The Welshman

GOLD IN ENGLAND. (From the Mining Journal of May 8.) With respect to Gold, things have now altered, and the search for that fascinating metal has become almost the master passion of the geologist, the miner, and the capitalist. Surprisp will not therefore be felt when we announce the fact, that the energies of Englishmen have proved the ex- istence of gold, apparently in great abundance, within our own shores. At South Molton, in Devonshire, on the pro- perty of Lord Poltimore, it is found as rich as in either California or Australia. The Britannia Mine will, probably, be the pioneer of the discovery of other deposits of auriferous oresin the United Kingdom, by drawing attention to the subject, which is unquestionably one of national interest and importance, more especially as the locality is within so limited a distance of the metropolis that the most sceptical may quickly verify all that is asserted. That the more valuable gold bearing stones are rich to an extraordinary degree, is placed beyond question by the reports of practical assayists and the exami- nation of nearly all the great geologists and mineralogists of the day while that the bulk is also commercially valu- able, is evident by the fact, that a London bullion dealer has offered E5 per ton at the mine for the whole of what has hitherto been considered as mere refuse (about 300 tons) and used for mending the roads. If London be not paved with gold (and we do not-k-now that it Î8 not), it is eteaf that the roads of-the vicinity of North Molton are depositaries of the precious metals. [From the Mining Journal of May 16.] Under the head of H Gold in England," we stated last week that auriferous ores to a great extent had beet) found in Devonshire, and ,we now return to the subject, which is truly one of stirring interest and of vast importance, not only in a commercial point of view, but as a scientific and geological feature in this country. Every geologist knows that gold exists in small quantities in some of the Welsh mountains, in the Grampian Hills, and in many of the rocks of Ireland, but the cost of extracting it would exceed the value of the metal. At North Molton, however, it is found in sufficient abundance to be remunerative, and apparently to leave an ample profit and with it is associated copper of the greatest richness, and in large quantity. The gold is almost pure, being l carat above standard, or 23 carats gold the purest being 24 carats. This is very remarkable, but nevertheless, surprise should not be felt at the discovery of the precious metal, when it is remembered that Devonshire possesses all the indi- cations favourable for the development of auriferous ores. We know from the gold torques, fibulae, and other massive golden ornaments found in the tombs of the ancient Britons, that they possessed the precious metal in considerable quantity, which must have been derived from alluvial deposits and Devonshire may have been one of the localities from which they obtained their supplies. Wfnow find, moreover, that these boulders, or rounded pebbles, a point on which we were uncertain when we wrote last week, do exist in the locality, and consequently there is further and more complete evidence of formations on which safe prediction may be made that gold exists in sufficient deposits to make it of great commercial value. The boulders or rounded pebbles," writes a correspon- dent from South Molton, are not so large as in some lo- calities, from the fact of the streams being of a gradual fall, and the country to the north of the Britannia Mine being of a quartz description, consequently not so liable to be oper- ated on by water or changes of the earth. But it should be remembered that the low lands between the hills are very narrow, compared with other localities in this and many other countries; therefore, whatever gold may have been carried from the higher ground must be deposited within a limited epace. I should think the fiat of the low lands does not exceed, on an average, for several miles south from the Britannia Mine, more than 100 to 150 fms, at a right angle with the course of the stream. Gold was found in the alluvial deposit from two or three miles south of the Britannia Mine, on the course of the stream. The pebbles containing the gold were from 71bs. weight down to those of smaller size. These pebbles are of the red sandstone description, intermixed with quartz and portions of gossan. The quartz, of course, from its resistipg nature, has not been operated on by the changes going on in the earth to such an extent as the rea sandstone, A gentleman, particularly acquainiea with geological and mining matters, who was here last week, is of opinion that all the quartz carries gold, from its character so closely resembling the Californian and Austra- lian quartz." It is the opinion of many geologists that gold is only found near the surface, and decreases as the lode descends, although they are compelled to admit that at the St John, del Rey.Mine the reverse is the fact, but meet the point by saying it is the exception to the rule. When one exception to the rule is acknowledged, it Can" U- dmied that others may exist, -im&gmietnen who have been for years practically connected with the works at Morro Velho, assert that the lode at the Britannia Mine is exactly similar to that of the St. John Del Rey, where the gold-bearing stones continue at the present great depth. The matrix of the Britannia is precisely the same, and there is, consequently, good reason to believe that the gossan gold-bearing lode at the Britannia is totally distinct from the copper lode, although running with it.

I ALARMING FIRE IN HER MAJESTY'S DOCK YARD AT PORTSMOUTH. PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—A fire, which for some time threatened to be attended with the most serious and alarming consequences, occurred in this dockyard, at eight o'clock j this morning. It broke out in the large brick store, called the Yarn-house, by the bursting in of the bottom of one of the tar-boilers, used in the operation of tarring the yarn. This building is divided into three departments—the tarring- house, in which the white yarn is tarred the White Yarn- house, and the Tarred Yarn-house, which latter is computed to have in store some 15,000,000 tons of tarred yarn. Thus it will be seen that this building was, from the highly- combustible nature of its contents, one of the worst in which a fire could originate. There were, at the time the boiler containing the tar burst, four rope-niftkers, a stoker, and a boy at work, and as soon as it was discovered-which was quickly the case, from the tar rushing through the aper- ture into the fire and bursting out into flames-the latter was sent after the dockyard fire engine and to give the alarm to the authorities, whilst the others used their best endeavours to get the flames under. This, however, they could not succeed in, for in about two minutes the fire had spread itself to the yarn undergoing and about to un- dergo the process, weighing in the whole nearly fifteen cwt., and from that, forming one mass of conflagration, to the wood work in the apartment. The utmost promptitude was displayed in getting the engines to work, one of them, actnally, we were informed, playing on the flames within the short space of three minutes after they had broken out. This engine was certainly stationed in close proximity to the scene of the accident, but, nevertheless, the greatest activity must have been used to have got it so soon to play. Large numbers of the dockyard employes and artizans were quickly on the spot, as also the seamen belonging to the ships in the basin and docks, and the result of their united labours was that the fire was got under in about something more than an hour, its destructive effects being confined to the tarring house in which it ;g' inated. This was quite destroyed with the exception of the t e walls, as also the steam engine, tar boilers, the yarn it contained &c. It is computed the loss cannot be less than £ 2,000. Had the fire originated whilst the men were at dinner it is utterly impossible to conjecture where its ravages would have ended, as it would, doubtlessly, have extended to the immense stock of tarred yarn under the same roof, and then to some of the various other depart- ments, which lie in close juxtaposition with this store, not to mention the ships in dock, also in the immediate neigh- bourhood. In fear of the fire not being confined to the place it originated in, vast quantities of other yarn in store were removed from the building, but it would have been im- possible to hare got a tithe of it in a place of safety had the flames penetrated to that part of the building. The fire being got under, a court of inquiry Was held ia. the dockyard, into the circumstances attending it, at which there were present Mr. Underwood, master tUteadMt; Mr. Murray, chief engineer Captain Mould, director of works and Mr. Rice and Mr. Craddock, assistant master shipwrights. The result of the information of all who were able to throw any light on the subject was, we believe, that no blame was to be attributed to any individual, the accident having apparent- ly arisen through the defectiveness of the boiler. This was not from age, as it was not more than 14 or 15 months old. It appears that the arrangement of having the tarring- house under the same roof as the storehouses for the yarn has been abolished at all the yards but this, and that Admi- ral Hyde Parker, now in the Board of Admiralty, when in command here, strongly condemned the continuance of it, and, further, that designs for a distinct building, and an isolated spot on which to erect a new one in this yard, were actually arranged a few months since, but have not yet been commenced. This delay has nearly been attended with the most serious national consequences.

I DEATH OF SIR GRAY SKIPWITH BART.-This venerable baronet expired, a few days since, at the advanced age of 81. He succeeded to the title ih 1805. He was a deputy lieutenant for and a large landed proprietor in Warwickshire, which county he represented in Parliament frotn 1831 to 1834. Sir Gray married, in 1801, the third daughter of Gore Townshend, Esq., of Honnington Hall, county of War- wick, and by that lady, who died in 1830, he leaves, with other issue, a sons and heir, Thomas George, born in 1803. A RUINED PROTECTIONIST LAlg DLORD !-Considerable attention has been drawn to the fact that the Rev. Mr. Pretyman has been enabled to let some land belonging to I him at an advance of 8s. per acre upon the rent previously paid. In the course of a few weeks, we shall probably see the reverend gentleman endeavouring to persuade those over whom he may have any influence to vote for the Protec- tionists, in order to save from ruin distressed landlords like himself !-Bucks Cllronicle. EFFECT OF NEWSPAPERS UPON THE MINDS OF INSANE PERSONS.—Mayee Berry, of Williamsburgh, publishes a letter on the subject of moral treatment for the insane, in which he states that he has ascertained, in his last visits to the lunatic asylum, that the reception of newspapers by the unfortunate class of patients produced a very satisfactory impression upon them, and seems decidedly to call them back, for the moment, to some degree of reason. AN UNPUBLISHED MAXIM OF THE LATE MRS. TRIMMER. —A dull boy. if you will allow me, may be likened to a lamp, which becomes all the brighter occasionally for a little trim- ming.-Punch. An illiterate Arab was once asked how he felt assured of the existence of God. In the same manner," he replied, as I know, i by the footprints on the sand, that a man or a beast has there passed by "Dublin Review.

I MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. The Lord Chancellor, last week deprecated the practice of one attorney selling a suit to another attorney. Lord Colonsay (Mr. Duncan M'Neill,) one of the perma- nent Lords Ordinary of the Court of Session in Scotland, is appointed Lord Justice General and president of the Court, in the room of the Right Hon. David Boyle, resigned. Mr. Adam Anderson, Lord Advocate, is appointed a Lord of Session of the Outer House, in the room of Lord Colonsay. Mr. John Inglis, Solicitor-General for Scotland, is appointed Lord Advocate, in the room of Mr. A. Anderson. The Rev. Zachariah Barry is appointed Colonial Chaplain for Western Australia. The Rev. Owen Emeric Vidal is appointed Colonial Chaplain at Sierra Leone.—Ob$erver. The valuable freehold property comprising the greater part of the borough of Dorchester has been sold by the Earl of Shaftesbury, for £ 48,500, to Henry Charles Start, Esq., Major-General Reid, M.P. for Windsor, died on Wednes- day morning, after a very short illness. A woman was sold in Nottingham market place, a few days since, by her husband for a shilling, including a new rope, value sixpence, which was attached to her neck. It is stated that the Pasha of Egypt has engaged a tutor, to teach his sons the English language. The Encumbered Estates Commissioners have distributed E2,041,000 since they commenced their labours. Lord Feilding, following the Pope's example, washed the feet of pilgrims at Rome on Maunday Thursday. Sarah Baxendale, the seven feet high giantess, who has been exhibited at the fairs, died at Blackburn lately. A meeting was held at Leeds a few days ago, at which it was resolved to represent to ministers the necessity of pro- moting emigration to Australia, in order to sustain the supply of fine wool from that colony. Loughcooter-castle, with 1269 acres, the property of Lord Gort, has been purchased in trust for Mrs. Ball, sister of Judge Ball, and superioress of the Sisters of Mercy, who intends converting the splendid mansion into a convent. The purchase money was £ 17,000. Her Majesty's birthday was celebrated on Thursday by a drawing-room at St. James's palace, which was numerously attended. Some of the ministers gave official dinners, and the illuminations in the evening were on an extensive scale. Coates, the celebrated pedestrian, commenced the mar- vellous feat of walking 1000 half-miles in a thousand suc- cessive half-hours, ou Thursday evening sennight, at eight minutes to seven, in the Clifton Zoological Gardens, and continued walking up to Saturday afternoon, when the match was brought to a somewhat abrupt termination. o wing it is said to the strong objections expressed by many of the shareholders and subscribers, to the Gardens being used for such a purpose, the committee effected a compro- mise with Coates, and on payment of a sum of E20 he relin- quished his task. A young man named Bolton, a blacksmith, has been com- mitted for trial at Birmingham, charged with having robbed letter-boxes. He was seen using an instrument for drawing up letters out of the boxes. Sixteen sailors belonging to an emigrant vessel, the Rappahannock, bound for New York, are in custody at Liverpool for attempting to rob the passengers' boxes, when the vessel was lying in the river, on Monday, and afterwards assaulting and wounding several of them with knives. Father Kenyon, of Templederry, has just received a long letter from his friend John Mitchell, the Irish rebel. The letter affords a glowing picture of the present position and prospects of the exile and his-family, who are enjoying the sweets of domestic happiness in Van Dieman's Land. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel and their children are all in the best health; John Martin is living with them, and his health also is greatly improved. John Mitchel has taken a large tract of land, which he is farming himself, and which affords him constant occupation. The Oxford University Commission has terminated its labours, and forwarded a report to her Majesty. Of the contents of the report nothing is as yet distinctly known. The foundation stone of the National Society's Training Institution, for Schoolmasters and Schoolmistresses, was last week laid by Prince Albert, in Victoria-street, London. Lord Wenlock expired somewhat unexpectedly at his seat, Eserick-park, Yorkshire, on Sunday afternoon. The de- ceased was the third son of the late Sir Robert Lawley, Bart., by the only daughter of Beilby Thomson, Esq. He was elevated to the peerage after the death of his elder brother, Sir Robert Lawley, who had been created Baron Wenlock in 1831, but dying without issue his title became extinct. The deceased was Lord Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire. He is succeeded in the family ho- nours by his son, the Hon. Beilby Richard Lawley, iLT. for J'ontefracU TheTSarl of Mount Edgecombe, whose countess was one of the Ladies in Waiting upon her Majesty under the Russell administration, which the noble Earl cordially sup- ported until its later days, has addressed a letter to th.YCon- servatives and agriculturists, urging them to support the Derby Government. His lordship states, he has scarcely an acquaintance among the members of the present Go- vernment," whilst many of those who held high office in the defunct Cabinet enjoy in private life his most sincere respect and regard. But the earl recognizes the important fact, that the choice of governments does not now rest between Lord Derby and the Whigs, but between him and Lord John Russell, united with Mr. Cobden and the ultra- radicals. Approaching matrimonial alliances are announced between the youngest son of Earl Fortescue and the youngest daughter of the Hon. Newton Fellowes, of Eggersford, Devonshire and between the eldest son of Sir John Lister Kay, Bart., of Denby Grange, Yorkshire, and the Lady Caroline Pepys, third daughter of the late and sister to the present Earl of Cottenham. Some months ago, Mr. W. H. Barrett, corndealer end miller of Gloucester, and who a short time previously had been elected sheriff of that city, absconded to America, taking with him a large sum of money, which he had raised chiefly by the use of forged bills, the names of several mer- chants with whom he had had transactions and others having been forged to acceptances by him. He was traced to the United States, where he was captured, and he was brought to this country in custody, arriving by steamer at Liverpool on Sunday. He was immediately brought down to Gloucester by railway, lodged in gaol, and taken before the mayor and magistrates on the charge of forgery. Acceptances amounting to some thousand pounds, all of which are alleged to have been forged by the prisoner, were produced against him, and after the examination of several witnesses, he was remanded for a week, to give time for the production of further evidence. The evidence of Captain Coward, of the brig Renovation with reference to the two ships seen by him, and believed to be those of Sir John Franklin's expedition, has been taken at Venice, but adds nothing to previous disclosures. He saw the afrips on the iceberg when five or six miles off, and took them for whalers, wrecked Greenlandmen; one was about six or seven hundred tons or so, the other much smaller-say about three hundred and fifty tons or so; but they were so covered with ice it was almost impossible to guess their size. There is no record in the log of the ship, as he did not consider the circumstance at the time sufficiently im- portant. When the new ocean mail contracts into which the Go- vernment has recently entered come into operation, the whole cost to the nation for conveying its sea-borne corres- pondence will amount to nearly a million sterling per annum. The ocean mail packet lines served by this country will then be about 60,000 miles in length and the number of miles which the British mail packets will traverse an- nually will be nearly 2,500,000. The number of letters which these packets will carry in the course of a year, at the present postal packet rates, will be about 30 millions. The relative importance of different parts of this world with this country may be estimated by the frequency of the mail packet communication with them. Thus, the communication with France will be twice daily with Belgium, once daily; with Holland and Hamburgh, twice weekly with America, weekly; with the East Indies and the Peninsula, three times meathly with (he Cape of Good Hope, five time. every two months; with the West ladies, China, the vest eoa&t^ef Africa, central America, Cbili, Peru, and the Spafeisih Main, twice monthly; and with Australia, Brasil, Mexico, and Buenos Ay res, monthly. The Atlas says that the Bullion in the Bank of England is now upwards of Twenty Millions and a Quarter Sterling At the same time the loans and discounts are decreasing, notwithstanding the recent great reduction in the rate. Surely, a fact like this proves that the Peel theory on which the Bank's charter is founded, and which assumes that the Bank can increase her discounts when ahe pleases, is altogether wrong. The dissolution of Parliament how, it is rumoured, been appointed to take place, if possible, about the 10th of June. Daily News. Early on Saturday morning, a stranger, who had been extremely unfortunate in his bets, at Chester races, was found suspended among the trees at the commencement of the Wrexham road, Liverpool. Life was quite extinct when he was discovered. Fourteen persons were apprehended in London last week for being present in a house in which a pit was fitted up for fighting dogs. On the night of the capture one of the poor animals died from wounds received during the contest. A fierce bulldog was let loose upon and seized one of the officers when he entered the house. The Chinese collection in Hyde-park, and the Chinese junk (for the last few years exhibiting on the Thames,) are to be sold by auction. In the Court of Exchequer, last week, a gentleman's page, named Cook, obtained E20 damages, from Mr. Batty, for an injury sustained by a kick from a horse while viewing the performances in the Hippodrome. It has been stated, upon the authority of a German phy- sician, that suspension of life, caused by prussic acid, is only apparent, and that life may be immediately restored by pour- ing acetate of potash and common salt dissolved in water on the head and spine. Messrs. Pettigrew and Oulton, the extensive stationers in Dublin, have been adjudged bankrupts, at the suit of the Hibernian Bank. George Murrell, a boy of weak intellect, 17 years of age, has been committed to take his trial at the next Berks assizes, for having caused the fire which recently made such great devastation in the village of Harwell. He confessed to having fired a rick by means of a lucifer match. There are now 467 magistrates in the county of Lancaster, the eldest of whom is the father in law of the Premier, Lord Skelmersdale, who qualified in 1800. You may fiud cities destitude of walls, of temples, of gymnasia, of laws, of coins, and of letters; but a people without God, without prayers, without vows, without religi- ous rites, without sacrifices, none such was ever seen.- Plutarci. GaBAT WBSTBBN RAILWAY.—Grand Terminus at Pad- dingtoiu—Very extensive works are being carried out to form the xerminus of the Great Western railway at Paddington. These are now near completion and will entirely alter the aspect of the terminus at Paddington, and give it an imposing I appearance. The new terminus is being constructed on that large area of ground on the side of the Prince of Wales- bridge, below which the present temporary structure stands. The style of structure, as applied to railway purposes, is entirely new, being the design (in conjunction with Messrs. Fox and Henderson) of Mr. Brunei, the Company's engineer, and is formed as nearly as possible after the model of the central aisle of the Crystal Palace, both the departure and arrival platforms consisting of a continuous iron roof, 800 feet long and 80 feet span, formed of ribs of wrought iron rivetted together, with two lofty and elegant transepts near each end, and the light being admitted through the glass medium, now popularly known as U Paxton's glass roofing." This building runs parallel with the whole of Eastbourne- terrace, and between is the carriage-road parted from the terrace, by an trao palisading, with flights of steps for foot passengers. The arrival platform faces the Paddington canal, there being between them a large unenclosed space for cab stands and carriages. There are entrance and departure gates, booking offices, first second and third class waiting- ol^ superior order, with jaa etegant circular room and'suite of apartments for her Majesty. The company's RUle ofomue above the booking offices, along the whole length of the terminus. There is also a central ves- tibule in the middle of the terminus for passengers to promenade in, with refreshment rooms, newspaper rooms, and electric telegraph station. The two lines of rails are to be brought up through the bridge to the new terminus, at the end of which there is a covered gallery, by which the passengers arriving or departing by the trains may reach the splendid hotel, built for the company by Mr. Hardwick the architect, at a cost of £50,000, and called the Great Western Hotel," situate close to Hyde-park and Kensington- gardens. An immense goods station is being constructed by Messrs Sherwood below the bridge, abutting on the Harrow-road, with a viaduct and hydraulic lifts, to com- municate with the canal, and altogether the outlay on these improvements at Paddington cannot amount to much less than £200,000. THE JUNS EXCHEQUER BILLS-RATB OF INTEREST.— An announcement regarding the eight millions and a half of Exchequer Bills which fall due in June is now daily ex- pected from the Treasury observes the Atlas. From the price of these bills during the past month it will have been noticed (says the Timts) that a reduction in the present interest of three halfpence per day has been regarded as cer- tain. Whether that reduction will be to a penny farthing or a penny is matter of doubt. At the last, they would pay £1 10s. 5d. per annum, which is just above the highest allowance that can now be obtained for money at call, and there can be no question, that they would still command a premium fully equal to what is usually considered desirable. The extraordinary doctrine of Sir Charles Wood in February last, that the State should forbear making any reduction, and continue to pay much more than the market rate, lest at any time during-the twelvemonths some unprecedented crisis should occur to render necessary a return to the pre- vious scale, drew at the moment a sufficient expression of opinion to prevent the probability of its being again adopted. The country upon that occasion lost £64,000, to say nothing of the comparative disadvantages that was inflicted upon the public credit, and a repetition of the proceedings will hardly be ventured on. At the same time the timidity with which all such matters are touched will most likely prompt an inter- mediate course, and hence the rate of a penny farthing per day, or £1 18s. Old. per annum, is perhaps that which may be anticipated. The way in which this reduction will act upon the market may be sees from the fact that, notwith- standing its assumed oertainty, and the possibility even of a still greater alteration, the premium on June bills is at this moment 4s. higher than in February, when it was announced that no change would be made, while those dated March, which have nine months longer to run, are 10s. higher than at that period. Even if a reduction to a penny were de- cided upon, it is not improbable tbat the premium would ■Mintain itself at about 50s. and this would actually be 5s. above the current price in 1849, when the last lowering took place, and when the proepects of a continued accumulation of capital were far less marked than at present. ELECTIONEERING EXTRAORDINARY IN IRELAND.—A somewhat curious and characteristic correspondence just passed between Lord Londonderry and Mr. D. S. Ker, regarding the representation of Down, has been published. It appears that when Lord Castlereagh announced his deter- mination of resigning his seat for that county, Lord Lon- donderry began to aut abo for mmm nnt ,W rfr*1^ *11- the p—itfon of" aerntwi 'na UTI\. y enough havmg due respect for hereditary claims, lighted on his eldest nephew, Mr. D. S. Ker, whom he thus spontaneously and handsomely addresses—" You are my eldest nephew, and I willingly offer the first refusal of my interest and means to you, if you will take Castlereagh's position with me in the county seat." And he generously adds that, in the event of a eontest, he will pay the bill. Mr. Ker, duly grateful, writes back, accepting Castlereagh's position," the more cheerfully as he and his noble uncle and patron coincide in supporting Lord Derby" and sound Conservative and Protestant principles," and proceeds to canvass some of his immediate friends as a nominee of Lord Londonderry, and as a supporter of those principles. In doing this, however, it seems Mr. Ker weqjt beyond the margin allowed to the nephew of his OÐ the noble marquis learning that he was doing iu-uoø his own hook," he pulls him QP short by the fonxsing query, which he propounds through his son. Lord Ern- V, who thus writes to Mr. Ker :—" It would seem that you do not entirely understand the communications which have passed between my father and yourself, as your expressions to Atick Stewart seem vague. He feels it, therefore, necessary, explicitly and distinctly, to understand from you whether you accept the offer he made, bona fide, as coming in for the county of Down as his member, and by his money; or whether you decline this, which was the distinct proposition he made to you. The definition of his member is well understood, where not alone interest but money is given." On Mr. Ker declining to accept this unconditional vassalage, Lord Lon- donderry tells him the bargain is at an end—that this acquiescing with him on general Conservative principles is not enough, and that his submission must be unreserved. He says—" Your first acceptance was absolute—uncon- 4iional-u if you were heir to my estate and political influ- ences. I hardly think you would wish to blind me; but as everything so rapidly changes in these days, I must not be a dupe to my own affectionate credulity. It is not too late yet; I may be defeated; but my political position and name demands I should uphold the family seat in the best manner in my power. Of course by your letter I am now free; and neither in expenses nor support can you look to me, our impressions as to a bona fide understanding on the known principles of the patron and nominee are so wide asunder. What must be the result in our conviction of such a state of complicated points and considerations as you bring in ? You would be in the seat with my money, and my means, in a very great degree; and my friends would laugh at me for your boasted and acted independence. I shall write immediately to Mr. J. Stewart and Mr. Andrews, to take the best possible measures for- our family interest." The noble marquis evidently made a mistake in applying to Mr. Ker, and the error is less excusable, as there were within a cab-drive of Holderness House a namber of persons whom he would have found admirably suited to his purpose, and who, were it not for the English Invasion" cry now pre. valent in Ireland, would doubtless prove popular with his friends. Need we say we allude to those pleasing artistes the Marionettes ? A MARINE MONSTER.—The brig Village Girl, which arrived in this port on Thursday morning last, from Pata- goaia, with a tergo cargo of guano, brought home a large Leonine seal. This monster of the deep was captured on an island off the Patagonian ooast on the l&th of December last, wbilat in a state of repose. One of the crew observing toe huge animal sleeping on.ahore, armed himself with a crowbar, and> with more courage than prudence, pro- oeeded to tbe attack. He succeeded in approaching the animal without rousing k, and dealt out a most formidable blow upon its bead, by which it was severely stunned, but not altogether disabled. Bleeding profusely from the mouth and nostrils, the monster reared heelf upon ita hind feet or fins and threw itself against the breast of its assailant, covering him with its blood; but before the wounded crea- ture eould recover itself, it was attacked by four or be other seamen, by whom it waa ultimately despatched. The reader will form no mean estimate of the courage of the seaman who ventured single handed to attack so formidable an enemy, when he is informed that the monster was upwards of 19 feet in length, and is supposed to have weighed about two tons and a half!—Whitehaven Herald. MURDER AND SUICIDE BY A FARMER.—The village of Cheadle, in Staffordshire, was during last week the scene of much excitement in consequence of a most horrible murder and suicide by a young farmer, named Stephen Walker. He was a single man of about 27 years of age, and it would seem that he was rather of unsteady habits, and fonder of roaming about with his gun than of settled industry. He had been for some time paying his addresses to a young girl named Fanny Walker, the daughter of a publican, but her parents disapproving the acquaintance sent her out of the way. This had the effect of considerably exciting him. In the course of the week she returned to her father's house, and he endea- voured to renew his addresses. On TUESDAY he called at the house and stayed for hours, the daugfeter* at. the request of the mother, being kept upstairs away from him. He had some conversation with the mother, and the circumstance of not being allowed to see Fanny excited his deepest anger. He then went out for a short time and returned with a guu in his hand. The daughter, disregarding her parents' direc- tions to keep out of the way, came down stairs to see him, as he assured her that he would not harm her. He then asked her whether she intended to continue the acquaintance or not. She replied that her only objection to him was his course of life whereupon he snatched up the gun, atfd point- ing at the unfortunate girl, said, I will now show you what I want." The mother screamed, and, getting between them, succeeded in pushing him out of the passage iato the road, and bolted the door. He than ran to the window, and thrust the muzzle of the gun through one of the panes. The mother took hold of it, exclaiming with the utmost devotion, Don't shoot Fanny shoot me" —at the same moment urging her daughter to run out of the room. This the poor girl attempted, but in her trepidation could not unfasten the door; and just as she was passing out of the room the rascal discharged the gun, and the contents lodged in her left side, just below the breast. On seeing her fall the fellow decamped, taking the gun with him. After running across some fields he stopped and reloaded the gun, and then taking off his Sammy" hat, he put a loop of the riband on the trigger, and then placed the muzzle under his chin, and so by pressing his foot on the hat downwards discharged the gun into his head. As may be supposed, his death was instantaneous. A coroner's lll- quest was held on both bodies, and the jury gave as their verdict—" That the deceased girl was murdered by Stephen Walker and that he then destroyed himself while in a fit of temporary insanity." Although of the same name, they were not related to each other. ST. IVES.—Mr. Hussey Vivian, the eldest son of Mr. J. H. "V ivian, of Swanspa, and nephew of the late Lord Vivian, has come forward for this borough on Liberal prin- ciples. Two candidates were previously in the field-Capt. Loffan and Mr. Paull. Mr. Vivian has addressed a large meeting of the electors, and was well received. A resolu- tion pledging support to the hon. gentleman was carried by acclamatlon. BODMIN.—Mr. Wyld, one of the present members for Bodmin, who is also a candidate for Finsbury, has addressed the following letter to the Royal Cornwall Gazette:— House of Commons, May 6.—Sir, your journal of Friday, April 30th, 1852, has been sent to me, and my attention has been called to a letter, signed, Observer.' In good old Saxon, what is untrue is a lie.' Your correspondent Observer,' in his letter, has written two lies. Lie the first —That I have stated that Bodmin, is a pocket borough in the sense implied by Observer,' viz. :—That I could either buy or sell it. Lie the second—That my selection would be made between Bodmin and Finsbury after considering in which place I had the best chance of success. I never made such declaration and as your correspondent has enclosed his card, I enclose mine. which is at the service of eituer himself or his friend.—Yours, &c.,—JAMES WYLD" THE NEW LOED DE REDCLIFFE.—Sir Stratford Can- ning has gracefully chosen the title of his new peerage- Stratford deRedcliffe-from the celebrated pile (the church of St. Mary Redcliffe) of which his ancestor, William Canynge, the great Bristol merchant, was the restorer, if not the founder. The latter branches of the Canning family had come from Ireland, but it has always been their pride to acknowledge their desoent from one of the greatest mercan- tile potentates of an age whose "merchants were princes, as well as one of the most munificent benefactors of the com- munity. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe maybe as justly proud of the illustrious origin of his house as any of the noble families whose founders came over with the Conqueror.— Daily News. FURTHER REINFORCEMENT OF THE HOME SQUADRON.— We understand that the Albion, 90, Captain Hope John- stone, and the two 50-gun frigates, Phaeton, Capt. Elliott, and Indefatigable, Capt. Smart, will come home from Lisbon, and be attached pro tam. to the Channel squadron, whieff, by the way. has now grown into a formidable fleet.— United Service Gazette. TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. — The arrival of vessels at Liverpool from America, and in tbe port of London from all parts of the world, is now communicated to all the principal ports and places on the continent of Europe, by means of the submarine telegraph, within two hours of their appearance in port. A MONSTER SCREW STEAMER. — The Peninsular and Oriental Company have changed their determination respect- ing the monster steamer—Himalaya—which they are build- ing, and have resolved on making it a screw instead of a paddle box steamer. The screw will be twenty feet in diameter. DESTRUCTION OF A BRITISH SHIP BY GUNPOWDER.— We have received information of the total destruction of the British ship Mary, of Liverpool, in the Bonny lliver, on the 19th of January. The Mary had partly discharged her outward cargo, and received a portion of her homeward one, on the day of the explosion. What is technically known as the caboose built on the ship's deck, had became as dry as tinder, and by some means it caught fire. There was at the time on board between two and three hundred barrels of gunpowder and the captain and the crew, twenty-five in number, finding themselves unable to quench the flames, threw themselves overboard, and got safely on board the adjacent vessels. About twenty minutes after the breaking out of the fire the Mary blew up, with a tremendous report, and soon scarcely a vestige of her was visible. SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO AN IRONMASTER.—We regret to say that a serious injury was sustained by John Russell, Esq., of Risca, and the YVeylands, Chepstow, last week. Mr. Russell was sitting by the coachman, on the box of the carriage (Mrs. and Miss Russell being inside), and having jast previously left the county office, where he officiated with other magistrates, he felt slightly chilled1, and rose to put on an overcoat, while the carriage was on Newport Bridge. In consequence of his servant pulling the coat at the instant he rose, Mr. Russell was precipitated with much force to the ground, whereby a fracture of the collar bone and a dislocation of one of his ancles, were caused. The shock to the ladies in the carriage, and the alarm of the parties on the bridge, was very great, it being feared the accident was fatal; but on his being raised, and conveyed to the King's Head Hotel, it was ascertained that the inj uries we have mentioned were the extent of the accident. Mr. Russell was conveyed to his residence at Risca, and we Ifim i^T -htt^nt-rfes, that he is' progressing fa- vourably, under the medical treatment of Mr. Robinson, surgeon. THE LAST OF THE JAcomTES. Janet Munro, or M'Kenzie, departed this life at Alness, in Rossshire, on the 16th ult., and was interred in the burying-ground of Roes- keen on the 19th. If we are not misin, Janet, at the period of her decease, was the oldest woman in Scotland, if not in Great Britain, for she was at least 110 years of age, and there is reason to believe that she was even more. She had a child's recollection of the great national event of the battle of Culloden, and from many of her nearest rela- tions, the Munroes and the M'Kenzies, having been out" in tRat romantic and daring enterprise, she could detail a whole catalogue of curious incidents connected with these eventful times,, which, from her retired mode of life and comparatively remote residence, never found their way into print. In Janet Munro we believe there has passed away the last inhabitant of Scotland who was alive when Charles Edward held state in Holyrood, or skulked as a hunted deer amongst the Western Isles. She was a staunch Jacobite till her dying day, and was, we have no doubt, the last in- dividual in the British dominions who conscientiously be- lieved that Her Majesty held the crown "ty an unlawful tenure. It is strange to think of what has passed during the five score years and ten which have elapsed since this venerable crone was christened. She was in the prime of life when the United States of America were English colonies; she was become elderly before Napoleon gincd his first battle, and she had lapsed into old age before steamers or locomotives on railways were heard of. Janet belonged to the resppctabie class of small farmers she was a woman of unblemished character, and was a widow for the period of 43 years. She retained till her last moments the exercise of her mental faculties, and previous to her last illness could read the-smallest print with the unaided eye.— Glasgow Herald. THE BIRMINGHAM GUN TRADE.—Another hitch has taken place in the Government gun trade. According to a correspondent in the Birmingham Journal, the present Go- vernment were taking important steps to produce military arms worthy of the manufacturing genius and skill of this country. It has been too long a disgrace to us that, with the best artisans, our army has been furnished with the worst arms of any nation in Europe. The boasted Minie rifle proves but another ephemera of a day. An experiment has proved that it is perfectly unsuitable for line regiments, and, but that orders are already given, it is to be presumed that time would have deprived the gunmakers of the much contested orders now on hand. Another week, and, iu all probability, the contracts would have been withdrawn. Five of the most eminent gunmakers of the day have been com- missioned by the Master-General of the Ordnance, Lord Hardinge, to produce each an entire new set of model arms, having a carte blanch as to weight, bore, &c. The old length three feet three inches of barrel, is held to be inca- pable of change. Birmingham is represented in this trial of skill by Mr. W. Greener and Mr. Westley Richards, and we have no doubt the honour of the town is in safe keeping. If this report be true, and there is no reason to question its accuracy, it is well the operative gunmakers of Birmingham secured the late contracts before the defects of the Miuie rifle were discovered.— Times. SECRETS OF THE WINE TRADE.—The London corres- pondent of the Liverpool Albion gives the following account of the evidence already taken before the Committee of the House of Common* on the Wine Trade. He says: — Really it is enough to turn one's head, or rather one's stomach, to hear portions of the evidence as to what is done with some of the stuff called wine before it gets to this coun- try at all, saying nothing of the doctoring which then begins, but which has not been come to yet by the witnesses. Thoser hitherto examined have been only the Forresters (the famous Alto-Douro farmers," so well known in Liverpool;) Mr. John Forster, (Sande mans, of London and Oporto;) Mr. Gassiott, (of the house of Martinez, a famous Peninsular firm); Mr. W. E. Tuke, the wine-broker, of Towr-hill; and Mr. T. G. Shaw, wine-merchant, of London and Manchester. Of the room there is in the trade for drenching the viscera of Bull we may judge from the admission of Mr. Gassiott, that plenty of sherry is bought at Cadiz for a butt, while he has sold sherry to the trade at £200 a butt; and without making any very great profit on the latter commo- dity either. It appears from the evidence of all the wit- nesses that good wine was never so scarce and dear, and bad wine never so plentiful and cheap as at present. Mr. Puke says that he lately made a contract for 600 pipes of Sicilian red wine at £4 a pipe !—and he has no doubt that a great deal of it was consumed as racy old port, and at port prices, of course after being cooked and made pleasant in the Hud- son and Waddington fashion. All the witnesses thus far appear to concur in the belief that by the reduction of the wine duties from 5s. 9d. to Is. per gallon, and the igeneral introduction of wines at Is. a bottle into England, which would then be the case, the first loss to the revenue would be very speedily made up. This anticipation, however, is somewhat controverted by Mr. Charles White, one of the principal suppliers in the kingdom to private families, clubs, and large establishments, including, according to the list he read some 600 merchants and bankers in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and selling only the higher-priced wines He contends that at least 2s. a gallon ought to be the duty on all sorts of wines without any exception, and then he thinks there would be such increase of consumption as would com- pensate for the fiscal reduction proposed. White's port, as every one knows who knows anything, is the primest of prime wines, and he seemingly can recommend it on Horace Walpole's principles—because he makes it himself. He said on Monday last, when under examination. We nave our wines generally from 13 or 14 of the principal houses, and we taste the wines, and our judgment goes principally upon their having a fine bouquet and a good colour—a ruby, not a black colour; we think the black colour objectionable in port wine, for" hen it is particularly black it lies in the bottle, and goes to aleep there, and when it wakens it is heavy and wants to go to sleep again :—it is not fit for table sometimes till it is 18 or 20 years old; many gentlemen get tired of it before that; when we choose the wine in the way described, it comes round better, and there is a cheer- fulness in drinking it, whereas heavy wines produce quite the contrary always avoid the black wines." SHORT-HAWB REPORT OF MR. DISRAELI'S; BUDGET SPEECH.—"Sir — For the year 1853, I beg leave to saf Ditto to Sir Charles Wood for lS52.-Punch.