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THE QUARTERLY REVIEW ON THE…
THE QUARTERLY REVIEW ON THE CHURCH IN WALES. (From, the Pall Mall Gazette.) No one who has traveled over the Principality of Wales, .and is familiar with, its secluded districts, as well as with ithe high, roads frequented by tourists, ,can doubt that dissent prevails thereto an extent unknownin the southern and midland counties of .England. In many Welsh towns the Baptist Chapel and Wesleyan Chapel are far more imposing edifices than the parish church, and it would seem to the superficial observer at least that the calm sobriety of a Church of England liturgy, and the dignity which belongs, or is supposed to belong, to an established clergy, were out of accordance with the .emotional character of the people. A writer in the current number of the Quarterly Review endeavours to remove this impression, and to show that the church in Wales is in a state of vigorous growth; that if Dissent be advancing in the country the Established Church is advancing also. Some of the statistics given in proof of this position are not with- out interest. The restoration of cathedrals and of churches, so general of late years throughout England, is not un- known in Wales. Llandaff, which stands in a quiet rural hamlet, has arisen from the cuin of centuries, has been beautifully restored, and on Sundays is well filled with worshipers. St. David's, which ttill lies beyond railways, is also undergoing restoration; at Bangor 210,000 has been already subscribed for the same purpose, and at St. Asaph the choir has been repaired at a cost of 26,000. But according to the Quarterly Review the simultaneous restoration of their four cathedrals has not exhausted the liberality of Churchmen in Wales. In the diocese of Liandaff 40 new churches have been built, and 52 rooms licensed for public worship since 1852; while during the 20 years' episcopate of the present bishop 41 old parish churches have been entirely rebuilt and 67 thoroughly restored. In the diocese of St. Asaph a like energy has been put forth; and in Bangor also the want indicated some years ago has not only been supplied, but has even gone beyond the demand which was then supposed to exist." The writer confesses, however, that dissent has rapidly grown during the same period, but considers that it cannot justly be brought into comparison with the pro- gress of the church, since in the latter case "we have only to supplement an existing system, "while in the formerthe vast variety of sects accounts for the multiplication of dissent- ing chapels. With regard to the difficulty that exists in many parts of Wales of providing religious instruction in two languages, the writer observes that it belongs alike to dissenters as to churchmen,;tobheEnglish-speakingpopuIa- tion as well as to the Welsh. He considers, indeed, that it is aggravated in the case of the English, who have rarely if ever, any acquaintance with the Welsh language, while the Welshman frequently has some and often a considerable knowledge of English. We may remark, however, that this difficulty is rapidly diminishing, and that however fondly a few Welshmen may cling to their native language, its existence as a living tongue is not likely to be pro- tracted. Already, according to the reports of the Commis- sioners of Inquiry, the Welsh peasantry are everywhere anxious that their children should be taught in English. (F1'om the Daily INews.) ° The current number of the Quarterly Review contains an earnest and elaborate apology for the position of the Established Church in Wales. Although the question has not been distinctly raised in Parliament, and no sec- tion of the liberal party has proposed to make disestab- lishment in Wales a point in its political programme, the ablest of the organs of conservatism is evidently uneasy at the prospects of the church in the, Principality. With an instinctive sense of the weak point in the armour of church defence, and a zealous forgetfulness of the danger of confessing it, our Quarterly contemporary comes for- ward to repel the assault which "those whose warfare is with Ecclesiastical Establishments of every kind are ex- pected to make on this western outpost. The reasons • which the writer gives for expecting the attack are, we confess, irresistible. The motto, Qui s'excuse, s'accu'se," is suggested in every line. An institution which needs such an apology as this must be weaker than we had thought it, and in more danger than we had believed it to be. The first object of the article is to show that the church in Wales is neither dead nor dying a point which it is by no means difficult to prove, if it is considered as needing proof at all. It is, however, a curious way of demonstrating the vitality of the church to assert that both in Cornwall and the Principality she was the mother of dissent, and that the vigorous life of nonconformist de- nominations was carried into these districts by those who went out of the church's fold because there was no room for them within it. It is much more to the point to be in- formed, as the article informs us, what the church in Wales has really done since she began to awake to her forlorn position in a land of dissenters. Within the last twenty years four cathedrals have been under restoration. Llandaff has risen from its ruins, and the great town of Cardiff, which lies close at hand, now sends out thrice on every Sunday in the year," a large congregation of worshipers to take part in the cathedral service. St. David's is undergoing restoration, and though the shrine can never have a congregation, it is a glorious and perfect .example of the utmost advancement of Gothic architec- ture. Bangor is being rebuilt, and the choir of St. Asaph has already been re-opened as the first fruits of a yet larger restoration. At the same time church rebuilding has gone on apace. In the populous diocese of Llandaff forty churches have been built since 1852, and a large number have been restored. In the diocese of Bangor ,or eleven churches have been erected, nineteen rebuilt, and fifteen restored while in the diocese of St. Asaph, a history of thirty years' work records the building of fifty- two churches, the rebuilding of seventeen, and the re- storation of forty-three. In St. David's a good many churches have been repaired, but we are only told that the repairs indicate an amount of church work which is credit- able to the clergy. Similar progress has been made in providing houses for the clergy while the number of non- resident incumbents, though still large, has fallen from three hundred and seven in 1852 to a hundred and thirty-four in 1869. Nor does the work done stop here. The Reviewer is, of course, jubilant over the educational work which has fallen into the hands of the church. In this matter he can give an account not merely of the material fabrics built, but of the use to which they are put. The church in Wales has 86,214 children of the Welsh peasantry re- ceiving education in her schools. In reading this record of religious work there is only one n feature we could wish were absent. It is the vice of ecclesiastical establishments that even the religious ac- tivity of a church has attached to it a certain Apolitical significance and value. The Quarterly Reviewer tells this story of progress without any word of sympathy with its purely religious meaning, but with a perpetual endeavour to depreciate the labours of all other sects lest those labours should diminish the claim of the church to the privilege of endowment and establishment. It is, of course, a great mark of liberal progress when we find it stated in a bishop's charge, and adopted by a Reviewer in the Quarterly, that where privilege exists, it will be no longer sufficient to show the title-deeds under which it has been handed down, or the benefits which it once conferred on society. It must appear, if it is to remain at all, that it continues to work for the common good." The Quarterb/ Revieie accepts this test, and then sets forth the work the church has done, not as a source of satisfaction to all O'ood men, but as forming the title-deeds of tliose,poiitical and pecuniary privileges which the church enjoys. Of course if such work is to constitute the basis of privilege it will be necessary to compare it with what others have done,, in order that we may judge which title is the best. Such comparisons are worse than odious, they are destructive of the very motive and value of religious work. The Re- viewer admits that it will be said, in reply to his argu- ment, that the number of new churches built during the last twenty years bears no comparison to the number of new chapels, and that side by side with a remarkable movement of church extension there has been a still more remarkable development of the nonconformist organiza- tions. The fact is beyond question, and all that can be done is to explain it away. The explanation attempted is that dissent is mnltifonnnthat division has followed on divi- sion-sect has broken off from sect; While each, like the pieces cut from the body of the fabled Polypus, assumes a fresh vitality, a distinct organization of its own." The difference of language is given as yet another reason for this extension, for where two languages are spoken the same sect will have two chapels, one English, the other Welsh, a fact, by the way, which seems to us in favour of voluntaryism rather than against it, a title-deed to re- cognition rather than a bar sinister on its shield. The fact is that ever since the time of Wesley dissent has been active in Wales, and that for twenty years past the church has roused herself to similar activity. During those twenty years the population has vastly increased, faster in the diocese of Llandaff than even in that of London, and both church and dissent have been doing the best they could for the people. It is only another of the disad- vantages of establishment that neither side can heartily rejoice in the good work done by the other, because the advocates of establishment are compelled to do as this Quarterly Reviewer has done-to parade their own good works as title deeds to privilege, and to depreciate the good works of their opponents. There are, however, one or two points the Reviewer has overlooked. He has prudently limited his account of church work to the provision of churches and glebe houses; he has omitted to tell us whether the restored churches are occupied by restored congregations, or whether the better-housed parsons are better received by the people. With reference to this point it has been stated, as yet without contradiction, that the ritualistic tendencies of some of the clergy have had a most disastrous effect on their Welsh congregations. The proceedings at the last election, when the Nonconformist farmers were either compelled by Church landlords to vote for the Irish Establishment or evicted for voting against it, gave a heavy blow to the Church in Wales. Nor can its edu- cational activity be fairly quoted as a title-deed to estab- lishment. The Welsh deputation on Mr Forster's Bill complained to Mr Gladstone that the Welsh, who are nearly all Dissenters, had to send their children to Church Schools. The land- lords are Churchmen, they get the Government grant and build a school, which they put under the control of the clergyman, and will not allow a British School to be built on their land. Similar difficulties are repeatedly arising as to the building of chapels, and Mr Osborne Morgan's Bill for the compulsory purchase of sites for places of worship is rendered needful by the frequent use of territorial influence to discourage or embarrass dissent in Wales. It is these things, and not any abstract theories about Establishments, which are forcing on an enquiry into the position of the Church in Wales. That position is, as even the Quarterly Review perceives absolutely indefensible, unless we "treat England and Wales as one undivided whole, with no separate interests, no landmarks of division." The public will probably be quite content to leave the question to be discussed in refer- ence to the whole nation if the Welsh landlords and the Welsh clergy will permit them to do so. But if political evictions are to follow Welsh elections, wherever a Liberal candidate contests a Tory seat; if territorial influence is to be exerted to prevent Welshmen from exercising their own religous rites, or educating their children in their own opinions; if in fact, there is to be a social war, with the Establishment as its object; Wales will be in such an exceptional position that we shall have to consider it apart from England, and to inquire what claim the church of the Welsh landlords has to possess the endowments which Are the national heritage of the Welsh people. And though the Quarterly Reviewer asks us to "recollect that neither the 'children of Rebecca,'nor the ranks of Char- tists, were recruited from those who belong to her commu- nion,or who have been wont to worship within herwaUs;"we shall have to remember too, that with all her spiritual act- ivity, all the good work in which we so cordially rejoice, the Episcopal Church in Wales still remains only the Church of a small fraction of the nation.
THE GOVERNMENT GAME LAWS AMENDMENT…
THE GOVERNMENT GAME LAWS AMEND- MENT BILL. The following is a copy of the Bill to amfcnd and assimi- late in certain respects the la we-of England and Scotland relating to game, which has been prepared and brought in by the Lord Advocate and Mr Secretary Bruoe Whereas by the law of England the tenant in the occu- pation of land for the time has the sole right of killing and taking the game thereon, unless such right be expressly reserved by or granted to the landlord or any other person, and it is expedient to assimilate in this respect the law of Scotland to that of England, and. also to amend and assi- milate in certain other respects the laws of England and Scotland relative to game, and to make certain provisions fGr the protection of tenant farmers against injury arising to them in consequence of any undue increase of hares and rabbits when they are prohibited by their landlords from killing and taking these animals be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows 1. Short title. -This Act may be cited for all purposes as The Game Laws Amendment Act, 1870." 2. Interpretation of terma.-For the purposes of this Act, the words and terms hereinafter mentioned shall have and include the meanings hereinafter assigned to them—that is to say, the term lessor shall mean the grantor of any lease of land for a year or a longer term, and also the person for the time in the right and subject to the obligations of the grantor with respect to such lease; the term "lessee" shall mean the grantee of any lease of land for a year or a longer term, and also the person for the time in the right and subject to the obliga- tions of the grantee with respect to such lease; the term game shall be deemed to include hares, pheasants, partridges, grouse, heath or moor game, black game, and bustards the term "Martinmas" shall mean the eleventh of November; the singular shall include the plural and vice versd. 3. Act i-epealed.-The Act of the Scottish Parliament, one thousand six hundred and twenty-one, chapter thirty-one, Anent hunting and haulking, is hereby re- pealed. 4. Tenants to have the sole rijht to game and rabbits unless resei-ved.-In all cases where any person shall occupy any land in Scotland as tenant under any lease or agreement made subsequently to the passing of this Act, such person shall have the sole right of killing and taking the game and rabbits upon such land, unless such right shall have been expwMdy reserved by the landlord or granted to him by the tenant, or except in so far as such right shall have been so reserved or granted. 5. English tenants shall not be dealt with as poachers in re- spect of hares and rabbits, but may be liable for breach of contract.-No lessee in the occupation of any land in Eng- land shall be liable to prosecution, or to any penalty or punishment, under the Act first and second William the Fourth, chapter thirty-two, intituled An Act to amend the Laws in England relative to Game," or under any other Act or Acts of Parliament, for pursuing, killing, or taking hares or rabbits on such land, or for giving permis- sion to any other person so to do; but the permission of a lessee without right shall not avail any person to whom it may be given provided always that nothing herein con- tained shall protect a lessee against an action for breach of any contract whereby he is restrained from pursuing, kill- ing, or taking hares or rabbits on the land of which he is lessee. 6. Scotch tenants to be liable for breach of contract onl No lessee in the occupation of any land in Scotland shall be liable to prosecution, or to any penalty or punishment, under any Act or Acts of Parliament, for pursuing, kill- ing, or taking hares or rabbits on such land, provided always that nothing herein contained shall protect a lessee against an action for breach of any contract whereby he is restrained from pursuing, killing, or taking hares or rabbits on the land of which he is lessee. 7. No injunction or interdict shall be granted to protect or enforce any contract in this matter.-No injunction shall be granted in England, and no interdict shall be granted in Scotland, upon or in order to protect to enforce any contract whereby a lessee is restrained from pursuing, kill- ing, or taking hares or rabbits on the land of which he is lessee but the .lessor shall be. left to his ordinary legal re- medies, other than injunction or interdict, upon such con- tract. 8. Landlords shall keep down stock when rights are re- served.-When the exclusive right of killing hares or rab- bits has been reserved by or granted to the lessor, and he shall fail or omit to keep down the stock of these animals to such an extent as shall be fair and reasonable in justice to the lessee who is prohibited from killing them, such lessor shall be liable in damages to the lessee for the loss, injury, and damage caused to him by such failure or omis- sion Provided always, that in judging of the extent to which it is fair and reasonable that such stock should be kept down, and also in assessing damages, regard shall be had to the character and cultivation of the land, the amount of the rent as compared with the real value at the commencement of the lease, and the terms and conditions of the lease. 9. Tenant liable for breach of contru,ct.-Any lessee who, by himself or others for whom he is responsible, hunts, kills, or takes game or rabbits contrary to the terms of his lease or of his bargain with the lessor, shall be liable in damages for breach of contract, and the same may be recovered in the form and manner hereinaft r provided. 10. Landlord liable for breach of contract.-Any lessor who, to the injury and damage of the lessee, fails to fulfil the obligation incumbent on him under clause eight of this Act, shall be liable in damages as for breach of contract, and the same may be recovered in the form and-manner hereinafter provided. 11. Damages not exceeding B50 to be sued for in the county courts in England.-In England, damages to any amount not exceeding JE50, for which liability is incurred under the provisions of this Act, may be sued for in the county court within the district of which the lands upon which the claim of damages has arisen, or any part thereof, are situated, and the judge of such county court may remit to a man or men of skill to inspect the premises, and report, and shall try and decide the case without a jury. 12. Damages exceeding 250 to be sued for in superior coul,ts.-In England, when the damages claimed exceed 250, any action therefor shall be brought in one of the superior courts of common law at Westminster. 13. Damages not exceeding j650 to be sued for in sheriff courts in Scotland according to pi-ocedili-e izt small debt court, subject to certui?t p)-ovisions.-In Scotland, damages to any amount not exceeding 2.50, for which liability is incurred under the provisions of this Act, may be recovered by action before the sheriff of the county in which the lands or any part thereof are situated, and such action may be raised and proceeded with in the form and according to the procedure observed in the sheriffs' small, debt court, subject to the following provisions in cases where the amount sued for exceeds P,8 6s. 8d., viz., first, that counsel, agents, and procurators shall be entitled to appear for the parties in such actions; second, that the "sheriff shall take and preserve a note of the pleas of the parties, and any evidence that maybe adduced third, that the sheriff may remit to a man or men of skill to inspect the premises, and report; and, fourth, that when the sum sued for exceeds k25, the sheriff's judgment shall be subject to appeal to the Court of Session. 14. Damages exceeding 250 to be sued for in Court oj Ses- sion.-In Scotland, when the damages claimed exceed JMO, any action therefor shall be brought in the Court of Session. 15. Time for bringing actions by lessor. -Any action by a lessor against a lessee for damages of the nature herein- before provided for shall be brought within three months of the date of the act or acts on account of which damages are claimed, and shall not thereafter be competent. 16. Time for bringing actions by lessee.-Any action by a lessee against a lessor for damages of the nature hereinbe- fore provided for shall be brought not later than Martin- mas of the year in which the injury was done in respect of which the damages are claimed, and shall not thereafter ma, be competent, and the year shall for the purposes of this Act be taken to run Ifrom Martinmas to Martinmas, and only one such action shall be competent. in the same year to the lessee against the lessor of any farm. 17. Appointment oj arbiters.-Any written agreement between a lessor and lessee to refer to arbitration claims of damages which have arisen or may thereafter arise be-, tween them of the nature hereinbefore provided for shall be valid and binding, although the arbiter or arbiters may not be named and if either party shall refuse or fail for ten days after written notice to name an arbiter or arbi- ters, in pursuance of such agreement, the arbiter or arbi- ters named by the other shall be at liberty to proceed, and to act as if he or they had been duly appointed by both parties. 18. Decision of arbiter valid, though not in the form of a decree arbitral. -A written decision by an arbiter or arbi- ters named by the parties, or by one of them after the refusal or failure of the other, as aforesaid, or by an arbiter or arbiters duly appointed under any such agreement as is contemplated in the prjeeding section, or by an oversman duly appointed under any such agreement, shall be valid and effectual in a court of law according to the true intent and meaning thereof, although it shall not be in the form of a formal award or decree arbitral; and it shall be no objection to the agreement to refer, or to the nomination of an arbiter or arbiters, that the same is not contained in a formal deed, provided it be in writing admitted or proved to be genuine. i 19. Lessee to render an account and n'lme an arbiter.— Proviso as to amount claiwd. -A lessee who is by contract or agreement with the lessor prohibited from killinsr glares or rabbits on the land let to him shall be at liberty before the term of Martinmas in any year to render to his lessor or his known factor or agent an account of the damage caused to him in that year by the failure or omisudn of the lessor to keep down the stock of these animals, and to name an arbiter to whom he is willing to refer his claim against the lessor for such damage, and, provided the amount claimed do not exceed C25, the lessor shall be bound within fourteen days of the receipt of such account and nomination to name an arbiter to act for him in regard thereto; and the arbiters named by the parties respectively shall be entitled to decide finally upon the lessee's claim, or, if they cannot agree, to name an oversman or umpire, who shall be entitled finally to decide upon the same and should the lessor fail to name an arbiter within the time hereby limited, the arbiter named by the lessee shall be entitled finally to decide upon the claim. 20. Proceedings not void for want of form.—No proceed- ings under the preceding clause shall be void for want of form, and the arbiter or arbiters, umpire or oversman, having jurisdiction by virtue thereof, shall be at liberty to determine the course of procedure, and the nature and extent of the inquiry which it is proper to make, and their decision or decisions shall be final, and although in- formal may be enforced by action in a court of law. 2L One arbitration in one year. -It shall not be compe- tent to any lessee to have in respect of the same farm more than one such arbitration as aforesaid in any one year, and such arbitration shall preclude an action by him in the same year for damage caused by hares or rabbits upon such farm. 22. Cvmmtrifcemerd of Act.-This Act shall come into operation from and after the first day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
THE MASSACRE OF 140 INDIAN…
THE MASSACRE OF 140 INDIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN. A New York correspondent writes :-General Sheridan has been moved by the reproaches which have been ad- dressed to him on account of his massacre of ninety Indian women and fifty Indian children, and he has written to General Sherman a letter of defence. The letter is a very curious document. He has in his com- mand, says he, 5,000 miles of frontier settlements, and his only duty is to give protection to the families residing on these long lines against the outrages of the Indians The number of men, women, and children on this ex- tended frontier is very great, and there is not a day when these families are exempt from the fearful thought of being murdered in the most fiendish manner, the men scalped, the women ravished, and the brains of the children dashed out." Since 1852, 1,200 of them have been murdered. My duties are to protect these people," says Sheridan. I have no hesitation in making my choice. I am going to stand by the people over whom I am placed, and give them what protection I can. In taking the offensive, I have to select that season when I can catch the fiends; and if a village is attacked, and women and children killed, the responsibility is not with the soldier, but with the people whose crimes necessitated the attack." Sheridan goes on to say that during the war no one hesitated to attack a town because women and children were within it, and that at Vicksburg and Atlanta the women and children were only saved because they had cellars in which they were sheltered from the shells. He regrets that the Piegan women did not have similar places of refuge, though he doubts if they would have availed themselves of them, "for they fight with more fury than the men." But even General Sheridan admits that the Indians are sometimes sinned against. During the last year," says be, as soon as I withdrew the troops from the Sac and Fox reservation, the emigrants took possession. A flood of emigrants, almost 10,000 strong, moved in solid mass, and occupied the Osage re- servation, because there were no troops there to keep them off." This is the real origin of all the Indian troubles, and Sheridan sees no way to prevent their con- stant recurrence but to kill off the savages as fast as possible.
[No title]
Lord Penrhyn has been re-appointed chairman of the Bangor Local Board. Steamers between Menai Bridge and Liverpool now ply twice a week. A new parish church is about to be erected at Llan- faglan, near Carnarvon. A woman has been fined in Chester for stealing flowers from a grave in the cemetery. Mr Dew, auctioneer, of Bangor, has just sold property in Carnarvonshire and Merionethshire, in all about 500 acres, which has realized more than 220,000. A peripatetic professor of the manly art' has been committed for trial at Flint, on the charge of robbing a returned Australian gold digger. Captain Hudson," who claims to have taken out the first Temperance vessel" that ever left our shores, is now lecturing in Wrexham on Animal Magnetism. Mr Dillwyn, son of the member for Swansea, in at- tempting to rescue a woman from rough usage the other day, was himself attacked and seriously hurt by a gang of ruffians. A woman named Ann Baker was found, nearly starved, last week on the Minera hills. It is stated that the woman's mind is weak. She has been taken to Wrexham workhouse. A man who gave his name as Llewelyn Jones, of Port- madoc, was found helplessly drunk, and minus hat and other articles, on the streets of Wrexham, on Thursday week. The magistrates dismissed him, with a caution. Mr Osborne Morgan's speech on the Places of Worship and School Sites Bill, wiil shortly be published in a pamphlet form by Messrs Bayley and Bradley, of Wrex- ham. It seems there is some disaffection at Mold amongst Sir John Hanmer's constituents at the honourable member's treatment of the Sites Bill.' The Carnarvon Herald says it is confidently hoped that the consecration of the new Bishop of St. Asaph will take place in the cathedral very shortly. Mr Bright, who passed through Chester en route for Llandudno last week, is said (by parties who saw him at Chester station) to have looked pale and ill, although stouter than when he last passed through Chester. The remains of Mr Hugh Fairhurst, of Warrington, were followed to the grave last week by several of the deceased's Masonic brethren, who were dressed in black, with white gloves and white ties. The Rev. Dr Massing- ham read the burial service. At a champion sparring meeting for gentlemen amateurs under the auspices of the London Athletic Club last week, Mr Churton, son of the coroner of Chester, won the Marquis of Queensberry's cup. Mr E. M. Wimperis, a rising artist of much fame, has been elected a member of the Society of British Artists. Mr Wimperis is a native of Chester. Among his works are the illustrations to her Majesty's Life in the High- lands. A church-rate of 2d. in the pound has been passed at St. Asaph. A professional gentleman, Dr Easterley, spoke strongly in favour of a voluntary subscription as being fairer. Of course those who object to the. rate can refuse to pay it. M. Gregoire, stated to be nearly 70 years old, has been astonishing the good folks, in some of the neighbouring towns by carrying 8 cwt. on his back, and breaking bar iron in pieces with his fingers." Monsieur paid a visit to Oswestry a few weeks ago, but we have not -heard with what success. The North Wales Chronicle says" We are authorized and requested to state that Mr Watkin Williams, M.P., has written a very satisfactory letter wholly and entirely retracting all the charges which he was made the instrn ment of preferring against Mr Thomas Evans, and apologizing for having made them." A contemporary narrates an improbable story about an old woman of eighty-seven years of age, residing at Made- ley, who, after for eight years being blind, has suddenly been restored to sight. The old lady's name is Evans, and she resides near the Wesleyan Schoolroom, Madeley-Wood Green. Such of the books and MSS. belonging to the late Mr Joseph Morris, of Shrewsbury, as were not sold after his death to Sir W. W. Wynn and Mr J. J. Peele, came un- der the hammer last week in London, and realized k700. The works were chiefly connected with the history of Salop. Some of the people of Wenlock are rejoicing that their M.P., Mr-Brown, has attacked "that abominable out- rage upon public decency," Sir Baldwin Leighton's Poach- ing Prevention Act, and a contemporary says Mr Brown will merit the applause of the country generally if he succeeds in carrying the Bill on the subject he has intro- duced to the house." In a Shropshire village named Munslow the work of im- provement is progressing. The church has been restored, twelve months having been expended on the job and the Letter Box has been temporarily removed to Mr Davies's. It would seem that before this removal there were only two ways to the letter box one up to the knees in mud and the other through the tap room of a public house. We are told that Baron Martin, although 69 years old, walked from Hereford' to Ross during the recent assize week. So far the Baron was to be commended; but one of his reasons for walking seems queer. "There is no railway between these towns," says the North Wales Chronicle, "and the baron declined several offers of a 'lift. Very likely, his lordship, if denied the comfort of a first-class carriage, would be shy of a market cart; but how long has the Hereford and Ross line been closed ? An old labourer, named G riffith, residing near Tarporley, had the misfortune to lose his cow a few weeks back, As is usual on such occasions, a friend wrote an appeal on the first leaf of a memorandum book, and the old fellow sought practical sympathy: Some sixteen pounds was the result, and with the money he went on Monday week to buy another cow at Northwich fair, where he met with a very kind and good gentleman who offered to help him in the purchase, and who, indeed, took the whole charge of the transaction-and Griffith's purse. The gentleman was fastidious, and found no cow to suit, so he gave the purse back to the old fellow, and they parted. Of course when Griffith got home there was only copper in the purse. In the House of Commons, on Monday week, the Hon. MrBourke asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment whether the attention of Government had been called to a letter addressed by the clerk of assize on the North Wales Circuit to the treasurer of the county of Denbigh, on the subject of disallowances made by the Treasury in respect of trials at the spring assizes of 1869 and whether her Majesty's Government were of opinion that the principle upon which these disallowances had been made ought to be adhered to?—Mr Bruce Teplied that the Treasury was the department intrusted with the consideration of such charges as those referred to in the hon. member's question. He had, however, made inquiry respecting this matter, and found that though the clerk of assize had every opportunity of expostulating with re- ference to this disallowance, no such expostulation had been offered. Wales has given Oxford and Cambridge several good boating men. Darbishire, the celebrated stroke; of Ox- ford, hails from Comvay Payne, one of this year's gallant losers, comes from Montgomeryshire; Chambers, once a crack man of the Cambridge, resides near Aberystwyth Tottenham, twice coxswain of the Oxford, is a Denbigh- shire magistrate. By the way the Times was rather con- tradictory in its notice of the recent race. In one part of the paper it says—" The merits of the antagonists may be summed up by saying that the Oxford crew were a weak specimen of a good school of rowing the Cambridge were a splendid specimen of an imperfect school." In another column the same authority says—"It is curious, but nevertheless true, that the character of the race has en- tirely changed from previous years, for whereas Oxford used to row a slow stroke and win at Chiswick from the quicker and less regular rowing of Cambridge, it has proved exactly the reverse in the race now under notice," -r '¡'J! 1 The Chester Chronicle says that the railway works be- tween Waverten and Whitchurch are progressing. Considerable improvements have been mada in the Chester Grand Stand on the Roodee. The North Shropshire Yeomanry will assemble at Whit- church for eight days' duty on the 14th of May. Mr Cawley, a farmer residing at Stapeley Hall, Nant- wich, fell down stairs on Saturday week, and broke his neck. Colonel Wilson Patten promised to give a park to the people of Warrington, but the Town Council have been so niggardly in the matter that the offer has been with- drawn. The recruits of the Denbighshire Militia have doubtless been well trained to stand fire, but we fancy bayonets would bother them. At least when a bull charged them in Wrexham streets, on the march, last week, they all ran. A great number of Roman coins have been found in Gerlan, Llanllechid. They are for the most part in a very bad state, no letters or figures being visible. A few have on them a crowned head with an inscription on one side and the figure of a man on the other; but the letters are so corroded that the words cannot be made out. The coins were found under a large stone, and came to light upon blasting the stone. They were in a jug of earthen- ware, which was shattered to pieces. Mr Longueville Jones, the editor of the Archceoloc/ia Catnbrensis, was of opinion that the Roman road from Conovium (Caerhun) to Segontium (Carnarvon) passed over the hills in this neighbourhood, and this finding of coins seems to indicate the same thing. Says a correspondent-" No man should content himself with one local newspaper, or he will miss much that is in- teresting in the way of correction and admonition. When one paper makes a slip, another is down upon it instanter; and a bulky book on the Calamities of Editors' could easily be compiled in any district in a very short space of time. Three weeks ago a paper announced that the Queen was coming to Merionethshire in August. At once down came the hammer of a contemporary with 'The rmnour.is a hoax.' In the same number the corrector reported a case at the Denbighshire assizes, when John Thomas, a respectable tradesman, was tried on a charge of feloniously receiving certain gold coins,' and, said the paper, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death A third journal spotted this as an instance of the Printer's Devil abroad. And so they go on, correcting each other's mistakes and making worse themselves-spying motes and sparing beams." One remark in this we may just allude to by saying that the rumour of her Majesty's visit to Merion- ethshire is no hoax, for letters have passed on the subject between her Majesty's advisers and some of the owners of property.
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At Axbridge, the other day, there was a quarter ses- sions. As there was no business to bta transacted, the usual formalities of opening the court were gone through, and the mayor (Mr Millard) than delivered his charge —a charge that was witty indeed, if the old saying, "Brevity is the soul of wit," holds good. It was as fol- lows Gentlemen, I have nothing to say to you." The court then closed. Mr George Hudson, the ex-Railway -King, formerly M.P. for Sunderland, was entertained at dinner in that town on Saturday night. The mayor presided, and amongst the guests were Earl Vaile, Mr Geo. Elliot, M.P., Mr John Candlish, M.P., &c. Mr Hudson, in replying to the toast "of his health, reviewed at great length his railway policy, and claimed to have laid down the princi- ples of management now generally recognized. AN ABSENT MAN. -Father Gratry has been lately named Director of the French Academy for the coming half- year. Several academicians did not view his appointment without some apprehension, knowing him to be, since the death of M. Ampfere, the most absent man in France. One day, in going to the Sorbonne, where he was giving lectures on theology, he fancied that he had forgotten his watch, and then drew it out of his fob to see if he had time to fetch it, which, in fact, he went to do. A POINT IN RELATIONSHIP.—At the last meeting of the Greenwich Guardians, a curious point as to priority of relationship was discussed. The aunt of two orphan children chargeable to the union had applied that they might be removed from the district school at Sutton to a Roman Catholic institute, but Mr Patte, the relieving officer for Deptford, reported that he had seen the grand mother of the children, who is a Protestant, and who had expressed a wish that the children should not be removed, as they had been baptised at the parish church, St. Paul's, Deptford. Mr Saw, the clerk and solicitor to the Board, said there could be no doubt that the law recognised the grandparents as more nearly related to the child than the uncle or aunt, the former being compelled, if of sufficient ability, to contribute to the support of grandchildren, whereas no such compulsion rested upon the uncle or aunt. The Board decided to accede to the request of the grandmother, and the children will consequently be kept at the Sutton district schools. THE LAZY NIGGER. --Somebody writes to the Chicago Tribune from Vicksburg, Miss., that when he arrived in the State he was positively assured by almost every (white) body that the nigger wouldn't work." Pro- ceeding to the verification of this assertion by personal observation, he was somewhat surprised to discover that the nigger was the only person who did work"—that all the stories about his "indolence and shiftlessness" must be taken with several pounds of allowance--that he is ad- vancing under difficulties which would totally discourage a great many whites, such as the rent charge of 10 dols. or 15 dols. per acre for his land; and that, with about half the fairplay which is usually considered necessary, he is laying up money.-New York Tribune. COOL AS A CUCUMBER.—It happened at a restaurant a < man entered the other day, and called for a dinner. His orders were of the most elaborate character, and fairly staggered the resources of a metropolitan restaurant keeper. He lingered long at the table, and finally wound up wijth a bottle of wine. Then, lighting" a cigar he had ordered, he leisurely sauntered up to the counter, and said to the proprietor, Very fine dinner, landlord! Just charge it to me. I haven't got a farthing." "But I don't know you," said the proprietor indignantly. "Of course you don't! If you had you wouldn't let j^e have the dinner." "Pay me for the dinner, I say "And I say n can't. Haven't got the blunt." I'll see about that!" said the proprietor, somewhat furious at the bilk. He snatched a revolver from a drawer, leaped over the counter, and collared the man, exclaiming, as he pointed at his head, Now, see if you'll get away with that dinner without paying for it, you scoundrel!" "What is that you hold in your hand?" said the getter-away-with-free-dinners, drawing back. "That, sir, is a revolver, sir." "Oh, that's a revolver, is it?. I don't care a shot for a revolver. I thought it was a stomach pump." THE INTERNATIONAL OCEAN YACHT RACE.—Vice- Commodore J. G. Bennett, jun., sailed on Saturday for England, his mission being to supervise the refitting of his yacht, the Dauntless, for the forthcoming inter- national-ocean yacht race with the Cambria. Mr Bennett intends to command his vessel in person. By his da- ring and perseverance in yachting matters he long since won the esteem and confidence of American yachtmen, and in the present case, where he entered into an agree- Iz ment with Mr Ashbury simply as an American citizen, the contract is the more heartily applauded for being made by the representative American yachtman. While eveiy member of every yacht club feels that Mr Ben- nett is the proper person to succeed to the high honours following a victory in such a contest, there is a divided opinion as to whether the Dauntless is the vessel most likely to achieve a trumph. She is not yet held in such high esteem as her master. This being the case, the defeat of the Dauntless would not involve Mr Bennett's prestige in the least. In England, Mr Ashbury's case is just the reverse. There the Cam- bria is regarded as the representative yacht, and Mr Ashbury as her fortunate possessor. Should the Cambria win the race, and Mr Ashbury command her in person, the vessel's success would never be regarded in England as due to his presence, while here the (lefeit of the Cam- bria would be pronounced the result of the seamanship of Mr Bennett. As to the question of marine architec- ture, it affects the American interest only as to the model of one boat, while the art in England is to receive an im- petus or a check. So much for the practical bearing of the race. The interest which it has awakened in both countries will increase as the day for setting sail ap- proaches. By the 4th of July, the time the vessels are to leave Kinsale, Ireland, it will have reached a pitch of ex- citement which will find its culmination only when one of the vessels makes Sandy Hook Point.-Neiv York Tri- bune, April 4. CALVINISTIC METHODISTS AND THE EDUCATION BILL.- At a monthly meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists of the Arvon district of Carnarvonshire, recently held at Caerhun, the Rev. William Rowlands, Cefnwaen, in the chair, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to; it was also agreed that copies of the same be forwarded to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone and the Right Hon. W. E. For:,ter: That we, as ministers and deacons of the Calvinistic Methodists in Arvon, representing 70 churches and some 24,000 members and hearers, rejoice greatly in the hope of having a law passed in the Parliament of this kingdom that will ensure to all children a good elementary education; but feel deeply anxious that there should be nothing in that law that may in any way interfere with our religious liberty. That we have been labouring hard in our respective neighbourhoods to establish and support British schools, and that the undenominational education which is given in those schools is perfectly suitable to our wants, and to the wants of the Welsh people generally; for although the Bible is read and taught in them, yet care is taken to avoid making any reference to those things in which one denomination differs from other de- nominations. That we also entirely disapprove of the denominational system of day schools. Indeed, rather than establish a denominational system of education, to be supported by public money, we would greatly prefer that the religious education of the children should be left altogether to 'the care of parents and the various sections of the Church of Christ in the country but if the Government thinks that it would be difficult to get those denominations that have not hitherto taken to the unsectarian system of schools, to use'that system with >ut abusing it, that we desire to express our cordial approba- tion of "the plan suggested by Earl Russell in bis letter to ATr Forster, viz., that the education be secular, but that the teachers every day should commence the school busi- ness by reading a portion of the Word of God, and sing- ing a hymn with the children, liberty being reserved to all who object to that to keep their children away while it is being done; that we also believe that such a plan would be acceptable to the nonconformists of Wales generally. And whatever may be thought proper to be done for the rest of the kingdom, that we earnestly hope that our Government will so consider the peculiar circum- stances of Wales as to take care that there shall be nothing in the law for the education of the people that may prove an offence to the religious convictions of the inhabitants of the Principality,"
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The Queen has sent 100 guineas to the Ventnor Hospital for Consumption. Sir James Alderson, M.D., <Jkas been re-elected president of tbd-Rogal College of Physicillis. The Right Han. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mrs Gladstone, left London on Tuesday wetkforjiawarden Castle, Flintshire. The Ballot-jmemoriai, signed by 215 members, has been placed in "Mr-Gladstone's hands. Mr Disraeli has arrived at Worthing. He is stated to .look very unwell The Rev. E. Mellor, M.A., of Halifax, has received the title of D.D. from the Edinburgh University. Should the Chancellor of the Exchequer be made a baronet, he would naturally take the title of Sir-plus Lowe.—Punch. A number of the Queen s Westminster Volunteers performed the journey from Loudon to Brighton, en route for the review, n bicycles. Roberts, jun., defeated Cook, the champion billiard player, in a match at St. James's Hall, on Thursday week Cook's score was 478 points less than tfeat of his opponent. Mr Bruce has given notice that immediately after the Easter recess, on the 28th iust., he will move for leave to bring in a Licensing BitL A boiler explosion occurred on Wednesday week at the ehemi- cal works at Warrington. Two men were killed and seven injured—four, it is feared,- fit-- Ily. At Manchester a railway, policeman, named Tomlinson, was on Monday week committed for trial charged with robbing a pas- senger of feis watch. The Queen has consented, af her health permit, to open the Hall of Arts and Sciences At South Kensington, which is rapidly approaching completion. Daniel O'Connor, a bankrupt manufacturer, has been .com- mitted for trial by the Dei-byjmagistrates, under the new Act, for absconding to France with a large sum of money. The American Government is about rivalling our own in its retrenching policy. About <506 workmen were discharged from the navy yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, on the 31st ult. On Monday nighi week a suimuary of Mr Lowe's Budget was forwarded to Bombay by the British Indian Submarine Telegraph Company, and it appeared in the Bombay papers next morning. The late Mr William M'Cartby, an Irish barrister, has be- queathed nearly £ 760 to the Archeacon of Cork, in-trust for the future endowment of the Church of Ireland. The death of Lord Teuterden is announced, at the age of 74. He was the elder son of the first Itc-d, who was Chief Justice of the King's Bench. As he was unmarried, the title passes to his nephew, Charles, bornjn 1S34. Edwin ariù Joseph Gale, the fraudulent Yorkshire woollen manufacturers who were recently arrested in America, were last week committed for itrial by-ike West Riding magistrates at Batley. A Panama despatch says much damage has been done in the vicinity of Quito, in the province ef Imbabura, and in many other places by earthquakes. An .earth hill about sixty feet high suddenly and entirely disappeared. The other day, Colonel Aekrovd, M.P. for Halifax, was out oriding at Urusinoor, when he was trtirswn from his horse, and was found lying insensible in the road. He lay in a dangerous state from concussion of the brain. The inquest Oil the bodies of the men killed at the Morfa Colliery in 1 ebruary was concluded .at Aberavon last week. The jury returned a verdict that the explosion was caused by firedamp, but from the conflicting nature of the evidence, they were unable to fix the blame on any particular person. The Tory party are about to lose the services of their principal .election agent, Mr Snofforth, who, during the last eleven years, has been the prime (firector of all the influences at the disposal of the Caritoa Club. Shortly after midnight on Sunday a fire broke out on the pre- mises of Mr Thomas Wilkinson, farmer, Ardsley, near Barnsley. It appeared .to have originated in the stable, floo was discovered too late to says three valuable horses, which were burnt to death. Water was at hand, and the fire was prevented spreading to some corn stacks and other valuable adjoining property. At one of the London police-courts on Saturday, a woman stated that stue had let her little boy out to be exhibited by a strolling player, forthe sum of jel2 per annnm. She now wanted -to recover possession of the boy, but the magistrate s.iid he could not helpter, as sheliad been a party to the bargain. The 8th of May i,s.the .time named for taking the votes of the French people for the ratification or rejection of the senatus consultum. It is stated that all the electors will receive a printed letter from the Emperor, explaining the signification of the vote they are asktd t.) giv.e. The Canadian authorises have in safe custody the two dele- gates from the Red River insurgents, who are charged with being concerned in the murder of Scott, at Fort Garry. Soon after their arrest they were discharged on technical grounds, but were immediately after re-arrested on another warrant. At the annual meeting of the Birmingham Liberal Association, on Wednesday week, it was resolved to petition Parliament for the Ballot, and for a fourth member for the borough. It was stated that Mr Bright is not likely to take his place in Parlia- ment during the present session. Cadwallaaer Owen Jones, aged ninety-three years, went to Victoria Park, London, to indulge in gymnastics, and his death was caused by effusion of blood into tne membrane surrounding the heart, consequent on the excitement and over-exertion on the swing. Sir John Simeon, Bart., M.P. for the 141c of Wight, is suffering from severe illness, and has been ordered by his medical ad- visers to give up his attendance in .Parliament for a considerable time in order to recruit his health. A service of plate and a purse with £100 were presented last week to Captain Charles Mercier, hon. secretary to the Belgian (Volunteer) Reception Committee. The Lord Mayor, in making the presentation paid a high compliment to the zeal, ability, and courtesy of Captain Mercier. At the Birmingham Quarter Sessions last week, Samuel Taylor, late secretary to the Victoria Land Society, pleaded guilty to embezzling the money of the society to the amount of £ 1,200, and was sentenced to three months' hard labour. The New York papers state that the Peabody tomb was entered by burglars, who stole the silver plate and handles from the casket. The thieves were arrested on the following day, and the plunder was recovered. The Government BiH for the disfranchisement of Bridge- water and Beverley proposes to disqualify all the certified bribers at the last election from being placed on the register for the county divisions in which the two boroughs are respect- ively situated. The Duke of Montpensier, being a general officer in the Spanish army, has been tried by court-martial for having killed his cousin Don Enrique in a duel. The Court found the duke guilty of £ he homicide, but with extenuating circumstances, and sentenced him to one month's banishment from Madrid and to pay t>,000 dels, indemnification to Don Enrique's family. Two railway porters at Tipton, in Staffordshire, were oil duty at adjoining stations; one collected tickets, had them conveyed to the other, who reissued them, and pocketed the second fares. They have each been sentenced to six months' imprisonment. A Parisian journal teUs us that a number of ladies have formed themselves into a society for the purpose of reforming the fashions that is to say, to reduce the present extravagant ex- penditure on dress. They eall their association L'Union des Femmes Chretiennes." Each lady promises to spend so much and no more on her toilette annually, and to pay ready money. John Martin, a publican who had absconded from Devonshire with his creditors' money, was arrested at Liverpool, last week, when about to go on board the Virginia, bound for New York. His wife and four children, who were with him, went on board, but he was taken to the detective office, where Z210 in American gold was found upon him. On Saturday morning a serious accident occurred at the place where the Manchester and the Runcorn Railway lines join, near Edgehijl. Owing to the fog a passenger train and a goods train ran into each other at the point where the lines intersect, but fortunately both were proceeding slowly. Several passengers were severely shaken, and a porter had his leg broken. Thirty Greek brigands, after a conflict with gendarmes, have seized, near Marathon, two secretaries of legation (ong English and the other Italian), three English travelers, and two ladies. The brigands released the ladies, but kept the men, one of whom is Lord Muncaster. The ladies are Ladv Muncaster and Mrs Lloyd. Lord Muncaster has since been released by the brigands to trJat for his own ransom and that of his companio i in caotivitv. The brigands demand 20,000 livres. The Mayor of Sheffield, at a meeting of the Town Council last week, accused Mr MundeUa, M.P., of having "betrayed" the constituency by failing to support the Corporation Gas and Water Bill now before a committee of the House of Commons. On Thursday Mr Mundella had an interview with his executive committee on the subject of the mayor's speech, and the result was that a communication was addressed to his worship, who promised a reply. On Good Friday afternoon a so-called "demonstration," under the auspices of the Land .and Labour League, took place in Trafalgar-square. In point of numbers it was in no respect a success, and the speeches delivered on the pedestal of the Nelson column were of anything but a high order. A reso- lution was adopted declaring it to be the duty of the State in order to remedy the distress so generally prevalent amongst the industrial classes, to take into its possession all waste and unused lands in the United Kingdom (paying the owners the market value), and utilise them for the benefit of working men A memorial to the Government was also adopted. Benjamin Dawson, thirty-five years of age, a cloth cutter in Huddersfleld, rejoicing in the possession of a wife and several children, went off with a married woman named Mary Marshall six years his junior, employed as a cloth designer, and possess ing two ahildreu. The fugitives were traced to Manchester en- joying the comforts of hotel life, and thence to Liverpool where last week, they were taken to the Detective Office. Pro- perty belonging to Marshall's husband was found upon Dawson who was taken back to Huddersfield by the night train. His com- panion went back in the same carriage. On Saturday night", a man named Thomas Chapman invited his wife to walk along the side of the canal at Warwick. When about half-way to Leamington he pushed her into the water and teft her, returning to his father's house about one o'clock! At five o'clock he went to the police station and gave informa- tion, stating where the body would be found, and it was found at the place named. The ground bore marks of a severe stru<™ie and Chapman's clothes were wet, as if he had been draggedlmto the canal. Doubt of his wife's fidelity is supposed to have been the cause of the crime. They had a family of four children. At the JClerkenwell Police Court last week, two publicans were summoned for infringing the provisions of the Public House Closing Act, under circumstances which appear some- what anomalous. Between one and two o'clock in the mornincr they were entertaining some private friends and relatives when they were visited by the police, to whom it was not denied tli-t these persons had been drinking after the prohibited hours. but it was as guests of the landlord, and not as customers. The worthy magistrate, however, held that in each case a breach of the Act had been committed, the clause not only prohibiting the selling and exposing for sale," but also the consumption"" of liquors within certain hours. As nothing could be said against the general mode of conducting either of the houses in question mere nominal fines were inflicted. The Court Journal says that in Dickens's new story the Dor- trait of Durdles, like that of the Fat Boy, is said to be taken from life. "The Confessions of an Opium Eater" form the groundwork of the sketch of Jtsper although Dickens has spent hours in studying the effects of the drug upon Chinamen and their companions at the East-end. These opium-eating scenes have, it is said, been submitted in proof to a physician of high- standing for his suggestions, in order to make them psycho- logically accurate. Sir Bulwer Lytton submitted the plot of his "Night and Morning" to a barrister in the form of a case for his opinion, and paid the fee upon it in the ordinary form. This is the only way to anticipate criticism*.now-a-days, Some rioting took place on Friday week at Kanturk countv Cork. The disturbance commenced with a row between some drunken privates. The civilians and the soldiers quarreled, and fought savagely for a long time. The bystanders interfered' and were in their turn set upon. They called for help, and some of their friends answered them. The soldiers did the same and their comrades came to their aid. A determined conflict be- tween the two parties then commenced, and lasted for an hour. Stones were freely used, and severe injuries were inflicted upon both sides. The police came up after considerable delay, but were driven off by the soldiers. The latter are reported to have used their belts very freely, and so remained masters of the situation. After their conflict with the police they retired to their barracks, but sallied out an hour later, and the riot was renewed. A picket was then sent out, and succeeded in arrest- ing most of the rioters. Three of the soldiers were wounded. The position of the Irish Land Bill in Committee and the general state of public business in the House of Commons renders inteiesting a comparison of dates showing the progress of the Church Disestablishment Bill of last year, as contrasted with the measure now before Parliament. The Land Bill was introduced on February 15th, read a second time on March 11th went into committee March 2.sth, and the seventh sitting in that stage was suspended on the Sth inst., with the first clausepassed the second postponed, and the third unfinished. In 1869 the i hurch Disestablishment Bill was introduced on March 1st 'read a second time March 23rd, went into committee April 16th passed out of committee, after twelve sittings, May 7th' reported to the House May 13th, read a third time May 31st' read a hi st t:me in the Lords June 1st, a second time June 17tli' went into committee June 20th, passed out of committee Julv 6th. read a third time July 12th, Lords' amendments considered by the Commons July 15th and 16th, Commons'amendments considered by the Lords July 20th, Royal assent given July 26th, Parliamm- prorogued by Commission August 11th. It may he added that in the present year the members of the Legislature assembled a week earlier than in itseo. j
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—————— THE TRAGEDY AT WEM. ] Shortly before ten o'clock p. m. on Wednesday week, thil town was thrown into the greatest excitement by the fol. lowing sad occurrence :-While J. G. Wilson, Esq., sur- geon, was asleep on the sofa in his parlour, some one entered the room and discharged two barrels of a revolver at the unfortunate gentleman. The first shot entered the skull at the top of the head, and the second just behind the socket of the eye The report alarmed Mrs Wilson and the rest of the family, and Messrs Gwynneand Gill, surgeons, who reside next door, were immediately in attendance. When it was ascertained that the wounda: were of a very dangerous character Mr C. Wilson, son of Dr Wilson, a young man about twenty years of age.' and the servant man drove over to Shrewsbury to fetch Dr Wood. The ball from the top of the head was ex. tracted. Mr Wilson was quite conscious and enquired where his revolver was, when it was discovered that it had been takenoutof the drawer, and two of the barrels had been discharged: The pistol was found in the parlour by Mr P°sitiTf opinion of the medical gentle- men that Mr Wilson could not possibly have discharged the pistol himself. Shortly after the return of Mr O. Wilson, with Dr Wood, he was taken into custody by Sergeant Hayward, and charged with the offence, and lodged m the police-station. Mr Superintendent Haines arrived in town about ten a.m. on Thursday, and despatched a message to Loppington, to Captain Dickin. Messrs Barker and Gledhill, solicitors, are acting for the defence of the prisoner. Captain Dickin arrived in Wem about twelve at noon, for the purpose of taking Mr Wilson's depositions; but the medical gentlemen con- sidered that it would be injurious to subject him to an examination at that time, and it was arranged that an ex- amination should take place at the police office at three p.m., simply for the purpose of allowing the police to ask for a remand. A formal examination accordingly took place, before Colonel Hill and Captain Dicken, the chief- constable also being present, when Mr C. Wilson was charged with shooting his father with the intent to kill and murder him on the 13th instant. Formal evidence being taken, Mr Gwynne said he thought it would be injurious to examine Mr Wilson at present. The prisoner was, at the request of Superintendent Haines, remanded until Monday. Mr Wilson is so very highly respected in the neighbourhood, both on account of his skill in his pro- r fession and also on account of his great moral worth, the deepest sympathy is felt with the family in their terrible trial and deep distress. On Saturday last Mr Lucas, the magistrates clerk attended (with Captain Dickin, a magistrate^ and Messrs Barker, Gledhill, add Peele), at Dr Wilson a to take his depositions; and the magistrates Anr ™ M(,ndaJf 8° infco the evidence generally.— Mr D Courcy Peele narrated the nature of the evi- dence he would call. On the night of Wednesday Mr Wilson, a surgeon m Wem, after family prayers, retired and went to sleep on a sofa in his dining-room. The inmates of the house were his wife, who had gone to her bedroom, the son was in the surgery, and the daughter was in the schoolroom. There was also a maidservant and boy who had retired for the night, and were asleep. The injured man was awaked by a sensation like burning, and then came a further report of a pistol, and another head- Mr ?eele then described the position of Mr Wilson on the sofa—lying on his left side with his face to the wall—a position which proved that the shots must have been fired by some one in the room. The daughter heard two reports which she supposed to be something to do with a birdcage. She then went downstairs andvmet her brother, who said his father had shot himself. They went to the dining-room and found Mr Wilson on the floor, and a pistol lying there. Mr Wilson made an exclamation which stated that the pistol had done it. Miss Wilson at once went for Mr Gwynne, but he not being at home Tii-S U^ner' ^-r went in, and Mr Gwynne followed. Mr Wilson was quite self-possessed, and told them where he kept his pistol, upstairs, in a bag. The bag was found but no pistol in it. The son volunteered to drive to Shrewsbury for Mr Wood, and the servant went with him. There was no waiting for Mr Wood, and it would be for the Bench to say if there was any unnecessary time lost on the road, when they heard the time they were away. The son was arrested when he returned, and made a voluntary statement after being charged, both to P.S. Hayward, and afterwards to Superintendent Haines. On being searched thirteen percussion caps were found on him. The pistol was a six-barreled breech loader* Mr Peele submitted that upon the evidence one of two alter- natives must be certain; either that the injuries were self- mfljcted or the prisoner must have fired the pistol, and the medical evidence would show clearly that Mr Wilson could not have fired the pistol himself. By the prisoner's own statement it would be found that he said he went imme- diately to the dining-room from the surgery, and if so it was improbable any third person could have left the house. The Chairman—We perfectly understand that point, and have examined the plans. Mr Peele continued-Mr Wilson in his statement estimates that a minute elapsed between the shots. If the son was in the surgery, he would have gone out -at the first shot, and must have met anyone coming in or going out. The daughter, too, came down at once when she heard the report, and she found her brother in the halL And the brother says the father had done it himself. This the injured man denies. Had anyone gone out they must have been-heard. A stranger could not have ob- tained possession of that pistol, nor could a stranger have timed it so well as to make the attack at such, aft hour. Every probability pointed to the prisoner's as being the hand that committed the deed. Mr Peele then went on to comment on the conduct of the prisoner afterwards. He never made any suggestion that a third party h^d done it, but at once implicated his own father, and maintained throughout such self-possession as to surprise everyone. By the father's deposition it would appear that the first thing he noticed was "Charley shouting and giving an alarm,.as if horror-struck." And yet for five hours the son never made any remark to shew that the deed could have been done by a third party. He, Mr Peele,'would venture to suggest, horrible as it was, that the son only could have committed the horrible act. Mr Peeje went on to admit that there was no evidence of intent in the case, but there was the fact of a pistol fired and fired for no purpose but murder, and it would be for the magistrates to consider did prisoner fire the shot or not. He, Mr Peela, relied on two facts-first, that the injured man could not have done it himself, and .secondly, that some one in the .house must have done it,, and no one else but the prisoner was near enough to have done so. Mr John Gill, surgeon, was called to say the state Mr Wilson was in that morning, and said that he had seen Mr Wilson. He was quite unable to attend at the sessions, in consequence of the wounds. The evidence of Mr Wilson, taken on Saturday before Captain Dickin, was then rastd, as. follows On Wednesday last, between nine and ten o'clock, after prayers, as is my usual custom, I lay on the sota in the dining room and went to sleep. I was suddenly awakened by a sharp pain on the right side of my head. I had a sensation of something burning over my head and face. It felt like paraffin oil. I fell on the floor and perceived blood issuing from my eye. I was sleeping with my right eye uppermost and facing the window. Immediately after I heard another report like that of i\ pistol, and felt a violent blow on the top of my head. I then became par- tially insensible. I observed a revolver on the floor; after that they picked me up, and Betton Gwynne came in and I was carried upstairs. I believe that the revolver pro- duced is mine. Dooley, Liverpool, is the maker. It was usually kept in a chest of drawers in my bedroom. I sometimes kept it loaded. I had not seen it for a month. I can't say how many chambers were loaded—some, but I cannot say how many. I usually, loaded it myself with an ordinary charge, putting enough powder to leave space for the ball in its receptacle. It is several months since I loaded it. I did not distinguish (hear) the first report. I should think it would not be a minute between the time when I first felt the sensation of pain and the report, but time seems so long when one is in pain and suffering. I believe there was gas in the room. I saw the pistol on the floor just where it would have been had I thrown it down. I was not aware at that time of the presence of any one in the room. When I had recovered my con- sciousness, I heard Charlie, my son, shouting and giving an alarm as if horror-struck. I fancy I heard some one in the room, but I cannot be certain. After the first dis- charge and before I lost consciousness, I was in great pain and afraid to open my other eye because of the burning sensation. I was a very short time unconscious. I should imagine it was a very short time after the second shot be- fore my daughter came into the room. I can't tell whether she was the first person who came into tharopm. I fancy Mrs Wilson had retired an hour or two previously. The servants were gone to bed, I believe. My daughter was upstairs in the schoolroom. The front door is usually fas- tened. It won't open from the outside. It is usually bolted as well, but I cannot say whether it was that night. The servants or Mrs Wilson generally bolt that door the last thing at night. Mrs Wilson generally retires for an hour or two, and then comes down and sits with ihe when I have my tea. I had not had any tea that night. I gene rally take tea about ten o'clock. Then Mrs Wilson turns out the cat and fastens the door for the night. It is a strong latch on the inside. I can't say anything about the door leading into the garden. The garden door is usually fastened with a lock and bolt-most generally I attend to the fastening of the garden door, but that night I had not. In the usual course I should have fastened that door myself. The servants usually fastened the kitchen doors before they went to bed, and sometimes turned the key in the garden door. Previously to about six or seven months ago, my son had been absent about two years. He was tempted to go into a public house, and when I told him of it he denied it, and in consequence he went off in the night, previously having written me a letter, stating that the information was true,' and that after having denied it, lie could never meet me agffili. In October or November last he returned, and has since as- sisted me in my business. During his absence lie was in the far-west of America. I may say that since his return I have had no angry word with him on any occasion, and he has conducted himself to my entire satisfaction. I have always been short-sighted. It is not true that my son on this night asked me, or expressed the slightest wish to go to any entertainment, and that I refused. The drawer in which the pistol was kept was not locked. The last time I had seen the pistol I think it was a little rusty. I could not recognize the pistol by its general appearance, but after having one for many years you generally know it again. My son has been most affectionate in his manner to me since his return home, and I have not had the slightest occasion to find fault with him. He had not bid me good night. It was not his usual hour for doing so. He generally did so about 11'30, after he had seen to the fires in the greenhou3e. Judging from the position of the rooms, I should say that had my son been in the surgery when the pistol was fired, he could have heard the report of it plainly. Mr Fred. Barker gave nie the pistol. I cannot assign any reason or motive whatever to induce my son to fire a pistol at me." Evidence was then called in support of Mr_ l eele s opening statement, and the case was remanded to Jnoriday next.