The Aberystwyth Times Cardiganshire Chronicle and Merionethshire News

•EDUCATION IN WALES. TSiere are one or two peiitts in connection .o. the policy of ihe Welsh Alliance which it is wfefi to recall, feven -at the :rilE: of considerable repetitidt, because they throw a great deal of light "upon what 'is the greatest con- itroversy of the hour. It is nOw quite plain that Mr FORSTE\Rt.s Bill will not be accepted in its present form, by a large and influential "section of the liberal party, and the country is eagerly discussing whether education shall be secular or sectarian, and whether it shall be made • compulsory by Parliament, or left, as far as that question is concerned, to the decision of the school boards or the circumstances of the district. Now, as regards the "religious difficulty," it must strike everyone at once as a singular fact, that Welsh dissenters, who are remarkable for their religiousness, and for the care with which they educate their children in the principles of religion, should be amongst the most eager advocates of secular instruction. There is, it is true, some difference of opinion as to the use of the Bible, but even on that point, as far as can be gathered from the proceedings of the last few weeks, we believe there cannot be a doubt that the mass of feeling is for purely secular teaching. If proof is needed, this singular fact is sufficient to show that, so far from being opponents of religion or religious teaching, a vast number of the advocates of secular education are the very men who think most of, and do- most for, the scriptural instruction of the young. The question, of course, is, not whether it is well to educate children in the principles and practices of religion, but whether it is right that the State should undertake that duty, and also, whether the perfunctory teaching of religion by State officials is likely to do more good than harm. If the matter could be dis- cussed on these grounds, without the importation of religious bigotry and bitterness, the controversy would be much more useful, and much more easily decided. The practical question, however, with regard to Mr FORSTER'S Bill, is, how far its denomi- national clauses shall be modified; and we may say at once that the Alliance is aiming at what it considers right, but what nobody, we imagine, can believe attainable at present. It is sometimes wise to ask for more than you expect to get, and-as long as the Welsh members are not committed to the whole programme of the Alliance, it cannot imperil the passing of the Bill that impracticable demands should be made. Mr WATKIN WILLIAMS, whose course on the Welsh Church question might have led us to expect less moderation from him than from some of his colleagues, strongly insisted, at the conference, upon the necessity of not putting off all legis- lation by striving for the impossible; and it was satis- factory to find that Mr WILLIAMS'S views were shared in by the other Welsh members. On the religious question they will support Mr DIXON'S amendment, and, notwith- standing Mr FORSTER'S earnest advocacy of what he calls religious education, it is to be hoped that Government will consent to modify their Bill, so as to prevent the in- justice and sectarian bitterness that will result from its present provisions. Dr EDWARDS and Dr REES put the matter very concisely and effectively, as far as it regards the Principality, when the deputation waited on Mr GLAD- STONE and his colleagues, on Wednesday. The nonconform- ists in Wales are in so great a majority that in many places they can carry the day and establish their own schools, but it will be at the cost of continual strife; and this strife, so fruitful of evil, Mr FORSTER is asked to prevent. Another argument of much weight to Welshmen was urged by the deputation. In a large number of districts, to vote against the landlord will be to incur a real or fancied danger of such serious magnitude, that the ratepayers cannot be expected to exercise their legal right. The spirit which animated the whole Principality at the last election can hardly be looked for in separate parishes and men who might risk their livelihood in a party contest would scarcely go the same length of self sacrifice in order to secure the appointment of a school board. These arguments are directed also against the proposed constitu- tion of the board by councils and vestries, and there can be little doubt that if the measure passes in its present form, and boards which have the control of the religious and compulsory questions are appointed by vestries and town councils, great dissatisfaction will be spread through- out the country. The Alliance asks that the ratepayers at large shall elect them under the protection of the ballot. As to compulsion, it is asked that Parliament shall decree it, that the matter shall not be left in the hands of the members of school boards, many of whom will have an interest in children's labour and cannot be expected to give an impartial decision, and that the difficulty and confusion which would be caused by compelling attendance in one parish and not in the next may be avoided by at once de- claring that every child in the land shall be taught to read and write. The Alliance asks for other amendments in the Bill, as will be seen from the report which we give on another page, but the three great improvements at which it aims are, unsectarian teaching, imperial compul- sion, and the election of school boards by the ratepayers and by ballot; and in all these particulars the measure must be amended before it can receive the cordial support of the people of Wales. We hope, however, that Mr WATKIN WILLIAMS'S advice will be remembered, and that we shall not be deprived of one step in the right direc- tion because we cannot all at once arrive at the gaol.—Os- westry Advertizer.

THE WELSH FASTING GIRL. The magisterial investigation into this case, which was adjourned from Wednesday last, was resumed on Monday. Mr Fowler, surgeon, in cross-examination, said he had formed a theory of the case. Either the girl thought she could outwit the nurses, or believed she could survive for a fortnight, but became delirious. He believed the ex- haustion which caused death was attributable to abstinence from food during the last eight days. This was the only case on record in which a post-mortem examination had been held after a person had fasted eight days. Dr Pear- son Hughes gave a detailed account of a visit which he paid to the girl in April, 1869. He told the mother she ought to be ashamed of herself to keep the child in bed. She replied he was not to give advice, but to read and pray with her. Mr James Thomas, a surgeon practising at Newcastle Emlyn, stated that, on the 20ih December, he and Mr Phillips, surgeon, made a post-mortem examina- tion. He thought the girl was about fourteen years of age. She was fifty-four inches in height. The body was plump, and she was altogether a beautiful child. He did not observe any difference in the size of her arms or legs. He opened the head. It was perfectly healthy in every sense, but the capillary vessels were gorged or congested. There was a fine layer of fat between the chest and the abdomen, from half an inch to an inch thick. The lungs were perfectly healthy, and the heart in its general ap- pearance showed indications of health. There was no blood in the heart, the great vessels being perfectly dry. He examined the stomach, and found two teaspoonfuls of darkish fluid-it was sour and reddened. He found no obstruction from first to last. There was a kind of fluid at the side of the small intestines. They found lumps of feces in the colon. The bladder was empty the gall bladder was full of bile, and dis- tended. Both bladders were healthy, as also the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Witness could not give an opinion as to how long the faeces had been in the body. The body was thoroughly healthy in every particular. From the evidence, and from what he had heard, he believed death was caused by exhaustion from starvation. He believed the girl had been fed-first, because she lived secondly, because she ceased to live when the test was brought to bear on her; thirdly, because the body was encased in a layer of fat; and fourthly, because faeces were found in the colon. Had he made the post-mortem examination without any antecedent knowledge of the case it would have puzzled him to state the cause of death. He found no disease that would account for death. There were few worms in the intestines, and those of no consequence they were such as are constantly found. Mr John Phil- lips, surgeon, stated that he assisted the last witness to make the post-mortem examination, and corroborated his evidence. He found the right shoulder very much elevated, and the muscles more developed than the left. He lifted both arms, and found under the left arm-pit a hollow capable of containing a half-pint bottle. He also examined with a microscope the contents of the stomach. He recognised starch globules in abundance, and several small pieces of bone-either of small fish or small birds. The starch was most probably taken from arrowroot. John Daniel, uncle of the girl, deposed to having offered her water on the evening before her death. She turned away her head, and did not speak. Mr John Griffith (Gohebydd) was cross-examined on the evidence previously given. Mr Jones, solicitor, corroborated the evidence of the Rev. W. Thomas, and proved the drawing-up of an agreement between the father and the committee as to the watching. The case was adjourned till Tuesday. The inquiry, after lasting nine days, was concluded on Tuesday. After some formal evidence, Mr Coleridge proceeded to sum up the facts elicited during the examina- tion of witnesses, and submitted that a clear case had been made out against the defendants. After a short consulta- t on, Mr Fitzilliams said the bench were of opinion that there was no case against the medical men, and they would not call on their legal advisers to address them. The magistrates, however, were of opinion that the case was very strong against the girl's father and they intended to commit him, but they should be glad to hear any rea- sons which Mr Bishop might advance against the com- mittal of the mother. Mr Bishop then addressed the court on behalf of Mrs Jacobs, and argued that through- out the whole affair she acted under the control of her husband. On the conclusion of Mr Bishop's remarks the Bench committed the father and mother for trial at the next assizes, but intimated that they were willing to take bail—the husband in EIOO, and two sureties of jESO each for the appearance of himself and wife.

The naval court of inquiry at Hong Kong, into the disastrous collision between the American war vessel Oneida and the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Bombay, off Yokohama, has terminated. Capt. Eyre, of the Bombay, has had his certificate suspended for six months.

MONDAY. The statement made by Earl Granville in the House of Lords, of the intentions of the Government with reference to the better preservation of the peace in Ireland, which was nearly identical in terms with that of Mr Gladstone in the other House, did not appear to give much satisfaction to the Opposition; but although the Duke of Richmond and the Marquis of Salisbury complained of its vagueness and insufficiency, they did not provoke any general debate upon the subject. After advancing a couple of Bills a stage, their lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister proceeded, Bills a stage, their lordships adjourned. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister proceeded, according to promise, to state the intentions of the Government with reference to the adoption of additional and improved means for the preservation of the peace in Ireland. By this time the House had become exceedingly full, and many mem- bers who could not find seats upon the floor, had to take refuge in the galleries. The statement of Mr Gladstone which was listened to with profound attention, amounted to this-That on Thursday evening Mr C. Fortescue, the Irish Secretary, would ask leave to introduce a Bill for the purpose of improving the securities for the maintenance of life and property in Ireland. This measure would consist of enactments amend- ing the Peace Preservation Act of 1856, and reviving certain provisions which were contained in similar prior Acts, especially the Acts of 1847 and 1833. It would not place in the hands of the Executive Government any power to suspend personal liberty, nor would it revive those provisions of the last-named Act which related to the trial of offences by conrts martial, but it would provide a means of summary trial without a jury of offences created under this Bill. The principal provisions would relate to the possession of arms and gun- powder, the establishment of control over persons moving about by night, the granting of compensation to individuals who had been subjected to outrage, or to their relatives, and the increase of the powers at present afforded by law for obtaining evidence. These enactments would subsist for only a limited time, and affect only proclaimed districts but it would also be proposed to give to the Government more effectual powers for the repres- sion of offences committed against public order by the press. This last announcement excited loud cheers from the conserva- tive benches; but the description of the other clauses of the Bill excited no expression of opinion. Mr Cardwell briefly stated that in consequence of the agitation which has arisen about over-regulation prices, he intends to withdraw his pro- posal to abolish the ranks of cornet and ensign; and to refer the whole question of these prices to a Royal Commission; and then, the orders of the day having been set aside to give him the opportunity, Viscount Crichton brought before the House the case of Captain Coote. This gentleman, a Protestant, was dis- missed from the shrievalty of the county of Monaghan, because he refused to dismiss his sub-sheriff, who had been guilty of im- properly constructing a jury panel, and in appointing his suc- cessor the Lord-Lieutenant passed over the names of two gentle- men returned by the judges, both Protestants, and appointed Mr Langdale, a Roman Catholic, who was a resident in the county, and only held property in it in right of his wife. This course Lord Crichton and Colonel Leslie asked the House to condemn as "unconstitutional, and calculated to impede the due performance of public duty." Mr C. Fortescue defended the right of the Lord-Lieutenant to select for the office a person not recommended by the judges, and explained the circumstances under which it had been thought right to appoint Mr Langdale to the shrievalty; but Mr Hardy pressed very forcibly against him the objection that before taking so strong a measure as the dismissal of a sheriff, he ought to have ascertained from the learned judge before whom the question was tried whether or not he was satisfied with the verdict which condemned the sub- sheriff. The resolution was rejected by a majority of 80-193 to 113. Mr Forster did not think it necessary to accompany the motion for the second reading of the Education Bill with any observations, and as soon as the question was put, Mr Dixon rose to propose his amendment declaring that no measure for the elementary education of the people will afford a satisfactory or permanent settlement which leaves the question of religious instruction in schools supported by public funds and rates to be determined by local authorities. The objections of the hon. member for Birmingham were principally directed against the seventh clause of the Bill, which he asserted would, in towns, lead to acrimonious sectarian contests for seats in the town council and on the school board; and would, in country districts, force upon the people the religious teaching favoured by the most influential residents, generally the parson and the squire. It would strengthen de- nominationalism in England, sap the national system of educa- tion in Ireland, and destroy religious equality in both countries. Nor would a conscience clause, however stringent, meet the difficulty. On all these grounds therefore, he asked that the obnoxious clause should be so altered as to take the question of religions instruction out of the hands of the school boards, and provide that in all rate-aided schools the religious teaching should be unsectarian; and that in other schools it should be given separately from the secular instruction, and at such a time that absence from it might subject no child to any disad- vantage. The amendment was seconded by Mr Illingworth, the member for Knaresborough, in a maiden speech, which was de- livered with perfect confidence and remarkable fluency. Mr W. E. Forster objected that the House ought not to be called upon' to vote for an abstract resolution, which might obtain the sup- port of many persons who entertained very different views; and asked that the Bill should be allowed to go into committee, where all the points connected with this question might be fairly and frankly considered. It was, he urged, difficult, in- deed almost impossible, to define unsectarian education by the words of an Act of Parliament, but he did not believe that it would be so difficult to obtain it in practice. Referring to a re- mark of Mr Dixon that he did not now ask that the schools should be secular, but only that they should be unsectarian, the right hon. gentleman fully recognized the value of unsectarian education; but, amid cheers from both sides of the House, de- nounced with much animation, both of language and of gesture the impolicy and impossibility of founding a system of national education in England upon an exclusively secular basis, tabooing religion and excluding the Bible from the schools. At some length he explained the principles upon which the Bill had been founded, with reference both to the religious question, and to other parts of the subject; and defendea it against the com- plaints which had been urged against it from various quarters. At the close of Mr Forster's speech the debate was adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY. In reply to the Marquis of Clanricarde, Earl GRANVILLE said that on Saturday a telegram was received in Dublin from the resident magistrate at Tuam, stating that a large mob had assembled, and was levying money from the farmers, burning ricks, and committing other outrages. A detachment of cavalry was at once sent there, but it was subsequently ascertained that the report was much exaggerated. Both Galway and Mayo were in a disturbed state, and during the last few days bands of men had been roving about, attacking houses, and swearing the farmers to give up their grass land, and there seemed to have been one or two cases of incen- diarism. Since then a telegram had been received from the officer in command of the troops, stating that there had been no further outrages, and that yesterday all ap- peared quiet. House adjourned at 5.25. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. On the order of the day for the second reading of the Thames Navigation Bill, Mr J. LOCKE moved the rejection of the Bill. After a discussion, the House divided and the second reading was carried by 205 against 42. Sir J. PAKINGTON gave notice that on Thursday he would ask the Secretary of the Board of Trade whether any confirmation had been received of a statement con- tained in the Times that the City of Boston steamer, when she left America, was more deeply laden by 18 or 20 inches than the insurance allowed, and whether if this were true and in all probability the ship would have been lost by the same cause which led to the loss of the London, if it was the intention of the Government to take any steps either by legislation or by a commission of enquiry for the protection of her Majesty's subjects from this great source of danger. In reply to Sir T. Bateson, Mr C. FORTESCUE said he believed it was not true that Mr W. T. O'Brien, who was murdered in the county of Limerick, in the month of October last, was on the pre- vious Sunday denounced from the altar by the Rev. Mr Evans, the Roman Catholic priest of Mohill. In reply to Dr Lush, Mr BRUCE said his attention had been drawn to a description in the Daily News of an exhibition in which a child of tender years was carried, strapped to the back of a female performer, along a tight rope. The proprietor had been communicated with by the Commissioners of Police, and the exhibition had been stopped. In reply to Lord Bury, Mr TORRENS (Cambridge) said he would next week place on the table the terms of his resolution inv reference to the self-governing colonies. His object would be to elicit from the House an expression of opinion whether the time had not arrived for affording to our self-govern- ing colonies facilities equivalent to those enjoyed by other states for watching over their own interests with regard to questions affecting them arising from time to time in this country. In reply to Sir G. Jenkinson, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had had under his consideration for more than a year the advisa- bility of imposing a tax upon guns, and he would take an opportunity of stating his opinion upon the subject. In reply to Mr Herman, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he proposed to make his finansial statement on Monday, the 11th of April. Mr GLADSTONE intimated that Mr Fortescue's Bill for the preservation of the peace in Ireland would take pre- cedence of the orders of the day on Thursday. He hoped the discussion of Mr Dixon's amendment upon the Education Bill would terminate to-night, and that the discussion upon the principle of the Bill would be re- served for the motion that the speaker do leave the chair, after Easter. In reply to Mr S. Cave, Mr GLADSTONE said he would consider the question of the adjournment for the Easter holidays, and would state shortly on what day it would take place. Mr A. JOHNSTONE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the better arrangement of parishes within the city of London, and for the better arrangement of the parochial charities and trust funds. Mr TAYLOR obtained leave to bring in a Bill to abolish the existing game laws. On the order of the day for the resumption of the de- bate on the second reading of the Elementary Education Bill, Sir J, PAKINGTON presented a petition from the Society of Arts, expressing a hope that provision would be made for the appointment of a minister of education. The debate was then resumed by Mr WINTERBOTHAM, who pointed out the great importance of the measure as shewn by the changes it would effect and the numerous interests it would deal with; and having urged that until a very recent period the greatest apathy prevailed upon the question, and that at the present moment the public were hardly prepared to give that consideration to the measure which the subject demanded, he expressed his regret that the Government had thought fit to bring forward an Education Bill this year. He said the Bill had already excited a great deal of feeling in the country, and although he condemned the existing system as inefficient, and in some respects unjust, he nevertheless did not think that its continuance was altogether unjustifiable on the ground of utility. With regard to the present measure, he acknowledged that it would be productive of much good in two respects, namely, it would provide a school for every child, and would prevent the ignorance, apathy, or avarice of parents from interfering with the education of their children. Nevertheless, he entertained the strongest possible objections to some of its provisions, especially to that which proposed to leave to the school boards the decision as to religious teaching, the result of which would be that in rural parishes the education of the children would be handed over to the clergy of the Church of England, while constant strife and discord would be engendered in every portion of the king- dom. He thought it unfortunate that the House had to consider the subject piecemeal, and had not before them one broad and comprehensive scheme embracing the three kingdoms. On behalf of the dissenters of this country he asked the Government for even-handed justice, and while advocating the desirability of restricting the education to be given by the State to purely secular subjects, he claimed for nonconformists as great a regard for the Bible, which was their only authority in religious matters, as strong a regard as was felt for it by the members of any religious community. Lord R. MONTAGUE controverted the arguments used during the debate as to the necessity of excluding religious teaching from the education proposed to be given under the Bill, and quoted from various sources with the view of showing that if religion were excluded from the day schools it would be idle to expect that the omission would be compensated by the teaching given in Sunday Schools. Mr H. SAMUELSON concurred with Mr Dixon in the ob- jections he had urged against the details of the Bill, but would not go the length of supporting the amend ment. He hoped the Government would consent to modify some of the provisions of the measure, but he re- garded the amendment simply as an attempt to delay legislation. Mr UORRANCE was of opinion that the settlement of the question had been delayed too long, and he thanked the Government for having at length grappled with it. He quoted statistics to show that in many parishes throughout the country large sums were spent in intoxi- cating liquors, while scarcely any provision was made for education. He was strongly in favour of a conscience clause, because he believed that in the absence of a clause of that nature there would be no pretence for calling the schools National schools. On the contrary, they would merely become the schools of a sect. He thought it would be possible to improve the Bill in committee, especially in regard to the provision which dealt with the education of pauper children. Mr KAY SHUTTLEWORTH supported the measure, ur- ging the necessity of a strict enforcement of the conscience clause. Mr BERESFORD HOPE trusted that the question would be settled this session, so as to prevent the strife and discord that would otherwise follow. The Bill was no doubt in need of amendment, but to oppose it at the pre- sent stage was the work of a discontented and disappointed faction. Mr E. MIALL, in supporting the amendment, justified the course that had been taken in proposing it on the ground that it would have been impossible, at the present stage, for those who concurred in the views which he entertained—an opposition to what might be termed the denominational part of the Bill—to put their opposition fully before the House. He believed that if carried with the objectionable principle in it the Bill would defeat its own objects, and would hereafter be a source of bitter strife and contention. He applied to the Government to let the religious question be settled at the present moment, and not to allow it to go to the country, where it could not fail to be productive of continued irritation and bad feeling. Sir ROUNDELL PALMER regarded the measure before the House as one which afforded a practical opportunity for obtaining a settlement of this question, and asked how, if it were desirable that the different sections of the community should co-operate with a view of making the settlement as harmonious as possible, they could ignore those who had so long been identified with the education of the people through the church with which they were connected. The opinion of the country, so far as it had been ascertained, was, he asserted, in favour of an education which had a religious character, and was not purely secular. Mr A. HERBERT said it was clear that the present system of education had failed, and the reason why it had failed was, first, because the system was partial, and next, because the State in adopting it had given into their hand responsibilities which it ought to have retained. With regard to the measure before the House, he recognized with great pleasure the provisions relating to the school boards, the education rate and compulsion, but at the same time he thought that the clauses which would have the effect of continuing the denomi- national system were a blot upon the Bill, and would produce much bad feeling throughout the country. For his own part he asked for secular schools, although he was content to leave it to the school boards to decide whether or not the Bible should be read before school hours. With regard to the conscience clause, the time had gone by when it could be regarded as the satisfactory basis of a Bill of this description, and he was in- clined to believe it a fallacy because it was intended for the protection of the weak, but in practice it would be found that it would only protect the strong and independent, who really had no .need for it. Be- lieving in the necessity of a strictly unsectarian system of education, he regretted that he should be compelled to vote for the amendment. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER regarded the Bill as one which dealt fairly and in a proper spirit with those who had done so much for education in the past. The measure dealt with the question of education upon a, broad and comprehensive basis, and under its provisions, where even the present system of edncation was found to be defective-the State would interfere and supplement the existing schools by the enforcement of compulsory educa- tion. Some of the objections that had been urged against the measure reminded him of a herd of cattle in a piece of rich pasturage, who, having abundance of good grass to eat, fell to fighting each other about a bed of nettles, in one corner of the field. He did not deny the Bill had its faults, but he asked what measure could have been brought forward that would have satisfied everyone ? The measure did, however, meet one im- portant want which had long been felt, inasmuch as it recognized for the first time the duty which rested upon the Government of seeing that a general system of education was provided for the people. He hoped, therefore, that these would not!-be induced to turn aside from this great object by the consideration of matters which, after all, were of lesser importance. Mr V. HARCOUBT moved the' adjournment of the debate, and after a desultory conversation as to when the debate would be resumed, aud when ft was likely to terminate, Mr GLADSTONE having stated that he hoped it wonld finish on Friday; and Mr FAWCETT replying that many hon. members would not be content with that arrangement, the debate was ad- journed to Friday. The House adjourned at 12 30.

WEDNESDAY. GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. MRW. MARTIN moved the second reading of this Bill. He had been informed by the Home Secretary and several hon. mem- bers that they considered the second clause an interference with the rights of property, and that it went further than they con- sidered necessary, but the Home Secretary was willing to let the Bill be read a second time on the condition that he was allowed to frame a substituted clause that would put the tenant in a more satisfactory condition than he was at present. By voting for the second reading hon. members would only pledge them- selves to the fact that there was an evil that required a remedy, and in committee, which he would fix for the 29th of June, he had no doubt they would be able to frame the clauses so as to remedy what was complained of. He had watched as a Sports- man the operation of the game laws, and he had come to the conclusion, with the committee of 1845, that the damage com- plained of by tenants was mainly to be attributed to- hares and rabbits and not to feathered game. The most difficult part of the question was how to deal with rabbits. It had been argued that it would be better to make rabbits the absolute property of the tenant, but he was certain if that was done they would be more numerous than ever, for wherever he had surrendered the right to preserve rabbits, he had always found the tenant to take care and keep a good supply for his own diversion, and he knew of one when he mentioned to him that the rabbits appeared to be on the increase, that he had put a few down for his own sport. (Hear, and laughter.) It had also been proposed to abolish the game laws altogether, and destroy birds as well as animals, but no benefit would result from it. Feathered game was the best friend to the farmer, and in the attempt to exter- minate hares and rabbits by ferrets and nets more damage would ba done to the land than by the game themselves. A third pro- posal was to make the latter vermin. They were not so, but, on the contrary, they were useful articles of food, and the con- sumption of rabbits in London alone was a million and a half, and he had been informed that more nourishment was to be got out of a rabbit which cost 14d. than out of a piece of meat of the same value. Rabbits mostly lived on land not suitable for the production of beef and mutton, and an erroneous statement had been put forward that four rabbits consumed in a year as much food as a sheep. It appeared that six Spanish rabbits as big as hares were stuffed with as much food as they could eat, and a calculation was made from it, that they consumed in a year as much as a sheep. There were many farms that would pay better for rearing rabbits than in producing corn. He knew of a farm where, with high farming, the owner, who farmed the estate, could only produce one crop of wheat in ten years; but if he were to turn his attention to rabbit cultivation he would realise ten timesmoreby them than he did by his corn. He admitted that on cultivated lands it was hardly possible to overrate the damage rabbits and hares inflicted on the crops, especially the corn crops, and he had to sell the produce in the market as damaged wheat. For some years past there had been a constantill-feeling between landlords and tenants with reference to game. A great deal was to be said on the landlord's side, and the reduction of rent in many cases where game was preserved was enormous; and he knew of an instance where, besides compensation, the landlord submitted to a reduction of 1 an acre in the rent for preserving game. A conservative solicitor informed him of a client who had been ruined by the game on his farm. He told him that he had been eaten out of house and home by the game, but that his landlord was going to give him a cottage, rent free, and allow him 10s. a week for life. He was told that if this Bill passed into a law there would be an end of all sport. Lord Leigh had given up to his tenants the rabbits and hares, and the consequence was that they were as plentiful [as ever; and a Norfolk friend of his said he did not believe there were so miny partridges in all England, out of Norfolk, as were to be found on that estate. The present Bill was a moderate proposal, and if not accepted land- lords migh go further and fare a great deal worse. If those who were interested in the land were to act generously and fairly by the tenants, he was certain they need not fear that legitimate sport would be deteriorated. It would be far better to settle this question now than to be driven to it hereafter in a time of popular excitement and in a spirit of exasperation between land- lands and tenants. After some discussion, Mr Secretary BRUCE said he objected to the Bill because it contained a principle that was unnecessary, and that would work mischievously, for the effect of it would be that very few leases would be granted to the tenant if the Bill passed into law. He agreed that there was a part of legislation with respect to the position of the tenant which ought not to re- main on the statute-books. He was cpiite willing to meet his hon. friend in this matter, for there existed on both sidss of the House a desire that the tenant should be placed in a better position than he occupied under the existing laws. It would be very inconvenient to enter upon discussion without having any distinct proposition before the House but he would say that the Government had undertaken to deal with this question as between tenant and landlord, in Scotland, and he saw no reason why the principle adopted in the proposed measure- which would shortly be expounded by his right hon. friend the Lord Advocate-should not be extended to England. (Hear, hear.) Upon this understanding he hoped his hon. friend would not insist upon his motion for the second reading. (Hear, hear, and cries of "Withdraw.") Mr Martin withdrew the Bill. THE BALLOT. In moving the second readingof the measure to intro- duce the ballot into Municipal and Parliamentary elections, Mr Leatham addressed the House at con- siderable length, and, taking as his text the evidence taken before the committee which sat last year, and has just reported to the House, took some pains to show to how great an extent intimidation prevailed at the last election, in order to disprove Mr Mill's assertion that of late years it has gone out of fashion and to prove, by reference to the Judges' Reports that, under the existing state of the law, bribery, treating, and intimidation may be carried on with impunity, and that the only remedy will be the ballot.—The Marquis of Hartington, who on this occasion represented the Ministry, complained that the course which Mr Leatham had taken in pressing the second reading of this Bill so soon after the presentation of the report of the committee had occasioned some embarrassment both to the House and the Government. The Ministers did not consider that they were at all relieved from their responsibility by the report of that com- mittee; and he undertook that they would take the earliest opportunity of considering its recommendations, as well upon this subject as upon others which had been referred to it. The Government would place themselves in a false position if they were to negative the principles of this Bill by dividing against this subject as upon others which had been referred to it. The Government would place themselves in a false position if they were to negative the principles of this Bill by dividing against the second reading—for his own part, indeed, as he announced amid loud cheers, he cordially concurred with the paragraph of the report which recommended the adoption of the ballot—and therefore they should support the motion of the member for Huddersfield, upon the understanding that he would postpone the next stage of the Bill until they had had time to consider the report of the committee, and decide whether they should introduce a measure upon the subject themselves.—Mr Hardy was ready to assent to this course, upon the understanding that he and his friends were not to be regarded as expressing any ap- proval of the principle of the Bill; but Mr Liddell felt bound to oppose the second reading of the Bill, and to repeat the well- known arguments against the ballot, as inconsistent with the principle of the Constitution, that the vote is a trust, and calcu- lated to permeate all our social relations with a dangerous and demoralising secrecy.—Mr Bernal Osborne, who addressed the House with all his old vivacity, expressed a complete approval of the course taken by Mr Leatham, because nothing was ever got from a Government without hurrying it, and he doubted whether the Postmaster-General would not find so much to do in setting the telegraphs to rights as to prevent his undertaking legislation upon the subject. The hon. gentleman excited a good deal of laughter by his jocose references to his own elec- tioneering experience, especially when he said that he had left Nottingham because it was a little too lively for him, but had not benefited much by the change; described himself and Mr Heron as "two popular members who were obliged to fly for their livesand asserted, as a general characteristic of Irish elections, that the elector was required to go to the poll and take the chance of returning on a shutter.—Mr Newdegate was soindig- nant that the second reading of this Bill should have been pro- posed before the report of the committee was in the hands of members, that he moved the adjournment of the debate; but Sir George Grey, who expressed himself favourable to the ballot, as likely to mitigate both bribery and intimidation, did not think it necessary to adopt this course, but was prepared to assent to the second reading upon the terms suggested by Lord Hartington.—Sir S. Northcote inclined rather to the adjournment of the debate, and in this view he was sup- ported by Colonel W. Patten, who indignantly protested against a declaration by Mr Leatham that he should regard, and the country would accept, a division upon the adjournment as a vote upon the principle of the Bill.—Upon a division the motion for the adjournment was defeated bv a majority of 110-226 to 116.-Then Colonel Barttelot moved the adjournment of the House, and after the usual wrangling discussion, this was defeated by a similar majority, the numbers, however, being somewhat different—viz., 220 to 110.— By this time there re- mained only a quarter of an hour of the period allotted to discussion, and Lord C. J. Hamilton, commenting severely upon the absence of the chief ministers and leaders of the Opposition, moved the adjournment of the debate. This motion was seconded by Mr Leatham, who fixed Tuesday, May 3rd, for the resumption of the discussion, and, after Mr Ayrton had volunteered an explanation of the absence of the Prime Minis- ter, which the House seemed to regard as rather amusing than satisfactory, was agreed to without a division.—Mr M Laren withdrew his Annuity Tax Bill; and when the other orders had been disposed of, the House adiourned. had been disposed of, the House adjourned.

-r- THURSDAY. Although the House of Lords sat for about an hour, nearly the whole of that time was occupied with appeals to Lord Shaftesbury to induce him to postpone the second reading of his Ecclesiastical Courts Bill, until the Archbishop of Canter- bury can return to his seat in the House. The noble earl for some time appeared unwilling to accede to these requests, but at last he was compelled to give way and the only busmess transacted by their lordships was the advancement a stage of two or three not very important Bills. When the questions were asked in the House of Commons, Mr Lefevre informed Sir J. Pakington that he had received from Mr Inman a letter contradicting the statement that the City of Boston was overloaded when she left Halifax, and expressing his belief that she is still afloat.—Mr Monsell stated that a deputation from the Red River Settlement had started for Ottawa.—Mr Gladstone, being pressed by Mr G. H. Moore with a series of questions with reference to the Fenian convicts, informed the House that the Government had decided to institute, through the medium of impartial persons, a complete inquiry into the allegations which had been made as to the con- dition and treatment of these prisoners but amid the cheers of members on both sides of the House emphatically de- clined, in the present state of Ireland, to recommend the granting of a general amnesty. The orders of the day were postponed to enable Mr C; Fortescue to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better preservation of peace in Ireland. When the right hon. gentleman rose to per- form that task, the House was not excessively crowded, but there was a very large attendance of strangers," and the gallery allotted to Peers and distinguished personages was quite full. The Chief Secretary did not conceal the regret with which he asked the House to confer upon the Government increased powers for the repression and punishment of crime; but at the same time declared that he performed this duty without any doubt or hesitation as to the propriety and necessity of the measure which he had to recommend. He entered at some length into the statistics of the subject, in order to show that, although agrarian crime is now so rife in Ireland as to demand special action on the part of the Government, there have been years in which the number of offences committed has been greater, and their character more serious; and having described the general characteristic of the existing crime as intimida- tion, and explained the measures which the Government have already adopted to deal with it, and the difficulties with which they have had to contend, proceeded to explaia the provisions of the measure which he was asking leave to introduce. The Bill will remain in force for a limited period only, and some of its clauses will apply to all districts proclaimed by the Lord Lieutenant, some to districts specially proclaimed, and some to the whole of Ireland. In all proclaimed districts a game licence will not entitle a person to carry arms, and special licences will be required to authorise the carrying of revolvers; and the Eunishment for offences against the clauses dealing with the earing of arms will be increased to two years'imprisonment, with hard labour. Resident magistrates and police superin- tendents will be authorised, under warrants remaining in force for three months, to search for arms at any hour of the day or night; and facilities will be given for searching for documents in connection with threatening letters. Arms and ammunition must not be sold except to persons having licences to carry arms. The magistrates will be empowered to commit witnesses who refuse to give evidence upon inquiries into offences, as well as upon the trial of prisoners, and to refuse bail in the case of all persons charged with having arms in their possession without a licence. In districts spe- cially proclaimed the police may arrest persons whom they find out at night under suspicious circumstances; and if the persons so arrested cannot give a good reason for being out, the magistrates may commit them to prison for a period not exceeding six months; The Lord Lieutenant may, by war- rant, close public-houses after sunset. The justices may call before them strangers found in the district under snspicious cir- cumstances, and if they cannot give an account of their business, may require them to find sureties to keep the peace. Magis- trates in petty sessions may summarily commit for six months persons offending against the Arms Act, or going about armed and the Crown will be empowered to change, by application to the Court of Queen's Bench, the venue of the trial of any offence. All over Ireland restrictions will be placed upon the sale of gunpowder and arms power will be given to arrest wit- nesses who have absconded, or are about to abscond and grand juries will be authorised to give compensation, to be levied on such part of the county as they please, to any one who has been the subject of violence, or to the family or representatives of a person who has been murdered. In order to put a stop to the circulation of a number of weekly periodicals and newspapers which are filled with treasonable and seditious writing, and ex- cite the mind of the people against law and the constitution of the country, the Lord Lieutentant will be authorised, upon his responsibility, to seize the plant and all copies of any newspaper, wherever found or printed, which may contain matter which is treasonable or felonious, or incites to felony. Parties who may think themselves aggrieved will have a right of action against the officer who executes the office, and if the verdict is in their favour they will recover damages against the Crown, to be assessed by the jury.—The statement of Mr For- tescue was listened to with unflagging attention by the House, but did not elicit many expressions of opinion. Only the provisions as to the granting of compensation to injured persons, and the seizure of newspapers, excited any cheering; but both of these were received with decided manifestations of approval. The conversation which followed was neither very long nor very interesting, but in the course of it Mr Charley, who caught the Speaker's eye for the first time this session, addressed the House at some length upon the faults of the Irish policy of the Government, and, apparently to his own satis- faction, accounted for the present disturbed state of Ireland by ;he assertion, that in passing the Irish Church Bill the Ministry tiad "stript from its socket the choicest jewel of the Crown, Mid cast it before the Fenian swine."—An amendment by Lord EI. Lennox on Mr Childers's naval officers' retirement scheme was defeated by 169 to 136.

The Manchester Courier announces the appointment of the Right Rev. Richard Durnford, archdeacon of Man- chester, to the bishopric of Chichester. ELOPEMENT OF A DETECTIVE WITH A PUBLICAN'S WIFE. -On Saturday some excitement was caused at Altrincham by the arrival, in charge of the police, of a couple of run- aways who had eloped during the week. Detective-officer, Walter, who was engaged as a detective at Manchester a year ago, and since then has been stationed at Altrincham, absconded on Tuesday, at the conclusion of the petty sessions, taking with him all the money his wife had, and two suits of clothes, and going to Manchester. At the same time Mrs Johnston, wife of the landlord of the Red Lion Inn, was also missed, and it soon oozed out that the two had eloped. It was found that the lady had taken 250 from a box, two boxes, some silver plate, &c. On inquiry, it turned out that she had sent two boxes and a bale, containing bedding, &c., to the Broadheath Station on Monday evening, to be forwarded to Rhyl, addressed to a Mrs Wood. A warrant was taken out for the appre- hension of Walker (who left a wife and four young children) for absconding from duty, and the police were soon on the track. Sergeant Mayho telegraphed for the goods to be delivered at Rhyl, and on arriving there he found that the fugitives had passed through before the goods arrived. Whilst he was there a telegram arrived from Bangor, requesting that the goods should be sent on to Holyhead. The parties took the boat for Dublin, arran- ging for the luggage to be forwarded, and Mayho, on Thursday evening, followed. He accompanied the luggage to the London and North-Western goods office, North-wall, Dublin, and on Friday morning detained Mrs Johnston when she applied for them. A short time after- wards Walker appeared at the window, and he was also arrested. There.was no charge against Mrs Johnston, but she was brought over with Walker. Mrs Johnston ex- pressed her intention of drowning herself, but was prevented by Walker. They reached Altrincham on Saturday morning, and were met by a crowd of some hundreds of persons. Walker's wife flew" at him in the office, and attempted to strike him with a stone wrapped in a hand- kerchief. Walker had none of Mr Johnston's property upon him, and was therefore charged with absconding from duty. He was taken before the magistrates at once, and fined t5.; in default of payment, 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. He expressed his determination to go to gaol, but afterwards paid the money. Mrs Johnston I was set at liberty, and was subsequently removed in a cab.

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT AT ABER- YSTWYTH. SIR,-As it is under contemplation to enlarge the pre- sent corn market to accomodate the increasing trade of the town, would it not be as well to put the matter to public competition, so as to procure a good design and one that may be an ornament to the place. Yours, PROGRESS. 16th March, 1870.

$hippiug. ABERYSTWYTH. Week ending Thursday, 17th March, 1870. ARRIVED.—Fume, Williams, from Milford; Henry E. Taylor (s.s.), Bristol; Jane Ellen, Rees, Llanelly; Energy, Thomas, Newport. SAILED. Nell, Morris, for Aberdovey; My Lady, Bithell, Flint; Express (s.s.), Jones, Liverpool; Henry E. Taylor (s. s.), Lewis, Bristol. ABERDOVEY. ARRIVED.—Agenoria, Humphreys, from Aberystwyth; Adelaide, Hughes, Aberystwyth; Jenny Jones, Jenkins, Aberystwyth; Midas, Parry, Neath (weather-bound); Nell, Morris, Aberystwyth; Dove, Daniel, Cardigan; Osprey, Davies, Cardigan. SAILED.—Rheidol Vale, Thomas, for Dublin; Mountain Maid, Davies, Bideford; Catherine, Williams, Ports- mouth Anne, Humphreys, Ramelton; Margaret Davies, Morris, Garston; Resolute, Jones, Cork. PORTMADOC. ARRIVED.—Sophia, Owens: Lark, Jones; Una, Prit- chards; Laura Williams, Williams; Laura Griffith, Williams; Cordelia, Davies; Topaz, Roberts; Louise, Thomas; Gomer, Williams; Ann, Williams; Frances Henry, Roberts; John and Ann, Jones; Mary and Alice, James; Eliza W olesley, Roberts; Rebecca (s.s.). SAILED.—Sabrina, Pritchards; Rebecca (s.s.).

TIDE TABLE FOR ABERYSTWYTH, ABERDOVEY, AND BARMOUTH. March. Aberystwyth. Aberdovey. Barmouth. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. Sat. 19 8 39 8 59 9 8 9 23 8 48 9 8 Sun. 20 9 19 9 41 9 48 10 10 9 28 9 50 Mon. 21 10 3 10 25 10 32 10 54 10 12 10 34 Tues. 22 10 46 11 8 11 15 11 37 10 55 11 17 Wed. 23 11 30 — — 0 22 — 0 2 Thur. 24 0 19 0 46 0 48 1 15 0 28 0 55 Fri. 25 1 18 ) 1 57 1 47 2 26 1 27 2 6

TRAFFIC RETURNS. 1870. Great Western £ 68,340 West Midland > 1869. South Wales J £ 68,964 1870. London and North Western "j £ 114,048 Shrewsbury and Hereford V 1869 Shropshire Union j £ 110,728 For the week ending March 13th. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS (178 miles open).—Passengers, parcels, horses, carriages, dogs, and mails, £ 1,078; mer- chandise, minerals, and cattle, £ 1,339. Total for the week, 22,417. Aggregate, to this date, 223,798. Corre- sponding week in last year (176 miles open).—Passengers, &c., 21,049; merchandise, &c., 21,357; total 22,406; aggregate, to this date, 223,262. For the week ending March 6th. BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY (60f miles open).— Passengers, parcels, &c., CI54 5s. 8d.; goods and live stock, 2910 17s. 3d.; total, 21,065 7s. 8d. £ 17 10s. 8d. per mile per week. Corresponding week last year (59 miles open).—Passengers, &c., 2145 15s. 9d.; goods, &c., 2713 12s. Od.; total, £859 7s. 9d.; .£14 8s. lOd. mile f week. Increase, 2205 15s. 2d. Aggregate from 1st January (8 weeks), 1870, 29638 16s. 7d.; ditto, last year, 27,896 7s. 4d. Increase, 21,742 9s. 3d.

THE WELSH FREE NATIONAL CHURCH; OR AN ENGLISH PEWED EPISCOPAL SECT. The following address has been issued by the National Association for Freedom of Worship Welshmen, of whatsoever class, or party, or sect! We pray your help against the most mischievous and hateful wrong which ever oppressed a Christian Church or people. For fifteen hundred years the Ancient British Church-the church first planted in this island, either by the Apostles them- selves or their nearest successors was your church. Until lately, your churches were the common heritage of your fathers and yourselves. Long after the Reformation, your parish churches, which were designed for the free use, in common, of all the parishioners, rich and poor alike, came to be appropriated, assigned, allotted, or monopolized-for the thing is the same, called by whatsoever name-by a small minority-often less than a tenth-of the parishioners. Then a small number of families in every parish—those most able to pay for their own instruction—despite the warning in the Psalms (lxxxiii. 12-17) against those who "take to themselves the houses of God in possession "—despite the fearful examples recounted by Bi-shop Jeremy Taylor, of the fate of all such as appropriate to their own use what God and the republic have made common "-despite the solemn condemnation by St. James of all who "despise the poor," and rob them of their equal place in Christian assemblies "-these few families, by degrees, in this way, shnt out the many from the public ordinances of reli- gion. Thus have the Cambro-British people been driven from the church of their fathers, and made what they are But neither the Psalmist, nor the Apostle, nor the Bishop, ever dreamed of anything so abominable as the unchristian pew- renting and appropriation system of which you are the victims. Only one thing is wanting to complete this wrong. This is now being attempted by those who seek to confirm and perpetuate it, by making the churches to be by law what they are now against law, merely private Episcopal chapels! and who, by what they call Disestablishment," would deprive the whole Cambrian nation of all right or claim to the Cambrian Church, and to the national parochial edifices of the church. We implore you, then, to consider who are, and who are not, your friends in this matter. 1. Your friends are surely those who declare and resolve that -your public parish churches shall be, in fact, as they are as yet (thank God) by law, for the free use in common of all, poor and rich alike. 2. Your friends cannot be those who would make and keep your own churches bylaw, as they are now unlawfullfy, in fact, the places of private worship of a select and limited sect. Be not misled by sophistry, by words, or by names. There can only be a right and a wrong in this matter. You, the whole people of Wales, are concerned to resist the wrong. Demand with us that your parish churches shall be open, free as air, to all alike, poor and rich, for Welsh services, every Sun- day morning and evening (say nine a.m. and seven p.m.), what- ever other services may be held for the minority who now pos- sess them; and God defend the right. Can you halt between two opinions? For there can only be two. Those who are not for you are against you. Those who are against us are against you. Attend your Easter vestry-which must be held in every parish, and to which every inhabitant has equal access-and raise the standard of your Free National Church. EDWARD HERFORD, 1st January, 1870. Chairman of the Council. Cti" The National Association for Freedom of Worship, at its Central Offices, 26, St. John's-street, Manchester London, 16, Northumberland-street, W.C., enrols mem- bers, supplies this and other papers for circulation, and will thankfully receive help from all disposed to give it.

Upwards of 30,000 natives have perished in the island of Zanzibar and on the mainland from cholera. You say that the Lucifer Matches you use, Are the "patent" of 'Bryant and May"; Pray tell me, still further, why is it you choose Their best specials,"—do tell me, pray ? I'll tell you, most readily—listen to me, And the fact, then, most widely make known; From danger, through fire, with their matches you are free, For they light on no box but their own.—A. M. R. The third report of the Ritual Commissioners, giving in detail the changes which they propose to make in the Lectionarv was officially issued on Friday. On Monday morning the bodies of the last of the per- sons killed by the explosion at the Lowhall Colliery on the 15th of November last were recovered from the workings. The death is announced of the Rev. Thomas Markby an eminent Cambridge scholar, and secretary to the Syndicate of the University of Cambridge for conducting local examinations. Mr Markby warmly supported the extension of university examinations to women. At a meeting of shareholders of the Credit Foncier of England,held on Tuesday,resolutions were passed to reduce the capital of the company from two million pounds in JS10 shares to one million in Z shares. The mail train on the Mississippi Central Railroad ran through a trestle three miles below Oxford, Mississippi, on the 25th ult., demolishing the baggage, express, and four passenger cars, and killing and maiming a great many passengers. At the last accounts twenty-one bodies had been taken from the wreck. BREAKFAST.—EPPS'S COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND COMFORT- ING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has ell rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette remarks:—"The singular success which Mr Epps attained by his homoeopathic preparation, of cocoa has never been surpassed by any experimentalist. By a thorough know- ledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa, Mr Epps has Erovided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured everage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills.'t Made simply with boiling water or milk;. Sold by the Trade only in J lb., £ lb„ and 1 lb. tin-lined packets, labelled—JAMES EPPS & Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, London. LUXURIANT AND BEAUTIFUL HAIR.—Mrs S. A. Allen's World's Hair Restorer or Dressing" never fails to quickly restore Gray or Faded Hair to its youthful colour and beauty, and with the first application a beautiful gloss and delightful fragrance is given to the Hair. It stops Hair from falling off. It prevents baldness. It promotes luxuriant growth. It causes the Hair to grow thick and strong. It removes all dandruff. It contains neither oil nor dye. In large bottles-Price Six Shillings. Sold by all Chemists and Perfumers. For Children's Hair, Mrs Allen's "Zylobatsamum" far exceeds any pomade or hair oil, and is a delightful Hair Dressing it is a distinct and separate preparation from the Restorer and its use not required without it. Depot, 266, High Holborn, London. Sold by Mr W. H. Turner, Chemist Church-street, Oswestry HOLLOWAY'S PILLS. -The Body's Bulwark.-Nine-tenths of the maladies afflicting adults depend upon a disordered state of the stomach. Holloway's Pills correct the first symptoms of indigestion by acting healthily on the gastric juice, and wholesomely exciting the liver. They dispel flatulency in incipient indigestion, and overcome heat, distention, and pain attending more advanced or neglected cases. These Pills invigorate, and soon restore the dyspeptic from the great and sudden depression of strength always accompanying stomachic disorders or biliary derangement. They beget cheerfulness, vigour, and happiness. In rectifying disorders of the digestive apparatus these Pills prove themselves the promptest pre- ventives of disease. They raise a bulwark against all ap- proaching maladies, and preserve freshness, health and life.

PONTEFRACT RACES.—TUESDAY. Spring Handicap.—TarnaiL, Better Half 2, Artichoke 3. Five ran. Pontefract Steeplechase Ilandieap. -Lady Geraldine 1., La. Puce 2. Two ran. United Hunters' :F!ate.-Fairy Land 1, Langar 2, Advance 3. Ten rah. Maiden Hunters'Stakes.—Jack 1, Trumpeter 2, Elcot gelding 3. '"Reven'ran. Selling Steeplechase.—Laplace 1, Brilliant 2. Four ran. Consolation :-Stakes.- Viscountess 1, Maid Mickley -2, Flying Jih 3, Five ran.

GRAND NATIONAL HUNT AND CAMBRIDGE- SHIRE STEEPLECHASES. TUESDAY. Hunters' Stakes. -Merry Monk 1, Patchwork 2, Prim- rose 3. Nine ran. Hurdle Race Handicap.—Warlike 1, Limerick 2, Stand- artl Bearer 3. Six ran. National Hunt.—Schiedam 1, Tinderbox 2, The Heart 3L Fifteen ran. "Selling Steeple. -Kingfisher 1, Lidard 2. Four ran. Cottenham Handicap.—Fuzee 1, Lightning 2, Vulcan ■3„ Seven ran. WEDNESDAY. Stewards' Handicap.—Vulcan, 1; Doubloon, 2; Arles- oott, 3 Leap Year, 4. Hunters' Steeplechase.—Miss Fanny, 1; Birdnest geld- ing, 2. Four ran. Cambridgeshire Steeplechase Handicap. -Primrose, 1; The Doctor, 2; Daisy, 3. Six ran. Selling Steeplechase.—Badminton, 1; Licymnia, 2; Kingfisher, 3. Plate of 40 sovereigns.—Ben-an, 1; Tim Whiffler filly, 2 Madame St. Germains, 3; Bagpipes, 4. Croxton Steeplechase.—Oddfellow, 1; Leap Year, 2; Licymnia, 3. Seven ran.

HORDLEY COURSING MEETING. Again, the lovers of coursing have laid themselves under an obligation to the Rev. W. C. E. Kynaston, for the pleasure afforded them on Monday last, the day fixed for Hordley coursing meeting. The heavy fall of snow on Saturday night, followed by Sunday's frost, had a very great influence in deterring numbers from attending the meet. The field, not numerous, but select, had excellent sport provided, and in spite of the protest made by one of the stewards, coursing commenced at half-past one. So powerful was the thawing powers of the sun, that in a very short time, the ground hunted was as free from snow as on a May day. The draw on the former occasion took place at Shrewsbury, and that naturally enough, made the Ellesmereites indignant; and Dick Lloyd was called upon to form another meeting, with the kind permission of the rev. proprietor of the Hardwick estate, and the hearty support of Mr Jebb; the result being the meet of Monday last. Among the company present we noticed the Hon. George Kenyon, Captain Jebb, Mr A. Jebb, Mr Temple, Miss Jebb, Mr Boote, Mr I. Hodson, Major Owen, Mr Cureton, Mr Moorhouse, &c. Sport commenced by Bouquet and Brigadier General being taken into the cus- tody of the slipper, Mr Stockton, who did not give {uni- versal satisfaction in his office. The white and black lady, however, had it all her own way and won a clever quick course by every point. The dog ran well, but was power- less directly they warmed to their work. Mr Jebb's dog Briton, won his course with Betty in clever style. The Chester dog, Polyanthus, next met Mr Moorhouse's favourite bitch, Merry Heart, which after an undecided, he beat in a second course, Oleander beat Hippia from end to elld. The first ties and course for the Hardwick cup were run with odds on the winners, Bouquet literally excelling herself in the deciding course. For the Hordley stakes eight good dogs were entered—the first two going to the slips being Romping Bob and the Waterloo dog Hyperi- cum an undecided course was run by them, and Bob was afterwards withdrawn. Hector through an accident won his course with the Ellesmere dog Speculation. Blue Ribband in a masterly style disposed of her antagonist, the Conway dog, and in the next course Little Jessica "prayed" in vain to defeat her opponent Hilda. What ought to have been the last course was spoiled through the bungling of the slipper, who unslipped the dogs when the hare was nearly out of sight. This course was run on the meadows adjoining the canal, into which the hare went head foremost, the two dogs following suit. The Waterloo dog killed the hare in the water. The deciding course was run off on a ploughed field belonging to Mr Ellis, of Hord- ley, with two to one on Blue Ribband; but, making every giint, Hypericum won the stakes in a short course. The awkswood stakes only produced five competitors, the Winner turning up in Mr Jebb's fawn and white dog Dares. In the deciding course the dog with two and three to one on him won the Hawkswood in good style. The Company were hospitably entertained by Messrs Timmis, Cureton, and Ellis, of Hordley, who dispensed creature Comforts ad libitum. Mr Warwick's decisions were re- ceived with the satisfaction that invariably greets them, and the only disputed point of the proceedings occurred When Mr Boote's man put the wrong colour on Hypericum in his course with Hector. Odds were freely laid on the Waterloo dog who won, but the flag hoisted corresponding With the colour of Hector bets won were not for some time handed over, and many disputes occurred. Appended we give the details of the coursing :— Stewards: The Hon. G. Kenyon, R. L. Burton, T. L. Boote, W. Hughes, and R. G. Jebb, Esqrs. Judge: Mr Warwick. Flag Steward: Mr R. Lloyd. Slipper: Mr Stockton. HARDWICK CUP. Mr Kenyon's w & bk b Bouquet beat Mr Brown ns bk & w d Brigadier General (late Rifle Brigade). Jtr Jebb's bk d Briton beat Mr Homer's bk & w b Betty. Mr Pott's f d Polyanthus beat Mr Moorhouse's bk&w b Merry Heart (1). lir Boete's be d Oleander beat Mr Hughes's r b Hippia. II. Bouquet bt Briton Oleander bt Polyanthus III. Bouquet bt Oleander and won. HORDLEY STAKES. Mr Boote's bk td b Hypericum beat Mr Moorhouse's be d Romp- ing Boh (1 dr) "r Hamer ns bk and w d Hector beat Mr H. Povey's bk and w b Speculation. Jjtr Kenyon's bk b Blue Riband beat Mr Hughes's bk d Hawk "tr Hignett's Hilda beat Mr Brown's r b Jessica II. Hypericum bt Hector Blue Riband bt Hilda III. Hypericum bt Blue Riband (1) and won. HAWKSWOOD STAKES. Mr Jebb's f and w d Dares bt Mr Evison's f d Cardinal jtr Pott's f b Pansy beat Mr Kenyon's be d Bargeman Air Brown's be b Tripaway ran a bye n. Pansy ran a bye Dares bt Tripaway III. Dares bt Pansy and won.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. (From the Mark Lane Express.) The second week of March has been rough, with fierce Winds from all the sharp quarters, and light showers occa- sionally, though not sufficient to prevent field-work or plant- ing. But the season, with its previous severity, is now creep- jug on, and farmers are waiting their opportunity to get i11 the barley, most of which has yet to be sown. The condition of the newly thrashed wheat is not so good as might have been expected, but the intermingling of rain partly accounts for this. All fine wheat has further ad- vanced Is. per qr., and several places note an improve- ment of Is. to 2s.; and, as we may fairly assume that as fanners did not send liberally when their hands were free. there will be still less forthcoming while seeding the land. Indeed, we hear, that men with strong purses begin to tire of such unremunerative prices, and intend taking their chances for a while rather than write a positive loss to themselves as the fruit of their labours. The circum- stance, too, that we very early noted, viz., the great failure of the crops of maize in America, on which the Northerns chiefly depend for the subsistence not only of the negroes, but the cattle, has raised that article above the value of wheat, maize at New Orleans being 32s. per qr. and wheat 30s.; and, though perhaps of the latter there Was a surplus of 5,000,000 qrs. for export, there is a deficit of 25,000,000 quarters of Indian corn. The slightest damage to the wheat crop there would doubtless bring a host of speculators into the market, and easily cause a rise of 10s. per qr.: we are therefore not so sure how this matter will be settled. As the growth of maize is very late, Government has no ohance of measuring the actual Wants of the population till the season is very much ad- vanced, and should this abundant bearer again fail, every bushel of wheat would be wanted for home consumption. On the other hand, there is a set-off from South-Eastern Russia, where, notwithstanding the intensity of the Weather, so effectual has been the snow covering of the plant that it is full of promise, and may make up for any' Probable failures in other quarters. From the Baltic, still frozen, we have no right to look for. more than average supplies but as our population rises as well as that of Russia, under greater civilization the home con- Sumption there too must increase. There have lately teen exaggerated views of accumulations in France, but recent reports have silenced the inflated writings of Would-be patriots. The wheat trade has improved Is. per ^r. in the provinces, and several markets in Belgium and Germany were dearer. The sales of English wheat last week were 67,856 qrs. at 41s., against 61,499 qrs. at 49s. 4d. in 1869. The imports into the kingdom for the week ending 5th Starch, were 755,621 cwts. wheat, and 60,827 cwts. flour.

THE WELSH COLONY (Y WLADFA GYMREIG.) The ship Myfanwy, Captain Griffiths, was on Thursday, March 3rd, at two o'clock p.m., thirty miles down the ristol Channel (from Newport, Mon.), sailing before a fair wind. She had on board ten Welsh emigrants, and Was bound for the vale of the Camwy (Chupat River), Whfere the Welsh Colony is established. If the voyage Prove favourable they will arrive at Port Madryn about the end of April, in time to sow for the next harvest. The ship took on board a large quantity of goods for the Colonists who are there already, consisting of clothing, rthenware, tin-plate goods, agricultural implements, tton, &c. The present detachment of emigrants had among them a blacksmith, with everything requisite to carry on his trade there, also a shoemaker and an engineer, "he colony may now be considered as fully established, gnd possesses a ship of their own able to carry 300 tons frttrden, to hold communication with the mother country. Welshmen in the United States of America intend shortly to join the new colony in Patagonia.

The select committee on the Scotch Poor Law resumed fitting on Tuesday, Mr Crawford in the chair. Mr Teven- <kile, inspector of the parish of Fetteresso, stated that 'he poor house test had not had the effect of reducing the member of applications for relief from women with illegi- timate children.—Sir James Gardiner Baird stated that j e coat of poor in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, had much greased since the passing of the Act in 1847. Every /Wednesday, 1,600 paupers were received, and on that day fewer cases of drunkenness occurred than on any other. l