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

PASSING EVENTS. COUNT BISMARCK, on his arrival at Berlin, visited the Ambassadors of France, England, and Russia, and in conversation with these diplomatists expressed his con- fidence in the maintenance of good relations between the Great Powers. IT is reported that the American Government regards the protocol submitted through Mr. Reverdy Johnson for the Settlement of the Alabama claims as equivalent to a concession by Great Britain that her course in recog- nising the belligerent rights of the Southern Confederacy shall also be a subject for consideration by the [arb1- trator. INTELLIGENCE from Cuba says that the insurgents are abandoning the revolt, but they still hold Bayamo and Holguin, and menace Santiaga." A TELEGRAM from Washington, dated December 9, states that the Senate, upon receiving the President's message, refused to hear it read, and adjourned. I HE Grees" .Patriarchate has refused the Bulgarian demand for a self-governed Bulgarian Church as con- trary to ecclesiastical laws, unless sanctioned by a special Orthodox Council to be convened for the discus- sion of that question. THE interior of Fort Lafayette, in New York Har- bour, has been destroyed by fire. THE Fenian Congress has elected General O'Neill as president of the order. No immediate hostilities are proposed by that body. Mr. Hall's majority as mayor of New York was 54,000, out of a total vote of 96,000. ADVICES from Cuba state that a band of insurgents had been routed at Villa del Cobre. Foreigners are joining the Spanish army. General Balmaseda has taken the field against the insurgents. THE Emperor of Austria has issued an address to the army, in which he declares that the monarchy is in need of peace, and they must know how to maintain it. THE latest bulletin issued by the doctors -in attend- ance on the Duke of Brabant says that the state of health of his royal highness is satisfactory. 1l consequence of the insurrection which has occurred at Cadiz the Duke de Montpensier has left Lisbon, and offered to place his sword at the disposal of the Spanish Government; the offer has been declined, a.nd the duke requested to return at once to Lisbon. A REVOLUTION took place at Costa Rica on tha 1st of November, and the President, De Castro, was super- seded by the Vice-President Don Zimener. There was no disturbance of public order, and the ex-President De Castro was left at perfect liberty in his own house. SIR JOHN YOUNG, the new Governor-General of Canada, arrived af Ottawa on the 27th ult., and was received with much enthusiasm, about three thousand persons being present at the railway station to welcome him. He was sworn in on the 1st inst., and the ceremony is said to have been of a very imposing character. THE sweariEg inof members was continued at the House of Commons on Monday. Nearly all the gentlemen who are likely to make their appearance before February have now taken the oaths. THE insurgents at Cadiz have confessed themselves beaten, and General Caballero de Roda entered the city on Sunday afternoon and took their arms. But the pacification of Cadiz has, unfortunately, not quieted the Peninsula. Discontent is general, for poverty, the priests, and the Carlists, are all at work together among the unhappy population. When the news of the Spanish revolution arrived at Fernando Po a deputation waited upon the Governor and asked Mm to declare for the new Government. He at first wished to wait for official despatches, but at length yielded. A jubilee was to be held to celebrate the downfall of Bourbonism, and there was a general feeling of joy at the change. HER MAJESTY held a council on Saturday at Windsor Castle, at which the officers of the Royal Household in the late Government resigned their wands and badges, and these were transferred to their successors. Earl Spencer, Lord Dufferin, and Sir Colman O'Loghlen kiased hands on their several appointments as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Chancellor ef the Duchy of Lancaster, and Judge _Advocate General. Mr. Cole- ridge, the new Solicitor-General, was introduced, and received the honour of knighthood. THE House of Commons was engaged all day on Saturday in swearing in members, of whom a little over 400 have already taken the oaths. LORD HATHERLEY, the new Lord Chancellor, was •* 4 sworn in on Saturday at his court in Lincoln's-inn, in the presence of Lord Justice Sslwyn, the Master of the RAIIS, and Vice-Chancellors Stuart, Malms, and Gifford. Sir RoundelI Palmer made the motion that the adminis- tration of the oa.th should be recorded. THE challenge given by Mr. James Anbury, the owner of the English yacht Cambria, has been accepted by the owners of the American yachts Phantom and Dauntless. THE ceremonies attending the choice of the Speaker were gone through on Friday. Mr. Denison made a formal visit to the Upper House, and was approved of by the Lord Chancellor in the name of the Queen. The swearing in of members was then proceeded with in both houses. THE new Lord Chancellor was gazetted on Friday night as Baron Hatherley, of Down Hatherley, in the county of Gloucester. The same Gazette officially announces the appointments of the Cabinet Ministers and Privy Councillors, and also of the following Queen's counsel :-Mr. W. G. Lumley, Mr. E. Fitz Moore, Sir P. De Colquhoun, Mr. Granville Somerset, E-Mr. C. P. Butt, and Mr. Vernon Lushington. ETON COLLEGE will close on the 18th inst" for the Christmas vacation, which will last till the 20th of January, when the lower boys return the fifth and ninth forms arriving on the 21st and 22nd January. THE centenary @f the Royal Academy was observed on the 10th. Special reference was made to the anni- versary by Sir Francis Grant, the president, in'distribu ing the silver medals to the students. THE proposed working men's banquet to the United States Minister has been finally abandoned. PARLIAMENT was opened on Thursday by commission. The newly-appointed Lord Chancellor, Lord Hatherley (late Sir W. Page Wood), was her Majesty's substitute, and briefly announced that when the members of both Houses had been sworn the causes of the calling together of Parliament would be declared. The House of Com- mons assembled between twelve o'clock and two. The only business to be transacted was the election of a Speaker, and Mr. J. E. Denison having been again chosen, the House adjourned until Friday. TUESDAY night's Gazette contains the announcement that Sir Thomas Larcom, late Under-Secretary' for Ireland, has been created a baronet, and that a knight- hood has been granted to Sir Philip Francis, Judge of the Supreme Consular Court at Constantinople.

TWENTY-SIX PERSONS KILLED IN A CHURCH IN BELGIUM. A violent storm broke over Belgium a few days back, and committed great ravages in almost all the towns of the kingdom. At Tournai, the roof of the Town-hall was partly carried away at Namur some lives are said to have been lost; at Mons chimneys were blown down and houses damaged, and several booths from the fair field were carried away at Bruges, the church, the hospital, and the theatre, in addition to some factories and private dwellings, suffered considerably. Also at Fritzlar, near Cologne, the tower of the church was blown down during mass, and several persons buried under the ruins. Sixteen corpses have already been got out, but ttn more are known to be still there.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRINCE CONSORT'S DEATH AT WINDSOR, Monday was the seventh anniversary of the death of the late Prince Consort, and at Windsor Castle the melancholy occasion was sbserved by her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family with becoming solemnity. Shortly before eleven o'clock her Majesty, and their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia, Princes Arthur and Leopold, and Princesses Louise and Beatrice, &c., attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the court, left Windsor Castle, and proceeded through the private grounds of the palace and the path to the Prince's Mausoleum, which is situated in the gardens at the rear of Frogmore-house. Her Majesty and the Royal Family having assembled within the mausoleum, a special service for the occasion was commenced by the Hon. and Very Rev. Gerald Wellesley, Dean of Windsor, the choral parts, under the supervision of Dr. Eivey, the organist of St. George's Chapel, being sung by Messrs. Adams, Marriott, Mitchell, H. Barnby, Tolley, Dysen, Briggs, Hunt, Bridgewater, Bransome, and the choristers of the cathedral. The first anthem, a chorale, was as follows I shall not in tha grave remain, Since Thou death's bonds hast severed By hope with triee to rise again, From fear of death delivered. I'll come to Thee where'er Thou art, Live with Thee, from Thee na'er part; Therefore to die is rapture. And so to Jesus Christ I'll go, My longing arms exteoding; So fdll asleep in slumber deep- Slumber ttiat knows no ending, Till Jesus Christ, God's only Son, Opens the gates of bliss-lpacls OIl To heaven, to life eternal. After a prayer the 23rd, 112th, and 146th Psalms were read by the Dean of Windsor, the choir responding. The second anthem after the Psalms was as follows His body Is buried in peace, Bat his name iiveth evermore-Amen. The service was closed with an appropriate prayer. Dean Stanley was present at the service. The new tomb, in which the remains of the late Prince have at last found a resting place, was hewn from a solid block of dark grey Scotch granite. When the sarcophagus was carved the hollow within was made large enough to re- ceive two coffins. In this the Prince's corpse has just been deposited, the coffin occupying just one half the hellow, the other being, it is said reserved for the sor- rowing widow of the Prince, whose royal wish is to be beside her late husband when called from this earth. Upon the ponderous lid, which fits closely to the lower part of the sarcophagus, and upon the half exactly over the csffin lies the recumbent figure of the deceased Prince wrapped in royal robes and with his head supported by a cushion. This fine work of art was executed in white marble by Baron Marochetti. Four large bronze angels with clasped hands and outstretched wings relieve the otherwise simple aspect of the sarcophagus, and upon the side of the tomb, nearest the Prince's coffin, in carved and gilt letters, is this inscription :— Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Saxony and Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, Prince Con- sort Second son of Ernest I., reigDing Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gosba. Born at Bosenau, near Cobnrg, August 28, 1819. Married February 10, 1840, to Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Died at Windsor, December 14,1861. Her Majesty the Queen, and the Princes and Princesses, before leaving the mausoleum, piously laid wreaths of immortelles against the sarcophagus. The mausoleum is now nearly complete, with the exception of some of the decorations. The walls and floor are of coloured mar- bles, Egyptian, Sienna, &c. Bas reliefs of Scriptural subjects and a painting of the Resurrection adorn the walls, and funeral urns the passage round the octagon, while for lighting purposes gilt chandeliers depend from the roof. After her Majesty and the various members of the Royal Family had retired, by command of the Queen, the domestics of the royal household and their families and the Castle tradesmen were permitted to show their respect to the memory of the Prince by visiting the mausoleum, which remained open for that purpose from twelve till three o'clock in the afternoon. The general public were, however, excluded.

COLONIAL NEWS. From S. W. Silver and Co.'s Circular, published monthly at 2, 3, and 4, Bishopsgate Within, London, the following summary of latest intelligence is col- lected :— VICTORIA.-Melbourne.-In commercial circles rather more activity prevails than at period of last advices, and as the wool season has now fairly set in, further im- provement may be expected. Considerable briskness exists in the building trade, caused partly by the pre- sent cheapness of money, and also by the fact that people seem determined te make themselves more com- fortable than they have been in the habit of doing of late years. New buildings, as well as improvements and extensions, are going on on all sides. Building societies in Victoria havener some years been doing a prosperous trade, but several fresh ones have sprung into existence to meet thefdemand which exists for; advances for building purposes on easy terms. The New Railway Loan Bill became law before the prorogation, and the debentures, amounting to X2,100,000, bearing 5 per cent. interest, will be floated upon the English market as soon as possible. There is at present a greater dearth of female servants than has been known for some years, owing chiefly to the numbers who have left domestic service, preferring the more independent life of working at sewing machines. Those] who remain in situations are better off, and can make almost any terms with regard to wages, holidays, &c. Several thou- sand could be at once absorbed. NEW SOUTH WALES. -Sydney.-The import market shows no improvement, and the intelligence just received of the decline in prices of wool will tend to continued depression. The business transacted is confined to trade purchases for actual wants. Money very plentiful. Bread-stuffs continue to decline stocks in the various colonies are small, but large foreign arrivals anticipated before harvest. Wheat crops look well, but rust has made its appearance in two or three districts. Many farmers are preparing to plant sugar-canes, and there is every reason to believe that the attempts will be highly successful. Shearing is being rapidly proceeded with, large quantities of wool in the market, and an immense amount en route for the port. Lambing now over the average, being about 95 per cent. Stock in good condi- tion grass and water plentiful. It is expected there will be a glut of hay in the market this year. SOUTH AUSTRALIA, -A delaide.-The corn market has lately declined about £5 per ton in flour (now 212 to £13), and Is. 6d. per bushel in wheat (now about 5s.), with the probability of still lower rates considerable shipments on their way from California. The prospects of the harvest are very favourable it is expected there will be a very large surplus for exportation. Diamonds have been found in Long Gully, near Echunga. A new discovery of gold made near Yatta Creek and Cockatoo Valley in Barossa West District; there are upwards of 1,000 men on the ground 960 gold licences have been issued. QUEENSLAND.—-Brisbane.—Business has been brisk during the last month, a fair demand existing for all articles of daily consumption. The returns from the various gold-fields continue satisfactory. Confidence in sugar-growing is steadily increasing. TASMANIA.—Ilobart Town.-The new tariff exercises a depressiog influence on trade. A connecting line of railway from north to south is being agitated-distance about 120 miles. The cost would probably be about £ 100,000. NEW ZEALAND.- Wellington.-The intelligence re- specting the operations against the insurgent natives is serious. One of the founders of the colony (Dr. Evans) died on the 23rd ult. Auckland.-The Thames gold- fields continue to progress, and the population to increase. Addresses have just been presented to the Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield in anticipation of his depar- ture for England. Ilctwke's Bay.-The great success of the Auckland gold-fields has enhanced the value of station property and stock. Canterbury.-A little more animation can be reported in last month's business Wheat continues quiet, and is offering at 6s. Employers of labour are crying out that the supply of hands is insufficient, and it is stated that farmers are hesitating to put in their crops, fearing that harvest hands would not be procurable at such a price as they could afford to pay. Good ploughmen and farm labourers are much wanted, and married couples without encumbrance meet with engagements readily. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—Port Elizabeth.—Trade dull, and the late advices from home regarding wool, &c., make matters worse. Stasis, on the whole, are in excess of the necessities of tke market. Pasturage and water abound, and agricultillO proceeds satisfactorily in some districts, but other parfe of the country are suffer- ing from drought and locusts. NATAL.-Maritz Car^.—-Town trade continues quiet, but next month will be a busier one. Abundance of rain has fallen, and the season altogether is an excellent one. Indian corn is sold faG Is. 3d. per bushel; wheat, 5s. barley, 2s.; fowls, 9d.; butter, 6d. per lb. Fruit very plentiful.

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THE ARTS, LITERATURE, &a. AT an influential meeting held in the Mayor's Parlour, Liverpool, it was resolved to invite Mr. C. Dickens, on the occasion of his farewell readings next month, to a public banquet. MADAME PATTI'S hoarseness continues, and her medi- cal attendants still forbid any resumption of her profes- sional duties. THE Brighton Herald states that a retired agricul- turist is setting up a memorial of Cobden on his own land, about a mile from Midlmrst as it is approached from Chichester. The memorial is an obelisk of sand- stone, about thirty feet high. M. GOUNOD, before leaving for Rome, sent to M. Emile Perrin, of the Grand Opera, not only a new air for Faure, as "Mephistopheles," but also the entire score of a ballet inspired by the Faust" of Goethe. THE San-Benedetti Theatre at Venice is to become the Rossini, in honour of the great master, who had composed for it the Italiana in Algieri and Edouardo e Cristino. MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN, the poet, following the ex- ample of other authors, is about to read, in London and elsewhere, a selection from his own writings, entitled "Voices of the Fate-Stricken." His first essay is an- nounced to be made at Greenock. MR. AND MRS. HOWARD PAUL had a very narrow escape of losing the valuable jewels they use in their entertainment on Wednesday night. They had played at the Music-hall, Worcester, on that evening, and early the next morning it was found that the hall had been broken into bat the thieves took little by their pains, as the jewels, fortunately, had all been sent to Mr. Howard Paul's hotel, through the accident of the lock on a trunk being broken. Costumes and wigs were not to the taste of the burglars, for they remained unharmed. A GALLO-RoMAN CEMETERY-.—The Emperor of the French, attended by General Lebosuf, M. Viollet-Leduc, and several officers of his household, a few days back visited the Galla-Roman cemetery, recently discovered in the forest of Compiegne, near Lacroix-Saint-Ouen. Three ancient sepulchres were opened in his Majesty's presence, and numerous vases of different forms and colours in clay and glass exhumed, one of which, chalice shaped, particularly attracted the Imperial attention. This burial-place, explored under the direction of M. de Roucy, has already given nearly 300 earthen vases, and 30 in glass to the museum of the palace. The Emperor remained on the spst about an hour and a half, and warmly congratulated the intelligent archaeologist who directs the researches. A BEAUTIFULLY-DESIGNED sarcophagus, of Greek style, designed by M. Baltard, architect, has been placed over the grave of Ingres in Pere La Chaise. M. Brous- sieu's bast of the painter surmounts this work. A NEW equestrian statue in relief, of bronze, of the present Emperor of the French, in general character much resembling the famous figure of Henri Quatre of the Hotel de Ville, Paris, has been placed over the entrance to the new gallery of the Louvre. It is the work of M. Barye. THE monument to the memory of Ponsard has been designed by M. Viollet-Leduc. It is to consist of a bronze statue to be erected in front of the Hotel de Ville, in the dramatist's birthplace, Vienne (Isere). More than its estimated cost, 26,000 francs, has already been contributed. The performances in honour of Pon- sard, at the Theatre Frangais, augmented the fund by more than 7,000 francs. THE funeral jjexpenses of M. Felicien Mallefille have been paid by the Minister of the Maison de l'Empereur, who granted to the widow of the deceased dramatist a pension of 1,200 francs. A MONUMENT to Lambert Thiboust has been "in- augurated at the cemetery of Montmartre, in the pre- sence of over 500 spectators, of whom a large proportion were dramatists or actors. The customary discourse was spoken by M. de Saint-Gorges, in the name of the Paris Society of Dramatic Authors. MR. BARNEY WILLIAMS, an American actor, who played for some time in England low comedy Irishmen, has bought from Mr. John Brougham a drama, entitled ThelEmerald Ring, which is now in rehearsal at the Broad- way Theatre, New York. The sum paid for this drama, 2,000 dollars, is said to be the largest hitherto given in America for any American drama. THE Comtesse de la Morliere is giving, under her family name of Olympe Audouard, a series of causeries upon French acting and the French drama, which constitutes one of the most fashionable entertain- ments of New York. THE Panama Star and Herald, of October 6th last, gives an account of a monument erected on the island of Juan Fernandez, by the officers of H.M.S. Topaze, to the memory of Alexander Selkirk. LIVERPOOL is about to add to her memorials of local worthies a marble statue of the Rev. Dr. Hugh M'Neile, who, after a lengthened term of service in that town, has passed to comparative retirement in the less active sphere of labour of the deanery of Ripon. AN English paper has been started at Alexandria called the Eastern Star. A MYSTERIOUS CASE.—Some of our readers may remember Mdlle. Hersilie Rouy, the brilliant pianist, whose musical matinees and concerts enlivened Paris some 15 years ago. This young lady suddenly disap- peared. It was first said she was mad next her death was duly announced. Mdlle. Rouy, however, is neither mad nor dead. She has just recovered her liberty, after 14 years' detention in a house for the insane, where she was kept under the name of Josephine Chevalier. The Journal des Debats announces that this mysterious affair will speedily come before the criminal law courts. -,Ithenou,nz. The Bible Class and Toutli's MagazineVol. VIII. New Series, 1868. London: Sunday School Union, 56, Old Bailey. This old and well-tried friend of our youth still pursues his prosperous course, im. parting useful knowledge, inculcating fixed principles, and aiding in the formation of youthful character in accordance with the teachings of God's Word. Essays and Exercises, for which prizes are given, appear in each number. The work is well illustrated, and the volume has a capital frontispiece, printed in colours. The "Sunday School Teacher." A Magazine oj Essays, Lessons, Illustrative Material, Educational Notes and Intelligence; the whole designed with a view to the information, cultivation, and practical assistance of Sunday School Teachers. London.- Sun. day School Union. This is a high-class magazine, con- ducted in the most catholic spirit by writers of eminence in different sections of the Christian Church, forming a volume of miscellaneous; matter as varied in character as it is practically useful to the teacher. "Kind Words." A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls. Vol. III. London: Published at 56, Old Bailey. This is an extraordinarily cheap publication, and enjoys a well-deserved popularity. It is profusely illustrated with full-page and small engravings, and is uncommonly well edited. The prizes for tales, for hand- writing, &c., create a lively interest in the magazine, and we are not surprised to learn that it enjoys an ex tensive circulation, both in Sunday and week-day schools.

A SPREE IN NEW YORK. A few nights ago one Felix Larkin, a ward politician and a most brutal ruffian, sallied out with three com- panions for a spree." O'Baldwin, a pugilist, better known as the "Irish giant," was one of the gang; but he returned to his lodgings at an early hour. The others brought up at the hour of three o'clock in the morning, at the door of the thieves' oyster shop. They were admitted after kicking in the windows. Larkin sat down at a table, and cried out, You bring me three oyster-stews." The keeper of the shop, one Campbell, set about preparing the dishes. In a moment or two Larkin walked to the bar and exclaimed twice, You are you going to be all night?" Campbell came from behind the bar, rapped on a wooden screen, and advanced towards Larkin. The latter was a man of gigantic frame and immense muscular power, while Campbell is of inferior stature. The two grappled in a life and death contest. Campbell managed to draw a dirk, which he plunged repeatedly into Larkin's body Larkin got out a pistol, and fired one ineffectual shot. In the meantime the bar- tender and the cook had joined in the melee, the former arrived with a club, the latter with a carving-knife these attacked the companions of Larkin. In the struggle all the tables and chairs were overthrown, together with the stove. Larkin and Campbell staggered into a stall, and twenty minutes afterwards, when the police arrived, were still clasping each other in a deadly embrace. Campbell was not seriously hurt, though all the parties were more or less cut and bruised, but Larkin died in a few minutes. On the floor were found several revolvers and knives. Floor, walls, furniture, and bar were smeared with blood, which had spurted frem the wounds of Larkin.

♦ NATURALIST'S NOTE BOOK for 1839.-0n january Ist wil be published No. 1 far 1869 of this highly interesting and instructive publication. Price 4d. monthly, containing thirty-two closely priuted 4to pages in double columns. Subscriptions, 5s. a year, free by post. NATURALIST'S NOTE BoOK, monthly, price 4d. Should be read ny everybody. Contains popular infoimation upon Astronomy, Botany, Ethnology, Kutwmology, Gv.oiogy, Groogmphy, Meteorology, Zoology, &c. Original Curresp mdence, Queries, Eesoarks, Notices of New Books, &c. REEVES & TURNER, 198, Strand, London, W.C.

THE OAKS COLLIERY. Saturday, December 12, was the second anniversary of the most fatal colliery catastrophe known in the mining history of the world. Two years ago an explosion of gas at the Oaks Colliery, near Barnsley, the most fiery mining district in the kingdom, resulted in the loss of 360 lives, and at the present time no less than 218 of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers are still buried in the workings, and, no doubt, close to where the workmen are now daily engaged in getting coal. How long they are to remain covered with roof and coal no one is able to tell. It may be stated that the number of widows in the first instance was 150, and of that number 31 have married, three have died, and seven have been struck off the books for misconduct. From the general or public fund the average payments amount to about X80 per week. In addition to that sum, the Miner's Association has paid to the widows and orphans since the occurrence upwards of X8,000, the amount given for the last year being X2,526 18s. 6d. and as it gives some pounds on the recovery of every body for funeral expenses, it is still liable for a large sum in that respect. Of the orphans, 15 have bsen well provided for in industrial institutions, and all the children who are old enough are kept at school at the expense of the general fund.

THE 'PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. The following has been telegraphed as the substance of the President's message The message vindicates the President's policy concerning reconstruction, advo- cates the early resumption of specie payments, the con- traction of the paper currency, and reduced expenditure. It states that the negotiations respecting the Alabama claims are not yet complete. After giving an historical review of the subject, the message states that certain portions of the protocol which were not approved by the United States were returned to England, and the resigna- tion of Mr. D graeli's Ministry is regarded only as a temporary hindiance to the prosecution of the negotia- tions. The United States offered mediation between Paraguay and Brazil, but the offer has been declined. The United States hitherto have failed to purchase any naval station in the West Indies, but the French are try- ing to get Samana Bay. The message also charges extensive frauds on the Inland Revenue Department, expresses fears of a coming Indian war, but favours reduction in the army by the withdrawal of troops from the south."

ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. On Tuesday morning a labourer, named Robert Cooper, living with his stepfather, William Arnold, at Sandown, was taken before the county magistrate at Newport, Isle of Wight, charged with attempting to murder the latter. On the previous Saturday the prisoner's sister was married, and the usual convivialities in celebration of that event took place. The prisoner and prosecutor partook a little too freely of the stimulants provided, aud on their return home, about two o'clock in the morning, a violent altercation took place, the prisoner entertaining a decided aversion to the match. Prisoner eventually drew his knife and stabbed his stepfather in the neck between the jugular vein and the windpipe, threatening to do for him. The injuries inflicted were so severe that the prosecutor's life was for some time despaired of, and he is not yet out of danger. Prisoner was remanded to the Hyde Petty Sessions.

TRIAL OF ELECTION RIOTERS. On Monday at the Chester Assizes, the trial ef the 12 men who were indicted for taking a prominent part in the riot at Sandbach on the occasion of the mid-Cheshire election took place. It appeared from the evidence that the Liberal mob was most violent at Sandbach on Nov. 24th, and seriously maltreated the Conservative voters. The windows of an inn where some Conservatives took refuge were demolished with stones, and several con- stables were seriously cut and bruised by the mob. Evidence as to the share taken in the proceedings by the prisoners having been given, Venables was sentenced to four months', and Hampton to three months' im- prisonment, while the remainder of the prisoners were discharged.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WOMAN. At the Chester Assizes, William Clark, 30, labourer, was indicted for attempting to murder Mary Gill, at Runcorn, on the 6th of November. Prisoner and pro- secutrix lived together as man and wife, and they had four children. The prosecutrix had run away with a man named Robert Roper, who had lodged with them, and this led to recrimination between prisoner and prosecutrix. On the day in question the prisoner at- tacked the prosecutrix, inflicting serious injury upon her. She was removed from her own home into a neighbour's, and it was found that ribs were broken, her face greatly bruised, and that she was in an insensible condition. A neighbour, attracted to the house by the screams of the children, went in, and said to the prisoner that he had killed Mary Gill, to which he replied, "Then I am happy now." The prosecutrix had remained in a very weak state up to the present time. The prisoner was found guilty of doing grievous bodily harm, and sen- tenced to seven years' penal servitude.

M. LOUIS BLANC ON THE ELECTIONS. Nomination day dawns at last, where the candidates appear on the hustings, or rather the accused appear before their judges. The hall of justice is the public street. The judges are you, I, all the world. Some- times the judges listen quietly to what the defendants (i.e., the candidates) have to say for themselves. More frequently they shout, they sing, they groan, they pelt the speaker with abuse, and sometimes with rotten eggs. The cause once heard, or supposed to have been heard, judgment is pronounced by the show of hands, but if appealed from is finally decided on the morrow at the polling-booths, small wigwams erected ad hoc. £l,O Jsl,6Q0, X-2,000, is not unfrequently the price which victory costs. But as a rule the successful candidate cannot pretend he has not got value for his money. He can lift up his head in the world-he has the iaeffable happiness of being able to tag to his name the magical letters, M.P. he is on the cards for a lucrative berth he will be solicited to accept the chairmanship of the board of directors of an influential and wealthy company; his wife will be received at Court; his daughters will lack no suitors. What! I hear you exclaim, is that a real picture ? What mat- ters it, ye surly philosophers, if progress be thus achieved. Admire rather the power of liberty, capable of bringing about great results out of so much littleness. Is this picture applicable to the election of 1868 ? It is, in spite of the Reform and Corrupt Practices Act. I saw how the process works at Brighton. All the public-houses were full. All the boatmen were engaged as messengers, and were not sorry for it. A pair of boots, which I rashly ordered on the 10th of a shoemaker with a soul above leather, were only sent in on the 25th. I have two friends, gentlemen in the highest sense of the word. One of them came down to Brighten to oppose the candidature of the second, an illustrious writer, and charged him with being a 'book in breeches.' Mr. Coningham, who was once a favourite, but whom his opposition to Professor Fawcett made horribly un- popular, no sooner got up to address the electors than a. frightful tumult arose. One fellow in the crowd waved a banner, bearing the inscription of Coningham's dying speech,' whilst another flourished a dead rat over his head, intimating that Mr. Coningham had ratted. All the while Mr. C. waited steadily, with a somewhat con- temptuous bearing, quietly smoking a cigar, until silence was restored. But enough about the elections —you know the result. Democracy having power thrust within its reach knew not what to do with it, and the new house is merely the old house, plus a few Liberals, and minus a few intelligent men."

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. COPENHAGEN, Dec. 10. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales dined last evening with Count Frip, the President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His Royal Highness will probably leave for Stockholm next week on a visit to the King of Sweden. COPENHAGEN, Dec. 10, Evening. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the King and Queen of Denmark honoured the Royal Theatre with their presence this evening. Much enthusiasm was displayed at the arrival and departure of the Royal party. >

SPAIN. MADRID, Dec. 10. Yesterday a large number of workmen employed by the municipality went to their work armed with carbines and sticks to which bayonets were attacked. Several arrests were made. To.day they still maintained a threatening attitude, and orders have just been issued te the national militia to take up arms, and proceed at once to the work-yards to preserve order. Several battalions of volunteers are now proceeding through the Puerto del Sol with this object. Great efforts are being made to raise a revolt in the capital, large sums of money being distributed for that purpose and considerable alarm prevails among the inhabi- tants. The Government is unable to obtain positive information respecting the strength of the insurrec- tion at Cadiz, as the communications continue in- terrupted. The insurgents are, however, known to occupy important positions in the town, and have possession of some of the barracks. An outbreak is apprehended at Malaga, and large amounts of money are believ- d to have been placed in the hands of the clergy in different parts, wherewith to foment distur- bances. In Estra.ma.dura. placards have teen posted up threatening to assassinate all rich citizens who shall take part ia the elections to the Cortes. The journal Estandlrte announced this morning that numerous'large capitalists huve gone abroad, and that others are preparing to follow. MADRID, Dec. 11. The Official Gazette publishes telegrams from General Caballero de Roda, commander-in-chief of the forces sent to Cadiz, in which he states that the proposals of the insurgents were such that they could not for one moment be entertained. The foreign consuls did not take the initiative of ths proposals, they only consented to transmit them to the Government at the request of some of the inhabitants who were dgsirous of preventing further bloodshed. The hostilities were to be renewed this morning. The Provisional Government has received many adhesions from different parts of the Peninsula, disavowing any sympathy with the insurrection, and pro- mising to support the Administration. A decree has teen issued by Senor Figuerola, Minister of Finance, suppressing the commissioners of the Government in the Banks. The Governor and sub-Governor of these Bank of Spain, and the official delegate at the Bank of Barcelona will, however, remain at their posts. The decree also suppresses the posts of Government inspectors of the Societies of Credit. The total sub- scriptions to the national loan amount to 384,000,000 reals ( £ 4,000,000), The armistice at Cadiz has been prolonged until this evening to allow the arrival of the President of the Republican Com- mittee at Seville. If the negotiations which are then to be resumed should fail, the Government has resolved to have recourse to vigorous measures to suppress the insurrection. The movement has not at present ex- tended beyond Cadiz. MADRID, Dec. 12. A decree of Senor Zorilla directs that every province shall support a normal school for teachers, and, when convenient, for governesses also. The Captain-General of Valencia has announced to the Government that the Carlists of Lower Arragon are preparing to rise, but that they are being watched. The Governor of Barce- lona says, in a dispatch, that the Central Republican Committee has informed him that considerable sums of money have been distributed to the workmen to induce them to rise to-night, and that the committee has offered to support the Government. Precautions have been taken to preserve order. Yesterday evening the members of the Republican Committee had an interview with the Pre- sident of the Provisional Government, and introduced to them Senores Figueros and Cestelar, requesting at the same time that the Republicans should have a share in the administration of the country as a means of putting a stop to the insurrection at Cadiz. Marshal Serrano and Admiral Topete replied that the Government was chosen by universal suffrage, and that it would therefore present itself before the Cortes as it was at first constituted. They moreover de- clared that no compromise could be entertained with the insurgents of Cadk, who, after having submitted in silence to former misgovernment, now took arms against a Government which has conferred upon them all civil and political liberties. General Caballero de Roda has declared the blockade of Cadiz, and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs has notified the same to the Foreign Representatives at Madrid. MADRID, Dec. 13. General Caballero de Roda has transmitted to the Government a communication received by him from the Duke de Montpensier, in which the latter announced that, on being apprised of the events at Cadiz, he had left Lisbon to offer his sword to the Provisional Govern- ment. The Government, in reply, expressed respect for the intentions of his Royal Highness, but requested him to return immediately to Lisbon. Yesterday morning General Caballero de Roda addressed the following proclamation to the inhabitants of Cadiz "A revolution, incited and fomented by secret enemies, is deluging with blood the streets of your beautiful city, but has found no echo in the peninsula, and I come o suppress it with the forces placed at my dis- posal by the government. Lay down your arms and your lives will be saved; this I guarantee you in the name of the government, on whose clemency you may rely. Such is the only means by which the insurgents can escape being treated with inflexible rigour. I grant you a delay until to-morrow at noon, in order taht the old men, women, and children, as well as all peaceably-disposed citizens may leave the town. Inhabitants of Cadiz, it will not be my fault if, with the means of attack which the imperious law of necessity compels me to employ, there should come for Cadiz a day of mourning and ruin. I shall regret such a result, from the bottom of my heart, but shall do my duty." This proclamation produced an impression upon the in- surgents, and they sent a delegate, accompanied by the Consul of the United States, to General Caballero, offer- ing to place their arms in buildings which he should designate. General Caballero de Roda expects to enter Cadiz to-day. < MADRID, Dec. 14. The insoriecticHi at Cadiz has been concluded through the intervention of the American. consul. The insur- gents have delivered up their arms, and tranquillity pre- vails. A. circular of Senor Sagosta recommends to the governors of the provinces to take every measure in order that the approaching elections of municipal autho- rities may be absolutely free. The subscriptions to the National Loan amount to 418,000,000 reals (£4,354,166).

ITALY. ROME, Dec. 14. Besides Ajano and Luzzi, who have been condemned to death, five of their accomplices have been sentenced to the galleys for life, and others to the galleys for various terms.

SWITZERLAND. BERNE, Dec. 14. France, as one of the countries represented at the Conference of Geneva on the subject of the care of the wounded in war, has manifested a desire that a further extension should be given to the proposed neutralisation of the ships set apart for the hospital service.

THE MARSEILLES POISONING CASE. Aix, Dec. 8. The Assize Court of the Bouches-du-Rhone gave its judgment to-day in the above case. ThewomanSalvago was sentenced to 20 years' hard labour, and four other prisoners to hard labour for life.

TURKEY AND GREECE. ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 12. The journals of this city publish intelligence from Constantinople, which states that in consequence of energetic action on the part of the Russian Ambassador, France, England, and Prussia represented to the Sublime Porte that the severe measures it purposed taking en- dangered the preservation of peace. They thereby induced the Porte to delay for a few days the final rupture with the Greek Government. The Russian Ambassador is employing every means in his power to prevent diplomatic intercourse from being broken off, or at all events to obtain that the commercial relations between Turkey and Greece shall not be suddenly interrupted. According to the same intelligence Turkey is concentrating 40,000 men in Tfaessaly to invade Greece in case of the outbreak of war. Jr. "It!«( I;!

A DISTINGUISHED INDIAN IN ENGLAND. The Dewan, Muthuru Dass, attended a ball at East- wood, the residence of Sir George Jenkinson, M.P. for North Wilts, last week, and on Friday and Saturday he was at Gloucester, inspecting the cathedral and the Wagon Works, and at Berkeley Castle, in company with Major Lees, the late Conservative candidate for Gloucester. He is the Minister of His Highness Run- bheer Singh, Maharajah of Kuppoortalla, G.C.S.I.-an Indian chief whose grandfather shared the sovereignty of the Punjaub with Runjeet Singh, and who is now the most distinguished of the Punjaub princes, and also the friend of the Talookhaders of Oude. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857-8 Runbheer Singh headed his troops, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and came to the aid of the English and he was made a Grand Companion of the order of the Star of India for the service. His Minister has come to England to complain against the injustice he has experienced at the hands of the present Governor-General. His master is a great friend of Major Lees, and the Dewan visited Gloucester solely because the Major had stood for the city. The Dewan is an extremely intelligent man, he speaks English remarkably well, and he is a person of distinc- tion in his own country.