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PEMBROKESHIRE POSTAL CHANGES.…
PEMBROKESHIRE POSTAL CHANGES. I On Tuesday morning, a public meeting of the inhabitants of Haverfordwest was held at the Town-hall, called by his worship the Mayor, in compliance with a requisition from the town, most numerously and respectably signed. The object of the meeting was to protest against the postal changes in Pembrokeshire. The post-office authorities hsve issued no- tices for tenders from parties willing to convey the mails from Carmarthen station to Haverfordwest and contiguous towns by coach, notwithstanding there is a line of railway to Haverfordwpst, and although the mail has been carried by railway for the last two years. The conduct of the post office naturally excited strong feeling among the inhabi- tants. Amongst those present were Messrs J. H. Philipps, M.P., William Owen, William Walters, William Rees, H. P. (ioode, 0. E. Davies, J. Summers, G. Parry, J. E. Evans, W. Davies, Captain Butler, Thomas Hughes, Jas. Owen, George Phillips, and a large number of the professional men and tradesmen of the town. Mr. Owen, on taking the chair, said that a requisition had been forwarded to him on the subject of a proposed al- teration in the present conveyance of the mail. It was in contemplation to send the mail from Carmarthen by a mail curt instead of by rail. To protest against this change this meeting was called. The requisition had been signed by seventy householders, and if necessary it would have been signed by seven hundred—so strong was the feeling in the town. Amongst the various advantages which were contem- plated by the introduction of the railway into Pembroke- shire was a quicker dispatch of letters, but if this scheme of the post office be carried out they would be just as badly off as before the opening of the railway. In order to ascertain whether this alteration was really intended, he wrote to the Postmaster General to inquire whether it originated with the surveyor at Gloucester, or whether it was done by the authority of the post office. To that letter he had received a reply in which it was stated- Under a recent arbitration, the rate of payment awarded for the London mail service on the South Wales Railway was more than 3s 7d. a mile in each direction. Looking at the comparatively small amount of correspondence bene- fitted, Lord Canning did not feel justified in continuing so large an expence, and his Lordship accordingly decided upon adopting the measure to which your communication alludes." The meeting would now see that there was no mistake at all, but that it was intended by the post office henceforth to I' forward the mails from Carmarthen by mail cart. He had frequently gone as a deputation from this town to the post office authorities, and he had invariably found that their sole enquiry was what were the advantages to be gained, and at what cost. As to the advantages in the present case, he be- lieved there would be little difficulty in making a good case. The proposed alteration would delay them answering their letters for twenty-fours longer than at present. Now the inhabitants of the towns and villages around could reply to letters twenty-four hours earlier than before the line was opened from Carmarthen to this town, and besides the bags for numerous towns and villages were made up in the Ha- verfordwest post office-all of which towns and villages must snffer to the same extent. There are twenty-two places for which the bags are made up. As to the economy of the question, he was not in a condition to say whether the mail paid or not; he scarcely thought that there could be much loss, but he begged to say that he really could not suppose that be the chief consideration of the post office authorities. They ought to look to the public ac- commodation and convenience, and although the mail to this district might not pay. yet he contended that from the enor- mous taxes paid by them their advantages ought to be con- sulted to some extent It would be for the meeting rightly to consider the question, and to pass such resolutions to-day as would prevent the calamity which they dreaded. He should like to enquire whether some other districts pay. Look at Aberdeen—he questioned whether the post office was paid its outlay on this railway-or on the Caledonian- or on the North British, and yet there was no talk of dis- continuing the mail trains on these lines. The proposed al- teration was therefore partial and invidious, and he trusted that they would offer such resistance to it as to induce the post office authorities to continue to them the privileges they enjoyed at present. He had just received a letter from Mr. Powell regretting that a sudden call to the country prevent- ed him from attending the meeting, and intimating that the member for Pembrokeshire was nearly related to the present Postmaster-General. He thought that the influence of Lord Emlyn should therefore be sought in this matter. Mr. J. H. Philipps M. P., said he thought it his duty to attend there that day, as the subject which had assembled them was so important to every interest in the district. Indeed, he could not fancy any duty more imperative upon him than devoting his attention to any matter affecting the interests of Haverfordwest and his constituents generally. But he thought he should be taking a very narrow view of the entire question if he looked at it as simply affecting Haverfordwest—there were other towns such as Pembrokp, Pembroke-dock, and Milford—nay, the whole of the county of Pembroke was deeply interested in defeating this proposed alteration of tLe postal arrangements, as the whole of the county would be more or less damaged by the change. He really could not believe it possible that the post office would have ever conceived such a wild project as that which they had met that day to defeat, and there was no amount of indignation which that meeting could feel in which he did not fully share. The change would not only be disasterous to the interests of the district, but it involved positive bad faith on the part of the post office, and this he could prove. lIe had said that he could not have believed it possible that such an extravagant change was even in contemplation, for when two years ago, in consequence of certain overt acts of the post office, he wrote to Lord Canning, taxing the post office then with breach of faith Lord Canning wrote him a letter in reply, expressing himself rather hurt at his charges, and stating that he ought to have made himself better acquainted with the facts of the case before charging the post office authorities with a breach of faith. Consequently, when he first heard the rumours of this change in the postal arrangements, he was unwilling to credit them, and rather than lay himself open to another charge from the post office of believeing it upon insufficient evidence he wrote to Mr. Saunders the secretary of the South Wales Railway who on the 20th of October wrote :-1 am happy to be able to assure you that there is at the present moment no difference or dis- Eutes between the post office and the company, and that I ave never heard a suggestion (except through your local newspapers) that the mail trains between Carmarthen and Haverfordwest were to to discontinued An arbitration which had for some time been pending was concluded on the 17th of August last. The amount awarded for the services up to that time has been paid by the post office, and the award for the services now being performed continues in force. As regards the Neyland extension you may recollect that Mr. Talbot gave the proprietors to understand on the 31st of August that the line might possibly be opened in about two months from that time. Some unexpected diffi- culties have since occured, and for your own information I may tell you that I do not think it will be opened before Christmas. It appeared, therefore, that an arbitration was made-that terms were agreed to by both parties, and the money paid. Now, it was impossible to carry on any busi- ness if when parties submit to arbitration and agree to be mutually bound by an award, the party who might be dissa- tisfied at once do away with it. (Mr. Summers here suggested that the post office authorities may discontinue any contract immediately—the act of parliament gave them that power.) He was not aware of that-be should like to be satisfied on the question but, however, in consequence of receiving that letter from Mr. Saunders he did not like to make any communication to the post office, as it might turn out that he was in the position of a person acting without sufficient intelligence, and that his information might not after all, be correct. He would thus have laid himself open to reflections from the post office authorities. But the moment he saw the notices requesting tenders, he imme- diately wrote to Mr. Rowland Hill stating that As notices (of one of which I have procured a duplicate and have written what was inserted in the other of which I could get no duplicate below the written part in the notice sent with this letter) have actually been posted in the windows of the post offices both at Haverfordwest and in Pembroke, and as the construction on which is generally and naturally put on such notice, is, that it is intended to discontinue the conveyance of the mails by railway from Carmarthen to Haverfordwest the inevitable consequence of which would be the delay of twenty-four hours in the power of answering letters, not only at Haverfordwest but all the surrounding districts including H. M. Dock-yard at Pem- broI^« I must earnestly entreat you to inform me at once whether the general impression here is correct, that the post office authorities are prepared to carry into effect such an extraordinary idea. As a meeting of the inhabitants of Haverfordwest has been already convened by the mayor for Tuesday next on the subject of these notices, and as other meetings will probably be called in different parts of the country for the same purpose, it will save me and the other members connected with this part of South Wales as well as the post office authorities much trouble if I am enabled to communicate at once to the parties assembled that there is a misapprehension on the subject, and that no idea of discon- tinuing the conveyance of the mails by railway is entertained by the post-office. After the excitement on the subject of the conveyance of the mails by railway which led to the appointment of the parliamentary committee last year of which I had the honour to be a member, and from our public acknowledgment that the public had a right to expect that its correspondence should be conveyed at the greatest speed attained in the conveyance of passengers. I quote your own let- ter in the Times, dated Jan. 25, 1853, I have been unwilling to trouble the post office authorities with communications founded on the rumours to which my attention has been lately called, but the actual publication of a notice such as that which I enclose leaves me no alternative but to make an application to you for a reply, which shall leave no doubt on the subject. The railway which is now open as far as Haver- fordwest, will very shortly be opened to Neyland, and packets established from that point to Ireland, and the inhabitants of this county generally are looking forward anxiously to an extension of the post office accommodation, which is in many respects very defective, and are certainly by no means prepared to submit quietly to a deprivation of what they have enjoyed for the last two years. It is possible that there may be some mistake on the subject of the notices and that they refer to arrangements independent of any discontinu- ance of the conveyance of the mails by the railway. If so I have nothing more to say, and am sorry to have put you to the trouble of reading, and myseif of writing this letter, but if the generally received interpretation be correct I can assure you that there is no effort that the members connected with this part of South Wales are not prepared to make in and out of parliament to prevent what I believe would be an almost unpardonable act of injury and injustice. He also wrote to Mr. Saunders by the same post, but from Mr Saun- ders he had received no reply. However, that, at present, was of no consequence as both Mr. Owen and himself had received letters from Mr. Rowland Hill, informing them that it was the intention of the post-office to make the pro- posed alterations. When the penny postage was established by Mr.Rowland Hill, it was most definitely avowed, and dis- tinctly under tood that, notwithstanding the cheap postage, the letters would be conveyed by the quickest and most convenient route. If cheapness be alone the consideration, then there was no doubt that if persons were willing to wait a fortnight for their letters, they would get them conveyed much cheaper than by a daily mail cart, but he understood that the post office was pledged to convey letters, not only that the ?:'t by the safest and most expeditious mode. And to c the jnseat an far one wliich woul d 0Ip taoar from nimwuiin ttair bow, far tweaty-foar hours onger was enough to arouse all their indignation. To commercial men and tradesmen these twenty-four hours were of the greatest importance; indeed, all parties would, he was convinced, rather pay a penny fathing, or even more for their letters, than that this delay should take place. This measure of the post-office would be most injurious, and was of a retrograde kind; it forced them back into the days they had thought were passed for ever. Some two or three years ago, Mr. Rowland Hill in explana- tion and defence of his penny postage measure, wrote a letter to the Times newspaper. It was said to be an unwise thing for a man to write a letter, as it may be brought against him hereafter; but, however, Mr. Hill wrote the letter in question, and it was an advantage to them to be able to cite from it. Mr. Hill then said, that it was the right of the pub- lic to have the letters forwarded as expeditiously as it was possible for passengers to be conveyed. Was it then consist- ent with this public right that letters should be delayed for twenty-four hours when it was possible to forward them be- fore ? He knew the difficulty of enlightening the post- office authorities on these matters, but there was a possi- bility in other ways of remedying the evils of which they complained. When certain complaints were made in the House of Commons as to defective means of postal transit in various parts of the country he rose in his place and said-as the secretary of the treasury had especially invited complaints on this head—that he had a grievance to complain of more trying and more oppressive than all those to which he had listened and he must do Mr. Wilson, the secretary of the treasury the justice of stating that he lis- tened to these statements with attention acknowledged that the grievance was a real one, and promised to do all he could to remove it, and he maintained that they were in this district, much more indebted to Mr. Wilson-who, as one of the post office committee used his influence to remedy the evil of which he complained, than they were indebted to Mr. Rowland Hill. In any further proceedings which he should take respecting these postal alterations, he should not confine his applications to the post office; but he should most ceitainly apply to the members of the government and endeavour to influence them to interfere, and check the fur- ther progress of changes so detrimental, and so injurious as these were likely to be. He was not only willing individu- ally to forward any resolutions which might be passed by the meeting—still he thought that the mayor was the most competent party to do this—but he should write personally to Mr. Rowland Hill and other influential parties, calling their attention to the matter. He should certainly tax Mr. Hill with a breach of faith in making the alterations which were in contemplation-he should also write to Mr. Wilson, and tell him what the post office was about to do and what had been done at this meeting. He thought that the manner in which this alteration was about being effected was characterised by a great deal of duplicity, and it was high time to expose such doings. A desultory conversation here took place, between Mr. Goode, Mr. Philipps, Mr. 0. E. Davies, and others, as to the means of transmit for letters to Merthyr, Aberdare, &c. But it was felt that, although the mails to these important towns, might be conveyed by mail cart, they .arrived in the night, and no delay in replying was occasioned thereby but the effect of the proposed change in this county would be to create twenty-four hours delay in answering letters. Mr. William Walters, proposed a committee to endeavour to obtain the abandonment of the proposal. Mr. H. P. Goode in seconding it said that he believed they would find help from the Cardiganshire members, for it was essential to the trade and well being of Cardiganshire, also that the present postal arrangements be continued. The resolution was carried unanimously. The Chairman said that from what he knew of the Post Office authorities it would be useless to write or to make any formal application to them. They would only listen effectually to a personal application. But he thought that the best way to influence them was, through the Govern- ment. He did not know exactly how to move the Govern- ment, but he thought that Lord Cawdor, Lord Milford, and others could easily do so. He stood up for their rights as Welshmen, and maintained that as Irishmen had expended upon them some 130,000 or X40,000 in conveying the letters —often very few-from Milford to Waterford, he thought that the paltry sum expended upon the postal transit in this county should not be a paramount object with the Govern- ment, especially when it was not certain whether the mail did not pay for itself Mr, Philipps said that the first resolution was merely a re- quest to certain gentlemen to exert themselves and strive to defeat this abmrd change. For himself he would promise to do so, and he thought the other gentlemen mentioned would exert themselves likewise, but it was necessary to have some resolution specially bearing upon the subject and under this conviction he had just drawn up a protest, the adoption of which he had moved. Mr. James Eaton Evans said that it appeared to him that nothing could be more explicit or more to the point than Mr. Philipps resolution, and, therefore, he had much pleasure in seconding it. Mr. W. Rees, suggested that Mr. Philipps should write to the Secretary of the Home Department as well as to the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Philipps had simply mentioned the Secretary of the Treasury because he had been an active member of the Post Office Committee, and in that capacity had rendered them good service, but he would attend to Mr. Rees's suggestion for it appeared to him that the Post Office officials were go- ing beyond their lawful authority in this matter. They clearly had a right to govern all the details of postal ar- rangements and to devise all the means for obtaining par- ticular results but when they determined to deprive a lo- cality of a postal privilege, and to delay the inhabitants 24 hours in answering their letters, he thought that they usurped a power which was not theirs, or which they clearly ought not to possess. Else if this power was lawfully theirs they might arbitrarily inflict upon a county or district an amount of hardship and inconvenience more than equal to an increased postal tax. It was a part of the British con- stitution that the power or taxin rested only in the legisla- ture, and even then only at the will of the people; but if the Post Office possessed the power it claimed, it was equal, and might be more than equal to a power of taxation, and the in- convenience to which a district may be thus subjected would more than balance a small tax. Mr. O. E. Davies suggested whether it would not be pru- dent to write also to the Secretary of the South VV ales Railway, and enquire whether they could not be prevailed upon—notwithstanding the award—to lower their charges under the peculiar circumstances of the case, as the amount of charge for conveyance from Carmarthen here was obviously the cause of this contemplated alteration. He con- cluded by enquiring whether the Railway Company could do away altogether with the contract. James Summers, Esq., replied that they could not-the act compelled them to carry the mail at the command of the Post Offie, but it allowed the Post Office authorities to aban- don the contract at once if they pleased. [Since the close of the meeting Mr. Wm. Owen and Mr. Philipps have received replies from Mr. Saunders. The to Mr. Owen's letter, is as follows:- MY DEAR SlR,-I write a hasty note to say that we have received no intimation whatever from the Post Otfice of their intention to alter the mail services, which we are at present performing. "Your's very truly, FRED. G. SAUNDERS." That to Mr. Philipps is:- "My DEAR SIR,- We have received no communication whatever from the Post-office to lead us to suppose that they are about to discontinue the mail train below Carmarthen and Haverfordwest. The act which regulates the conveyance of mails by railway enables the Postmaster General upon giving 28 days notice, to require any addition to the services performed, and it enables him upon six months notice to determine the whole, or any part of such services. A subsequent section of the same act enables the Post- mastei General to put an end to the services, or any part of them, on giving any notice less than six months,' but in that case the Postmaster General is required to make to the company full and fair compensation for all loss thereby oc- casioned.' This proviso was probably intended to meet a case where public convenience required the substitution of one route in preference to another and we should un- doubtedly complain if the Postmaster were to take advan- tage of it, only for the purpose of putting an end to an award which he may consider a disadvantageous one, but which he has brought upon himself at any rate, the dif- ference between the cost to the Post-office of the mail train and a mail cart will not for the first six monihs after the alteiation be all gain to the Post-office, as we shall, of course, require the 'full and fair compensation.' Upon the opening of the line to Neyland we shall be prepared to carry on the Pembroke mail to that place from Haverfordwest upon liberal terms-probably at less cost to the Post Office than they at present pay for the Pembroke bags. I am, sir, your's very truly, FRED. G SAUXDERS." A committee was nominated to make preparations for an adjourned meeting.]
BRECON SHIRE.I
BRECON SHIRE. I DEVYNNOCK PETTY SESSIONS were held at the Bull Inn, before Penry Williams, D. W. Lloyd, Esqrs., and the Rev. Wm. Jones Williams. Several appeals against assessed taxes were heard, and the whole confirmed except two. Tho- mas Williams and David Edwards, at Aberbranfawr, were charged with fighting on Sunday. Discharged on payment costs, and receiving a severe reprimand. CHRIST'S COLLEGE, BRECKNOCK.—An adjourned meeting of the Governors of this College was held on Tuesday last, at the Shire Hall, Brecon. Present, the Lord Bishop of St. David's Sir Thomas Phillips the Archdeacon of Llan- daff; Colonel Pearce (mayor of Brecon) John Powell, Esq J. P. de Winton, Esq. and John Jones, Esq. The Bishop of St. David's having been unanimously called to preside, his Lordship declared the meeting duly constituted. Head Mastership.—The testimonials of Mr. Sharpe, and the Rev. John Daniel Williams, of Trinity College, now a master in Sherborne School, were respectively read and con- sidered by the meeting. The two candidates were in at- tendance. Mr. Williams was called in, and a series of ques- tions were put to him by the Right Rev. Chairman. A similar series of questions were also put to Mr. Sharpe. Mr. Williams was then unanimously elected head master of the school. The mayor of Brecon presented a memorial nu- merously signed by the inhabitants in favour of retaining the present site of the College for the intended new building. The memorial was ordered to be entered in the minutes of the Board. It was resolved that the question of repair, &c., of the old College cottages, &c., should be left to the Go- vernors of the College, resident in and near the town of Brecon, and that the Registrar be directed to cause the requisite repairs to be effected at as moderate an expense as practicable. A correspondence which had passed between Mr. Meadows White and Mr. Lloyd Davies, iNI.P,, was laid before the Board. The head master was requested to submit for the approbation of the Governors, a suitable person for the office of second master. The thanks of the meeting were accorded to the Bishop for his conduct in the chair. The premises formerly occupied by T. P. Price, Esq., in Lion Street, have been taken temporarily for the school, and for the ht:ad uu&ter'a residence. The school will be ojcitd iaJanmyBot,
BRECON TOWN COUNCIL. I
BRECON TOWN COUNCIL. I (Continued from our last, the report not having come to hand at the time ice went to press.) The members of the Council then formed themselves into a Local Board of Health. remove the lamp An order was made at the last meeting to remove the lamp from Messrs. Hughes and Joseph's bank to opposite the post office. The Town Clerk stated that Messrs. Hughes and.Joseph were willing to pay for the lamp themsel ves, rather than allow it to be removed. Mr. Banks inquired why the order had not been complied with. Mr. Kirk was requested to see that the order be ear- ried out. Mr. Williams proposed that the Maddrel should be arched over near the well; that the well be enlarged and made a kind of cistern and that a pump be erected above, at a cost of about 110. Mr. Thos. Powell said that a pump would not remain there more than three days. Mr. Banks remembered that this question was brought before the Board some time since, and he thought it was Mr. Hodges, who said that a pump would not last there. Mr. Morris asked Mr. Kirk whether there was a sufficient supply of water at all seasons of the year, as they would not be justified in voting away the public money without an adequate result. Mr Kirk said there was a good supply of water three parts of the year, and the cost would be £12. Mr. Banks seconded Mr. Williams's proposition, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Banks moved that certain out-houses should be erected in various places in Baileyglas as ordered. That Mr. Kirk should see that they were done and report at the next meeting. Mr. Kirk's report was then read, suggesting improvements in various parts of the town. Mr. Banks moved that several persons be served with notices, which was agreed to. Mr. Kirk said there was a great accumulation of street manure at the depot which ought to be disposed of; at the last public sale it was sold at Is. 3d. per ton, but he had since disposed of some by private contract at Is. 6d. per ton. The Chairman thought that if put up by auction, they would obtain the same price again. Mr. Williams moved that preliminaries to its sale be attended to, which was adopted. Mr. Kirk referred to the College ditch question in his report, and considered it more safe now than heretofore to remove its contents. Mr. Williams thought they had better defer it until a sharp frost set in. The question was adjourned to the next meeting. The Mayor called attention to a subject of great im- portance connected with the town, which was the large number of children left running about the streets in igno- rance and idleness, apparently without any one to care about their moral or intellectual improvement. He had often lamented to see them strolling about in dirt and rags, their parents in many instances too poor to clothe them and too much engaged by their daily occupations to look after them. He begged to suggest the propriety and feasibility of esta- blishing a Ragged School. Let them call a public meeting and get the parishes of St. David's, St. John, and St. Mary's to unite and establish such a school. He would willingly do all he possibly could to further so laudable an object. Schools of this description had been established in other towns, and why not have a similar one in Brecon. Mr. Banks hoped that at the same meeting they should be informed as to the proceedings respecting the new gas scheme. He had no doubt as the case had been taken up by Mr. Cobb, he would carry it out to the satisfaction of the town in general, and he trusted that the scheme would be such as to enable every tradesman who bad £10 to spare to invest it in shares. Mr. Kirk stated that he knew a little about this question, having been employed in the matter by Mr. Cobb, who had said that the Council did not take up the qustion; the probability was that we should be in darkness after August 185S. He entered into treaty with the present proprietors for the purchase of the old gas works, and a contract had been concluded between himself and the gas company, and Mr. Cobb intended it should be a Joint Stock Company, the prospectus of which was then in the hands of the printer. After paying some small bills, the Board adjourned to that day fortnight.
BRECON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.…
BRECON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. I These sessions were held on Monday, before Col. Pearce, ii.ii (mayor) and G. R. Bevan, Esq. Thomas Jones was charged with assaulting the police whilst in the execution of their duty. 0 P.C. Ban stated that on Saturday night last, being on duty he was called into the Green Dragon Inn, where he found defendant, who was drunk and disorderly, whom he requested to go out, when he attacked him and first struck him and then kicked him several times. P.C. Stephens stated that he was in Ship-street, on Saturday night, when a boy told him that one of the police- men was in the Green Dragon and required assistance. He immediately went there and found the defendant abusing Ball in a most savage manner. Defendant was then con- veyed to the station house, where he again made a despe- rate resistance, and it required three men to keep him quiet. Their worships stated that ill consideration of the distress the defendant's wife and children would bø placed were they t) commit him to prison, they would osly fine him 5s. and expenses, and hoped that was the last time they would see him before them. William Jones, Maesrnawr, was summoned by Thomas Lloyd, for assaulting him. Complainant stated that being in the Sun Inn, on the fair day as special constable, a fight took place there which he endeavoured to prevent. Seeing defendant covered with blood, he requested him to go to the yard to wash his face, when he was struck a very severe blow. Defendant was fined 5s. and expenses. Margaret Lewis, an inmate of the workhouse, was brought up charged by the Master, Mr. W. Powell, with beating her own child, three years of age. Their worships thought they had no jurisdiction, as the master had made no com- plaint to the Board of Guardians, and dismissed the case. Thomas Gallivan, was charged by David Hughes with stealing an umbrella of the value of Is. 6d. Prosecutor stated that on the 20th inst., be went to the Six Bells Inn. He had an umbrella with him. He went to sleep, and upon awaking found the umbrella gone. The umbrella then produced was his property. William Probert stated that on the 20th inst., he saw prisoner take an umbrella from the side of the prosecutor, in the Six Bells Inn. It was very like the one then produced. Ann Davies stated that on the 25th instant, she was in the market house, when prisoner offered to sell her an umbrella, and she bought for Is. 6d. The umbrella pro- duced was the one she bought. Prisoner was asked if he consented that the charge against him should be then dealt with or be sent for trial at the sessions. Prisoner, after pleading guilty, desired the case to be then disposed of. Sentenced to one month's hard labor. Daniel Ely, a private in the Brecon Militia, was charged by Richard Perrot, with stealing a bottle of whiskey, of the value of 4s. Prosecutor stated that he is the landlord of the Fountain Inn; and that on the evening of the 20th inst., he was sitting in the kitchen, and heard a noise in the bar, when he went towards the door and saw prisoner going out of the house. He caught him and took a bottle of whiskey from under his coat. He afterwards gave the bottle and its con- tents to P.C. Ball. Walter Perrot, son of prosecutor, stated, that on the 20th instant, he saw prisoner come out of the bar. lie asked him what he had under his coat. He said no- thing." He then put his hand to prisoner's breast, and took a bottle of peppermint from him. Prisoner afterwards went into the bar and took a bottle of whiskey which his father took from him. P.C. B ill stated that prosecutor informed him that a militia man had taken a bottle of whiskey from the bar. From the description he had been given of the offender he followed prisoner up the street, and apprehended him, stating to him the charge upon which he was apprehended, when he said he was sorry for it, and should not have taken it, had he not been persuaded to do so. The prisoner declined to ask any questions of either of the witnesses. Samuel Morgan, landlord of the Camden Arms Inn, stated that prisoner had been billeted with him for seven months. He had access to all parts of the house, and had frequent opportunities of taking spirits or anything else, but he had never missed anything, and considered him a very honest person. He was sentenced to two months' hard labour. On Tuesday at the clerk's office, before C. R. Bevan, Esq., Patrick Caine, private in the llth Regiment oi Foot, was charged by John Davies, with -stealing a watch, his property. Prosecutor stated that on the 19th inst., he was in the Bush Inn, about 12 o'clock in the morning. He went out to the yard accompanied by a soldier. They both returned to the house, and witness called for a quart of beer, when he discovered that his purse, containing £258. and watch, which he valued at t3, were gone. He informed Super- intendent Stephens of his loss. On the 22nd Mr. Stephens shewed him a watch which he identified as the one he had lost. Edward King, a corporal, stated that on the evening of the 19th inst., prisoner gave him a watch to keep for the night, and one sovereign, a five shilling peace, and a half- crown. He gave prisoner the money back the next morn- ing. The watch was taken that day from witness by Ser- jeant Kennon, Serjeant of prisoner's company. He be- lieved that the watch then produced was the one given to him by the prisoner. Edward Kennon, serjeant, stated that on Tuesday, the 20th inst., he was in the barrack room, and having heard that prisoner had a watch in his possession, he thought he had not obtained it honestly, and it was given up to him by Mrs. King. Witness gave it up to Serjeant-major Price. The watch then produced was the same. On searching prisoner on the evening of the 21st inst., witness found a five shilling piece and 2s. 6d. in silver, and four pence in copper. William Price, Serjeant-major, confirmed the last wit- ness's evidence. John M'Collum, a private in the llth Regiment, stated that on the 19th inst., about three o'clock, he and the pri- soner left the barracks, and went for a walk above the Tredegar Arms Inn, and prisoner kicked a paper and a watch and 11 7s. 6d. came out of the paper. They then called at several houses, and had some whiskey. Prisoner, in defence, repeated the same evidence as the last witness had stated. I Committed for trial to the quarter sessions.
BRECON—CHURCH RATE. I
BRECON—CHURCH RATE. I Considerable excitement was created in the parishes ot St. John and St. Mary's, in consequence of a notice which appeared on the church door of St. John's, on Sunday week, announcing that a vestry meeting would be held on the 27th inst., for the purpose of auditing the churchwardens' ac- counts, and of making a rate. On Friday evening a meeting, numerously attended, was held at the Black Cock Inn, for the purpose of organising an opposition, and an opposition to the rate was determined upon. On the following morning placards were posted and distributed in the town, calling upon those opposed to church-rates to attend the meeting. At twelve o'clock—the time appointed for the meeting-the vestry room was crowded, and David Thomas, Esq., of Saint John's Mount, (one of the churchwardens) took the chair, and proposed that the meeting be adjourned to the School Room, which was agreed to. The room was quickly filled, at least 150 persons being present. Mr. Thomas said he appeared before them as one of the churchwardens of St. John's, and he had been in that office most unfaiily for upwards of two years. The meeting had been called for the purpose of auditing the accounts, and also for the purpose of making a rate, and he trusted he was not inconsistent in so doing; but it was far from being his object or desire to excite bad feelings among his neigh- bours. He conceived that two objections were raised to the present rate being granted the one emanating from church- men living in the Chapelry of St. Mary's, who objected paying two church-rates one for St. John's and one for St. Mary's, and he could not blame them for supporting St. John's the other objection was from a great section of that meeting, who objected to church-rates upon principle. lie would not discuss the question, but would in the strongest language possible impress upon them that his friend, Mr. de Winton, the other churchwarden and himself, did not call upon them to meet there for the purpose of causing any bad feeling between neighbours, and that as the legis- lature were about taking the question up, and he had no doubt that they would pass such a bill as would give every one satisfaction. He thought he was entitled to take credit to himself and his friend, as they had not canvassed any one in favour of the rate, and would take that opportunity of stating that he did not approve of canvassing, but that every one should express his sentiments freely and candidly and'he trustpd that the utmost decorum would prevail throughout that meeting, and with those views would propose that the portion of the notice referring to making a fresh church-rate be withdrawn, and the question be ad- journed to that day six months. The office of churchwarden was a most difficult one to be placed in, and he and his friend had not been well treated in being compelled to serve two years. Their term, however, would expire on the 25th March, and if this question was put off for six months that would extend over the period when they would be superseded, and their successors in office could act as they thought proper. The celebrated Braintrce case had suc- ceeded in thwarting that which the law had provided for, and he would again entreat them not to get up a question that would cause bad feelings. Liberal was very often a mistaken term. A liberal man could be known by his acts, deeds, and profession. Let them destroy all bad feeling, and not raise up marks of distinction, landmarks that would be likely tc create ill feeling for his part he would never do so, but would nip in the bud any such feelings that were likely to produce such lamentable results. He hoped that as coming events cast their shadows before them this question would shortly be set at rest, and begged to reiterate what he had" said before, that the question be adjourned to that day six months. Mr. Rees Parry, of the Black Cock Inn, seconded the proposition, which was unanimously carried. The Chairman then read to the meeting a statement of the churchwardens' accounts since he had been in office. Mr. Morris, druggist, asked what the amount of arrears then due was. The Chairman said there were no arrears; all had been collected, and they ought to give him and his colleague credit that they did not call upon them for a rate before the last had been collected. Mr. Fryer enquired when the account commenced. Mr. Thomas replied that the first item was Sept. 17, 1852. Mr. Fryer: Is that your fiist account. Mr. Thomas said it was, and he had much pleasure in saying it would be his last. In the latter end of 1853, they f ad El8 odd in hand, and in 1854 no rate was made. Mr. Morris moved that a committee be appointed to look over the accounts. Mr. Thomas would not detain the meeting, but wished some half dozen would remain to look through the accounts and sign them, which was agreed to, and the meeting then separated.
I THE MILITIA BALLOT.
I THE MILITIA BALLOT. A contemporary, generally well informed in military matters, states that this Government for the purpose of increasing the strength of the militia, intends to resort to the ballot. The plan mentioned by our contemporary is, that all males between the ages of eighteen and forty are to be obliged to ballot; if unwilling to serve if drawn, then to pay a fine of five pounds to enable the Government to 6nd a substitute. Without either impugning or confirming the accuracy of the information furnished by the United Service Gazette, we be lieve it must be obvious to every one that the amount of the military force in this country is not sufficient. The maximum of a militia, 120,000 men for the three kingdoms, has never been reached, although it was fixed by Parliament considerably more than a year ago. We do not believe, if a calculation were made of all the men now serving in the militia, and of those who have volunteered from that force into the line, that the maximum which we have mentioned has even in that way been reached. According to a return ordered to be printed in May, 1855, the number of men who volunteered from the militia into the regular army between the 1st of January and the 31st of December, 1854, was—England, 11,809; Scotland, 196 and Ireland, 260 making a total of 12,265. Since the date of that return a much larger number of men have volunteered, especially from the Scotch and Irish militia; but there are no data before the public readily available to show the precise strength at the present moment of the e ubodied militia regiments in the three kingdoms. The establishment of this domestic force has also been diminished by the removal of many regiments to the Mediterranean stations, where, with ad- vantage to the public service, they are discharging the duties usually performed by the line. In the absence of authentic information, it is difficult to speculate upon any necessity which may exist for a recourse to the ballot-t-.t all times a vexatious and oppressive expedient. Bat the present generation have no right to expect that they should be exempted from burdens which their fathers were willing to bear. If the domestic force of the country cannot be raised to the strength which the Government and Legis- lature consider to be requisite for the twofold object of self- defence and providing the best means of supply for the regular army, the ballot in that case becomes a necessity. Even if the experiment of voluntary enlistment (hitherto so successful) should be found insufficient for the growing exigencies of the great contest in which the country is en- gaged, the experience of the last war abundantly proves that the mere introduction of a system of compulsory service by the ballot is sure to call thousands of men to the service of their country. When hostilities were de- clared we pointed out for imitation the great scheme of military organisation which existed up to the year 1815. In addition to the regular army, detached on foreign and colonial service, there was the regular militia which, as now, was the best and most constant nursery for the line. There was also the local militia—corps not removable out of their counties except in case of rebellion or actual or threatened invasion. The ballot was applied to both these forces but what was the consequence ? Persons who did not wish to serve in the regular militia paid for substi- tutes and those who did not wish to serve in the local militia, joined some volunteer corps, and thus obtained the exemption which they desired At the present time, happily, there is no occasion for the formation of an army of reserve," such as that which existed in 180o but, it may be asked, would this country be less secure if there were in it some thousands of respectable house- holders with Minie rifles in their hands ready, at their own expense, to acquire that amount of mili ary training which in a short time, would make them efficient auxilia- ries of the regular army and militia ? If the cavalry volunteer regiments (the) eomanry) are of service to the country, infantry regiments, composed of persons having a stake in the country, would be equally serviceable, not only to preserve the public peace, but for general pur- poses of defence. True wisdom would, therefore, seem to indictate a recurrence to that complete system of internal military organisation which we somewhat unaccountably permitted to fall to pieces after the termination of the last war. There should be the regular and the local militia; and should the ballot be resorted to, some compensation for its inconveniences ought to be supplied by the intro- duction of volunteer corps, which would cost the country nothing, and tend to sustain the military spirit of the population.—Morning Post.
IAS IT SHOULD BE.
I AS IT SHOULD BE. It is difficult to conceive a more painful position than that in which the relatives of officers serving in the Crimea are placed by the sudden removal of those near and dear to them by sickness or the sword. This is a truism and some- thing more. It is unhappily only too true that there are now many widows and orphans of officers who have been deprived, at one blow, in a moment of time, of that com- fort, assistance, and support in life on which, in the ordinary course of nature, they might have reckoned for years to come. These are wounds which no surgeon can heal, no medicine assuage. The surviving wife or child is in this respect beydn 1 hope of complete cure. All we can do is to mittgate the pangs of a separation so sudden and so tragic. We are not now speaking of money; the blood thus shed is beyond price to those who best know how to value it. What they desire is the recognition, by some graceful act of sympathy, of the services so well rendered to the country by those whose loss they deplore. It is therefore with great satisfaction that we have been informed of Her Majesty's gracious intention to bestow some mark of favour on the widows of several distinguished officers who have fallen before Sebastopol or met their death in consequence of wounds received during the siege. Thus, two sets of apartments, which have recently become vacant, in Hampton Court Palace have been assigned, the one to Mrs. Shadforth, widow of Colonel Shadforih, who was killed at the first unsuccessful attack on the Redan on the 18th of June the other to Lady Torrens, widow of Sir Arthur Torrens, who died at Paris a short time ago from the effect of the wounds which he received at the battle of Inkermann. Again, we are informed that the only ap- pointment in the Royal household which has been recently vacated has been given by her Majesty to Lady Chewton, whose husband died after receiving no less than seven wounds at Inkermann, baying conducted himself with the utmost bravery during that eventful day, These are ap- pointments which speak for themselves, and will carry the conviction of the kindliness of feeling and honesty of purpose which dictated them to every English heart. Let [ all Court appointments be similarly bestowed, and we shall I bear no wore of Couit intrigue or Palace jobbery.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE CRIMEA,.…
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE CRIMEA,. I CAIP REFORE SHBASTOPOL, Tuesday Nov. 13. The enemy have made no sign—they are only making huts and preparing for the winter. Still the allies expect, or rather hope, that the Russians will be considerate enough to play our game and come down to assault our position, and it is quite possible that the Russians are de- luded enough to indulge ir. similar anticipations, and look lil d e( i ull()uo forward to a number of little morgartens amid the mountain passes of Altodor and Mackenzie before the winter sets in. The extraordinary fineness of the weather affords a daily reproach to whatever General it may be who ought to act offensively. Within one day of the first anniversary of that terrible 14th of November which will never be forgotten by those who spent it on this plateau, it is still calm. Since the expedition returned from Kinburn there has not fallen one drop of rain, and each day has been cloudless, sunny, and almost too warm. The mornings and nig-hts, however, begin to warn us that winter is impending. As I write the skv is overcast and the atmosphere is heavy—a good speci- men of a London November day, minus the fog, drizzle or rain but there is not a breath of wind. Under these cir- cumstances it is to be regretted that the Admiral could not carry out their wishes concerning the expedition to Kaffa, for the only ostensible obstacle to the undertaking was the weather, and our experience and traditions of last year cor- tainly suggested extreme caution before we ventured a flotilia filled with soldiers on such an awful coast at this season, even for the very short passage to Theodcsia. The event of the week has, of course, been the change of Com- manders-in-Chief. The retirement of General Simpson was by no means unexpected, but it was not known who would be his successor, and very few indeed ventured to hope Sir W. Codrington would be selected for the post. Although too active and able a soldier to be neglected in a war like this, it is possible that Sir W. Codrington would not have had a chance of obtaining his present distinguished position, but for a piece of good fortune. On the 20th of June last year certain promotions took place, more particu- larly among colonels of the Guards, and among them was that of Colonel Codrington to Major-General. Of course the effect of such a promotion would have been to remove him from his regiment and take him home but the Major- General was most anxious for active service. By the time the Gazette was promulgated the expedition to the Crimea was spoken of, and Major-General Codrington tried hard to evade the necessity of returning home, which to many was by no means disagreeable, judging by the alacrity with which they availed themselves of it. He was lucky enough to succeed in his object, and thus got an opportunity of en- tering on the career which in a very short period has led him to such great honours and to such a proud position. The Acting Quartermaster-General had just died, and Brigadier-General Airey, who commanded a brisade of the Light Division, was selected as his successor. The brigade thus left vacant tvas given to Major-General Codrington, whose anxiety for active service led him to turn every stone to seek it, and 1 well remember that, being with the Light Division at the time, I heard some expressions of dissatis- faction at the lucky Guardsman getting the command. A very short time, however, elapsed before officers and men began to discover that he was one of the best soldiers in the army, and his reputation extended beyond the limits of his brigade to every regiment in thefield. The Light Division hailed his accession to command on the second and final retirement of Sir George Brown with the liveliest satisfac- tion, for he had won the confidence of the men by coolness and unexaggerated intrepidity in the field, and had gained the affection of the officers by his amenity and kind manners which secured them against insult or violent abuse in their communications with their General, while they placed full reliance on his vigilance and his love and knowledge of his profession. General Simpson left for Marseilles direct in the steamer Telegraph yesterday. No one regrets that he has ceased to be Commander-in-Chief of this army. All must feel sor- row for the circumstances under which a veteran officer like Sir James Simpson resigned his command. His simplicity of manners and singleness of mind never failed to conci- liate the regard, if not the respect and admiration, of those around him, but he failed in determination and firmness in a matter of vital importance to our army when opposed to a sterner will, greater vehemence, and force of character. Such an error in judgment, or rather such weakness, was especially culpable in the Commander-in-Chief of an army situated as our own is, and the most ardent ardniirer of Sir James Simpson "ill scarcely for a moment pretend to say that he possessed the physical vigour to lead an army in an active campaign, or the strategical skill and fertility of re- sources which would enable him to conduct difficult opera- tions against an enterprising and able enemy, or to extricate his troops with honour out of danger. The late General was a victim to writing, like his lamented predecessor. He was more like a clerk than a General. Now, is it the Horse (juarda vvllicli enforces all this scrivenery ? If the army cannot be commanded without all these forms and returns, let us have, as you propose, a writing General and a fighting General. It certainly is not despatch-writing which con- sumed our Generals' time hitherto, for those documents have always been brief enough. I regret to state that the army is likely to lose Colonel Macmurdo, He has been very ill of fever for some days, and passed the crisis on Sunday night. His wife had just arrived before he fell ill, and he must go home as soon as he is strong enough to be removed. Had the army been deprived of his services at any other time it would have been most serious and, even as it is, it will be hard to find his successor, for he devoted himself incesssan tly to the details of his most arduous department, and was gra- dually working it into most excellent order, notwithstanding the great diffiulties with which he had to contend. The main road has now been completed from Balaklava (Kadikoi) to the central depot, a distance of 6i miles. It is a grand military work which will last for centuries. In less than seven weeks the road has been completed, and in that time upwards of 60,000 tons of road metal have been prepared and laid down to fit it for traffic. There are yet several branches to be completed one to Karanyi-vallay is nearly ready, and the others are in a fair progress. When Mr. Doyne began his roads he had only 1,500 soldiers to assist him, but by degrees he received increase aid every day from the Quartermaster-General's department, until he had no less than 8,000 men at work, which, with his own navvies and native labourers, gave him a force of about 10,000 men. The drainage of the road is excellent, and numerous and capacious culverts have been constructed to carry off the rush of water in the ravines. Altogether we shall have at least left a Romanesque work behind us when we abandon the Crimea, and if we beqeath no marks of our existence to posterity in India, we shall at least do so to future generations of Muscovites and Tartars. There is little more to say. The duello between the north and south sides is intensely tedious and profitless it is also without loss—the stones alone suffer. I shall not be kind enough to tell the Russians where our batteries are to be, or what guns are to be in them. On the 10th of July this year a treaty was entered into I between France and England with respect to the distribu- tion of booty and trophies, which enabled the French and English Governments to form a mixed commission for the purpose of classifying and arranging such articles. In compliance with this provision Marshal Pelissier named the following officers ou behalf of tho French army imme- diately after the capture of Sebastopol :-General of Divi- sion Niel, Aide-de-Camp de l' Empereur, President, and commanding the Engineers General of Division Thiry, commanding Artillery; Admiral Renault de Geuouilly, commanding Marine Artillery M. Paris, Intendant (Com- missary-General) M. Budin, Payeur-General. General Simpson named the following officers for the English army:—Sir G. Dacres, commanding Royal Artillery; Captain Drummond, R.N. Colonel Chapman, commanding Royal Engineers; Mr. Drake Assistant Commissary Gene- ral. It will be observed that the English officers are not equal in rank or numbers to the French members of the Commission. The Commission met on the 15th of September at the the quarters of General Niel. Its first act was to order an inventory in detail to be made of everything found in Sebastopol. To effect this the city and forts were divided, and the care of exploring each part devolved upon sub- commissions. On the 25th of September the Commission held its second sitting, and all the members were present except General Thiry, who was represented by General Mazare. That officer and Brigadier-General Dupuis, as presidents of the sub-commission, then laid on the table a detailed statement of everything found in Sebastopol. The number of cannon in bronze (brass) is 128 that of iron guns, 3,711 total. 3,8'39. The President read the con- vention of the JOLH of July, and it was then unanimously agreed that the guns should be divided into two equal parts paying due regard to the different calibres, and that one- half should be sent to France, and other half to Great Bri- tain, with the exception of two field brass pieces, which should be offered to General de la Marmora, with the appro- bation of the Commanders-in-Chief; but that for the pre- sent they should remain in Sebastopol, and in the redoubts and fortifications of Kamiesch and Balaklava, till such time as they were not required for the defence of the place, when each Government might do what they liked with their own share. These decisions taken conformably to the first act of the Convention, leave the valuation of the pieces out of ¡. the question but by the 4th article of the same Conven- tion it is agreed that the value of the booty, &c., shall be divided between the two lowers proporuonauy ? me num- ber of men each had serving in the siege. The effective strength of the Anglo-Sardinian army on the 8th of Sep. temb?r was 63,715 men, &nd that of the French army on the same day was 126,705 men. The Commission, there- fore, decided that France should have two-thirds, and Great Britain one-third of the value of the booty and tro- phies. It was declared impossible to fix the value of the guns immediately, in consequence of want of sufficient in- formation and of the necessity of employing the iron guns in the defence of the place. The Commission, therefore, passed on to the partition of the other materiel taken, and divided the following into three parts, two for France and one-third for England, with the understanding that thpy are to remain for the supply of the defence:—407,134 round shot; shell, 101,755; canister cases, 24,080; gun- powder, 525,000lbs. ball cartridges for muskets and car- bines, 4 70,01O in good condition, and 160,000 damaged; waggons, 80 yawls, 6; logs of lignum intce, 500; anchors of port moorings, 400; anchors of different sizes, 90 j trrapplings and small anchors, 50 chains for anchors, 200 yards old copper for sheathing, 101,0001b old ropes, 100,0001b. water casks, 300 new ropes of different sizes, 50,0001b. pulleys, 400; spars, 40; tools, 300; bar iron and steel, 1,460,0001b.; iron wire, 40 :1b.; iron checks, 3201b. sheet iron, 10,0001b. tin plate, 14,0001b. red cop- per, 120,0001b.; nails, G,OOmb. j firewood, a large quan- tity pitch and tar, 200 barrels; barrels of paint, 150; small boilers, weighing 5,0001b. j the remains of a steam- engine of 220-horse power, taken out of a steamer burnt by the Russians large copper boilers, weighing 100,0001b., 8; old copper, 100,0001b. copper screws, 10,000ib. old iron, 160,0001b; large bell" (j j small bells, 10; hospital beds, 453; iron forges in great numbers; main tackles, 12; coal, 2,100 tons; steam-engines, of 30-horse power, fcr the basins, 3; iron boilers, 3 1 high-pressure engine of 16-horse power, for the basins; iron cranes, 17; an engine of 12-horse power in the military bakery 2 dredg- ing machines of 30-horse power, unserviceable; a still, a clock, six marble statues, two sphinxes, a large basso-re- lievo; biscuit, 500 tons flour, 150; barley 9 buckwheat, [ 117 oats, 18; millet, 54; wheat 20; peas, 14", salt meat, I 60; wheal in the granaries, 600 quaiters, &c. The Commission having examined the quality and quan- tity of the breadstuffs found in the magazines, declared them unfit for the use of the allied armies, and decided that t iey should be sent to Eupatoria for the use of the Tar- tars, to whom the allies furnish subsistence, and the French Intendance is charged with that duty. They con- sisted of 11,000 sacks, weighing 500 tons cf black bread, 370 sacks or 150 tons of flour, 400 sacks or nine tons of barley; 1,300 sacks or 117 tons of black barley, 18 tons of h iy, 34 tons of millet, 20 tons of barley, 1,1 1 tons of peas, 69 tons of salt meat, and 500 qrs of barley in the granar- ies. The Commission decided further that the few objects of art found in the place should be placed at the disposal of the Generals-in-Cbief, and finished the sitting by nomina- ting as secretary M. de Genoux, Captaine de Fregate. The third sitting took place on the 30th of September, and the subject of their deliberation was the valuation of the guns. As the calibres of the Russian artillery do not correspond with those of the allies, it was decided unanimous!y that in the valuation of the guns they should only take count of the value of the metal which was fixed at 2f. 50e. per kilogramme for brass guns, and at 10c. for iron guns. One of the members observed, that among the brass guns there were two Turkish field pieces, and it was at once declared to be the wish of the Commander to put those guns at the disposal of the Ottoman Porte. It was further decided that, as many of the articles could not be divided, a distribution should take place as might be best arranged, and accordingly a high pressure engine of 20 horse power, a distilling machine, and a clock were comprised in the French list, and in the English list were comprised a high pressure engine of 16-horse power and a furnace. As it would be impossible to divide the wood of the houses and buildings to be demolised, the city itself was divided, and to the English was allotted the cast and to the French the western portion. The list al- ready published gives the gross amount found, but there were immense quantities of all kinds of articles, muskets, clothing, &c., improperly removed. Mr. Johnson, naval instructor, was named as English secretary and Mr. Cruikshank, since the closing of the sittings, has disco- vered a store containing about 5,000 suits of Russian mi- litary clothing. The quantity of wood taken from the place is very great and it still furnishes our officers who are left to their own resources, with vast supplies—only to be got under fire however-of wood, iron, bricks, and cut stone. It is a hard tug for horses and men to get them up from the city, and the enemy are sure to let fly a shot at them whenever they see a party engaged in collecting wood or building materials. I fear there is nothing of interest to be found in my diary. The army is busy hutting itself, and it will soon be in a condition to bid the weather defiance. The extent of canvas, however, which yet meets the eye would astonish a stranger. The tents stand out distinctly amid the dingy huts and wigwams, and are apt to engage the attention exclusively..The French are far behind us in their preparations for making themselves comfortable for I the winter. Their main road is not nearly completed, and the Sardinians get on but slowly with their branch to Ka- mara. SATURDAY. The weather continues fine. The changes announced in the staff and in the army are large. The army will be de- vided into two corps of three divisions each-one to be under the command of Sir Colin Campbell, if he will ac- cept it the other under the command of General Eyre. The stuff of generals willst.and thus Commander-in-Chief, Sir W. Codrington. Chief of the Staff, Major-General Windham. Light Division, Lord W. Paulet. Guard's Division, Lord Rokeby. Second Division, Major-General Barnard, late Chief of the Staff. Third Division, Sir R. Eyre. Fourth Division, Major-Generall Garrett. Highland Division, Brigadier-General Cameron, pro teni. Quarterinaster-General, Colonel P. Herbert. The Kaffa expedition is knocked on the head, and the troops disembark to-morrow morning. MONDAY. General Codrington has assumed the command of the army from this day, and has announced it in order, which has been received with satisfaction by the army.
THE WAR IN ASIA.
THE WAR IN ASIA. CONSTANTIXOPE, Nov. 15. The presence of the French squadron in the Bosphorus, and the visits of Admiral Bruat to the Sultan, the Grand Vizier, the Grand Master of Artillery, and other high of- ficials, and the return visits of the Ottoman Ministers to the Montebello, have caused so much burning of powder during the last few days that when we yesterday afternoon heard the booming or guns in the Golden Horn we took it to be merely one of the ordinary complimentary salutes. It soon transpired that the fire had a happier cause and was in celebration of a victory in Asia. It appears that Omar Pasha's troops reached the banks of a river defended by the enemy, and, after throwing over two bridges, which the Russians destroyed, found a ford and crossed, beat the Russians, took five guns from them, and kept the ground, establishing themselves on the further side of the river. The enemy was probably not in very great force. The Russians are said to have lost 500 men. The following particulars have since arrived :— Omar Pasha, with the troops under his command, had advanced to a place called Anacria, on the river Ongour, or Ingour, or. a further side of which 15,000 or 16,000 Rus- sians had fortified themselves with redoubts and earthworks and eight pieces of artillery. All considered, their position was formidable. On the 7th of November the Turkish troops advanced upon the river with the intention of at- tacking the enemy. A canonade began and the light troops commenced the engagement, but the Ottoman soldiers, carried away by their ardour and braving a terrible fire, crossed the river in two places at the same time and fell upon the enemy with the bayonet. The impetuosity of the attack prevailed the Russians fled, abandoning their intrenchments, and leaving in our hands five guns, seven ammunition waggons, a great number of muskets, a con- siderable booty, and 30 or 40 prisoners. Omar Pasha writes that at the time he closed his despatch the dead were not yet all buried, but they had already counted 400 of them. After the battle same cavalry were sent to reconnoitre, and reported that a great number of dead and dying Russians were dispersed among the brushwood, which indicated that the loss of the enemy had been considerable. The Turkish loss was 68 dead and 220 wounded." The day after the action Omar Pasha moved forward, and is reported to have said that he meant to enter Tiflis this year. It is to be hoped that the weather may permit him, and success still attend his arms. From Kars we have nothing positive. A Trebizond boat is overdue. One that had arrived a few hours after I despatched my last letter brought no mail from Kars. A Persian had arrived at Trcbizond in two or three days from Erzeroum, and said that news had come to the latter place, and was in every mouth, that the Russians had raised the siege of Kars and retired beyond the Arpatchai. Although this agrees with the previous intelligence which reached us that they were withdrawing their heavy guns and striking their tents, it needs confirmation. The proximity of Gumri to Kars ren- ders it possible that the Russians notwithstanding their recent defeat, may endeavour to prolong the blockade by means of their cavalry, and might do a great deal, when unopposed by any adequate force, in the way of cutting off convoys and supplies. A very few days will doubtless bring positive information as to the Russian movements and apparent intentions. This morning the salutes arc again firing. A large steam two-decker, the tricolour flying, is gliding past Seraglio point in a blaze of sunshine and over water smooth almost as glass. For the last two days the rains have ceased, and we have again blue sky and beautiful weather. Admiral Bruat and his squadron are off to France.
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THE REV. DR. VAUGHAN.—Much of the excitement which prevailed amongst the inhabitants of Brixton at the late conduct of their vicar ha.s been allayed by the removal of the rev. gentleman with his family to St. John's Wood. It is also alleged that Dr. Vaughan has resigned his living, and that it appears very evident that under no circumstan- ces will be able to commence his sacred duties in the same parish. The rev. doctor is represented to be very wealthy, his father, who was a banker at Bristol, having died a few years ago, and left him a fortune, it is said of £ 60,000. At all events, he was quite independent of his living, and why he should have committed an act which he must have known would render him liable to transportation for life for the trumpery gain of. at the utmost, XG per annum, is truly marvellous.—Sunday Paper. RIVALRY IN TRADE. Dr. Normandy, the celebrated analytical chemist, in speaking of the competition between tradesmen of the present day, 'describes it as a struggle for victory, not by supplying a better article, but one which will look as well and cost less. This is a common practice with some dealers in medicine as well as food, and Cod Liver Oil is an instance which may be adduced of this wide-spread evil invading every branch of commerce. Dr. de Jongh's Light-Brown Cod Liver Oil, the purity and genuineness of which are guaranteed by skilful and careful chemical analysis, having gained a high reputation for its superiority and being extensively prescribed and in great demand, inferior or adulterated oils are frequently offered and substituted as of the same kind and quality, to the grea detriment of the health and serious disappointment of tht patient. To guard against these deceptions, Dr. de Jonhg's Oil is sold only in bottle,, capsuled and labelled with his stamp and signature, and thus the people are guaranted apainat numerous sophisticated preparations, either pas- sively and actively pernicious. Dr. Hassall, the distin- guished author of "Food and its Adulterations," has testified his unqualified approbation of Dr. de Jongh's Light Brown Cod Liver Oil in the following flattering terms :—" I have more that once, at different times, subjected your Light-Ooil to chemical analysis—and this unknown to yourself—and I have always found it to be free from ale impurity, and rich in the constituents of bile. So great is my confidence in the article, that I usually prescribe it in preference to any other, in order to make sure of obtaining the remedy in its purest and best condition." AN UNGRATEFUL AND DISHONEST SEUVANT. The commercial circles of Liverpool have, within the last few days, been surprised by rumours impugning the honesty of a man who hitherto has been respected as one of the most trustworthy cashiers in the town. He had grown grey in the service of his employers, who had ever placed the greatest confidence in his integrity. After a thirty years' service, however, during which period he had received fre- quent marks of their approbation, including an annuity of 1:200 left him by the will of one of his late masters, it has been ascertained that since the commencement of his term of office he has systematically withdrawn from the con- cern various sums of money, to the extent, it 15 believed, of about £300 a year, and now amounting altogefher to no less a sum than 19,0,00. The firm with which this painful discovery is associated is that of Messrs. J. C. Ewart, Myers, and Go, general brokers, and the person alleged to have been guilty of so serious a breach of trust, coupled with so much gross ingratitude, is Mr. Bulmer, their cash- ier, who, up to the present time, was highly respected by an extensive circle of friends. For some reason, at pre- sent unexplained, the case has not appeared before the public in a judicial form. --Uvc-rPga Albioie.