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

HINTS UPON GARDENING. KITCHEN GARDEN,—To be kept very clear of dead weeds and rubbish, and the muck-pit to be emptied at the first opportunity, and the stuff turned to the frost. Earth artichokes, store potatoes, store endive, parsley, and lettuces in old frames; get hand-glasses on cauli- flowers, sow peas and beans, if you mean to risk it keep the unoccupied ground in a state of agitation. FLOWER GARDEN.—Dahlias: Take up at once, or as soon as the frost has spoilt their beauty. A few dahlias which we took up on clean stems by disbudding rather late in the season are now nice standards in pots, and will make a show under glass for some time to come. This may be a useful hint to those who have heavy demands upon them to keep conservatories gay. Con- tinue to plant hardy bulbs a sound loam moderately manured will grow any of the kinds ordinarily used in beds and borders. Large bulbs placed with their crowns four inches from the surface, small ones two inches. Take up dahlia and Marvel of Peru roots, dry carefully, and store safe from frost. Air hardy plants in pits well, aid look out for mildew and vermin. Make all speed to complete improvements and alterations. FRUIT GARDEN. -Pruning should be commenced at once. Old apple-trees infested with vermin should be well scrubbed with a hard brush dipped in warm brine, and all the holes stopped up with a paste made of clay, sulphur, soot, and cow dung. Plant at once all bush and tree fruits. Stake newly-planted trees. Put in cuttings of gooseberry and currant trees. Prune vines and wall-fruit trees. FRAME.—Auriculas Damp is now their great enemy, and yet water must be given if they want it at the root. Keep the glass over them, and give air liberally. Carna- tions Same as auriculas. GREENHOUSE AND STOVE.—Azaleas.—Keep cool, or they may start too soon a few may be started very qently for the first bloom. Camellias to be arranged for their order of blooming, and those to come in first to be put in a warm house, and to have weak manure-water. Cinerarias have now their seasonal ordeal to pass through, and must have every proper attention, or mildew will eat them up. Sulphur them if there is the least sign of the plague, and give plenty of air. Get specimen plants into shape, and put the early ones into their blooming pots stop ten days after shifting. Pelargoniums have been pretty free from disasters hitherto; but the season of mildew is upon us. Use fire-heat by day only during frost and damp, train and stop, water sparingly; do not wet the foliage. Fuchsias stored under stages had better not be pruned, except just the points of the longest shoots, as it causes them to break before they are wanted. Late struck plants will be in nice bloom now for the conservatory, and cuttings may now be put in for early plants. Geraniums ought to be out of their beds and established in pots by this time. If any remain out, get them up before they melt into a jelly, and give them a warm berth for a week or two, to enable them to get hold ef the new stuff in which they are potted. Poor sandy stuff for all bedders that are merely to be kept, as the less growth the better. Keep the house as cool as possible to be safe from frost. Give plenty of room, or the plants will get spindled and mildewed. Plants to be forced should remain in the greenhouse a fortnight before going to the stove. Roses, Siberian lilacs, deutzias, camellias, azaleas, double flowering peaches, &c., should be brought on in batches to keep up a succession. Keep vines well syringed where they have broken well; let the heat be moderate. —Gardener's Magazine.

IUJYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. At the monthly council held last week, his Grace the Duke of Richmond was unanimously elected a governor and vice-president of the society. The implement com- mittee recommended that a gold medal be offered for the best system of drying corn and saving hay in wet weather, sufficiently economical for practical purposes. On the motion of the Duke of Richmond, warmly supported by Lord Tredegar, Lord Walsingham, and Colonel Challoner, it was resolved that on the retire- ment of Mr. Henry Hall Dare, the council wish to express their sense of the ability and integrity he has displayed in carrying out the duties of his office, and their regret that a change in the arrangements of the society has necessitated his retirement." It was de- cided to hold the meeting of 1870 at some place in the counties of Berks, Bucks, Hants, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, or Sussex, and the meeting of 1871 in district H, which comprises Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and North Wales.

A BROKEN HEART. The other day an inquest was held at Newry on the body of a young woman whose name was stated to be Elizabeth Carvey. It is stated that some years ago she was at a boarding-school in England, and while there be- came acquainted with a man in a respectable position, who had gone over from Ireland on business. Ee is alleged to have seduced her, and she went over to Newry to seek maintenance from him, but he discarded her. She knew his house, and in a burst of passion broke the windows, for which, it is said, she was afterwards incar- cerated in gaol—or at least had to pay a fine. After. wards she took lodgings in a house situated near her seducer's residence, and for the space of eight or ten years maintained herself by her o4n industry. As wss proved at the inquest, she died of a broken heart.

A BRAVE BOY. A remarkable instance of courage and presence of mind in a boy has just been rewarded by the presenta- tion of the Royal Humane Society's medal, and the thanks of the society inscribed on parchment. On the 17th ult. the child of a man named Caswell, a black- smith, living at Marlborough, Wiltshire, while playing with his brother (the two being about two and three years old respectively), fell down a well 23 feet deep, which had been inadvertently left open, and which contained a depth of water of between seven and eight feet. The other child immediately gave the alarm, and their father ran out in great agitation and saw the child floating on the water. He at once let down the chain, which was very much worn and rusty, and to which no bucket was attached, intend- ing to descend by it himself and try and save the child, when his son, William Caswell, a lad of sixteen, ran up, and, observing that he would go down as he was the lightest, immediately let himself down by the chain, holding on by one hand while he drew out of the water with the other his little brother. He then stood with his feet on the sides of the well, supporting himself by his back, and tied the chain round the child's waist, who was then drawn up exhausted and apparently lifeless, but gradually recovered under proper treatment, and without having sustained any further injury than that caused by the immersion. The lad, William Caswell, remained in his perilous position in the well until the chain, together with a rope which had been procured by some men who had hastened to the spot, was let down to him, which he tied to his own waist, and reached the top in safety.

Facts and Facetiae. —♦— DON'T put your watch under your pillow; man should never "sleep upon his watch." THERE'S many a slip between the cup and the Hp, and not a few between the kiss and the ring. A BEAU dismissed by a belle and an arrow dis- missed by a bow are apt to be off in a hurry. THE grocer who is dishonest in the use of his scales lies in weight to deceive. THE most valuable help a man ever gets is when he helps himself. No man is happy who is not cheered by the music of a bird in his bosom. A POOR woman can see more sympathy in a six- pence than in streams of tears. MrsERs take as much care of their money as if they owned it, and use it as little as if they didn't. DON'T take too much interest in the affairs of your neighbours. Six per cent. will do. AY HE SR is a lady like a trout ?—When she takes a fly that brings her to the Bank. WHY is the sua like a good loaf ?—Because it's light when it rises. You cannot preserve happy domestic pairs in family jars. WHY does a cabman think it a fine day when it rains hard?—Because he considers it fare-weather. I LIKE your impudence," as a pretty girl said when her lover kissed her. WHO was the first post-boy?—Cadmus; he carried letters from Egypt to Greece. WHY is a trick of legerdemain like declining an offer of marriage ?—Because it is a sleight-of-hand. WHY is a bird a greedy creature ?-Because it never eats less than a peck. WHEN is a fowi's neck like a bell?—When it's rung for dinner. WHY should a quill pen never be used inditing secret matters ?—Because it's apt to split. II I DON'T remember having seen you before," as the lawyer said to his conscience. NEYER speak of a man's virtues before his face, nor of his vices behind his back. COME, sheer off," as the ram said to the man who was cutting off his wool. WASTE of wealth is sometimes retrieved; waste of health, seldom; but waste of time, never. WHAT net is the most likely to catch a hand- some, but vain woman ?—A coro-net. IF a small boy is called a 1\ lad," is it proper to call a bigger boy a ladder 2" WHAT is the best kind of shooting in winter?— To have coals shot in your cellar. PATIENCE is a female virtue nowhere so con- spicuous as at the dressing table. GOOD ADYICE !-Avoid hypocrisy, my dear ooys, in all its moods and tenses. If you think a nun is a fool, tell him so, unless he is bigger than yourself. IF you let trouble sit upon your soul like a hen upon her nest, you may expect the hatching of a large brood. IF you can't coax fish to bite, try your per- suasive powers upon a cross dog, and you will be sure to succeed. SHALL I have your hand ?" said an exquisite to a belle as the dance was about to commence. With all my heart," was the soft response. A YOUNG lady who was perfectly thunderstruck at hearing of her friend's engagement, has since been provided with a lightning rod. AN Irishman who had passed some time in China, being asked if he could speak the language, replied that he could speak broken China. A THRIFTY wife wonders why the men can't manage to do something useful. Might they not as well amuse themselves in smoking hams as smoking cigars ? "WHAT does it matter?" said Mr. Rufus, when he applied the Balm of Arabia to his poll; (( we must all dye some time or another." Dire reflection. A GIRL, presenting herself at a house where No Irish need apply," in answer to the question where she came from, said, Sure, couldn't you persave by me accint that it's Frinch I am ?" AN incorrigible idler being taken to task for his laziness, I tell you, gentlemen, you are mistaken. I have not a lazy bone in my body; but the fact is- I was born tired." "GENERAL," said Major Jack Downing, "I always observe that those people who have a great deal tliJ say about being ready to shed their last drop of blood, are amazin' particular about the first drop." I SAY, ma," exclaimed a little minx of thirteen, do you know what the pyrotechniial remedy is for a crying infant ?" Gracious goodness me No, I never heard of such a thing Well, ma, it's rocket!" AN Athenian, who wanted eloquence, but was very brave, when another had, in a long and brilliant speech, promised great affairs, got up and said, Men of Athens, all that he has said, I will do." QUEEN CAROLINE having some distant notion of enclosing St.iJames's-park entirely for the use of the Royal family, consulted Lord Chesterfield about the expenses; who said, Why, madam, I think it may cost you about three crowns." A LAWYER'S client being shown into an office, was pressed to take a seat and uncover his head, but stoutly declined, urging as his reason that he desired to keep expenses as much as possible.American paper. OH, mother, do send for the doctor," said a little boy of three years old. What for, my dear ? Why, there's a gentleman in the parlour who says he'll die if Jane don't marry him; and she says she won't." "I GivE THEE ALL."—A stingy husband threw all the blame of the lawlessness of his children in company by saying his wife always gives them their own way." Poor things," was her prompt reply; it's all I have to give them." ARE you alarmed at the approach of the King of Terrors ? asked a man of a dying neighbour. No," was the emphatic reply. No I have lived six-and-thirty years with the Queen of Terrors, and the king can't be worse'n she, I'll be bound." ARCHIEPISCOPAL WIT.-A bon mot is attri- buted to Archbishop Manning. Somebody was express- ing his regret at Mr. Gladstone's defeat in Lancashire, and his having to put up with the representation of a third-rate borough. "I don't see," replied the arch- bishop, "how we could do better than as we have already done-take the time of day from Greenwich." AUNT SUSAN, about 70 years of age, is unani- mous on man. She says, If all the men were taken off, she'd make arrangements for her funeral forthwith." She also says, Suppose all the men were in one coun- try, and all the women in another, and a big river between them. Good gracious what lots of poor women would be drowned." THE LAST "MOT" OF M. THIERS.-He was discussing the English and French elections, and his friend said, For my part, I think we are all going down hill, every year more and more radical; I firmly believe that in 50 years all Europe will be republican." "Fifty years!" replied M. Thiers: "I only give twenty-five." Very few practical Frenchmen are, however, of the opinion of the old Orleanist, who thought that it was all over with royalty for ever after the events of 1848. A JOVIAL artist was painting some divine, who felt it incumbent upon him to give the painter a moral lesson during one of his sittings. Somewhat in awe of the artist, he began rather nervously; but as the knight of the brush painted away without any sign of annoyance, he gathered courage as he proceeded, and finally administered a pretty good sermon. He paused for a reply, and confessed afterwards that he never felt so insignificant in his life as when the artist, with the urbane but positive authority of his profession, merely said, Turn your head a little to the right, and shut your mouth." A PAVIOK, to whom Dr. Ratcliffe, the cele- brated physician, was indebted, after many fruitless attempts, caught him just stepping out of his chariot, and demanded the amount of his bill. "What, you rascal!" exclaimed the doctor," do you pretend to be paid for such a piece of work ? Why, you have spoiled my pavement, and then covered it over with earth to hide your bad work." "Doctor, doctor," said the oavior, "mine is not the only bad work that the earth hides." "You dog," rejoined the laughing doctor, you are a wit; you must be poor come in, and I'll pay you;" which he did.

BRITISH CHESS ASSOCIATION. The meetings which this association held from day to day last week, at St. James's-hall, terminated late on Saturday night. Friday was perhaps the most important of the week, that being the day for the blindfold and telegraph matches. The blindfold games were played between Messrs. Blackburne and Steinitz and five oppo- nents, each of the latter having two boards, and playing a game simultaneously with each of the former. The result was that Mr. Blackburne mm three games, drew one, and lost one Mr. Steinitz won one game, lost^two, and drew two. The two blindfold players afterwards played against each other, but drew the game. The telegraph match consisted of eight single-handed games played by gentlemen of the Westrainster Chess Club against the same number of the Bristol Athensum. The metropolitan players were successful, winning four games and drawing two. On Saturday, Mr. Lowenthal played 17 simultaneous games, and won 15.

ATROCIOUS MURDER IN PHILA- DELPHIA. Mrs. Hill, with her son-in-law and daughter, occupied a fine house in a wealthy quarter of the city. Mr. Twitchell, the son-in-law, is not rich, but he has expec- ted that upon the death of the elder lady her property would descend to his wife. On Sunday evening (Nov. 22) a female servant, returning late, was only admitted after long delay. Passing through the house the servant saw the body of Mrs. Hill lying upon the ground below the rear windows. Sue dragged it into the house, and then, by loud out- cries, brought to the spot several policemen. Exami- nation showed that the aged lady had been cruelly murdered, and the corpse thrown from an upper window. On viewing the body Twitchell exhibited no emotion, but at once advanced the theory that the victim had jumped or fallen from a window. The officers observing fresh blood-stains on the shirt of Twitchell felt justified in arresting him, and he was taken to the station-house. Subsequently his wife was arrested upon suspicion of com- plicity in the affair. When the facts became known great excitement sprang up in Philadelphia, and if the people could have had their way both of the prisoners would have been lynched. The coroner'sjhiquest had resulted in the indictment of the Twitchells. A damaging cir- sumstance against Twitchell is, that being lately requested by Mrs. Hill to prepare a deed in her name, he had it executed in the name of his wife.

DE GUSTIBUS. The Petite Presse publishes an account of a falling out between Alexandre Dumas, sen., and Rossini. A cookery receipt was the origin of the matter, and the following letters were exchanged on the occasion. Dumas wrote: De-ar and illustrious Master,—It ap- pears that you have a splendid mode of arranging ma. caroni. You, who have done so much for the ears of your contemporaries, should effect something for their mouths, and then from being blessed by all, as you are, you would become adored." Rossini answered :—" I have, in truth, a marvellous receipt for dressing ma- caroni, but I keep it for myself and my friends. Come and dine with me on Tuesday next, and you will under- stand that when a man possesses such a treasure he guards it sedulously for himself." The dinner, Dumas declared, was an indifferent one, and this latter always afterwards called Rossini a "faux gourmand."

STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR. Between five and six o'clock on Sunday morning a very daring capture of a burglar took place at Attercliffe, a suburb of Sheffield, by a police-constable named Lawson. He was passing down the road on his beat when he noticed a light in a public-house kept by Mr. Cocking, and suspecting something was wrong, he got over a wall into a yard, and went to the back door, which was unfastened. Before going in he looked through the kitchen window, and by the light of the gas saw two men in masks. He at once went into the kitchen, when one of the men presented a pistol at him, and the other took up the fender and struck him with it on the head. The constable instantly dashed at the man with the pistol, threw his arms around him, and clung to him tightly. Then the landlord was heard moving upstairs, and the man who had used the fender turned the gas out and made his escape. Lawson and the prisoner scuffled in the kitchen, but Lawson never let him go, notwithstanding that he got several violent blows on the head with the pistol, and he forced the man into the yard, where both fell down exhausted. The landlord then came, and, all being dark, nearly fell over the two men, but, finding the state of the case, he took the policeman's handcuffs from his pocket, and made fast the prisoner, who was shortly afterwards taken to the Sheffield police-station. Lawson was very severely beaten about the head and face, and he bled all the way to Sheffield, but he never left his prisoner till he saw him safely locked up. The prisoner's name is Siddall, and seme years ago he was sentenced to four years' penal servitude for a highway robbery at Handsworth, near Sheffield. He had on him a loaded pistol and some cartridges. He was brought up at Attercliffe, and was well known to the landlord of the public-house, so that it is supposed he intended to shoot him if recognised by him. A quantity of articles, chiefly wearing apparel, was found packed up ready for removal.

DISCOVERY OF THREE HUMAN SKELETONS. A few days ago, as some men in the employment of the West Bromwich local board were removing part of a garden, the property of Mr. Bottley, of Blacklake, in order to widen New-street, Hill Top, West Bromwich, and at a depth of about three feet, they found a number of bones. Supposing that they belonged to some animals, they sent some of them away in the rubbish, which was emptied on some waste land about half a mile off; but on coming upon three perfect human skulls and a num- ber of other bones they gathered them together and placed them in a bag. Mr. John Martin, who is a medisal student at the College, Birmingham, was shown the bones, and pronounced them to be those of three full-grown human bodies. He was of opinion that one portion of them belonged to a female skeleton. The house connected with the garden where the bones were found is a very large one, and is at present unoccupied.

EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF POLICEMEN. An incident among the strangest in the history of the police force, and one which is affording considerable local gossip, has just happened in Parsonstown. The Earl of Rosse, accompanied by his brothers and some friends, were returning along the Banagher-road from shooting, when, within a mile of the Castle, they were met by some constabulary of the Annah Station, who peremptorily ordered the nobleman to halt, one of the policemen giving proof that the command was no joke by deliberately loading his rifle and making the most convincing gestures. His lordship and party had the mind to forego a long parleying, simply contenting themselves by stating who they were. But the police- men would listen to no statement or explanation, and his lordship and party had no alternative but to save themselves from the indignity of the handcuffs, or pro- bably a personal encounter, by going with the police- men into town, where the tables were soon turned, as the sub-inspector, on hearing the strange narrative, forth- with had the whole of his lordship's late escort taken into custody.

SWINDLING EXTRAORDINARY AT CARDIFF. A workman of the name of Ashton has recently suc- ceeded in carrying out an extraordinary swindle at Cardiff. He professed to have been left a large property at Hull, and Tooting, near London, and produced letters, apparently written by a London solicitor, giving particulars of the estates, and the announcement of his good luck was disseminated far and wide by the public press. The prospect of unbounded wealth brought him a host of friends, all only too anxious to assist him in any way they. could, and as it was necessary that he should obtain" temporary" assistance before taking possession of the property, he found no difficulty in obtaining loans to a considerable amount. From one he obtained goods and money to the extent of £200; from another, XIOO a third, jE60 and, altogether, it is estimated that he managed to comfort himself with goods and money to the extent of £ 1,000. Being of a religious turn of mind he engaged to buy a large music-hall for a chapel, ordered a costly communion service, and his generosity was the theme of more than one discourse in the pulpit. He engaged several friends to be the stewards of his estates, and these favoured individuals, together with several others, actually accompanied him to Hull. The morning after their arrival Ashton could not be found. Then the ex- traordinary swindle was discovered, and the clever Ashton has not since been heard of, it being believed that he has sailed for America.

STREET TBAFFIO SIGNALLING. In the middle of the road, between Bridge-street and Great George-street, Westminster, Messrs. Saxby and Farmer, the well-known railway signalling engineers, have erected a column, 20 feet high, with a spacious gas- lamp near the top, the design of which is the applica- tion of the semaphore principle to the public streets at points where foot passengers have hitherto depended for their protection on the arm and gesticulations of a policeman—often a very inadequate defence against accident. The lamp will usually present to view a green light, which will serve foot passengers by way of caution, and at the same time remind drivers of vehicles and equestrians that they ought at this point to slacken their speed. The effect of substi- tuting a red light for the green one and of raising the arms of the semaphore-a simultaneous operation—will be to arrest the traffic on each side. The signals, when depressed, will indicate that there is a regular foot cross- ing, and the signals will not interfere, it is thought, in the slighest degree with the ordinary use of the crossing. The diameter of the light is six inches, the signalling arms are four feet long, and the column, as a whole, presents a handsome appearance. The machinery of the apparatus for this new application of gas appears extremely simple, and the general effect of the in- vention is the substitution of a gigantic signalling apparatus for a scarcely visible policeman. A more difficult crossing-place could scarcely be mentioned, and should the anticipations of the inventor be realised, similar structures will no doubt be speedily erected in many other parts the metropolis. Of course suitable regulations will be issued for the guidance of the police, by whom the signals will be worked, and also of the public.

PURCHASING MANCHESTER GOODS BY SAMPLE. Judgment has been given in "Mody and othersr. Gregson and others," a case of some interest to the Manchester trade. The plaintiffs had purchased a large lot of grey shirting for the defendants, by sample. The presence of China clay was discovered after they had been shipped to India, and the goods were then found to be unsaleable. In an action before Baron Bramwell the plaintiffs obtained a verdict for £ 1,036, and subsequently the discussions were renewed before the judges ia error upon a bill of exceptions. The question, in short, was whether the purchase of the goods by sample did away with the understanding of a warranty of merchantable- ness of the articles. The previous judgment was affirmed.

AN AUSTRALIAN TRAGEDY. A case of love, attempted murder, and suicide has occurred near Ararat, where a man named Farriut killed himself after a very deliberate attempt to assassinate a young woman of the name of Robertson, to whom he was attached. It appears that on Monday evening, Sept. 2, Miss Robertson was leaving the Wesleyan Chapel, when she met Farriut, whom she mildly re- proached for not attending the chapel. He made an excuse for himself, and then presented a pistol at the girl and fired. She ran away, but was chased, when she turned and caught Farriut's hand, thus changing the direction of his aim at the moment when he fired. The first shot took effect under the left ear, and the second under the right ear. One ball was extracted, but the other has not been found, and the girl now suffers very little, and apparently will in a few days be in her usual health. On the following Sunday night the body of Farriut was found in a field near Ararat, lying in a pool of blood, from a pistol wound, which appeared to be self-inflicted. It is believed that he committed suicide within a very few minutes after the 'attempt on the life of his unfortunate sweetheart. —-■ —— nffg

LORD NAPIER IN {EGYPT. Details have been received of the splendid reception given to Lord Napier at Cairo, where he went to take the Grand Cross of India to the Viceroy of Egypt. He was lodged in the Palace of Delight, where the Prince of Wales formerly stayed, and he went from thence in pro- cession through the streets to the Palace of Abessiah, in the Desert, where the Viceroy was waiting for him, and the investiture took place. There was a review after- wards and a grand dinner; and a banquet, a ball, and complimentary visit followed. "Prosperity to Egypt" and "the Health of the Queen," were among the toasts drunk at the banquet.

SNAKE-BITE EXPERIMENTS. The Indian Medical Gazette of the 2nd November nas an interesting but painful account of nearly 30 ex- periments by Dr. Fayrer on the effects of snake-bite on venomous snakes, harmless snakes, horses, cats, and fowls. It results from them that snake poison has no injurious effect whatever on other venomous snakes, but that innocuous snakes, as a reward for their innocence, when bitten by venomous ones, die almost as instan- taneously as fowls. Further, it appears that a few drops of the blood of an animal which has been killed by snake-bite, injected into another healthy animal, trans- mit the venom sufficiently to cause death, though not within so short a time. Two horses bitten by a cobra and daboia died in 1 hour 20 minutes, and 11 hours 45 minutes, respectively. In both cases the death appeared a painful one. But the most terrible of all snakes appears to be the ophiophagus elaps. This wretch attains to a great size, twelve feet, and even more. It is very fierce, and is always ready, not only to attack when opposed, but also to pursue. It is reported to have chased men for hours when disturbed in its native haunts;" and it is intensely venomous. The only consolation is that it is rare in this country, and that it makes the other snakes rarer, since, as its name denotes, it eats them.-Pioneer.

NECESSARIES. The question as to what are necessaries for a young gentleman not of age seems to be a long way from a perfectly satisfactory answer. A case has just been heard in the Court of Queen's Bench, in which Messrs. Jenner, jewellers, of St. James's-street, brought an action to recover .£383 from a gentleman now of age, who had incurred the debt during his minority. The sum of X40 had been paid into court, and found by the jury to be sufficient, many of the articles supplied not being deemed necessaries. The Chief Justice was very severe upon a recent decision of the Court @f Error on the point at issue, remarking that he once had a clear idea of what the law was, but i,tho judgment in question had rendered confusion worse confounded.

AN AMERICAN EDITOR SHOT. The notorious H. Paves Pollard was shot and instantly killed on the 24th ult. in Biohmond by one Grant. Pollard was the editor of the Southern Opinion, pub- lished in Richmond. On Saturday he gave what pur- ported to be an account of the elopement of Miss Grant, daughter of a wealthy dealer in tobacco, and hinted at previous improper conduct. Pollard drove up to his office on the fatal morning, alighted from his carriage, and took a step or two in advance. At that instant a shot was fired from the upper room of a building opposite Pollard, riddled with buckshot, fell, groaned, and expired. The assassin, a brother of the slandered woman, was at once arrested. On his way to gaol he was cheered lustily by the mob, and he has been visited by great crowds of sympathising persons facts showing the estimation in which Pollard was held. Upon the body were found three Dsrringer pistols. Pollard was ever ready to pull trigger upon any or no provocation. Withinj twojyears past he has been en- gaged in more than a dozen shooting affrays. Last year he entered the hall of the Virginia House of Delegates, and emptied a revolver at certain legislators who had spoken unfavourably of his newspaper.

SHOCKING OUTRAGE AT ABERDARE, As day was dawning on Saturday morning a most atrocious outrage was committed at a small farm-house in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Richard, on the slope of the mountain in Cromdare, near Aberdare. At the time mentioned the inmates of the house, ten in number, were thrown into a state of excitement and alarm by a terrific explosion. The men working at the Cromdare Pit both saw and heard the explosion, and hastened to the spot. They found a small cask of gunpowder had been placed in the dairy and pantry, a train laid, and then fired. The roof of both rooms was completely blown off, every domestic article in them destroyed, and some articles of clothing hanging on lines in the kitchen were burnt. The whole of the inmates of the house were in bed at the time, and, mar- vellous to relate, escaped uninjured. The man who perpetrated the outrage is said to be a Thomas Morris, living at Aberaman. He was found by some workmen near the farm, with his clothes burnt off him, and his person burnt severely from his breast to his feet. In the dairy was found a cap, umbrella, and a collier's lamp, which Morris's wife identified as belonging to her husband, who lies in a precarious state.

THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. The wind having become southerly this week we have had a return to damp mild weather, so vegetation as yet has had very little to endure from frost; and though on the Black Sea as well as Baltic much ice has formed, we question whether the stoppage will be permanent at all ports with such sudden fluctuations. Nothing can exceed the healthy look of the early planted wheat, which in some places so covers the ground that it can scarcely be seen, and plants in such condition have become too strong to be seriously affected, even by a severe winter. It is the changes of spring and the ravages of insects which have most to be feared. The trade yet drags on heavily, but we hear of such a free use for cattle that such a necessary and yet we cannot help saying, a mal-appropriation, cannot fail greatly to diminish our reported superabund- ance. But while spring corn remains so scarce and dear, what else can be expected ? Barley it seems, however, has passed its zenith, and the subsidence of the American demand must be considered a benefit to the country, for growers might have appropriated more land to its growth than an average consumption would have warranted; and should wheat be only of secondary consideration with the growers, the population would soon find the difference. A rise of 5s. in spring would be a mere bagatelle on present rates; and as nothing now pays importers, and importations must fall off, it is not at all improbable we shall see it, not- withstanding the present imperturbable dulness. The elections were lately blamed, but since they are over we have bread at 6d. The fact is, we have not been used to such an abundance and such a quality, and the double blessing to the community is lost sight of in the dis- satisfaction of middle men. For mildew, rust, and famine are the pets of a certain class, whose sympathy seldom exceeds the circumference of their pockets. The dulness lately noted in France has continued, with several markets rather lower. Belgium has taken the same turn, but Holland, though dull, has not yielded. Hambro', Dantzic, and several places in Germany re- mained much as previously, not being so much de. pressed by the probable closing of the ports as expected. New York has rather given way, but exports were only moderate.—Mark-lane Express.

MAZZINI. A correspondent of the Gaulois who had an interview with Mazzini at Lugano on Dec. 1, affirms positively, from what he saw of him, and from what he told him, that the great Italian is now convalescent. Mazzini rose from his arm-chair to receive his visitor, walked with a firm step, and talked to him for a long while. He said he had been dangerously ill, and was quite aware that his enemies, who were many, had been kind enough to say a little good of him on the assumption that he was' about to die. But he hoped to disappoint them. He had had five very serious attacks, and at one time thought himself that all was over with him, but he was now very much better. This correspondent was asto- nished to find Mazzini smoking very strong Swiss cigars, which would derange the stomachs of many people in robust health. While he was talking four pet birds, flying backward and from an open cage, perched fre- quently on his beard, face, hands, and shoulders.

DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE NEAR DERRY. A man named Campbell has been taken before the magistrates for the county of Donegal, charged by James Browne, of Lenamore in the same county, with a crime, the particulars of which are, according to the statement of Browne himself, as follow :—About 4 o'clock in the morning he had risen from his bed to go to Derry market. He was sitting at the kitchen fire, while his servant man was loading the carts with grain, when suddenly the window was knocked in with a frightful crash, and an explosion of gunpowder immediately followed in the kitchen. The house was instantly filled with smoke. Mr. Browne had the presence of mind to run to the door, when he distinctly saw the prisoner run away-it being a clear moonlight. He called out to his servant to run after Campbell, while he returned to put out the blaze in his house. The servant, who is an elderly man, did not give chase to Campbell, as he was afraid that he had weapons about him, thinking it was a gun that had been dis- charged through the window. He followed Mr. Browne into the house to arose the sleeping inmates, and when he entered he was so suffocated with the smoke that he fell to the ground. If Mr. Browne had not been up at that unusual hour, it is probable that not a single being in the house would have survived. What makes the deed more atrocious on Campbell's part is the fact that his wife and child were sleeping in Mr. Browne's house when he perpetrated this dastardly outrage. Mr. Browne is Campbell's brother-in-law, and his wife has been sepa- rated from him for several years, and lives with the former. The constabulary at Muff were told of the occurrence, when they promptly started in pursuit of Campbell, and found him at the ship quay, in Donegal, when they arrested him. The missile was produced in court, and appeared to be a chamois leather bag, in which was a stone of nearly a pound weight, and had contained a good quantity of powder. There was a short stick fastened in the bag along which was tied a fuse, and, when Campbell had lighted this, he threw all through the window. The magistrates remanded the prisoner.

PUBLIC HEALTH. The weekly return issued by authority of the Registrar- General states that in the week that ended on Saturday, 28th November, 4,534 births and 3,488 deaths were registered in London and in 13 other large towns of the United Kingdom. The annual rate of mortality was 28 per 1,000 persons living. In London the births of 1,117 boys and 1,035 girls, in all 2,152 children, were registered in the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years 1858-67 the average number, corrected for increase of population, is 2,093. The deaths registered in London during the week were 1,561. It was the 48th week of the year and the average number of deaths for that week is, with a correction for increase of population, 1,646. The deaths in the present return are less by 85 than the estimated amount, but exceed by 54 the number recorded in the preceeding week.

A NEW FABRIC. At a meeting of the Royal Botanic Society, held last Saturday, Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood in the chair, amoEgst other interesting donations reported were sam- ples of a new fabric for ladies' dresses, manufactured ef China grass fibre." This fabric, which is dyed of all colours, has somewhat the appearance of a figured alpaca. The secretary said that the plant which pro- duces this fibre is not a grass, but a species of nettle (Boehmeria nivea), extensively cultivated in India and China. Specimens of the plant had been growing in the society's Economic Garden for many years out of doors, without any protection, but it is too tender to prove a remunerative crop in England. In the Channel Islands, the south of France, Spain, &c., where four er six crops could be obtained in one season, no doubt it will answer. The cleaned fibre is very beautiful, exceedingly fine and glossy, resembling silk or asbestos. In Queens- land, Australia, the plant has proved to grow much finer and stronger, and with much less care than in its native country; it is also being introduced into the cotton- growing states of America.

ROYAL VISIT TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. On Tuesday afternoon her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Prussia (Princess Royal of England) honoured the Hospital for Sick Children, in Great Ormond-street, with a visit. Her Royal Highness, who was attended by Lady C. Barrington, was received by Sir William Jenner, Bart., M.D., the hospital officials being in attendance. Her Royal Highness passed through the wards open to visitors; the other wards, not public, are for infectious cases (without which no hospital for children would be complete), and are most effectually cut off and isolated from the main building. Her Royal Highness made many inquiries concerning the arrangements for sick children, and those recovering from sickness, and remained a con- siderable time in the hospital. Hospitals for children, are not unknown in Prussia; indeed at Berlin a children's department was founded some years before the hospital in Great Ormond-street, which was opened in 1852.

SUICIDE OF A SOLDIER. An inquest was held at the Coventry Barracks on Friday touching the death of Robert Allen, a private in the 1st King's Dragoon Guards. The deceased had lately held the rank of corporal, and having been reduced, owing to intem- perance, his habits had become still more dissipated. On Friday a gunshot was heard, and the deceased was subsequently found stretched on the floor insensible, a carbine lying near him. From the medical evidence the deceased must have placed the carbine in his mouth, as the shot had passed through the back of his neck. When discovered life did not appear to be extinct, but death ensued in a very few minutes. The deceased, who was aged thirty, had been eleven years a soldier. I (.4.4-

Our Miscellany. —+— OIL PAINTING UPON ZINC.—Every painter is aware of the difficulty experienced in making oil colours adhere to articles of sheet zinc. Professor Boettger, however, has recently published a process by which, it is stated, the desired result can be accomplished, this process consisting in the previous application, by means of a hard brush, of a mordant, composed of one part of chloride of copper, one part of nitrate of copper, one part of sal ammoniac, and sixty-four parts of water, to which is afterwards added one part of hydrochloric acid. The zinc turns of a deep black immediately after the application, changing after drying (twelve to twenty- four hours) to a dirty black, greyish white shade, upon which any oil colour, once applied, will adhere with the greatest tenacity.-Builder. RAILWAYS.—It is interesting to know that the wooden sleepers on which the rails rest perish at the rate of X4,000,000 a year, and to renew them 10,000 acres of pine forest must be cut down and sawn into sleepers. The lines near London, unless of steel, must be renewed every year, while in country districts they last for 20 years. The average work of a locomotive is 20,000 miles a year. The traffic between Liverpool and Manchester is in excess of all the accommodation that can be provided the canal traffic, instead of being superseded, is still highly prosperous. London is now the central market for the j scious metals, and gold and silver are carried as regularly as butter and cheese. Goods ordered by telegraph from Manchester in the evening are delivered from London tke first thing next morning. "The bullock that was grazing under the shadow of Ben Wyvis may, within 48 hours, be figuring as the principal piece de resistance at a West-end dinner. Salmon is sent up to London from the north of Scotland, and then sent back to customers in the north of Scotland by the West-end fishmongers. Such are the curiosities that are mingled with the marvels of steam. And steam is yet in its infancy There are men still living who saw the first steam vessel; but there is no man living who can venture to predict the limits of those changes which it-seems destined to work over the face of all the globe.-Lonclon Society. THE BATTLES OF THE CRABS.—The common edible crabs of the fish-shops are found on the rocky parts of our coasts, the smaller animals inhabiting holes in the cliffs, but the larger and more experienced dwel- ling in deeper waters. When caught and kept alone in an aquarium, one of these crabs may become tame and quite familiar; but if placed with others of its race, a series of desperate battles will soon declare the degree to which the ferocity of the crab may extend. In these fights, claws, limbs, and shells are torn, wrenched, and cracked with a fury and energy to which a battle between two game-cocks is but play. When a large crab has seized a smaller, he tears open the shell, and scoops out the flesh of his living captive. Perhaps, while the conqueror is enjoying his feast, a still stronger crab will tear open the body of the victor, and feed upon him. The most singulai fact is, that a crab, while thus being eaten, will actually continue to feed on the victim seized by himself. Here appears a total insensibility to suffer- ing. A crab has been known to lose seven of its limbs in a fight, and immediately after to begin eating a captured mollusk, as if nothing particular had happened. -From Recreative Natural History," in" Cassell's New Popular Educator" for December. THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF LON- DON IN THE TIME OF OLIVER CROMWELL.-It is per- fectly evident that during the Commonwealth no such thing was known to the citizens of London as a trian- gular, three-cornered, or any other hybrid mode of checking the free exercise of the franchise by the con- stituency for upon the Council of Officers, headed by Lambert, giving up their pretensions to the supreme authority, and their selection of Cromwell as 'Lord Protector,' they also determined that the City of London should return six members as the representatives of the city in Parliament." We give the substance of the arrangement, which, though not of long duration, was carried into effect; and which remained without material change until his death in 1658. It was as follows That the number of members for England should be 40e Scotland 30, Ireland 30. Corporations were allowed to choose but one apiece many of the smaller boroughs were totally excluded: only the City of London was allowed to choose six, and some of the larger cities two apiece, and the universities one apiece. None but persons of integrity were to be chosen, of which the Protector was to be the judge.-Salmon', Mist. Gram., 1760.-City Press. AN OLD CHASUBLE.—There is something touching in the following anecdote apart from its historical interest. An aged ecclesiastic presented himself at the cathedral in Avignon, and inquired if they still had an old black chasuble which he described with great minuteness. The official answered in the affirma- tive, and, after some hesitation, he allowed his ques- tioner to take it in his hands and examine it. The examination was not of long duration he pressed it to his lips with reverence. Curious to learn what associa- tions there were connected with the old, worn chasuble to kindle so much emotion, the man in charge asked the venerable old priest what he knew concerning it; where- upon the priest said it had once belonged to him, and was made from the last robe worn by Marie Antoinette. He supported his assertion with so many proofs that the authorities of the cathedral were convinced, and the old chasuble, we are told, is now carefully put away along with the olher treasures.-Once a Week. COOKED THISTLES.—Ude says that thistles are not much relished in England, but in France are held in the highest estimation." Thistle is an entremet usually selected by a French chef to try the skill of a new cook. Chardons are delicious stewed with Spanish sauce, and mix well %ith poached eggs. They are per- fect with beef marrow or with white and veloute sauce. The Spanish thistles are the best, being of the artichoke race. A French epicurean writer says, This dish is the ne plus ultra of human science, and a cook who can cook thistles well is entitled to rank as the first artist in Europe. Under the old regime, the light of glory shone especially on the powdered wig of the Count de Tesse, first groom of Marie Antoinette. He was lost in the flight of the emigres, and never came to the surface again. Thistles en maigre and au parmesan are not difficult to cook, and are extremely good. Persons of inferior genius should endeavour to acquire glory by first caokingtheir thistles in the humbler styles.-Dickens's All the fwr Pound." FALL OF METEORS.—The shower of meteor- promised us by the meteorologists began to fall last night (November 13) about 11 o'clock, and as we go to press we are told they are as numerous and as brilliant as they were several hours ago. From the top of the Times' building a broad expanse of sky is embraced, and from this point the sight was truly magnificent, as one after another the luminous mysteries shot athwart the heavens. From 11.35 to five minutes after our reporter counted 105 possibly as many more escaped his obser- vation, as they frequently appeared simultaneously in both the east and west. Their path was invariably from north to south, and horizontal with the plane of the earth, but slightly curving downward. There were but few of them which were net more luminous than the familiar "falling star," while many were remarkable for their brilliancy. One especially distinguished itself. At about 11.45 it passed towards us from the north, and swept across the entire arc to south-east, about midway in its path developing into a brilliant ball of prismatic fire, gradually fading out as it reached our furthest point of vision, and leaving behind a long trail of luminous cloud, which did not disappear for at least a minute. The meteor itself cannot have been in view less than 10 or 15 seconds. During our observation there were many others about as brilliant as this one, but whose splendours much more rapidly passed away. -New York Times. k d.. PRESENTIMIENTS OF EATH.- S e in his 36th year to write a Requiem, Mozart sadly replied, It will be my own, then and he died as soon as he had finished it. "Did I not teU you truly," he said, musing over the score as he lay dying, "that it was for myself I composed this death-chant ?" Flechier, the great French divine, dreamt that he was to die, and ordered his tomb. "Begin your work at once," was his final instruction to the sculptor, "for there is no time to lose;" and no sooner was the house of death linished than its intending tenant entered upon posses- hat is to be the subject of your next tf rmP1 as^e<^ a merry party of friends of Hogarth. Ihe End of All Things," was the reply. In that case," said one, jokingly, there will be an end of the artist." There will," rejoined Hogarth, with a depth of solemnity that was strange in him. He set about the plate in hot haste, broke up his tools when he had finished it, entitled the print "Finis," and, a short time after its publication, lay stretched in death. "Poor Weston exclaimed Foote, as he stood dejec- tedly contemplating the portrait of a brother actor recently dead, "poor Weston Soon others shall say, I Poor Foote I'" In a few days he was borne out to his burial.—" Thoughts in the Twilight," in 11 Cassell's Magazine for December.

DURING THE PAST WEEK 91 wrecks have bet.1 reported, making for the present year total of 3,184, i.YJ!1jJO¡q