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

THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &c. AN interesting literary discovery has been accidentally made in the Library at Frankfort. The fall of a shelf holding volumes containing the correspendence of Voltaire and Frederick the Great brought to light certain MSS., yellow and dirty, which turned out to be a series of letters exchanged between- Voltaire and Pyron. Their authenticity being duly certified, they were forwarded to the Royal Academy of Berlin. TEE Florence Diriito says that the Italian sculptor Gagliardi has received a commission from the United States for the grand monument which is to be erected there to the late President Lincoln. The monument, it adds, is to be of colossal dimensions, will contain 100 statues, and cost more than a million of francs (£40,000). HERR JANSA, the excellent violinist, has been per- mitted to return to Vienna. He was dismissed from his position in the orchestra of the Viennese Opera because he had taken part in a concert given in London for the benefit of Hungarian refugees. At the age of 73 even a fiddler is supposed to be harmless. THE Debats reports the trial of a rich farmer, who assumed the style of Al. le Vailli," and was charged -with "usurpation of title." He was acquitted, how- ever, by an amusing but illogical judgment—"As no such title as Vailli is now in existence," said the tribunal, any fool may take it who chooses." THE time for receiving pictures at the Corinthian Gallery of Art has been extended until the evening of Friday, the 80th October. The opening of this new exhibition is now announced to take place on Saturday, the 7th November. THE South Kensington Museum is about to be enriched for a time, on loan, with the famous collection of arms and armour which was formed at Goodrich Court, Herefordshire, by the late Sir Samuel Meyrick, and is known by his name. LANDER, THE AFRICAN DISCOVERER.—A subscription has been set on foot by the Rev. H. White, of King's College, the chaplain of the Savoy, for the purpose of raising a fund towards the restoration of the monument to the memory of Richard Lander, the distinguished African discoverer, in the Chapel Royal, Savoy. A small sum was bequeathed with the same view by a member of the Royal Geographical Society. THE OCTROI.—The abolition of the octroi in Spain has called attention to the meaning of the word. The octroi (which is retained in France) is a tax over and above any ordinary impost on articles entering a town. The word is derived from auctoramentum, which was originally an increase of pay for the performance of some special service. French dictionary-makers seem to have lost sight of this fact. They call octroi a concession octroyer lettres ele noblesse, "to grant letters of nobility," whereas it implied that the person's social condition was heightened by the octroi, or increase, authorised in such letters.—A thenemm. THE winter exhibition in the Dudley Gallery will be opened to the public on the 2nd of November next. PORTRAIT OF MARIE DE MEDICIS,—An interesting discovery has just been made at Paris of á portrait of Marie de Medicis, of the date of 1602, when the Queen was 28 years of age. Her Majesty is represented in the :florid style of Reubens, with a large collar of guipure on her neck, half covering a necklace of white pearls, to which is attached a cross of bright steel over a dark -silk moiree dress, with a band set with precious stones round the waist. The blond hair is crisped and rolled round the head, and surmounted with a small black cap. The eyes, of a bluish grey, are full of life and impart great animation to the picture. The treatment of the accessories and the execution of the work leave no doubt that it is the production of the younger Porbus. MISS LYDIA THOMPSON is making a sensation in New York in burlesque. This is almost an unworked vein in New York theatricals, and is preving very profitable. A GRAND drama entitled Pliceclra, the author being Prince George of Prussia, has been lately performed with great success at Leipsic. THE Czar has consented to allow photographs to be taken of all the treasures of art contained in the Imperial Gallery of the Hermitage. MARKS of the winter season are seen in the publication Ion of almanacs, of which about the first in the field is the illustrated one, by Messrs. Cassell, Pettsr, and Galpin. It is full of information, and adorned with an abundance of clever illustrations, which for scrap-book purposes are worth more than the money charged for the book.

FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A TRADESMAN. On Monday morning Mr. B. Maxwell, master joiner, living is South Durham-street, Sunderland, was walking along the ballast wagon rails on the east side of the dock, when some laden wagons were set in motion on the incline. Before he could escape he was jammed be- tween the buffers of some standing wagons and those in motion. The laden wagons rebounded, and Mr. Maxfield falling upon the line, the wagons passed over him. The wheels of one of them remained on him. A gentleman who saw the occurrence immediately went to his assist- ance along with some of the men working at the dock, and got the wagons removed. When lifted up Mr. Max- field's body was found to be frightfully crushed. He was taken to the New Infirmary, and died a few minutes after the removal

CANNIBALISM IN ALGERIA. One Ben Nacer recently had r. cow stolen from his ;field, and suspicion having fallen on an Arab named Ben lAissa, search was made on his premises. Nothing of the missing animal was, however, found but on looking [into a bush, a little distance from the house, a basket ¡full of pieces of meat was discovered. The wife of Ben Aissa immediately stammered out that they were the emains of a donkey, which her husband had killed on the preceding night. But she did not long persist jin this story, for on the basket being turned topsy- turvy a number of feet and hands tumbled eut! Three heads which had been singed were next Discovered in the same spot. The remains having been collected together they were immediately recognised by Ben Nacer and his companions as those of a woman named Ben Zoussef and her two children. The clothes of the victims were next found hidden in the same bush a little further 'off. Fatima Ben Aissa, being pressed to give some explanation of the affair, made the following terrible confession —" My children and I had not eaten anything for several days, when the twin brothers Mohammed Ben Ali and Kadour Ben Ali came to us to propose that we should kill and eat the children of Fatima Ben Youssef, aged six and eight years. We agreed, and forthwith put our project in execu- tion in a ravine situated a short distance from where I lived. The mother coming near the spot at the moment when we were strangling the children, we decided to kill her also from fear of being denounced. The three murders consummated, we cut the bodies up. The twin brothers I have already named took a part and left us the remainder, the heads, feet, and hands being com- prised in our portion. Assisted by my children, I forthwith took the part allotted me home. I boiled a part, which we ate, and put the rest aside in order not to exhaust all our provisions in one day. I also flayed the three heads, and put them where they have just been found." All the parties concerned in this horrible affair have been arrested.

t AGHICULTUKE. SHOULD STUBBLE BE BURNED OR PLOUGHED UNDER ? This is a question which we often hear discussed with considerable earnestness, and so far as we have observed the disputants are pretty equally divided. A superficial consideration of the subject would certainly lead one to believe that ploughing stubble under is greatly to be pieferred to burning it. It seems natural to suppose that by the first plan we restore to the soil a much greater amount of material out of which to form other crops than we can do by simply burning it. Bat do we restore to the soil the material in a form that can be assi- milated by the next crop ? Can we make this stubble instrumental in increasing the fertility of land, either by itself or by its action on other substances con- tained in the soil? These are questions which it is well carefully to consider. That any consider- able quantity of the stubble of ripe grain finds its way into the next crop that is raised on the field, no one will pretend to argue. Thoroughly ripened straw undergoes a very slow decomposition, unless it is ex- posed to the combined action of heat and moisture and experience demonstrates that straw-particularly wheat straw-will often remain in the soil for a whole season with its form preserved entire, and its appearance scarcely changed except by the absorption of water. Finally, it is true that the fibre of the straw becomes disintegrated ancl the carbon is left on the land instead of being consumed. But we must remember that chemically carbon is of no use to the soil, though me- chanically it may be, as an absorber of moisture and gases. It is from carbonic acid and not from charcoal, that plants derive their supply of carbon. This inert carbon, if we except about one per cent. of nitrogen, is all that is saved to the soil by ploughing the stubble under, and that would not be returned to it if the same were burned. Now let us consider briefly the disad- vantageous form in which the mineral salts are returned to the soil in the process of turning under. They are in the form of organised matter, and must wait until this organism is entirely destroyed before they can be resuscitated into living forms. The potash, phosphorus, soda, lime, and silica, separate or in combination, must remain encased in carbon, which is one of the most indestructible substances, until that is slowly wasted away by the action of oxygen. Years might elapse before the silica, which is so necessary to give strength to the stalk of the grain, would again be made available. Now, in all our praiiie soils there is a great de- ficiency of this substance, and consequently the grain grown here is much more liable to lodge than that grown farther north or east. It is plain, then, that we should manage our stubble so that this silica will not become fixed, but will be in a condition to be used over and over again as often as possible. The same thing is true of all the other mineral substances contained in the straw they are not impoverished by use nor enfeebled by constant employment. Now let us see how farming effects the stubble with a view of making it available as manure for a future crop. The popular idea is that substances are destroyed by the action of flame, but such is not the case. Rot and fire accomplish exactly the same end in changing vegetable substances but the one effects in a moment what it will require the other years to per- form, Each decomposes, neither can destroy we have before shown that the sooner this decomposition is effected in the stubble of grain the better will be the results. Straw, from the fact that it contains so little nitrogen and so large an amount of mineral substance, should be burned but the same process would be very disadvantageous as regards stable manure, or other sub- stances which are rich in nitrogen. These require to be slowly decomposed, and it is preferable that it be done beneath the surface of the ground, in order that all the ammonia which is formed by the disengaged nitro- gen and hydrogen may be saved. Charcoal here is necessary to absorb this gas, and that which is produced from the slow rotting of vegetable matter is very suitable for this purpose. But the same need does not exist in the case of the lower part of grain straw, as it contains little else than carbon and mineral substances. Ploughing stubble under may produce some mechanical good on certain soils, that are very clayey or are apt to run together and form a coherent mass but in the great majority of cases stubble leaves the soil quite too porous, and there are few instances where it is not advisable to roll stubble before ploughing it, in order to close up, if oss, possible, the cavity of the stalks. This loosening of the soils of clayey land is perhaps the only argument, if we except the retention of the carbon, that can be advanced in favour of ploughing stubble under. To offset this we have the additional expense of rolling the land and the great disadvantage of the stubble inter- fering with the movement of the plough and the turning of the furrow. But even in the case of clay lands the argument is with the fire. Nothing renders clay avail- able for agricultural purposes as does heat. It tends to pulverise it and at the same time to render the silica soluble, and in a condition to unite with potash and soda, Every vine dresser knows and every grain grower should know, that there are few better substances to ap- ply to either a vineyard or a field than pulverised brick. The cheapest and by far the easiest mode of applying this sort of manure is to burn over our clay fields. But besides the chemical argument in favour of burning stubble, there are others which are equally forcible. Fire has always been spoken of as a purifier, and in no rlace is it so efficient as in a stubble field. The seeds of the tares which have grown along with the wheat till the time of the harvest are, in a great measure, destroyed bv the fire that consumed the stubble, and the same is true to an equally great extent of the eggs and larva of ilse ets, -Prairie Farmer. NOTES ON WEEDS-POPPIES. To all but the farmer the scarlet poppy in the corn field is a welcome sight; but to him it is not only un- pleasing, but positively injurious and we fancy a few notes on how to exterminate it will not be out of place among our weed papers. Of the scarlet poppy there are three species, which, as being common to the farm, will claim our attention. They are as follow :—1. Papaver Rhseas, bright scarlet poppy. 2. Papaver hy bridum, with paler flowers. 3. Papaver Argemone, smaller flowered. 1. The bright scarlet poppy is distinguished by its rounded capsule or seed head, the flower stem being armed with rather long spreading bristles. It is too common in corn fields on light sandy soils, and its spreading leaves and wonderful seed development- no less than 150,000 seeds having been estimated to a single plant-me it a formida'ble enemy in places where it delights to grow. It usually comes up early in spring, and where it has seeded abundantly in the corn it penetrates not only between the rows, but between individual plants. Although the wheat was first planted, the poppy plant, at first minute, soon becomes master of the situation, and, upon the prin- ciple that two things cannot occupy the same place at the same time, the corn succumbs. This attack is all the more grievous, from the fact that light sands, even when clean, are not the best positions for wheat, but being just those for the poppy, a red flag is soon flaunted in the farmer's face, and one which he experiences no small difficulty in effec- tually lowering. The use of the hse naturally suggests itself against this enemy; but, inasmuch as this implement only cuts between the rows, the destruction of the young poppies there afford greater scope for the plants between the rows to develop them- selves in a stronger form than would otherwise be the case, as the destruction of so many of their race only leaves more food for the survivors.* 2. The hybrid poppy is distinguished by paler flowers, a somewhat elongated, smooth seed capsule, and flower stalks with bristles pointing upwards and close to the stem. This form delights in stiffer soil than the preceding, and will be found for the most part more scattered in habit—sometimes sparsely distributed with the rhteas, but seldom occupying the large tracts of ground which we have seen glowing with the red poppy. Its place is not infrequent on heaps of road dirt or stiff manure, from which it is carted and scattered over the land but as it does not seem to propagate so fast as the foregoing, it is by no means so mischievous. One rea- son for this is that the capsules are peculiarly liable to the attacks of a small species of fly, the larvoa of which will be found sometimes filling up the.,whole capsule, each grub being inclosed in a kind of case made up of the abnormally grown membranes of the capsule and altered seeds. The rhses is sometimes attacked in the same way, but with that plant this is rather the excep- tion than the rule. 3. The small-flowered poppy is further distinguished by rows of stiff bristles on the capsule, which is, like the last, elongated, but usually much smaller. This form is generally found scattered over limestone brashes, or about old quarries and when from these it gets into the fields, as it commonly does in the root crop, it grows very rampant and a disagreeable weed-here, however, easily The free use of harrows across the drills in spring not only destroys the poppy, but numerous other annuals, and should not be neglected. Farmers are, as a rule, needlessly ¡ cautious about injuring their wheat by harrowing; if the crop is well rooted, a good, combing does good instead of harm, although the effect for a few days is to give a ragged ap. pearance. | ? to be kept under by the hoe or hand-picking. Of these three poppies, then, it may be said that the P. rhseas is the cemmoner weed pest, and its mischief is done prin- cipally in the cornfield, and there only sparingly, unless in sandy soils. Its presence in quantity is indeed a mark of sand, and conveys by no means a favourable augury of the soil being well adapted for wheat. The P. hybridum is comparatively local, but it elects to grow in stronger soil than the preceding. And the P. argemone is still more local, and even less hurtful in its weed characteristics than the last. The way to keep these from the farm is never to let them seed on the soil, or on dung heaps that are to be transferred to the land. Remember that one good plant is capable of producing plants that may soon take possession of an acre of ground. True, the 150,000 seeds from a single plant, as they get scattered, may not all come up in one year, as some may be buried too deeply but they may grow at another time, and it is, perhaps, more particularly true with regard to the poppy than of any other plant, One years' seeding, Is seven year's weeding."

GARDENING. KITCHEN GARDEN.—This is a time for earnest work in every department. Make a general clearance of the ground wherever there are vacant spaces, and ridge up all plots not to be planted on during winter. Get a waste corner clear for heaping up manures and composts, where they can be turned over during frosts, and, if convenient, empty the muck-pit, and cover the rotted stuff with a layer of soil to throw off rain the whole to be turned two or three times before using it in spring. Plant out the August-sown cabbage; leave the weakest in the seed-bed for future planting. Plant out lettuce in a warm situation; take up potatoes, carrots, beets, and parsnips earth up celery. Use the fork, spade, and hoe as much as possible to keep all pots clean, and destroy the large crops of weeds that the autumn rains will bring up. Lay cabbages and broccolis that are forward with their heads to the north; fork over asparagus beds, and mulch the crowns with rotten dung. Get cauliflower plants under hand- glasses, and pot a few to keep in frames. FRUIT GARDEN.—New plantations of gooseberries, currant?, and raspberry bushes may be made towards the end of the month. Get the ground ready for fruit-trees that are to be planted next month let it be well drained and deeply trenched, but, unless the soil is poor and ex- hausted, use no manure whatever; pure loam is pre- ferable to an enriched soil for all trees intended to bear early and live long. You need not wait till next month if your ground is ready trees may now be moved, even if they have not shed their leaves, and will make fresh roots immediately. Apples to be carefully gathered as they ripen, and to be stored at once without wiping them. This is a convenient time to cut out dead wood. FLOWER GARDEN.—Winter Protection of Bedding Plants At the end of September, or early in October, is the best time for placing half-hardy plants under protection for not only the coldness, but also the dampness of the weather, as it usually occurs after this period of the year, is very hurtful to delicate plants in pots, when they are fully exposed; the pots become saturated with water. The consequence of this is that the roots perish, and the plants are therefore rendered sickly, and frequently perish on the arrival of winter. In providing a pit for their protection through the inclement season of winter, a place should be selected for it, which may be rendered as dry as possible, and where, at the same time, it would be sheltered from the north winds it should be so constructed that the plants would be elevated above the surface of the exterior ground, and not sunk beneath it, as is frequently the case, and this will provide for the more ready emission of dampness and free circulation of air. The bottom should be con- creted to the thickness of six inches, and the surface should form an inclined plane towards the back, for the damp will more readily escape there a channel should be made to extend the whole length of the pit, con- nected with a small aperture through the wall at the lowest extremity; above the concrete put on a layer of coarse gravel or stones, regulating its thickness by the height of the plants, and on the top of this place a thin layer of coal-ashes. In making these arrangements, always bear in mind that plants require to be placed near the glass, not only to secure a dua share of light, but also to secure an additional ad. vantage of no small impertance-viz., the dry- ing up the damp, from the effects of which far more plants perish during the winter than from any other cause. In order to exclude the frost, make up a thick casing quite to the top, and all round the pit. This may be formed of dry leaves and fern, or any other dry litter it will be necessary to provide some portable covering to prevent the wet from getting into the casing; and the bottom should be rendered available for the egress of moisture from the wall of the pit. The best covering for the glass is dry rubbish, hay, and a mat on the top of that to keep it dry, and prevent its being scattered by the wind. These materials should always be placed under cover when it is likely to be wet. Particular attention should be paid to having the pits uncovered whenever the weather will admit, and also to give air copiously on every favourable oppor- tunity. Let chrysanthemums be securely staked; train out plants in pots, and make them neat and tidy for blooming; give plenty of water. Where required to take the place of bedding plants, get them into their places without delay, and lift carefully with good balls. Plant hyacinths, tulips, crocuses, scillas, crown imperials, liliums,gladioli, narcissi, jonquils,daffodils, and snowdrops. Part and plant out perennials in the borders, get auriculas and carnations under glass for the winter, but give plenty of air. This is a good time to plant American shrubs of all kinds. Remove decaying leaves keep walks and lawns tidy. Evergreens planted now will make better growth next spring than those planted in February and March. Give orders at once for all trees and shrubs required, that there may be no delay in ob- taining them as soon as the nurserymen begin to take them up. All small subjects may be taken up at once in full leaf. GREENHOUSE AND STOVE.—House at once whatever is to be wintered under glass. Remove the shading, give plenty of air, and whenever green fly or thrips appear resort to effectual methods at once, and much future annoyance will be saved. Plants that are to bloom during the winter should have the best place as to warmth, and if fires become necessary, let them be got up brisk, so as to dry the house, and to allow at the same time of a current of air. Reduce the heat among pines, so as to keep them growing slowly. Be careful not to push pines into too rapid a growth. Keep the air very dry where grapes are hanging. Bottom heat for pines, 85 degrees. Cinerarias should be kept growing freely, and be regularly stopped to produce good specimens. At this time of year they are very subject to mildew and green-fly. Use the proper remedies as soon as there are the least signs of such plagues, and keep the plants well aired to induce robust- ness. Keeping the outsides of the pots clean will do much towards ensuring their health. Pelargoniums for spring exhibition will now want another shift. Get < them into their blooming-pots at once; use good turfy loam and old manure, plenty of drainage, and, for a fortnight after shifting, give very little water. Azaleas and camellias standing out should be got under glass at once, but still to have plenty of air. Those coming on for bloom will require frequent syringing. ViNERY.-Vines breaking to be encouraged with a temperature of 69 deg. Pines will require 85 deg. at least. FRAME.—Bedding plants may still be propagated, but the stock ought to be complete by this time. Calceo- larias put in now will make good plants for bedding next summer. If geraniums are wanted, put in the ripest shoots you can get, five or six round the sides of five-inch pots, and place them on a top shelf. They will root in time, though slowly. Of course, they must be kept moderately dry. Carnations potted last month will require to be looked over to remove dead leaves, and to see that mildew is not attacking them. Keep them well aired. Auriculas to have plenty of air, and be protected against damp, which is apt to injure them as the weather grows chilly.

CHOPS TO FOLLOW. It seems a silly song about the honeymoon which begins Up in a balloon," but the fact is, it is much more philosophical than appears at first sight. What elasticity what aspirations on first starting on the wedding trip what throwing out of the sand of advice and how small the foolish creatures on the humdrum surface below But how soon you want to come down again to the earth, and how lucky if you arrive without an accident! When Cupid makes use of an old beau he can only hit the mark by tipping his arrows with gold. The flirt promises, but the jilt compromises. We heard a poetically-minded gourmand saying his lobster supper was waited on by dreams. These must have been the waiters to the nightmare and corporation. Enamelled iron is advertised as resisting all weathers. It is to be hoped it will prove a better speculation than the enamelled brass which guaranteed its beauty for ever.-Tomahawk.

Facts and Facetiae. I FRESH meat for the navy—The chops of the Channel. WHAT roof covers the most noisy tenant ?—The roof of the mouth. AN unmistakable case of black-balling—A crying negro baby. BOWLING is a healthy amusement if it is not of the fie wing kind. "COME out of the wet," as the shark said, when it sucked in the little fishes. THE latest physiological question is, How much sawdust does it take to make a ballet girl! A HUNGARIAN, desiring to remark on the do- mestic habits of a young lady, said, Oh, Miss, how homely you are A BACHELOR, according to the latest definition, is a man who has lost the opportunity of making a woman miserable. THE men who flatter women do not know them sufficiently, and the men who only abuse them do not know them at all. WORKMEN, like Dutch clocks, should give warning before they strike, by doing which they set a striking example to those hands who don't. IRASCIBLE Gent (to waiter): They say there's nothing like leather, don't they ?" Yes, sir." Then it's a lie, for this steak is Waiter evaporates. A SCHOOLMASTER requesting a little boy who had been whispering, to step into the next room, is wittily spoken of as starting on a whaling expedition." A BOY eight years old in one of our public schools, having been told that a reptile is an animal that creeps," on being asked to name one on examination day, promptly and triumphantly replied, A baby." A PREMIUM being offered by an agricultural society for the best mode of irrigation, and the latter word being spelt irritation, by mistake of the printer, a farmer sent his wife to claim the prize. Aii, Jemmy said a sympathising friend to z, a man who was just too late for the train, you did not run fast enough." Yes, I did," said Jemmy "but I didn't start soon enough." THE desire of power in excess caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall; but in charity there is no excess, neither can angel or man come in danger by it. You are the greatest fool I ever saw said one boy to another in the presence of his teacher. But Charles, you forgot my presence," gravely responded the teacher. A SHORT man became attached to a tall woman, and somebody said that he had fallen in love with her. Do you call it falling in love ? said the suitor it's more like climbing up to it." A JURY composed of the friends of some people accused. of stealing pork returned the following verdict: We find the defendants not guilty, bmttve believe they hooked the pork." "I HAVE lost my appetite," said a gigantic fellow, who was an eminent performer on the trencher, to a friend. "I hope," said the friend, "no poor man has found it, for it would ruin him in a week." TOM CAMPBELL once bought some books at a stall, and when he gave his name the seller said, Pray, Sir, are you the celebrated Mr. Campbell ?" "Who is he ?" said the poet. I mean, Sir, the great Mr. Camp- bell. who wrote the travels in Africa." NOTICERS of spelling niceties remark that the "cyder" of the first edition of "Macaulay's History has been changed into "cider" in the cheap reprint; and that the prefix in "'of the first edition, "intrust," &c., has become "en" in the late one. STEEPLE-CHASING.—Steeple-chasing is to pro- per bold riding what foolhardiness is to courage it proves nothing except that the chaser is in want of a sensation, and that he has brains not so much worth taking care of as those of other men. A CLERGYMAN, observing a poor man by the roadside breaking stones and kneeling to get at his work better, made the remark, Ah, John I wish I could break the stony hearts of my hearers as easily as you are breaking those stones." Perhaps, master, you do not work on your knees," was the reply. My friend," said a seedy person to an ac- quaintance at the ferry, I wish you would lend me twopence to cross the ferry. I ain't got a penny in the world." Well, I would like to know," was the reply, what difference it makes to a man who hasn't got a penny in the world which side of the river he is on ? A MAN, in getting out of an omnibus a few days ago, made use of two rows of knees as bannisters to steady himself, at which the ladies took offence, and one of them said aloud, A perfect savage True," said the wag, inside, "he belongs to the Paw-nee tribe." A WHILE ago, a poetical farmer lost his wife, and, out of love for her memory, thereafter called his estate H Glenmary." A neighbour soon after met with some affliction, and, being equally desirous of keeping before him the image of his dear departed, he followed the example of the other, and his farm is now known by the name of Glen-Betsy." MR. HORNER, the author of Rhyme and Reason," gives the following good advice to authors :— If thou would'st fain be thought a sage, Think a volume, write a page And from every page of thine Publish but a single line." DORA" says she has been reading two volumes of The Blood-stained Lamp-glass; or, the Kerosene Courser of the Koural Mountains," and it is so horrible that she cannot go on with the third volume, but wishes us to read it, and tell whether the Bounding Baron marries the White Widow, or whether she poisons herself with the Government Gazette. We will think it over, Dora.—Melbourne Punch." HUMANITY will direct us to be particularly cautious of treating with the least appearance of neg- lect those who have lately met with misfortunes and are sunk in life. Such persons are apt to think them- selves slighted, when no such thing is intended. Their minds being already sore, feel the least rub very severely. And who would be so cruel as to add affliction to the afflicted ? A HAPPY TEXT. Soon after Pitt became Chancellor of the Exchequer, Paley preached a sermon to a congregation composed of the young statesmen and a crowd of place-hunters. He took for his text, 11 There is a lad here which hath five barley loaves'and two small fishes then looking round the church he added But what are they among so mctny. I SUVAROFF, the half-mad, half-savage Russian general, used frequently to ask the young officers and soldiers the most absurd questions, considering it a proof of smartness on their part if they gave a prompt reply and hating, above all things, "I don't know," as an answer. He went one day up to a sentry, and, as the man presented arms, Suvaroff said, Tell me how many buttons there are on the uniforms of 50,000 men." "I can't say," replied the soldier, very naturally; upon which the marshal, according to his custom, began to abuse him and rate him for his stupidity. The soldier, how- ever, knowing Suvaroff's character, took courage, and said, 11 Well, sir, perhaps it's not every question your excellency could answer yourself; for instance, there are my two aunts-would you please to tell me their names?" The man's quickness atoned for his impudence in the eyes of the general, and the soldier was made a corporal next morning. QUALIFICATIOFS FOR A SINGING CLERIC.- The following advertisement has appeared for a singing clerk, which perhaps may cause the application of first-class Italian tenors. Guiglini alone seems to us to have been equal to all the requirements He must be one who knows vitally the truth for himself, and be able to give a Scriptural reason of the hope that is in him. One who lives as well as professes the gospel. He must also be a decided, a strict Baptist. Also, he must have a competent knowledge of music, and voice suited for giving the hymns out as well as singing, suited to the largeness of the place and the congrega- tion. Also, he must be one who can both give the hymns out in their significance as well as one who knows in his own soul what he is saying; also he must be sufficiently acquainted with the English language to pronounce his words with propriety; one who knows whereabouts accents and emphasis ought to rest. It is not desired that the hymn in giving out should be growled out, nor hurried out, nor dandied out, but given out as dictated by common sense and a feeling heart, in a voice distinct, earnest, and expressive. Also, it is desirable that he should be one who in singing pronounces his words not glide with le, la, la, through the hymn, and nobody know what he is singing; nor is it desirable that he should bawl ready to split his throat, but sing easily and melo- diously. Of course perfection cannot be expected, but the above will serve as a hint as to the kind of article that is wanted.—Direct," &c.

THE GALES. Heavy gales occurred on Saturday, and caused serious interruptions to the working of the telegraph lines in nearly every part of the country. In Newfoundland a very heavy fall of snow took place, which interrupted for a considerable time the business on the land lines connected with the Atlantic cables. The telegraphic communication between London and Bristol and other parts of the West of England, and also between Leeds and the midland cousties was also broken in consequence of the severe gales. The weather report issued on Saturday night shows the prevalence of serious gales. The north-west wind which set in suddenly on Friday was succeeded by a violent gale from the south- west on the coast of Ireland, where, as at Penzance, the sea was reported to be very high. The two o'clock report stated that the decrease in the barometrical pressure had been very serious, amounting to as much as 01 per hour at several stations. The gale has pre- vailed at every station except London and Nairn. The warnings issued at all the coast stations on Friday were repeated on Saturday. The Ganges, a steamer, got on the Hasbro' Sands, but has been floated off. The crew of the brig Malta, of Shields, landed at-Great Yarmouth on Sunday morning, having been picked up after leaving their vessel, which was driven ashore.

DISCOVERY OF SUBTERRANEOUS PASSAGES IN BRISTOL. The excavations of the branch line of railway which is being constructed by the Great Western, Midland, and Bristol and Exeter, from their terminus at Temple Mead to the Floating Harbour, have disclosed the existence of a complete network of subterraneous pas- sages underneath Bedcliffe parish, and branching out into various other directions. A deep cutting has been made parallel with Guinea-street, and which is to go under Redcliffe-hill. At one place where the cutting is about thirty feet deep the men discovered the narrow entrance to a huge cavern. Further examination showed that this portion of the subterranean passage had been severed by the railway cutting, but unfortu- nately the entrance to the left hand passage is now blocked up by a fall of rock in blasting. On Monday night a party ponsisting of half a dozen gentlemen ex- plored a portion of the underground network. Mr. J. H. F. Roberts, C.E., pioneered the party, and Mr. W. Rice, architect, took a plan of the passages. Before entering the place, a line was fastened to one of the outside supports, and each of the party carried either a torch or a candle. After creeping through a low, narrow passage, some 20 yards in length, the party came to a row of three arches, each of which led in an opposite direction. Taking the centre one, the party had to crawl on their hands and knees for about ten yards under a great rock, and then they emerged into a spacious and lofty cavern, whence there were other branches. A journey of some 200 or 300 feet farther, chiefly through low, narrow corridors, brought the party to what appeared to be the grand saloon, or chief cave. It was perfectly circular in form, the roof being supported on eight columns, besides a very strong column in the centre. The cavern was some 40 or 50 feet in diameter, and from six to eight feet high, the roof sloping to within a few feet of the ground. The spaces between the pillars, with the exception of the route the explorers had come, and one in a straight line with it, had been walled up all round and this was the first piece of masonry that had been seen, the whole having been excavated from the solid rocks. There can be no doubt that the place has been exca- vated, and that a good deal of skilled labour has been used in the work. Passing from this large cavern the party proceeded along a wide corridor, beautifully arched overhead, and supported on each side on strong columns, the spaces between them being walled up. This had evi- dently been a chief entrance to the cavern, but un- fortunately the party could not explore it to the end on account of its being walled up. Two or three branches in the same locality were tried, and found to be walled up. Altogether the party explored some six or seven branches, and most of them were either walled up or filled up with rubbish. In two or three places the further progress was stopped by huge masses i of rock, which had fallen and blocked up the way. One of the passages was traced in a direction which must have brought the party very near the Float- ing Harbour, formerly the River Avon, and it is conjec- tured that the cavern might have been used at the time when Bristol carried on an extensive slave trade, or that they may have been used for smuggling purposes. Ac- cording to a map of Bristol in Barrett's history, the Hermitage of St. John occupied this site in 1250. The discovery has awakened a good deal of antiquarian interest, and it is intended to take down the masonry and explore some of the passages further, when doubtless some more satisfactory clue may be gained respecting the original use of this extensile work.

MONUMENT TO ALEXANDER SELKIRK IN JUAN FERNANDEZ. In a letter recently received from the west coast of South America, the writer mentions that Commodore Powell, and the officers on board her Majesty's ship Topaze, are to erect in the island of Juan Fernandez a tablet to the memory of Alexander Selkirk, whose his- tory is popularly believed to have afforded De Foe the materials of his attractive story. The tablet is to be placed near a break in the high mountain ridge which rises from the bay at the northern part of the island. It is said that to that high pass Selkirk used daily to climb, in the hope of seeing some friendly sail that might convey him from his dread solitude. The tablet will be of iron, and the inscription f runs as follows 1"In memory of Alexander Selkirk. mariner, a native of Largo, in the county of Fife, Scotland, who lived in this island in complete solitude for four years and four months. He was landed from the Cinque Ports (galley) A.D. 1704, and was taken off in the Duke (privateer) on 12th February, 1709. He died, lieutenant of H.M.S. Weymouth, A.D. 1723, aged 47 years. This tablet is erected near' Selkirk's Look-out, by Commodore Powell, and the officers of H.M.S. Topaze, A.D. 1868." It was a curious thing that, whilst seeking for someone to do the lettering on the tablet, a man offered himself who rather claimed the job, on the grounds that he had erected the tablet to Captain Cook's memory at the Sandwich Islands Advertiser.

PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE OITY TO SIR J. BURGOYNE. The freedom of the City of London was on Thursday presented to Sir John Burgoyne, at Guildhall, in the presence of a numerous and brilliant gathering. The presentation was made by Mr. Scott, the City Chamber- lain, who passed in a brief and eulogistic review the lengthened career of the gallant officer from the time of his entering the service, seventy years ago, to his pro- motion to the rank of field-marshal in the spring of the present year. Sir John Burgoyne, in expressing his appreciation of the honour which the City had conferred upon him, modestly attributed the distinction as one awarded not so much to himself as to'the corps of Engineers with which he had been so long connected. As their representative on that occasion he received the testimonial with pride, and returned the Corporation his most earnest acknowledgments.

=- CASUALTIES AT SEA. The number of vessels lost in 1867 was 2,513, which is in excess of the number of disasters recorded, for the obvious reason that in cases of collision two or more ships are involved in one casualty. These vessels repre- sented a registered tonnage of 464,000 tons. Of the total number 2,113 are known to have been ships belonging to Great Britain and its dependencies, with British certificates of registry 338 were foreigners, and of the remaining 62 none survived to tell of country or employment. Of the total number of disasters 414 were collisions, 1,676 were wrecks and other casualties, the number of wrecks resulting in total loss being 656. Of these, 65 arose from defects in the ship or her equip- inents-45 having foundered from sheer unseaworthiness -and no less than 106 appear, from the reports made by the officers on the coasts, to have been caused by inat- tention, carelessness, or neglect. Nevertheless it is a somewhat remarkable fact that, in the nine years ending m 1867, the disasters te comparatively new ships bear a very high proportion to the whole number. By far the greatest number of disasters occurred on the east coast of England, there having been 1,101 while on the west coast there were 411, south coast 259, and Irish coast 214. The aggregate number of victims was 1,333, which was in excess of any year, excepting 1859, u the Royal Charter year," when the number reached 1,667. Of ithe total number, 637 went down with ships that foundered, 160 lives were lost on board vessels in colli- sion, 445 in those stranded or cast ashore, while nearly 300 were lost in fishing boats alone. In 13 years the total expenditure paid out of the Mercantile Marine Fund for life-saving apparatus has been X89,591 13s. 3d., the vote of last year alone amounting to X16,780 10s. 4d. This philanthropic provision has eontributed to the gratifying result that whereas during the last year alone 1,333 lives were lost, 5,845 were saved by these and other means employed.

Our Miscellany. FUNGI AS FOOD.—The intelligent eating of fungi (the expression is amply warranted) is advocated by the learned in fungi, and by philanthropists in general, on many grounds, amongst others these two specially :—First, that the rich or the well-to-do neglect, through ignorance, dainties and delicacies which if they were as difficult as they are comparatively easy to ob- tain, would be greatly sought after. Well! we have already indicated one potent means of overcoming that difficulty. The artiste cooks in this instance should offer no obstacles, but, as familiar with the materials and resources of their art, may be expected to help the move- ment. Secondly, that the poor sadly, cruelly deficient, not only in the quality but even the quantity of their nutriment—are deprived of vast quantities of excellent food.-The Gardener's Chronicle. PRINCE EUGENE AND ST. JOHN.—The pulpits of the last century were pleasantly agitated by the coming hither of Prince Eugene. Preachers found the hero foreshadowed in the Scriptures but no one so posi- tively identified him as Whiston. When the latter pub- lished the sermons which developed themselves into the Essay on Revelation," Whiston dedicated the book in grandiose style to the prince, whom he recognised as the coming man foretold by the Apocalypse as the destroyer of the Turkish empire. The hero laughed, sent the princely fee of 15 guineas for the complimentary dedi- cation, and assured the reverend gentleman that he had not the slightest idea before that he was known to St. John the Evangelist!—4i Saints and Sinners." By Dr. Doran. FEMALE DELICACY. — Above other features which adorn the female character, delicacy stands fore- most within the province of good taste. Not that delicacy which is perpetually in quest of something to be ashamed of, which makes merit of a blush, and simpers at the false construction its own ingenuity has put on an innocent remark; this spurious kind of delicacy is far removed from good taste as from good feeling and good sense; the high minded delicacy which main- tains its pure and undeviating walk alike amongst women as in the society of men—which shrinks from no necessary duty, and can speak, when required, with seriousness and calmness, of things at which it would be ashamed to breathe or to blush—the delicacy which knows how to confer a bonefit without wounding the feelings of another, and which understands also how and when to relieve one-that delicacy which can give alms without presumption, and which pains not the most sus- ceptible thing in creation. M. CAILLET, in the course of experiments on the well-known property possessed by the green part of plants of decomposing the carbonic acid contained in the air when exposed to the sun's rays, has ascertained that fresh leaves, even when separated from the stock, will act on gaseous mixtures (like air) as if they were still adherent; and that leaves of the same plant, and having an equal surface, will decompose the same quantity of carbonic acid when they act on identical mixtures. Leaves either crushed or rubbed lose the property alluded to but they will not be entirely deprived of it if cut into small bits. The decomposing action requires a temperature of from 10 to 15 deg. Cent., but rays of dark heat are not sufficient to produce it Coloured rays act with various intensities green will decompose no carbonic acid at all, a circumstance which explains the reason why vegetation is languid under the imperfect shade of large trees. THE USE OF A l\ílŒCHANT'd LEDGER.—The ledger is by far the most important bosk in a merchant's business, or indeed in any tradesman's business what. ever. It contains, or ought to contain, an account 01 every transaction affecting business in any way what- ever it ought to be so lucidly and clearly kept that if brought into a court of law by any unforeseen accident, the judge, the commissioners of bankruptcy, or any other legal authority, would pronounce it a pattern for imitation, and compliment the owner of it on the occasion. It arranges every transaction in business under its proper head, or account to which it belongs and it ought to be so kept that from this book alone, at any given period, the state of accounts between a merchant and anyone with whom he transacts business can be ascertained. Finally, it ought to be so kept that at a given period, and with very little trouble, the state of a merchant's general affairs may be determined, and the important fact ascertained whether he is gaining or losing by his business. If a ledger does not do this, it does nothing-at least, nothing to the purpose; and the bookkeeper, whoever he is, may be sent about his business.-Cassell's New Popular Educator. THE ORIGIN OF TEA.—Darma, a very religious prince, son of Kasinwo, an Indian king, and the twenty- eighth descendant of Tiaka, a negro monarch (1023 B.c)., landed in China in the year A.D. 510. Probably a Brahmin or a Buddhist of great austerity, he employed all his care to diffuse a sense of religion, and for this purpose denied himself rest, sleep, and relaxation. He lived in the open air, and devoted himself day and night to prayer and contemplation of the nature and benefi- cence of God, aiming at eventual absorption into the Divine Essence when purified by long prayer, fast, and vigil. Flesh is flesh, however. After several years, worn out by want of food and sleep, Darma the great and good, involuntarily closed his eyes, and after that slept soundly, reckless of anything but rest. Before dawn he awoke, fall of sorrow and despair at having thus broken his vow, snatched up a knife and cut off his offending eye. lids. When it grew light, he discovered that two beautiful shrubs had grown from them, and, eating some of the leaves, he was presently filled with new joy, courage, and strength to pursue his holy meditations. The new plant was the tea plant, and Dama recommended the use of it to his disciples and followers. Kempfer gives a portrait of this Chinese and Japanese saint, at whose feet there is always a reed, to indicate that he had traversed seas and rivers, and had come from afar. The legend seems to prove from the earliest times tea was known among students and austere people as a dispeller of drowsiness. Its first use was no doubt accidental, as was that 01 coffee, the virtues of which, the Arab legend says, were discovered by some goats who had browsed on the leaves of the coffee plant, and became unusually lively after their meal. It is a singular fact, too, that Jesuit writers who visited China in the reign of James I. expressly state they used the herb tea common among the Chinese, and found that it kept their eyes open and lessened the fatigue of writing sermons and hearing absolutions that lasted late into the night. No doubt the figure of Darma and his reed could be found on old china,—All the Year Round. FRENCH AND ENGLISH ACToRs.-In a French conversation, a French speech, a French sermon even, there is always present an eternal vivacity, a gay helping out of the thought with other aids besides that of the voice-aids which are quite as potent- namely, gesture, expressions of the eyes and face, and, above all, of the shoulders. Then, too, there is the pleasant esprit-wit almost—the constant lurking in- sinuation, in lieu of plain statement, which lies at the bottom of true acting. The half undomestic life of the Frenchman, which sends him so much abroad of nights, renders him more exigent as to the character of the pastime on which his entertainment so seriously depends. Again, too, it must be said that the French artists are a superior class to the English players—superior in tastes and accomplishments. Their tastes, habits, modes of life, everything are superior. Their pastimes and accomplishments would amaze our English players, and perhaps excite their contempt. They are nearly all collectors, and what are called in France "amateurs." Thus M. Grivot, of the Vaudeville, is fond of etching, and is curious in bronzes. St. Germain collects rare books. Desrieux delights in pottery, and people go to see his specimens of old Faience ware. The more famous Doche has an exquisite little museum of rare Dresden and dainty curiosities. Kopp, one of the droll coterie in the Grand Duchesse, has a collection of pictures worth 80,000 francs. Lassouche, of the Palais Royal, collects china. One actor has a collection vf clocks of Louis XI V., another, a choice little cabinet by Meissonier a third is a good sculptor; a dozen paint landscapes, nearly all are musicians, and most play on the violin. As for the actresses, it is not too much to say that every second one sings skilfully, and plays the pianoforte as a matter of course. Many French actors write elegant and lively verses—"proverbes" sometimes which they act for their own amusement. All this betokens a refined tone of thought. The directors of the theatres are very often skilled and successful drama- tists, and more often still trained and refined critics, who have served an apprenticeship on influential papers. The green-rooms are not like ours, bare, unfurnished apartments, but noble saloons, fall of busts of great players and dramatic authors, covered with pictures of scenes from great plays by great artists, furnished with presents from the kings of France. As we look up from the street between the acts, we see these attractive salons, and know that the artists who are entertained therein cannot but respect themselves and hold their profession respected. -Saint Paul's.

THE COURT OF ROME has notified through the Nuncio at Madrid that it is opposed to the esta- blishment of religious liberty in Spain.

THE AMERICAN MINISTER AT LIVERPOOL. The American minister on Thursday visited Liver- pool, where he received an enthusiastic welcome. Early in the day Mr. Johnson was presented with addresses both from the Town Council and from the Chamber of Commerce. These documents paid the highest tribute to his worth as a public man, and expressed cordial wishes for the continuance of- peace between Great Britain and the United States. In reply, Mr. Johnson spoke favourably of the progress of the negotiations on those subjects which had caused so much discussion, and said there was nothing in the past, and there could be nothing in the present, to disturb the peace now so happily existing. His excellency after visited the Ex- change, where he was loudly cheered. In the evening Mr Johnson was entertained at a banquet, at which Mr. Gladstone and Lord Stanley were amongst the guests.