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

SIR EDWABD WATKIN'S constituents at Hythe have been at times much agitated by rumours as to the removal of the School of Musketry, upon which the prosperity of the town depends. Their fears were allayed early in the year by the commencement of building operations with a view to increasing the accommodation at the school, and a handsome block is now all but completed, so that, on the resumption of the courses in t he spring, quarters will be provided for all officers under instruction. But yet the good folks of Hythe are not happy, for hitherto the overflow of students had to find lodgings in the town, and thus put money into the inhabitants' pockets; whereas, under the new system this bene- ficent arrangement comes to an end. FIVE benchers have been elected at Gray's-inn, four as additional benchers, and one to fill a vacancy. Mr. Oswald, Q.C., is a member of the Northern Circuit, and is of the Middle Temple as well as Gray's-inn. He was called in 1869. Mr. Fleming, Q.C., is also a Northern Circuit man. He was called in 1872. Mr. S. C. Macaskie and Mr. C. A. Rufeell are each of 15 years' standing; Mr. C. M. Lush was called a year later. Mr. C. A. Cripps, Q.C., who has been elected a bencher of the Middle Temple, is a member of the Parliamentary Bar, and goes the Midland Circuit. He was called to the bar in 1877, and took silk in 1890. He is a son of Mr. H. W. Cripps, Q.C., Recorder of Lichfield, who is also a bencher of the Middle Temple. -V 95 f t 1

GRAVE AND GAl. INDIAN affairs—TomahawKs. TABLE of contents—The dinner table. IT is understood that a rule of art is reversed in the burlesque actress. She must learn to paint before she can draw. "No, sir," said the passenger to the ship's doctor, I'm not sea-sick, but I'm disgusted with the motion of the vessel." MONEY, in Tonquin, ie made of lead. A lady going shopping is followed by a coolie, who carries her purse and perspires. AN Irishman was heard to say that he would have been a man of considerable property if his father had never entered the family. AUNT ESTHER was trying to persuade little Eddy to retire at sunset, using as an argument that the little chickens went to roost at that time. Yes," said Eddy; "bnt then, aunty, the old hen always goes with them." AN old Highland clergyman, who bad received several calls to parishes, asked his servant where he should go. His servant said, Go where there is most sin, sir." The preacher concluded that wa3 good advice, and went where there was most money. A LADY acknowledged to her father-confessor a passionate fondness for gambling. The latter ex- horted her to consider the waste of time. Ah, yes, you are quite right there," was her answer there is a frightful amount of time lost—over shuffling the cards." Ox the edge of a small rirer in the county of Cavan, in Ireland, there is-or used to be—a stone with the following inscription cut upon it, no doubt intended for the information of strangers travelling that way N.B.-When this stone is out of eight, it is not safe to ford the river." "I DON'T care for any des-ert to-day," said a boarder at table, addressing the landlady. Do not say des-ert, Mr. Quibley. Please speak properly at my table and say de-sert." Excuse me," replied Mr. Quibley: I said des-ert because I found so much sand in it yesterday." Two gentlemen having a difference, one went to the other's door, and wrote "Scoundrel' upon it. The other called on his neighbour, and was told by a servant that his master was not at home. No matter," was the reply "I only wish to return his visit, as he left his name at my door in the morning." AN editor, prosecuted for libel, was asked why he had not read the passage in question. Am I expected to read everything he cried. If I kept a druggist's shop, should I have to take all the medicine myself?" A REPORTER, in describing a railway disaster, says This unlooked-for accident came upon the com- munity unawares." A LITTTE boy said he would rather have the earache than the toothache, because he wasn't com- pelled to have his ear pulled. WE'RE in a pickle now," said a man in a crowd. A regular jam," said another. I. Heaven preserve us," mourned an old woman. A LAY sermon A curtain lecture." A BAD second: A Quaker in a duel. A PLAY should be judged by its acts. A GHOST'S garment is a shroud of mystery. DEFINITION of a soldier of fortune A soldier who has none. AN adage amended Birds of a feather flock on new bonnets. I UNDERSTOOD you to say that your charge for services would be light," complained the client, when his lawyer handed him a tremendous bill. "I believe I said my fee would be nominal," was the reply; "but "0, I see!" interrupted the client, phenomenal." AT a cafe in Paris a dispute ran high between a musician and a young banker. The musician—a music-hall star "-at last sprang up, pulled out a card, which the banker calmly accepted, and pnt in his pocket. Two days later the musician met the financier in the street. Rushing up to him he exclaimed Sir, you have not yet given me satis- faction That I hive, and to the fullest extent," answered the young banker. You gave me a ticket for your coneert last night; I went and sat out the performance to the end. What more do you want?" I g A CERTAIN smatterer in letters, being at a well- known literary club, took it into his head to abuse, with great freedom, all the modern literati, observing that there was but very little wit, humour, or learning in the present age. Some time afterwards one of our most popular writers came into the room, when a gentleman told him how his friend had been abusing the moderns." I have not the least doubt of his ill-nature," said the author; he would abuse the ancients too, if he knew their names." BOWLES, the poet, was in the habit of daily riding through a country turnpike gate, and one day, says Mr. S. C. Hall, he presented, as usual, his two- pence to the gate keeper. "What is that for?" he asked. For my horse, of course." But, air, you have no horse." "Dear me!" exclaimed the astonished poet, am I walking ?" Mrs. Moore told Mr. Hall the anecdote. She also told him that Bowles, on one occasion, gave her a Bible as a birth- day present. She asked him to write her name in it. He did so, inscribing the sacred volume to her as a gift From the author." THE world is full of change. A good many wish they could say the same of their pockets. THOSE who are in the habit of telling prodigious storips ought to have good memories; but, fortu- nately for the world, their memories are generally short ones. Sheridan used to deal with these menda- cious pests in a manner peculiar to himself. He would never allow himself to be outdone by a verbal prodigy; whenever a monstrous story was told in his presence, he would outdo it by one of his own coinage, and put the narrator to a blush by a falsehood more glaring than his own. A gentleman in his hearing once related a sporting adventure of his. I was fishing one day, say in a certain cold spring full of delicious trout, and soon caught a large mess. But, what was really surprising, not a foot from the cold spring there was one of boiling water, so that when you wanted to cook your fish, aU you had to do, after hooking them from the cold spring, was to pop them directly into the boiling." The company all expiessed astonishment and incredulity at the monstrous assertion, with the exception of Sheridan. "I know," said he, "of a phenomenon yet more surprising. I was fishing one day when I came to a place where there were three springs. The first was a cold one stocked with fieb, the second a boiling spring, and the third a natural fountain of melted butter and parsley." "Melted butter and parsley!" exclaimed the first story-teller; impossible!" "Is it possible that you don't know the names of your best friends ?' inquired a gentleman of a young lady. "Certainly," she replied; "I don't even know what my OTn may be a year hence." THE squire, having a visitor on business, was very much annoyed to be interrupted by his wife, who came to ask him what he wanted for dinner. "Go away! let us alone," impatiently said the squire. Business detained his friend till dinner-time, and the squire urged him to remain. The squire was a generous provider; proud of his table and he oem- placently escorted him to a seat. A little to the surprise of both, they saw nothing on the board but a huge dish of salad, which the good wife began quietly to serve up. My dear," said the squire, where are the meats ?" There are none to-day," replied the lady. No meats! What in the name of poverty! The vegetables, then? Why don't you have the vegetables brought in ?'' You didn't order any vegetables." Order — I didn't order anything said the amazed squire. "You forget," coolly answered the housewife. "I asked what we should have, and you said, Lettuce alone Here it is." The friend burst into a laugh, and the squire, after looking lurid and lugubrious for a moment, joined him. Wife, I give it up. I owe you one. Here ia the money you wanted for that carpet which I denied you. Now let's have peace—and some dinner. The good woman pocketed the money, rang the bell, and a sumptuous repast of ash, poultry, and vegetables (including peas), was brought in. THE parish of T., near Edinburgh, once held a meeting for the purpose of disapproving of and cen- suring to the highest degree the use of spectacles in church. The Rev. Dugald M'Gorum, a representa- tive from one of the Highland districts, was oalled upon to speak, and made the following oration: My dear brethren, Just another example of the use of these terrible instruments occurred in my own parish of Strochondonald. Old Tonal M'Tavish, he bought a pair of spectacles and pegan to wear them in church. I gave him a solemn warning of his danger in using such articles, but be still persisted. Well, it was just last week that his poat was capsized in the loch. And it s pelieved, my brethren—it's pelieved that if Tonal MTavish I had peen in the poat, Tonal M'Xavish would ha a my brethren-it's pelieved that if Tonal M'Tavish I had peen in the poat, Tonal M'Xavish would ha a ■ peen trooned."

WILLS AND BEQUESTS. 5 The will (dated Nov. 26, 1892) of the Most Hon. Mary Antoinetta, Dowager Marchioness of Huntly, late of Orton Longueville, Huntingdonshire, who died on Aug. 10, was proved on Nov. 10 by the Marquis of Huntly, the son, the Hon. George Ralph Charles Ormsby Gore, and Erskine Pollock, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 36,000. The testatrix gives certain diamonds and jewellery, and the articles of virtu, china, glass, pictures, natural history collections, antiquities, and furniture belonging to her at Orton, to be held as heirlooms with the title of Marquis of Huntly; and many pecuniary and specific legacies to children, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and also to her executors, housekeeper, and maid. The residue, of her property she leaves, upon trust, for her son, Lord Granville Gordon, his wife and children. Various powers of appointment vested in her under three settlements are, so far as she has not already done so. exercised by her in favour of her last-named son, and her daughter, Lady Elena Wickbam. I The will (dated Nov. 29, 1882), with a codicil (dated Jan. 20, 1890), of General Sir Arthur Borton, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., late of 105, Eaton-place, who died on Sept. 7, was proved on Nov. 10 by Captain Charles j Edward Borton, the son, one of the executors, the value of tbe personal estate in the United Kingdom j amounting to upwards of £ 65,000. The testator I bequeaths £ 1300 to his wife, Dame Caroline Mary j Georgina Borton; E12,000 to his son Charles j Eiward and E7000 to his son Arthur Cloie, in iaddition to the E5000 he has covenanted to pay by I his marriage settlement. His residuary, real, and personal estate he leaves, upon trust for his w fe, for life, and then to be equally divided among such of I his children as shall be then living, and the issue of any such child as shall be then dead leaving issue. The will (dated June 24, 1891), with a codicil (dated Sept. 13, 1893), of Mr. John Cabourn Simonds, late of Fishtoft, Lincolnshire, farmer and grazier, and of Boston in the same county, seed-crusher, who died on Sept. 13, was proved on Nov. 8 by William Turner Siiuonds, and John Edward Simonds, the sons, and the Rev. Edward Mitchell, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 46,000. The testator bequeaths the silver salver presented to him by the Corporation of Boston to his son William Turner; and there are some other specific bequests to children. He gives the remainder of his household furniture and effects, and JE200, tohis wife, Mrs. Sarah Tayton Simonds; E500 per annum to his wife so long as she shall remain his widow, and in the event of her marrying again au annuity of £ 200 £ 2000 each to his son Henry Turner and his daughter Laura Cabourn, the two children by his first wife £ 500 to the daughter of his late son Henry on her attaining 21 or marrying, and in the mean- time an income of EIOOO for her maintenance; and £ 465 upon trust for the widow and four children of his late brother Thomas. All his real estate and the residue'of his personal estate he leaves upon trust for his six children equally. The will (dated March 2, 1891), with a codicil (dated Oct. 24, 1893), of Mr. William Gaskin, slate of 143, Finborough-road, West Brompton, who died on Oct. 26, was proved on Nov. 10 by Thomas Hanna, the nephew, Herbert William Rogers, and Thomas Equator Young Berry, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 33,000. The testator bequeaths E5000 to his brother John Gaskin c,3000 to his sister Elizabeth Ann Hanna £ i}000 Four per Cent. London and Brighton Debenture Stock to his sister Mrs. Mary Brown Baxter; E2000 each to his nephews, William James Brown Gaskin, Thomas Hanna, James Brown Hanna, and Richard Hanna; EIOOO each to his nieces, Letitia Ann Gaskin, Ellen Jane Hanna, and Letitia Gorman, and a few other legacies. The residue of his property he gives to his sister Mrs. Baxter and his said three nieces. The will (dated Dec. 11, 1891), with a codicil (dated Jan. 6, 1893), of Mr. Thomas Porter, late of Manchester and Park-road, Southport, Lancashire, merchant, who died on Feb. 11, has been proved at the Liverpool District Registry by Andiew Bennie, Alexander Porter, and Alexander McDougal, jun., the executors, tha value of the personal estate amounting to over £ 28,UuO. The testator makes various pro- visions in favour of his sister and half-sister; and there are legacies to other of his relatives, and to executors, and others. The residue of his estate he leaves, upon trust, to distribute half-yearly the rents, profits, and income among such charitable institutions, being orphanages, and in such propor- tions, and for the general purposes of such institu- tions, or for any particular purpose as shall from time to timo bo dirootorl Bo«»id vl Ootciuuio t\j be appointed as in his will directed; and shall, so | far as practicable, be provided for the purpose of equipping children leaving the orphanages or assist- ing them to emigrate, such as giving them outfits and otherwise. The charity is to be designated Thomas Porter's Equipment Fund." Of the seven members of the Board of Governors two are to be nominated by the President of the Wesleyan Con- ference and one by the President of the Stockwell Orphanage. He expresses a desire, but without imposing any obligation, that his sister Elizabeth Porter (to whom he gives same) will dis- tribute his library, after giving a right of selection of about 50 volumes each to his executors and to William Hughes Hilton and Thomas Porter, among such orphanages as she knows he is interested in. On the death of his said sister, to whom he had given a life interest, all his pictures and engravings, with the exception of one or two specifically bequeathed, are to be distributed by his executors among the orphanages entitled to receive the moneys under the charity fund to be formed out of his residuary estate. The will (dated June 1, 1892) of Mr. Henry Evenden, late of Montmedy Villas, Eastbourne, silk- mercer, who died on September 28, was proved on November 9 by Harry William Evenden and Norman Watts Evenden, the sons, and Mrs. Emily Eliza Mary Anne Carter, the daughter, the executors, the value of the personal estate exceeding £ 21,000. The testator leaves all his real and personsl estate to his three children equally, but certain freehold property of the value of about E4000, settled upon his daughter, is to be brought into hotchpot. The will (dated August 24, 1876) of Mr. John William Beetles, late of 553, Liverpool-road, Hol- loway, who died on October 2, was proved on Novem- ber 13 by John William Beetles, the son, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 22,000. The testator leaves one moiety of his estate and effects to his son John William; and the other moiety, upon trnst, for his son Albert James, for life, and then for his said son John William. The will (dated Feb. 20, 1880), with two codicils (dated Feb. 21, 1880, and Jan. 12, 1887), of Lord Alfred Spencer Churchill, late of 16, Rutland-gfite, Knightsbridge, who died on Sept. 21, was proved on Nov. 15 by Lady Alfred Spencer Churchill, the widow, and Lord Calthorpe, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to upwards of £ 11,000. The testator gives £ 500, his shares in any mining company, all the cash in the house, and all his furniture and effects, horses and carriages, to his wife; and there are some bequests to his daughters. The residue of his property he leaves, upon trust, for his wife for life, and then for his four daughters in equal proportions. The will of Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir James Charlemagne Dormer, K.C.B., who died on May 3 at Woodside, Ootacamund, Madras, was proved on Nov. 15 by Lord Dormer and the Hon. Hubert Francis Dormer, the brothers, two of the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 2751. The will of Mr. Frederick Chaplin, formerly of 65, Cadogan-place, and late of 2, Observatory-avenue, Kensington, who died on Aug. 24, haB been proved by Mrs. Hester Elizabeth Chaplin, the widow, and Frederick William Chaplin, the son, the executors, the value of the personal estate amounting to £ 2998. --Illustrated, Londot& News.

A DJIIER child—A fawn. CLARA, I love but thee alone." Thus sighed the tender youth. Oh, hear me, then, my passion own; with trembling lips and earnest tone I swear I speak the truth." He paused-a blush o'erspread her cheek. She let him draw her near. Bcarce for emotion could she speak. Yet she did ask, in acoents meek, How much nave you a-year ?" A TEASER in one of the public schools having occasion a few weeks since to punish one of his pupils for some misdemeanour, placed hinpi on the platform to wait until he had heard someSdasses recite, but the culprit took advantage of the teacher's engagement, and escaped from the schoolhouse. The teacher being somewhat vexed, promised another scholar a reward of a shilling if he would bring the runaway back to the scboolhouse. Before this could be accomplished, however, the boy who had escaped heard of the offered reward, and sent word to the teacher that he would return and take the licking for sixpence—cash down.'

FRAGMENTS OF ENGLISH HISTORY. The latest volume issued by the Historical Manu- scripts Commission in its series of essentially valuable contributions to the history of this country contains a number of documents selected from four separate sources. Of these the most important group from every point of view consists of the Tissington Manu- scripts, the property of Sir William FitzHerbert. An immense amount of material for future historians appears, indeed, to exist at Tiesington HalL Lord St. Helen's correspondence between 1795 and 1835 contains, for example, materials of great interest, including letters from George IV., the Princess Elizabeth, the Princess of Orange, Mr. Canning, Lord Chesterfield, Lord Exeter, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Mr. Wilberforce, the Duke of Wellington, the Prince of Sweden, and Madame de Stael, Lord Malmesbury, and Mr. Gaily Knight. With this correspondence it has not been thought expedient to deal, on account of its recent date, and a number of letters which passed between Gaily Knight and George Ellis when abroad in 1788, as well as a mass of omcial correspondence with foreign Ministers and with the Ambassador at St. Petersburg in 1802, have also been set on one side. The letters which are published extend over a considerable period, and deal with troublous times. They cover a portion of the Protectorate, and reach as far as The Forty- Five." Taken as a whole, the correspondence divide* itself into four portions, and it is wisely arranged under the appropriate headings irrespective of chro- nological order. We have, in the first place, a number of papers, principally letters from General Monck, relating to the Restoration and to the events immediately antecedent to it. Then we have a quantity of private correspondence addressed to Mr. Treby. This is followed by a variety of docu- ments dealing with the Popish Plot, and finally we have a number of letters throwing a strong light upon the incidents of the Rebellion of 1745, and of the march through Derbyshire. With the exception of the contemporary accounts relating to the last- named incident in English History, the whole of the documents were found at Tissington Hall as a separate collection in three portfolios. It is not clear how they came to Tissingto'i, but, it is suggested that the fact that most of the letters are addressed to Sir George Treby, either before or after his elevation to the position of Lord Chief Justice, coupled with the additional fact that the kulk of the other papers are connectod with the Popish Plot, with which he was connected as Chairman of the Com- mittee of Secrecy and in other ways, serve to indicate that the documents once belonged to him. Their discovery may, perhaps, be traced to the time when Sir W. FitzHerbert, the grandfather or the present owner, was a barrister in London, and various cir- cumstances suggest the conclusion that it is to him that we owe the preservation of this small portion of a once large and valuable collection of historical documents. The papers relating to General Monck-which are, with two exceptions, letters from that offi cor-occupy only about three and a half pages of the volume before us, but are in their way somewhat, amusing. We have at the outset certain passages from a speech of the Lord Keeper Coventry at the Star Chamber on Jnne 7, 1626, urging that" the law of confinement at home of recusants should be enforced. They flock in companies to their public meetings such things should be prevented." Then comes a com- plaint against disorders in alehouses," which are represented as being the greatest source of evil in the Commonwealth. In this connty there are 1000 alehouses in one Hundred. How many thousands of wicked men must there be who spend their time and estates to support all these." Then comes a letter, dated June 24, 1654, from an officer of the army in Ireland to the Lord Protector complaining that the existing Govern- ment is nothing better than a Monarchy bottomed by the sword and 30,000 men. As things are now enormous sacrifices and sufferings have been incurred in pulling down a legal Monarchy some- what too tenacious of power, with the result that the present Government is yet more auto- cratic and arbitrary." The letters from Monok himself commence with one dated August 13,1659, and end exactly eight years later. They show his gradual adhesion to the Royalist cause and some of his subsequent work as Duke of Albemarle, and in the frequent excuses to Sir R. Knight for the ncn-payment of his pension they shed a flood of light upon the emptiness of the Treasury. The most interesting portion of this group of manu- scripts is, however, that relating to the Popish Plot. The first 20 W-— sun interesting set of documents, for they are evidently the original letters of the secret correspondence between the Courts of France and England in the latter part of the reign of Charles II. Certain cyphers have been used, but, in the main, they only take the form 1 of the employment of numbers instead of names. Sympathetic ink, however—perhaps lemon juice, as suggested by Coleman himself in a letter printed in the State Trials-has been largely employed. Some- times the whole of a letter has been written with it; at other times, the secret writing appears as a part only of a letter of which the remainder, dealing with ordinary topics, is written in common black ink; whilst, in not a few cases, the sympathetic writing appears as an interlineation, often very irregularly carried out, in a letter written with ordinary ink. No one believes nowa- days in the hideous stories which Titus Oatfs-by the way, he spells his names "Otes" in one or two of the letters—concocted, and it would be surprising, were it not for the excitability induced by the period of civil war through which they had recently passed, that our forefathers should have allowed themselves to be misled by a man of such infamous character whose evidence was never confirmed. The fact that Edward Cole- man, a very busy and not very honest Roman Catholic intriguer," as Macaulay calls him, was found to have destroyed a number of his most im- portant papers when a search was instituted aided no doubt in exciting the public mind, and so unquestionably did the murder of Sir Edtnondsbury Godfrey. Many of the letters now before us relating to the Popish Plot were found in Coleman's house, and we have also certain depositions used against Coleman himself and other persons accused. The whole constitute a rich field for the student of the history of the period, and the portions written in sympathetic ink are carefully indicated by the em- ployment of a different type. The manuscripts of Sir William FitzHerbert are followed by those relating to the Delaval family, who were the former possessors of Seaton Delaval, in Northumberland. A number of the most interesting were addressed to or written by Captain George Delaval about the beginning of the 18th century. They relate principally to naval matters, especially with referenoe to the Moors and their Christian captives, and amongst them is a copy of the very full instructions given in November, 1698, by Admiral Matthew Aylmer, Commander-in-Chief fn the Medi- terranean, to Captain Delaval, who was at that time in command of the Coventry, as to the course that he was to pursue in treating at Tangier for the redemp- tion of the Christian prisoners. Here it may be pointed out that in a letter from J. Pollexfen to Sir George Treby, dated September 18, 1680, it is noted that Tangier, which had of course been given up by the time of Captain Delaval's visit to it, had already cost above two millions," and that it will require EOW,000 more to finish the fortifications." It would have been well had this and infinitely more been spent provided only tint Tangier had remained in English hands. A letter from Mrs. Astley to her sister, Mrs. Delaval, shows the interest taken by the public in the Duchess of Hamilton, one of the beautiful Miss Gunnings, and the excitement which her appearance created every- where. The letter, indeed, is worth quoting. It is dated April 14, and the date is probably 1752: It is almost incredible what a crowd of people was at Newcastle waiting to see the Duchess of Hamilton. She, according to her usual goodness to the public, contrived to stand a few minutes on the steps at the 'Iron,' but when the duke came out he was much offended that the people should dare to lift their eyes to so divine a beauty, and protested if he bad had a pistol he would have fired among them. When he was in his chaise he bade the postilion drive on, and the more he drove over the better." Amongst the interesting features of the manuscripts of the Earl of Ancaster are an exceedingly complete account of the household expenses of Catherine, DucheBs of Suffolk and her husband, Richard Bertie, during the years 1560-1562—that is to say, after the duchess and her husband had returned from their enforced wanderings and were reinstated in all their pos- sessions. A letter in French written by Lord Willoughby in March, 1587 to Dauzay, the French Ambassador in Denmark, gives the omcial version of Queen Elizabeth's motives and feelings in regard v. ..oI i, 1 < to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, and later letters show the opinion held by Charles 1. in regard to the military merits of Montagu, Lord Lindsey, and the importance of holding Woodstock against the Cromwellian troops. Coming to a still more recent period, we have some details of the opposition of the Vere family to the assumption by Harley of the title of Earl of Oxford, and of the latter's state- ment—ought we to write threat?—that somebody title of Earl of Oxford, and of the latter's state- ment—ought we to write threat ?-that" somebody else would have the title in a month if be had it not." The original diary kept by the Earl of Anglesey, who held various high offices of State during the reign of Charles 11., was placed at the disposal of the Historical Manuscript Commissioners by the earl's descendant, General Lyttelton Atinesley, and some extracts are given from it. The diary extends over about four years and a half, but the historical interest it possesses is not great, and it is truly described as being mainly remarkable as showing how a man of the strictest Puritanical training could live in almost daily intercourse with some of the most profligate characters of his time without his own character and habits being in any way affected." It will be seen that, taken as a whole, the papers which are dealt with in this latest volume emanating from the Historical Manuscripts Commission contain details which will be of great interest, and frequently of some importance, to the future historian.

MATRIMONIAL CONTRACTS. A judge and jury having spent two days in listen- ing to the details of a breach of promise case while actions of considerable commercial importance were awaiting trial, public attention has again been directed (the Law Journal says) to the question whether this class of litigation ought not to be abolished. Without any special reference being made to the proceedings which have been recently concluded, it may safely be said that the evidence given in the cases which have been heard in the courts since the present sittings began cannot increase the belief that such actions are necessary in the interests of justice. To those who are able by reason of their professional position to see behind the scenes, the ohief objection to breach of promise actions lies more in the character of many claims which are settled out of court, than in the nature of the cases which are fought to the bitter end. From this point of advantage it is impossible to resist the conclusion that bona-fide cases constitute a lament- ably small proportion of the total number. Every lawyer with any experience of breach of promise actions knows full well that a great number are brought for the purpose of extortion. Some claims are advanced where no promise was made; while others are founded upon foolish vows snatched by designing women. The result, in any event, is the same; rather than expose himself to the ridicule with which it is customary for a defendant in a breach of promise action to be covered, the unhappy victim accedes to the demand made upon him he prefers to part with his money rather than with his dignity to submit to the claims of his persecutors rather than to encounter the laughter of a crowded court and the jocularity of his acquaintances. It is extremely doubtful, therefore, whether the few genuine cases tried in the courts ought to be regarded as a justification for the continued exist- ence of a law which may be used chiefly by black- mailers. If the scandalous abuse of the law were carefully compared with its legitimate use, it would certainly not be unreasonable to hold that the balance of justice is in favour of its abolition. Nor are the unscrupulous objects with which most breach of promise actions are instituted the only ground on which they may be condemned. Under the fear of proceedings being taken against bim, many a man has entered somewhat unwillingly into a marriage which it would have been better for both parties not to have contracted. The records of the divorce court show to what a miserable life sucb an ill-assorted union leads. In more cases than one the marriage which has been dissolved was entered into for fear of breach of premise proceedings. An ex- ceptionally unpleasant feature of these actions is the frequency with which the honour of the plaintiff has been lost. It may be that the abolition of actions for breach of promise to marry would effect some diminution, however slight, in the number of such cases, for women, deprived of the fatal sense of security which the law at present gives them, would probably exercise more pru- dence. But the history of breach of promise cases extending over a period of 300 years—the first action of the kind appears to have been tried in the days of Queen Elizabeth—presumably there is something to be said in support of them. It is unquestionably trne that there have been cases in which real injury has been proved. How rare these oases are only lawyers, perhaps, can tell. The women who suffer most wrong and deserve most pity are not those who drag the most sacred affairs of their lives into the light of publicity and beseech a jury to set a price upon their hearts. Where the bitterness of faithlessness is felt most keenly there is the silenoe of sorrow, and not the shout of re- venge. The cases of real hardship are those in which actual pecuniary loss has been proved. It sometimes happens that the plaintiff has been led by the represen- tations of the defendant to leave her situation or to purchase a trousseau, and it would certainly be unjust not to compensate her for this loss. Some 14 years ago Lord Herschell endeavoured to persuade the House of Commons to amend the law on these lines. The resolution which was supported by Sir Henry James ran: That, in the opinion of this House the action of breach of promise of marriage ought to be abolished, except in cases where actual pecuniary loss has been incurred by reason of the pro- mise, the damages being limited to such loss." Such an alteration of the law would constitute an equitable settlement of the question.

AUTUMN-SOWN WHEAT. Shall we reap the benefit next harvest from the autumn-sown wheat which has this year gone into the ground with so much promise and germinated under such favourable circumstances ? is the question asked by the farmers at the present moment. Will the Royal Commission, with the evidence delivered before it in camera, be just and shift the burden of taxation now borne by the agricultural industry to the more prosperous section of manufacturers who do not pay in proportion to their prosperity ? is the inquiry made by those farmers who have to pay more than their share of taxation. Will the Commis- sioners set forth in their reports the causes of the present low prioes, and recommend the abolition by legisla- tion of the gambling in farm produce, as carried on in the system of "option" or "future" trading, which tends to lower the price of grain and other farm commodities dealt with on account of it being to the interest of the majority of operators to bear values; the passing of more stringent laws against the sale of adulterated commodities of all kinds of farm produce; the prohibition of the use of sugar in brewing, and the proper classifying of foreign flour in order that the figures as now given by the Board of Trade should not contain other than pure flour ?

A CORRESPONDENT of the Standard makes the sen- sible suggestion that the Post Office authorities Bhould compel advertisers to use halfpenny wrappers in place of open envelopes. He has recently, he says, received four of these open envelopes, each contain- ing letters addressed to other persons, which have slipped inside and escaped the notice of the sorter and postman. These he has had to re-post. What is the more annoying is that the circular in the open envelope is usually worthless. The authorities might either return to the wrappers or devise an open enve- lope that shall not permit the admittance of other letters. CAPTAIN GRHTTON has just returned from ateur in Canada, in the course of which he has visited all the chief families sent out by the East-end Emigration Society. His reports are most favourable, and there is no doubt that, if properly supervised, emigration to Canada may produce results as happy as they are at present in many cases calamitous. It is quite certain that the day for shooting rubbish into the Colonies is past. Emigration requires the best material in point of character, though it may be the worst in point of good fortune. Out of 600 sent out, Captain Gretton found 96 per oent. prosperous and happy; but this result is only produced by the most careful and rigid selection from some 5000 appli- cants, Where emigration really beoomes useful as a social remedy is in giving a fresh start to a man of good character who is down on his luck," unequal to grapple with the competition of the old country, but not yet sunk into the abyss of odd jobs and crime. Captain Gretton can quote dozens of cases where a man incapable of procuring bread and butter in the old country is now naving a daily dinner of roast beef and pudding unlimited. But this result could not be produced in men of bad character, whose vicious habits would only be encouraged by increased prosperity. Emigration, in short, is not a panacea, but it has an important place among social remedies. { _A

MARKET NEWS. WOOL.—Buyers are not eager to do business at the current rates, and on the other hand holders antici- I pate that their quotations will be fully warranted by the course of the sales. English cross-bred and skin wools are all firm, the last-named description even tending to harden. Hops.-With a good steady demand for hops of all kinds, prices remain quite firm, holders showing no disposition to take offers anything below market value. Continental markets are fairly active, but the amount of business passing is restricted by the exces- sive shortness of the supply. Continental brewers continue to take small parcels of English hope. The demand for hops in America has improved prices are, in consequence, quoted rather dearer. At the same time the "States" and Pacific coast hops on this side are moving into consumption very slowly. Quotations as follows: East Kent Goldings, £ 6, E7, E8 8s; Mid Kent Goldings, E6, E7, E8; Weald of Kents. 0 12s, jE6 lOs, JE7 7s; Suseex, JE5 12s, £6 6s, -27; Farnhams and Country Farnhams, JE5 15s, £6 15s, E8; Worcesters, jE5 12s, £6 10s, £7 15s; Burgundies, £ 9, £ 10; Americans, £5 5s, V-6 10s, £7 7s; yearlings, £5 10s, jE6 per cwt. SEEDS.—English clover seed does not yet come out very freely. More disposition has lately been shown to purchase American red. Alsyke white and trefoil exhibit no change. Perennial and Italian rye grasses are weak. As regards canaryseed, advices from Turkey describe much stronger markets; quotations in London, and especially in Liverpool, with rapidly diminishing stocks, are steadily advancing. New hempseed continues cheap. No alteration is shown either in mustard or rapeseed. Peas and haricots move off slowly. Canadian linseed is scarce and dearer. CORN. MARK-LANE, The grain trade in the country markets has not varied much either in tone or quotations, but the downward tendency in wheat has continued. At the outports transactions have been upon a moderate scale, and where any change has occurred the buyer has bad the advantage. The official average price of wheat for the kingdom is reduced 3d per qr. About 1,300,000 qrs. English I wheat of last crop have now been sold which must render farmers' deliveries lighter later on. The quantity of wheat on passage is estimated as nearly 2,700,000 qrs., against 2,127,000 qrs. at same date last year. In the details making up this total Californian is much the largest, and is given as 1,366,000 qrs. At Mark-Itne English wheat was firmly held, and ruled fully up to previous value, but sales were small. Indian and Russian wheats on the week are 3d to 6d easier, but other foreign shows no material change. Flour steady, with rather more demand, especially for American. There has been a fair amount of business in grinding barley at previous rates, except for Persian, which is rather easier. Malting barley firm, with a fair inquiry. Oats are bought rather slowly, the large shipment of Russian for this country during the last few weeks rendering buyers cautious. Maize firm to 3d dearer, but only a moderate business done. Beans and peas meet a quiet demand without change in prices. The floating and forward shipment trade for wheat was firm at the commencement, but finished up with a more subdued tone. CATTLE.- METRO POLTTAN.orfolks came to hand in good condition, and in point of market rates went level with Scots. Herefords were not quite so much in favour. At the opening prices were about the same as last week, but towards the finish 2d per SIb. less was accepted. Few cows on offer, owing to some doubts having been felt as to freedom of removal. In the sheep assortment Irish were less numerous, as the season is getting far advanced. The best pens were not much altered, but the general market rates gave way 2d per 81b. Calves about unaltered. Pig trade rather firm. Quotations: Beat ScAs, Norfolks, and Herefords, 4s lOd to 5s; Devons, 48 lOd short- horns, 4s 4d to 4s 6d; Irish, 4a to 48 4d plain cattle, 3s 8d to 4s; best Downs, 8-stone, 5a 6d; 9-stone, 58 4d; 10-stone half-breds, 5s to 5s 2d 12 to 11 stone, 4s lOd to 5s Kents and Linculns, 4s 8d to 4s lOd Irish, 4s lOd to 5s; Down ewes, 48 to 4s 2d; white-faced, 3s 8d to 4s; best calves, nominally 5 2d to 5s 6d pigs, 4s to 5s 2d per 81b., sinking the offal. MICAT.-CZIqTR,&L.-Beef Scotch shorts, 4s 4d to 4s 6d; sides, 3s lOd to 4s; English, 3s 8d to 4s; American, Deptford-killed, 3s to 3s 9d; Liver- pool, 3s 7d to 3s 9d; exceptionally, 3s 6d American- killed hindquarters, best, 3s 8d to 4s 2d; average, 3s lOd; seconds, 3s 4d to 4s 2d average, 3s 6d; thirds, 38 2d to 3s 8d; average, 3s 5d; fores, best, 2s 4d to 28 6d average, 28 5d; seconds, 2s; average, 2s 2d. New Zealand hinds, 2s 2d; fores, Is lOd. Mutton: Scotch, 48 4d English, town-killed, 4s to 4s 2d; country, 38 lOd to 4s; Dutch, 3s 6d to 3s lOd ewe, 2s 8d to 2s lOd; Wellington, 2s 6d to 2s 7d; Canterbury, 2s 9d Sydney, 2s 3d; River Plate, 29 2d to 2s 4d. Veal: English and Dutch, middling, 3s 4d to 3s 8d; prime, 4s 4d to 4s 8d. Pork: Irish, 3s lOd to 4a; Dutch and French, 38 8d to 48 per 81b. FIBH.—BILLINGSGATE.—Supply better, demand slow. Turbot, 10s 6d to 14s brill, 8s to 10s; halibut, 8s per stone; live cod, 50s to 100s per score; salmon, Is 8d to Is lOd soles, Is 2d to Is 8d; red mullet, Is to 2s dories, 3d per lb.; plaice, large, 20s to 30e others, 12s to 18s; whiting, 5s dead cod, 18s herrings, 6s Glasgow, 15s per box; salted, 18s per barrel; mackerel, 5d each haddocks, 15a per box and 21s per turn eels, live, 20s; dead, 118 per draft; lobsters, Is 6d to 2s 6d each crabs, 22s 6d per hamper; bloaters, 2s 6d kippers, 2a 6d per box; smoked haddocks, 3s to 9s per dozen shrimps, Is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon. LONDON HAY ANN STRAW (CUMBERLAND).- Prime Is 6d to 2s 6d per gallon. LONDON HAY AND STRAW (CUMBERLAND).- Prime picked meadow bay, 160s to 180s; good do., 140a to 160s; useful do., 105s to 140s; prime clover, 135s to 145s; useful do., 105s to 135s; in- ferior, 90s to 105s; straw, 36s to 58s per load. Cana- dian hay, 120s to 130o per ton. CAMBRIDGE CATTLB.—There was a good show of store beasts, with a very slow trade, and fat beasts were not so good a trade as last week. A large show of fat sheep, and prices a little better; a few lots of stores all sold. A good number of fat pigs to hand, and trade good; not many stores, and trade slow. Hay, straw, and roots made good prices all round. Beef, 6s 6d to 7s 6d; mutton, 4s 6d to 5s 6d pork, 6s to 7s Gd. READING CATTLE. The attendance proved an average one. Prime beef was scarce, that on offer selling at 5s to 5s 2d; coarser animals, 4s 6d to 4s 8d per etone. Sheep came to hand in small numbers; really prime animals sold at 5s 6d to 58 8d; larger sheep, 5s 2d to 58 4d per stone. Other kinds of stock unchanged in value. CORK BUTTJIR. Ordinary: Firsts, 120s; seconds, 105s; thirds, 94s; fourths, 86s. Kegs, 91s mild- cured firkins: Superfine, 127s; fine, 109s mild, 979. Kegs: Mild, 94s. GRIMSBY Man.-Ifodemte supply; good demand. Prices as follows: Brills, Is to Is 2d per lb.; live cod, 5s to 12s; dead, 3s to 9s 6d each salt, 10s per cwt. coalfish, 20s to 40s catfish, 20s to 40s per score; codlings, 18s to 21s; gurnets, 7s to 98 per box dabs, 28 to 28 6d per stone; live halibut, 8s 6d to 98 6d; dead, 6s to 7s per stone; haddocks, 50s to 60is per kit; round, 17s to 238 per box finnan, 4s 6d per stone; hake, 2s to 58 each; kippers, Is 6d to 2s 9d per box; live ling, 4a to 8s Gd; dead, 2s 6d to 5s 6d each; lobsters, Is 9d to 2s per lb.; plaice, 3s to 4s 6d per stone; reds, 28 per box; roker, 16a to 22s per score; soles, Is 9d to 2s Od per lb.; lemons, 9s 6d per stone; live skate, 4s to 7s 6d dead, 3s to 5s each; turbots, Is 2d per lb.