife. Up to August last the defendant had supplied his wife with the means of living at the rate of £ 700 a year, and Mr. Cohen (the counsel for the defendant) said that he was now a ruined man, and that his wife had incurred debts to a. large amount ( £ 1,800), which he was unable to pay, notwithstanding the warnings to herself and the trades- men who trusted her. Mrs. Manlove was called, and it was admitted that the meat had been supplied, and that the charges were reasonable. The defendant stated that he had crossed to America sixty-1 four times, that he had lost a great deal during the Mai-, and for the last seven years he had not spent on himself "5 A year. In 1863 he fell into the river Mersey, and this had affected his health and his head. For the last two years he had had power of disposing of L400 or £ 500 a year. He had supplied his wife with 4800 a year. She bought extravagant dresses, and so he remitted money direct to the tradesmen. It would take X20,000 a year to justify her inilliner's bill. Since 1867 he had not been able to allow heriC700 a year in 1856 he told his wife he could allow her only jE400 a year, and afterwards he told her she must live on £200 a year. Since August last he had advanced her 4300 or C400. He as V*8Uy unable to allow her £ 200 a year. He would if he could"; but he was himseii 'fuwiiTi7, *a,-uav" H had had his share*) would have luem kall. In August last he paid Mr. Kemp, the now plaintiff, for his wife's butcher's bill, and requested him not to supply her with any more meat, as defendant would not be answerable fer his wife's debts any more. He did not think his wife would go to such extravagance. Mr. Justice Willes here suggested that the case ought to be referred. Mr. Manlove seemed tto be willing to,do what is right, and he had gone through a great deal of trouble. The substantial question was whether he had allowed his wife enough. His, affairs would be better investigated in private. This course was eventually assented to, and the verdict was formally entered for the plaintiff, subject to a reference.

MISS RUNNICLES' HAPPY DAY DEFERRED! In the Court of Common Pleas, in London, the cause of Runnicles v. Morris has been tried, in which the plaintiff, Miss Clara -Runnicles, sued the defendant to recover £47 10s. for money lent; and also to recover damages for a breach of a promise to marry. Mr. Smith, in opening the case, said that the plaintiff was a young woman who had been cook in a lady's family, and the defendant was a butcher in Great. Bath-street, London. They had been acquainted for about four years, and the de- fendant had, beyond doubt, promised to marry the plaintiff, and afterwards refused to perform his promise. The de- fendant had written to the plaintiff several letters, and one in August, 1865, contained these words-" I wish vou Were my own now, and mine alone, and then how happy we should be, darling, sweet wife," and it was signed, James Morris, to his darling wife." In 1867, he wrote, I hope the day will soon come when you will come home with me, and that will be a happy day, and the beginning of happy days. I should be glad if it came to-morrow, my dear; and referring to a situation w hich she was at, he said, I would not stop there if it is so very hard; I do not wish you to do so, as I shall want some work left in-you when I have you" In February, 1868, the plaintiff had 458 in the Post-oflice savings' bank, and the defendant, who had just taken the shop in Bath-street, borrowed £55 of her to go to market with. A portion of the money was afterwards received, but the amount now due was £47 10s. It was arranged that the marriage should take place on the 6th of April, at Greenwich, and the plaintiff at- tended at the defendant's shop for a week or so, going home to her mistress's house to sleep. Shortly before the day of marriage the defendant told her that she had better go about her business, for the business would not support the two of them and he promised her her .money on tlw following Thursday. On the 6tli of April a lawyer's letter was sent, demanding payment of the money lent; but the defendant sent no written reply. and only said that the plaintiff should have it when she could get it, an (I a tvrit was issued on the 8th of April. On the 6th of May the plaintiff's solicitors wrote to the defendant, saying that she had no vindictive feelings, and would forego damages for the breach of promise of marriage if the defendant would pay the money borrowed, and also the costs. Even now the learned counsel said that he did propose to ask fqr no more than nominal damages. Mr. Justice Willes said he did not think it would be right to take a verdict for the plaintiff upon that count, for it would look like an insult to the young woman; perhaps, however, the plaintiff would be more likely to get the amount of the verdict if the damages were small. Miss Runnicles gave evidence as to her lending the money to defendant. Mrs. Clifford proved that it was arranged that the parties should be married from her house. The Jury found for the plaintiff for £4i 10s for money lent, and £10 for the breach of promise to marry. Mr. Justice Willes, upon a statement that the de- fendant had sold his business, granted immediate judgment, and execution in four days.

The operative painters of Bradford some weeks ago struck work for an advance of wages—from 5Jd. to'6d. per hour. The masters resisted the application Oil the ground that it was unreasonable and the men, who alleged that an implied acquiescence had been previously made, offered to submit the matter to abitration, but their employers refused. The different masters have now obtained a supply of hands from London. The men who struck work have, consequently, started an industrial society limited).

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE, MONDAY. The few samples of wheat on sale in the country markets held on Saturday met a heavy inquiry, at a decline in the quotations of fully Is. per quarter. Barley and all other kinds of produce were very inactive, at barely stationary prices. Very little change has taken place in the value of grain on the Continent. In the United States, prices of both wheat and. flour are tending downwards. The imports of foreign and colonial produce into London last week were -21,754 quarters of wheat; 1,438 barley 12,737 oats 733 peas 21 tares 1,671 linseed 8,286 rapeseed 2,912 Indian corn. and 600 sacks of flour. There was a very small supply of English wheat on sale in our market to day. Neverthe- less, the demand for both red and white samples, owing to the prevailing fine weather for the growing crops, the full average importations of produce from abroad, and the thin attendance of buyers,' ruled heavy, and prices remained nominally the same as on Monday last. To have forced sales quite Is. per qr. less money must have been accepted by the factors. We were well supplied with foreign wheat, in which so little businesswas transacted that the quotations were nominal. Floating cargoes of grain were very dull, and rather lower to sell. The supply of both English and foreign barley was only moderate. The demand ruled inactive, at last week's quotations. Malt was held on former terms, although the inquiry for it was inactive. The supply was tolerably good. Oats commanded full prices, with a fair demand, especially for good sound corn. We have no change to notice in the value of beans, the supply of which was rather, limited. The sale for peas was inactive, at late fates." The flour trade was heavy, and country markets lyere the turn cheaper. Seeds and Cakes were very dull. Indian corn was offered at Is. to 2s. per qr. less money. 0. t METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, MosrAT. The supply of foreign beasts and sheep on offer here to-day was on the increase; of lambs and calves only moderate. The demand ruled inactive, at about last Week's prices. The arrivals of beasts fresh up from our grazing districts, as well as from Scotland, were on a moderate scale, but in prime condition. The supply from Ireland was limited. Nearly all breeds were in fair, but by no means active request, at prices about equal to Monday last. Very superior Scots and crosses realisI:"5s.; but the general top price was 4s. lOd. per 81b, From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridge- shire, -we" received about 1,600 Scots and crosses from other Parts'of'fiifglafid,* 400 various breeds; from Scot- land, 195 Scots and crosses and from Ireland, 110 oxen, &c. The show of sheep was moderately extensive, and most breeds came to hand in fair saleable condition. -(-)n the whole the tnutton trade was steady, at last week's currency. The best Downs and half-breds, out of the wool, sold at from 4s. 3d. to 4s. lOti. per 81b. We have to report a slow sale for lambs, the supply of which was good-at previous rates- viz., from 6s. 4d. to 7s. 4d. per 81b. Calves commadded pre- vious rates but the inquiry for them was inactive. The quotation-- ralijre.l frr" n Js. to 5s. per Prime small pigs sold at full prices; but large hogs were dull, at late currencies. WOOL. The arrivals for the public sales of Colonial wool, to be commenced on the 14th inst., have amounted to 1154,680 bales. The market has ruled ftnn. but business has not been of an important nature. English wool has moved off slowly on easier terms Current prices of English woof.-Fleeces: Southdown hogets, Is. (L to Is. qd. half-breds, Is. õtd. to ls. ti. Kent ileeces, is. 4d. to Is. 41d. Southdown ewes and wethers, I i. 3,d. to Is 4(1. and Leicester ditto, Is. 3d. to Is. Skd. Sorts: cJi'thin*, Is. 3d. to Is. Gi. and comb- ing, Is. to is. C4d. HOPS. In most descriptions a moderate business has been con- cluded, and prices have ruled firm. The Continental markets have been steady, at full quotations, but in America the trade has been quiet. The import into London last week consisted of 12 bales from Boulogne, 12 Hamburg. 67 Rotter- dam. and 4 bales from Ostend Mid and East Kents. 51. 6s. to 81. Os. Weald of Kents, 41. 10s. to fíl. 10s. Sussex, 41. 10s. to 51. 10s. Farnhams, 71. Os. to 81. 8s. and yearliiigs, 31. 10s. to 41. 10s. per cwt. c POTATOES. Large supplies of Potatoes have been on sale, the demand for which has been only to a moderate extent, at our quota- tions. The imports into London last week consisted of IS tons from Boulogne, 142 from Dunkirk. q8 from Harlingen, 185 from Hamburgh, 28 boxes from St. Miphael's, 456 from Madeira, 699 boxes 2 baskets from Gibraltar. Regents, ISO*, to 160s. Flukes, 130s. to 170s.; Rocks, 90s. to 1JG« • Fiench. 70s. to 80s. per ton. TALLOW. Ike mfket is vary quiet. P.T.C., ea the spet, is quoted .1Jw M: tars ttitar, (U. H, fttt tMà,