The Welshman

AUSTRIA. Several of the Paris journals publish a letter from Vienna which savs:- Some of the nobles of Hungary have drawn up an address to the Emperor, in which they express their con- viction that Hungary regards herself as for ever united to the house of Hapsburg, and expects her salvation from it; but that, on the other hand, the safety of that house re- sides, as is proved by history, in the fidelity and bravery of the Hungarian nation. Consequently, if at any future crisis it be desired that that nation shall render services, it would be only just and prudent to concede to it greater rights than those it now possesses, and, in particular, to give it more the character of a separate people. This petition has received numerous signatures, and all the bishops have adhered to it; but it appears that, after all, it is not certain that it will be presented to the Emperor. Among the es- tates confiscated in Hungary after the events of 1818 aud 1849, which are about to be restored in virtue of the recent amnesty, figure those which belonged to Count Louis Ba- thiany, president of the Hungarian Council of Ministers in the Revolution; his estates are to be given up to his heirs. This restitution proves that the amnesty extends to pro- perty which at the moment of confiscation was held by per- sons who are now dead."

THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. MARSEILLES, May 23. The Emperor of Austria has sent decorations to many distinguished personags in Moldavia and Wallachia. The Emperor of Russia has done the same, particularly in favour of the Metropolitan of the Greek Church. Some of the German journals say Austria is drawing up a memorandum on the condition of the Danubian Principa- lities, to be presented to the Governments of Europe. I have heard that Austria has expressed a willingness to occupy those provinces with a military force if called upon to do so bv the Porte; always, however, with the permission of the protecting Powers. The latter, I presume, would be difficult to obtain.

SETTLEMENT OF THE NEUFCHATEL QUESTION. SIGNING OF THE TREATY. The Moniteur publishes the following:- The Plenipotentiaries of France, Austria, Great Bri- tain, Prussia, Russia, and Switzerland, assembled together to-day, at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and signed a treaty, which settles in definitive manner the question of Neufchatel, by the renunciation of his Majesty the King of Prussia of the sovereign rights which treaties attri- buted to him over that Principality, and by means of en- gagements contracted by the Swiss Confederation, which are of a nature to satisfy the high solicitude of the King Frederick William for the Neufcatelons. The textof the treaty will be published after the ex- change of ratifications, which will take place ia one and twenty days.

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. We extract from the Cape Town Mail of April the 4th the following summary of Cape News :— The last mail steamer, the Tynemouth, which left on the 13th of March, conveyed intelligence of the departure of the Governor to the eastern frontier, for the purpose of checking on the spot the dangerous proceedings of some of the Kaffir tribes, who had been induced to destroy large numbers of their cattle, their only means of subsistence, in the expectation, as they professed to believe, that they would rise again from the dead in yet greater numbers. The measures adopted by Sir George Grey, on his arrival on the spot, were of the most decided character. In a government notice issued to the chiefs, in his capacity of High Commis- sioner, he at once declared his determination to check pro- ceedings which, if allowed to continue, will lead to such lamentable results, which are un pardonab le, as labour is provided for all industrious persons who may be in a state of destitution.' Four Kaffirs, who were found that morning in the Crown Reserve (the Amatolas) were ordered to be transported-a punishment of which, it is said, these people have a great horror; and the chiefs were in- formed that' all persons caught attempting to commit, or having eommitted, robbery with arms in their hands, will, when convicted of such offence, be punished with death.' He also warned them that' all Kaffirs found robbing in the colony or elsewhere will be fired upon, if it is found possible to capture them.' Simultaneously with these severe an- nouncements, which were at once sternly carried into effect, offers were made to the well disposed of food and employ- ment at regular wages on public works, and every facility was given them to enter the service of the colonial farmers. In a few days a return was published giving the names of seven Kaffirs who had been condemned to transportation, and a list of 734 who were already at work on the roads and other public works of British Kaffraria; while the last re- ceived frontier papers notice the arrivals in Albany of several hundred peacefully d&ed K Mrs, who we? being eagerly engaged as herds apn'"do" labourers by the colonial farmers. The cause of alarm being thus removed, his Kxeelkncy returned to Cape Town on Monday last, ha- ving completely re-established confidence on the Kaffir frontier.

TRoors FOR INDIA.—On Sunday morning an order was received by Colonel H. Jervis, commandant of the pro. visional battalion at Chatham, directing that the whole of the troops belonging to the Indian regiments stationed in the Bombay and Madras Presidencies, who are available for embarkation, are to be held in readiness to proceed from Chatham to embark at Gravesend, for the purpose of joining the service companies of their respective regiments. On the receipt of the order, on Sunday morning, the troops belonging to the 43rd Light Infantry, 64th, 74th High- landers, 78ih Highlanders, 83rd, 84th, and 86th Regiments, were marcbedtothe garrison hospital for the purpose of being medically inspected by Dr. A. Maclean. Tie above depdts will furnish nearly 1,000 men of all ranks for service with their head-quarters in India, the whole of whom have undergone a course of instruction m the Edtleld, rifle, and have alsti been instructed in tscalading with the troops of the Royal Engineers. The total number of troops who are held in readiness at Chatham to proceed to India exceeds 2,000 non-commissioned officers and men. TRADES AND PROFESSION'S IN rAmis.-A curious and interesting table has been recently drawn up, showing the development atlailKd by. Paris daring the last fifty ypar. 1 extract some details concerning the number of profes- sions and trades, which gives a tair idea of the progress made by the capital. In 1807 there were 300 lawyers in Paris, there are now 727; 780 physicians and surgeons against 1,4.56 of the present day; 167 chemists against 497 180 architects against 811; 482 artists against 842 218 engravers against 880 689 bakers agaiiwt 601; 237 butchers against 487 1 credit institution, the Bank of France, against 33; 121 bankers agglinsl 262 182 coin- mksion merchants against 1,160; 9 warm-bath establish- ments against 117; 84 paper manufactories against 240; 761 grocers against 1,845 188 watchmakers against 680 57 laee merchants against 260; 62 artificial flower-makers against 738; 47 reslaurauts against 598 124 cafes against 1,035; 1,416 wine-dealers against 3,979. The increase, it will be observed, has been the more important in trades dealing in articles of luxury which depend entirely on an itiilux of foreign visitors for success. Amongst the trades utterly unknown to the generation of 1807 were advertis- ing offices, of which there now exists 33; insurance offioes, 128 in number; photographists, 166; and matri- monial agencies, of which Paris contains 4.-Globe.

THE NEUFCHATEL QUESTION. I The signature of the treaty which terminates the dispute between the King of Prussia and the Helvetic Confedera- tion respecting the claims of the former on the canton of Neufchatel, removes one of the abiding causes that threat- ened the peace of Europe. Practically, the arrangement made at Paris rectifies one of the mistakes made at Vienna in 1815. The then King of Prussia only carried his point and inflicted a double government on the canton, by that perseverance for which his race has been distin- guished. The original scheme, which contemplated the perfect annexation of Neufchatel to the Confederation on the same footing as the other cantons, was far better than that adopted. The double government proved, as might have been foreseen, a source of constant irritation. Prussia was not strengthened by the addition of Neufchatel to its agglomeration of territories; but the Confederation was weakened by the double allegiance and double interests of the Neufchatelese.. The. canton has now reverted to its natural place in the Swiss republic;" the peace of Europe is no longer threatened and, though Switzerland will be the gainer by the arrangement, Prussia will not be a loser. The great fact of the treaty is that the King of Prussia has formally renounced his claim to sovereignty. All the remaining provisions of the treaty are of secondary import- ance. The Swiss have shown their usual prudence in stand- ing out resolutely for the substance of the matter in dispute, and in showing little anxiety on the mere honorary stipula- tions. If it be true, as has been stated, that the King of Prussia will not exact the payment of the million of francs which he demanded, and which was conceded to him, such a determination will do him honour. Under any circumstances the independence of Neufchatel will be cheaply purchased by the liberation of the rebel royalists, the payment of a given sum, amounting to about ten or twelve years' purchase for no cause assigned, and the concession, if indeed that be conceded, of the title of Prince of Neufchatel to the Sovere- ign of Prussia. By this treaty we escape from an imbroglio into which we were thrust by Lord Derby's Foreign Secretary in 1852. That ill-advised step was contrary to English policy, which recognises de jacto and not de jure Governments. When Neufchatel deposed her prince by legitimate and peaceful action, it was no more our business to take an attitude hostile to the de facto Government than it was in 1830, when Charles X. was deposed, or in 1818, when Louis Philippe abdicated. Our Government ought to have remained per- fectly free to take part in any deliberations having for their object the rectification of the mischievous stipulation affect- ing Neufchatel adopted at Vienna. For the present settle- ment we have to thank the courage and discretion of the Swiss, the prudence and good faith of the Emperor Napo- leon, and the judicious course adopted by our own Government. It is a satisfactory reflection that diplomatic action has sufficed for the settlement of this embittered question, and that the treaty of Vienna has been changed by the Great Powers, in a minute but important item, without involving the Continent in war.-Globe.

I BRUTAL ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A WIFE. I An attempted murder of a most appalling and brutal character took place on Saturday evening, at the house, No. 7, Little Russell-street, Covent-garden, immediately opposite the stage door of Drury-lane Theatre, and within a few yards of the Scotch Presbyterian Church of which the Rev. Dr. Cumming is the minister. The back room of the second floor in the house alluded to was occupied by a young couple named James Geary, ajed 23, and Emily Geary, aged 19, who were married on the 4th of the presentmonth, just three weeks since, and to all appearance lived happily together until the night on which he made so determined an attempt on her life. Both James and Emily Geary were originally silk spinners, but lately the husband has filled the situation of porter to a furniture dealer in Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn. On Saturday afternoon the newly-married couple paid a visit to the mother of the wife, and during their stay there nothing occurred which led to a suspicion that there was or had been any disagreement between them. On their way home, however, there was some dispute about going to a concert-room, the result of which was that they parted, and the wife went home to Russell-street. At half- past 10 o'clock James Geary returned home, and, as appears from the statement which has been made by the unfortu- nate woman in the prospect of death, having dashed his cap on the ground, went to the cupboard and took out a dessert knife. He then rushed at his wife, knocked her down and cut her throat. She struggled with him, screamed as loudly as she could, and exclaimed more than once, Oh, dear. oh, dear! Don't murder me." These cries were heard by Mrs. Emily Baylis, the wife of police-constable 85 F, who occupied apartments in a higher part of the house, She ran down stairs, and having communicated the facts to Mrs. Evans, the landlady of the house, they went up together to Geary's room. On opening the door they saw Geary and his wife struggling violently with each other on the floor, Geary having the knife in his hand, and the woman bleeding from the throat. Mrs. Baylis and Mrs. Evans were horrified, and ran down stairs with a view of obtaining assistance. At the street door they met Baylis, the police constable, who was just returning home from duty. He went up stairs, and found Gdary and his wife struggling on the landing of the second-floor. The brutal fellow had his wife down, with her head on the bottom stair of the flight leading up stairs, and directly he saw the officer he stuck the knife into his wife's throat, and worked it about. The woman exclaimed- For God's sake save me Baylis at once seized him, and drew the knife from the woman's throat. At this time Geary had inflicted three slight wounds on his own throat. Addi- tional assistanco having been obtained, Mrs. Geary was con- veyed on a stretcher to King's College Hospital, where her case was at once attended to by Mr. Charles Heath, the house surgeon. He found on the right side of the neck, about an inch below the jaw, a wound three-quarters of an inch long, communicating with the windpipe and also with the oesophagus. Above and below this were two superficial cuts, and immediately below the right ear was a ragged wound, extending under the skin for nearly an inch. Im- mediately above the collar-bone on the same side was another superficial cut. On the left side of the neck, midway be- tween the collar bone and jaw was a transverse cut one inch long, penetrating three-quarters of an inch into the neck Close to the left ear was a superficial cut. On the back of the right hand were three superficial cuts, each about a quarter of an inch in length. Immediately after the attempt on his wife's life Geary was conveyed to Bow-street station, where the wounds in his throat were dressed by Mr. Snitch, the divisional surgeon. They were found to be very slight. The prisoner remains in custody, and will be placed before the magistrate for exami- nation this morning. He is very reserved, and does not ap- pear to be in any way affected by a recollection of the fearful crime he has committed. Yesterday morning, at 4 o'clock, Mr. Inspector Mackenzie having been informed that the unfortunate woman was sink- ing, conveyed the prisoner to King's College Hospital, and in his presence the statement of his wife was taken down. He appeared to be quite unmoved during the recital of the horrible narrative. The mother and sister of Mrs. Geary visited her yesterday at the hospital, but the interviews were very brief, in conse- quence of her critical situation. It is thought impossible that she-ean live many hours. She is described as a careful, persevering, industrious young woman, very peaceable in her disposition, and one who was unlikely to offend her husband by any misconduct on her part. In some quarters it is said that Geary was jealous of his wife; but there does not appear to have been the slightest grounds for such a suspicion.

GREAT FIRE IN THE WIIITECHAPEL- ROAD. -This morn- ing, between the hours of three and four o'clock, a fire of a most destructive character broke out on the extensive pre- mises of Mr. Charles Brandums, oil and Italian warehouse, and vegetable lamp-black manufacturer, No 99, Whitechapel road. The fire was first discovered by police-constable No. 186 H, who perceived dense bodies of smoke issuing from the roof of the house. He instantly raised an alarm, and with difficulty the inmates were awakened, and managed to escape. The Royal Society's fire escapes from Whitechapel. Aldgate, and Bishopsgate stations were quickly on the spot, as well as the engines of the London Brigade, from Wellclose square, Jeffery-square, St. Mary Axe, Watling-street, and the West of England, followed by several others. A plenti- fnl supply of water was obtained from the mains of the East London Water Company, and the firemen went to work most vigorously under the direction of Mr. George Fogo, the district foreman, and Engineers Stock and Connorton. Owing to the inflammable nature of the stock, the flames spread with alarming rapidity, and the poor people living i n the immediate vicinity of the burning premises every moment expected their own habitations would be ignited. The firemen, however, continued their exertions unremi'- tingly; but, in spite of all their efforts, the fire penetrated the roof of the lamp black manufactory, as well as the sheds and stabling, and rising high in the air, illuminated the whole distnot. The conflagration was at length extinguish- ed, but not before the extensive premises-of Mr. J. Lazarus, rag merchant, of Whitchapel-road Messrs. Hatton and Co., manufacturing chemists Mr. H. Gardener, licensed victual- ler, Black Bull Tavern Austen, Thomas by and Co.'s carpet warehouse, were more or less damaged by fire and water The cause of the fire is unknown, and the loss will fall on the North of England, Sun, Phcenix, and other offices. Inspector Wakeford, of the H division, and the inspector of the K division with a body of police, rendered most essential service. CHANGING His MIND.-On Thursday week, as the cap- tain of a steamer near St. Louis was, collecting fare, a German stonecutter, named Hugle handed him a note, and immediately jumped overboard and was drowned. The letter read as follows :—"My dear Wife,—I have told you to come over here, as I intend remaining here, having a good place. Come as soon as possible and bring everything along, our ratbful hUilband.The following pestcript, written in pencil, was appended to the note:—"Don't come; I ended my existence on the 21st of April, because you always had such a foul mouth and always tried to wear the breecneSj which you can do now. Adieu, and shift for yourself." T,HE PARLIAMENTARY OATHS BILt.The following is the form of oath to be taken henceforth (in all cases) in lieu of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration, :—it A. b., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and will defend her to the utmost of my power against all con- spiracies and attempts whatever which shall be made against her person, crown, or dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to her Majesty, her heirs and successors, aU treasons and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against her or them and I do faith- fully promise to maintain, support, and defend, to the utmost of my power, the succession of the crown, which succession, by an Act entitled 'An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown, and better securing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject,' is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and the heirs of her body being Protestants, hereby utterly renouncing and ab- juring any obedience or allegiance unto any other person claiming or pretending a right to the Crown of this realm and I do declare that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction' power, superiority, preeminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, directly or indirectly, within this realm. So help me God." The Act, however, will not affect the form of oath prescribed for Papists by the Roman Catholic Relief Act (10th. of George IV., cap. 7.)

BREACHES OF TRUST. The new bill of the Attorney General would enact as follows:— 1. Whosoever, being a trustee of any property for the benefit, either wholly or partially, of some other person, shall, in violation of good faith and with intent to defraud, the appropriate, convert, destroy, dispose of, or employ such property, or any part thereof, to or for his own benefit, use, or purposes, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. 2. Whosoever, being a banker, merchant, broker, attorney, or agent, and being intrusted as such with the property of any other person, shall, in violation of good faith and with intent to defraud, sell, negociate, transfer, pledge, or in any manner convert or employ to or for his own use, such pro- perty or any part thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. 3. Any person instrusted with any power of attorney for the sale or transfer of any property, who shall fraudulently sell, transfer, and convert such property, or any part thereof, to his own use or benefit, shall be guilty of a misde- meanour. 4. Whosoever, being a bailee of any property, shall frau- dulently take or convert the same to his own use, or the use of any person other than the owner thereof, shall be guilty of a midemeanour. 5. Whosoever, being a director, member, or public officer of any body coporate or public company, shall fraudulently take or apply, for his own use, any of the money or other property of such body corporate or public company, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. 6. Whosoever, being a director, public officer, or manager of any body corporate or public company, shall receive or possess himself of any of the money or other property of such bodv corporate or Dublic company, otherwise than in payment of a just debt or demand, and shall wilfully omit to make or cause or direct to be made a full and true entry thereof in the books and accounts of such body coporate or public company, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. 7. If any director, manager, public officer, or member of any body corporate or public company, shall wilfully destroy alter, mutilate, or falsily any of the books, papers, writings, or securities belonging to the body corporate or public company of which he is a director or manager, public officer or member, or make or be privy to the making of any false or fraudulent entry, or any fraudulent omission in any book of account or other document, wilh intent to defraud the shareholders, creditors, or other persons interested in the property or effects of such body corporate or public company, every director so offending shall be deemed guilty of a mis- demeanour. 8. Whosoever, being a director, manager, or public officer of any body corporate or public company, shall wilfully make circulate, or publish, or concur in wilfully making, circula- ting, or publishing any written statement or account which he should know to be false in any material particular, with intent to deceive or defraud any member, shareholder, or creditor of such body corporate or public company, or with intent to induce any person to become a shareholder or partner therein, or to intrust or advance any money or pro- perty to such body corporate or public company, or to enter into any security for the benefit thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. 9. Every person found guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable, at the discretion of the Court, to be kept in penal servitude for any term not exceeding seven years, or to suffer such other punishment, by fine or imprisonment, or by both, as the Court shall award.

THE GREAT SHREWSBURY CASE. The claim of Lord Talbot to the earldom of Shrewsbury is now at length fairly before the House of Lords, and it will come on for hearing at the earliest possible opportunity after Tuesday next. As it directly involves the first and oldest earldom in the land, and indirectly affects estates of the annual value of X40,000, our readers will readily believe us when we say that the Shrewsbury case will rival in interest and importance the great Douglas and Berkeley cases. The printed document formally asserting the claim on the part ot his Lordship was laid on the table of the Upppr House on Thursday last. It consists of 41 PaWs of genealogical and other matter, and is entitled he Cae of the Right Hon. Henry John Chetwynd, Earl Talbot, claiming to be Earl of Shrewsbury." It states that the claimant having presented a peti'ion to Her Majesty, praying that the title, dignity, and peerage of Earl of Shrewsbury might be declared and adjudged to belong to him, and that a writ of summons to Parliament might issue to him by the title and dignity aforesaid, Her Ma- jesty was pleased to refer the said petition, together with the Attorney-General's report thereon, to the House of Peers on the 9th of May, 1857, who, on the 11th day of May, referred it to the Committe of Privileges to consider and report thereon. It first recites the terms and limitations of the patent under which the earldom was originally conferred in 1442 upon John Talbot, the great Earl of Shrewsbury, and General of the English army in the wars with France, and carries down the pedigree, step by step, through seven generations, from father to son. in a direct line, until the elder branch of the first Earl's family became extinct on death of Edward, eighth earl, without issue male, on the 8th of February, 1617. It then shows how, on the failure of the older line, the earldom- descended upon the heirs male of Sir Gilbert Talbot, of Grafton, K.G., as representative of Gilbert, third son of the second earl, and was enjoyed by them successively down to the year 1856, when it became ex- tinct by the death of Bertram Arthur Talbot, the late earl, at Lisbon. It further recites that Earl Talbot now claims to be en- titled to the earldoms of Shrewsbury, Wexford, and Water- ford, as nearest heir male of the said Six Gilbert Jj|lbot, through the second marriage of his son lehn, and' oonse- quently as nearest heir male of the body of the first earl, and that he begs leave to lay before this most bon. House the present "case" in support of his claim. The "case" which is signed by Sir F. Thesiger, Sir F. Kelly, and Mr. T. F. Ellis, barrister-at-law, as counsel for the claimant, alleges that Sir John Talbot of Albrighton married as his second wife Elizabeth Wrottesley, by whom he had issue two sons, of whom the elder died young, while the line was continued by the younger son, John, of Salwarp, who married Olive Sherrington, and whose son, Sherrington Talbot, left by his second marriage, with Mary, daughter of John Washbourne, three sons, of whom the two elder died without leaving issue, and that the line of descent was continued by the third son, William, some time Bishop of Durham. He was the father of Charles Talbot, Lord Chancellor of England, who was raised to the peerage in 1733 as Lord Talbot, and whose son, created Earl Talbot of Ingestre in 1784, was grandfather of the present claimant. We understand that the opponents of his Lordship's claim are three in number-first, the Duke of Norfolk, as guardian of the interests of his infant son, to whom the late earl bequeathed his magnificent property at Alton Towers,; secondly, the Princess Doria Pamphili of Rome, as only surviving child of John, 16th earl and thirdly, Major Talbot, of Castle Talbot, county Wexford, as a rival claimant to the title. In event of Earl Talbot being able to establish his claim to the earldom of Shrewsbury to the satisfaction of the Committee of Privileges, his Lordship will become premier earl of England and also of Ireland, as also Earl of Wex- ford and Waterford and then we imagine a further suit will have to be entered upon before the Court of Chancery for possession of the Shrewsbury estates at Alton and other places in the counties of Stafford, Oxford, Worcester, and Berks. In case, however, the House of Lords should decide that his Lordship's claim is "not proven," the other claim-namely, that of Major Talbot, will be submitted for their Lordships' decision. The gallant Maj or, as we under- stand, traces his pedigree up to William, fourth son of George, the fourth earl, who was made a Knight of the Garter for his valiant conduct at the Battle of Stoke, June the 16th, 1447. "V'

I The Sultan has sent the decoration of the Medjidie to the King of Prussia. WHAT TO Do IN CASE OF FIRE. A medical corres- pondent referring to the late lamentable accident to Miss M'Naughten, desires us to remind the public of the best course to be adopted in such cases. He recommends all ladies, "the moment they find their garments ignited, to ring the bell violently, throw themselves down, and roll in a ring the bell violently, 'I'be flames will in that case ri.se froru rug or over a carpet. The flames will in that case rise from the body, and at all events leave the head untouched till aid may come." BOILED AND FRIED.—The Toronto Globe states that great excitement prevails among the lumbermen of the Ottoiva, in consequence of a manifesto against the wasteful practice of frying pork which the employers who provision their labourers have issued. The employers say We desire to furnish to those in our employ an abundance of good food suitable for their nourishment and maintenance in good health and strength, but being convinced that tried pork administers no more to these ends than boiled, and in view of the great loss sustained by the practice of frying it, and the unusually high price of this article at the present time, do most emphatically protest against a farther con- tinuance of the practice, and have instructed our foreman that it be wholly abolished THUNDERSTORM IN PARIS.-A thunderstorm, even more violent than that of Thursday last, burst over Paris on Tues- day. The morning was fine, though clouded, without much sultriness. At 3 o'clock the sky became completely overcast and lowering, and the lightning began to dart from the heavy mass of clouds. The wind rapidly rose, and grew to almost the fury of a hurricane, and the thunder-peals w ere loud and frequent. The rain rushed down in a deluge, and in a few minutes torrents swept along the streets. This stoIm of thunder, wind, and rain was, indeed, most violent, though it did not last more than half an hour, tut the thoroughfares were completely flooded. After a short interval the rain again came down in abundance, and continued for some time. THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION AT LUNDHILL. From the evidence of the eminent engineers employed to examine the pit, there is no doubt that the use of naked lights instead of safety lamps was the proximate cause of this explosion, as also of the two other frightful explosions which occurred in the immediate neighbourhood (i.e., at the Darley Main and Oaks collieries) some few years ago. The proprietors of the Lundhill Colliery have intimated their intention of adopting all measures necessary for the safe working of the pit, without regard to the cost. It is estimated that the explosioti will entail an expense of from tl2 000 to 115,000 on the proprietory, apart from the loss of interest on capital. EXTENSIVE FRAUDS UPON THE DUKE OF RUTLAND-— The Cambridge and Suffolk papers state that disclosures of a most astounding character have been made during the last four days in reference to the management of the estates of the Duke of Rutland at Cheveley, near Newmarket. Deficiencies and irregularities extending over a series of years have been discovered and it has been ascertained that tradesmen's accounts, some of them very heavy, which were supposed by his grace to have been paid, are still due. The books, which were submitted from time to time to the duke's inspection, were so managed as to avert all suspicion. By the frauds perpetrated the Duke of Rutland will sustain a loss of many thousand pounds. His grace is at present at Cheveley superintending tho arrangement of his affairs. |

MR. COBDEN UPON THE OPENING OF OUR TRADE WITH CHINA. Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M.P., laid the foundation stone of the Borough oj Tynemouth Mechanics Institution on Tues- day evening, and after performing the ceremony spoke at a large mertin in the Albion Assembly-rooms. During the course of his remarks Mr. Lmdsay made some observations on the Chinese question, und intimated that, just as he was )eavin? London that morning, he had received a communi- cation from Mr. Cobden. Mr. James Caird, M.P. for Dart- mouth, Mr. Lindsay stated, after reading through the blue-books on China, had jotted dswd some questions with regard to several points. Mr. Lindsay hud sent them on to Mr. Cobden, and the following are extracts from the com- munication he had received in reply to them :— Midhurst, May 18. What business have frectraders to apply for help at the Horse Guards and Admiralty to force an entry into China? If markets are to be gained in that way, why not begin nearer home and batter away at Marseilles, Prieste, Cadiz, and Odessa, where there is much less freedom for foreign traders than in China ? There is no necessity for fighting for markets anywhere. We have more trade now than we know what to do with, and if we will only give time (which we can well afford to do) every other nation will follow our example. As for China, her trarlc iil freN than our own. But tell Caird that to talk of fightin for markets under our new free trade dispensation is to make him as old-fashioned a fellow 'in my eyes as I would be in his if I were to abjure turnip husbandry and kill off my cattle when summer pastures failed me, and salted my meat for winter's consumption by my family." Mr. Caird's questions were — 1. What are the objects of the war ? 2. Is Lord Elgin to demand permission for British sub. jects to reside in China, with leave to trade ? 3. Is Chusan to be seized and permanently occupied as the best emporium for British trade ? 4. Is navigation of the China seas and rivers, free to all countries, to be insisted upon ? 5. Are preparations on a scale of due magnitude being made for enforcing such con ditions ? 6. Is Lord Elgin cautioned against making any sudden or patched up treaty which may render the past bloodshed and expense ineffective ?" To these Mr. Cobden replies:— 1. I should say the objects of the war are to divert public attention from domestic politics, and keep the pre- sent Administration in office. Wars have generally had similar objects, and have always been successful. "2. Such a demand would be very unreasonable unless the Chinese Government were allowed to make its own conditions-a right insisted on in other countries. For instance, the United States will not allow a British subject, if he be not quite white, to reside in some parts of that country. The Russian Government will not permit a British subject, if he be a Jew (at least it was so when I was there in 1849) to carry on business in St. Petersburg; and our dear ally the Turk prohibits, on pain of death, the entrance of Englishmen into Mecca. But, practically, what advan- tage would be gained by having the right of residing in any part of China conceded to us ? Who would live in the interior of the country ? What Englishmen are found living for purpose of business in the in'erior of Turkey or Persia, or even of our own territory of India ? Why, with the exception of half a score of indigo planters, there is hardly an Englishman, or even a Scot to be found residing in British India beyond the great s eaports. There are nearly as many British houses of business in China as India. It is a chimera of the brain, this cry for admission into China. 3. Why seize anything that does not honestly belong to you ? If I were to seize some of your Ayrshire cows you would send me to Newgate or Hanwell. I am, how- ever, by no means sure that it would not be a wiser plan to give up Hongkong, and offer to withdraw from all the five ports to which we are entitled to trade, on condition that Chusan were made free, like Singapore, to the trade of all the world, and declared neutral territory. My own opinion is that the more contact we have with the people of China on the mainland the greater the danger of collision that it will not lead to any increase of our exports, while it will occasion a constant increase in our military and naval establishments to I pro teet' British merchants and filli- busters, and of course lead to frequent recurrence of war. On the other hand, if Chusan were a free port, the Chinese would bring their silk and tea there and take your manufactures (as much as they do now) in return, and after a long experience of the benefits of a peaceful. trade with the barbarians the Chinese people might come to wish to be better acquainted. Why not ? It is human nature. 4. Navigation of China seas is free. No nation allows foreigners a free navigation of its rivers. Try it oil the Loire, the Guadalquiver, the Po, the Dnieper. Surely you would not be so unreasonable or unjust as to demand pri- vile.ges for I all the world' in China which the nations of Europe will not accord to us. "5. It requires no great amount of force, in the present weakness of the Chinese Government, to dictate any terms by cutting off the supply of food and other necessaries to Pekin, as you did before. But the question still remains cut bo;io.? Who is to benefit ? Look at the Queen's Speech at the opening of the session of 1843. Then we were con- gratulated on having dictated our own terms of peace to China, and were promised a great extension of our exports to that country. The Manchester people threw up their caps and thought there was no end of the demand for cotton goods for China. I was the only man who ventured to say a word the other way, and could refer you to a speech at the time in which I predicted that many of my good neigh- bours would be disappointed. Well, we have had our own way, have increased our annual expenditure for ships, troops, and civil expenditure at Hongkong and the five ports, about a quarter of a million sterling, and our experts to China for the last four years have only averaged about Y,1,250,000, as near as possible what they were before the war of 1849. There has been an immense increase in the traffic in opium. 6. Of course after what I have said, my only answer to this must be, that make what peace you will the past bloodshed will be ineffective. It is a delusion to suppose that there is any want of commercial facilities in China. There is no great empire where trade is so free. I wish we had one port in Austria, France, and Russia, and Spain, where the tariffs and shipping regulations were as liberal and as free as at the five treaty ports in China. Nowhere else can you send your manufactures at a 10 per cent. import duty (half of it not paid); and where you can carry food, both cargo and ship are free even of port charges. Nowhere can you find such vast quantities of produce in the hands of native capitalists ready to meet the most sudden and extraordinary demands. Last year the silk crop failed in Europe, and you sent for 30,000 or 40,000 bales extra from China, and got it. How long would the native opulence last if we had possession of China ? Look at poverty-stricken India! Compare Delhi with Nankin. "Now, in conclusion, let me ask triend Caird a question. Does he believe that God rules this world upon a principle of retributive justice ? If so, as I am sure he does, then does not he as a good father sometimes tremble for tbe fate of some I third or fourth generation,' or, perhaps, a nearer one, on whom the sins of their fathers in the East will be visited ?"

I MR JOHN BRIGHT AND PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. The following letter has been received by Mr. Alexander Laing, Hawick, in acknowledgment of certain resolutions of sympathy with Messrs. Oobden, Bright, and Gibson, on the result of the Huddersfield and Manchester elections, passed at a meeting held in that town some weeks ago. A letter on the subject from Mr. Cobden had already been published :— GENEVA, May 17, 1857. Dear Sir,—Your kind note, enclosing a ropy of the resolution passed at a pnblic meeting of the inhabitants a Hawick, reached me only last evening. I lose no time in writing to say that I am very glad to find that in your town the cause of reform, free trade, and retrenchment has so many warm friends, and that you have understood and approved the policy which Mr. Cobden, Mr. Gibson, and myself have supported in the House of Commons. In the question of free trade little progress has been made for some years past; as to retrenchment, the word has become almost obsolete, and the militaiy expenditure of the country is now nearly double the amount which the Dake of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel thought neces- sary in 183.5, although we have no more territory to defend, and although a large army is no longer necessary to main- tain tranquility in Ireland. As to reform, while almost everybody professes to be in favour of it in some shape, the preparation of the particular bill to be brought forward next year is left in the hands of a Minister whose hostility to every proposition for reform since the year 1832 is no- torious and undeniable. Whether on these three points to which yur resolution refers the country is in a satisfactory position, I must leave the friends of free trade, reform, and retrenchnn nt to decide. With regard to the promised reform let me warn you to look not more to the question franchise than to the other arrangements of the measure. It would be easy to double the number of electors and at the same time to increase the aristocratic influence in Parliament. To give votes without giving representa- tives in some fair degree in proportion to the vote is but to cheat the people and to give a large increase of votes is but to cheat the people and to give a large increase of votes without the security of the ballot subject increased numbers of our countrymen to the degrading influence which wealth and power now exercise so unscrupulously upon the existing electoral body. A moderate measure, and an honest one so far as it goes, is far more to be desired than one of great pretensions with some fraudulent scheme for defeating the wishes of the nation. A dishonest apportion- ment of members may effectually destroy a representation; and any trick to obstruct the free action of majorities, such as that proposed in Lord John Russell's last bill, should be strenuously resisted, as calculated to undermine the very basis of representative institutions, and designed only to cheat the people of that increased power which the bill would profess to confer upon them. Whether I shall ever again in Parliament support the policy you approve is extremely uncertain, but I shall always retain a grateful sense of the kindness which I have received in past times, and at the present time, from the intelligent community on whose behalf you have written to me. Believe me to be, very sincerely yours, To Alex. Laing, Esq., Ilawick. JOHN BRIGHT."

The Press in the Principalities declares itself warmly in favour of the union of thc provinces [This means the Russo-Greek press, and L'Etoile du Danube, printed in Brussels.] Lord Orford contradicts a passag e wllich appears in ano- ther part of our paper in these woi-dg I desire jou to give the most emphatic denial to it. It is a rechaujfe of a lie, circulated some 30 years since, in a London journal as a lioas, I presume, upon the editor. At the tinic, I did not think it worthy of contradiction nor, at my age, should I deem it worthy of any such contradiction now, but am solely induced to do so for the satisfaction of those most justly dear to me.

LOSS OF THE JOSEPH SOMES. I The intelligence of this catastrophe reached Lloyds' on Monday The loss appears to have been a fearful one, and considering that among her cargo she had 250 barrels of gun powder (in all eighteen tons) and an immense quantity of spirits, the escape of the crew and passengers was mar- vellous. The Joseph Somes was a teak-built ship, 780 tons regis- ter, commanded by Captain Ehnston. She sailed from the East India Docks, Blackwall, for Melbourne, on the loth of last December. The following details of the loss are ex- tracted from a narrative written by Mr. Goodall, late a member of Lloyds' who with his wife and family were pas- sengers on board On the morning of the 25th of Feb- ruary we came in sight of the cloud-capped peak of Tristan d' ACllTlha, and by two o'clock p.m. were near enough the north side of the island to lower the lifeboat. Captain Elmston having invited me, I accompanied him with six hands on shore. We pulled into a beautiful sandy bay, bounded near ly from point to point by bold bluff cliffs, rising like a huge wall some 3,000 feet perpendicularly from the shore. The captain made arrangements for coming ashore on the following day with the water casks. We then returned to the ship, which had stood off, and was now some seven miles distant. We rowed a considerable distance, and through a heavy sea, when we saw her go about and stand in for the land. The sun was just setting. We had noticed with some astonishment how badly the ship steered, and I joked the captain upon what I thought the smoke from the galley fire, for we had not dined. A minute more my heart was in my throat, for a cry was raised, The Ship is on ifre.' The smoke was coming up about the main hatchway, where we knew the powder magazine was. Captain Elmston was never more alive. He seemed as if he would spring from his boat into the ship. He exhorted the rowers, I Pull for your lives!' and as we neared I saw quite sufficient to convince me that it was a hopeless case. The moment our boat reached the ship Captain Klmston leaped on the main chains, and in a second was on board in time to order all the passengers forward immediately, for the flames were rushing up the skylights and out of the cuddy doors, so that in a few minutes their retreat would have been cut off entirely, The fire was discovered by the captain's little black servant, Cassim, who with the steward, got down the companion hatch into the store, and was engaged in searching for the source of the smoke when the alarm became general. Mr. Vaughan, the second officer, had joined them in the search, and at length discovered the flames along the ship's side close to the gun deck. For some time every one considered that the buckets of water which were freely administered would subdue the fire, and no very great alarm was felt at first but a few minutes served to dispel this illusion. Mr. Stokes, the chief ofifcer, who in the captain's absence had the command of the ship, seeing the increased danger, gave orders for all hands that could be spared from the working of the ship to open the magazine and throw the gunpowder overboard. Mr. Bernal (a passenger) rushed to his cabin for an axe, which was of considerable use in tearing up the hatchway. The third officer, Mr. Pye, got to his cabin, where three barrels of powder had been stowed for want of room, and these, with the remain- ing 249 barrels in the magazine under the main hatchway, were handed from hand to hand and thrown overboard. The fire had disappeared from the store-room as soon as the main hatchway was opened there being then a new and greater draught, the fire was making rapid strides to this deadly mine, charged with about 18 tons of gun- powder. At last the lower tier of barrels was actually hot —almost too hot to hold. This was no fancy, every man was intent upon his work. These were minutes of agoniz- ing suspense. The weaker sex never Reemed to have lost their presence of mind, and it was a remark of admiration made subsequently by the crew that not a scream was heard from any one. The steward, Alfred Marsh, acted with great bravery and devotion three times he made his way through the dense smoke into the cuddy to the cabin in the stern, and saved the captain's chronometers, desk, watch, and other valuables. Cassim, the black servant, also got through the cuddy into the cabin to save some of his master's things, but his retreat was cut off by the increasing smoke and lfame, and he was drawn up half- suffocated, through the quarter gallery window on to the poop. The pinnace being lowered, the captain stood guard and saw all the women and children handed down before he admitted others to jump in to make up her comple- ment. The remainder of those on board escaped by the lifeboat, in which the captain had returned from the island. The satisfaction that was felt when the last barrel of gunpowder went overboard gave all on board that comparative coolness, and belief that the worst was past, without which feeling in all probability many lives would have been sacrificed. After all the crew were in the boat the captain had a struggle to get a large Newfoundland dog of his over the ship's side, but, finding it impossible, he seized a rope and swung off into the boat He was the last to leave Ilie ship. She had an immense quantity of spirits on board—in fact, the great bulk of her cargo was brandy and giii-which accounts for the extraordinary rapidity of the ignition. From the time of the first alarm to the time of leaving the ship an hour had not elapsed, and as we cleared her the flames rushed up in all direc- tions. The gig, which had put off with five boys, was lost sight of, but we neared the pinnace, and were hailed to lighten her of some of her freight, for the water was fast gaining upon them, and they had little room to work their oars. We got alongside, and took Mrs. Elmston and two women into our boat, which made up our number to 30. I had only time to hail my wife and child, and tell her to be of good courage when the boats parted, and darkness com- pleted our separation. On turning our eyes to the burning ship we saw the fire run up her new rigging with innumer- able flickering jets, like a brilliant gas illumination, and her main and mizen masts went over the side with a fear- ful crash. The foremast and bowsprit stood a short time longer. We pulled straight in for the land, so as to get under its lee and avoid the swell. On approaching the stupendous cliffs the rollers and roar of the surf, turned into a deeper note by the great boulders rolling over each other, gave us timely warning not to draw too near. At last, after five hours' pull, we rounded a point and made the sandy bay where the captain had landed on the previous day. The settlers had kindled a fire on the sands, and as we neared the shore we gave a cheer, but the echo from the overhanging rocks was the only response, and not the least striking scene of that night's drama was the landing on those black sands by the light of a clear bright fire and not a soul to meet us. The good islanders had retired from their watch at midnight in great doubt of our safety. On climbing up the cliffs we found the islanders up, from whom we received the greatest kindness. At the break of morn the hull of the far distant ship appeared like one bright speck of flame, paling its light before the rising sun, and a dense volume of steam and smoke hung like a pall for some hours before she went down. Our only great fear all night was that the gig with the boys, the eldest only 10 and the youngest 9, must have been lost; but in the course of the morning, to our great joy, we found both pinnace and gig had come ashore on a sandy beach." The island Tristan d'Acunha is in long. 11.43 W,, lat. 37.8 S., about 15 miles in circumference, and some 1,500 miles from the nearest land. From March until October a ship near the latitude of the island is a rare sight. A few days previous to the loss of the Joseph Somes the inhabitants of the island had been considerably lessened by 50 of them, ac- companied by their nastor, the Hev. W. Taylor. leavinz the settlement in her Majesty's ship Geyser, for the Cape. Although the islanders left did all they could to relieve the wants of the shipwrecked people, their small supply of provisions gave them but a very inadequate fare, and for nine days they endured considerable privation. On Fri- day, March 6, a ship was descried to leeward. A signal of distress was hoisted on a prominent part of the islan(l, and the sail came so near that they were enabled to read her name on the stern, "Lydia." It was thought she was bound to Bombay. Instead, however, of her heaving too, she bore away on her voyage. On the same day, provi- dentially (for the circumstance of the two vessels coming near the island so close after each other was almost un- heard of among the settlers), another ship bore in view. She proved to be the Nimrod, Captain H. Tilman, from London, lor Kurrachee. Seeing the boat that had given chase after the Lydia she bore down to it, and received Captain Elmston and one passenger on board. Captain Pilman, on learning their sad tale, at once, without the least hesitation, offered to take the whole of the ship- wrecked people on board The Nimrod was brought to and received the passengers and crew on board, and, having gone several hundred miles out of her course, safely landed the whole of those belonging to the Joseph Somes at Table Bay on the 20th of March, when the Government authorities took charge of them, and a public subscription was opened for their relief. Captain Elmston attributes the fire to spontaneous combustion among the cargo. The ship is understood to be insured.

A HOME FOR SERVANTS.— A movement of a very praise- worthy character has been set on foot for the purpose of protecting servants of a higher class from the dangers and difficulties which surround them in the metropolis while they arc out of place. Several noblemen and gentlemen, as well as the conductors of many large houses of business, who are greatly dependent upon the good character of servants, have promised their earnest co-operation, and Dr. Brewer, the physician, of George-street, Hanover-square, has undertaken the office of treasurer. It is calculated by Mr. Crouch, who has undertaken the duty of honorary secretary, that there are always from 1000 to 2000 male ser- vants in London who are out of employment, and that from .50 to 100 come to the metropolis every week, having no home or friends to go to. It is proposed to provide a self-support- ing institution for their benefit, with meeting and reading rooms free of expense, and to accept none as inmates who cannot give the most satisfactory proofs of good character; so that families who require trust worthy men servants may at once know where to find them. A meeting is to be held immediately, for the purpose of making the necessary pre- liminary arrangements. MELANCHOLY DEATHS.—A deplorable boat accident, by which Ensign George II. Bowles, of the 85th Regiment of Foot, the depot of which is now stationed at Fulwood Gar- rison, near Preston, and a man named James Cartmel, the servant of Mr. William Paley, manufacturer, of that town, lost their lives, occurred on the river Kibble on Saturday evening last. In the afternoon of that day Mr. Paley and the two deceased weut in a sailing boat down the liibble from Preston to Lytham, a marine village about 12 mi les distant, which place they reached in safety; and in the evening, when the hour for returning arrived, Air. Paley suggested that they should all go back by railway. Mr. Bowles objected, saying that he preferred returning in the boat; and, after some demur on the part of Mr. Paley, that gentleman returned by rail to Preston, and the officer and servant took the boat. Nothing was heard of the two last mentioned persons till Sunday evening, when Mr. Paley received information that his servant had been found drowned in the ltibble, at Naze Point, which is about six miles distant from Preston, by a man named Rowland Gor- nall. There can be no doubt that Mr. Bowles has met with a similar fate, but up to Monday his body was not found. Various conjectures are current with respect to this sad ac- cident, the most probable of which is that the boat was suddenly upset by a squall of wind. Mr. Myres, coroner, held an inquest on Tuesday afternoon on the body of Cart- mel, at the village of Freckleton, near the Naze. Mr. Bowles joined the 85th Regiment on the 27th of December, 1855. FRENCH SUPPLEMENT TO A STOCK SHOW.—A somewhat characteristic mode of testing the merits of the various prize animals at the recent fat stock show at Poissy, near Paris, was adopted by the jurors of that exhibition. After the animals had been slaughtered as required by the regula- tions under which the exhibitions took place, and the weight had been ascertained, the jury were entertained at a dinner in which portions of the various prize animals were served up the object being- to test which breeds give the best quality of meat." The flesh of the first prize animals was selected to undergo the ordeal. A portion of each animal was cooked separately; the time taken to make ready, the weight before and after cooking, &c., were gone into with considerable minuteness. The writer in the North British Agriculturist, from which we take the particulars of this novel agricultural competition, says,—"Those who have not paid much attention to this subject, esteeming meat simply as fat or lean, would be astonished at the difference in tho taste of the soups, and of the meat from which they were prepared, were they to make the experiment. They would find that the flesh of eertain breeds is better adapted than that of others for boiling—others for roasting." On each dish the jurors came to a division, which was often very ) close, seven to seven, the votes being taken by a show of hands Each juror took notes by the numbers the number being the only distinguishing mark. The votes were put after each division of soups or meat was partaken of. First came the trial of soups, of which eight specimens were prepared from the flesh of oxen, English and French. The soup made from the Duke of Beaufort's prize shorthorn ox was considered by a majority to have made the best soup. So the best boiled meat, that from which the soup had been made, was considered to be that of the same ox. Next was the trial of roast pork. And the first quality was found to be that from a cross of the new Leicester pig with a French breed called Angeron. Then came roast mutton, of which eight sorts invited the trial of gastronomic dis- crimination. The Cotswold was placed first, though the competition was very close, the first division being equal, one juror on a second division giving his adhesion to the Cotswold roast. We think this quite right, for though in this country it is the fashion to like the darker-fleshed mut- ton, an unprejudiced taste must, we think, prefer the Cotswold, which produces much more lean meat than the Leicester to all other breeds. We should notice that the reporter, obviously a Scotchman, demurs to the mutton decision. Last of all was the trial of roast beef, of which there wePe no less than 43 specimens, "all very good, re- quiring on the part of the jurors more than ordinary ba- lancing of points of merit." Nor was the difficulty of the final trial lessened by the circumstance of the appetite being somewhat palled by the food previously partaken of." Indeed, giving all credit to the small portion only from each dish of which it is the French custom to partake, we can scarcely understand how the jurors could have undergono the labour of devouring even a mouthful from each speci- men. And yet we learn that between each trial course there intervened some non-competing course, such as fish, fowls, sweetbreads, asparagus, and so forth. The roast beef had been cooked before a small grate containing charcoal, with a bachelor's oven behind and the colour of several of the roasts was not good." Some, however, would have gratified the taste of the most fastidious epicure." The following are the results: The West Highland ox of the Duke of Beaufort was first; the Devon ox of the Earl of Leicester, second the Charolaise, third the cross ox of Mr. Dudgeon, shorthorn-Angus, fourth; Mr. M'Combie's ox, Angus, aged, class fifth; the Limousine, sixth the Duke of Beaufort's shorthorn ox, seventh Parthenais, eighth. The others were not classed. Probably the testing powers of the jurors had by this time been overpowered. It is said, "after voting on the roasts, which was attended with considerable excitement, each juror appeared to acquire increased confidence in his jugement and taste as the testing proceeded." The dinner concluded with fruits and pastry.— Economist. The following laughable plan is stated to have been pur- sued by some officials at the late Worcester session to hasten the decision of a refractory jury who were locked up to consider their verdict: —" It was past dinner time the Court officials had no relish to pass the night in waiting upon the twelve good men who were good enough to ho excessively conscientious, or to think themselves such. A large dish of beef steaks, fried with onions, giving off a body of aroma sufficient to fill the largest hall in England, was brought into the passage close to the door of the unhappy jurymen's prison. The bailiff, who wished the "stand- outs" at Jericho, opened the door; the cover was taken off the dish the aroma of the steaks and onions floated in it invaded and pervaded every square inch of the Black Hole and the jury's nasals were violently affected. Mere mortal Englishmen couldn't long stand out against such a remem- brancer of dinner. A second opening of the door and advancement of the dish enabled the jury to find a verdict. DEATH OF In. HALL, THE CONSERVATIVE MEMBER FOR LEEDS. — A vacancy has occurred in the representation of Leeds by the death of Mr. Robert Hall, who was returned, after a severe contest, as one of the members for that borough at the late election. Mr. Hall, who was Recorder of Doncaster and Deputy-Recorder of Leeds, suffered severely from an accident, about two years ago, on the Great Northern Railway, near Leeds, and although he so far recovered as to be able to resume his professional labours, his constitution was undoubtedly permanently injured, and has given way at last to the labour and excitement con- sequent upon his recent struggle for Parliamentary honours. He entered with great vigour into the political contest in which he was engaged for the representation of his native town, and was unceasing, for more than a week before the day of election, in his efforts to win his way, often address- ing two or more meetings of the electors in different parts of the borough the same day. After the election, when bis hopes were crowned with victory, his strength appeared to give way, and he suffered from the reaction which followed the severe activity of the contest. He also thought that ho received injury from sitting in the House of Commons near one of the openings for the admission of air. An influenza came on, and added to the depression of the system. He was advised to retire to Folkestone for the sake of relaxa- tion, and when there he was forbidden even to write. As he grew worse his medical adviser in Leeds (Mr. T. P. Teale) was summoned to Folkestone last Friday morning, and when he arrived he found him in aa alarming state from fever, and quite delirious. The case proved to be beyond the power of medicine, and Mr. Hall expired at half-past 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning, aged 56. Mr. Hall was born in Leeds iu the year 1801. He was educated at the school of Heath, near Halifax, at the Leeds Free Grammar School, and at Christ Church College, Oxford, where he held the rank of first class in classics, and second class in mathematics. He had attained a very honourable position in his profession, and, as before stated, was Recorder-ef Doncaster and Deputy-Recorder of Leeds. The appointment of Secretary of State for Ireland does not appear to be much in request among aspirants after office. Before a candidate was found to accept it, in the person of Mr. Henry Herbert, it had been successively offered to, and declined by, Mr. Charles Villers, Sir Benjamin Hall, and Mr. Fitzroy. True it is that two modern Curtii, devoted to the service of their country, offered to throw themselves headlong into this gulf. Lord Palmerston, however, though almost despairing of the possibility of filling the appoint- ment in any feasible way, humanely saved both from such self-immolation. Sir Robert Peel he dissuaded from the rash enterprise as having too much of the Donnybrook-fair champion about him Mr. Monckton Milnes, as being too thoroughly steeped in the milk of human kindness. --Daily News. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AT WINDSOR.—On the 8th of May, Captain Bruce, of Upton-park, while witnessing the funeral of the Duchess of Gloucester, at Windsor, had his pocket picked of a gold watch, Six days afterwards a travelling Jew offered the same watch for sale to Mr. Mer- rick, of Windsor, the maker. The name and number had been erased and another substituted. The Jew stated that he had received it to sell on commission from a Mr. Pike,- Strong's Cottage, Green-lane, Newington. On Thursday Mr. Pike, who carries on business in Wilderness-row, Lon- don, was brought before the magistrates at Windsor. Super- intendent Eagar stated that Mr. Pike had told him he had bought the watch in its present state from a Mr. Joseph. On going to Mr. Joseph's, 21, Prince's-street, Spitalfields, Mrs. Joseph told the officer that her husband died on the 11th inst., and had been confined to the house from Thursday the 7th inst., excepting "that he wentoout on Friday, tho 8th, to tea with a friend in the neighbourhood, accompanied by his son, and was absent about two hours. Three other dealers in watches deposed to having seen Mr. Joseph on Friday, the 8th, instant, and spoke in high terms of his and Mr. Pike's character, one of them said that Mr. Joseph had been at his (witness's) shop, No. 89, Aldersgate-street, on the Friday. The son of Mr. Joseph, twelve years old, swore that he went with his father on the Friday to Mr. Hobb's, Brick-lane, Whitechapel, where they remained an hour and a half; they afterwards went to Poulter's, in Church-row, stayed there about 20 minutes, and then returned home was not at Wilderness-row on that day, or at any other place, and was with his father the whole of the day. lie had heard the evidence, and the witnesses had all told a falsehood.—Mrs. Joseph's evidence was similar to that stated by Superintendent Eagar.—The magistrates con- sidered it a sufficient case to send to trial, and the prisoner was bound over in his own recognisance of £200, and two sureties of £100 each, to appear at the sessions. THE NEW EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT.—Some days since it was announced that a new educational movement was to be inaugurated in London next month, under the presi- dency of Prince Albert, and that on the second day of meeting, sections would be formed with a view to take into consideration various important educational questions. The following arrangements have since been made :—The first section will be presided over by the Bishop of Oxford, and the Rev. F. Watkins, M.A., one of her Majesty's inspectors of schools, will act as secretary. The section will take into consideration the facts, causes, and results of the alleged early removal of children from school. The second section, which will consider the systems of education pursued in foreign countries, will be presided over by Lord Lvttelton, and the Rev. William Rogers, M.A, incumbent of St. Thomas, Charterhouse and chaplain in ordinary to her Ma- jesty will act as secretary. The third section, which will consider various suggestions which have been made for keeping children at school, will be presided over by Sir Kay Shuttleworth, Bart., formerly secretary to the Com- mittee of Council on Education the Rev. T. Nash Stephenson, M.A., incumbent of Shirley, near Birmingham, acting as secretary. The fourth section, whose business it will be to discuss the half-time" schemes will be presided over by the Very Hev. Henry Parr Hamilton, M.A., Dean of Salisbury; Mr. J. T. Bunce, acting as secretary. Prince Albert will open the proceedings on Monday, June 22, at Willis's Rooms. THE WRECK OF THE ZOE -As the Earl of Yarborough, the Hon W. Monson, and Mr. Duigan, R.N were cruising in the North Sea, in his lordship's yacht Zoe. on the night of the :24th, owing to the wind falling light, the vessel drift- ed by the tide on to the Haisbcrough sandbank, about 14 miles off the coast of Norfolk. The yacht, impelled by the force of the tide, struck the bank with great violence several times, and after some little time, rolling over, became washed by the sea sufficient time, however, elapsed to enable the noble owner and his friends, together with the crew, to betake themselves hurriedly to the boats, and thereby to save all hands. Fortunately for the boats the water was smooth and the weather fine; which enabled them after about three hours hard pulling against a strong tide, to reach the Coastguard station of Haisborough, or Happis- borough. The yaoht, which was most magnificently fitted up, has become a total wreck, and nothing whatever of the valuables on board has been saved. It is very gratifying that no lives have been lost.