The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

MAENTWEOG. I ITAENiTWr?0G. I ONE EFFECT OF THE LATE THAW.—One day last week a fruiterer from Tremadoc, named Charles Jackson, and who regularly attends Festiniog market, was returning ¡ home, the night being very dark. He safely arrived at i the bottom of the Festiniog hill, nevir Talybont, with [ his horse and cart (ho was riding), when the horse and cart dashed against an enormous stone, which had fallen from the side of the hill close by right into the middle of the road. The horse was seriously injured, so much so as to be rendered useless the cart was smashed to pieces, and a good deal of the fruit was scattered upon the road and spoiled. Luckily, howeve^ Jacksen and another party «c:q od without, much injury—thanks to their good fortune. The stone in question had been considered dangerous for some time past, but it was al- lowed to remain until the evening alluded to, when it was loosened by the tlmy, and fell into tho road. It was se- veral tons in weight.

In this department as a full and free expression of opivion Is accorded to correspondents, the Editor wishes it to be dis- tinctly understood, that he holds himself responsible for none. All letters should be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.]

A GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR WALES. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,-Will you permit me to say a few words on tile above subject through the medium of your valuable columns. The subject is now under discussion in one of the most influential Welsh papers, the Baner and Amserau Cymru; and I hope that a most important step will soon be taken towards forming the same. But as the greater number, by far, of Welsh mines and quarries belong to English proprietors, and as your paper cir- culates among all classes, your kindness in publishing a few remarks may possibly be of great importance. No one surely can doubt for a moment the utility of such an institution for Wales; and the only wonder to many, like myself, must be-how the Principality, with all its wonderful display of geological phenomena and mineral wealth, should be so long without one. Wales is an immense mineralic country: I doubt whether there is under the sun a country of so small an area, that contains so much mineral wealth. South Wales can take pride in its valuable reservoirs of iron, coal, lime- stone, and lead; and the North, while comparatively destitute of them, can easily be contented with its splendid veins of copper, lead, mundic, silver, gold, and slates in abundance—of which last-named the quarries of Col. Pennant and Assheton Smith in Carnarvonshire present the noblest specimens in the whole world, as they employ little less than 3000 men each, and realise a princely income for their respective proprietors. There are also three slate quarries opening near Llwyn- gwril, of which one belongs to Dr. George Alfred I Walker—the well-known agitator of intramural bury- ings, and talented author of the Grave-yards of Lon- don"—that can hardly fail, in course of time, to become very extensive and profitable quarries. Now, with all these advantages, is it not natural to enquire-can we not, ought we not, and why have we not a flourishing geological society in connection with Wales ? Do her brawny and rustic sons not possess requisite abilities, or are they deficient in point of energy and mental appli- cation to study and master geology ? This obviously is not the case. We need only point to the number of Welsh candidates who pass the medical examination so creditably; the number of young men who obtain honours and degrees at some of the English colleges, many of whom have obtained their hard-earned know- ledge by pursuit under difficulties together with the quantity of worthy compositions produced annually by the great national gathering, The Eisteddfod," and the productions obtained through the instrumentality of literary associations less presumptuous; all these argue conclusively that there is ample literary ability to sus- tain one. The reason why Wales has been ere long without a Geological Society may be, amongst others, that the poetic art has been cultivated very extensively, to the seclusion of more profitable studies. Poetry, although one of the finest of arts, is not over scrupulous of deal- ing in dry facts, realities, and the severer studies; it rather gives- Airy nothings, A local habitation, and a name." Geology, moreover, has been pitifully neglected by those that ought to have made it their especial study. It is impossible to state the vast amount of good this would have effected, and the greater amount of evil it would have obviated; the hearts it would have exhi- larated, and the sorrows it would have allayed; the worthless speculation it would have eradicated, and the legitimate enterprise it would have encouraged. In a word, no one is wholly competent to make a selection, give an' opinion, or undertake the management of a mine or quarry, without having a knowledge of geology in general, and of his own immediate vicinity in par- ticular. Indeed one's heart has often swollen with sym- pathy, and we have been tempted to weep tears such as angels weep" on passing by so-called mines and quar- ries, the position of which every known law in nature clearly indicates to be worthless, and to see thousands of pounds spent on a barren rock-the which, if pro- perly employed in the right place, would have brought back good premiums to the pockets of the adventurers; and all this owing to the absence of a little knowledge of the fundamental principles of geology, and of the laws and freaks of nature. I know that several of my A. B. C. Darian fraternity will be highly offended with me, even for thinking, much more suggesting, such a no- tion; but "the truth is powerful, and will ultimately prevail," viz., several mine and quarry managers are so ignorant of the laws of the earth they undertake to de- velope, as the fata morgana is destitute of substance and there are several popular notions prevalent among miners and quarrymen, the which, if some eminent phi- lanthropist were to gather up and consign to the con- fines of oblivion, he would confer an inestimable boon on several of his fellow-creatures, and raise for himself an immortal monument. It is on this account that we respectfully invite the mutual co-operation of all in- terested in the mineral welfare of the Principality, to aid in forming a Geological Society for her. Our appeal has already been favourably responded to by several illustrious gentlemen residing in Wales; and we hope ere long to see it a reality. With your kind consent I will write a few words on the subject again sho:tly. SAMUEL JENKINS, Dinas Mawddwy. Quarry Inspector.

ESTABLISHED 1852. TM PROVINCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY. FIBB—LIFE—ANNUITIES. Chief Office c-HIGR.STRIET, WREXHAM 49, MOORGATK-ST., LONDON 77, BDOHANAN-SI., GLAB- GOW. Trusteet. The Right Hon. Lord Boston. The Right Hon. Lord Tredegar. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., M.P. Colonel Middelton Biddulph, M.P. Townshend Mainwaring, Esq., M.P. Thomas Bariiss, Esq., M.P. The Very Reverend the Dean of St. Asaph. Thomas Brasslcy, Esq., Westminster. Hugh Owen, Esq., Barnsbury, London. Chairman of the Board. THOMAS BARNES, ESQ., M.P., FARNWORTH, AND THB QUINTA, SALOP. Copies of the Report of the Directors of this prosperous Company may be had on application. Amplications for Agencies are invited. -r,¡- ANTHONY DILLON, Secretary to the Company.

THE PROVINCIAL INSURANCE C OM PANY. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PROPRIETORS. The annual general meeting of the Shareholders in the above Company was held on Tuesday last, February 28th, 1865, at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham. Mr. Thomas Barnes, M.P., the chairman of the Com- pany, presided; and the following other geutlemen were aJao amongst those present—Messrs. T. B. Acton, J. R. Barnes, Geo. Bradley, J. Bury, A. Bury, Rev. James Dixon, Memrs. A. Dillon, T. Edgworth, A. W. Edwards, Rev. Samuel Evans, Messrs. Chas. Griffith, T. T. Grif- fith, M. Gummow, Chas, Hughes, J. A. Hughes, R. V. Kyrke, Jos. Jackson, J. James, E. Lovatt, J. Manley, £ Mhsha? C. Napier, W. Overton, Captain Panton, Ve^ Tho, Patn?, R. Peters, E. Powell, Wrexham; Rev. E. Powell, Holt; Messrs. G. Powell, R. Potter, R. C. Rawlina. E. Rogers, S. Sheaf, Wm. Snape, E. Tench, Robt. Williams, Thos. Williams, &c. The following report, which had been previously circulated amongst the proprietors, was taken as read. "REPORT. "The present is the Twelfth Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of this prosperous Com- pany. 41 The inebme for the year was ninety-five thousand, four hundred and sixteen pounds, seven shillings and ninepence, a sum very little short ot the amount-which, at the commencement of the year, it was sanguinely an- ticipated would be reached. di Everjr fair ,tii(I legititilate effort for extending the Company's busiies3 has been made, and the result is a larger amount of new business than has accrued in any one year since the establishment of the Com- pany. "Beyond this large increase of the business, and the ac- tive steps successfully taken.to secure the appointment of new agents during the year, nothing appears to call for special remark except the amount of losses sustained in the Fire Department. The past year will be memorable among the Insur- ance Offices of the United Kingdom for the extent of fire losses, especially during the latter part of it. "The Shareholders will be glad to hear that, as usual, every claim has been promptly and liberally met, and that consequently the Office continues to be distinguished by its punctuality in the settlement of Claims, whether in Fire or Life. This honourable course, while it is the only one the Shareholders would approve, materially assists the agents in their efforts to extend the operations of the Company and to add to its business. IIV THE FIRE DEPARTMENT £ s. d. 11,595 new policies were issued, The total Fire premiums for the year being i! 60,873 8 7 The Fire losses being 44,064 13 0 It THE LTrg DEPARTMENT. There were received during the year 827 Proposals for the assurance of 180,315 0 0 636 Policies.were issued, assuring 160,166 U 0 The annual premiums on which 5-201 311 amount to 3 11 The Life premiums for the year amount to 23,115 19 i Claims were paid upon 000019 43 Policies, amounting to 8,839 12 9 IS THS ANNUITY DEPARTMENT The premiums received for the year rf>us:> J 8 amount to 3,035 9 8 TT THE AGENCY DBPARTMBNT « Four hundred and twenty-one agents have been ap- pointed, during the year, throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, many of whom have given valuable earnest of good business to come. "The London and Glasgow branches continue to make extensive progress. "During the year William Wright, Esquire, one of the directors, retired from the direction, and the Board elected James Richardson Barnes, Esquire, to fall the va- cancv. ?"?'he directors retiring by rotation are Edw. Tench, R. V. Kyrke, and J. R. Barnes, Esquires, who offer themselves for re-election. The directors' attendances during the year have been 550. k6 The directors recommend the usual dividend at the rate of £ 10 per cent per annum (free of income tax) on the paid up capital of the Company. THOMAS BARNES, Chairman. "ANTHONY DILLON, Secretary to the Company." The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said-Ever since he had the honour of appearing before them as Chairman of the Company, it had been his hap- piness to have to address them in words of congratula- tion, and he did not think he had any reason to change that tone in the present year, though he should perhaps have to take a little different ground to that which he had taken in years past. Every year since the com- mencement of the Company they had so much success that they had good reason to congratulate themselves. The past year had been a little different in its character. As the Shareholders would have seen from the report they had had very heavy losses. No insurance company could expect to go on year after year without meeting with such losses at sometime, and the directors otevery insurance company knew that there were occasionally years in which the losses from some cause or other were unusually heavy; and every life insurance company knew that there were reasons of great lUurtality, and when those reasons occurred they very naturally affected the interests and apparent prosperity of the companies t? even notwithstanding those somewhat untoward cicumstances the Shareholders of the 1 rovmeial In- surance Company had this year occasion to congmtuhte themselves, and to look with satisfaction upon the result of the years operations From the account which had been presented to the Shareholder-, it would be seen that the Directors carried over a large balance- ha the/re was a verv largo increase in the b;¡hnce over that t i,„r»vinus vear. Last year the b,danee brought « wm £ 118 507 and tlÜ year the balance that w■Woouulld cl ^e <^» rri| ed forward was £ lV«, and when they saw the result;"ín sL\"h a that which they hud s ra^Uhrough he thought ?.— c?ulol;tobf,s,.itWi4(l.. 'I'bei-e was very little occasion for lHfl'tW)' much, because the icpoit gave so full an account.ol ,tbe proceedings >^ r and the v,,trioiii points %?,er? given so very strikingly in the report that it was not requisite for him to sa) much. There wer., howcve., one or two points upon which he might perhaps be permitted to speak. In the nrst place he would just draw attention to the progress which the Company had been making, and to the character of tha progress: They li?i'l ,Ii the Sh-,treliold??ri ?new, and their progress had not been of a spasmodic and uncertain character-going back one year and ad- vancing rapidly in another. It had been a steady con- tinuous progress fJom the commencement, and each year's progress had been in somewhat the same ratio as that of the preceding years. The premiums in the Fire Department had increased regularly and with so much rapidity that the Fire Premiums of the year just con- cluded were five times the amount of those received in 1859. That showed that there had been very great pro- gress since the year 1S36, and it wouH be found that in each of the intervening years, there had been progress mooc. That progess had of course not been made with- out very great effort, their officers were active, and the Sectors could testify that it was in consequence of that ftctivitv that they witnessed the success they then re- — l They had also energetic agents, but wh" enever they j went they found competMon. They did not complain of  ""l he only namcd it ? order to show that the  that company had made, h.?t nrn d?vithout very great e?rt. Last £ ear, as t)? would remember their Secretary predicted something like the amount of bu.,mess which ho <x, <ct- ed would be done in the year then ensuing. A kd of mystic hand was writing an imaginary hgnio wh.ch Mr. I)illoli's Eiztn"tiill(?. exi)(?et?ttio 11 1(',1 hill; to believe iepie- aented the amount of business they womd obtain t(,. He was thought sanguine at the time but the amount wm little short now of that which Mr. Diton U.t YJ\r thought it would be possible for them to obtain to. 150 near was it in fact that he thought they might congra- tulate themselves that the prediction* of their secretary had been substantially realised. The annual increase of the premiums of the Company for some years past had been nearly equal to the total amount in the year previous to 1869. So much for the progress, and no doubt they (the Shareholders) had looked at the losses of the Company as the Directors had done with a good deal of anxiety. The directors were anxious to do, but which none had yet done namely, a business consisting of all profits and no losses. They could not always tell, however, where there would be fire, and where there would not, by they exercised as much judgement and discretion as they possibly could under the circum- stances, rejecting that which they believed to be bad, and accepting that which they believed to be good. He believed that the reports of every Insurance Office for the past year showed that the losses had been un- usually heavy. If the losses of the Provincial Com- pany had been peouliar to themselves they might fairly be said to have been wanting in discretion, but when they found that their experience was just the ex- perience of other offices-and that some even had had very much greater losses, they might fairly infer that it was one common thing which had affected them all, and from which the Provincial could not expect to have exemp- tion. From the announcement of the office down to the year 1864 the average losses in the fire depart- ment had been about 474 per cent. and the losses upon the last year had amounted to 73 per cent—being an in- crease of more than 50 per cent. upon the average loss of previous years. Bad as that appeared, however, it had been worse with some other companies. Some he believed, had had to alter their dividends in consequence of their losses. There was a little consolation—and he knew they would feel it to be such—to be told that they had such knowledge of having escaped losses. There were cases known to them where fires had, during the year 1864 only, destroyed property which had been presented to them for insurance, and rejected, and in which, had they taken the insurance the losses would have amounted to upwards of £8,000. They might congratulate themselves therefore that they had escaped those losses, and he knew of one himself that he believed was not included in that estimate—for it neverdid come before" them as a positive proposal, but which was in- tended to have been offered to them, and had it been accepted a fortnight or three weeks earlier than it was intended to offer it to them would have involved an ad- ditional loss of something like i'5,000 or £6,000. In the Life Department also the progress of the Company had been eminently satisfactory. The amount of the Life insurances for the year 1864 was the largest they had ever had with the exception of one year. It was greatly above the average of the three y enrs immediately preceding—though 1863 wa sa remarkably good year-in the number of policies, the amount insured and the premiums paid. That indicated that the progress which they were making in the Life department as well as that in the Fire department was steady, and he believed it was perfectly safe. As the Shareholders knew, they were not a very large Company, but it was very satisfac- tory to the directors—and he felt it particularly so him- self, seeing that his connection with the office had been more recent than that of some other directors, to find that the office was making what he thought was very sound progress. It was gradually growing into an im- portant office. There was very little doubt about that, and in a few years they would find it ranking amongst some of the most important in this country. The amount paid for claims during the past year was larger than in previous years but the year which had just passed had been a year of remarkable mortality—almost as bad as two years which had been notorious in the bills of mor- tality—the year 1S47, when there was an infectious in- fluenza and the year when there was Asiatic cholera prevailing. In both those years the mortality was great, and it had been almost as large in the year just past. Yet, in spite of that, their payments had not absorbed their premiums, and after meeting all their claims upon that department they had a large balance to carry over. There was another point which seemed to him very satisfactory, and one upon which they might congratu- late themselves. Last year, the Chancellor of the EJr- chequer, when speaking upon the Annuity Bill, glanced at a number of life insurance offices, and in his speech he stated that an office which was twelve years old ought to have an accumulation of 33 per cent, of its gross premiums in hand in order to be in a safe and sound position, and the hon. gentleman indicated that there were a number of offices that did not possess that, inferring of course that they were not very sound. After hearing that speech he (the Chairman) felt a little anxious to know in which category the Provincial stood. Hav- ing obtained from the Secretary a copy of the report, he and his coadjutor in London were especially gratified to find that, according to the accounts, the Provincial was in advance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's esti- mate, for instead of having an accumulation of 33 per cent, thev had 50 per cent. of the premiums. They might therefore consider themselves as very sound. (Hear hear, and applause.) He thought their agents might make some little use of the fact in order to show those who did avail themselves of the Provincial, that they had at all events a very sound Company to rely np- on. In conclusion he had great pleasure in moving that the report and the statement of the receipts and dis- bursements the Company be adopted. Mr. T. T. Griffith seconded the motion, and ably en- forced the advantages of life assurance. Several questions of detail having been put by Mr. Acton Mr. Edwards, Mr. Daniel Jones, Mr. Napier, and Mr. Evan Powell, and satisfactorily answered by the Chairman and Mr. Dillon, the motion was put to the meeting and unanimously adopted. Mr. Bury, one of the Auditors, remarked that the books and accounts were well and efficiently kept. and the most complete supervision was exercised by the Directors, and he believed that a better regulated esta- blishment did not exist. On the motion of Mr. Overton, seconded by Mr. Bradley, it was unanimously resolved —" That Richard Venables Kyrke, Edward Tench, and J ames Richardson Barn-s, Esqrs., be re-elected Directors of the Company that Mr. John Jtury, of Wrexham, and Mr. John Jones, of Chester, public accountants, be re-elected Auditors for the ensuing year and each be paid to Messrs. Jones am] Bury for their services during the past Mr. Manley next moved, and Mr. Rogers seconded, a motion to the effect that the thanks of the proprietors be presented to the Directors, and that the sum of £6ÖO be paid to them for their services daring the past year. The resolution was carried nem. con. The Chairman said he had next great pleasure in proposing that the thanks of the Shareholders be given to their excellent secretary, and the other officers, for the services which they had rendered to the Company during the past year. He was aware that he was speak- ing in the presence of the secretary and other officers, and probably it would not be seemly for him to say all that he thought and felt with regard to Mr. Dillon, but he believed he should be saying nothing but what they all knew when he said that the success of the Company wa-i in a great measure owing to the ability which had been shown by Mr. Dillon, and to that gentleman's devotedness to the interests of the Company. Mr. Dill..11 had worked hard, and his heart was firmly set upon the success of the Company. It was something more than his hobby; it was almost his life s work lie (the chairman) believed that Mr. Dillon gave himself to the work with very great diligence, and that he and the other officers had made the Provincial what it now Mr. Painter said he had very great pleasure in second- ing the motion, and being probably the senior director, he could speak from long experience and from close ob- servation of the zeal and attention of their secretary, l'trhaos there was not one of them more frequently in t: e office than he (Mr. Painter) was, and none per- were more competent than he to judge of the faithful and energetic services there rendered. He might mention that an advance of £10,1)00 upon the fr" premiums of the Company did not at all represent the amount of new business which was obtained during the year. The number of dropped policies was very great indeed. In the experience of every company it was t'ouud that changes were continually taking place, and the consequence was that a great deal of business which had been obtained was diopped every year, and fresh business had to be got to replace it. lie thought that when they considered that fact, they would be able to form some idea of the immense labour which was ne- cessary in order to obtain that business. Mr. Charles Hughes supported the motion. Mr. Dillon in acknowledging the compliment, said 'that was the twelfth time he had had the honour, the pleasure, and the privilege of acknowledging that vote. As he had observed on previous occasions, there was nothing so encouraging as at the close of their ann\lel I meetin" to have such a resolution pa-Med, especiauy when it was passed so cordially and so unanimously as upon that occasion. lie might also remark, that the Provincial Insurance Company occupied their minds from one year's end to another, and lie could assure them they did their best to promote the interests of the Comnany. A pleasing, and to his mind au important feature connected with the service was the fact that, whilst every officer was kept to lirs work, and did his work well there was perfect harmony throughout the service lie thought no company could flourish unless it was harmoniously carried on in,loors-(hear. hear)— and as far as that went, he thought he might safely say that they were "A band of brothers." As long as their services were so recognised by the shareholders would never fail to do their duty to the utmost ot their ability. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr. T. T. Griffith, seconded by Mr. Daniel Jones, thanks were nnanimou.sly voted to the chairman, and the compliment having been briefly ac- knowledged, the proceedings terminated.

CONWAY. I The Dowager Lady Erskine, of Pwllycrochon, hall, with her iiceustomed kindness, caused 920 worth of coal to be distributed amongst the poor of the pamhell of I Conway, Gyffin, and Llandrillo.

LLANDUDNO. I IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS' MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Commissioners toot: place on Monday last. Present-Rev, J. Morgan, chair- man; Messrs. W. F. Chapman, W. Pritchard, Thomas Parry, Isaiah Davies, Joseph Jones, Leonard Row, R. Farrant, James Williams, Evan Hughes, Thos. Roberts, W. Jones, John Hughes, and Wm. Williams (Creu- ddynfab.) Finance.-The Finance Committee reported that they had examined bills to the amount of JE33 14s. 6d., and recommended the same to be paid, viz., labourers on road, £12 58. 6d.; tiunk, C5 13s. 6d.; drain by Ty- draw, £1 10s.; R. C. Tomkinson (printing) £ 14 5s. 6d. Tenders for cleaning the town.-The Clerk said he had advertised Ifor tenders to clean and cart away the refuse of the town, when the following tenders were sent in :-Mr. W. Evans—to do all the work for 50s. per week, when they require another horse will put one on at their command. Mr. Atkinson, 2 horses and cart 10s. per day, I do. 6s. per day 1 do. do. 3a. per half day. If required in the night, say 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock in the morning, 4s.; or from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., 3s.; men and horse for water cart per day, 5s. 6d.; do. half a day, 3s. Mr. James Hughes-For the supply of horses, carts, and drivers for the removal of sweepings, ashpits, privies, &c., and all required to be done as stated in the placard for 5s. 9d. per day or night as required. Mr. Chapman moved, and Mr. Farrant seconded, and it was unanimously resolved, that Mr. Atkinson's tender be accepted. New Lamps.-The Board at their last meeting deter- mined that new lamps should be placed near the Adelphi Hotel, and in Gloddaeth-street at East Back Mostyn-street, the consideration of which was referred to the Lighting Cemmittee. Mr. Hughes, one of the Committee, only recom- mended that one lamp (near the Adelphi) be at present fixed. He thought the finance would not allow of any more. m Jlfr. Row proposed that another be placed in Glodd- aeth-street, which was as much required in his opinion as the other. It appeared to be the unanimous opinion of the Board that the lamps spoken of at the last meeting were re- quired but the subject having been referred to the Committee, it was again referred to them for final de- cision. House Drai)iage.-The Surveyor was called in and interrogated as to the drainage of two houses, which he was directed to do at the last Board. The Surveyor said he never had instructions to drain tee houses, whatever decision the Board came to. The Clerk referred to the minutes, which contained specific orders to the Surveyor to drain two houses in the town, as an experiment. The Surveyor persisted in saying that he never re- ceived any instructions by the Board. The Chairman said he had previously told the Sur- veyor to come and examine the minutes and all the books belonging to them, if necessary, which were per- fectly accessible to him. He was now ordered to proceed with the works with- out delay. The sewage af the Toicn.-A motion stood on the books by Mr. W. Williams, wherein he gave notice that he would propose at this meeting that a number of the Commissioners should proceed personally to Hyde, to inspect the works in operation at that place. But he had since found that Lord Robert Montagu had been allowed to introduce a bill to the House of Commons upon that very question and he thought it better to defer the motion which he he intended to bring forward that day till a future occasion. After few words from Mr. Parry, Mr. Chapman, and Mr. E. Hughes, the subject dropped. Hearse for the tozo)i.- Mr. James Williams brought before the Board the subject of providing a proper place for the keeping of the hearse for the use of the town. Mr. Raw, seconded by Mr. Parry, proposed that ap- plication be made to the Mostyn Trustees, for a site whereon to build a yard and house for the use of the Commissioners. Agreed to unanimously. The meeting was then adjourned to March 13.

A WELSH-YANKEE'S OPINION OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA. To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. I Sir,—The Yankee Davenports may be considered pretty cheeky specimens of their class-" remarkable men, sir," in their way and generation and they have succeeded very neatly" in liocussing poor blind, fat, easy-going John Bull, out of a stiff sum of hard cash but I question whether they possess the powers of thorough humbug more than has that shining light, who held forth" the other day to the quarrymen of Bethesda—" Mr. Jones, late editor of the Drych (t'r Gwjtliedydd, a newspaper (in Welsh; circulating in America." Yes, sir This very "remarkable man, sir," has dis- covered one or two things which most people in this "aristoeratic-riddeu" country were in ignorance of, and upon which he undertook to explain to the dull and uninformed people of Bethesda. He has found out, sir, that there is more genuine liberty in the Northern States of America than there is in this country that the working; man here has no chance of even earning a decent livelihood that anybody can soon become a large freeholder in Yankee land—where all men are equal (save the mark 1), and where there are no rents, no taxes, no state church, and above all and more than all—no Queen with £ 1500 a-day, and no bloated aris- tocracy to swallow up the earnings of honest, hard- working inea. But this is not all that this Friend of the working man" has discovered. He has found out that though one half the States is superlatively good the other half is abominably and hopelessly bad. There is the most perfect freedom in one section, and the most abject slavery in the other—yes, sir Mr. Jones understands the true objects of the present war, however it may puzzle Lord Lyons, Earl Kussell, or any other benighted Britisher. The North is not" fighting fur empit and the South for independence"—nothing of the k.nd, sir! "Slavery is at the bottom of the war," and "that is its true cause, whatever may be said to the contrary." To be sure it is, for has not Mr. Jones, late editor," said it ? Thererfore, 0 ye Bethesdaites, hasten to New York, enter the Federal armies, assist to re-es- tablish Northern supremacy, and then, at least, you will be free from British oppression, and the insolence and extortion of the aristocracy of England. Do this, and then you will gain the esteem and regard of the Late Editor" of a Welsh paper somewhere in America! But how about Mr..Jones himself—what brings him back into this land of slaves and badly-paid labour ? Why did not he remain in that highly-favoured land- the home of the oppressed—when he was there ? Don't Welsh papers" pay well in America ? Or does he find lecturing quarrymen at home an easier matter than cul- tivating °laud in America—or what is it ? What ob- jection has he to becoming a large landed proprietor on such very easy terms, and of settling for life amongst his beloved Northerners ? It seems rather suspicious when a publican refuses to drink his own home-brewed beer, or when a doctor refuses his own physic—very suspicious. If America be a second 1 aiadise, why did he turn his back up-ui its delights and pleasures ? Well, sir, all this is very fine, and very—nonsensical; but I see there were some in Bethesda who mistook the chaff for genuine wheat, as they cheered most heartily. They would not give Queen Victoria fliey, loyal and careful souls One thing, however, is certain, and that is, if I tllo, Editor of the NOIITII WALKS CIIUONICI.E, and Mr. Jones chose to send such impudent and vulgar rubbish for insertion, it would at once be consigned to the waste paper basket. 11 e was once an editor himself—why not start a paper in Wales, and defile his own columns with the miserable sliuie ? Yours respectfully, AN 1'1-HUMBUG. I

DIOCESAN INSPECTION. I To the Editor of the North lla/cs I Sir,—I have now read in your worthy publication I three letters on the above subject, two written by a Schoolmaster" and one by A late Inspector of schools." I The Schoolmaster in his first letter very justly com- plained of the shortness of time for preparing for ex- amination. If The late Inspector" or any other In- spector consider 4 months sufficient time to prepare the lubjects on the programme they must know but very little of teaching. I am a schoolmaster. My school is subject to Diocesan as well as Government Inspection; and I candidly assert that to do justice with the subjects of the programme of the Bangor Board of Education it would occupy at least six months of my time. Now my salary chiefly depends upon the parliamentary grant, and the whole weight of such grant is carried to the sides of the secular elements of teaching-how then, can I give the prominence which it deserves to religious teaching ? I am not expected to be content with merely chewing the Diocesan Report for 12 months, I must attend to the subjects that will pay me best. The Schoolmaster" very justly observed that "if a thing is worth doing at all it is worth doing well." The thing wanting is Mr. Time, and Messrs. Inspectors will find improvements in the state of the schools they examine. Perhaps your correspondent, Mr. Editor, was not aware of the many difficulties which schoolmasters have to surmount in their daily round of studies when he made the remark that it is unskilful workmen who get bad reports. It is a sad mistake, it has much more to do with the parents of the scholars than the teacher. I know for a fact that parents have objected to the catechism being taught to their children, and indeed so many ought. I have no less than 40 (from an average attendance of 70) who have not been baptized in the Church of England, and why should they in answer to the second question say, "They did pomise and vow three things in my name, &c." Again, irregularity of attendance proves a great draw- back to the progress ot a school. These remarks I mak e, in order that the Inspectors may take them under their consideration in summing up their reports. I decidedly appreciate the exertions made by the Bangor Board, for I myself consider school keeping as a part of God's plan for the moral and religious training of his reasonable creatures, and so does every teacher or ought to. Blame not therefore, the teacher, rather blame the pedantic logician Lowe, who would have had if possible, as complete a secular system of instruction in our Church of England Schools as the most determined infidel could desire for us. With deference to the Inspector's dignity, and kind regards to my brother schohnasters, I am, respectfully, &c., I AOMEfiODY-OR-OTHER.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. I To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. Sir,—Your correspondent "Q" appears to me to be a very eccentric, and I must say a very unreasonable logician. He first of all inserts in the "Chronicle" an ostentatious kind of a sentence, in which he asks a ques- tion, the answer to which could admit of no possible doubt, even in joke and yet, because the answer is jocosly given, namely, that hanging does not prevent murder, he at once assumes that the writer must be an Irishman I What nation would he suppose I belonged to, if I were to ask him this—does, or does not, the sun rise every morning in the east! Now, of course, his question, ridiculous as it was in itself, indicated a line of reasoning on the subject of capital punishment, with which I, and no doubt, the great majority of your readers at once understood, viz., that as hanging does not entirely prevent murder, hanging is of no use, and ought, therefore, to be done away with. He did not, nor has he said this distinctly but if this was not the real meaning of his question, then I maintain his first letter had no meaning at all. I am quite conversant with all the arguments employ- ed by the advocates for the entire abolition of capital punishment, and I believe them to be all fallacious. One will depict to you, in glowing colours, the brutal scenes witnessed at the very foot of the scaffold-the blasphemies, thefts, &e. and he thinks when his task is done, and he has completed the enumeration, he has settled the entire question. Another solemnly tells us, that hanging a man for murder is nothing less than judicially committing another murder; and this, as we all know, the sixth commandment tells us not to do. A third invokes, the spirit of Christianity, the precepts of which enjoin that man must not retalliate for evils done to him by his brother, but that when a person "smites you on one cheek" you must "turn to him the other also." This class of reasoners, too, dwells largely upon the Sermon on the Mount, in which the old doc- trine of retributive punishment is apparently abrogated and annulled. "Q" seems to take his stand upon the admitted fact that capital punishment does not prevent murder. I say "seems" because he has not hitherto plainly stated what he means, and we can only arrive at his stand point by implication and assumption. He says, and I can well believe his perception is not very far-sighted, that he does not see what connection the question of "whether fining a 5s. and costs" for getting drunk has to do with that of whether hanging puts a stop to mur- der ? Men are by the present law "hanged by the neck" for committing wilful murder, and men are like- wise fined for getting drunk, and yet neither processes has the effect of putting an entire stop to either. How, then, stands the argument ? Briefly thus. We punish crimes and faults commit- ted against society, by fines, imprisonment, and death and yet these penalties are found not to effect the (pre- sumed) object intended—that is, the abolition of them. Are we then, on that account, to abolish the entire cri- minal code, and to leave every man "do that which is right in his own eyes." Is the burglar, who breaks open ones house and takes away whatever his fancy may suit him, to go unpunished, because imprisonment or penal servitude is proved not to deter, in all cases, from bur- gl;trv-or because it is laid down as a principal in the Sermon on the Mount, but if a man "takes away your coat," you must give him your clock also ? Is the drunken ruffian to disturb a whole neighbourhood, and to insult and abuse quiet and inoffensive people for the same reasons and on the same grounds ? Is the harden- ed fellow to murder at will and to wreak his deadly vengeance upon any one against whom he may feel vengeful or embittered, simply because punishment, even the greatest punishment, will not have the effect of preventing all other ruffians from occasionally doing the same thing, and daring the vengeance of the law ? Whatever your correspodent's meaning may be, his ar- gument (if argument it be) leads to this, and it leads to nothing else. Is lie -is anyone-prepared to go this length and to carry out the principle to its full practical i8ue ? But it will be said—I dare say "Q" will say it in fu- ture letters—Oh, but we don't mean this exactly; we don't for a moment mean to say that society must not be protected by laws, or that criminals who rob and steal and murder, should go unpunished entirely—Oh, no. What we intend to maintain is this—that lunging is unjust, barbarous, and cruel, and opposed to the whole spirit oi Christianity; and besides it is ineffective; and, therefore, it is wrong, and ought to be abolished. To this I reply—upon what grounds, do you punish for one crime and not for another Fining a man "five shillings and costs" for getting drunk and hanging a man for wilful murder rest upon the same foundation, only that the degree is different. If the principle said to be laid down in the Sermon on the Mount (and which, I most thoroughly and conscien- tiously disbelieve) that you must not resent personal injury, nor punish a man for the robbery of your cloth- itig or your goods, then it it is as much opposed to the spTrit of Christianity to imprison a man for felony as it is to hang him for murder. I defy" Q," if he uc a reason- able man, to gainsay this, or to discriminate, as it re- gards the principle, between one kind of punishment and another. if retributive. justice is to bo entirely ignored as belonging to a different and ail anti-Christian dispensation, then all pnnishment, and for whatever crimes, must be done away with. I again ask—"Is "Q" prepared to carry this out ? I am fully aware that the advocates of the abolition of capital punishment will shelve this point in the argu- ment, and probably ignore it altogether. It would suit their purpose to do so, and they are not bad hands at declamation, though they, by no nwans, shine in ratio- cination. Yet it lies at the bottom of their chief argu- ment, namely, that taking away human life for murder, is opposed to the spirit of principles of Christianity, and is only an antiquated remnant of the old barbarous mosaic laws. Now, in order that this question, which is of passing importance just at the present time, may be fairly sift- ed, and argued in your widely circulated paper, I will just propose for discussion two or three propositions bearing upon the point, and upon which, in fact, the whole matter hinges. 1. Is the violent taking away of a man's life, who has violently taken away the life of another man, unjust in itself, and repugnant to our sense of natural justice ? 2. Has or has not its justice and necessity been recog- nised by all civilised nations, in all parts and in all ages of the world ? 3. Is it not strictly enjoined in the Old Testament; and does not Jehovah threateu, with his utmost displea- sure, the Jews, if they, for any reason, or under any circumstances, fail to strictly carry out the law 4. Is there any law on the subject given in tho New Testament, or anything written or said which may fair- ly be construed to discountenance it ? 5. Does it follow that because punishment for any crime or class of crimes does not do away entirely with those crimes, such crimes should go unpunished; or that such failure evidences the non-deterre effect of punishment, or s hows that crimes would not be much more numerous and wide-spread if punishment were al- together abolished I propose, in future letters, to argue each of these propositions in detail, and then "Q" will have au oppor- tunity to state his opinions (U he have any), and to allow the public to judge whether he be "a sickly llelltitneu. talist" or not. Yours truly, JUSTICE. February 28th, 1864. [We shall decline any further correspondence on this subjecL-ED. N. W. C.,

I mpttial VAfliamtttt I HOUSE OF LORDS—FRIDAY. The Lord CHANCELLOR brought in a bill to regulate the remuneration of attorneys and solicitors. I HOUSE OF COMMONS-FRIDAY. A motion for the second reading of the Liverpool Licensing Bill was opposed by Mr. LAWSOU, who moved as an amendment that the granting of licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors was a matter which ought not to be dealt with in a private bill. The motion was also opposed by Mr. Horsfall, Mr. Roebuck, Mr. Wal. pole, and other members; and supported by Sir George Grey, Lord Stanley, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Finally, the motion was negatived without a division. Inreply to Mr. Maguire, Mr. LAYARD said that the Emperor of the French had been requested to mediate between the Governmentss of Monte Video and Brazil, but no similar request had been made to her Majesty's Government. The latter did not intend to take any part in the quarrel. In answer to Mr. Watkin, said that he had not entered into any correspondence with the Governmtnt of the United States respecting the passport Mr. BERKELEY asked if the Government intended to bring in this session a measure to prevent corruption and to protect voters at parliamentary elections. Sir G. GREY having replied in the negative, Mr. Berkeley gave notice of a bill on the subject. On the order for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. HENNESSEY moved an address to the Crown which stated-" That this house observes with regret the de- cline of the population of Ireland, and will readily sup- port her Majesty's Government in any well devised measures to stimulate the profitable employment of the people." In the course of the debate which followed, the CHAN- CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER showed that many of the complaints made by Irish members were unfounded, and Sir R. Peel quoted official statistics which proved that Ireland was progressing satisfactorily. I HOUSE OF LORDS-MONDAY. Lord TAUNTON presented petitions from Australia, praying for the immediate and permanent abolition of transportation to that colony. Earl GRANVILLE said the question had been finally settled. Within a period of three years transportation to Australia would entirely cease. The other business transacted by their lordships was unimportant. HOUSE OF COMMONS—MONDAY. The Marquis of HARTIXQTON stated, in reply to Colonel Gilpin, that the army returns of February 1 showed a decrease of 4,000 men as compared with the return for last year. No increase of the present strength of the force was contemplated by the Govern. ment. "? answer to Mr. Scully, Sir G. GREY said the Lord Chancellor intended to introduce a bill for the registra- tion of titles to land in Ireland. Mr. WHITE inquired whether the Government intended to grant a subsidy to the Company of African Merchants, to enable them to place trading steamers on the Niger. The CHANCELOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in the negative. The debate on the condition of Ireland was resumed by Mr. Roebuck, and continued by Sir H. Cairns, Mr. Lowe, Sir G. Grey, Sir S. Northcote, and other mem- bers. Lord PALMERSTON promised that the Government would earnestly consider any favourable proposal for the benefit of Ireland; but Mr. Hennessey pressed to a division his motion for an address to the Crown, and was defeated by 107 votes against 31. HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY. The business transacted in the House was unim- portant. HOUSE OF COMMONS —TUESDAY. The Metropolitan Sewage Bill was referred to a select committee. Mr. DILLWYN gave notice that on March 28 he should move a resolution respecting the unsatisfactory con- dition of the Establised Church in Ireland. In reply to Mr. Cave, Mr. LAYARD said the attention of the Government had been directed to the debate which took place in the Spanish Senate last month on a proposition for declaring the slave trade piracy, and instructions on the subject had been sent to the British minister at Madrid. Sir J. PAKINGTON moved the appointment of a select counuittee to inquire into the constitution of the Com- mittee of Council on Education, and the system under which the business of the office is conducted. The right honourable baronet explained that he had two objects- first, to obtain such a reorganisation of the department as would make it better adapted than it now was to the important object it had to discharge, and, secondly, to secure that the department should be so organised (if it was to be rearranged) as to enable it to extend assistance throughout the whole of the country. Mr. WALTER moved as an amendment the addition to the motion of the following words:—" And also into the best mode of extending the benefits of the Government inspection aud the Parliamentary grant to schools at present unassisted by the State." After a good-tempered discussion, in which Mr. Lowe .and Mr. Bruce took part, the motion and amendment were agreed to.

RESIGNATION OF LORD LYONS. The Times says-The public will hear with great regret that Lord Lyons has beeu compelled, by the state of his health, to resign the post of British Minister at Wash- ington, which he has fliled for six years with so much ability and judgment. The mere physical labour which has been entailed upon him would aloue be enough to account for the necessity of his resignation. The suc- cessor of Lord Lyons in this momentous post will be Sir Frederick Bruce, who at present holds the office of Minister in China, but happens opportunely to be in England. Hi., first employment was when attached to the late Lord Anhburton's special mission to Washing- ton in 1842, when the famous Ashburton treaty was ne- gotiated. Subsequently, for a year, he was Lieutenant. Governor of Newfoundland, and from 1S47 to 1851 he was euioloyed in various posts in South America. Four years after this he went with his brother, Lord Elgin, to China, and has since been entirely employed in that country. By a fortunate coincidence he will arrive in America just when Mr. Lincoln will have entered upon his second term of office. It will, perhaps, have atl opportune significance that a new Minister should thin be accredited to the United States at the commence- ment of this new period in her annals. A wild fancy had a little time ago possessum of the American mind that England and France cuntemplatcd a sort of under- hand recognition ol the Confederacy on the 1th March by acknowledging Mr. Lincoln as the president only of those states which had taken part in his election. The arrival of a new minister accredited to the Government whose authority we still acknowledge will be a more conspicuous evidence of the fallacy of these strange anticipations than the return of Lord Lyons. It may, perhaps, be made more evident that, instead of in any way slighting their Government, we are paying it the distinct attention of selecting a new minister to repre sentus..

BEYNMAWR. On Thursdav, the 23,d ult., a tea party was given m the Town Hall, liryninawr, South \Vale., the proceeds of which was for the Pastoral Aid Society tile society that supports a curate in this town. I here was also a German tree exhibited with various things tor sale Oil it. We were glad to see so many gathered together; most of them were very respectable people-gentry and tradesnvn of the town aud neighbourhood, as well as a !ar"o numI'l'I' of the working class. The whole number which partook of tea during the afternoon was near five hnndre.! and it seems that everything was provided for them in the best style. The ladie, who kindly served on the occasion with their trays were the follow- ing:—Mrs. Griffiths and Miss Kirshaw Mrs, Lloyd, Bush Hotel, and Mrs. Habakkuk; Miss Thomas and Mrs. Tuekett; Mrs. Meredith and Mrs. Lillwail; Mrs, Ricks and Miss ltieks; Mrs. Irving and Mrs. Thomas; ,t illo,t eloquent, teamed,and interesting lecture on the "Introduction of Christianity into Britain," was deli- vered by the Rev. Dr. James, Panteg, which gave the greatest satisfaction to the large audience present. The chair was taken by the I lev. J. Morgan, of Beaufort. The following clergymen were presentTho Uevds. A.,Griffiths and D. Lewis, Llanellv; J. Jones, llryii- mawr; J. Morgan, Nantvglo J.Hopkins, EbbwYale; J. Morgan and J. l'arry, lieaufort At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks was proposed to the lecturer by the Rev. J. Morgan, Nantyglo, and seconded by G. Moore, Esq., lieaut'ort-street. After the Hev. A. Out- fiths had returned thanks to those who had assisted m selling tickets, to the ladies who had kindly served with the tea, and :tbo th"se who had contribute! anything to the tree, the dnxoWy was sung, and the 1arg audience dispersed with th" appearance of being hibly pleased with the excellent lecture.