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. HER MAJESTY the Queen has presented to theLindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society four very handsomely bound books, entitled Dr. Roxburgh's "Plants of the Coromandel Coast," and Sir William Hooker's Filices Exoticse," with the presentation duly recorded on the binding. A FEW days ago at that most amusing of the curiosities of Paris life, the Salle Drouot, was sold the furniture of a Chinese boudoir, fresh from a three- tailed Mandarin's residence at Canton. It was bought for her Majesty, in whose name 1-050 was paid for the lot, which has been sent down to the Chinese museum lately formed by the Empress at Fontainebleau.. THE death of M. Felicien Mallenlle, the dramatic author, at the age of 55, is announced. His first play was Glenaroon, which came out with great success in 1S35. He produced many other works for the stage, and from 1848 to 1850 was Charge d'Affaires at Lisbon but he subsequently returned to the theatre, and in 1852 his Occur et la Dot, in 1860 the Meres Plenties, and lately Les Sceptigues, added to his reputation. THEATRICAL AMESITRS.—Mdlle. Nilsson has written a charming letter to M. Perrin, expressing her desire to restore the role of Marguerite" in Faust to its original creatrice in Paris, Mme. Carvalho. This last-named lady, not behindhand in politeness, replies that her pre- sence at the Opera was not to cause any change in the cast already decided on such was the will of M. Perrin, the director, and the writer's desire was also that Mdlle. Nilsson should play the part. Of your letter, my dear mademoiselle," she adds, in terminating, "I remember only its gracious words for me, and I am delighted to eontinue our excellent artistic relations." THE Queen has, on the recommendation of the Premier, granted a pension of £100 per annum to the well-known authoress, Mrs. S. C. Hall, in consideration of her long and useful literary services. THE library of Dr. Longley, late Archbishop of Can- terbury, is shortly to come under the auctioneer's ham- mer. He had an immense collection of valuable theological books, as well as works of general literature, the former of which are of little use to his family, as none of his sons took holy orders. THE French theatre at Cairo, which the French canards represented as rising by the labour of 7 000 men, is very small, and already nearly finished. It is to be a Court theatre for the Viceroy while there, for his son and heir, his family and suite, and the European colony is to be allowed four representations. JULES SIMON, a writer on music, who interested him- self much in the Orpheonistes, and was connected with L'Orphion, a journal specially devoted to their doings, died last week in Paris. He is not to be confounded with the political economist. THE Meyrick collection of ancient arms and armour, which is now being arranged in the Gallery at South j Kensington, where the Portrait Exhibitions were given, will be opened to the public shortly before Christmas. MR. ALDERMAN AGNEW has stated his intention to bequeath to the Museum and Peel-park Library, Sal- ford, his collection of pictures, which comprises many portraits of eminent Lancashire men, and has thus peculiar interest for natives of that county, which is interior to none in the intellectual wealth of its sons. It is understood that the paintings in question will be immediately handed over for public service. THE SOMEIWILLES. -A certain literary interest con- nects itself with the recent death in the hunting field of the 18th Baron Somerville. The family came in with the Conqueror. The elder branch got lands in England, the younger lands and title in Scotland. In the last century, Somerville, the poet of The Chase," repre- sented the elder branch. His love of sport and of drinking brought his estate, however, to the brink of ruin. He was a bachelor, and in consideration of the burthens on his property being paid off by his kinsman j of the younger branch, the 13th Lord Somerville, the poet, settled the reversionary of his estates upon that Scottish baron. On a part of the land thus acquired, the 18th lord has met an early death.—Athenceum. A TAUCHNITZNEW TESTAMENT.—The well-known 'series of Tauchnitz editions of English authors has nearly reached its thousandth volume, and the enterprising pub- lisher proposes to make that veiume an edition of the Authorised English version of the New Testament, beau- tifully printed in so-called old-faced type, enriched with foot-notes by Dr. Tischendorf, giving in English the translatable readings of the Sinaitic, the Vatican, and the Alexandrine MSS. In order to secure exact ac- cordance with the phraseology of the English version, 'the whole has been revised and coilated by Mr. B. Harris Cowper. THE Academy of Fine Arts on Friday elected M. Charles Blanc to the seat left vacant by the death of Count Walewski; also Mr. Perkins, of Boston, U.S., as corresponding member, in place of M. Waagen, of Berlin, deceased. THE well-known Professor Ewald, of Gottiagen, has been suspended from his professorship, on account of his constant attacks in his lectures upon the Prussian Go- vernment. A NEW work, by Professor Gervinus, on Handel and Shakespeare, is creating great' interest in musical circles abroad. HERR FREILIGRATH, the German poet, for so many years resident among us, has definitely settled at Stuttgart, now become the literary centre of Southern Germany. PROFESSOR REINHOLD PAULI, the Germa.n historian of England, for some time past appointed to Marburg, has been elected as a member for that University to the Upper Chamber of the North German Parliament. FOR the first time in the history of the Vienna Uni- versity a Protestant, in the person of Professor Brueke, has been chosen Dean of the Medical Faculty. A FIRMAN has been granted far a new English paper in Constantinople, to be called the Levant Times. CHARIVARI has a caricature representing a sphinx of granite, motionless and thoughtful, with a huge can- non for pedestal, and in the background three colossal pyramids composed of cannon-balls.

MEMORIAL TO CARDINAL WISEMAN. A pastoral letter from Archbishop Manning was read ') on Sunday in the Roman Catholic churches of London, respecting the proposed cathedral intended as a memorial to Cardinal Wiseman. In the letter 1IJ was pointed out that, although a commencement was made of the collec- tion for the work soon after the cardinal's death, it was felt that the necessities of the diocese, especially with regard to the education of poor children, were so great, that all matters not of urgency must be postponed for a time. Accordingly the effort to promote education was first followed up. The collection, however, for the cathedral was not forgotten, but went on at home and abroad, and a considerable sum had been subscribed. A site in Carlisle-place, Westminster, hsd been secured, ami a large amount of the purchase money was paid Respecting the church, the archbishop further ntated that it must be the work of a very long time, but that he hoped soon to eommence so as to make the buildings which ought to be about it subservient to the work of the diocese. One of these buildings would be a house for the residence of the diocesan. The build- ings would be executed by Mr. Gilbert Blount, and the designs for the cathedral were entrusted to Mr. Clutton. The pastoral stated that the collection for the cathedral would not be allowed to interfere with the other works of the diocese.

DEATH OF AN EX-M.P. Colonel Ferguson, who has for some years past been in delicate health, expired on Friday morning at Raith-house, near Kirkcaldy. He was born on the 20th of August, 1802, and was consequently in the 67th year of his age. In 1820 he entered the army as ensign in the 43rd Regiment. He was shortly afterwards promoted to a lieutenancy in the 52ad. In 1827 he was sent to Malta with government despatches, and remained there till 1830, when he succeeded to the colonelcy of the 92nd Highlanders. On his retirement from the army, in which he had on several occasions distinguished himself, Colonel Ferguson returned to Raitb, and after- wards became the member of parliament for the Kirk- caldy District of Burghs, which he represented for a long series of years, twice contesting the seat success- fully.

WINTERING CATTLE. It behoves every one at the present time to contribute information as to the management of live stock during the coming winter. Straw is abundant and of good quality, hay is short therefore the chaffeutter *must be in constant use. Two of straw to one of hay will make good chop. Good straw is too valuable for litter, and we must cast about for substitutes. Sand will do well, burnt clay or a, lies of any kind are good absorbents; fern or dead long grass from plantations will answer well. Cattle in boxes must go dirtier than usual; we must not be over-particular as to appearances. When practicable, it will be well to put the animals on boards, and thus save straw altogether. The quantity of dry food that a bullock will consume will depend in a great measure upon what is given in ad- dition. Our plan for full growm fatting beasts is to feed three times a day, giving 20 lb. of chaff, 70 lb. of roots, mixed swedes, and mangolds pulped, and 8 lb. of artificial food, consisting of 3 lb. of decorticated cotton cake, 3 lb. of Smith's palm nut meal, and 2 lb. of barley meal-the two latter being dusted over the roots and chaff, the former given separately. This is high feeding, and at present rates will cost between 8d. and 9d. a day. On such diet progress is rapid, and the animal always dies well. Water once a day must be supplied but it is preferable when laid on, and always within reach of the animal. The chaff and roots are mixed up after breakfast, to last till the following morn- ing; the slight heat that ensues makes the mass more I palatable. If the roots cannot be supplied in 313 large quantities as we have iindicateal, or if we have none at all, as is too much the fact this winter, then the chaff must be well watered previous to the application of the meal; in this way everything adheres, and there is no waste. Many employ linseed cake made into a soap with boiling water, pouring it over the chaff, which should be placed in a bin and well trodden out. We doubt if this is as cheap a food as such a mixture as has been described. There is a great advantage in variety of food. We are firmly convinced that store cattle may be wintered and done well without roots; if only care is exercised to give the sweet chop made of one third hay, and two-thirds straw, and add to this- a- reasonable amount of artificial fbod.-Field.

THE KEEP OF CART HORSES. Farm wstks of every'description are now or should be progressing briskly; tillage is extending, because it is paying better than hitherto.. Wheat sowing has been going on to a considerable extent for some time in several districts; ploughing lea land and top-dressing grass land is being executed to some estent, indicating that farmers, generally speaking, are tolerably well satisfied with the present state of things, as well as of future prospects. Active attention to farming works requires extended and continuous horse labour, and horses cannot work without being fed, and that liberally. The high price of oats and other cereals, aa* well as hay and, straw, will render bosse labour dear, and will, no doubt, prevent farmers of limited means keeping up a sufficient number of horses to- get through their work in seasonable time. It therefore becomes a matter of necessity to consider the subject well, so as to substitute other and cheapes feeding stuffs for oats, and also to exercise the most rigid economy in the use of corn and other provender. By recent market quotations white oats brought an average of 15s. lOd. per 14 stone,, or about 13td. per stone; grinding barley, 17s. 6d. per 16 stone, or a fraction over 13d. per stone Indian corn, 36s. per 480 lbs;, or about 12jjd. per 14 lbs. and bran, 5s. per 6 stone, or 1M. per stone. It will be observed that the above prices of the grain, weight for weight, approximate very closely; but we must now consider their nutritive values, as ascertained by praetical experience and scientific research. Thus, it is found that 54 lbs. barley, 57 lbs. Indian corn, 591bss oats, and 105 lbs. wheat bran are of about equal nutritive value. The above propor- tions show that, weight for weight, barley takes the first place, Indian com the second, oats the third, and bran the fourth place. Barley, therefore, stands cheapest, Indian corn next, oats next, and bran the dearest of all at the above prices. Now as to fodder. Good hay is the most nutritive that can be used, 100 lbs. of good hay being found equal to "88 lbs. of clover hay made before thej blossom is expanded; 90 lbs. if made after the blossom is fully developed; 195 lbs. oat straw, or 374 lbs. wheat straw; so that good hay is equal to near double its weight of oat straw, or nearly four times its weight of wheat straw. Somehow or other there is a prejudice against the use of barley for feeding horses. It is supposed to purge them but though we have fed horses exclusively on barley, and also when mixed with oats, we never found it have that effect; and we have known, several years ago, a day coach, traversing some of the heaviest roads in Ireland, the horses of which were fed on oats, and it is pretty generally known that barley is the favourite fifed with the Arabs for feeding their horses; and as there happens to be a very large proportion of barley grown which is not suited, for malting purposes, it could not be appro- priated to, more economical purposes than feeding horses, and thus lighten the pressure on the supply of oats. Concentrated nutritive food, and less nutritive but bulky, food, are both equally necessary for the due maintenance of the animal economy in either man or beast and it is evident that if either be wanting in due proportion, to meet the demand occasioned by the la- bour to be performed, a general reduction of the mus- cular power must be the result. Practical experience has long since ascertained that horses for fast work must get less bulky food, and proportionably more concen- trated food, than horses on slow work; but in either case the quantity must be proportioned to the bulk and subst-anee of the animal The military rations allowed for horses are about 10Ibs. oat& and 14 lbs. hay per day but it is perfectly evident that those proportions would mot suit either a racer or a cart or dray horse. To enable either to perform the work required'of them the racer must get more oats and less hay; and the draught horse, being larger and more bulky, must get more of, the bulky food, and the same or an increased quantity of oats. Our, remarks must be for the present confined to the economical maintenance of the farm horse. Whatever grain the farm horse gets should at all times be bruised or coarsely ground. Horses at constant daily work get but little time to masticate their food properly, and too frequently, bolt the grain. Bruising or grinding it, therefore, saves-their time and their teeth also, and is more readily acted upon in the stomach, so as to extract and assimilate its nu. tritive properties. In like manner both hay and straw should be chaffed, and given in troughs; in that state eibheryields up their nutrition more readily, the animal's muscular power is saved, and much waste prevented and it is no uncommon thing to find with those who have tried both modes, that 104 lbs. of either oats or &ay—the former bruised, the latter chaffed^— keep the animal in better condition than 14 lbs. unbruised oats and 14 lbs. unchaffed, hay-a saving of one-fourth in both cases, and proportionably so when. the size and work of the animal requires more than those proportions to keep, it in good working condition. When slow-draught horses are fed exclusively on dry corn and hay we would recommend mixing with the bruised corn about lIb. of dry bran, which though not much more than one-half so nutritive as barley, Indian corn, or oats,, serves to, make the animal chew even ground corn better than, it would do without it it also serves to keep the particles of corn separate in the stomach,, and allows the gastric juice to act upon the food, so as to. extract tha greatest amount of nutrition, keeps the bowels regular, and gives bulk to. the food. Altogether grinding or bruising the corn,, whether barley, Indian corn, or oats, and chaffing the hay and straw, saves ex- pending the animal's muscular power and fat, and affords more time fer rest and sleep—no inconsiderable require- ments in animal economy. But the very expensive use of grain at present prices may be sensibly reduced in feeding farm horses by substituting other feeding materials for part of the grain. Thus two or three gal- lon of distillers' or brewers' grains, when to be had, can be substituted for as many pounds of oats or other grain; the grains may be mixed daily with the day's rations of oats, &c., and divided afterwards. Sliced swedes or carrots, 1 to li stone, may be given at night, mixed with the chaffed hay and straw, or grains and oats, so that 7 lbs. of oats may be saved daily by the substitu- tion of grains and swedes or carrots; but on no account should the bulk of chaffed hay, or hay and straw, be re- duced. Furze, when claaffed and partially bruised, makes a very hearty and nutritious food for horses, cows, or sheep. Horses may get about three bushels of it daily, which will effect a great saving in the articles of oats and hay. With the above quantity, four or five lbs. of oats, and six to seven lbs. of hay per day, and a few swedes or carrots, horses can be kept in fine, hearty working condition. Experience shows that furze is a very warm and heating food, and it will be always necessary to give a few swedes, carrots, or even raw potatoes to correet such a tendency. And in chaffing the furze it will be a good plan to mix straw or hay with that provender, and chaff both together; the furza giving out in chaffing much juice, which is absorbed by the chaff, and also serves to keep the edges of the chaffing knives clean. Those, therefore, who have furza meadows, or can pro. cure the last season's growth of them, will effect a great saving in their use this season is feeding their working teams partially on them. Regularity in the hours of feeding, and economy in the supply of food by bruising or grinding the grain, and chaffing the hay and straw, will effect a saving scarcely to be anticipated by those who have not yet adopted the practice, and the horses, if kept clean, dried at night, and regularly worked, will be in fine working condition through the season. We must also observe that the addition of 1 to 2 lbs. daily of linseed-cake, rape-cake, or palm-nut meal promotes the secretion of fat, condition, and sleek coats, more than any substances we have yet any knowledge of. Palm-nut meal and rape-cake are the cheaper materials the rape-cake is fully as good for the purpose as linseed- cake, provided it contains no mustard, once the animals get accustomed to it but palm-nut meal, which is rather a new feeding material, possesses a fattening power quite superior to any that we know of. In our experience, for the past three years, we found it fat the cow, and yield rich milk; it fats the horse, the pig, and fowl of all sorts, but, bulk for bulk, it weighs heavy, and should be measured out accordingly, and mixed with bran to give it bulk and absorb the oil.- Irish Farmers' Gazette.

HINTS UPON GARDENING. KITCHEN GARDO-TT. -Wherever digging and trenching are required, let it be done without delay every addi- tional day's exposure of the soil to the action of the weather is a benefit to it; generally speaking, it is not well to manure in autumn, because the' winter's rains wash the best of it away, but manures should have at- tention, and this is a good time to clear out the muck- pit, and pile the stuff in a heap, and throw over it a few isches of soil or burnt clay. In dry frosty weather it shouid be chopped down and turned, and again soiled over to preserve ita- virtues, and at the same time sweeten it for use. Turf should be stacked, and clippings col- lected for burning to make dressings of manure for beds and borders. The general work of the kitchen garden is but a continuation of last month. Those inclined to venture speculative crops should sow a few beans and peas. If they get through the winter, they will' produce a few early dishes, but there is the risk, not only of severe weather, but of the- attacks of slugs and snails, and where these vermin are allowed to riot on the ground winter sowings have little chance. Broad well- drained slopes are of great value for winter sowings, and -for bedding out lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower for the winter; and with the help of reed or thatched hurdles for shelter, late and early supplies of vegetables and saladings may be secured, and will always pay well. Turn gravel walks, clean and turn plunging beds, make a clearance of corners devoted1 to rubbish, especially where there is an accumulation, of old pea-sticks and timber, as it is among such stuff"the vermin take shelter, to issue forth in spring and destroy the seed-crops, and bring disgrace upon the small birds. Many really bad soils become good soils when broken up deeply and mixed with a portion of the subsoil, even though that subsoil may be by itself as bad as the other. On deep yellow loams, trenching two spits deep is equal any time to a dressing,of manure, and generally of far more im- portance than any amount of manure. Old garden soils are often sick and sour with manure, but a deep stirring buries- the vermin at a depth at which they perish, and brings into action the fresh untilled earth beneath, with all its dormant powers ready for useful action under the influence of the atmosphere. It will always pay when labour is scarce to, make work for labourers in deep tillage of garden and allotment, grounds; the process is nothing less than a complete renewal of the soil wherever the material exists below for the purpose. Of course where there is only a thin layer of vegetable earth over hard rock or gravel the case is different; but very often some of this unpromising material improves the staple when broken and mixed with it. FLOWER GARDEN.—Whatever is of too tender a nature to bear exposure to frost should be got under cover with- out delay. Choice pansies, carnations, auriculas, and i phloxes require the shelter of a frame or cool pit. | Dahlias should be taken up, tallied, and stowed away out of the reach of frost, moisture, and heat. Get a supply of rose-stocks at once, if you intend to graft or bud for yourself next season. Plant in good loam, and stake them securely, or run light hazel-rods along the rows and secure their ends to stout uprights, anditieinthe stocks to them. Bulbs should be planted as sooue.s possible, both in beds and borders. Cheap mixtures of hyacinths and tulips serve every purpose for general decoration of the borders, and the dealers will make good selections for those who are sat familiar with the properties of the se-veral sorts. A bed of standard roses is an excellent place for a display ef hyacinths regularly planted in clumps between the trees. Take up dahlia and marvel of Peru roots, and store away when quits dry. Gather any seeds that remain out, and dry indoors. Set about any intended alterations at once, that the consequent planting may be done before we- get frost and snow. Well-rolled turf and gravel and trimly-kept borders are very necessary now that the colours are declining, and the garden is resuming a skeleton i condition, in which outlines and surfaces are nearly all that remain to give pleasure to the eye. In selecting evergreens and deciduous shrubs for decorative purposes, the colours of their foliage at this season should be taken into consideration. GREENHOUSE.—At every opportunity pass the whole of the plants through a careful hand, whose duty it will be to remove dead leaves, trim away, dead snags or mil- dewed shoots, give water if neeclfulj, and see that the drainage of the. pots is safe. Once a month, at least, this should be done-from October to March; and for lack of such i, rule many valuable plants are lost, for many shrubs will appear still green and lively long after they are absolutely dead at the collar, through a stop- page of the drainage. Use tepid water to all plants in a growing state, and as little as possible to everything, so as to avoid as much as can be the use of fire-heat. Remember, the more moisture, the more heat and the more air, and vice versa. If you cannot give air or use fire, then cease to give water, and keep all paths and stages clean. There is great danger of overcrowding the plants newly housed, owing to the numbers that are propagated during summer. It would be better even to destroy surplus stock than to. spoil a whole collec- tion by cramming too many plants into a limited space. Give plenty of air, but guard against sudden night frosts. Withhold water as muoh as possible, to induce a state of rest in the plants, but allow nothing to gat dust-dry, for that is an injury to the tender roots on which the plant has to depend in a great measure to sustain itself. The first frost is generally severe if by accident any plants get' caught by it, keep them shaded and occasionally sprinkled with cold water, but remove-the shade as soon as they show signs of recovery. Plants in bloom should be kept safe from cold nights, and whenever watered it should be with tepid, water. Green-fly is very apt to attack soft-wooded plants at this season, and the moment the pest appears tobacco-smoke must be resorted to. Eeep up the heat among pines, but give as much air as possible. Do not push any j into undue growth, or they will suffer severely on the accession of colder weather. Do without fire as long as you dare, but use a little in foggy weather to cause a j circulation of air. Be gentle with plants that are to be forced if put into heat too suddenly, the bleom-buds will fall off or bu-xst. -Gardener's Magazine.

FIRE IN CARIBOO. On Wedmsday, the 16th inst. (September), about two p.m., afire broke out in Barry's Saloon, Barkerville, and before five o'clock the entire town was one mass @f smouldering ashes. When it is understood that Barker- ville was the principal town in Cariboo, the depot, in fact, foi that entire region, some idea may be formed as to the extent of the disaster. The loss is variously esti- mated from one to two millions of dollars 2d if the cost, or, indeed, the market value, of the buildings be taken into the aecount, we fear that the higher figure would not be found out of the way. So great was the rapidity with which the fire spread that, in most instances, little or nothing could be saved, even books, valuable papers, and bank-notes themselves falling a prey to the devouring element. Of all the merchants, we are told that but one, Mr. Strouss, bad taken the pre- cation to insure, and he only to the extent of 40,000 dols., upon a stock of something like 120,000. The Hudson's Bay Company's warehouse, situated beyond reach of the flames, and the saloon of John T. Scott, saved by cutting a water flume over it, were the only buildings saved.-BritisA Columbian.

« A WRITER in the Sunday Times, referring to the forthcoming evening paper, The Echo, suggests the possibility (which must be very remote) of its being confounded with a weekly illustrated serial entitled Eclwes from the Clubs, on account of the "sirailarity of titles," and remarks that it is a pity something definite cannot be arranged with regard to the registration of titles of books and periodicals." If by this is meant the prohibition of the use of a word adopted by a previous publication, the Sunday Times would need a special dis- pensation to retain its own title.

SAVAGE ATTACKS BY A MAD BOG. Early on Saturday morning, while a young man, named Cuthbert Nixon, was proceeding along North- road, Preston, a black retriever dog suddenly sprang at him and bit him severely in the arm. He succeeded in knocking the dog off, and shortly afterwards gave in- formation to a policeman, who, in company with two or three others, set off in pursuit of the animal. Before they reached it it had attacked another man, and bitten him in a similar manner to the first; the ferocious brute was pursued into Friargate, and the policemen ulti- mately came up to it. One of them made a bald at. tempt to capture it by seizing it by the neck, but it turned upon him and bit his hand in a serious manner. The dog was eventually caught in the house of a man who had reared it, and taken to the police-station in a barrow, tied down, and it was shortly afterwards de- stroyed. The injured policeman will be unable to oon- timae his duties for some time.

THE FENIAN DEMONSTRATION IN HYDE PARK. The threatened Fenian demonstration in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon turned out a failure. The police did not permit a procession, neither did they allow a « meeting on Clerkenwell-green. Finlen addressed some hundreds in Hyde Park, taking his stand under the Re- fermers' Tree. The language he used was seditious and .u inflammatory. He said the police had orders to take him "dead or alive." He worked for Ireland, "that Niobe of nations," to free her from "an odious, alien, abhorred, bloody, brutal, unscrupulous- aristocracy." He attacked the Reform League, and accused them of misappropriating the funds of the society, and concluded his speech by saying tkat the day would come when a Parliament would assemble in College-green.) with a flag floating above it with a crownless harp." Two men who attempted to carry a banner with the words God save Ireland, Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien. Remember Michael Barrett," inscribed thereon, were- arrested. Finlen was-groauedl out of the park.

ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTHEND, AND TILBWRT RAILWAY. On Friday evening, the up-train, which left Tilbury at half-past six o'clock, passed the Purfleet station, and!, about a mile on the London side of that place, the engine-driver saw a cow on the line, about 400 yards in advance of him. He shut off the steam, applied the breaks, and did all in his power to stop the train, but without success; the engine struck the cow, and two carriages passed over the animal before the train was brought to a standstill; The engine turned over and fell on the down line. The driver escaped with only a few bruises. The passengers were detained two hours and a half before they could proceed to London, and ) were render the necessity of walking to Rainham, where- a down train was reversed, and conveyed the passengers to London.

-==a RAILWAY ACCIDENTS AND TRAFFIC. A return just issued of the number and description of railway accidents for the year 1-867, shows that 209 persons have been killed and 795 wounded in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Of these, 36 of the killed and 697 of the wounded were passengers, as against 31 killed and 347 wounded the previous year. Of the killed, 105 were servants of-the companies or contractors, and 90 of the wounded. The significant note is added, that the return of accidents to servants of the companies and contractors eannot be looked upon as complete, as many railway companies, not being required to do so by law,, do not report to the Board of Trade every accident whieh may befall this class of persons. We find from another branch of the return that the total number of passengers who travelled was 250y598j982 for England), yielding £ 13}5-34,281. The gross receipts from goods traffic amounted to j618,190,092, thus giving a total of all kinds of traffic for England and Wales of £ 33,398,222; The amount of authorised capital for the railway companies of the United King- dom amounted to X642,853,408, an amount which falls short by more than zCIOO,000,000 of the national debt. The paid-up capital, however, was only £ 502,262,887. The number of miles open are 14,247.

SOAP GROWING ON TREES. Soap berries are to be found in immense quantities throughout Alaska. They grow on a bush about the same in appearance as whortle-berries. When ripe they are red, of a juicy and quinine taste, and generally biennial. One quart taken and placed in a tub the size of bushel, when stirred, will completely fill the tub with froth, and the more it is stirred with the naked hand and arm the stiffer, it becomes, until you can cut it with a knife. It is eaten with horn or wooden spoons, all the family sitting round the tubs. It is undoubtedly an acquired taste, but the commodity is much sought for. The, froth is of, a beautiful pink colour. Green berries will make nearly the same amount of froth, but it. is of a white colour and is not so highly flavoured. Foreigners stir it with port or sherry wines, and add sugar, in which case it is a delicious luxury. Large quantities are dried, by being placed in a tub with their leaves, forming a cake, which is placed on wicker tables, with light fires under and the sun overhead. When dried, they will keep in a dry place for some years. The dried berries are black and look dirty. A piece two inches square, beaten in a water pool, will fill it full of froth, of a dark pink colour.

THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. The weather of the past week has fulfilled our antici- pations as to its variable character, the frost having given place to damp and a moderate fall of rain but the country in many places could bear much more, the ponds being, as yet very shallow and insuf- ficiently supplied. While the Gulf Stream seems thus keeping off the frost in Great Britain, the rivers in Prussia are getting covered with ice so there is more probability that the Baltic will soon be closed against shipments, to the curtailing of our supplies. We are, however, in no actual want of wheat at present, as our still declining markets amply show, another Is. per qr. being lost, with slow sales almost every- where but some farmers have already refused the pre- sent rates, apparently intending to look on for better prices in the spring; and as wheat has come down to the price of spring corn this expectation seems very reasonable. Those who have Christmas rents to pay must of course sell enough to meet such calls but this difficulty over, and ports abroad mostly closed, growers will have the command of supplies, and withhold or, send when prices suit them. The wants of live stock for the winter must be heavy, and attention is already being turned to maize as the cheapest grain, a large demand having set in for cargoes afloat, the ship- ments from New York being much below expectation. Although the price of flour in Paris has kept up, wheat has been dull and declining, and the country itself shows symptoms of weakness compared with the comp few previous weeks. In Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Hungary scarcely any alteration has taken place though Danzig has given way Is. to 2s. per <JB., without, however, descending to a parity with ^he London priees. At New York prices have further given way, and some amount of flour has been purchased for English account; but we must have a rally here to prevent this losing money, as our own country qualities this season are un- usually good—indeed, so good that they greatly interfere with the London trade, which in ordinary seasons com- mands its own price by its high character.-Marh;.Iane Empress.

EXTBAOBDIN ARY CONDUCT OF A SHIP'S CAPTAIN. The Australian mails, which have just arrived, bring an account of extraordinary conduct on the part of Captain Robbins of the American barque S. D. Bailey. The barque, after taking in a large and valuable assorted cargo at San Francisco, sailed on the 22nd of May last for Vancouver's Island. Shortly after leaving San Francisco the captain, instead of proceeding directly for his original destination, bore away to Fanning Island, a spot lying to the north of the equator, where the cargo was broken into, and the greater portion of it landed on the beach. The original marks were then removed and new ones substituted, after which the cargo was stowed away in sheds on the island. This done, the barque left the island—a desolate place —and sailed for Nelson, New Zealand, where she arrived on the 25th of August. Here the remainder of the cargo, about one-third, was landed, and sold at public auction. Captain Robbins, on receiving the proceeds, and paying his brokers' commission, left at once for Melbourne. One singular feature in the case is that the officers and crew of the barque must have been cognisant I of what was going OP, and yet they never interfered to I prevent it.

Our Mis-eeliany. STRAY GHAUTS FOR CHICKENS.—Feed your poultry on raw onions chopped fine, mixed with other food, about twice a week. It is better than a dozen cures for chicken cholera. Fowls exposed to dampness are apt to be troubled with catarrh, which will run to croups if not attended to. Red pepper mixed with soft feed, fed several times a week, will remove the cold. Pulverised charcoal, given occasionally, is a preventive of putrid affections, to which fowls are very subject. Setting-hens can be cured by putting water in a vessel to the depth of one inch, putting the hen into it, and co- vering the top of the vessel for about twenty-four hours. The vessel should be deep enough to allow the fowl to stand up. This is the best remedy I have ever tried. Pulverised chalk administered with soft feed will cure diarrhoea. This disorder is caused by want of variety in the food, or by too much green food. Garlic feed once or twice a week is excellent for eolds,—Hibherd's Gardener's Magazine. BROKEN ENGLISH.—In glancing over some German papers the other day, we noticed this advertise- ment in Addisonian English, looking very queerly among the uniform German type In a respect. German family two minutes outside the Holstenthor finds a young English or Frenchman, a fine furnished up room with or without board for a low price. Apply to the expedition of this paper." Now if any "young Eng- lish did happen to want a fine furnished up room only "two minutes outside the Holstenthor," this must have been a great chance. Upon the whole,, we think there must be more broken English in the world than any other broken language—more even than broken China;" Mr. B affom once said he had seen in> a Paris restaurant the dish ris de veau a la jinanci&re, which is, of course, simply Sweetbread a, la financiered literally translated for the behoof of English patrons into The smile of the calf to the female capitalist." Com- pared with this last, the advertisement of the respect. German family is English of Gibbon and Goldsmith.— New York Times. CITY RAIELP.OAD.-A new method of applying steam for locomotive purposes on street railways, so as to avoid the use of fire in the engine while running on the streets, has been exhibited on a temporary track. In this engine the necessity for a fire-bos, smoke-stack, &c., is done away with by substituting a strong tank or re- servoir for holding water previously heated to a high temperature in a stationary boiler. The water so heated- is forced into the locomotive tank, and is capable of giv- ing off an amount of working steam for a considerable- length of time sufficient to drive the engine and draw one- or more cars. The new locomotive weighs about five tons when fully supplied with the requisite storage of- heated water. At the trial it ran 45 minutes, making: 125 stoppages, and reducing the steam pressure from 801b. at starting to 201b. when the trial ceased. No noise was made other than the rumble of the wheels over the rails, and the machine seemed to be at all times under the perfect control of the engineer, being stopped almost instantly while running at the rate of six miles per hour. The temperature of the water is kept up by a non-con- ducting jacket three, inches thick around the tank. It is proposed, in adapting the invention to the street cars, to place a stationary steam boiler at the end of the road to charge the locomotive with a sufficient quantity of hot water to perform the- tyip.-Philadelphia Ledger THE NEW ZEALAND SALMON.—In the month of January last some 300,000 or 400,000 salmon ova were shipped from this country for Dunedin, New Zea- land, for the purpose of introducing into the river Plenty that valuable fish. The ova arrived in due course, although the voyage proved a somewhat protracted one but the hatching process turned out most unfavourable, and out of the whole stock of eggs it was found that the great bulk were unproductive, and only between 500 and 600 fish were successfully hatched out. These were said to-be chielfy from ova taken from the Severn and its tributary, the Temej which may be due to the fact that these ova were about the last that were collected. This partial failure, however, has not disheartened the Government of Otago, and it has been resolved to make another attempt, which it is hoped will be more success- ful. It is believed if the ova were introduced into the country earlier the temperature and other circumstances would be more favourable, and accordingly it is pro- posed to dispatch a vessel for New Zealand, freighted with another cargo of British salmon ova, about Christ- mas. Salmon are reported already to be at work on the ridds in some of our rivers, and steps have been taken to obtain a supply of ova in the cousge- of next month.—Field. THE FISH MARKET AT of the sights of Suez is the fish-market, which few travellers visit because the fish are landed and sold soon after sunrise, an absolute necessity in this rainless, fiery climate. The fish are exposed for sale in the open street, and near the landing quay, spread upon the ground, or neatly arranged on small square tables the fishermen are mostly Greeks, the Arab as a rule prefers purchasing his fish to catching it. Such lovely fish are these coral feeders from the Red Sea, that one is disposed to think they were created to be admired instead of devoured. Would that I had a pen ready enough to convey any idea of the gorgeous colouring of these wondrous fish, as I saw them gasping ia the Suez market; unluckily, it> requires for its accomplishment a gift for word-painting I do not possess. Nearly all the Red Sea coral-feeding fish are exquisitely tinted blue, yellowy orange, green, purple, and red, in spots, stripes, and patches, bedeck their scaly armour, like the colouring one sees and so admires upon the petals of tropic orchids. If I may venture to be sensationally imaginative without incurring the risk of ridicule, I should say a rainbow had been cut into short lengths, and that these were turned into fishes. I, can think of no comparison more apt, wild though it be. Not the least remarkable part of these- coral-feeders is the, arrangement of their teeth. The teeth are consolidated into a pair of bony nippers, placed, so to say, outside the mouth, and they look; when, on the fish-stall just as if they were viciously grinning at you. It is, however, a most efficient aneb splendid machine for browsing of the stony coral herbage growing in the submarine pastures. Them were, besides the fish I speak of, huge ray, with tails like pliant whips, armed with bony, spear-like appen. dages, that the fishermen call" stbags." There were sharks, too, big enough to take a man's leg off if they had but the chance, and ugly monsters, all heads and fins, and spiky teeth-actually swimming mouths that never had any bodies. Shell-fish were to the fore, both uni- and bivalve, in great variety prawns, two of which were nearly enough for breakfast-I measured several quite nine inches in length and quaint crabs, not so conspicuous for size of body as for length of limbs, very greyhounds amongst crustaceans.-Land and Water. DISTRESSING FLUCTUATIONS OF FAsHION.-In its general remarks for the month, the Englishwoman's Dorroestia Magazine says:—"Never did fashion show itself so capricious as this autumn. Almost all our pre- visions have proved false, and the new winter models are not, in most instances, at all what we expected. First it was prophesied that crinolines would go out of fashion, and they have but changed their shape then we thought to have done with sweeping trains and with imper- ceptible bonnets, and the one are as long as the other con- tinue to be small. Again, we had been told that circulars and mantelets would be almost exclusively worn, and be ') hold nearly all the new models are tight-fitting paletots. The Ladies' Treasury, on the same subject, says The winter fashions do not appear in their entirety till December, yet the style and knowledge of them are pretty well understood in November. There is no doubt that many of the graceful costumes of the time of Louis XVI. will take a permanent position through the year 1869. But this style can be displayed to per- fection only on figures at once tall and dignified petite ladies of fairy forms must succumb, and be content to adopt a less voluminous arrangement of costume. It is said that one dress, a novelty as a dinner dress, takes nearly forty yards of silk in its composition." The adoption of short petticoats, and over these the long-trained robes, which can be easily gathered up behind, so as to make the dresses fit for walking, or en train in a room, or on a promenade, is a great boon. On the wrong side of a skirt, about the half of the length of the seam, on each side of the back breadth, is sewed a small curtain-ring, another on the next seam on each side, but higher up, and again on the next seam, but still Iligler up, till within two inches of the waist; at the last ring an opening on each side of the skirt is to be made. A string, with a button on one end, passes on the right-hand side through all the rings to the top one on the left-hand side and is there fastened. Now the second string, with a button on it, is passed through the left-hand side to the right-hand ring nearest the waist, and fastened into the ring. It will now be found that the strings if pulled will draw up the dress in the same manner as a bag with two strings would be drawn. It is one of the most simple of all contrivances, and the best."

MR. WALTER MONTGOMERY, the actor, hk, says the Australian Register) been injured by fell rom his home, but has almost reooxered,

Facts and Facetiae. THE popular dance of the fruit-preservers— Tie can-can. THE extremes of lustre-Tbe shine on your hat and boots. WHEN is a young man's arm like the Gospel? —When it maketh glad the waist places. THE physician who is "allowed to be clever' returns sincere thanks for the indulgence. WHY is a pawnbroker like a drunkard ?-Be. cause he takes the pledge, but cannot always keep it. A MAN has chequered pages in life "when he keeps a bank account. WHY is a wagon never empty ? Because it always has felloes in it. CAN a man who carries coin in his pocket be said to be on his metal ? THE entrance to Brigkam Young's dominions at Weber Canon is felicitously called Devil's Gate. THE minister who boasted of preaching without notes don't wish to be understood to refer to greenbacks. DoEs a man always get out of breath when he runs up a bill fast ? CHEAP theatricals—Striking your head against the wall till you see stars. STUMP tail cows ought to give good milk, for all milk is a lack-tail fluid. WHEN a man is half tipsy, doesn't he consider himself about as tall as anybody yet born ? A WRITER may be said to be more free than a I king, inasmuch as he can choose his own subjects." WHEN you go fishing be sure and take a bite before you start, for you may net get one after. nL A HATmsDME dress pattern never arrests a 'SI aittenfeja, She will always go buy it. Is it not remarkable that railway trains can run over so many sleepers without waking any of them iq A CYNICAL pedagogue gives it as his opinion r, that nowadays, ladies seem to treat their waists as vulgar fractions-to be reduced to the lowest terms. A DOWN East paper, in puffing up a certain soap, says, "it is the best ever used for cleaning a dirty man's face. We have tried it, and therefore we know." No doubt a lady may be expected to make a great noise in the world when her dress. is covered with bugles. WHEN a man loses his building lot,. is he blind ? Don't know but he has certainly been deprived of his site. AMONG the advertisements in a morning paper is one wherein we are informed that two aisters want washing." KNOW thyself," is a Grecian maxim. The advantages of carrying it out is that you will always have an acquaintance at hand. MRS. PERSIMMONS regard's with concern the increase of the cattle plague, and sympathetically wonders if her husband will escape it. A NEGRO, after gazing at the' Chinese, exclaimed, If de white folk is dark as d'at oat dare, I wonder what is de colour ob de niggers." MADAM, a great many persons were disturbed at the concert last night by the crying of yeur baby." Well, I do wonder that such people will go. to concerts." A CERTAIN fop, who was arguing with a bhsff clergyman on the immortality of the soul, asked him, Now, where da you think I shall go after death 2" Wherever your tailor goes," was the calm reply. QUEEN ISABELLA, who has a great and catholie taste for society, being asked last week by a distin- guished official how she liked Paris, replied, Like it 2 If I had only known how nice Paris is> I would haw abdicated years ago." AN impertinent editor in ASafoataa wants to know when we "intend to pay the debt of nature." We are inclined to think that when Nature gets her dues from him it will be by an execution,-—^ mericarn paper. EPIGRAM.— Oh spare me, dear angel, a lock of your hair," A bashful young lover took courage and sighed 'Twere a sin to refuse you so modest a prayer, So take my whole wig" the sweet creatura replied. SHOPPING.—"When I goes a shopping," said an old lady, I allers asks for what I< wants and if they have it, and it is suitable, and I feel inclined to buy it, and it is cheap, and can't be got for less, L most allers take it, without clappering all day, about it as some people do." THE ordinary definition of, an u a por- tion of land entirely surrounded by water. A Hiber- nian of our acquaintance declares that this does not; meet the case of Ireland, which, considsring the position of the State Church, is best described as-" a portion of land entirely overrun by the sees." A COUNTRY cobbler visited one of the large shoe manufactories the other day, and for the first time in his life saw shoes made by machinery. What do you. think of that 1" asked the foreman. The, astonished cobbler stood breathless, with his hands-thrust deep into. his pockets, gazing at the wonder-working machine- before him. It beats awl," was-the laconic reply. ON one of our vessels of war the sailors saw a, comet, and were somewhat surprised and alarmed at its. appearance. The hands met and appointed a committee, to wait on the commander to ask his opinion &f it. They approached him and said: We want you to. inquire- about that thing up there." Now, before I answer 1 you, first let me know what you think it is." Well, your honour, we have talked it over, and think it is a. star sprung a leak." GREGORIAN CHANTS.—Notes- and Queries gives a curious legend as to the origin of Gregorian Chants. i Pope Gregory I. (for some reason which is irrelevant): was condemned to suffer stomach-ache whenever he was not saying mass. To minimize his pain, by prolonging the service, he invented the Gregorian Chant-moye dreary and proJix thirteen centuries ago than even now. This odd story is told by very grave authorities. WHEN the British ships under Lord Nelson were bearing down to attack the combined fleet off Trafalgar, the first lieutenant of the Revenge, on going round to see that ail hands were at quarters, observed one of the men (an Irishman) devoutly kneeling at the side of his gun. So very unusual an attitude exciting his surprise and curiosity, he asked the man if he was afraid. "Afraid," answered the tar no, your honour; I was only praying that the enemy's shot may be dis- tributed in the same proportion as the prize money— the greatest part among the officers." A REAL HERO.—M. de Vauban once- sent a common soldier to examine the outposts of the enemy. The man cheerfully obeyed the order, and, though ex- posed to a sharp fire, remained until he received a ball in his body. He returned to make his report with a calm air and aspect, although the blood was streaming from his wound. Vauban praised his courage, and offered him money, which thejsoldier refused. "No, general," said he, it would spoil the credit of the action," THE PEER'S POLITE LETTER WRITER.- Specimens of the most approved styles in which a peer may address a tradesman without compromising his. dignity are subjoined from authentic examples No. I. From the Earl of Winklebury (date of creation, 1865). to his hatter, Mr. Wm. Blair Blair,-Send a new hat, immediately, to Winklebury Park. (Signed) Winkle. bury. N a. II. From the Marquis of Birmingham fdate of creation 1803) to the same The Marquis of Birming- ham presents his compliments to Wm. Blair, and requests him to forward a new hat without unnecessary delay.—No III. From the Duke of Elderborough (date of creation 1517) to the same. Mr. William Blair. Dear Sir, Will you please send me another hat at your early convenience ? Yours truly, RICHARD ELDER. BOROUGH. PHILLIP III. of Spain one day was gravely sitting by Ms fireside, and the man who had made the fire having put on so much wood that the sovereign was nearly stifled with heat-his Majesty's sense of dignity not allowing him-how truly Spanish I-to rise from his chair as a common person would have done-the servants dared not enter the room, because it was against etiquette. To King Phillip enter the Marquis de Potat, of very "blue blood indeed. Ordered to damp the fire, the courtier bowed and scraped, but did nothing more, alleged that he was forbidden by court etiquette to perform such an office, which belonged, as of right, to a nobleman of bluer blood still, viz., the duke out hunting, the duke d'Usseda. That heavy swell" being out hunting, the fire burned up more fiercely, the king stood it rather than lese dignity by moving, and, as a sequel of a per- fectly true historical story, his Royal blood was so ter- ribly over-heated th^t erysipelas of bead set in next day, and carried off Philip III. in the 24th year of his age.