The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

BARONET AND EXECUTIONER. Sir Claude C. De Crespigny, of Ileybridgc, near Maldon, having been interviewed upon the state- ment which has recently appeared in print, to the effect that a well-known baronet" was the person who ac:ed as Berry's assistant at the triple execu- tion of the Netherby llall burglars on the 8th inst., Sir Claude admits that he was the individual in question, and states that he had no difficulty in mak- ing arrangements with Berry as to the carrying out the work. Sir Claude says he could not order a man to do what lie wa s afraid of doing himself, and as he might be Sheriff of Essex some day, he should like to be able to undertake an execution if Berry should be engaged elsewhere. He said, in the course of the interview, that he pinioned Baker on the morning of the execution while Berry performed the same operation upon Martin and Rudge. One of his principal reaso ns for going to the prison on tlie Saturday before the execution was to make any suggestion which might in any way prevent "bung- ling." Berry did not examine Baker after he (Sir Claude) had pinioned him. Sjr Claude slept in the prison the night prior to the execution, but stayed at the principal hotel on the Saturday. He admits telling the governor of the gaol who he was, but can- not understand how his name became known in con- nection with the execution. He considers Berry a most plucky man, and although he has been fre- quently threatened he pays little heed to the warn- ings lie receives. During his life in India, Sir Claude saw many executions, but he considers that they are not conducted with half the care which is shown in England. This is the second execution Sir Claude has attended, his former experience being at the hanging of James Lee, at Chelmsford, for the Rom- ford murder. Upon being at-ked whether lie felt at all upset at the executions, Sir Claude replied, "Very little, indeed,"and lie concluded a long con- versation by showing some photos of the prison at Carlisle, and one of Berry, the executioner, whom lie considers a public officer of great importance.

A SINGULAR DISCOVERT. I A correspondent writes :—"A day or two vinee the Old Berkeley Foxhounds, when hunting in the woody district of Taplow, after an exciting chase ran a fine fox to earth, and it was determined to dig out the animal. On this being down the remains of five foxhounds were discovered in the lair, which, without doubt, are the bones of the five hounds be- longing to this pack which on the same day exactly eighteen years ago were lost at lli.s spot, anil of which, despite all efforts made at the time to recover them, no trace until the present had ever been found. It is almost certain that these dogs, having followed the fox to earth, were afterwards unable to find an exit and thus perished.

A BITTER SECRET. »T run AUTHOR •* RL YAI* TBIPMPH," TH« HIGHEST BIDDER," Twran ST* AW a," *T«. CHA.FTEK 1Y. Coniintied. I don't believe you ever could guess, oe. iiuun: but it is not what you think, as I told you at the Ziffle. Why should I mind confessing it, if it were. I am not married, and, thelefore, there could be no harm In my havillg a lover." "Certainly not, if it were a lover of whom your '•ther approved." Why should you suppose me capable of having Mover whom my father does not approve t" c'ie saul, enough, although he noticed, too, that then- a guilty flush on her face. You seem to U- tery anxious to in is judge me?" n II Secresy implies guilt, Gwendolyn. There was a short silence, and then she said, with confused air: Will you do this for mo, St. John, I swear to you that 1 have no lo\er I should be s frai 1 to believe yon. Women have such a wonderful way of making mental roserva- Uons, language being as T.Jlcyr- to enable them to t.ieir taouglits and Iccep their secrets. Beside?, yoU might have a husband, *bich would be worse "I have no husband, on my honour," she ans- wered, but her lips were white and trembled. ''Now Promise," Very well, Gwendolyn but remember this is tlie very last time I Will help you in your wrong- doing, tninil that, and don t, ask me again." Very well,s'ie replied; "but tlia.uk vou all tlie saiiK'. St. John. I IIOIH> and pray 1 may never need your assistance after to-day." With that slw left him. She did not appear at, luncheon; and St. John understood bow important his silence had been t" Her when the Larl observed, "Gwendolyn has gone to s^e the poor girl; l)ut she lias driven to the sta- tion this time, and lias promised to return by the six o'clock train in tune for dinner." St. John made no remark then or later, to Lord Yoxford; but when Lady Gwendolyn came down to I dinner that night lie made no effort to keep the con- tempt he felt out of his lace. Her face was flushed, and her eyes so red they attracted Lord Yoxford's attention at once, and he said kindly— "You are too sympathetic, Gwendolyn, and will make yourself quite ill if you don't take care. I 1 ahall have to forbid your going to see the girl again if it affects you so much." "It is the wind that has made my eyes so sore, Papa; I haven't cried much." How came you to meet the wind ? You drove both ways." "I walked about the toirti-" she began, but ^ght St. John's eyes fixed upon her sternly, and I ,toPped short. I fortunately, the Earl never thought of doubting explanation, and talked of something else the moment; whilst she evidently exerted herself tojoin in the conversation, lest her silence should •licit another reference to her visit to Dorway. CHAPTER V. St. John Greville was far too troubled in his mind to go to sleep early that night; but about three 6clock in the morning lIe begun to get drowsy, and fell into the sound slumber of utter weariness and exhaustion. He did not know how long this had lasted, when he was roused by a tap at the door; and when he asked who was there, it was the voice of Lady Gwendolyn that answered him. "Can you come, St. John? lam afraid there is •ometliing wrong." He sprang out of bed in a moment, lighted a lamp, and slipped on his trousers and ulster, then opened his door and let the light fall on Lady Gwendolyn's face as she stood there in a blue dressing-gown, her long goldi n-brown hair falling loosely about her shoulders. There was no need to ask what witip the matter now, for he saw and smelt the smoke, and knew,at once that the wing they were occupying was certainly on fire. We must rouse Lord Yoxfortl," lie said prompt- all ly,"andringthealarumbeH. When did you first notice ?'' "Ahotlt five minutes ago only. I invoke whh :t painful feeling of oppression oil tlie chest, us if were being smothered, and soon perceived that the room was full of smoke. I just put Oil my dressing gown then and came to you, for tthoughtl would not rouse papa unless I were obliged." Quite right; but we must get him up now. Good Heavens This exclamation was wrun. from him, for as he spoke he saw a little tongue of flame show itself at the end of the long corridor, giving a piayful sort of dartititftttednrknc-s". and then disappearing in search of reinforcements, leav- lng an angry red giow behind. "Is there any other way out ? inquired St. John, who set liis teeth like a man who sees stilt work before him. "Not from this wing." "Go and rouse your father, and be quick, hc- aded, in a tone of quiet command that would have unposed upon most women "make him understand that a. lliÏnllte lost might be a life lost, perhaps. She went like the wind. But the old Earl slept Soundly, and some precious time was lost before lie Opened the door to her, and was made to understand W"at had happened. Meanwhile St. John, after ringing the alarum ?eH with a force that must needs rouse the whole household, walked to the end of tlie corridor to see escape were possible in that direction. He knew 7*1 the while it was a fallacious hope and was not reprised when beyond the dense bar of smoke that ^Pped his further passage, he saw a mass of flame, showed that the staircase was on fire. Unfortunately, it was of old oak, and burnt like touchwood, so that the great hall below, even if they Jjould have reached it, would have been impassable, -"•'leir only chance, then, lay iu being rescued by the tl"VIL'itfj and at the way the timbers were crack- \1"ft, ;t. John felt almost doubtful if they would Us^erstand the position soon enough to be of any Be. made lus observations, he rang the alarum Lad Ogain lustily, and then joined Lord Yoxford and «owf. Gwendolyn. The old Earl was fully dressed th0u'„un^ 9eemed perfectly calm and collected, al- ? quite understood their danger, for he me, lad. aside to say Never mind about could not an °1(1 man now, and in any case young long in tl>i3 wor!d il is t,K' ouslr. "don't W7? are wanted, and—and," treiuul- «} will shield be hurt." "Yes, yes, my'bSv*-}"1 IlTjr life» you kuow' thftt" the old man, who, i* know^ you^ would, "replied as if he were a child on treated St. John if you and she marry t Jul/" thl\.thlal fulfilling the dearest wish ;VvB7"n Wl11, W •i -Pi Tell m.v hfe, and my lasi desire in death, iell her j when I am gone. ■' Which 1 trust not be for M vf>, yet, sir. Well, I won't say I shouldn't like }i ljtt] while longer, just to witness your 1, J iol(] a grandson on my knee but my day js yV(. your8 jg just beginning: and !f it eom,.8 to between us, you will have to giVb Uic «< >j,^e talk of that presently,' St. John repi;e(j best tiling.for itfKtodo is to go to, the fa,. nnthinw0001' there yawait* rescue. Ihere i„ *1,2* *.e Ca« do, I am afraid, to help ourselves «r.irrtit n.0*8 ibad been nearer the ground w(. i^t/>iirsp]*o,l?8» tied the sheets together, and Vortain T 0Wn» but aa.they ar« so high it would «?natienfjatl1» a,)(I fO I no alterntitive but to in tin^ pray that help uiay come I*"j*1 ™i°d yon have promised to let nn# go tost. St. John. r Bjr, '• you go first by right oi seniority. am sxtrfe Gwendolvn will insiat upon that, as well as myhelf » 1 dare say shetnay; but my age gives me-coua- miand over you both; and it would be hard if illy daughter disobeyed 1110 for tlie first time just wliea 1 most reqn»ie<I of her that she should show mc I-per respect. feli you I am old, St. John, and What matters •few years uwr" or less 19 oae wltvae ra e is nearh 'IU '{" A young man could better be spared than your- self, air. However, we won't discuss that question just now, for it is time we shifted our quarters. Lady (jweiidolyn's room was the last in the cor- ridor: and as it was no time for prudery or false modesty, they all three went there, St. John feeling a sense of almost awe as he crossed the threshold, and passed with a certain amount of diffidence into the sanctuary of his divinity. The walls were hung with wnite satin, and shrouded with lace, to match the bed, which stood open, showing the snowy xheets, with their lace trimmings, and the embroi- dered pillows. Everything was so exquisitely fresh and dainty, it represented weU its lovely occupant; <i .nod to St. John he could picture heri "cry chair, and see her reflection in every mirroi bbc drew the curtains of her bed as she passed from a natural instinct of reserve, and then six ti'rew open the window and thrust her head out t, t,ee if there were any sign of the servants. Every tiling was stdl as the grave outside, in'strange con trast to crackling and hissing within but there was a red glow on the sunny lawn, which she thought must draw attention to their peril; and the next instant, to her intense relief, she saw the head coachman, an old man who had been thirty years at the Castle, come from the stables, and look anxiously about him. She called him breathlessly, "Pratt, the stair- case is on fire, and we are in great danger. Bring the largest ladder there is, and rouse the other men." To be soniinutd.

DEATH OF A KENTISH MISER. An elderly labourer has just died at Ashford, KeM, wbo developed throughout his life a singular pro- pensity for saving. The name of the deceased was William lligson, and his age was only u7 years, although he looked much older and was bent nearly doubie. He was brought up-in the Yenderden Union from a boy, and lived there 20 years, and actually by the selling of sweets to the children and other inmates, and by boa rding a small salary which the guardians paid him for two or three years for acting as a supernumerary porter, he had accumulated on his discharge a sum of £ 30. He worked after that 'ttir. as an agricultural 1 abourer, subsisting almost entirely on bread, which he sopped and seasoned sometimes with a little sugar, at other times salt. Latterly he bright occasionally a sm all piece of butter, but never meat, although when meat was given him ho ate it eagerly. lie never married, and latterly lived in one room, which he hired for a trifle a week of an aged widow. The old man dressed somewhat de- eently on Sundays, and people, thinking him very poor and infirm, give him food and employed him on odd jobs. He died at an early hour in the morning, and when his room door was burst open a singular sight was presented. There were hoards of rags, wool, candle ends, and all sorts of unconsidered trifles, and in a tub withaiocked lid half-sovereigns and silver to the amount of over £7ï. Each piece of gold was carefully wrapp ed in paper. A bank book showed that he had on deposit in the Ashford Savings Bank upwitrds o f X123. A brother, who is in poor circumstances, comes into all the money.

THE PIMLICO POISONING CASE. A Poole correspondent telegraphs that the pn. soner Dyson, who is the son of the Rev. J. B. Dyson, Wesleyan niiiistir of that place, has written a let- ter to his parents, in which he declares before God that he is innocent, and can sleep peacefully until the trial, when he feels assured of a verdict of ac- quittal at the hands of his fellow-countrymen. He speaks in the most ehdearing terms of hit n other, and tells her that her boy is innocent, and begging her not to fret. He also speaks encouragingly to his aged father and sisters, all of whom he asks to pray to God in his behalf that justice may be done. He has told the truth, and it is for his fellow- countrymen to believe or disbelieve what he had spoken. The following letter has been received by a friend of Dyson, at Poole:—" My dearest Ber- nard.—Just a line to you to say I am feeling calm, and very hopeful. No one sees more clearly than I the frightful suggestions of the facts to which I have confessed, but invincibly strong in the consciousness of perfect innocence. Nay, I can remember that the fatal New Year's Eve wr.s spent by me in prayer for the sick man, and, as I thought, his faithful at- tendant. You must not worry for me. If you look at my face, and look into my heart, you would see that I am perfectly free from distraction myself. I have told the facts. Now they must deal accord- ing to them or disbelieve. I receive hosts of letters of confidence. Good-bye, my dear fellow. Pray- that justice may have sway. They had a special prayer meeting at Putney for me.— Best love, (iKOKGE." The London correspondent of the Liverpool Mer- cury aays :—Already the shop windows are filled with portraits of Mrs. Bartlettand Mr. Dyson. Mr. Dyson looks like a smart young curate, with dark moustache and intelligent features. He resembles the regular type of young cleric, and would not be known hy his dress or appearance from a clergyman of the Church of England. Mrs. Bartlett has black hair, and in her portrait is cropped and fringed, but which she now wears cropped and braided. She lias a bright sharp look, but I should not call her pretty. The eyes are bright and pleasant; the mouth sug- gests possibilities; anti to the physiognomist the A) face would not be altogether agreeable. It is pleasure-loving and somewhat reckless. Mr. Dyson 'bore himself like a man: but Mrs. Bartlett was almost to weak to stand in court. The excitement over the mystery seems to be increasing in London, among the Wesleyan9 there is intense anxiety !bot- Mr. I)yson, and anxious enquiry as to whether hils been misled or is wicked.

TWENTY-FOUR RACE-IIORSES BURNT TO DEATH. From information just to hand it seems that the well-known American stable of the Meadow Brook Club has bepn totally destroyed hy fire, in which twenty-four valuable horses perished. The stables are situated on Long Island. The animals belonged to various owners, many of whom arc amateur riders of ability. The four stablemen who slept on the premises were awakened by the crying and kicking of the horses, and when aroused the fire had a firm hold on the structure, which was burned to the ground. There were twenty-five horses in the stable, and out of these only one was saved, viz., Mr. Elliot Roosevelt's hufilter, Mohawk, which was in the most northern stall. A'bnildttig^containing some valu- able hounds and ten horses was by strenuous efforts saved from the names. The club-house and carri- age-houses were also saved. Amongst the animals which were burnt were many of note and of great promise. _n-

EXECUTION IN CHESHIRE. Owen McGill, a labourer, was executed on Mon- day morning within Knutsford Prison. This is the first execution that has taken place at Knutsfurd, Chester Castle having been turned into a military prison. The engine of death used there was taken to Knutsford. The murder was owe of fiendish ferocity, prisoner having apparently spent a whole night in kicking his wife to death. He then dressed the corpse in clean linen and went to inform his re- lations that she was ill. About three minutes to eight, Father Maurice having administered the last rites, the condemned walked firmly out, the priest on one side, and Berry, the executioner, on the oilier, with the officials following. McGill showed wonderful firmness, marching without the slightest assistance a distance of about fifty yards to the substantial scaffold erected beneath the glass-roofed shed, repeating, after the priest, the words, Lord have mercy on my soul." He was just commencing the Lord's Prayer when the prison clock struck the third chime of eight, and Berry pulled the level and the condemned man dropped. Death was pro- nounced by the doctor to be instantaneous, the neck having been broken. There*were slight hearings of the shoulders for about a minute after the body feM, but the doctor assured the Press that these were entirely without consciousness.

A PRACTICAL JOKE PUNISIIED. Charles Pratt, manager of the Chippenham Hotel, Shirland Road, Paddington, has appeared at the Marylebone Police Court on a summons for assault- ing Joseph Dean, of 124, Shirland Road, on the 12th inst.—The evidence was that the parties were well acquainted with each other. On the day in ques- tion the complainant went into the hotel, and by arrangement exchanged some new-laid eggs with the defendant for a cigar, which Pratt took off a shelf. Dean lighted the cigar, and after a minute or so it exploded with a loud report. He (complainant) was very much upset by the shock, and his hand was burnt, the roof of his mouth injured, and his mouth cut. The cigar, it was explam^N had been prepared by a glass tube containing an explosive being inserted into it. When the glass got heated to a certain degree the stuff iniide exploded. The cigar, lie had heard, had been prepared for a man who had made himself offensive. After the explo- sion complainant discovered that the defendant and his assistants were watching and laughing at him. When Dean talked about taking out a summons, the defendant threatened to pay a luan a sovereign to give him a good thrashing.—The defendant said the cigar only contained a Chinese cracker, and the complainant bothered him for it.—Mr. Cooke said that he should hold that there had been an assault, but as he did not think there was any malice, and that it was simply a practical joko, he thought that the parties might arrange the matter between them- selves.—The men left the court but could not agree, and Mr. Cooke fined the defendant 20s. and 2s. costs.

AN AMERICAN MISER. A singular circumstance, says a New York corres- 11 pondent, has transpired in connection with the death, of James Henry Paine, one of thaunost singular characters of this city, who was the gmndson of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and whose family are still among the best and wealthiest residence of Boston. The mental quali- ties of James were s ufficicll t to give hhnagood pro fcssional standing among financial and musical writers in Boston. In both capacities he was a copious writer for the Press. He left Boston some time since in consequence of the discovery of the cruel avarice be had shown as a money lender having stopped his prospect of making any further profit. He came here and lived in misery, in the most squalid quarters of the city, his clothes in filthy state and full of holes, and for his food he was often indeb ted to charity. On December 15 he was the victim of a runaway accident, from the effects of which he died on the 23rd. No will has been discovered, nor where the bulk of deceased's pro- perty is. These facts have been made public througl the efforts made by the deceased's debtors to pay interest upon their debts. One reputable broker says Paine took from his office, in bank notes, 3:10,000 dols., wrapped in a newspaper, being the proceeds of a single transaction, and that another time lie paid him 70,000 dols. The property i* estimated at between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 dols.

HOW TO REVIVE TRADE.—A NOVEL SUGGESTION. ,;UC Mr. George Howell, M.P., writes to the London papers .—Will you allow me to suggest that ther is a way in which the industries of the countr would receive a healthy impetus, and groat g<x>d b' done to lhe whole COIUfIlUUI t.r ? As you are aware, her Majesty the Queen came to the throne on June 20, 1837, and, therefore, en .the 20th of Jun. next, she will enter upon the fiftietli, or jubilt-, year of lier reign. Jt is quite clear, from Leviticus chap. xxv., that the jubilee year is the fiftieth, aiv! not the fifty-first, as some suppose. During the present year there is to be held at^outh Kensington a great Exhibition of Indian and Colonial Product- and also nn Exhibition of American Manufactures. These will natllrally attract to England our brethren from Greater Pritam beyond the seas. The cele bration of her l\Ia;l'sty':i Jubilee during such :1 happy concurrence of circumstances would be pe- culiarly graceful, as our Colonists and kinsmen have strong patriotic feelings, and take a deep in- ter est in everything appertaining t" the Monarcn of this realm. The immense impetus which would be given to trade and commerce by the vast influx of visitors, foreign and Colonial, would benefit ali classes in a way which could not be done by dona- tions, however handsome or general. This would give employment to an enormous number of our po- pulation, and thus relieve distress in a natural in- stead of an artificial manner? There is scarcely a section of our numerous industries which would not be benefited by such a celebration.

Lord Aberdeen, it is stated, has expressed a desire to be regarded as the representative of the Queen, and not as the representative of a party Govern- ment. Sir Richard Cross intends to proceed with the bills, which he prepared whilst Home Secretary, for fauilitatinig the sale of glebe lands, and for amend- ing the Coal Mines Ilegutotioa Act of 1872.

A GLOUCESTERSHIRE ELOPEMENT At Stroud, George Bennett, (16), baker, and a young woman named Crook, (19), have been charged with stealing jE34 in gold and silver belonging to Alfred Crook, father of the girl, and who resides at the village of Chalford. It seems that the prisoners left the house of Mr. Crook at 10 o'clock on the night of Sunday, the 7th inst., driving into Stroud in a trap which they had previously hired. They left Stroud by the night mail, and stayed the night in Gloucester, going to Worcester in the morning. They lived at an eating-house in Angel Street, and lived well, spending their time in driving about and visiting the theatre. Bennett bought a ring in view of marriage, and in the meantime the couple passed under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. A watch and clock had also been invested in, and a house taken. On being arrested by Superintendent Phil- pott, Dennet handed him CI8 in gold. A remand was granted.

IMPORTANT TO TRADESMEN. The manager of the Leeds branch of the business of Messrs. Lewis, universal proriders, Manchester, has been summoned at the Leeds Town Hall for an offence under the Lottery Act, to which he pleaded guilty.—The defendant's nameisElias Sutclilfc, and for whom Mr. Percy Middleton, barrister, appeared, issued a notice to the public, headed, "500 families j' supplied with tea for nothing," and proceeding to j announce that 500 shillings would be given away with half-pounds of tea, the average being Is. to every three half-pounds. Acting upon the instruc- j tions of the Chief Constable, two police-officers visited the shop, and obtained three half-pounds^of tea, two of which yielded nothing in the way of a prize. In the third, however, was a ticket, for which, on being returned to the shop according to directions given upon it, Is. was received. In miti- gation of punishment ignorance of the law was pleaded, and it was stated that the defendant, who was simply a servant oil commission, was alone re- sponsible for the practise.—The magistrate said he had no alternative but to convict the defendant as a rogue and vagabond," and lie would be filled 50s. and costs, or a month's imprisonment in default. It was as well tradesmen should know that they were liable to three months for such an offence as this

CAVALRY SWORDS AND GERMAN MANUFACTURERS. The following statement has been received from the War Office :-The present pattern cavalry sword was approved on the report of a committee in 1884. of which Mr. H. W. Mapping, M.P., of the firm of Messrs. Turton and Sons, of Sheffield, and Mr. Latham, of the firm of Messrs. Wilkinson and Sons, swordinakers, of Pall Mall, were members. A large supply to replace the old pattern was required, and an order to the full extent of his manufacturing powers for three years was given to the only English manufacturer in the trade who is capable of execut- ing a large order. The Government factory, at En- field, was employed to the full extent of its power, and an order for the remaining number required was given to German manufacturers after a very strin- gent and satisfactory trial of their blades. The German price was somewhat lower than the English. The English contractor has applied to be allowed to deliver German blades for a large portion of his con- tract, owing to the difficulty of getting his English blades to stand the test. No such difficulty, however, is found in making swords at the Government manu- factory at Enfield, where the whole of the sword- steel used is supplied by Messrs. Frith and Sons, of Sheffield. In regard to bayonets, a statement, as promised by Mr. Northcote in the House of Commons, will be presented to Parliament as soon as all those ia the hauds of the troops have been re- tested.

THE SHOOTING OF A CONSTABLE. On the 19th of September last, whilst attempting to arrest a man, who had pledged part of the pro- ceeds of a burglary, Police-constable Bryan, of the Leek force, was shot with a revolver, and seriously wounded. His assailant, who said his name was Mike O'Connor, contrived to make his escape, in spite of a prompt and long continued pursuit. When the Netherby Hall murderers were captured, Bryan went to Carlisle, and although Rudge bore a general resemblance, Bryan was satisfied that he was not the man who shot him, and since then all hope had vanished of bringing the offender to justice. On Saturday, however, whilst on duty at the Leek sta- tion, Bryan recognises ilt the person of a prisoner who had just been "brought in" for the theft of a watch, the man who was wanted upon the more serious charge. Afterwards the pawnbroker's as- sistant picked him out as the man who had pledged the jewellery. In the hand-to-hand struggle which followed after Bryan was wounded, the would-be murderer left behind him his hat, and it was tried on the prisoner and found to fit him exactly. The prisoner was brought before the Leek Bench, charged with steahng the watch. lIe says his name is Richard Hartley, and that he is a farrier, and lives at Manchester. Evidence was given showing that the watch was stolen from the shop of Mr. Cosgrove, Church Street, Leek, and the prisoner sold it to a second-hand goods dealer for 9s.—Mr. Superintendent Breton asked for a remand, in order to prepare the evidence upon tha charge of shooting Police-constable Bryan.—The prisoner acted with the greatest sang froid, and cross-examined the witnesses with remarkable skill.

MR. GLADSTONE ANDTHI IRISH QUESTION. The following letter has been written by Mr. Gladstone to Lord de Vesc: < — 10, Downing Street, February 12. "Dear Lord de Vesci,-You were kind enough to send me a short time ago some interesting facts in relation to rents on a number of estates in Ireland. At that time the late Ministers were in office, and I thought it most desirable to leave the whole field of Irish legislation open to them. 11, therefore, while welcoming all information 1 might receive, deemed it best to do nothing which might seem to be done in competition to them, and to avoid all such discussions upon particulars as it is frequently requisite to hold with the classes and persons best informed, at times when subjects of great importance are under examination by a Go- vernment—I mean such subjects as, with respect to Ireland, I have recently indicated in an address to my constituents soliciting re-election. I annex ex- tracts for convenience of reference. I desire now to invite free communication of views from the various classes and sections most likely to supply full and authentic knowledge of the wants and wishes of the Irish people-I mean of all classes of the Irish people, whether belonging to a majority or a mi- nority, and whether they may be connected with the land, with industry, or with property in general. It would not be in my power to gather this know- ledge \»v receiving large deputations for oral dis- cuJ»;on* to which I am not at present equal; but I should highly value all indications, especially if they go to the heart of the questions before us, which would aid my colleagues and myself in the dillicult task of determining how we may best at thMs important, juncture discharge our duties to Ireland and to the empire.—I remain, &c., W. E. GLADSTONE." The following are the extracts referred to above 1st "There were three great Irish questions de- manding our care—social order, the settlement of the land question, atiil a widely prevalent desire for self-government extending beyond what is felt in Great Britain as to local affairs, but necessarily subject in all respects to the law of Imperial unity. It will be tunong the very first duties of the new Government to use its official opportunities for forming such an estimate, as only a Ministry can form, of the social state of Ireland, especially with regard to crime, to the fulfilment of oontracu, to the pressure of low prices upon agriculture, and to persoual liberty of action."

Lord Card well has died at Torquay, aged 73. It is proposed, as a memorial to the late Canotv Anson, to place a new font in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. 1 lie Marquis of Ripon has been in daily attend- ance at the Admiralty, Whitehall, since he accepted the office of Firat Lord of that Department.

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