The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

A CLEVER SWINDLE. The extraordinary and deplorable success of the recent imposture on experienced men of the world, like the proprietor, the editor, the solicitor, and the counsel for the Times, gives peculiar interest to the subject of swindling at the present time, and we think it may interest our readers if we give them the details of an elaborate plot to obtain money from a Carmar- thenshire gentleman a short time back. It was carried on by correspondence for nearly a year and we propose publishing the letters in instalments, the two first being given below. Mr Jackmage made many dupes, his system being to write to a large number of persons at the same time and in almost identical terms, it being difficult to close a correspondence with so many persons at the same moment. The accident, described in one of his letters, was invented so as to bring the climax in all cases to about the same period of time. Mr Jackmage was successful in obtaining the desired sum of JE380 from several persons— a captain in the Navy and a Manchester merchant among the number. He was rewarded for his ingenuity by seven years' penal servitude, and as his fertile brain was doubtless active during that time, these letters may act as a useful warning. The names of Smith given in the let- ters are fictitious. THE LETTERS. [1.] Strictly Private and Confidential. Mr A. Jackmage presents his compliments to Mr Smith. In 1871 a man of wealth died, leaving a last will signed in compos mentis bequeathing the sum of £30,000 to A. Smith, son of C. Smith and E. Smith, his wife. Further information can be given only on the distinct promise that the knowledge of this letter and all communications, and of all future correspondence will be confined solely to Mr Smith himself, and be treated as strictly confidential till released by the writer from such promise. On receiving this assurance the writer will provide particulars, which may be found to be of a private and family nature. As the writer, a man of honourable position, is moved solely by a sense of justice and right, this information may be relied on as bona fide and as Mr Jackmage, a name partly and unavoi lably assumed (why will be explained hereafter) has no other means of communication, a letter in a sealed envelope to Mr A. Jackmage, the name to be placed in pencil for convenience in re-forwarding, this enclosed in a second envelope, addressed to Herr Yon Hoovard, Seefeld, Newminster, Canton, Zurich, Switzer- land, will be transmitted to the writer. If, however, he has any hesitation in answering this letter he can burn it. In this communication the fullest reliance possible is placed in Mr Smith's honour as a gentleman, and in that faith in the strictest confidence the above information is given. London, January 15th—87." [II.] Jauuary 23rd. SIR.—I beg to thank you for your letter which reached me here, having been forwarded from Wales. As you desire, its contents shall be con- sidered as strictly private during your pleasure. I need scarcely say that I am naturally anxious to learn further particulars, especially as I cannot call to mind the death of any person in the year 1871, who would be likely to leave me a legacy. I am now abroad for the winter, but a letter will reach me addressed to this hotel or to from which place it will be forwarded. Yours faithfully, A. SMITH, [III. ] Strictly Private and Confidential. Mr Jackmage presents his compliments to Mr Smith, and under the assurance of strict confidence engaged in Mr Smith's letter of the 23rd ultimo, begs to acquaint him that this Edward Smith of in the county of Derby, Esq., died on the 3rd of March, 1871, leaving a will already acted upon, dated the 6th of May, 1867, with codicils to the 4th of September, 1869, and also a later will (cancelling the prior will and codicils to the 4th September, 1869), conveying the said bequest, and also some small unencumbered freehold property which he gathers may be safely estimated at not less than eight thousand pounds. Of the testator, there is ample evidence of thorough and legal compos mentis from professional and other persons of repute and judgment. In short, this last will was duly witnessed and executed, the witnesses are respectable people and living, is clear, pre- cise and indisputable in its terms, is as perfect and satisfactory as a will can be, has no side issues to embarrass it, and documents are there- with proving this, and fully substantiating the validity of the will. The holder thereof, who some time back consulted the writer, looks for compensation. The writer thinks that a per- centage, say, 5 to 8 per cent., the precise rate to be now agreed upon and payable from the net pro- ceeds, and value eventually realised will be fair to both sides and satisfy the holder who believes, as the writer is instructed, that the will would have been destroyed by interested parties but for the holder's foresight and care. The writer suggests one caution further in instituting enquiries regarding the deceased, his property, heirs, &c., it will be advisable to use care and delicacy. He may also add that the gentleman who receives Mr Smith's replies knows nothing whatever of the subject of this correspondence beyond this that it is in behalf of a client, and is of a very delicate and important nature." 1 hat is all that the writer has thought necessary to state to the gentleman referred to. The writer also relies upon Mr Smith's honour and promise to maintain inviolate, and private to himself alone all knowledge of this correspon- dence, its existence and its purport until released by the writer. In his prior letter he stated that the matter might be a family nature, as some of the papers with the will appeared to imply some obligation, or relationship, distant or near with Mr Smith's family. He regrets that much time has been lost in bringing the will to light, and and that he has been compelled, mainly through the exacting calls incident to the preparation and conduct of a long and difficult Parliamentary case, to add to that loss. [IV. London, Feb. 4th." SIR.—Yours of the 4th has been forwarded. I am much surprised at the communication con- tained in your letter as the testator was entirely unknown to me, nor can I say if any person of that name was connected with my family. Though I gather from your letter that you be- long to the legal profession, I do not understand if you have seen the will and satisfied yourself of its date and genuineness, or have merely accepted the statement of the holder. However, should this will prove satisfactory I shall be happy to pay the holder from the net proceeds and value eventually realised, from 5 to 8 per cent. say 6J. I hope before long to return to England, and a few weeks earlier will not inconvenience me if we have arrived at a sufficiently clear understanding to allow of your disclosing your name. ° Yours faithfully, A. SMITH. February 10th. (To be continued).

The Earl of Kintore left for South Australia, to take up his duties as Governor, by the Orient Line steamer from Naples on March 11. Sir John Lubbock has given notice of a bill to enable local authorities to establiah a weekly half-holiday for shops. On Saturday Mr J. Roberts, jun.—beating his own maximum record by 86 points—performed the surprising feat of scoring 690 in a single break while playing a match against Mr W. Cook, in which the champion billiard-player had given his adversary 4,000 points out of 12,000. The capture of a 501b. unspawned salmon with the rod is an event to remember in the annals of one fishing season. Such a fish was captured in the Esk on Monday last by Willie Armstrong, of Rowanburn. This angler would inevitably have lost his prize had it not been for assistance from two friends, who relieved him in racing with the fish np and down stream. The salmon was in no mood to surrender easily, and nearly five hours passed ere signs of faintness were noticeable. Even then the fiish might have broken loose had not one of the party jumped into the water at a favourable moment and seized it, whirling it on to the bank ° J

LETTERS ON VEGETARIANISM. By THE HON. DUDLEY CAMPBELL. [SECOND LETTER.] A glance at the comparative tables drawn out by chemists of repute, giving the nutritive properties of meat and of various meals, will shew how much more efficient grain is than meat, in supporting life. These tables may be con- sulted in the A.B.C. of Vegetarianism (price 2d.) and other publications, most of them very cheap, issued by the London Vegetarian Society, Memorial Hall, Farringdon-street, K.C. It is said that people working in the north of Canada for the Hudson's Bay Company, and living exclusively on meat, used to eat eight pounds a day, a head—so deficient is meat in heat supplying qualities. Afterwards, maize meal was substituted for beef, and it was found that from two to two and a half pounds per head a day was sufficient. The sustaining power of wheat meal has recently been proved by an interesting ex- periment made by the vegetarian physician who writes the medical column in the Weekly Times and Echu. He recently lived for a whole month on nothing but meal made into a cake, and dis- tilled water, and found that a pound and a half of meal a day, costing less than twopence, was enough to keep him in perfect health, and enable him to do with ease his very laborious work. If grains combined with fruit, will support life in comfort, the reason for confining oneself to sush diet, and rejecting meat and fish, is that the two latter, sooner or later, are so often pro- motive of various ailments. If a man has a good constitution, he may live many years without be- ing aware that he is the worse for using them, but how few men reach the age of seventy with- out being weakened by some malady, which may have .been caused or aggravated by meat eating ? When an animal is used for food it is impossible to separate the wasted tissue, which would eventually be thrown off by the skin and other organs, from the nutrient elements; and this waste matter, so far from contributing to the strength of the eater, burdens his system and lays a foundation for future discomfort and disease—such as rheumatism, gout, or some other form equally undesirable. A man, with the superfluity in his system apt to be engendered by meat, is more likely to fall a victim to any passing epidemic. The germs of it, floating about in the atmosphere, find a wel- come home and abundant nutrition in his in- terior, when a vegetarian, with his blood and and organs in a pure condition, is regarded hy microbes in search of shelter as an inhospitable person whom it would be wiser to leave alone, but, if rash enough to invade him, they soon pay the penalty in death from starvation. Moreover, in spite of the efforts made by sanitary inspectors, a great deal of the meat and fish sold in markets all over England is diseased. Thus, if it be possible to live comfortably with- out resorting to the last named items of food, there seem to be strong reasons for doing so, and the sacrifice in the way of gustatory pleasure is much less than people who have not made the experiment might suppose. In compensation for the satisfaction afforded by the comsumption of beef steaks, mutton chops, and similar articles of fooq, the vegetarian has a good supply of hunger sauce brought to him by his improved health and his palate, no longer blunted by beef and beer, develops fresh powers of appreciating delicate flavours in the simplest materials—so that a homely meal gives him much more enjoyment than a meat eater would derive from the most costly and skilfully cooked banquet. —

THE EASTER MANCEUVRES. On Saturday, as on previous days in last week, the military authorities at the War Office and the head-quarters of the Home District had still under consideration the difficulty which has been experienced in arranging for the mobilisation of the Metropolitan Volunteers by brigades, at the approaching Easter holidays, but, as yet, no determination has been made to alter the pro- posals which were suggested in January, and which the Brigadier Generals and the Volunteer Commanding Officers have since been endeavour- ing to put into a practicable form. It has, how- ever, been submitted to the Commander in Chief that, according to the latest returns sent in to the War Office, the utmost number which, under the conditions offered, could be mobilised, would be a little over 7000 men, as the Government brigade allowance will be given for only half the effective strength of each corps. The total of 7000 is only about one-fourth of the force the Volunteers have been in the habit of putting in the field for Easter Monday, at Brighton, Dover, and Portsmouth, when only one review or field day was held, and much concern is being ex- pressed that the proposal to substitute the brigade system for the Easter manoeuvres is likely to result in so serious a diminution in numbers. Even the 7000 is regarded as beyond the actual strength which will be shown by the three brigades which have accepted the War Office terms, and it is now considered very doubtful if as many as 2000 men in each can be found able to remain with their corps for four nights, including either the night before Good Friday or that of Easter Monday it having been hitherto the custom to start on the Friday morning and return on the Monday evening. Information has been received at the War Office that no Easter accommodation can be offered to Volunteers at Aldershot, where, generally, a couple of battalions have been quartered, and there is very little room available at Dover. It is understood that the Commander-in-Chief is examining the position very carefully and it is probable that the War Office programme will be considerably altered.

PRESIDENT HARRISON'S FIRST MESSAGE. The Spectator, writing with reference to the new President of the United States, says President Harrison's first Address is full of particular hints of policy which Americans will not fail to detect, and which it may be well for foreign nations to understand. The impress of Mr Blaine's mind is upon every line, and the whole Address seems to us penetrated by three thoughts. Protection is affirmed to be absolutely good—so good, that if it is threatened by the overplus of revenue, more expenditure must be incurred until the Treasury is depleted. Foreign nations are warned, in terms noteworthy for their haughty simplicity, to keep their hands off the American continents, and more especially off South America, towards which Mr Blaine desires that the Union shall assume the attitude of a protecting Power. And, lastly, the Southern States are warned that the Central Government has the right to make laws for Congressional elections, and that it will not scruple to interfere with them if those elections are unfairly con- ducted—a strong hint as to the suppression of Negro voting, which we will presently try to explain. Henceforward, the Government of Washington assumes a protectorate of all Spanish America. A pretension more vast was never put forward in language more outwardly fair. In words which would suit a claim to have a disputed fence let alone, the new President asserts a moral right to the guardianship of a continent. With a foreign policy of this energy, with a Navy already sanctioned adequate to such a policy, with subsidised steam lines connecting both sides of Spanish America with the Union, with the awful Pension List—15,000.000?. a year— still to be maintained, and with grants to be given to backward States in aid of education, there is not much reason to fear that the Union will be ruined by the surplus in its treasury. It seems to Europeans a wasteful policy but a young noble with a hundred thousand a year and endless reversions in prospect can spend a good deal before he feels it, and the Americans have this further advantage. As they dare spend, so they dare tax themselves; and as they dare tax themselves so they dare retrench. They are not bound by our scruples, make no life engagements, and would, if necessary, within a month stop every grant, lay their Navy up to rot, and tell all pensioners to work for a livelihood without a wince.—Spectator.

LINUM CATHARTICTJM PILLS, agreeably aperient, 9Jd, Is lid., 28 9d. Of all Chemists, I

CARMARTHEN AND DISTRICT TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. GENERAL MEETING. A well-attended meeting of the members of the above association was held at Bridge-street School, Carmarthen, on Saturday last, the presi- dent, Mr Morgan (Llaustephan) occupying the chair. The local polling for the election of mem- bers to sit on the executive commenced at 2 p.m., and was closed at 3. MISCELLANEOUS. A committee (consisting of the president, vice- president, secretary, and the Carmarthen town teachers) was appointed to make arrangements for the reception of the Glamorgan district teachers, who will hold their next meeting in conjunction with the members of this association at Carmarthen. The secretary read a communication from Mr John, supervisor of the district, with respect to a motion to be submitted at the Birmingham Easter Conference, proposing to substitute the word English for Elementary" in the title of the union. A discussion took place on the subject, and the following resolution, proposed by Mr Jones (Pentrepoth), seconded by Mr T. Adams (National and Practising), was passed :— That this association is of opinion that the title of the union should not be altered in the way suggested." Two new members, Mr Griffiths (Llanegwad), And Mr Thomas (Llanddowror), were proposed THE PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF THE N.U.E.T. A discussion on the "Parliamentary Representa- tion of the N.U.E.T." was opened by Mr Saer I (Laugharne), who said the National Union of Elementary Teachers ought to be represented in Parliament. Look at the variety of interests that were at present represented in Parliament. The aristocracy had the House of Peers to watch their case the Church and the legal element had their say in the framing of Imperial measures the landowners, together with the tillers of the soil were represented; employers of labour, to- gether with the labouring classes, were repre- sented licensed victuallers and brewers, to. gether with the temperance party, were repre- sented the Education Department was repre- sented but the cause of education, in the best sense of the term, in other words, the cause of the teachers and those who had the mighty responsibility of training up a race of citizens who were to occupy high places in this, the first empire of the world, was either not represented, or it was misrepresented (loud cheers). Bearing these facts in mind, it behoved them to make strenuous efforts to rectify the existing state of affairs. Do not let them, as teachers, deceive themselves by thinking they could trust the powers that be to legislate unaided for the educa tional requirements of the country. Let them not for a moment be the victims of such an hallu- cination. He took it that every member present had read the speech from the Throne at the late opening of Parliament. Notwithstanding all the efforts which teachers and educationists who sup- ported common sense views had made recently notwithstanding the fact that the Royal Commis- sioners on education were furnished with con- vincing evidence as to the rottenness of the present reyime, and had made, to a large extent, recommendations for supplanting it, notwith- standing the fact that the country had over and over again demanded a more rational code—no single paragraph intimated any proposals to be submitted to Parliament; no solitary phrase or word in recognition of general complaints as to the harshness of existing regulations would be found in the Queen's speech. It was true Mr Samuel Smith, the hon. member for Flintshire, recognising, no doubt, something approaching a seemingly ostentatious display of neglect of the Education question, complained of the absence of all mention" of it" (hear, hear). Cornered thus, what was the reply of Sir William Hart- Dyke ? He excused himself and his department by the rejoinder "that complaint had been made on a former occasion by the leader of the party in Opposition of too many subjects being mentioned in speeches from the Thront1," and then he went on to say that he never took too sanguine a view of the probability of fulfil- ling the promises made in speeches from the Throne. He and his colleagues had for months past been considering the proposals of the Royal Commission. He would promise that any Bill introduced by his honourable friend or other hon. members would receive from him his candid con- sideration. This was the Vice-President of the Council's laconic mode of disposing of a subject in which the best energies of men of light and leading, of all classes of society and shades of opinion, had been evoked and exercised (hear, hear, and applause). Need he utter another word to convince them of the importance of having a teacher's representative in Parliament ? He was prepared to admit that many a true friend within the walls of St. Stephen's—gentle- men who had a thorough grasp of the entire situation—would without a doubt do yeoman service to the profession and education generally. But it was absurd to suppose for a moment that any gentleman could be expected to take such a bold stand on teachers' territory as a teacher could. Such a one might be deeply impressed with the wrongs and injustice under which the profession laboured—under which intelligent children had to be literally gorged with certain mathematically precise doses of promiscuous, hash, specially prepared by means of the monster mills which the officials of Whitehall put into motion once a year. But the comparison between the capacity of his mind for receiving andretaining such impressions and the prompt effusion of his ideas relating thereto, would, he was afraid, in many cases result in what might be termed "a ratio of greater inequality." Again, it availed them little to have M. P.'» whose vague ideas of educational reform served but to mystify and complicate this already labyrinthian question, and it availed them still less to trust those politi- cians wholle disinterestedness was ever apparent, except perchance when seeking the suffrages of electors (cheers). They stood in need of men who had clear and well-grounded notions on the subject, and whose words would carry that weight which members of Parliament cannot but attach to the utterances of practical men. For these reasons he begged to submit that a body of teachers some 14,000 or 15,000 strong ought to have at least one representative in the House of Commons (cheers). He could not but feel that had a teacher's voice been heard on the floor of the House in condemnation of the exist- ing system, and in advocacy of others savouring somewhat more of true education, that glaring omission in the Queen's Speech|which he had pointed out would never have been deliberately made. Some of them might say, But we strained every nerve to get a representative into Parliament on a former occasion." They did try hard, and he would say" Try again" (laughter). Let individual associations each put their shoulder to the mighty wheel of public opinion, and let every individual member exert himself to bring about the much to be wished for event. Slight difference with regard to matters of details might divide them as they would divide any body of thinking individuals, but upon every material point they were unanimous. Was not that the verdict of the Royal Com- missioners ? (hear, hear). It might be said that the Executive had been so silent in the matter of late that it seemed as though they had suffered the subject of Parliamentary representation to retire into the background. He was not pre- pared to admit this for one moment. They were even now considering the question, and he hoped and believed that when the time for open warfare arrived their deliberations would not have miscarried. However, concede for the sake of argument the indifference and inactivity on the part of the Executive, and he urged that was no reason why they should follow suit. They should be up and doing; they should lead the van, allowiug the Executive to bring up the rear, and while exulting over victory and triumph permit to them the inglorious pleasure of sharing in the spoils which they did nothing towards win- ning. Mr Saer then moved as follows That this meeting affirms the principle of the representation in parliament of views of the teaching profession on educational matters by a member or members I of the profession." Mr Adams seconded, though he did not see clearly whether Mr Saer meant that the N.U.E.T. should be represented as in the case of the universities, or that a member (a teacher) elected j for one of the constituences should undertake the duty. Mr Saer said that at present it was quite im- practicable to have a solely teachers' repre- sentative, and hence he answered the latter part of Mr Adams' question in the affirmative. In- deed, he thought that the better plan as the Union would not be so divided upon party politics, as they must be in the case of a contested election, and education on broad lines ought not to cause political squabbles. Mr Jones supported the motion for reasons just given, and because he also thought that the. Union would be better represented by a man who was not answerable to it on other points than the education question. He would bring a clear un- biassed mind to bear upon the subject in virtue of his independent position, and at the same time he would be able to devote his best energies to the faithful representation of his constituents, while the balance of parties to this extent would remain unaltered (loud cheers). Mr Samuel (Johnstown), having spoken in favour of the motion in a neat speech, said it was agreed to nem. con., as was also a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Saer for his address (proposed by Mr Adams, seconded by Mr Jones). Mr Saer briefly replied, and a vote of thanks (on his motion) having been given to the chairman, the meeting separated.

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. The Official Returns for 1888, which were on Friday completed at the War Office for presenta- tion to Parliament, show that though the autho- rised establishment was increased during the year from 225,478 to 257,743, the actual number of officers and men enrolled diminished by 1,569, from 228,038 to 226,469, the efficients numbering 220,124 (decrease 1,367), and the non-efficients 6,345 (decrease 202). The Infantry Volunteers number 165,948 eflicients, the Artillery 41,217, the Engineers 10,684, the Submarine Miners 1,282, the Light Horse and Mounted Rifles 237, and the Medical Staff Corps 756. The number of Volunteers of all arms present at the inspec- tion of their corps, was 196,707 (decrease 562). The total of officers and sergeants earning the extra proficiency grant was 19,087; of officers passed in tactics, 1,086 and in signalling (a new examination), 27; all these items showing an increase over 1887. The total number of efficient Volunteers in the Metropolis and Home Military District was 34,028; in Scotland, 49,677; in the Northern Military District, 79,405 in the Eastern, 13,015; in the Western, 26,158; in the Southern, 8,186; in the South- Eastern, 7,987 and in the Woolwich District, 1,668. Lancashire is the county returning the largest number of Volunteers, her efficients numbering 26,150 and the other counties ex- ceeding 5,000 efficients are—Middlesex, 18,701; Lanark, 11,589; the West Riding, 10,899; Durham, 6,244 Surrey, 6,184 Cheshire, 5,907 Devon, 5,211; Kent, 5,072; and Glamorgan, 5,042. The strongest corps are the Edinburgh Rifle Brigade, with 2,380 efficients the Glamor- gan Rifles, 1,952 the 1st Lanark Rifles, 1,447 and the Berkshire Battalion, 1,331.

THE SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL SOCIETY. At the Sixty-eighth Annual General Court of the Governors of the Seamen's Hospital Society, the Secretary, Mr P. Michelli, read the annual report. This expressed the opinion that public confidence in the Corporation had been mani- fested in the course of the year by the increased revenue, for the income, exclusive of legacies, amounted to E12,177, while the expenditure was £ 11,990. There were 2,463 patients under treat- ment in the wards of the hospital at Greenwich, and this was the largest number in any one year since the hospital was removed on shore. 194 out-patients were treated at the hospital, and the dispensaries at Well-street and Gravesend. This showed an increase of 1,032 above the average of the last ten years. The Committee were engaged in preparing plans for the erection of a branch in the vicinity of the Albert and Victoria Docks, and it was estimated that it would be necessary to spend E3,000 on the building, and that it would cost 21,000 to maintain.

FURTHER DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN SIBERIA. According to a correspondent writing from Irkutsk, a peasant lately discovered gold in the neighbourhood of that town while digging a pit for trapping wild animals. Earth taken from the bottom of the pit is reported to have contained gold in the proportion of about 1 £ oz. to a cwt. t, Great excitement prevails in the district, and the peasants are digging pits in all directions. 09 The yield of gold in Siberia, which is already one of the greatest in world, would be considerably greater if the proprietors of the gold mines could afford to use modern crushing and washing machinery.

KAY'S COMPOUND, a demulcent anodyne expec* orant, 9'-d, I3 £ d, 2a 9d. &c. Of all Chemists. LACTINA" for calves prevents scour, needs no boiling, and costs one-half the price of milk. It is easily digested, and highly relished by the young animal. Apply Lactina & Co., Suffolk House, Canon-street, London, E.C. PIGOTT'S LETTERS.—It would be unwise to calculate upon any very startling or very pro- fitable discoveries among the papers of the person who committed suicide at Madrid and there are probably few people who have such an abundance of pity in their nature that they can afford to put much at the disposal of the memory of Mr. Pigott. Whatever may be the exact truth on the subject of the letters, suc- cessive chafferirtgs with the opposite parties and successive statements (such as that incredible one about Mr Labouchere's reasons for admitting Pigott to his society) m'ust have ruined any credit that the man ever had with reasonable minds. It is very much to, be regretted, no doubt, that the extraordinary slackness of Mr Parnell's solicitors allowed him to escape furthur cross-examination. But even that, with a person equally ingenious in inventing and feeble in adhering to his inventions, might not have supplied any definite or trustworthy testi- mony. Probably, or at least possibly, the whole history of the letters will never be known, and they will provide for the busy idleness of the futuro a fresh alternative to the Man in the Iron Mask, the guilt of Queen Mary, and the indentity of Junius. At present there is absolutely 4othing to go upon except the inability of Pigott to maintain a consistent story in regard to them, and the swprn denial at last obtained from Mr Parnell and some of his fellows of having written or signed those attributed to them. This last must, of course have full value allowed it. But if any room were left for even mild amazement at the conduct of those Gladstonians who, after crying "Crucify!" to Mr Parnell for years, now reverse the original reversal and yell Hosanna it would be in reference to their estimate of this value. Mr Parnell's worst enemies have never denied him the possession of very unusual ability and it is difficult to decide whether in his heart of hearts he feels most scorn for the adulation of men like Sir George Trevelyan, or most contempt for those who assert that his oath established his absolute innocence. He had only say his friends, to go into the box, and cadit (lucestio. How strange, how increasingly strange, that they should not have advised that method before -Satitrday Bericiv.

CARDIGANSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. The second meeting of the provisional Council for the county of Cardigan was held at Lampeter on Friday, when all the members were except Air W. Jones, Glandennis, and atirohn, Morris, Taliesin. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Mr Morgan Evans, J. P., Oakford, moved in Welsh that the provisional chairman (Mr Peter Jones, Aberystwith), be chosen permanent chair- man of the Council. Mr W. O. Brigstocke seconded, and the resolution was carried unanimously with cheers. The Chairman suitably acknowledged the honour done him. No vice-chairman was appointed. STANDING ORDERS. The drafts of standing orders received from Colonel Lewes, acting chairman of Quarter Sessions, and from the Local Government Board were referred to a standing orders committee of 13 members, consisting of Messrs W. O. Brigstocke, C. M. Williams, Rev. T. Thomas, Morgan Evans, Rev. T. Levi, J. Jenkins (Aeronian), D. C. Roberts, J. M. Howell, Wm. Davies, Dr. Lloyd, Col. H. Davies-Evans, W. Picton-Evans, and Major Lewes. POLICE COMMITTEE. The Council accepted the suggestion of Quarter Sessions that the joint police committee should consist of 24 meoibers-12 to be appointed by each authority. The 12 representatives of the Council will be allocated to the respective unions according to population and rateable value. FINANCE, Jtc. It was agreed to have a finance committee of 24, and a main roads, bridges, and county build- ings committee of a like number. Each com- mittee was allocated thus :—Aberystwith Union, 8 members Tregaron, 4 Aberayron, 4; Lam- peter, 2; Newcastle-Emlyn, 3 and Cardigan, 3. Mr Brigstocke said it would be well if the main roads committee divided iteelf into two to supervise the upper and lower divisions of the county. The Chairman said the committee appointed that day could divide itself into sub-committees. ASYLUM COMMITTEE. Four representatives were appointed on the visiting committee of the Joint Counties Asylum, that being the whole number allowed to Cardi- ganshire out of the 15 members of the committee. The four gentlemen chosen .were :—Messrs W. O. Brigstocke, Morris Davies, Dr. Enoch Davies, and Dr. Lloyd. THE COSTS OF THE ELECTION.—A WARM DIS- CUSSION. The Clerk produced the bill of charges sent in by the returning officer for the county in respect of the recent elections. The total was £ 1,119 4s 4d, (" oh ") apportioned thus :—Rural parishes of the county, E947 18s 7d Aberystwyth, 282 13s 6d Cardigan, £ 43 19s 3d; and Lampeter, 244 13s. The reading of the items was received with expressions of surprise and cries of Shame on the part of members of the Council. Mr W. O. Brigstocke said that clause 103, section 6. of the Act provided for the taxing of such L.I before the county court judge having a jurisdiction in the districts concerned. He pro- posed that the bill be taxed. The Rev Thomas Thomas seconded, and said it should be taxed to the utmost. Dr. Enoch Davies- That will mean more money. Mr W. 0. Brigstocke-I have never known lawyers work for nothing (laughter). Mr Morgan Evans urged a thorough examina- tion. Presiding officers might have been obtained without employing lawyers at three guineas a day. The Chairman said it would help the Council if they contrasted the expenses cf a contested and an uncontested election. In Aberarth, where there was a contest, the total expenses were 4.27 7s 6d, of which the presiding officer charged 24 4s for himself, and £ 10 10s was charged for professional and other assistance in and about the election." In his (the chairman's) own division, where there was no contest, the total was £7 7s, of which E2 2a was for said profes- sional assistance." Four divisions had sent in their nominations to Talybont, and one presiding officer had sat to receive them all. For the two days on which he had sat for a couple of hours only to receive nominations and objections, he had charged eight guineas per day, while for the polling day, when he sat from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., he charged only four guineas. Mr J. M. Howell said they considered it a great grievance that so much as four guineas should be paid to the presiding officers, and that. these officers should be all drawn from one class of the community. The value of their services was rated too highly. Mr Davies, Talybont, said a teat election in his division cost 5s 6d each candidate. Mr George Green agreed fully as to the for- midable character of the "charges made, and the desirability of reducing them, but doubted whether taxing the bills would help thetii much. Mr John James said if they got nothing off it was their duty to the ratepayers to investigate the matter (hear, hear). The election charges were equal to a three halfpenny rate on the whole county. Alderman W. Picton Evans, who said he had acted as deputy-returning officer, said they would have to go before four county court judges to have the bill taxed. The Act provided a scale of charges. The maxinf had not been charged in every case. When polling was from 8 to 4 the maximum fee for the presiding officer was three guineas, but when the time was extended to eight p.m. the fee was raised to four guineas. In all Parliamentary elections that sum had to be paid, and he did not know whether sitting from eight a.m. to eight p.m. was not worth four guineas (" oh, oh," and dissent). The returning officer was responsible for the men placed at the booths, and in that election the majority of presiding officers were professional men. Some of the charges were on the maximum scale, others were not. Rev. T. Thomas—The latter are very few, I suppose. I Major Lewes agreed that the costs of the election were terribly high. In the future the Council would have power to ameliorate the charges. He quite agreed that four guineas were too high a fee to pay a presiding officer. Mr Morris Davies said they might not get much reduction, but they really should get the bill taxed. Mr C. M. Williams, Aberystwyth, said the cost of conducting the last parliamentary election in Cardiganshire was 2549. The whole machinery of that election was almost the same as that of the County Council. In the parliamentary con- tests there were 35 polling booths, while in the County Council election there were only 32 con- tests. There was an enormous difference between £549 and EI,200, and it should be examined. The Chairman said that in future elections the Council would appoint its own returning officers, and, he presumed, would fix its own scale of charges (hear, hear). It was agreed to have the bill of costs taxed, and the clerk was authfu-Med to employ pro- fessional assistance in the matter. MISCELLANEOUS, The Standing Orders Commi{te$was directed to consider the practicability of incfrif^g the reports of committees, &c., with the agenJäaud notices of Council meetings. The Finance Committee was directed to confer with the Finance Committee of the Quarter Sessions, and the Main Roads Committee with the County Roads Board as to the arrangements necessary for transferring the work of the expir- ing bodies to the new authority. The Standing Orders Committee was directed to report as to the best way of securing the register of attendance of members at Council meetings. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Thomas Thomas, Ffynonhowell, gave notice to move at the next meeting that the Council meet alternately at Lampeter and Aber- ayron. Mr Morgan Evans gave notice that he would move that, in the opinion of this Council, the office of alderman should bo abolished. A SEAL. The form and design of a seal for the Council > was referred to the Standing Orders Committee for consideration. DAY OF MEETING. It was resolved that, apart from the statutory meeting on the 7th November, the day of meet- ing for the Council be Thursdays. The next meeting must, of course, be held on April 1st, 1889. Some other matters of detail were arranged, and the Council dissolved.

THE CHURCH IN WALES. An account has been sent us of a meeting of the Oxford University Society for the Defence of the Church in Wales, which was held in JeSlJi College Hall, on Sunday night. Below we give a summary of the proceedings, the interest evinced throughout the meeting showing the sympathy felt by Englishmen for the brave stand made by the Welsh Church against the attacks of her unscrupulous enemies. The \ice Principal of Jesus College occupied the chair, and in his opening remarks he said it was doubtful whether in any part of the United Kingdom there was more earnestness and activity in Church Work than there was in the principality of Wales, and though it was a difficult task to reclaim lost ground, the work was steadily going forward, and the reports from day to day were very encouraging. He thought there was a good deal of ignorance and simplicity on the part of the people in respect to the real condition of the Church in Wales. That might seem to some to be an unpatriotic charge, but if they would analyse it they would arrive at the conclusion that simplicity was in the main a good quality, and that ignorance was not voluntary. There were many of his fellow countrymen who had yet to learn that statements did not become absolutely praise-worthy from the fact of their being printed' in a newspaper. While the Welsh language was one they were proud of as possessing many merits, he believed it served to some extent as a screen for such statements as might be repeated again and again without danger of refutation. Mr. W. E. Helm, who received a most cordial welcome, heartily thanked the meeting for the encouraging reception they had given him. They were met, to consider the case of an attacked institution, the Church in Wales, and at the out- set it would be well to present to themselves a correct idea and view of that Church as an organ- ization. They were confronted in so doing with two mistakes respecting the Church in Wales. To many persons the Church in Wales was a Church of Wales-that it was a separate institution from the Church in England, in some way attached to the Church in England, but not of it. To ethers the Church in Wales was an English Church introduced into Wales by the Conquest. But both these views were erroneous the Church in Wales was an integral part of the Church of Eng- land. Roughly speaking, the Church in Wales consisted of four dioceses and a thousand parishes of the province of Canterbury, but as a matter of fact, a portion of England was included within ecclesiastical Wales, and a portion of Wales was included in ecclesiastical England, which showed how the two were interwoven together. They must therefore look at the attack made on the ] Welsh Church as but a form and development of all attack upon the whole Church. From what had this attack proceeded. Disestablishment had been made a political watchword, and upon this question the principality had divided itself into two hostile camps. Further, and apart from that, they found disestablishment of the Church in Wales had been accepted as a part of the working programme of a certain class of English. politicians, and held up to the people, and in order to effect disestablishment, brute force had been evoked by the tithe agitation. The tithe agitation was not the result 'of agricultural depression, because depression had been less felt in Wales than in any part of the United Kingdom. It was a deliberate attempt to disestablish and disendow the Church, and to 1 make her position unfavourable, and the clergy- j man of the parish intolerable. He then exposed the various theories propounded in favour of disestablishment the historical, national, religious, economic, and utilitarian objections and contended that they were false. He thought the question should be discussed on the grounds of right and wrong, and not upon what 3 was termed the majority argument. —The usual votes of thanks were passed.

CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS, j RESULT OF DECEMBER EXAMINATIONS. The class lists for these examinations have just j been issued. The total number of candidates* I exclusive of those at colonial centres, was 9,601, exclusive of those at colonial centres, was 9,601, of wbem 6,109 have passed. Of the boys, 4.974 junior entered, 3,187. of whom obtained certificates 545 offered in the senior division. 332 of whom passed. On the girls' side, 2,602 junior entered, 1,655 of whom gained certificates; whilst out of 1,480 senior girls offering, 935 passed. The fol- lowing are the results, so far as our district is concerned BOYS. ,STUDENTS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE OBTAINED HONOURS. CLASS III. L Pierce, Ty Newydd, Capel Bangor (Aberysiwith Schoot). STUDENTS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE WHO HAVE SATISFIED THE EXAMINES. J. C. Rees, Market-street Aberayron (Grammar School, New Quay). R. Harwood, Pembroke Dock. (The Collegiate School, Pembroke Dock). i SATISFIED IN PRELIMINARY, RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE J AND ENGLISH SUBJECTS ONLY. | AND ENGLISH SUBJECTS ONLY. | L- Davis, 3, Camden -terrace, Brecon (Middlei Class School, Brecon). d E'» A; PkJ^e8' ^broke (Collegiate School* Pembroke Doek). ° D. L. Rees, Guildhall-square, Carmarthen (Grova. Park School, Wrexham). STUDENTS BETWEEN- 16 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE WHO i HAVE PASSED THE EXAMIMATION AS JUNIORS. 1 J. L. D. Evans, Newcastte*Bmlyn. 4 GIRLS (SENIOR). i 1 m I STUDENT UNDER 18 YEAB8 OF AGE WhO HAVE 1 SATISIFED THE EXAMINERS, BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN CLASSES I., II., III. M. E. Jones, Guildhall-square, Carmarthen (Girls, High School, Carmarthen). M. E. H. Morris, Henblas, Ystradmeorig (Girls' High School, Carmarthen). J- k- Richards, PictoB-terrace, Carmarthen (Girls' High School, Carmarthen). E. K. H. Trubshaw, 123, Osmaston-road, Derby (Caerleon House School, Aberystwith). 11 JUNIORS. CLASS III. M. S. David, St Clears, Carmarthen (Carmarthen High School). STUDENTS UNDER 16 YEARS of AGE WHO HAVE SATISFIED THE EXAMINERS, BUT ARE NOT A INCLUDED IN CLASSES I., H., AND IU. ':1 M. A. Griffiths, Henblas (Carmarthen High School). ° M. A. Davies, Bridge-street, Lampeter (Lam* peter High School). STUDENTS BETWEEN 16 AND J 7 WHO HAVE PASSED THE EXAMINATION AS JUNIORS. M. B: Griffiths, New Quay (Carmarthen High School). J

Coauuline.-Cement for Broken Articles, Gd & Is; postage, 2d. Sold everywhere, home and abroad. j It transpired on Thursday (7th inst) in Paris that M. Denfert-Rochereau, the managing director of the Comptoir d'Escompte, had not died of i apoplexy, as was first reported, but had com- j mitted suicide by shooting himself in the he with a revolver The shares of the Comptoir j d'Escompte have fallen since the middle of De- cember from one thousand and eighty francs to 1 eight hundred and fifty francs, and those of the Societe des Metause from nine hundred francs to one hundred and ninety francs. But the former establishment was able on Thursday to meet the run upon it; and in the afternoon Messre Roths- child and other bankers agreed to make any advancca that might bo noccssary. j 1