South Wales Echo

LONDON LETTER. 1 Specially Wired. By Our Own Correspondent. LONDON, Thursday. Enormous anxiety prevailed to-day in reference to the conference. I have no doubt that a lot of imaginative reports will be circulated throughout the country as to what took place. I advise you to be on your guard against the majority of such reports. The object of the members of the con. ference was as far as possible to safeguard them- selves from enquiries. For instance, it was given out that the meeting was to take place at Lord Harschell's, while all the time the house of Sir William Harcourt was ar- ranged as the scene of the rendezvous. The proceedings of the conference to-day, in any case, partook more of a preliminary character than was expected. The members did not meet till four, aud they separated at seven. It is the general opinion that they must hold, not one, but several more meetings before they are able to decide even the preliminary question whether they can agree at all or not. Further I am not at liberty to say to-day, there being obvious reasons why, at this stage, the lips of the members of the conference should be kept pretty tight. Men of all parties are united in thinking that the death of Lord Iddesleigh is a reeling blow to the Government of Lord Salisbury. Attempts are being made in the Ministerial press to weaken the blow by representations of the state of mind of the poor lord, but there are utterly incorrect. It is utterly untrue that Lord Iddesleigh was reconciled to bis dismissal from the Foreign Office, and still more to the manner in which this was carried oat. To give a colleague the first notice of his dismissal from office by a paragraph in the news- papers is the first instance on record of dis- courtesy so brutal and, it may be even said, so heartless. Lord Iddesleigh resented it to his last breath. I know this from people who bad an opportunity of knowing what he thought. It was remarked by his intimates and remarked to him. self that at last he did seem capable of anger and resentment, and it was no small display of anger that led to such a remark. One of the many methods by which it is sought to find a justification for the conduct of Lord Salisbury is an exaggeration of the debility o Lord Iddesleigh. It is said that Lord St. Cyres wrote his letter declaring his father in good health in perfect consciousness that it was untrue, and with the charitable purpose of saving his father from pain. This is all nonsense. The family of Lord Iddesleigh were strongly convinced that he was really in good health, and there is little doubt in their minds, at all events, that he would be alive to-day were it not for the worry, the anger, and, above all, the poignant pain of betrayed friendship from which be has suffered during the last week. Disease of the heart is not a disease that proves necessarily fatal immediately. It is an affection that may go on for many years in the absence of severe shocks. Great stress is laid in the Tory press on the tremor of Lord Iddesleigh's band as show- ing the ntter breakdown of bis system. I bad noticed the tremor many years ago. I re- member being struck with it particularly on the night when be moved his vote of censure on the Government for their policy in Egypt, but if the shaking of the hand at the moment of making a great speech be a sign of complete collapse, there are many members of the House of Commons who are regarded as strong aDd healthy men who would have to go at once into retirement. I have seen the bands and the whole body of Lord Randolph Churchill shake when he was in the early days of his campaign against Mr Gladstone, and more than once I have observed the faithful henchman rash out to the bar in the lobby outside for the purpose of bringing in a glass of brandy and water. Indeed, with his characteristic courage the ex Chancellor has called for this refreshing beverage in a voice so loud as to be audible in almost every part of the House. There are several other members of the House who grow ghastly in moments of excitement. Sir Henry James becomes a livid yellow, Mr J Goschen a pale grey, and when first he started speaking in the House Mr Modey's tongue clung to his mouth visibly parched. The truth is poor Lord Iddesleigh was done to death, and done to death by friendly hands the hands of friends. This fact will undoubtedly influence the fate of the ministry. I have met Liberals to day who are not afraid that the Government won't go out, but who think that they will go out too soon. There is no desire on the part of Liberals that there should be another and an early appeal to the country. The first result of such an appeal would unquestionably be the loss of several earnest men who cannot stand the racket, as the American phrase goes, of three contested elections in the course of two years. Then it is universally held to be desirable to await an appeal to the country till the Liberal party has been able to close up its ranks, and until it can appeal for the confidence of the country with united battalions and a single pro- gramme. Above all other reasons for the desire of the Liberals to postpone dissolution is the feeling that the con- stituencies want what may be called an object lesson on the government of Ireland. This the Ministry are supplying every hour. The administration of Sir Michael Beach is becoming every day more discredited. There is weakness side by side with cruelty. Much bitterness of feeling has been caused in Liberal circles here by the details published in the journals of this morning with reference to the shameful evictions in county Kerry. Even the Irish correspondent of the Times feels bound to condemn them, and Liberal representatives are sayiag that this is a kind of thing which cannot be allowed to go on. I have good reason for stating that the Tories also are coming to the melancholy conclusion that the case of Ireland is hopeless. An intimate friend of Lord Randolph Churchill yesterday hinted to me that the hopelessness of the Irish problem had certainly much to do with bis resignation. The feeling between Lord Randolph, mean- time, and the Prime Minister is growing stronger everyday. The things 4,0 Î]f.(} parties to this quarrel say of each other, or that they allow those for whose tongues they are responsible to say, are such that I could not reproduce them in your columns without being charged with the indecency of furious political partisanship. As I hinted yesterday, the situation is aggravated by female tongues. Lord Randolph feels these things very acutely. He says that such criticism oa the part of professed political friends is base ingratitude. He points to the fact that for politics and the advancement of his party, he has given up everything in the world, his time, labour, health, the enjoyment of life, and that having by so doing raised the party from impotence and discredit to strength and prestige, be is spat upon. I don't know whether he has committed himself to the statement that he will never sit again in the same Cabinet as Lord Salisbury, but certainly he is no admirer of that statesman. I bad a talk to-day with a lady interested in the east-end of London, and the account she gives of the destitution there is heartrending. She feels perfectly assured, after some years acquaia tance with that quarter of London, that there is more want of employment this year than in any previous year for some time. The "slummin¡" as it is called, has been ridiculed a good deal in the papers, especially in the society journals, but there are many noble men and women connected with the work of hunting up and relieving the destitute. For instance, take the case of the Hon. Mrs Jcune. She, with iome other ladies, has parcelled mt the East End into different districts, and each one holds herself responsible for visits to the poor people in her district. The visits are made at least once a week. Then efforts are made to elevate the moral and spiritual side of the people as well as the physical. Concerts are the chief agency employed in the latter work. Mrs Jeune pro- vides a concert once a fortnight in a hall in the East-end, the alternate week being looked to by other members of the committee. The providing of a concert is not a very easy task, and Mrs Jeune has to make appeals to ali sorts and con- ditions of men and women, anfl, if it were not for her universal popularity, would often be left in the lurch. The other night, for instance, she had secured the attendance of no less a personage than Sir Richard Webster, the Attorney-General, and Sir Richard was the hero of the evening. Among hid many accom- plishments is that of singing songs, comio or pathetic, in a baritone strong and &weet, ana well trained. The other night he drew down the house with The Irish Emigrant," and as a great part of his audience was Irish, the scene was exciting. This is a good work by whomsoever undertaken, and ought to be eulogised and acknowledged.

CARDIFF INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY. On Thursday afternoon the first annual meeting of this society was held in the Town-hall, Cardiff. The president (Mr Clement Waldron) was in the chair, and a large number of solicitors were present. Mr G. F. HILL (hon. sec.) read the report of the committee. It stated, among other things, that 90 members had joined the society that the society had taken over the law library in the Town- hall; and that various parliamentary bills had been considered by the committee, who had been in constant communication with the Incorporated Law Society of the United Kingdom, of the council of which last mentioned society Mr Waldron had been elected au txtraordinary member. The FKESIDKNT then gave an address recalling in an interesting retrospect of his own experience the condition of their profession when he,first joined it, with some of the reforms which have P^a?e 'n last 35 years during which he had bsen in practice, and the prospects which lay before them in the future. He mentioned that when he came to Cardiff, in the year 1852, there were only 19 solicitor here, with a population something under 19,000. There were now, he believed, about 100 solicitors, and the population 100,000, so that it would appear that the ratio was about 1 to every 1,000. Of the 19 solicitors who were here on his arrival he regretted to say only two remained. He referrr-d to the ra forms that had taken place in the bankruptcy proceedings and Chaocery suit.and turning tothe future prospects of the profession, said although they had been deprived by recent legislation of a large amount of business which formerly was a source of much work and profit, he could not see any cause of apprehension that they should be left with the "unemployed." The solicitor must still be the adviser and guide in the tangled affairs of human life, ro far as property and the endless ar- rangements between man and man were concerned. Speaking of the training of law students, lie said if the general public were, by school boards and higher education, to be educated to their present standard, the profession to which they belonged should keep pace with the times and be something more than mere lawyers if their social influence was to be maintained. Students intended for the legal profession had in the Welsh University at their doors the opportunity 01 acquiring a high standard of knowledge, and it might be arranged that the Testamur of this and other local seats of learning should have the same force as that of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, or London. The president then referred to some measures of recent legislation, and having dealt with the question of increased facilities for the transfer of land, proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court, and a recent decision by Mr Justice Kay affecting trustees, went on to sayThisbringsmetoanotherand very important matter to all of us. In this rapidly increasing town there is some doubt if the large number of houses lately built and now in course of erection will not prove more than sufficient for the popula- tion. In this case bouses will be tenantless, or so reduced in value that they are no longer safe tie- curities for the two-thirds of their value which we are asked to advance on them. It is in my recollection that more than once such a calamity has happened to Cardiff, and on one of those occasions I know that small houses now valued at JB130 to L150 each have been disposed of by despairing mortagees, who were not content to wait for better times,for one-third of that amount. In conclusion, the speaker alluded in sympathetic terms to the loss they had sustained in the death of the late stipendiary, Mr R. O. Jones. The address was attentively listened to, and at its close, on the motion of Mr Spencer, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the President; and a similar compliment was also paid to Mr Hill for his services as hon. sec. The meeting then ended.

RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION I FOR CARDIFF. A meeting was held in the Crown Court at the Town-hall, Cardiff, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of forming what was described in the advertisement as a non-political ratepayers' association. Mr Henry-Jones, ex-town councillor, presided over an audience which was very small at the outset, but considerably increased as the proceedings progressed. The CHAIBMAN criticised the government of Cardiff in the past, and coming to more recent times, condemned the action of the Taff Vale Railway Company in levymg the Grangetown toll. At the same time, be said that the corpora- tion were as much to blame in the matter as the company for allowing the latter to acquire the power to levy the toll. Alluding to what be described as the Wells' Charity scandal, he said, it was no use to cry over spilt milk, but they could profit in the future by their experiences in the past. It was for those present at that meeting to say whether or uot there should be established a society to hold up a finger of warning to those men in the town council who supported jobbery, extravagance, and bad administration. Mr W. H. HARRIS, on being called upon, alluded to a former meeting which had been held on this subject, but said it had now been decided to begin de novo, as the first meeting had been suspected of bearing a political character. The object of the society, which it was proposed to form would be to watch over the interests of the ratepayers in a strictly impartial manner, and to do in its corporate capacity what individual effort failed to accomplish. In the course of criticising the expenditure pf the Town Council, he complained that the water engineer, instead of being paid as formerly, 2400or JB500 a year by the corporation, had been given four per cent. on the amount of the contracts, thus enabling him to make about £ 10,000. This was equal to giving him jS500 a year in perpetuity, and he strongly condemned such a proceeding. Passing from the Town Council to the School Board, he said that the higher grade school was never contemplated by the Elementary Education Act, and he denied that it was self-supporting. In. conclusion he moved:— That this meeting recognises the desirability of form- ing* ratepayers' association for Cardiff, which shall be non-political in its character, and desires tbat steps be immediately taken for its formation. Mr JOHN ANDREWS secouded the resolution. Mr PHILLIPS complained that there were very few Liberals present, but a large number of Conservatives and said that he should move, as an amendment, that there be two ratepayers" associations, each of a different political party. He made the amendment because there was no chance of a ratepayers' association in such a town as Cardiff, unless the members were of one par- ticular political colour. (Laughter.) The amendment was not seconded. The resolution was put to the meeting, and adopted unanimously. Mr TTLKE moved the adoption of rules for the government of the association. In the course of doing so be alluded to the proposal to make new bridges and roads at Grangetown, and s..id he thought that the expenditure upon these works might be obviated. They would cost, be under- stood, about £ 60,000. Councillor MIL DON combated the latter asser- tion, and another speaker said that if the Rate- payers' Association were going against the new Grangetown bridge, the association would not be of much service. The CHAIBMAN replied that the association was not to be formed to oppose the new Grangetown bridges. Upon this subject he sympathised with the last speaker. The proposition was duly seconded and adopted, after which a committee and officers were appointed, and the proceedings shortly afterwards terminated.

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HER FIRST ENGAGE- M ENT. A very pretty gray team and a rather old- fashioned basket phaeton stood in front of a large, cream-brick house on Clifton-avenue, one Tuesday morning late in June. The air and sunshine and sky were perfect. A most tempting morning for a drive. The owner of the turnout, Colonel Baker, was within the mansion soliciting Miss Hazel Trait's company for a drive. The young lady had not the slightest ojection to going with him. He was an old friend of her father's, an amusing story- teller and very fond of his horses. He was called Colonel," not from any connection with mili- tary life, but it was a title received in his early boyhood days and it had clung to him as nick- names and title,, of this sort ofteu do. As for Miss Hazel, she was an unspoiled child of lo, with a niervy iaugh, bright, brown eyes and hair that" huzz!ed" about her face, cheeks where the colour came and went like the rose flush in an evening sky. She bad no extraordin- ary talents and gave promise of none, except the talent ot being charmingly girlish and exceed- ingly feminine in all her tastes. She was-at that happy stage of young life-just beginning to have "aumircva." Her dear friend, Effie Lmgstreet, had said at parting the week bet ore on graduat- ing day: "Now, de.r, at the first symptom of an engagement you write me, and I'll do th* ;;ame to you; and be sure and accept your first offer. It always brings good hick in the end, and even if it isn't just what you desire, you know it is al- ways easy to break au engagement." With this s\«ge ad vice reposing in her miad Hazei kept hei eyes opeu to the possible advent of a lover, though she felt very shy, and in fact dreaded a proposal outside ot tier own dreams. The Colonel she did not regard in the light of an admirer. He was older than her father, and had been married twice already, which ought to be enough for any sane man, she thought. Presently they came out of the house and he helped her into the carriage. Very lovely she looked in a pale ecru dress, and a hat to match with a ilamiug bunch of poppies low down on one side. "Which way shall via go" he said, as he took up the rein*. "Oh I don't care—anywhere so that we can go fast-you know I don't like to poke aloug." This sly maiden well knew that the Colonel always liked to drive fast. She gave him a quick glance aud a little laugh. Yes, well, have you been out to the park I.ttety? oSuppose we go out then there is plenty of room and good roads," he added. Very well. That will be delightful and say, when the horses are going real nice won't you let me drive just a little? I think I am a good driver," with another upward glance, and with you here, Colonel, there could be no possible danger." So they went spinning along unfrequented drives and lovely shady places. The Colonel prided himself oil the rapid, even go.it of his favourites. Hazel iiad her wish to drive granted, She pressed her little toot against the rod and held the reins until her arms were "all tired out." Then the Colonel took them again and turned the horses toward Clifton avenue, Hazal chatting away about her friend Effie, and the lovely time she would have when sue would visit her next month. 0,1 the way down the avenue they met Dr. Wliitbsck, driving slowly, and bent over in his seat, meditatively eyeing the dashboard, as if profoundly considering some scientific theory or studying the latest" Lreatment of a case." The moment he looked up and saw them, he grasped his whip. The horse gave a start, which nearjy threw the Doctor over backward, and went furiously up the street. D that Colonel!" he muttered under his breath. What business has he to be driving her out so much?' Then with a grim smile and a long-drawn breath, I'ts none of my business, though, none whatever, if. she rides to the end of the earth with him." This young man had met Hazel the summer before while visiting a school friend. He was proud, poor, reserved and ambitious—a self-made man—but uncomfortable in society. He lacked the ease and polish that many an unworthy, weak man possesses, who is brought up in the habits of rctined society. He felt this tack keenly —overestimated his barbarism "-as he called his unpolished style. It was a singular fact that in the sick-room he never felt any of these sensations, but was self- posswssed, calm, masterful. Many ladies who considered Dr. Whitbeck dull and disagreeable on a first introduction, modified their ideas at once on seeing his tenderness and skill with a patient. Hazel first saw him, by accident, binding up the broken leg of a dog one day when she was out for a walk in the country. His goodness to this little stray creature touched :ber heart, and his manly form and open face beaming intelligence and kindness as be arose from bis cramped posi- tion on the ground impressed her strongly. She went up to him like a child, without embarrass- ment or hesitation, and spoke of what he had been doing. It followed in the conversation that he knew her friends with whom she was stopping, and walked home with her. They were introduced, though, as Hazel said, "it was entirely super- fluous after such an extensive acquaintance. Al- most every day during the remainder of the summer they were companions, ridiug, walking, fishing, sailing. Dr. Whitbeck was more at his ease in the ouen air. His scientific knowledge often came into use, and he grew to be a sort of hero—a skilled hero in her eyes she thoughe there was nothing he did uot know and could not do. To him, this child-woman grew more charming every day. Her innocence and open admiration for him was quite too much for his reserve, which melted completely away in the sunshine of her presence. She was such a lovable little maiden, with her merry laugh and ready sympathy. He did not realize how he bad opened his heart to her and the strength of his passion until it was too late. When he did see his dange with strange fatuity he said to himself: "She does not know it. I'll make no resistance now, but go on and be happy in the present, as I shall probably never again know happiness in my life." So they had parted without one word of love being spoken. The following winter Dr. Whitbeck bad com- menced practicing in the same city where Hazel lived. She met him occasionally and invited him to call, but he was always busy aud a strange coolness grew up between them. He actually seemed to avoid her. She thought with a wo- man's sensitiveriesss that she had beeu silly and foolish, and lie regarded her as too trifling a piece of humanity to be worthy of his least atten- tion, so with equal coolness she studiously avoided him. The summer days slipped away, she and the Colonel enjoying many a drive in Sylvan Park. She paid a visit to Effie and came home looking prettier, if possible, than ever. With her thoroughly hopeful disposition and perfect health she seemed to radiate happiness. Autumn came and early winter, still she had received proposals—not one. Her young gentle- man frieuds did not find it easy to make ad- vances with her in spite of her frankness and seeming pleasure in their society. The only person who really enjoyed her confidence was the Colonel, whom she regarded as a sort of father- confessor. However, the fatal day came at last. She and the Colonel had been out for one of their numer- ous drives. They had been unusually merry, the Colonel behaving much lib young boy. On bringing her home, he came in ostensibly to "get warm." Standing with his back to the tire and his hand folded behind him, and his feet wide apart, be regarded Hazel in an abstracted way as she threw off her wraps, dropping her cloak on a chair, her bat on a sofa, dragging a scarf over a stand and leaving a mittten on the floor. Suddenly bringing his heels together with a click and raising himself up on his toes and letting himself down again he said: Come here, child, I want to tell you some- thing." Hazel came over to where he was standing, and, dropping into a chair, looked'up with ex- pectation in her eyes. The Colonel took a. step, wheeled around facing her, and said in a deprecating way, I don't know how to tell you. I am not an elo- quent man—not much of a man anyway-but I- 1 love you, have loved you since you were a wee child. Perhaps—I suppose I do seem old to you, but I feel younger than I did al; twenty. I do so long to devote the remainder of my life to you, darling could you ? Do you think you could be my wife ?' Hazel, at first dumbfounded, and feeling a strong inclination to laugh and cry botb, tried in vain to collect her wits. Her first offer And Col. Baker, with his queer ways and bald head, standing there with that ridiculous quaver in his voice! It was too much "No,"she cried, springing up. How, could you ever think I would consent to such a thing?" Then a sense of all his goodness and worth-it t mingled a feeling of pity at his distress-came I over her, and clasping the palms of her hands together, she said brokenly Oh 1 you are so good. I like you. I am aeery sorry, but I am sure—no—I don t think I could make you happy." My dear child," be said, with sudden cour- age, taking her clasped hands in fab, is there anyone whom you Clue more for 1 of No, oh, no!" she said, blushing and then sud. denly paling. I There is no one." Then let me have an opportunity to win your ]Qve. I can't give you up, dear. The thought of you has entered so entirely into my life that I cannot go away without a little hope. You do not hate nee, little one?" No, no she said, in distress, but I—" Never mind, don't try to explain yourself or your feeliars. Let everything be just as it always has Remember that 1 love you and let me come and see you often." Pressing two fer- vent kisses on her hands, he shot out of the door and was off before Hazel bad time to turn around. She gathered up her things and went straight to her room. Then she threw herself into a large wicker chair and began rocking herself violently and screaming with laughter. This was succeeded by fits of crying, and again more laughter and tears, until exhausted she dropped asleep in her chair with her head resting on the broad arm. When awakened late in the day by her cramped position and a raging headache, she was too miserable to think, or offer any resistance, when her sister insisted on putting her to bed. It was so unusual for her to be ill. In the days that followed Hazel was alternately merry and sad, very talkative or absolutely sitent for hours together. She ate little and seemed rest- less and nervous in the .house, would start when- ever the door bell rang, and if it happened to be Colonel Baker she always tried to escape to her room, and was invariabiy "engaged," or "not at home." She spent much time out of door?, taking long walks even on severely cold days. Her face grew pinched and lost its colour. How long this state of affairs would have con- tinued it is impossible to say. But for the inter- vention of an accident, the Colonel's efforts to win her love would probably have never ceased to this day. Hazel was coming up the street one day "from the post-office. There had been a storm of sleet and snow rha day before and the walks were treacherously slippery. She was looking over her letters^ when suddenly, right ou a crossing, her foot slipped. There was a horse coming around the corner. She never knew just what happened she struck something and felt herself be;ng lifted, while well-known voice said, "My God I have killed her! Oh, my darling! My darling!" Then all all sensation vanished. Some time later, when consciousness returned, she found herself in bed with a frightened, tearful group around her and Dr Whitbeck calmlv pour- ing something down her throat. He bad just put her displaced shoulder in order, and she felt a terrible dizziness in her head. Theu he ordered everybody out of the room aud lowered a window, saying she must have more air. He wrote out his prescriptions and was ready to leave. He stepped to the side of the bed. Hazel's eye were closed, but the tears were running down her temples. He set his teeth together, but it was no use. Forgive me he said, in a tone of agonized entreaty. 4i Oil, God I might have killed you." Hazel opened her eyes very wide. She gave him a look which said plainly; "I love you," and with a faint smile closed her eyes again. In a moment he wLLs on his krees beside the bed, and, quivering .with long repressed passion, he exclaimed "Hxzel, H;<ze!, my darling Do you love me? Do you? Tell me, love! Oh!" lie went on, I never meant to tel! you this not until I bad something more to offer than an empty hand but I love you with all the strength of my being. Do you forgive me?'' She smiled again and said, Ci There is nothing to forgive, dear." Theu he bent over and kissed her again, oh, so fondly. "Tell me, dearesr, that you will be mine some day. I must hear you say it.* Oh," she answered with a little sigh of happi ness, I am entirely yours." There is little more to tell. Her recovery was rapid, with a physician and lover in one. The Colonel found out his mistake. But at the wedding Hazel whispered to her first bridesmaid, Effie, that she thought tirst proposals lucky. The Colonel had sent her a lovely diamond bracelet for a wedding present.

ALLEGED FRAUDS ON A FRIENDLY SOCIETY. An Agent Sent for Trial at Swansea. At the Swansea police-court, on Thursday— before Mr J. C. Fowler (stipendiary)—Thomas K. Lukey, Convent-street, recently an agent of the Union Friendly Society, was charged with withholding £ 1 Is 4d and Rom3 hooks on the 29ch ult., tti(I also with obtaining, by false pretences, the sum of 910, on the 22nd November last.. Mr Robinson Smith prosecuted, and Mr S. T. Evans, of Neath, defended.—Abraham Hunt, the general inspector of the Union Friendly Society, said owing to suspicions which were aroused in his mind he visited defendant at Swansea, and re- quested him to take him (witness) to the houses of his proposers, etc. They first went to Daniel Thornes, of Bryn Melin-street, Swansea. The proposal produced was the one be had at the time, and it _rau;—"Having instituted all neces-sary inquiries respecting the health of the above persons, and personally seeing them, 1" am of opinion that they may be safely insured." On inquiry it transpired that no such person lived at the place mentioned in the proposal. A similar result followed inquiries after the residences of John Harris and Edward Thomas. Witness told Lukey that the business was bad, and that he bad been doing wronsr. He asked if there was any more of that kind of business, and, after some hesitation, he gave evidence of more fictitious business. On Dec. 30th defendant wrote to the complainant stating, I expect you know all about what I have done. It is a sad mistake on my part. I was really driven to it by circumstances and fainily affairs. I hope you will look over it this time. I promise it will never hanpen aeain." Defendant was dismissed on December 30th, and two days later witness received notice of the transfer of tho whole of the business, except 3d on the special and 2s on the ordinary business per week, the effect of which was that the society obtained no policies during defendant's appointment except fictitious ones. The transfer was to the London, Edin- burgh, and Glasgow Society.-In cross-examina- tion witness- said that before defendant wos en- gaged by the Union Society he was an nent of the London, Ediuburgb, and Glasgow Society. He told defendant, when he was first appointed, to get ali the business he could from the London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow Society, because he meant to be a thorn in the side of that company as long as it lived.—The Chairma.n: That is a most unchristian sentiment. (Hear.)—Witness proceeded to deny that the letter already read was written to the company at his suggestion. He also denied that the reason defendant left was because the company refused to pay a policy the reason of the dismissal was because of his fictitious business. There was more fictitious business than the de- fendant bad acknowledged. The reason defendant was kept on a month after the discovery of the fictitious business was that they wanted to ascertain the whole of it. His opinion was that the defendant had confederates in the Swansea Royal. By the rules, the agents of the company were liable for three-fourths of, the money obtained, but no repayment was allowed with regard to fictitious business.—Sidney Wilks, an agent of the Union Society, having given evi dence as to the result of investigations be had made in Swansea, Mr Smith said he should probably formulate another chargo against de- fendant, in which three persons were represented as creating policies into existence which were in reality never properly created.—Defendant, on being charged, and, with regard to the fictitious business, he spoke to Mr Hunt, who requested him to make a clean breast of all the fictitious business. They went over the books together, and afterwards Hunt said, "I wish to advise you straight and for the best. All this busineea is easily covered if you put a stop to it now. Put in, say, 6d, 9d, or Is a week, and then a down' of Is—which would be 10s—would soon clear the amount turned over on the fictitious and bad business. You had better write to Mr Parker to-morrow. He will have the letter on Wed- nesday morning. I shall be there on the same morning and exp'ain everything to him." Defen- dant added that be accordingly wrote, and had received no reply. He promised to pay back tho money, and Hunt said, "Tfiafcwi/I be all right." Defendant was committed for trial, bail being accepted.

4-1-L- A TITLED RAILWAY STOKER. On the Great Northern Railway at Peter- borough is employed as stoker on one of the locomotives the son of a noble lord in the North of England, who is working under an ordinary driver, takes his turn, gets begrimed, and is dressed when on the engine as an ordinary occupant of that position. He has been through the fitting and smithing shops, aud is reported to be qualifyi himself for a position of some importance in India. Also employed on the same rtiilway is the nephew of a titled tem- perance reformer.

NOXICK TO SROMEKPEKS, PRIVATE PERSONS, and others having Surplus Stocks to part with.r-Mit- linery, Hosiery, Drapery, Jewellery, Cutlery, Boots, Shoes, Books, Furniture, Old China. Oil Paintings, Harness, Carriages, Ac., bought to any amount. Terms i-asb.— J. T. Edes, Auction Mart, Newport Bridge. Newport, 29

REMARKABLE LETTERS OF A I SUICIDE. An iuquest was held at Witcombe on Wednes- day afternoon, before Mr E. W, Coren, on tho body of Job Sadler (35), who was found in the Witcombe reservoir on Monday morning. Isaac Chandler, a farmer, living at Wiust.oue, (J-iouccf- tershire, said deceased was his brother-in-la w, aud was a traveller for Mr Coombes, a brewer, of Cheltenham. Other evidence showed that de- ceased's clothes were found on the bank of the reservoir, and that his dead body was seen in the water and brought to bank. Two letters found- on the body were read by the coroner. The first was as follows. Gloucester, January 5.—My darling wife, Ellen Mary,—I have been praying to God to take my life for some time, and as He has not done so, the devil has at last tempted me to take it myself. On dear woman, my feelings are worse than awful this morning. For- ive me. Good-bye. Wish my littlo children goo '-bye, with a kiss from their kind father. Be good to them, and when you have another husband, f pray earnestly that he will love them. Good-bye to all here on earth. —\ our affectionate husband. JOB SADLER. P.S.—Suicide is a hard thing to undertake. J.S. The other letter was addressed to his parents, and was as follows:— To my Dear Parents :-Forgive me for the frightful act that I am now about to carry out. It my body is found, and if the jury does not br n™ in a verdiec of .Ielo de ae, I should like to be hllned in Charlton, or Leckanipton, or Shuvdingtou Churchyards. Give my lovo to brothers and sisters, aud ao'epc, dear father and mother, the same. Hoping you msiv vet live for some years, your fond son, JOB SADLER, —William Hopkins, au agricultural engineer, of Cricklade, said deceased married his sister, who left him at the wish of her friends. He had been in prison for some time for robbing his employer at Tawkesbury, during which time the wife and children were supported by the two families. The rest of witness's evidence was as to the relations existing between deceased, his wife, and their respective fam;llies.-The jury found that de- ceased destroyed himself by drowning, but there was not sufficient evidence to show whether he was of sound or unsound mind at tho time.

THE FULHAM TRAGEDY. Trial and Sentence. I At tbo Central Criminal Court on Thursday, Edward Doyle, 40, was indicted for the man- slaughter of his wife, Eliza Doyle, by kicking and other acts of brutality to her. Mr Poland and Mr Charles Mathews prosecuted, and the prisoner was defended by Mr Keith Frith. The facts of the case were of a shocking character. The prisoner and his wife occupied a lodging in a small house in the neighbourhood of the Clapham road, and on the 13th of November the prisoner appeared to have come home drunk. He quarrelled with the deceased and struck and kicked her. The landlady of the house interfered, and prevented auy further violence from being committed at this time, but subsequently the quarrel ap- peared to have been renewed, and the sounds of a violent struggle and scuffle were heard in the room occupied by the prisoner and the deceased. The unhappy woman was discovered by the police in a terrible condition. Four of her ribs were broken, the sight of one eye was entirely destroyed, and there were marks upon the back of her body, showing that she had been burned- either by some instrument or by her clothes having been set on fire. Accord- ing to the medical evidence, the greater part of the injuries were the result of kicks, and one of the burns that appeared on the body of the deceased had, probably, been inflicted Vy some instrument such as a poker, or a soldering iron.—-The prisoner was found guilty, and sen- tenced to 15 years* penal servitude.

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I FACTS AND FANCIES. The difference between a Dumb Man and a Policeman.-ODO is never seen, the other never heard. Parallel Existences.—A secret, like an oyster, cannot be kept too close, for the moment it is opened it ceases to exist. A custom with P. T. Barnum is to advise every mau who has a wife to give her a signed temper- ance pledge as a New Year's gift. A woman will lug a pet dog around the streets all day in her arms, and yet feel keenly the dis- grace of being seen carrying her own baby. The female mind is past finding out. A rheumatic, who could scarcely hobble about, managed to slip out of bed, dress himself, and get down several flights of stairs, all in about two minutes, the other morning, in Edge-lane, because somebody had iried Fire I've been on the road ten years," said the con- ductor on a iratucar to a passenger who com- plained of the siuw time, ".an' I kuow what I'm talking abour. Ten years, eh ? said the passeuger. What station did you get on at A Base Deception.—Mike (a shaky creditor) :— Shure, didn't ye gil; my tiligrain last Friday, ordtberiu'tin baris uv unyuu z. Pat: Faith, lik, I difi; bus share wbm I saw by the wroitm' thai, it wasn't, yersilt ch.;t -int it at all, at ali, I gi- t trated it as a forgery aud ignored it ini.oiru.-y. THE LARGEST SHIP.—The largest wooden ship ever built was that constructed for Hiero, King of Syracuse, under the direction of Archimedes. We are told that Ptolemy Puilopater had a ship 280 cubits (420fr.) long, 38 broad, and 48 high. It carried 4,000 rowers, 400 sailors, anu 3 000soldiers. That whicii the same prince m-de to sail on the Niie was 312ft. long, 45tt. broad, with mast 120ct. high. Yet these were nothiug in compari- son with Hiero's ship, on the structure of which Moschion, as we are told by tinellius, wrote a whole volume. There was wood enougu employed in It to make sixty galleys. It had all the varIety of apartments as a. palace-banqueting rooms, galleries, gardens, fishponds, stableo, mills, baths, &c. It Was encompassed wita an iron rampart and eight towers, with walls and bulwark,, furnished with machines of war, particularly one, which threw a stone of 3001bs., or a dart twelve cubits long the space of half a mile. This enormous pile was fastened together with long nails of copper, which weighed each 101b and upwards. Though the held was exuemely deep, one man sufficed to keep it clear of water by means of a machine now called the Archimedian screw. An Athenian poet made au epigram on this superb vessel, for which he was weil paid. Hitiro sent him 6,000 bushels of corn as a reward. Hiero, findilig tnere was no p >rt of Sicily capable of containing this vessel in safety, resolved to make a present of it to King Ptolemy, and sent it to Alexandria. A LEG EN D. The monk was prcaciiing: strong Lis earnest word, From the abundance of his heart lie And the flame spread—in every soul that heard Sorrow and love and good resolve awoke:- Tne poor lay brother, gnorant and old, Thanked God that he had heard such words of gold. Still let the glory, Lord, be Thine alone, So prayed the monk, his heart absorbed in praise: "Thine be the giory: if my bands have sown The harvest r:peued in thy mercy's rays, It was thy blessing, Lord, tha.t made my word Bring light and love to every soul that heard, "0 Lord, I thank Tuee that my feeble strength Has been so blest; that sinful hearts and cold Were melted at my pleading-know at length How sweet Thy service and how safo Thy fold, While souls that loved Thee saw before them rise Still holier heights of loving sficritice." So prayed the monk when suddenly be heard An angel speaking thus: Know, Omy son, Thy words had all been vain, but hearts were stirred, And saints were edifiod, and sinners won, By his, the poor lay-brother's humble aid, Who sat upon the pulpit stair and prayed." ADELAIDE ANNE PKOCTOK,

A SIGNIFICANT ORDER. [SECTEK'S TELEGRAM.] STRASBURG, Thursday.—The Alsace Gazette to- day publishes an extract from an order issued by the Provincial Government of Alsace-Lorraine, providing that no French military men, whether belonging to the active army, the reserve, or the tectorial army, shall make any stay in Alsace- Lorraine, except in virtue of a. permit from the local authority or the director of police. Such permit is to bo granted only in the case of persons having to transact fainiiy affairs or busi- ness connected with property.

THE PACIFICATION OF BURMAH. [BELTER'S TELEGRAM.] MANiMCAT, Thursday.— Reports received at bead-quarters from the brigadier-generals state that organised resistance to the British forces is ceasing. The brigades geueraJly are being broken up into numerous columns, and are scouring the districts, compell- ing the villagers to deliver up 20 muskets for every 100 houses, deserters not being permitted to return home until this order has been complied with. General Cox s brigade is assembling rear Katha, whence the troops will march by different routes to Woontho, in order to compel the Woontho Isawbwa to surrender.

SINGULAR DEATH OF A SER- VANT GIRL Information as to the strange death of a servant girl named Mary Ann orris, aged about 21, has been forwarded to Dr. Diplock, the West Middlesex coroncr. The deceased was in the service of a family at Shortlands, Kent. A fow (iay., tigo her mistress wrote to the girl's mother atFeltham stating that tier (i-ttigitter was iii, but that a doctor who had been called said she was shamming. The mother of the deceased, who lives in Feltham- lane, Feltham, found her daughter very ill, aud with several cruises on her body. Th& gin was at once brought homo and seen by Mr Lundy, surgeon, but she remained unconscious, and died on Tuesday night.

X80,000 DAMAGES CLAIMED FOR LIBEL. ,i In the Queen's Bench Division, on Thursday, the Attorney-General obtained an order for aa extension of time for the return of a commission issued to take evidence in Chili in respect to an ction tor libel, in which damages are laid at £ 80,000. The plaintiff is a Mr John Proctor, and the defûndants are, 2niongst others, Mr Cecil Raikes, M.P., Sir Henry Tyler, M.P., and Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, M.P., who, in their capacity of members of the Peruvian Bond- holders' Committee, issued a circular in which miscourluct was imputed to the plaintiff in the conduct of certain transactions in Chili.

INHUMANITY OF A WIFE. At an inquest on Thursday, at Sedgley, respect- ing the death of Isaac Hughes, labourer, in the employ of the sanitary authority, it was shown that the deceased was found dead on Wednesday morning on his bedroom floor. Deceased had complained of being unwell, but his wife neglected to procure medical aid or clothing to cover him when asleep. Although the deceased bad good employment, his home was destitute of furniture.—A verdict was returned of Death from exposure," and the wife was severely censured by the coroner.

CAPTAIN AND MATE SUSPENDED. A Board of Trade inquiry was held on Thurs. day, at Shields, into the loss of the Scarborough steamer Lockton, resulted in the captain's certifi- cate being suspended for three months, and the second mate's for six months, for want of seaman like care.

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Alarming Gun Accident at Swansea. I MR GRAHAM VIVIAN SHOT. I While Mr Graham Vivian, brother of Si'I Hussey Vivian, and a party of friends were out I shooting on Thursday, at Singleton, a gun acei*! dent occurred—how has Dot leaked out-and tbll contents of a gun were lodged, at apparently i close quarters, in the legs of Mr Graham Viviafl and a keeper named James.' Both at on<* i drove in a trap to Swansea, and on arriving at i Dr. David Arthur Davies's house, were examined by him. He found the injuries were not of serious naturp. The shots had lodged in the legs of both Mr Vivian and the keeper, the locality of Mr Vivian's injuries being the knee. Several shots were extracted, but others had one toO deeply into the flesh to render removal possible" No fears of serious resu Is are entertained, and both, apparently none the worse, drove backW Singleton.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT I SWANSEA. O i Thursday evening, while a woman named; Margaret Scott, age'1 50, au onion vendor, wa" sitting near a tire-piace iu her house in Baptist* well-court, Swansea, with her errand child, aedl four years, a bucket of boiling tar—placed un thai- fire preparatory Co beinsr usea to decorate the hobj of the -rate-upset, and fell over them. Thsi upper ot their bodies were cnlUpletei11 coveted, and some of the surroundiug furnitur*! caught tire. Both the woman and the child wer*l at once conveyed to the hospital, but Mrs Scot* is suffering such agonies that her life il despaired of. despaired of.

I MR GLADSTONE'S HEALTH. I Mr W. If. Gladstone, at the Hawarden roil$ audit ou Thursday night, said bis father's genera' health was better now than it had been for a loot time. There was a need of it, for the great and arduous enterprise on which he was engaged wa* perhaps the most arduous of any iin.lertakeu & his long political career. Twelve month* ago few foresaw they would now b* face to face with such a programme at the Constitutional Government of Ireland- The past year had seen defection of old frieud* and tried Liberals on which it was painful tO dwell, but at no time had the confidence of tbØ great bulk of the Liberal party in the countrf been more strikingly manifested. Toe coO' erratulations tendered to his father on his birtbdaf bad deeply touched him, whilst the scenes hs (the speaker) witnessed in the summer, in tbO capacity of secretary to his father, would froto first to last remain engraven on his memory an • generous and unparalleled tribute of the peopl' to a man whose character they admired, and. whose endeavours to supply a, radical cure to tØI evils of Ireland they appreciated.

LIBERAL LECTURES AT CARDIFF. Mr Howes on the Liberal Programme. i Program me.. On Thursday evening Mr Howes delivered to* fourth of his series of lectures in Cardiff at tho schoolroom of tha Congregational Chapelf Richmond-road, on The Future Work of tW Liberal Party." Councillor Peter Price occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. Mr Howes, who was most cordially receivedf dealt atsome length on the varijus questions wkid' merited the attention of the Liberal party in t&? future. Amongst the first was that of loc government. At present the control of county affairs was in the 4iands of magistrates, although not elected by the ratepayers, were sti'' entrusted with the power of spending the payers' money. He strongly objected to sJ* ex-oflicio members. (Cheers.) The lecturer also touched upon disestablishment, the reform of tbf land laws, of the House of Lords, and of expend' tnre and the pension list, and of the desirability of leaving the question of peace and war in tW t hands of Parliament. On sitting down h* w** enthusiastically applauded.-A vote of thanks f the lecturer, proposed by Councillor Rees, J similar one to the chairmaD, and three cheers Mr Howes, concluded the proceedings.

SHIPPING DISASTERS. J A VESSEL ASHOKE NEAR LLANTWII, IAJOR. 1 Ou Thursday a vessel was discovered to come ashore iu the neighbourhood of LlantfJ* Majur. On the tide receding, she was fuund to P a schooner called the Alice Pisher, having board a cargo of potatoes, but whitber boutl there were no means of ascertaining, inasmuch the vessel was totally deserted. It is surinis that her crew took to the boats and abandon her on seeing that she was driving on to tW 8 CDast. A party of salvors from Abertbaw ba "I ot taken possession of the craft, and were ia hopes getting her afloat during the niglit. NUMEROUS CASUALTIES AT | LIVERPOOL. J A dense fog on the Mersey onJThursday iuor|j ing caused the sinking of the Norwegian barfl1' Nordens Dronning, timber laden, which was v^jj into by the Glasgow steamer Fire Queen. TJ crew of the barque were rescued. Later on schooner Ellen Merrett, for Aberdeen, collid*: with the Guoin Mail steamer Arizona, and The Arizona rescued the schooner's crew. T/J steamer St. Fillans, from Liverpool to Cardiff collided with the outward bound steamer Br*, amc, for New York. The former had plates benr, but the latter sustained little injtfW and proceeded. A CARDIFF-LADEN STEAMER J ABANDONED. I A Lloyd's telegram from Baltimore states tbK the Lake Superior, from New York, has arri**j off Holyhead with the crew of the abandoO^jj steamer Celtic Monarch, wiiich left Cardiff the 2nd January for Philadelphia. the 2nd January for Philadelphia.

CLIPPINGS FROM "LIFE." I am informed, on the best authority, that great divorce case," the now one to which *0 I Daily News alluded last week iu a leader p«^ graph, lias been settled by the intervention fi, peacemaking distinguished personage. There'* never any real causvi for the action..y The real reason of Lord Randolph Church"* resignation has not yet beer, made publicly lcnQ\f When it is, as may be the case shortly, it probably give the present year as big a soc, i sensation as any of its predecessors. That is mucii as I care to say at present. j Lord and Lady Wimboine have been taining the Duchess of Marlborough, Lady Spencer-Churchill, Mr and Lady Theodora GnjSj aud a family p;irty at Canrord Manor. damage done by the fire which oocurfed )H C'' ford two years ago has taken a 1]1 time to repair, and it is only recently til the house has resumed its wonted appeal-ail's The grand staircase, the feature of the residence, which was entirely destroyed, been replaced with as nearly as possible j fai-simile of the original. Another grand oi-91 has also been built, but the beautiful collection Worcester chiiia-.said to have been the best u England—which perished in the flames at same time, it has, of course, been impossible replace. The application of the Marchioness of QaeWj berry to the Court of Session for a divorce not excite snrpriseamongst thoseat all acquaint with the history of her married life. Indeedf rupture of this kind has been expected for so1. time. Lord Queensberry, who j" 43, has 10 been regarded as eccentric. The first time I the Marquis of Queensberry was at Royal Hotel, Portree, where there was, j mixed company dining. One gentleman sittl opposite to me was inveighing against jJ eccentrioities of Lady Florence Dixie, '/1 was then getting talked about. He decla that there was madness in the family, was then getting talked about. He decla'j that there was madness in the family, appealed to hi^ immediate neighbour—a si'6.* man—who was sitting near tho end of the ta^ as to whether tbis was not the fact. "Sir, the unknown gentleman, rising with digt»'S "T,a(iy Florence is my sister." It was •« Marquis of Queensberry. The garrulous geI,j5 man, of course, collapsed. Afterwards I thrown a good deal into the Marquis of Quee" > berry's company, and found him, apart from subject of religion, or atheism, if you like, a v, accomplished and interesting conversationall He is a good musician, and sings well. Printed nnd Fubiished by the Propriet DAVID DUNCAN A SONS at their Steam Prin Works, 75 aud 76 St Mary-street, and %Vestg"to.st in the town of Cardiff, hi tbt; county of Glsmorfi**