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LITERARY NOTICES. I
LITERARY NOTICES. I Holbein't Dance of Death, exhibited in Elegant Engravings on Wood, with a Dissertation on the several repre- sentations of that subject, by Francis Douce, Esq., F.A.S. Abo, Holbien's Bible Cuts, consisting of Ninety lllwtrntwm on Wood, with Introduction by Thomas Frognall Dibdin. London H. G. Bohn, York-street, Covent Garden. THIS elegant volume has just been added to "Bohn's Illustrated Library," and we regard its publication as a signal service to art and a valuable contribution to typo- graphy. The Dance of Death," first published in 1538, consists of forty-nine woodcuts, and the Bible Prints of ninety,—all facaimilies of the celebrated originals. The former series are by far the most renowned for originality and dramatic spirit. The object of the artist appears to have been to teach by a number of pictures, conceived in a spirit of quaint piety and moral satire, the mortality of human nature; and each of these gems is a sermon in its way, enforcing most eloquently and impressively the lesson that no position in life is exempt from the intrusion of our last enemy. But spart from their moral influence, which must have been very great, the artistic merit of these woodcuts ii of the highest order. No. 25, for example, which pre- sents an aged woman accompanied by two Deaths, is remarkable no less for its beautiful composition than for its moral pathos. The two death skeletons, though they be ana- tomically perhaps a little inexact, are instinct with life and dramatic vigour. These marvellous designs will be more appreciated when it is remembered that although Albert Durer had, about fifty years before, issued a series of wood- cuts representing "The Apocalypse," which for patient and minute execution have never been excelled, the art was yet in its infancy. Oar own Hogarth, subtle artist as he was, produced nothing better, so late even as 1730, than those grotesque illustrations of Hudibras in the edition published about that time; and it was not until 1790, when Thomas Bewick, who in his turn has been fondly styled the Father of Woodcutting," issued his matchless History of British Birds," that wood engraving attained anything like excellence, at least in England. The inimitable tail pieces" of Bewitk have never been excelled for close portraiture of nature, satiric humour, and exquiiite drawing; and when we say that "Holbein's Cuts" are worthy to compare with Bewick's M tail pieces," it Is the highest praise we can bestow on either. Mr. Douce's dissertation shows a complete knowledge of his theme, and grave doubts are cast on Holbien's right to be considered the sole author of the designs. Mr. Dibdin's short introduction to the Bible Cuts consists of a vindi- cation of Holbein's title to their authorship, written COil amore; and a brief criticism, showing nice discrimination, on some of the more remarkable of them. General History of the Christian Religion and Church: translated from the German of Dr. Augttstus Neander, by Joseph Torrey. New Edition. Vol. IX., Parts 1 and 2. London H. G. Bohn. WHES Neander died he left this "his last and greater work" in a very unfinished state, and on his friend' and pupil, Herr K. F. Th. Schneider, devolved the labour of preparing for publication the fragmentary remains of the great theologian. These volumes complete the work, and in every page attest the care and ability of the editor. lie says—" In all cases where the matter was at all doubtful) I have allowed the text to be printed without alteration, or at most simply intimated my doubts in the shape of notes The style moreover has been, in here and there an instance, slightly altered by me, and repetitions of longer or shorter extent, such as were almost unavoidable in a work which sprang purely om of the recollection of Neander, expunged. Among the papers, furthermore, were found a series of sheets which Neander had marked, partly with a conjectural indication of their being designed, on a final revision, for insertion in their appropriate places. These I have care. fully inserted wherever it could be done, either at once, or only with some slight alteration of form, and have never laid them aside except in those cases where their insertion would have required an entire recasting of the text. But additions and the completion of defective parts, in the strict and proper sense, I have never allowed myself to Diake, except on literary points, and that in perfect ac- cordance with Neander's wishes." The first portion con. tains the his-ory of the Papacy and of the Church constitution down to the beginning of the Council of Baole. The second part relates to the history of theology and doctrine; the Reformatory movement in England under Wickliff; movements of Reform in Bohemia, and the life, doings, and martyrdom of Huts. The new light thrown by Meander on the Great Bohemian Reformers is of a most important character. A general index to the nine volumes is added, and makes this valuable work complete. The Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature. By William Thomas Lowndes. New Edition. Revised, corrected, and enlarged, by Henry G. Bohn. Vol II* London: H. G. Bohn, York-street, Covent Garden. THIS invaluable work to students and booksellers pro* gresses most satisfactorily at the cost of very severe labour to the accomplished editor, who has bestowed the utmost care in the revision and enlargement of this part. Erery page, almost every article, has received corrections or additions. It is but fair to insert in this place Mr. Bohn's vindication of himself, in the preface to this volume, against some unfounded accusations. After referring to the im- portant additions in the article on Defoe and the complete list of his writings, Mr. Bohn says—" I take occasion to make especial allusion to this article, because it gives me an opportunity of replying to an attack, which, though in- significant in itself, assumes form by being admitted into an influential journal. I am accused of having dealt unfairly with the public, in announcing 'the Works of Defoe,' and then stopping short at seven volumes. To which I reply that I never announced, and never dreamt of publishing, the entire Works of Defoe, even were it possible to ascertain exactly what they are. I merely announced The Novels and Miscellaneous Works,' as the principal title will shew, and as had been done before in Lewis's edition and this announcement I have fulfilled. I have not only published all the Novels and several of the Mis- cellaneous Works, but have never even relinquished my intention of proceeding, although in the face of almost certain loss. My present list of Defoe's Works, constructed on a novel plan, will not only shew the extent and uncer- tainty of what is attributable to him, but also how many abortive attempts, for want of public encouragement, have from time to time been made to republish them. The fact is, that although Defoe rinks as a Classic, and is a house- hold word with the English public, the only one of his works they currently buy is 'Robinson Crusoe'; all the rest find but a slow and unrequiting sale. Collectors and literary men eagerly endeavour to complete their sets of Defoe, and, unable to obtain modern editions of a great proportion of his writings, buy up the rarer volumes at a large price; but this class of buyers constitutes a very limited portion of the reading public, quite insufficient to support a popular form of publication. My seven volumes, published at 3s. 611. each, comprehend in substance the whole twenty of the previous edition which was published at jEo. If the public will afford sufficient encouragement, I will go on producing in the same ratio: otherwise there is no mutuality of purpose. I permit myself further to ob. serve, that every volume is complete in itself, and sells separately, so that a purchaser who gets Moll Flanders and the History of the Devil' in one volume-hitherto a guinea's-worth—for three and sixpence; or 'the Plague, the Fire of London, and the Storm for a like sum, will not have much reason to complain, even should he never get all the Fifteen Comforts of an honest Scotchman' on the same terms." The L'tw of Wills, Ececutors, and Ad/ninislralors, with ful Forins. By W. A. a copious collection of Useful Forms. By W. A. llol ls vorlh, Esq., of Gray's Inn, Barrister-at-lAw. London: Geo. Routledge and Co., Farringdon -street. THIS little hand-book is most acceptable. It supplies the information required by a large section of the community, to save them from the perpetration of blunders in the drawing up of wits without legal assistance, and in the matter of executors and administrators. The intentions of a testator, and the just hopes of his family and friends, are frequently defeated in consequence of tho unlearned ad- visers to whom he has had recourse, or to the legal manner of executing the testamentary document which is to give effect to them. Much useless and expensive litigation, and many distressing family dissensions, originate in fancied claim*, which a little practical knowledge would show to be unfounded. In this treatise we have, in a collected and intelligible form, all the practical knowledge on these sub- jocti which it necessary. The first part clearly and accurately explains the law with respect to the execution of wiils, to the powers of testators, and to the framing, effect, and construction of testamentary instruments the second pirt is demoted to the law of executors and administrators an-1 the appendix contains an ample collection of forms ot wills, and copies of the documents necessary to be executed in preving a will or taking out lettersoiadministration. Th4 Progress of Carriages, Roads, and Water con-I veyances, from the Earliest Times to the Formation of; Railways. By R. Philp. London; Houlston and Wright, Paternoster-row. THIS is an interesting section of Philp's History of Pro- gress in Great Britain." It is complete in itself, and sold apart from the original work. The general reader will find in these neatly printed pages much curious and instructive matter, which cannot well be gleaned from ordinary his- tories. Mr. Philp has evidently spared no labour in hunting up materials, of which he makes good use in producing a really entertaining history of roads. We say advisedly an entertaining history, for we are convinced that it will be read with attention and pleasure by hundreds who would push aside a dry history of roads as a subject that did not concern them, being fit only for musty students. The woodcuts, which are numerous and well finished, serve not merely for ornament, but to illustrate the text. An ex- tract or two will confirm what we have stated in reference to this work. TRAVELLING IN THE OLDEN TIMB, —Fourteen days were once required to perform the journey between. London and Edinburgh. The Earl of Shrewsbury thought four days journey from WinRfield to London, one hundred and forty -six miles, a rery short one. The carter of Cumber- land took eleven days to travel from London te Londes- borough, two hundred and fifty-four miles. Queen Eliza- beth died on the 21th of March, and James of Scotland was proclaimed king in London on the same morning'; ,et the news of it reached not York until Sunday, March the 27th." James 1. occupied 6ve weeks travelling from Edin- burgh to London but his progress was a royal one, in those days slow and full of pagentry. The news of the abdication of James II. did not reached the Orkneys until three months after the event took place. Although oc- casional and important matters were hastened more rapidly a communication between Oxford and Yorkshire usually required a month. Charles I made a great improvement when he appointed a post that should go to Edinburgh and back in six days. The news reached Bridgewater that Cromwell was made Protector nineteen days after that event, and the bells were then set ringing. Sir William Dugdale in 1859 took three days in travelling by coach from Coventry to London. In 1667 a coach journey from Oxford to London required two days. In 1682 a similar journey from Nottingham to London occupied four day.. In 1678 an agreement was made to run a coach bet- tween Edinburgh and Glasgow, a distance of forty-four miles, which was to be drawn by six horses, and to perform I the journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back in six days. In 1162 the fast" coach took four days journeying from London to Exeter. The journey was completed in the following stages:—Monday, dinner at Estham: put up for the night at Murrell's Green. Tuesday, dinner at Sut- ton; night at Salisbury. Wednesday, dinner at Dorchester. Thursday reached Exeter at one. So late as 1763 there was but one stage-coach from Edinburgh to London, and that set out only once a month taking from twelve to fourteen days to perform the journey. Prior to railway communica- tion between London and Scotland, there were three or four coaches which set out each day from Edinburgh to London and conversely, performing the journey in fifty- five to forty-eight hours. In 1742 the one stage-coach that travelled between London and Oxford began the journey at seven in the morning, and did not reach its destination until the evening of the following day. The same journey has since been regularly performed by coaches in six hours Instances are recorded of persons travelling in carriages, as late as 1780, taking care that their attendants carried hatchets for the purposes of lopping the branches of trees that obstructed the way THB BRADSHAW" OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.— One of the most remarkable features of the old road-books was the frequency with which gallows and gibbets were re- ferred to as road marks. Here are a few instances By the Gallows and three Windmills Enter the Suburbe of York. Leaving the forementioned Suburbs (Durham) a small As- cent, passing between the Gallows and Crokehill. You pass through Haie Street, &c., and at 13-4 part of Epping Forest, with a Gallows to the left. You pass by Pen.menis Hall, .ind at 252'4 Hilldraught Mill, both on the Left, and ascend a small Hill with a Gibbet on the Right. At the end of the city (Wells) you cross a Brook, and pass by the Gallows. At 2'3 leaving the acute way on the Right to Towting, Ewel, &c., just at the Gallows, or Place of Execution of Malefac- tors, Convicted at Southwark. At 8*5 yoa pass by a Gallows on the left, and at 10'2 enter Croyden. A small Rill with a Bridge over it called Felbridge, separating it from Surrey whence by the Gallows you are conveyed to East Grinsted. Leaving Peterborough you pass the Gallows on the left. You leave Frampton, Wilberton. and Sherbeck, all on the Right, and by a Gibbet on the Left, over a Stone Bridge. Leaving Nottingham you ascend an Hill, and pass by a Gallows. From Bristol, through St. John's Gate, and over Froom Bridge, you go up a steep ascent, leaving the Gallows on your right. You cross the River Saint, leaving the Gallows on the Left, and enter Caernarvon." These hideous instru- ments of death standing by the highway awoke terror in the breast of the traveller. Meeting only a few persons on the road, he saluted and passed them with suspicion, and feared every one he met as one who might be a robber or a mur- derer. On the road from London to East Grinstead, a dis- tance of 26 miles, there were no less than three of those un- sightly contrivances. In Bewick's works upon Birds and Quadrupeds, whenever that eminent naturalist and artist in- troduced an illustration of English scenery, a gibbet was almost certaiu to be included as one of the characteristics of the "picturesque." ROADS IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.—The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosmo III., visited England in 1669, and made a journey through some of its principal parts. At the request of the Duke, several large views of the places visited by him were taken and from these we gather interesting particulars of the general aspect of the country at that time. In many of the landscapes there are no indications of toads, although they embrace a large extent of country but wherever roais appear, they are represent- ed as cut into deep ruts, with large stones thrown down in the worst places to fill them up. No one of them ex- hibits a fence. The wide road in front of Whitehall, which may be supposed to have been the best of its time, being near the seat of royalty and of government, is shown to have been cut into four deep ruts, which are carefully depicted by the artist to the extreme perspective of the picture. In these views, therefore, we have a picturesque survey corroborating the scattered evidence which we have gathered upon the defective state of the highways. In fact, it was only a few years prior to Cosmo's visit, that an Act was passed (1662) to regulate the width of the wheels of carts and waggons, and when it was endeavoured to en- force the law, it was found that the wheels, as then con- structed, could not travel in the ruts, and as the ruts could not be done away with, a proclamation was issued to stay the punishment of offenders until further proceedings in Parliament. The Dispatch Atlas.—We have on two former occasions noticed the series of Maps which are in course of publica- tion by the proprietor of the Dispatch, and it is hardly necessary for us now to state that a map is gratuitously presented, with each impression of the newspaper, to every subscriber. Valuable as the newspaper itself is, we do not disparage it in asserting that to thousands of its readers the maps are infinitely more valuable, and especially to that claks of the community who are understood to be warmly attached to the Dispatch. In all historical pursuits, and indeed properly to understand the news of the day, an Atlas is indispensable bat the high price of a good set of maps was a formidable difficulty to their possession by those who eagerly avail themselves of this splendid series, which they obtain for a trifle,-indeed, for nothing, should they subscribe to the Dispatch. We have now before us some of the more recently published comprising large maps of Berkshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire (North Division), Sur- rey, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Warwickshire France, Tuscany, and the Papal States, British Columbia and Vancouver Island, the Great Salt Lake and adjacent country, Bengal, Cuba and Jamaica, India (Eastern Pro- vinces), Western and Southern Australia, the Coast of China, and the Islands of Sardinia and Corsica. These maps are prepared with great care by able geographers, and from the most accurate and recent sources. The names of places are distinctly printed, rendering constant refer- ence easy and infinitely more practicable than if in smaller and more finely graven characters. We have in these maps three important requisites, -fullness, accuracy, and distinctness, combined with neatness and artistic skill. In addition to the maps are plans of Edinburgh, Berlin and environs, and the Town and Fort of Cherbourg, which are all highly finished.
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Gomez. Orsinl's servant has been pardoned by the Em- peror of the French. He is to be set at large on the Sar- didian frontier. The authorities in France are stated to have intimated to the journals that all discussions with respect to the Mortarn case are to be discontinued. Baron Rothchild, of Paris, has sent 10,000 francs to the parents of the boy Mortara, so tint they may take legal measures to obtain the release of their child. The Evening Ilerald states that Parliament is likely to meet for the despatch of business on Tuesday, the 2ud February. The Univers states that the Roman Catholic Bishop Melchoir, the news of whose arrest in Cochin China \v»s received some time since has be:n executed by the authori- ties at Rue. Mr. Stnee, for nearly thirty years chief accountant of the Bank of England, died on Wednesday, at the age of 83. The foundation stone of the monument to the memory of the late Earl of Ellesmere, raised by public subscription, was publicy laid at Worsley, on Wednesday. Lord Churston has declined to take sharps in the Dart- mouth and Torbay Railway, on the ground that no member of Parliament should hold shares in any railway on which he may have no legislate. We have authority to condradict a report which appeared in the Constitutionel Press, that the daughter and heiress of Lor d Overston has been perverted to the errors of the Church of Rome.-Beacon. The earthquake which has been felt in several parts of Spain has caused great disasters in Portugal. Several wrecks have taken place both on the coasts of the Atlantic. and the Mediterranean. The tempest at sea had not sub- sided at the last accounts. At the Southwark Police-court, on Tuesday, the Rev. Henry Harrison was charged with having threatened to stab his wife, and to cut his daughters throat. ine prisoner was required to find one security in £ 20 to keep the ipeace for three months. Being unable to do this, he was locked up. Between 400 and 500 years ago a lady, Catharine Arden, one of the first of a noble race, built a church at her sole expense at Alvanley, and a few days since the Hon. Catha- rine Emma Arden, the last of her race bearing the same name laid the foundation-stone of a new church, immediately behind the firmer edifice, which she is erecting at her sole expense, to perpetuate the memory of her two brothers, the late lords Alvanley. The church will cost £ 2,000. We learn from a correspondent that a gentleman named George Rudolf Cuopf, the son of a banker, of Nuremberg, has been sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment for having said to a postman who delivered to him some money on the Lord's Day, that to do this on Sunday, and during Divine service, was a piece of impudence ( Xfnvershamtheit), The alleged ground of the sentence was, that Mr. Cuopf had, by the use of these words, attacked the honour of a civilian." At a table d'hote, in the city, at which our Informant was present, the sentence became the subject of conversation, and was unanimously approved of. Mr. Cuopf has appealed to a higher Court. A CURIOUS CALCULATION.—Since the commencement of the search for the remains of Mr. Thurston, the aeronaut, in the swamps of Michigan and Canada, two bodies have beon found, but neither was identified as that of Mr. Thurston. A correspondent of the Detroit Pree Press, reflecting on his sad fate, has been induced to compute the time he would bo in falling to the earth his mean velocity, as well as the mo- mentum with which ho would strike the earth. His eleva- tion was thought to be three miles when he was last Fteen and, assuming this to be the distance he fell, it would only require 314 seconds for him to reach the earth, a mean velo- city of 495 feet per second. Assuming his weight to be 1601bs., he would strike the earth with a momentum equal to 16U,8001bs., or a little more than 80 tons, a power sufficient to seatter his body, bone and musole, into atoms so minute as scarcely to be perceptible, if not to bury him deep into the earth. A REMARKABLE CASE OF TRANCE.—A young female named Sarah Tortoiseshell, residing at Somersall, near Uttoxeter, is at present in a kind of trance. She has been lying for the last fortnight without motion, and that she lives is well known by the warmth of the body, the colour of her cheeks, and the state of her pulse. She has givin no indication that she is aware of what is going on around her; her eyes are firmly closed, and her teeth firmly clenched; and -lie has swallowad nothing for fifteen days. Her bow- els during that period have been open but once, and that was by means of a powerful remedy administered by injection. On that occasion she cried, and recited a few verses of religous poetry, and something about happinesss beyond the skies." This remarkable case is no doubt one of hys- terical mania," and may yet last for some time. She is fed every day by injecting wine, gelatine, eggs, &c., throngh a tube passed through the rectum into the upper bowels. A PETRIRIFD WIFE.-A few days since a gentleman resi- ding in Rising Sun, Indiana, who had married a second time wished to remove the body of his wife to a new cemetery. Preparations were made to that effect, and labourers opened the grave in the usual manner but when they reached the coffin they could not lift it, so great was the weight. After obtaining considerable assistance, however, they succeeded in raising the coffin from the tomb. They then could not resist the temptation of peering into the coffin and learning the reason for its unusual weight, and found, instead of the remains of a corpse, a stone figure, the exact counterpart of the woman who has died. This strange story soon spread, and hundreds and thousands of persons were present to see the strange spectacle. The husband took the body of his depart- ed spouse home, and has it there now, where it is visited by hundreds of the curious and scientific. The body seems to have been petrified, and to have become a perfect stone woman. The probability is that the body has become adipo- cere, and will, before long, melt or crumble, Cincinnati Inauier. 'I DESTRUCTION OF CONWAY RAILWAY STATION* BY FIRE. -On Saturday morning, the station at Conway, on tho Chester and Holyhead Railway, was almost totally de- stroyed by fire. Mr. Hughes station master was aroused about two o'clock ;ti the morning being nearly suffocated by smoke. He found that the station was on fire and he immediately removed his family, who had a narrow escape, being obliged to leave the burning premises in their night dresses, and seek shelter at the Erskins Arms Hotel. An alarm was promptly given throughout the town, and in a few minutes a great number of people were on the spot. Unfortunately no fire engine could be procured indeed we are informed that the town does not possess one. Water was carried from a distant engine tank and through the praiseworthy activity of the men the fire was mastered by about-past four o'clock. The offices on the ground floor were partially saved, but in the upper room, nearly all the the furniture, was destroyed. It is illferrel from this that the fire originated in the upper part of the station. SELINA, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.—As my mother I grew better she frequently took me with her to the Pump- room, and she sometimes told me anecdotes of those she had seen there when a child. On one occasion, when the room was thronged with company -and at that item the visitors at Bath were equally distinguished for rank and fashion-a simple, humble woman, dressed in the severest garb of the Society of Friends, walked into the midst of the assembly, and began an address to them on the vanity and follies of the world, & the insufficiency of dogmatic without spiritual religi- on. The company seemed taken by surprise, and their attenti- on was arrested for a few moments as the speaker proceeded, and spoke more and more against the customs of the world, signs of disapprobation rppeared. Amongst those present was one lady with a stern yet high-toned expression of countenance; her air was distinguished she sat erect, and listened intently to the speaker. The impatience of the hearers soon became unrestrained as the Quaker spoke of giving up the world and its pleasures, hisses and groans, beating of sticks, and cries of "Down, down," burst from every quarter. Then the lady I have described arose with dignity, and slowly passing through the crowd, where a passage was involuntarily opened to her, she went up to the speaker, and thanked her, in her own name and in of all present, for the faithfulness with which she had borne testi- mony to the truth. The lady added, "I am not of your persuasion, nor has it been my belief that our sex are generally deputed to public teachers but God who gives the rule can make the exception, and He has indeed put it in the hearts of all his children to honour and venerate fidelity to His commission. Again I gratefully thank you. Side by side with the Quaker she walked to the door of the Pump-room, and then resumed her seat. This lady was the celebrated Countess of 1-lutitin gdon.- Life of Mary Ame Schimmelpenninck.
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DESPBRATB CONFLICT.—The Clayton Banner gives the particulars of a desperate rencontre between a Mr. Edward Garland, of a Glenville, and a runaway negro, the property of Dr. J. B. Owens, of Russell Country. Alabama. The boy was discovered by Mr. Garland, who came up with him in advance of others in pursuit, when stopped, drew a sithe blade, with which he had previously killed a valuable dog, and in a moment rushed upon Mr.Garland. Fortunate- II, Mr. Garland was armed with a stout stick, with which he knocked the weapon from the negro's hand, but the latter immediately seized Mr. Garland's horse by the bridle and commenced stabblingthe animal in the neck with a dirk, from the effectos of which it soon died. He lost this weapon also before he could use it on Mr. Garland. Springing on horse, he seized Mr. Garland by the neck and dragged him to the ground and in the struggle that ensued bit off a part of one of Garland's ears. Finding Mr. Garland pretty well exhausted, and thinking, perhaps, that others would arrive, he made off again. In a short time, however, he was decoy- ed by a negro, who immediately seized him, when another violent battle ensued, in the midst of which a gentleman patsing by, seeing the fracas, came to the aid of the assist- ing negro, and placing a pistol at the head of the runaway, forced him to surrender. The negro has been committed to stand his trial at the next term of the Court for an assault with intent to murder. A horrible tragedy was enacted in the neighbourhood of Queen-street, Holborn, on Tuesday morning. A commercial traveller, named Toomes, between thirty and forty years of age, went iuto a house in Gloucester-street, which he was accustomed to visit, ard having walked down stairs into the kitchen, he there deliberately cut the throat of a young man named Cantly, a printer, nearly severing the head from the body. The deceased being a man in very weak health was unable to resist, and death, of course, was instantaneous. The prisoner was examined before the Clerkenwell police magistrates, when these and other facts were stated in evidence. Although the prisoner appeared to be perfectly cool aud collected during the perpetration of the murder, as well as afterwards, he had previously acted with giejat eccentricity ot maimer.
IDEATH OF ROBERT OWEN. 1
DEATH OF ROBERT OWEN. 1 The public will hear wi'hout surprise of the death, at an advanced age, of Robert Dale Owen, the founder of that system of political ethics called socialism," and which in later years assumed the name of its originator in this country, and was known as "Owenism." The news was communicated in a letter from the eldest son of the deceased, the Hon. Robert Dile Owen, resident Minister from the United State to the Court of Naples, who happened to be on a .visit to his father at the time of the latter's decease. Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Nov. 17. My dear Sir,—It is all over. My dear father passed away this morning at a quarter before 7, and passed away as gently and quietly as if he had been falling asleep. There was not the least struggle, not a contraction of a limb or a muscle, not an expression of pain on his face. His breathing gradually became slower and slower, until at last it ceased so imperceptibly that even as I held his hand I could scarcely tell the moment when he no longer breathed. His last words, distinctly pronounced about 20 minutes before his death, were Relief has come.' About half-an-hour before, he said Very easy and com- fortable.' Robert Dale Owen married, in 1797, Miss Dale, the daughter of a much respected arid influential gentleman in Glasgow, and the superintendent of a large number of Dissenting congregations. He was then about 26 years of age, and about this time became part proprietor and sole manager of the New Lanark Twist Company," the management of whose mills, upon his own peculiar prin- ciples, soon spread his name far and wide. From 1810 to 1813 he published his Essays on the Formation of Charac- ter," which, with his practical exemplification of the text, introduced him to such men as Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Zachary Macaulay, Thomas Clarkson, the first Sir Robert l'eel, Sir Thomas Bernard, and his particular friend Dr. Barrington, Bishop of Durham, and also the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London of that day. About this time, too, he formed friendships with Mr. James Mill, Sir James Macintosh, Mr. Malthus, Colonel Torrens, Mr. Ricardo, Francis Place, and Lord Brougham. As he says himself, From those political economists, often in animated discussions, I always differed, but our dis- cussions were maintained to the last with great good feeling and a cordial friendship. They were liberal men for their time, friends to the national education of the poor. Mr. Owen was now fairly launched before the world as a social reformer. In 1817 he addressed memorials to the Sovereign assembled at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapette confiding their presentation to Lord Castlcrengh, and became a notoriety. Among his opposing friends he further mentions the late Joseph Hume, Jeremy Bentham, Joseph Lancaster, Sir Francis Burdett. Mr. Cobbett, and many other of the leading men of the time, with whom he was in constant intimacy. He founded an infant-school at New Lanark, and among other notable persons who visited it was the late Emperor Nicholas of Russia, then the Grand Duke. At that time there was a great commotion about the doctrines of Malthus, and Mr. Owen relates that, "In a two hours' conversation with the Grand Duke, before h left me, he said, As your country is over-peopled I will take you, and two millions of population with you, all in similar manufacturing communities.' This was in refer- ence to New Lanark. Here was an offer! The greatest and most arbitrary despotic monarch in the world offering to test "liberty, equality, fraternity," in his own dominion and at his own expense. Mr. Owen, however, declinod, as he thought his hands were full enough then. He subse- quently visit the various European capitals, and America, where he was looked upon with considerable favour. For many years the public have been well acquainted with his career. As his mind began to fail before his advancing years, he accepted the doctrine of spirit rapping, and has published his experience of that delusion. It may not, perhaps, be generally known that the celebrated Robert Fulton, the mechanical engineer, was once in partnership with Mr. Owen for working an invention for raising boats from low to high levels on canals without the aid of locks. The last public appearance of Mr. Owen was at the late Social Science Congress at Liverpool. He stood between Lord Brougham and Lord John Russell. He spoke for a few minutes, when, his strength failing him, he was removed to the Victoria Hotel, where he remained for several days. He was accompanied by Mr. Rugby, who has acted as his secretary and man of business for the last 30 years. While at the hotel he expressed a determination to see his native town, and started next day, posting from Shrewsbury, as there was no rail. He only remained a few hours, returned to Liverpool, and after transacting some business went back again to Newtown. He told Mr. Rugby on the way, I that! leave my bones where I got them." He died at the Bear's Head Hotel, and what is strange, there is not a single inhabitant now alive in the place who was there when he left it, a child of 10 years of age. He was a man of ample means, and disposed of a large fortune in promulgat- ing his principles. Hia wife had been dead some years, most of his family, which consisted of eight sons and daughters, are alive.-Timea.
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THE CAREER OF AN INVENTOR. At the Nottingham Bankruptcy Court, on Tuesday, Joseph Skerchley, described as a dagger maker, of Ashby- de-la- Z o itch, came up for his certificate. Mr. Enfield, who represented the assignees, said the case was a very curious one the debts were heavy, and the assets had produced nothing, except the sale of the furniture. The bankrupt's embarrassments appear to have arisen in this way:—About ten years ago he made an inven- tion relating to the manufacture of pipes, and sold a moiety of it. Some time afterwards he had reason to distrust the person who bought it, and he re-purchased the moiety for £ 1,000. He was unable to raise the whole of that amount, but paid £ 350. down, and gave bills for the ba- lance. Soon afterwards he sold the invention for E20,000., to a person who intended to carry it out in, England; but the Pipemakers' Company offered them such an opposition that the attempt broke down, and the sale went off. The bankrupt, however, was unwilling to come to the Bankrupty Court, so as to sacrifice the hope of getting this £ 20,000.; and in the meantime he incurred great liabilities in staving off payment of the balance of the £ 1,000., which had placed him in his present position. The invention had since been carried into Frrnce, where it was now being worked; and the pipes were brought to England, were after paying an import duty, they undersold the manufacturers in this country. This showed that there was a real bona fide value in the invention, which justified the bankrupt in depending upon it. His books had been well kept. The Court gran- ted a third class certificate. EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE UPON A YOUNG LADY.—An outrage of a most extraordinary character was perpetrated upon a young lady, named Miss Sarah Robinson Audley, at Liverpool, on Tuesday last, similar in its general features to that which created so much interest in the same town laft week, but far exceeding it in daring and audacity, The young lady, an invalid, who belongs to Ireland, and is on a visit to a gentleman residing in Everton, was proceeding along the Boundary-road on the above day in broad daylight, when 2 men met her, and after exhibiting a knife, pointed to her crinoline—which was not of very expansive dimensions —and said the weapon was to cut the ropes. The lady said there were no ropes, which was the truth; but they immedi- ately seized her, dragged her into a court some distance off, and there, while they threatened to kill her if she made an alarm commenced cutting away her petticoats with the knife. Haviug accomplished this outrage, they took her handkerchief from her' hand, the ruffian who poketed it saying that when he looked upon it he would remember its owner; removed her veil, kissed her, and perpetrated other outrages to an extent which it is not necessary to describe. The lady having swooned, they waited until she had re- gained her sensibility, and when after straighthening her disordered dress, politely took their leave. That such an outrage should have been committed in an open thorough- fare in daylight, would be incredible if the respectability of the lady was not undoubted. The police are using all their endeavours to bring the ruffians to justice, but as yet with- out success A KING THRASHING HIS JUDGES.—One morning early (might be before Schlubhut was hanged, and while only sentence of imprisonment and restitution lay on him,) Ge- neral Grafvon Donhof, Colonel of a Musketeer Regiment, a favourite old soldier—who did vote on the mild side on that court martial on the Crown Prince lately; but I hope has been forgiven by his Majesty, being much esteemed by him these long years past: this Donhof, early one mornintf, calls upon the King, with a grimly lamenting air. "What is wrong, Herr General ?" 11 Your Majesty, my best musketeer, an excellent soldier and of good inches, fell into a mistake lately—bad company getting round the poor fellow they, he among them, slipt into a house and stole something; trifle and without violence; pay is but three halfpence, your Majesty, and the Devil tempts men Well, the Criminal Collegium have condemned him to be hanged, an excellent soldier, and of good inches, for that one fault. Nobleman Schlubhut was to make restitution they decreed that was their decree on Schlubhut, one of their own set; and this poor soldier, six feet three, your Majesty, is to dance on the top of nothing for a three-halfpenny matter So would Donhof represent the thing—" Fact being," says my Dryasdust, it was a case of housebreaking with theft to the value of 6,000 thalers, and this musketeer the ring- leader Well, but was Schlubhut sentenced to hang- ing ?" Do you keep two weights and two measures in that Criminal Collegium of yours then ? Friedrich Wil- helm flames into wrath, sends off swift messengers to bring these judges, one and all, instantly into his presence. The judges are still in their dressing gowns, shaving, breakfast- ing; they make what haste they can. So soon as the first three or four are reported to be in the anteroom, Friedrich Wilhelm, in extreme impatience, has them called in starts discoursing with them upon two weights and measures. Apologies, subterfuges, do but provoke him further it is not long till he starts up, growling terribly-'Ihr schurken' (ye scoundrel). how could you ?" and smites down upon the crowns of them with the Royal cudgel itself. Fancy the hurry-scurry, the unforensic attitudes and pleadings! Royal cudgel rains blows, right and left; blood is drawn, crowns cracked, crowns nearly broken and several judges lost a few teeth and had their noses battered" be- fore they could get out. The second relay meeting them in this dilapidated state, on the staircase, dashed home again without the honour of a Royal interview. Let them learn to keep one balance and one set of weights in their law courts henceforth This is an actual scene, of date Berlin 1731 or thereby; unusual in the annals of Tbemis, of which no constitutional country can hope to see the fel- low, were the need never so pressing. I wish his Majesty had been a thought more equal, when he was so rhadaman- thiue! Schlubhut he hanged, Schlubhut being only Schlubhut's chattel; this musketeer, his Majesty's own chattel, he did not hang, but set him shouldering arms again, after some preliminary duqting.- Carlyle's Fred- rick the Great." A DUTCH DESCRIPTION.—A Dutch woman in America desires to advertise her pony which had lost himself mit a tail frisky ret mooch and strikes fer hand mit his hind fists I."
I THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER…
I THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER ON WORKING I CLASS EDUCATION. The Bishop of Manchester made flcirrle interesting remarks on working-class education at Droyladen on Saturday. A meeting to promote the local Educational Institution was held, and several local magnates attended. The Bishop in his speech dwelt emphatically on theneees- sity and large advantages of a good elementary education. Unless good reading and legible writing were acquired- without the beauty of being able to enunciate with fluency and expression the great thoughts of the great masters of thought, as handed down in their works—there was neglected one of the most choice parts of the superstructure upon which was afterwards to be erected the whole fabric of the reasoning powers (hear, hear). He was some few years ago in the shop of a bookseller in one of our large towns—u shop to which he often went to see what passed, and where he had seen working men bringing back books bought before, and adding some small sum to have them exchanged and he asked the bookseller which he considered to be the most ex- tensively circulated book in that part of the kingdom. The bookseller's answer Was such that he (the Bishop) was en- tirely incredulous about it until by inquiry he found that it really was positive true; for he said that -the most exten- sively circulated book was Butler's Analogy" (hear)-a book about the most difficult entirely to comprehend of all works on divinity in the English language—a book that con- tained truths the most sublime—for it took the great relative points of God's works us evidenced in the world, and com- pared them with the spirit of God as revealed in his Word and it showed that there was such unity, consistency, and similarity, that the author of one and the other was proved most incontestably to be the same (applause). Some yeirs afterwards it happened that he had for several years to lec- ture upon Butler's Analogy;" and it was long a remark, quoted with some amusement as to Mr. Lee, that his first hour's discourse was invariably given to nothing more than the label of the book (laughter). His lordship defended this oourse. He then urged young working men in their learn- ing to endeavour to comprehend every word, not only in itself, but in relation to what preceded and followed. Every hour the student lingered in this way at the threshold, they would find when they entered the temple that they would (comparatively speaking) advance more in fife minutes than they would in an hour if they had entered more precipitately. He would particularly recommend to students in that insti- tution, as the next step, the study of geometry, as a general rule, in preference to that of arithmetic. And for this rea- son, the study of geometry required, if property carried on, that every step should be accurately depicted and represented in the mind of the learner (hear, hear). He could assure his hearers that none who rightly entered upon the study of geometry would ever be disappointed. But they must seek for something positive. They would be told, in the first book ef Euclid, that a point had no parts and no magnitude. But they must not be satisfied with that they must ask, What has it ?" When, and then only, they knew that it had loca- lity and locality alone, they would be able to form some cor- rect notion of the mathematical point. Let the knowledge of geography be something more than a knowledge of maps —of subdivisions of countries aud positions of towns. Let this always be followed by the rationale of educatioii-why this town was placed here, why that harbour there-why configuration was connected, more or less, with the history of a country, position with that of a town. His lordship graphically summarized the chief points in the history of Saragossa, Cuidad Rodrigo, and St. Jean d'Acre, as affecting Spain, Portugal, and Palestine. These things, he said, brought out the reason as well as exercised the memory and making the one ancillary to the other, it raised the possessor in the enjoyment not only of intellectual pleasures, but higher still in the reasoning powers and faculties Why should not working men enjoy these things? They had like abilities, like interests at stake. These were points for which they ought to contend and if they contended—as they were doing, and rightly-for an increased share in the political power of the country, they were bound-nay, they were traitors otherwise to their country-to contend for increased knowledge and power of opinion. The branch of the institution represented by the female classes deserved the warmest sympathy and support (applause). Upon this sub- ject there had been painful inattention and neglect. Wo had not considered the homes of our working men--their domestic condition and comfort—the means of exercising morality, and of enjoying the fruits of a well-regulated home —these things we had not considered as we ought to have done. He trusted that this and similar institutions would work a great if not a speedy, change (applause). He knew, from many years experience in this diocese, that wherever there had been attention to the moral and intellectual im- provement of the people, there had been raised slowly but steadily those men and institutions most calculated to make the population what Englishmen and English Christians ought to be (loud applause).—llanchcster Gnvrdian,
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EFFECTS OF TOBBVCCO ON STUDENTS.—D^ep thinkers who would draw upon resources long laid up by hard study, who would not again busy themselves in thumbing over volumes that have already been read, but who, having once devoured them, would make the food their own, find much originality amidst the fumes of a savoury cheroot. But students, who would master books, and remember their contents who would lay up in store cle-ir ideas should never becloud themselves with smoke, nor in any other way detract from the most energetic application to the ful- filment of the object in view. The satisfying effects of tobacco on students is not calculated to promote advance- ment, but to retard it. Under its influence pages may be dreamed over without being taken in.-Hunt's Mer- chants' Magazine. HOPE WHEX DEAD. --Sometimes we have stood by the grave of a man of genius, and pondered on the former con. dition of the now cold and mindless tenant. Those eyes that blazed with almost supernatural tire-the fire of creative genius. Those lips whose every word was music that massive brow, like an intellectual rampart behind which lurked the heavy artillery of thought an.l imagination, or the light play of wit and fancy. All, all may have been lost to its age, misunderstood, or not appreciated, and now the sluggish world, awakening at length to the glory that is departed, encloses the lifeless form in a shriue of marble, while the living man may have been clothed in rags, and sout ia' i d g, dwelt in a squalid garret, with scarce nourishment to keep body and toget her.- Tait's Magazine. A PET FISH-The youngest of the blenny family (dome- sticated in my aquarium) I took under my especial caie, and chrisrened him Little Jock." It may sound somewhat doubtful, but I positively assert that this blenny learned in a very short time to answer to his name. Upon calling him he would instantly make his appearance, and struggle to get his body on the edge of the tank. When I placed him on the palm of my hand,and titillated his little back with my soft pencil, he exhibited evident signs of pleasure. I mentioned this most remarkable instance of tameness and docility to many of my friends. fhey all conceived that I exaggerated the fact until they had ocular demonstration themselves. Yet, after all, it can only take place among those romances in which natural history abounds—one of those narrations which, while believing we almost doubt, and yet while doubting must bp.lieve. Seaside and Aquarium. LOVE.—How evanescent it is in its most refined form. But that is not all the fault of the object, but of the subject. While it 1 ists it is the apotheosis of humanity. Even if it does nor last to have had a glimpse into the holy of holies it is not without its advantages. No man or woman under the true influence of the feeling as existing among the Teutonic nations but becomes better, holier, purer, truer, and nobler for the time being. Time ap- pears to stop, and becomes for the nonce eternity. The mistress is not an angel the lover is not a demigod, but they appear so to each other and each probably anxious then that the appearance should not be illusory. The existence of the belief shows that human nature is capable of climbing higher, and indeed, is a corroboration of an immortality by no means to be despised. The word on the standard is "Exclesior." Blackwood, "ColleJcr and Celibacy. THE SPIRITUAL DESPOTISM OF ROME.—But had no so- cial effects followed of a positive kind, for which we had a right to be supremely thankful ? Yes, it had liberated man- kind from a description of mental bondage. Previously to the Reformation the nation was in a state of mental inacti- vity, because implicit obedience was one of the characteristics of the Roman Catholic church. The Roman Catholic must be content to do as the Church bid him. To entertain a doubt as to any dogma of the Church was a sin Reason was eclipsed by faith, or rather by superstition, for that could not be called faith which did violence to the reason. Hence it was ever the aim of the Church of Rome to discountenance the examination of any theological question, and to spare its adherents the trouble of inquiry. This might be a harsh statement, but he was prepared to affirm that there could be no doubt of it. He appealed to the state of mind from the fixth to the fifteenth centuries, to show that the intellect of Europe was bound and enslaved by the Church of Rome- Then came a wonderful struggle, which changed the face of society, and imparted to literature and science an impetus hitherto unexampled.-Bishol) of liipon. A NEW SPIRIT MEASURll. A respectable-looking woman called the other day at a spirit dealer's shop in Galashiels, for half-a-gill of the strongest spirits to sponge a silk gown with. After the quantity requested was drawn from the cask, she was asked for a bottle to hold the same, when she coolly replied, I haven't far to ganlt, and I'll just carry it hame in my mouth Border- Advertiser. A THINKING Boy.- A clergyman was endeavouring to instruct one of his Sunday scholars, a ploughboy on the nature of a miracle Now, my boy," said he. "suppose you see the sun rising in the middle of the night, what should you call that ?" The moon, please, Sir." ,No; b,it," said the clergyman, "suppose you knew it was not the moon but the sun, and that you saw it actually rise in the middle of the night, what should you think ?" Please, Sir, I should think it was time to get up A MARINS ACROBAT.—The extraordinary manner in which the actiniae contiuually change their form has been made the subject of discussion by many writers, and is, indeed, a circumstance well calculated 10 inspire curiosity. The last capricornis that I adopted far surpassed any which I had seen before as a contortionist, and furnished me with no fewer than twelve drawings, some of which are truly amusing, considering the form and configuration of the animal in its natural state I must give a sketch of this curious anemone. The first announcement that I received of his having commenced his performances was from a servant (who had privately taken an interest in the Quarium," as she called it, and endeavoured to catch up the names of its inhabitants) poking her head within the door of my sanctum, and crying out, "0, please sir, do come and look, the enemy (meaning the anernotie-is a- turning hisself inside out I didn't touch him, sir; indeed, I didn't!" I discovered, however, that, from a natural enough curiosity she had touched the enemy" the preceding day-a liberty he immediately resented, by losing no time in, to her great alarm and surprise, turn- ing hisself" outside in For a whole week, the an imal continued his ruanim-ITres, until he finally, detached his base from the rock. After this, he rolled about in a most inflated, dropsical condition, being, at least, three times his usual sizei-- Tho &tuide and Aquarium. >
DR. CUMiinfG ON PROTESTANT…
DR. CUMiinfG ON PROTESTANT ENGLAND. I The Bishop of Ripon in Exeter-hall, and Dr. Cumming in his o-n church, have this week refreshed our memories with ancient but not yet forgotten recollections, and warmed our hearts with Seasonable and precious truths. J lie Bishop viewed the subject father in its doctrinal, and the Scottish Presbyter in its national, aspect. The lecture of the former was strictly theological, that of the economic and social. The tield traversed by the one vra* the Bible and the Church, the seed and the sower—the gaol aimed at by the other was England, as created by Protestant truth, and Italy, as debased and degenerate under the incubus of Papal tyranny." England three hundred years ago was benighted, impoverished, and de- moralized. The Romish superstition darkened her sky, and chil.ed her soil, and crushed at the same time, every effort at self-regeneration. Her Ministers were priests, her schoolmasters mofclts, her law canon law, her maidens kneeling at the confession-bo;i, civil liberty a crime an 1 religious liberty heresy, and the Tiber abso bing the Thames. A few noble bishops and priests recognised the true religion, and felt that it is alone was the panacea for their country's evils and the spring of those living streams which they believed would make glad the City of God." Mary and CarSinal Pope and his colleages collected the faggots and applied their Pontifical, or rather Locifer, matches; but they discovered, even when they would t1<>t own it, that no fire can burn out truth, and no policy build up a lie. The fires of Smithfield cast their radiance on the principles of the martyrs, and revealed in all their naked- ness the falsehoods of their murderers, In November, 1558, Elizabeth ascended the throne of these realms, The nation rose and stood upright. A new era dawned Shake- speare and Spenser, Hooker and Bacon, became the van- guard of an army of illustrious men. Protestant exiles re- turned to the church and benefit their country—fraud & force were crushed by the vigorous policy of the Maiden Queen -te Roman Bull and the Spanish ArmaJa were sent back to their proper quarters. England began, on that 1/th November three hundred years ago, a career that, often re- sisted by her enemies, and oltener injured by her friends, had not slackened in speed or been shorn of splendour to the present day. It was with equal propriety as Protestant and patriot that Dr. Cumming concluded his morning lecture, in these ivords A woman's reign closed the darkest and most san- guinary era of our history. A woman's reigii beARn the most brilliant chapter in its annals. A woman's reign-I need not say whose-ivitli none of the defects and witn vastly more than the popularity and splendour of Elizabeth, is our now ascendant noon—a noon for whose Slin we pray there may be no setting. God save our Queen May she long reign over a free, a loyal, and a Protestant nation
THE RUSSIANS AT VILLAFRANCA.
THE RUSSIANS AT VILLAFRANCA. A telegram from Nice, published in the Paris papers, announces that Russ an vessels of war on Friday took possession of the establishment at Villafranca, lent by the Sardinian government. Russiart seiitinetti immediately replaced those of Sardinia.
ITALY,
ITALY, The Nord of Brussels contains the following paragraph relative to the rumours of war which it appears have been current in some parts of Italy within the last few days "Wenoticed three days ago, on the authority of our correspondence from Turin, the rumours of war which are more or less rife in Piedmont. If we may credit our first Paris correspondent the alarm has reached France. The obstinacy of the King of Naples in regard to The Western Powers, the rrofound discontent prevailing in Lombardy in consequence of the issue of new Austrian paper money, and the abolition of the immunity from military service of only srlns-an immunity which they enjoyed even during the wars of the first French empire-the fortifications on te Piedmentese frontier, and certain purchases of arms and munitions recently made by Piedmont, certainly constitute a budget of news of an alarming character, and which may perhaps be pregnant with grave complications for next spring. We can but repeat what we have already said, these facta denote real difficulties and a tendue situation but from that to a war which no one desires and which it is no one's interest to begin there is a great distance. As to the armaments of Piedmont, they are nothing more than natural measures of precaution with a view to possible eventualities." The Independancc discredits the ramours of war, and thinks they are attributable to some expressions used by King Victor Emmanuel at a review, and which being too largely interpreted by Italian patriotism, have been understood as meaning that the King expected to re- quire the services of his troops in the spring of 1859. The Independance admits, however, that the course pur- sued by Austria in Lombardy, and the disappointment of the expectations raised by the Archduke Maximilian, may eventually lead to a very serious state of things, but it thinks the moment not yet come." It is reported in Paris that Sir James Hudson, who has been travelling in Italy on leave of absence, haa sent a report to his government on the state of opinion there, and that, in consequence of the informaiion sent by him, he was ordered to return immediately to his post at Turin, where he had not intended to go before January. A letter from Ancona, in the Trieste Gazette, states that a few nighis ago several mysterious arrests were effected byth at Ancona and in the Marshes, in conse- quence of telegraphic orders received from Rome. Car- riages were in readiness to receive the prisoners, who were immediately conveyed to Rome under strong escorts.
RECAL OF LORD NAPIER.
RECAL OF LORD NAPIER. We believe we are correct in announcing the recal of Lord Napier from the mission at Washington. The assigned cause is his lordship's tendency to favour the Munroe doctrine. Mr. Lyons, it is understood, will be promoted from Naples to represent England in the United States. A small English squadron is to De stationed for the present at Panama.—Morning Post. The Morning Post contains a statement to the effec that Lord Napier hag been recalled from his mission to the United States, and that the assigned cause is his Lord- ship's tendency to favour the Munroe doctrine." We have authority for affirming that the statement of our contem- porary is incorrect. Lord Napier is about to be removed from Washington to represent her Majesty at a European Court, but the change is one in the regular course of diplomatic promotion, and arises from no dissatisfaction on the part of the Government with his conduct or opinions in the United States. We have no claim to represent the views of her Majesty's present advisers, but in this in- stance we have excellent re. son to know that the Govern- ment, so far from censuring Lord Napier, consider that the zeal and ability be has always shown in the performance of his public duties entitle him to their best consideration. Our contemporary adds, we believe with good founda- tion, that Mr. Lyons will succeed Lord Napier at Wash- ington. Mr. Lyons is now her Majesty's rearesentative at Fl,)rence.- Globe
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A MYSTERY UNSOLVED.—About eight years since tb. whole county of Sussex was in a state of ferment at the supposed murder of Mr Griffith, of the Rock Brewery, Brighton. The circu^tances under which this gentleman came to his death are enveloped in great myatery—a mystery which has not been solved to this day. It will be recollected that he was returning home from Horsham, and had called at Henfield in the way of business to receive money and orders. On the high road at New. timber (near the Devil's Dyke) be waa found dead, having been shot through the heart. The horse and gig witti which he was travelling were found at some distance away, the reins were cut, one step of the gig was bent, and from the disordered state in which everything was left it was surmised that Mr. Griffith (who was a powerful man) had been attacked by robbers, and that a severe struggle had ensued, in which the unfortunate gentleman had been assassinated. He was known to have had a considerable quantity of money about him at the time, and also a watch but when his body was discovered both money and watch were gone. The latter had been at- tached to a chain, and portions of the chain were left on his neck and the inference was that great violence had been used in effecting the separation. This watch was found on Monday last in the mud of a pond at Nutknowl, by a man who was mudding." The pond is close to the turnpike-road along which Mr. Green passed on the night of the murder, and about three miles distant from the spot where his body was discovered. The watch was a gold one, and the dial plate aud hands are quite destroyed, but it is identified by the remaining portion of the chain, which was hanging to it. The discovery of the watch does not in any wiy serve to elucidate the mystery which still enshrouds this singular murder.-lvest Sussex Gazette. ESCAPR OF A CONVICT. -Joseph Hampshire, a convict in Hull jail, made his escape from that prison on Tuesday morning. He was under sentence of 12 years' penal servitude, passed at the last Michaelmas sessions, for hav- ing broken into a keel at Hull, and stolen the master's watch and 16 sovereigns. The whole police force of the borough were shortly after his escape on the look-out for him, and in about six hours he was recaptured, being found secreted in a small dark and sooty cockloft of a house in Cook's-buildings, occupied by a ticket-of-leave man named Michael Hartley, himself still under sentence of 10 years' transportation. These men were drinking together in the few hours that elapsed between the robbery and the apprehension of Halllpshire. Since his conviction, only a month ago, the convict, according to his own confession, being engaged upon the hard labour" of oakum teasing, contrived to steal, from time to time, four spike nails, lued in teasing. He ought only to have been in possession of one at a time, and then only when working. He also, from time to time, secreted about his person as many single bits of yars, of six inches long, and in single threads, as enabled him to make a rope 24 feet in length. On the morning of his escape, when the prisoners came out of their cells to work, he eluded the eyes of the turn- key, turned back into his cell, got his rope and spike nails, and when the course was clear, pulled off a stock- ing, filled it with little stones, tied it to the rope, and with the nails also fastened crosswise, threw the heavy end over the wall, 20 feet high, which he thus scaled. On descend- ing outside he stripped off his prison dress, excepting his drawers and shirt, and his remaining stocking, then ran through Wellington-street, Queen-street, Humber-street, and High-street, to his old lodgings, where he clothed him- self in a few old things, and rapidly ran from the premis- es, but not before he had in vain searched every room for a young woman, named Smith, whom he threatened to murder for giving evidence against him. Hampshire was on Tuesday, charged before the stipendary magistrate with escaping from prison, .and Hartley and a woman named Richmond, were charged with secreting him. All were remanded. A WILY Fox.-Some depredations having lately been committed by vermin on the farm of Summerfield, near Dumfries, a trap was set with the view of securing the aggressor. A fox on its return from a predatory excursion, carrying a hare which he had captured, unwittingly placed a toot on the trap, and was caught. In the morning Reynard was espied by one of the ploughmen, who, like fox-hunters, though not in the same break-neck fashion, was anxious to possess that much-coveted appendage, a fox's brush. Seizing a rail from an adjoining fence he procee,led towards the captive, intending to despatch him. The ploughman's excitement had rather unstrung his nerves, his hand was not quite so steady as if it had grasped a horn spoon, nor his head so cool as that of his intended victim. Elevating the rail, the man aimed a blow at the head of the fox, but the wary animal adroitly swerved its head aside as fur as its position enabled it to do, and the full force of the blow struck the trap, depressing the spring, and instantly released the fox. On being set free the fox made a dash at the hare, which he had dropped on being captured, seized it with his teeth, and before the dumb-foundered rustic had recovered from his surprise and could aim another blow, Reynard, despite the mishap to one of his legs by the teeth of the trap, was bounding across the fields at a speed which would have put the huntsman of the Dumfriesshire hounds to his mettle ere be could have secured the brush as a trophy --Dumfries Courier. I- In Cork," said O'Connell, "I remember a supernu- merary crier, who had been put in the place of an invalid, frying to disperse the crowd by exclaiming, with a sten- torian voice, 'All you blackguards that isn't lawyers, lave the presence of the court entirely, or I'll make ye, by the powers.,