The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

THE" TIMES" NEI TTTSPAPEB. In the Court of Chancery, on Saturday, before the Lord Chancellor, the case of Platt v. Walter and Walter v. Platt was heard. This was an appeal from a decision of Vice-Chancellor Sir J. Stuart, made in both suits. The facts were that in the year 1788 Mr. Walter, the grandfather of the defendant (Mr. Walter, lateM.P. for Berkshire); founded the Times newspaper, and a year or two later established the Evening Mail, which was published three times a week. It appeared that the Evening Mail had always been printed and published at the Times office, Printing- house-square, and for that purpose the matter and types of the Times had been made use of, but there was no written agreement upon the subject. Mr. Walter, the founder, assigned to one of his sons, William Walter, certain shares of the Evening Mail, and it was from a sale of these shares in the year 1830 that the plaintiffs, Messrs. Platt, derive their title. The remainder of the shares of the Evening Mail appear to have belonged to persons who were also proprietors of the Times, includ- ing the defendant, Mr. Walter. In the year 1863 the proprietort of the Times wished to purchase the Evening Mail, but "semis could not be agreed upon, and in November, 1864, notice was given on .behalf of the Times to the proprietors of the Evening Mail that the arrangement as to the printing of the Evening Mail would be put an end to on the 31st of the fol- lowing December. The first bill was thereupon filed by some of the proprietors of the Evening Mail against the Times praying for an injunction to restrain the discon- tinuance of the arrangement which had so long existed between the papers, and also asking for a dissolution of partnership. The second suit was immediately after- wards instituted by Mr. Walter, on behalf of himself and some other of the proprietors of the Evening Mail, praying also for a dissolution of the partnership, and that the affairs and business of it might be wound up under the direction of the Court. The suits were heard together before Vice-Chancellor Stuart, who dismissed Messrs. Platt's bill, except so far as it sought, a dissolu- tion of the partnership, and made a decree in both suits for a sale of the Evening Mail, and a dissolution 0f the partnership between the proprietors of it. From this decision the Messrs. Platt appealed. Hence the present appeal. The arguments in this case were brov.ght to a close on Saturday. The Lord Chancellor said that, owing to the evidence in the case extending over a great number of years,he should require some time to consider his judgment, which he was afraid that he should not be able to give before the Michaelmas term. --4

THE DEATH OF THE FOUNDER OF THE JOINT-STOCK BANK.—The decease is announced of Mr. George Pollard, at the advanced age of 76. He was the founder of the London Joint-Stock Bank, and com- menced operations in the year 1836 in Moorgate-street, with five clerks. He was then-45 years of age. He had filled the office of manager during the whole time he was connected with the establishment until within the last few years, when be was elected to a seat at the board of directors.

I BIRTHDAY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. Tuesday being the anniversary of the natal day of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, her Majesty's second son, the usual demonstrations, of loyalty were exhibited throughout the metropolis. Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, was born on the 6th day of August, 1844, so that his Royal Highness has completed his 23rd year. At seven o'clock the bells of the Chapel Royal of St. George's, Windsor, which are hung in the ancient tower of Julius Ctesar, and those of the parish church of St. John, commenced a merry peal, which was continued at inter- vals during the day. At one o'clock a Royal salute was fired from the artillery in the Long Walk by Bombardier Pond, and repeated from Fort Belvidere and the Royal Adelaide frigate at Virginia Water. The Foresters of the district held their annual fete in Clewer-park, the grounds of Sir Daniel Gooch, M.P., on the same day, and a number of visitors arrived in the town. The weather, however, was extremely bad, rain having fallen for some time.

UNVEILING OF MR. COBDEN'S BUST IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. A ceremony was performed in Westminster Abbey last week, in which many assuredly would have wished to participate -the unveiling of Richard Cobden's bust, in the presence of the Dean of Westminster, Mrs. Richard Cobden, Mrs. Seltzer, and Mr. Woolner. Many a pilgrimage will now be made to that northern transept, where, upon the same side with Cornewall Lewis, Charles Buller, and Francis Horner, is raised the bust of Richard Cobden. Thinking of the large place which during his lifetime Mr. Cobden filled in the public eye and in the public heart, of the great works he achieved, and the benefits he wrought, the visitor will probably feel regret that the work is not upon a greater scale. Yet as his examination proceeds he will feel so charmed with the likeness, and the fine way in which the features are moulded, as to have his first hasty impressions considerably modified. Over the charac- teristic expression of the face as it was in life, the sculptor has cast a monumental, we would say holy, aspect, becoming such a bust in such a place. Some sculptors aim at animated likeness, while others repro- duce the cold rigidity of the mask. Mr. Woolner has taken a medium course, and only a man of genius in his art could have rendered an effect so solemn and so touch- ing with such seeming absence of effort. The simplicity of the work contrasts with surrounding monuments in a way of itself to fascinate attention although modern costume is retained, yet is its unfavourable stiffness softened down with much delicacy of hand. The eye, indeed ceases to regard costume, riveted as it is by the broad, clear, open brow, the solemnity about the eyes, the firmness of the mouth and chin, relieved by a general suavity, all characteristic of the man—altogether an idealised and yet actually truthful resemblance. In accordance with the simplicity of the design is the inscription Richard Cobden, born June 3rd, 1804 died April 2nd, 1865; buried at Lavington Church." What need for written epitaph which will be sure to be spoken by living lips The face of a man of active sensibilities is the one to which a true sculptor finds it most difficult to do justice. It is easy enough to render those marked features which derive a set from some predominant quality. But as in Mr. Cobden's character there appeared an harmonious blending of seemingly opposite qualities, combining as he did singular depth, astuteness, and insight, with guilelessness and frankness, he being at once exceedingly bold and gently kind-so did his features honestly reflect the sentiments he took no trouble to conceal. To convey, therefore, to the mind of the beholder the impression of a face which, habitually overcast with thought, was yet prompt and quick, severe and genial, was something wherewith to tax the artist's skill. To a hard or vulgar hand it would have been an impossibility. On the whole, Mr. Woolner has worked well. A fine, subtle, delicate expression has been achieved; and looking upon this latest addition to the glorious com- pany in Westminster Abbey, we gladly proclaim it a noble face.

MR. BRIGHT ON THE LORDS' AMEND- MENTS TO THE REFORM BILL. A crowded meeting was held on Tuesday evening in the Free Trade-hall, Manchester, under the auspices of the National Reform Union and the Northern Reform League, for the purpose of protesting against the Lords' amendments to the Government Reform Bill. Mr. George Wilson presided. Resolutions were passed unanimously, strongly condemning the several features in the Lords' amendments. Mr. John Bright supported the resolutions in a speech of some length. He said he was afraid the Lords had not acted magnanimously in their treatment of the bill. They seemed to look out for points where they could do mischief, And a mischief that would not recoil upon themselves. They had not touched finally the great points of the bill as it left the Commons, but they had adopted two propositions which were made to the Commons, and by the Commons decidedly and most wisely rejected. The scheme as to voting papers was most foolish and mischievous. He had been charged with always hanker- ing after something new with proposing changes which people never would have wanted had he not proposed them with seeking to overturn the long-established and beneficent institutions and in fact with disturbing the general commonwealth. But what could be more new than this what could be more needless than this ? Was there anybody in the kingdom who knew anybody in the kingdom that had ever asked for this change ? And it had been made by Lord Cairns-a very eminent lawyer, a very modern peer indeed, a member until very recently of the Irish Tory and Orange party, a man who with great ability and untiring perseverance had fought for his party and had opposed every liberal proposition connected with home politics that had been submitted to the House of Commons during all the years that he had had a seat in that assembly. Mr. Bright then commented on the proposed representation of minorities with considerable severity. He maintained that there was no grievance under the present system of electing by majorities, and that no remedy was required that the aggrieved party, if there were one, had never told its grief;" and that until some superlatively fine people, who had found out what nobody else was likely to dis- cover, had hit upon this plan, every minority at elections throughout the United Kingdom when the poll was declared, if the majority was fairly won, would go to its several homes satisfied that that had been done which the true interests and representation of the country re- quired. If this plan were so good, why had an exception been made of Glasgow ? The Government would not try upon the Scotchmen this hated experi- ment by which the member for South Glasgow would neutralise one of the two members for Glasgow, and that greatest city of Scotland, and outside of London the greatest city of the United Kingdom, would not therefore have its political power crippled and destroyed. It was not proposed to divide the great towns into wards, but to strive to secure the representation of different opinions-in fact, we were about to do that which would really destroy all the interest which men have who go to Ascot and to Epsom. We were going to have a great political race, and the last horse is to win just as much as the first (much lu^^ter). Taking the cases of Manchester and Salford, he said that while on local questions Manchester would have three members and Salford two, yet in great political questions, in divisions Manches- ter would only count one, while its smaller neighbour would have two votes. He asked his countrymen to reject this device of their opponents, because it was a principle disastrously fatal to everything which we comprehended, and which our forefathers had comprehended, of the true principle of popular representation. He infinitely pre ferred the practice of the robust common sense of those who had gone before us to this new scheme which was offered to us with so many professions for our good. He regarded it-he said it without fear of whomsoever it might strike- as the offspring and spawn of feeble b minds (loud cheers). It might have been, for aught he knew, born of eccentric genius—it might, and probably had been discovered in some of those abysses in which the speculative mind oft delights to plunge, but he pre- ferred he said honestly, that which our forefathers understood of freedom of popular representation, of the mode of manufacturing a great Parliament, to any of these newfangled and miserable schemes which have come into light in our day (loud cheers). A petition to Parliament was adopted, asking to re main as at present represented by two members, rather than have three members with only two votes. Mr. Bright spoke for more than an hour, and was re- peatedly cheered throughout.

SUICIDE OF A LICENSED VICTUALLER. On Monday night an inquest was held in Cannon-street- road on the body of Mr. William Essen, aged 51 years, landlord of the Kinders Arms. On I Friday last the deceased, who was in difficulties, was found dead on the floor of his room. Death was the result of a dose of bitter almonds. The jury returned a verdict of suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. I

THE SYSTEM OF RETIREMENT FROM THE ARMY. The report of the select committee appointed to inquire into the system of retirement from the three non-purchase corps of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Royal Marines, was issued on Saturday. The following are the recommendations of the committee :— That the present system of retirement on annuities of .£600 or £ 400 a year, or on permanent half-pay after 25 years' service, and the practice of purchasing commissions by means of the Army Reserve Fund, be discontinued. Thatat the age of 60 every colonel of Artillery or Engineers be placed on the reserved list, and while on that list be considered ineligible for erdinary regimental duties, but eligible for staff or special employments, if selected by the military authorities. That an officer so removed should receive the pay of a major-general, and retain his right of succession to the major-generals' establishment, and to the command of a battalion. That every colonel, on removal to the reserved list, should have the option of retiring from the army on JB600 a year, with a step in honorary rank. That every officer, after completing 22 years' service, should have the absolute right to retire, with a step of honorary rank, and with an annuity according to the following scale, irrespective of pensions for wounds or distinguished service:— Number of Probable value Years' Annuity. Probable of ServioA Age. Annuity. 22 2250 42 £ 3,270 increasing by iC25 annually to 25 325 45 4,080 28 400 48 4,780 30 450 50 5,050 increasing by iCI5 annually to 35 525 55 5,500 40 600 60 5,410 That provision be made by Parliament to enable an officer to compound (through the agency of the National Debt Office) his annuity for its present value," regard being had to his age and the state of his health, and the computation of value being made at 5 per cent. interest. (The fourth column in the above table shows the values of the proposed annuities on the assumption that the life is good, and that the officer obtained his commission at twenty years of age.) That no commuta- tion of pension be allowed, except on the retirement of the officer. That no officer be retired on half-pay except for wounds or ill-health, and that officers rendered unfit for service by ill-health, be allowed to continue on the half- pay list, whatever their length of service may have been, power being retained to bring them back to their former place in the corps when pronounced fit for duty. Your committee would refer to the evidence given by his Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in- Chief, with respect to officers placed on temporary half- pay. That it should be in the discretion of the military authorities to employ or not any officer who shall have acquired the right to retire on a pension. That retire- ment from the Marines should be governed by similar regulations, the maximum annuity being jE600, except in the case of an existing colonel commandant, whose annuity may be .£700 a year. It will be necessary, in future arrangements with the Government of India, to provide for the due proportion of the cost of the retire- ments of artillery and engineer officers being defrayed from Indian revenues."

MB. WHALLEY, M.P., AND "THE CON- FESSIONAL UNMASKED. Mr. Whalley, M.P., instructed by Messrs. Gosling and Girdlestone, came into the Marlborough-street Police- court on Wednesday, and said :—Sir,—There was a man named Reach before you on Monday on the charge of selling an indecent book, and also for obstruction. This man is one of the persons employed by the Protestant Electoral Union, for whom I appear, and my object in this application is to learn from you whether the fine of Is. inflicted on him was for selling the book or for ob- struction. Application has been made for the deposi- tions, but without effect. Mr. Tyrwhitt: According to the Act of Parliament no depositions need be taken, except in cases of felony. Mr. Whalley: The reports in the papers state that the fine was for obstruction, but I ask your attention to this fact, that after the man was fined, on going to the station at St. Giles's, where his books were, he was told by the inspector on duty that if he sold any of the books he would be again taken into custody and sent before a magistrate, who would give him three months' imprisonment. Mr. Tyrwhitt: It must, I think, be quite evident te yon as a member of Parliament and a barrister that I can have nothing to do with what the police may say. Mr. Whalley: I presume that no man acts without due sanction, and therefore if the inspector told the man he would get three months' imprisonment if he sold the book, I take it he had instructions from you to that effect. Mr. Tyrwhitt: I cannot help what any one may imagine. I have nothing to do with what a constable says; if he says what is wrong you must go to his superior, Sir Richard Mayne. With the other point I have something to do. I might have thrown out the hint that if the book in question turned out to be an indecent book, after the notice he had received he might receive some punishment. The police was right in tell- ing him the same thing. He might have done so out of good nature. Mr. Whalley There was no evidence that the foot- way was obstructed. Mr. Tyrwhitt As far as my recollection serves me the case placed before me was this :—The man did sell a book-a gentleman who brought him here showed me some indecent passages in it. The mass of the book appeared to be in Latin, and the indecent passages were said to be translations. There was some indecent doggrel, and so far the man brought himself within the Act of Parliament for uttering an indecent book. I certainly was astonished at the gentleman knowing all about the book, who said he had only heard of it from the newspapers, but he explained that he looked over it for some hours while the man was in custody. The man made a defence that he was a poor man, and. that somebody had given him a job to sell the book. It did seem to me, as he had only just got the book, that the contents might be unknown to him, and I thought I might fairly discharge him for the offence of selling an indecent book. But as he had large placards with the words Confessional Unmasked on them," this brought him within the Act, and thinking he was but a tool in the hands of others, I convicted him on the minor offence. As to the depositions, I take my stand on the law, and I should be foolish if I did not, as I might otherwise be lending myself to something I do not understand. Mr. Whalley: Permit me to point out two facts. There was no obstruction to the footway, he was in the roadway; and with respect to the book, you are perhaps not aware of the serious injustice in what you have stated. It is the whole question whether the sale of the book is an offence within the Act of Parliament. Mr. Tyrwhitt I may have to deal with that matter soon. If so, I will go through the book and see if it is indecent. Mr. Whalley: There has been a legal decision that it is not an indecent book within the meaning of the Act. Mr. Tyrwhitt: From what I saw of it I thought it very indecent. There were filthy and dirty passages in it, that is all I can say. As to my decision, I intend to abide by it. Mr. Whalley Having first thanked you for your courtesy, permit me to say you have unintentionally done great injustice by reading part of the Act of Parlirment. The discussions in the House of Commons and the deci- sions of the courts of law will prove that the book is legally saleable. The man was employed by a number of gentlemen to sell the book. Mr. Tyrwhitt: I thought at the time the man was set on to sell this indecent book, and I said if any one was to be proceeded against, it ought to be those who sent him out. I shall not say another word and must request you to consider the application ended. Mr. Whalley I understand you to say if the man's employers are brought before you, you will decide the book is an indecent book, and submit them to a penalty. Mr. Tyrwhitt: I said nothing of the kind. Mr. Whalley When they come before you-which is not unlikely—they will have the disadvantage of having had your opinion strongly stated. I hope, how- ever, my clients will not be injured by your biased opinion. Mr. Tyrwhitt: I decline to be drawn out on this subject. When a case is before me I will give my opinion on the facts-not till then. Mr. Whalley, having thanked the magistrate, left tILa court.

A CHILD KILLED BY A CAT.—An inquest was held on the 5th of August, in High-street, Poplar, on the body of William Steele, aged two years. On Sunday week a cat bit the deceased, and he became very ill, was seized with convulsions, and died on Thursday 'last. Death resulted from a shock to the system from the bite, and the jury returned a verdict to that effect.

THE FEARFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN INDIA. (From the Times of India). Early on Wednesday, June 25th, one of the most ap- palling accidents which it has ever been the fate of journalists in India to relate, occurred on the G. 1. P. Railway to the passenger train which left Bhosawal (275 miles from Bombay) for Kundwah soon after two a.m. The train consisted of the usual first, second, and third- class carriages, and had an ordinary complement of pas- sengers. It left Bhosawal about the right time, and proceeded safely on its journey until reaching the small iron girder-bridge which crosses the Sutee River, about 12 miles from Bhosawal. Here the engine, just as it touched the brige, was found to give a sudden lurch on one side and a leap in the air. At the same time the coupling between engine and tender snapped, and the tender, with the carriages behind it, went with a tre- mendous crash down through a chasm in the line right into the bed of the stream. The night was dark and stormy, and a heavy rain, which had continued all through the night from an early hour the previous even- ing, kept coming down with unusual violence. When, therefore, the train went headlong into the stream, what between the blackness of the night, the raging of the storm, the rushing of the water, the crushing of the carriages as the one went rolling on the top of the other, and the frantic screams of the doomed and dying pas- sengers, the scene was one which can never be fully told. Among the first who met their death in the dreadful crash were two Europeans the one was the fireman, and the other the guard in the front brake of the train. The fireman jumped off when he felt the engine leave the rails, but he leapt into the chasm and went down with the tender. Neither of the bodies have been found, nor indeed have the bodies of most of the pas- sengers. The river was so much swollen by the rain, and was rolling down with such force, that not only were most of the bodies washed away, but the wood- work of the carriages also entirely disappeared, the heavy ironwork alone remaining. When the fireman jumped off, the engine-driver jumped too, but on the other side of the engine, and escaped with only a few bruises. The guard in the rear brake also escaped un- injured-his brake just stopping on the very brink of the chasm. It is said there were no European passengers in the train; at all events no bodies have been found. In order to understand more clearly the origin of this gap, it is necessary to know that the Sutee, before reaching the railway, divides into two branches, or forks, over which the line crosses by two bridges about 100 yards apart-one over each prong of the fork. On the descent of torrent, the waters did not keep within their channels, but washed over the space between the bridges, eating away part of the ground under the rails, and creating the chasm into which the train sank. A special train was dispatched from Bombay immediately the first telegram was received, conveying the principal officers of the company to the scene of the accident. The telegrams at first reported that the bridge itself had given way; and it was many hours afterwards before it was known in Bombay that the embankment, and not the bridge, had yielded to the action of the flood. At first only two dead were reported and about ten in- jured, but later official telegrams stated that the train was totally smashed and nearly all the passengers killed or drowned. Another official telegram said that the train contained about 100 passengers, and that with the exception of four who escaped, and 11 who were wounded, all the rest had been swept away, two only of the dead bodies having been recovered. This led to a belief that over 80 persons must have met their death through the accident. It was several days later before any reliable estimate could be obtained of the number the train contained. It was then re- ported by the Railway Company District Superintendent that the number of persons in the train was as follows Second-class passengers, 2 third-class passengers, 50 railway officials, 10 making a total of 62. Of the actual number killed it is still impossible to speak with any degree of confidence. The railway officials report that two bodies were recovered soon after the accident three wounded have since died two bodies were found in the river, and two others have been seen floating in the river the fireman, one of the guards, and two passengers, whose names are known, are still missing, and are reckoned as dead-making a total of 13 killed. The wounded number 20. This leaves 29 unaccounted for, the majority of whom, it is hoped, reached the banks of the river and proceeded to their homes.

ALLEGED DEATH OF A WIFE FROM VIOLENCE. Richard Roberts, a shoemaker, of No. 10, West Penton-road, Nine Elms-lane, was brought up, on remand, charged, at the Wandsworth Police-station, on Satur- day, with causing the death-of his wife, Maria Roberts, by violence. This was the case in which Mr. Carter, the coroner, had refused to hold an inquest. Since the burial of the deceased an order had been obtained from the Secretary of State for the exhumation of the body to allow of a post-mortem examination being made to ascertain the cause of death. It will be recollected that the chief witness was the prisoner's daughter, Eliza Roberts, aged nine years, who stated that she saw her father kneel upon her mother and squeeze her throat with his hands. That was on a Tuesday, and the deceased was seen by her mother on the same day with a black eye, and the prisoner accounted for it by stating that in the struggle to take the baby from her she struck her eye against his elbow. Dr. Leslie, one of the parochial surgeons, was called in on the following day, when he found the deceased insensible. She lingered until the following Sunday, when she died. It also appeared from the statement of the mother of the deceased that the prisoner ill-used his wife about five weeks previously, when she received a severe black eye, and afterwards complained of her side and head. Mr. Mayo conducted the prosecution and Mr. Cater was present, as well as his summoning officer for Batter- sea. Dr. Leslie was recalled, and stated that the body had been exhumed. He made an examination of the body with Mr. Webb, a surgeon, and found the gall bladder burst, and the liver ruptured. Either of the injuries was sufficient to cause death. Mr. Ingham Would any severe pressure on the out- side cause these injuries ? Witness: External pressure generally does without leaving any mark. External pressure or a blow would cause them. Mr. Ingham Would the weight of a person on that part of the body be likely to cause the injuries ? Witness Quite sufficient. Death would result in a few hours afterwards, or in two or three days. In this case the deceased lived for an unusually long time after meeting with the injuries. By the Prisoner He did not recollect the landlady telling him that the deceased had fallen out of bed. A little girl, named Hill, the daughter of the landlady, gave confirmatory evidence as to the kneeling upon the deceased. She also said that she did hear a noise in the deceased's room as of a person having fallen out of bed. That was a few days before he knelt upon her. The prisoner was not at home at the time. Police-constable Kempster said he apprehended the prisoner on the 25th vIt., on a warrant for assaulting his wife. He said he did not assault her, and that the black eye was caused accidentally in taking the child from her. Witness told him that his daughter had given evidence in court that day that she saw him kneeling upon his wife while on the sofa. He said he did nothing of the kind. Mrs. Snelling, the mother of the deceased, was re- called, and said her daughter had been yellow ever since the last attack made upon her by the prisoner five or six weeks ago. She had been getting more yellow from the Tuesday when he knelt upon her. She had very fair skin until between five and six weeks ago. The prisoner said he could prove that the yellow appearance which his wife had was upon her for the last three months. Mr. Ingham I must ask the doctor another question. Upon the evidence, would it be possible for either of the injuries to have lasted for five weeks before death ensued? Dr. Leslie: Impossible! I give my opinion on the authority of Taylor. Mrs. Hill, the landlady, was then called, and she stated that on the day before the struggle she heard the deceased fall off the sofa and out of bed on the same night. She appeared to be intoxicated. She never saw her in that state before. The deceased had been in a weak state for the last three months. By the Prisoner: She never knew him to beat his wife except once, when they had a severe struggle. The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said he never laid a finger upon his wife. He could not be answerable for a woman who had been in the habit of drinking all her lifetime. Mr. Ingham then committed him for trial for man- slaughter at the next Croydon Assizes, and said he would accept two sureties for his appearance. The Drisoner was then removed.

EXTRACTS FROM OUB COMIC PAPERS. (From Punch.) THE WHITEBAIT DINNER. A CANTATA. Solo. 0 ye great and little fishes, Handed round in silver dishes, Everything that could be wished Like the Whigs you all are dished. Chorus. Oh, oh, oh! Joe, Joe, Joe No, no, no. Ben, Ben, Ben. It may pass. Fill the glass. Happy colleagues, merry men Solo. Do they say that we are hollow ? Then we've room the more to swallow. Appetite, how keen thine edge is Whitebait I prefer to pledges. Unsubstantial are the latter, They won't make you any fatter, So that, platter after platter, You can take them. If you break them, Very well-it doesn't matter. Chorus. O, what numbers we are eating, Of these small fry at this meeting! Solo. Yes, but 'tis my own impression, That we ate more words this Session. Chorus. Bravo, that's a frank confession Dinner is the time for candour. Here's a health to our commander! Now, the shop and business sinking, We'll set in for serious drinking. TAKE CARE OF THEM.—In the course of a leading article on the Parks Bill, the Times remarks that "there is no fact so apparent and so beyond contradiction, as that Hyde-park, in common with the other parks, has always been under keepers." Certainly; and to pre- serve order in the parks, it is desirable that the fol- lowers of Beales (M.A.), together with their leader, should be under keepers too. DRY WORK.—Before Parliament breaks up will some member of the House of Commons move for returns of the quantity of beer and other excisable fluids consumed at the (liquor) bar of that House ? One would think it must be very great, considering that most of the speeches which honourable members have had to make, or listen to on the subject of Reform, have been thoroughly exhaustive. POSITIVE.—"You promised to send me your pho- tograph, John," pouted Maria, and you have not done so. You have not even written me one word." "Dearest Maria, then I have sent the picture," replied the smiling John. "Read the advertisements. 'Silence is a Negative."1" IN THE SAME LINE.—"Masks"*and Faces. Close of the Season." Substitute "Session" for "Season," and this announcement will serve for another performance, not in Piccadilly, but at Westminster. CITY ARTICLE.—Miss Coutts's wealth (and her noble estimate of its duties) having caused the establishment of a new market, it ought to be known as The Money Market. Two WAYS OF VIEWING THINGS.—Now is the time of year when excursions are made, and excursionists begin to abound. The delighted frequenters of the places most in favour are apt to speak of these visits as incursions, and to call the visitors incursionists. CHEAP NOBILITY.—Any one can obtain a peerage now-a-days by paying for it. For a small sum he can get Brett's. (From Fun.) COURTLY LANGUAGE.—It is time tnat courtly lan- guage should be looked to. In the Early Years of the Prince Consort" we find a distinguished personage speaking of a mutual grandmother," because, we sup- pose, it would be rude to say a common grand- mother," like an ordinary mortal. The other day, too, the Court Circular, in one of its leaders, stated that it would have been an unprofitable occupation for the Attorney or Solicitor-General to have employed their time in conducting actions," &c. Perhaps the editor of the C. C. or the leader-writer will profitably occupy their time in studying English grammar, or, at least, the part relating to disjunctive conjunctions. A CALCULATION. A contemporary states that "forty-four Arabs, with their wives, have arrived in Paris, where they intend to give musical entertainments." The programme is not given, but as the wives will of course count as halves (better or worse, as the case may be), by the simplest arithmetical effort we may reckon that forty-four Arabs, with forty-four halves, will pro- bably find themselves equal to Sixty-Six." THE REFORM BILL.—Mr. Disraeli's democratic mea- sure of Reform is always bearing fruit. The elections at Birmingham and Coventry show that revolution is already at work. The electors of those boroughs were offered a Lloyd and a Ferrand-they rejected them for the sons of Dick and Jack What next ? STRIKE, BUT HEAR !-A friend of ours possesses such a patent safety disposition, that nothing short of a blow will disturb his equanimity; in short, he ignites only on the box." A CIRCULAR NOTE. An eminent mathematician, who has solved the problem of squaring the circle," is now engaged in defining the exact circumference of the round of the papers." A BRIGHT-'uN.-Blind Tern is announced as giving concerts at Brighton. We are not surprised, for of course in visiting Brighton he goes there to sea. If he could but get on the sea side of the public no doubt he would be happy. Hoop DE DOODEN DO !-It may not be generally known that the barrels in the Government powder magazines are bound with war-whoops. THE REAL H GAME CHICKEN."—The one who remained in his shell till it was chipped at the breakfast-table. (From the Tomahawk.) THE DAY OF KNIGHTS. We understand that the following gentlemen and noblemen are about to receive the honour of knight- hood 1. The Toll-taker of Putney-bridge, in honour of the Sultan's visit to Wimbledon. 2. The Lord Mayor (baronetcy) and Sheriffs (knight- hood) in recognition (of course) of the luncheon given to the Belgians. 3. The Bun Merchant of the Zoological Gardens, in honour of the visit of the Viceroy to the Sunday Zoo. 4. The Field Marshals attached to the Alhambra Music-hall, in commemoration of the Belgians' visit to that popular establishment. We have also much pleasure in announcing our belief that the following distinguished individuals have been Selected by the illustrious guests who have just left us for the honours we are about to specify. 1. The Mace Bearer of the Lord Mayor.—The title of Due from the Belgians, the rank of Pasha from the Sultan, and a pension of zC4,000 a year from the Viceroy of Egypt. 2. The Beadle of the Burlington-arcade.—A Lieu- tenant-Colonelcy in the Garde Civique from the Belgians, the order (2nd class) of the Mejendi from the Sultan, and a bit of the Pyramids and a fine assortment of mummies from the Viceroy of Egypt. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. FAN, FAN, AND KNAVE OF CLUBS.—You are quite wrong. If you had the least pretension to wit you would have discovered that what appeared was written a la burlesque. THE ANONYMOUS CORRESPONDENT WHO SENT US AN INSULT IN HIS UNPAID LETTER.-Shabby ABOUT THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY OTHER CORRES- PONDENTS. We really have no time to answer you. Here however, is a word of advice at parting try and get comfortably berthed in lunatic asylums before you do any further injury to your fellow-creatures. A COCKNEY PARADOX.—Whalley's of no walley (value ?). (From Judy.) THREE EPIGRAMS. FOR PHILOSOPHERS. Not lightly o'er my stanza scan, 'Tis true, although 'tis funny; It is not money makes the man, But man that makes the money.

FOR ELDER CHILDREN. Ye idle girls and boys beware, And read this, if it please 'e Life's never half so hard to bear As when ye take it easy."

FOR YOUNQ LADIES. J Oh, read my verse and ponder it, And do not think it idle You never learn to love a bit, Until you want a bridle.

THE HEALTH OF LONDON. The return of births and deaths in London, issued by authority of the Registrar-General, shows that in the week that ended on Saturday, August 3, the births re- gistered in London and 12 other large towns of the United Kingdom were 4,693; the deaths registered, 2,804. The annual rate of mortality was 24 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of 1,139 boys and 1,125 girls, in all 2,264 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of 10 years 1857-66 the average number, corrected for increase of population, is 1,941. The deaths registered in London during the week were 1,291. It was the 31st week of the year; and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of popula- tion, 1,447. The deaths in the present return are less by 156 than the estimated number. Although the deaths registered are less by 56 than the number in the preceding week, and considerably below the estimated amount, the mortality from diarrhoea has slightly in- creased. 209 children asd eight adults died from diarrhoea last week in the week which ended July 27, the number was 196. 38 cases occurred last week in the west, 48 in the north, 39 in the central, 53 in the east, and 45 in the south districts. Five deaths from diarrhoea occurred in the sub-district, St. Mary, Padding. ton 7 in St. John, Westminster; 7 in Christ-church, Marylebone (out of a total of 9 deaths 5 in Regent's- park, Pancras 6 in Somers-town, Pancras 5 in Isling- ton West 9 in Islington East; 5 in St. Giles', South 6 in City-road, St. Luke's; 5 in Green, Bethnal-green 5 in Whitechapel North 5 in Poplar; 5 in St. James's, Bermondseyj and 142 in other sub-districts. The deaths of 17 children and 2 adults from cholera, or choleraic diarrhoea, were recorded. In the correspond- ing week of last year (1866) the deaths from diarrhoea were 354, and from cholera, 1,053. Twenty-one deaths from small-pox, 16 from measles, 22 from scarlatina 22 from whooping-cough, and 35 from typhus occurred 'last week. The deaths of three persons who were killed by horses or carriages in the streets were registered.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GLASGOW. At an early hour on Thursday morning one of the most calamitous fires which have occurred in Glasgow for many years broke out in a group of warehouses, situated between Mitchell-street and Buchanan-street, in the very heart of the business part of the city. How the fire originated is not known, but the alarm was first raised about three in the morning, and intelligence having been sent to the office of the fire brigade, Superintendent Bryson hurried to the spot with the entire force of men and engines at his disposal. In spite of the most active and persistent efforts, however, the fire, fed by the combustible material of the calendering warehouse in which it had broken out, rapidly extended to the closely adjoining buildings; and even threatened the properties on the other side of Mitchell-street, a nanow and crooked thoroughfare, it which it was difficult for the firemen to maintain their ground, owing to the almost unendurable heat. In a short time the flames had penetrated to the magnifi- cent furniture warehouse of Messrs. Wylie and Loch- head, the finest and most extensive in the city, and to the premises of Messrs. Murray and Sons, booksellers, and, indeed, to every part of the block of buildings ex- tending at this point from Mitchell-street to Buehanan- street. The warehouse of Macfarlane and Co., where the fire was first discovered, was in a short time reduced to a mere shell, the roof and floors, or what remained of them, lying in a confused pr charred heap within the four-story walls, which were bleached white by the in- tense heat. The ruin was complete through to Bucha- nan-street, where the walls had suffered much less injury. The premises of Messrs. Gardiner, opticians, Messrs. Murray, publishers, Ruthven, and Grange, Eckhout and Co., Gumprecht and Stevart, and others were completely cleared out. The fine warehouse of Messrs.Wylie and Locbhead fortunately escaped destruc- tion, but the western part of the building and a large quantity of stock suffered much from fire, and almost as much from water. The glass roof covering the galleries of the warehouse from end to end was almost totally destroyed, and falling into the main saloon smashed everything exposed there. In the galleries much of the stock of furniture of all kinds was irre- trievably damaged by the streams of water poured upon it by the firemen. Mirrors, chairs, tables, carpeting, and every description of stock suffered in this way, and the damage is estimated at X50,000, covered by insurances effected in the Scotch and English offices. Messrs. Murray have suffered to the extent of 95,000p £ 2,000 only of which is insured. The Messrs. Gardiner have lost about X2,000, Messrs. Macfarlane £ 5,000, and the other sufferers to a less or greater extent. Th< damage to stock and buildings in all will probablr amount to nearly £ 100,000.

KOSSUTH S ELECTION TO THE HUNGARIAN DIET. Letters received from Waitzen give the following account of Kossuth's election to the Hungarian Diet, as member for that district:— At five a.m., some sixty electors assembled outside the town, and brought themselves by wine and firing guns into the requisite state of mind for the important act. At six o'clock two bands of music and a small body of horsemen traversed the town, and were every- where received with much enthusiasm by the few per sons at that hour in the streets. The shots and in- creasing noise at last aroused the tardy sleepers, and at nine o'clock the electors met in front of the Town-hall. There might have been from 300 to 400 persons present, but among them were certainly many lads of tender age, and ragged, ill-dressed men, who undoubtedly were not privileged to vote. Very few town electors of any sort made their appearance. When the crowd seemed tolerably complete, loud cries of Eljen Kossuth' made themselves heard, and, as no other candidate was put up, the president of the committee asked whether the electors would give in their votes or elect Kossuth by acclamation! The latter course being chosen, Ludwig Kossuth was unanimously proclaimed member for the district of Waitzen. Several voters then proposed that the new member should be specially requested to accept the choice that had fallen upon him. The letter agreed upon for this purpose ran:— Honoured and great Patriot,—With universal enthusiasm, warm gratitude, and in the hope of a more brilliant future, the district of Waitzen has chosen the first and greatest citizen of our Fatherland as deputy, and begs him to accept his seat in the interest of the sacred cause, and the welfare of the country. We trust that by the fulfilment of this request our poor Father- land may regain one of whose great heart and magnani- mous mind it has so long been deprived. With thankful reverence, we ever remain, &c.' "All the electors assembled signed, some 180 signa- tures filling the sheets. It was proposed to forward this letter by a deputation to Kossuth, but the electoral officials doubt whether the requisite expenses of the journey to Turin could be collected. The President de- clared with a sigh that there was little prospect of so doing in Waitzen, and the letter will therefore probably go the ordinary way of the post. To see how large a proportion of the voters had taken part in the election, inspection of the list for the Waitzen district showed that it comprises 3,800 electors, 2,340 of whom belonged to the surrounding country. Of these 96 came to the poll, and scarcely 100 of the town electors upon the average, therefore, about 5 per cent. It is greatly doubted in Waitzen whether Kos- suth will accept the seat. Should he not, and in case the Government party persist in not putting up a can- didate, Count Alexander Karolyi, a nominee of the Left, will most likely come in." o

A MOST interesting diseovery has just been made (says the Pall Mall Gazette) in the library of the House of Lords—viz., of the original copy of the "Sealed Book of Common Prayer" which has been so long missing. It is found in the manuscript that the bishops had ordered that the Communion tables should stand at the east end of the chancel, and that the celebrant should stand eastward; but they subsequently erased the rubrics. SHOCKING RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN FRANCE.— One of the most terrible railway catastrophes that have ever occurred in France took place on the Macon line on the 1st inst., plunging hundreds of families in the greatest anxiety and grief. An excursion train which left Macon in the morning at 4.49, was suddenly thrown off the rails, between Senozan and Fleurville the fiery locomotive hurrying on for some distance. Then it stopped, and the rumbling and the rushing and the hissing were heard no more. No, nothing was heard but a shriek—one of horror, of anguish-a sharp, shrill out. cry of agony emanating from every carriage and when the official authorities, when the prefect, the mayor, the procureur-imperial, and the medical men of the locality arrived on this awful spot of slaughter, numbers of the mysterious voyagers in that fiery and far sounding vehicle were lifeless—in appearance at least seven were quite dead, 20 had their legs or their arms broken, and several were literally driven mad by the trem shock which their brains and nerves had Tinflmo