The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

TREES. ) AUTUMNAL TREES. J Beautiful trees, 1 eM in your Autumn dying robesye look M'»re lovely fAr Than waning star: Or aught that's marked for death in Nature's book- Beautiful trees. Those rainbow hues, Bathed In the shade and sunlight 01 the day, Bid thoughts arise Of Paradise, c. Th' eternal life: Ah, why should time decay < Those rainbow hues What is like ye, When ye're most lovely, perishing, unmen? In emerald -gold Your leaves unfold, And yet we wither, 'mid your glory's gleam — What is like ye ? Th' endearing form Of maiden innocence in youthful eve:- Th' unearthly bright Of her eyes' light, Hashing in beauty:-still doth death inweave Th'enkleariug form, The subdued smile; The rose-blush basking on her snowy cheek; The calm-drawn breath Speaks not of death, No writhing pain—no struggle—all is meek The subdued smile. Yes, there is death, Lurking beneath th' enchanting form of health; E'en as the leaf, Her life is brief The Autumn Death his victim takes by stealth: Yes, there is Death Beautiful trees, Clad in your Autumn dying robes--ye look, More lovely far Than waning star; Or aught that's marked for death in Nature's book- Beautiful trees!

IN MEMORIM. I THE LATE REV. JOHN PHILLIP3, BANGOR. I --0- And is he, then, for ever gone, That dearest most beloved one, The beam of whose enchanting smile Could darkest, deepest woes beguile: By high and low. by wise and good, Alike his worth was understood, For he was like it brilliant star, That sheds its lustre bright and far; E'en o'er the sinner in despair, lie watched with guardian angle's care: Long must the muse his loss deplore, Deep be the waitings of the poor. His soul for friendships sweetly formed, "With bright intelligence adorned, Ami every other grace conjoined, That could inspire a heaven-born mind, His life was like a sun-bright beam— Our loss is sorrow's wild extreme. hBut why lament in plaintive lay Since he is gone to realms of day, Where Time's unnumbered woes are o'er, And tears suttee the eyes no more; itather rejoice his sainted spirit, The world of glory doth inherit, For on the phill immortal now, A crown of life adorns his brow The palm victorious now he bears, And robes of snowy whiteness wears Bevond the reach of sin and pain, Refined from every earthly stain, Freely he roves those blissful isles, Where radiant gladness ever smiles With Seraphim attunes his lyre, And sings with heaven's melodious choir The Saviour's love his constant theme, His smile a bright unclouded beam, There where unmingled pleasures flow, He waits for them lie loved below." With sweet remembrance of his worth, Whose name was dear to us on earth; With calm submission to that power, Which cheers in sorrow's heaviest hour; We pay this tribute of a last farewell, But green in memory must he ever dwell. Derby. A. RHYS THOMAS. I

-Q,ur_;£ib"¡n'!t JtaMc. I A JOURNEY THROUGH ABVSSIXIA,—By Henry Dufton. London: Chapman and Hall. Africa is the quarter of the globe in which there is the largest portion or unknown lauds; for notwithstanding the explorations of modern travellers, nothing certain has been ascertained of the vast countries in the interior; and we are only partially acquainted with the extensive empire of Abyssinia, Abessinia, or llaberh on the ca't coast. In the last century, Bruce, the African traveller, while engaged in his undertaking to discover the sources of the Nile, travelled a great part of Abyssinia. When the reports of his travels appeared, there was a general belief that he was deceiving the public; and he ex- perienced much the same treatment that M. du Chaillu met with a few years ago, when he auuouncecl the dis- covery of the gorillas. Subsequent travellers have confirmed the truth of Bruce's accounts, as those of Du Chaillu have been established. Still, Abyssinia is really an unknown country," and such it is likely to remain; there are so many obstacles to a traveller's making his way amidst its wilds and, deserts, that a great inducement must be held out to cause anyone to undertake the task. The expedition to Abyssinia, to rescue the Englishmen and other Europeans whom the emperor Theodore has detained, has drawn attention to this African state; and much has been written and published respecting it within the past few months. Mr Dufton's volume gives the most complete account of the empire we have seen. He went in ISu2, and did not leave till near the close of 1863. His object was to prepare the way for planting colonies there, in which he failed but be gives us many of the particulars both of the country and Theodore, which cannot fail to interest the reader. Mr Dufton shows that Theodore has a bright side to his character; and he gives us some reason for his treatment of our consul. He says:—" The king's idea is that the existence of no other power in the country should be recognised besides his own and that all persons residing in his territories, nativesor foreigners, must obey the laws of thelaiid, and be subject to him entirely. If, therefore, a consul ventures into this country, he must not do so with the idea that his person will be considered sacred, or that the power represented by him will impose awe but he must be prepared to stand on the same footing as a native of the country." This shows the folly of attempting to establish diplomatic relations with such a monarch as Theodore; and we hope that, Mr Cameron released and at liberty, with his companions, the Em- peror or King will be suffered to go on his owu way; and that the civilized race will keep beyond his jurisdic- tion. COMMENTARIES ITON MARTIAL LAw-With special reference to its regulations and restraints; with an introduction, containing Comments upon the charge of the Lord Chief Justice, -By the author of the Treatise upon Martial Law." London: Stevens and Son. We recommend this work to those who have been misled by the (lictum of the present Lord Chief Justice —that martial law is unknown in the laws of England. The author shews that, from the time of the Petition of Right to the present, in most familiar text-books, there is an unbroken tradition of legal doctrines that martial law, in which the Crown is absolute, is allowed, by the law of England, in time of rebellion." With any reasonable man there can be no doubt on this subject. It is the duty as well as the prerogative of the Crown, to preserve the public peace; and whenever rebels are in arms, reason, right, and law pronounce alike in favour of the establishment and exercise of martial law, till it is put down. The Chief Justice, and the Jamaica committee following him-contend, that parliament pronounced martial law to be illegal in the ease of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, who, tempo Edward II, was tried by an irregular Court Martial and exe- cuted. But why was this decision come to ? Because the transaction took "bee" in tempore paras," in time of peace, when no rebellion was raging. Coke and Hale expressly points this out on the grounds of the Coulmons resolution; and how Sir Alexander Cockburn could overlook it we are at a loss to imagine. OLD SIB DOUOI.AS,—By Hon. Mrs Norton. London: Hurst and Blackett. Mrs Norton is a popular writer; and although we cannot praise her for the skilful construction of the plot of old Old Sir Douglas," whilst some of the characters are such as we do not meet with in common life, yet the work will attract aud interest the novel-reader, who, once commencing it, will be very unwilling to lay it down till the denouement is arrived at. Most of the iD- cidents are forcibly and pleasantly narrated, and the majority of the characters are well-drawn. We must, however, protest, against the conclusion that the charac- ter of the parent has little to do with that of the child, which the authoress appears to draw from the fact that "it was Solomon, not Jesus, who pronounced, in the self-confidence of human wisdom, that, if you brought up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it." r. is quite true, that we "see children, all brought up in one house, under the same tutelage, as different as night from day.' But, as a rule the oxample of religious aud moral parents, and their judicious training, does produce good children; and ha, a great influence upon society. A WALKING TOUR ROUND IRELAND IN 1865,-By an Englishman. London Richard Bentley. Englishmen know too little of Ireland. Few go there for pleasure and those who cross the channel on business seldom think of anything more than the immediate purpose of their visits. Yet, there is no country that presents more objects of interest to a etrauger than green Eriu; aud there are no people who 'fserve a more careful study than the Irish. In many tiigp they exhibit a complete contrast to their English felloubjects; and a more familiar intercourse between the two' would be better for both. That" eatire absorption in business which constitutes so grand a feature in the English character, and has formed so prominent a means of English greatness, forms, as a rule, uo part of Irish nature. It would be well if it did and if the Irisn and English were to see more of each other, the business propensity of the one might become infused into the other; whilst, in turn, the English profes- sional man or trader would be the better for some of the careless humour which characterises the Irishman. In Ireland, as we are informed by as Irish lady, the "physician cracks his joke or tells his story, while he is feeling your pulse (none the worse physician, however, for doing so), and your lawyer tells vib an amusing anecdote in the middle of a consultation or the former holds a political discussion with his brother physician about your bed; and the latter diverges from the ea- grossing of parchment, to the engrossing of your ear by i the details of a local municipal squabble. The ) tradesman chaffs his customers, and his assistant chaffs each other; or he beguiles the disagreeable process 01 trying on a boot, or the tiresome proceeding of selecting a carpet or a shawl, by a little religious controversy, a conversation on the last number of a periodical or the narration of a little bit of family history."—Such are the Irish professional men and tradesmen as described by one of their countrywomen, Miss Perrien, in the "Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine." The English- man, in the work on our table, says of another class, the peasantry,—" Their courtesy and politeness were some- thing surprising. As a pedestrian traveller, with an imperfect map, and finding few milestones, and no division posts, I was obliged to make constant inquiries with reference to the route to take. But these were invariably answered with cheerful readiness; and only in two or three instances, arising, probably, from ill- health, or some local disturbing cause, did I ever receive what may be termed a short reply. The peasant or farmer would often put himself to some inconvenience to answer one's questions. If riding, he would bring his horse to a stand still, or driving would stop the vehicle. A man would allow his team to go on, regard- less of the trouble of overtaking them, and be surprised at receiving an apology for delaying him. A boy going down hill with a donkey cart, would slowly and with difficulty bring the animal to stand, before receiving and answering a question. When you entered a peasant's cottage or hut, the soul of its possessor in a short time raised one above the insignificance of his dwelling. In dialect, also, the peasant is very superior, his language being pure, simple, and easily understood, and sweating seems scarcely to exist as a perceptible habit."—Our pedestrian is not so favourably disposed to the middle and higher classes. He thinks" nature must have made some mistake, and given all the land and property to man and woman; but left the gentlemen and gentle- women poor indeed." We do not think this is fair towards the higher classes, with whom the author does not appear to have come much in contact. Some of the middle classes, certainly seem to have treated him rather suspiciously. One, who made an excursion with him, forgot to pay his half of the bill. Another, who was with him at all hotel, where, at the period of departure, it was found that the attendance" had not been put down in the bill." This puzzled the traveller; but he says, my friend arranged such liberal contributions to the servants, out of my own money, that the old waiter and I parted on the door step of the hotel, in a manner which would have done the heart of a philanthropist good to witness." Many of the author's details are of his adventures and misadventures at hotels; and to judge from them, life at an hotel in Ireland is far less pleasurable than in England. One comfort, according to the author, is essentially wanting. He says, If the truth must be told, the chamhermaids in Ireland do not know how to make a bed properly. The author travelled through 20 out of the 32 Irish counties; walking, he tells us, upwards of 1000 miles. His observations both on country and people are gener- ally favourable and there is an interest attached to his adventures. His book deserves reading; and if it in- duces more persons to visit Green Erin," it will be better for both counties. By the way, why Ireland wa y why Ireland acquired the epithet of Green," it is difficulty to say. Spots are met with, of a beautiful green but the author avers that the green fields of which travellers and visitors write and speak so much, are the exceptions, and not the rule." It is an epithet, however, that, whether deserved or not, will never cease to be attached to Irelanl; and probably, at one period, it might be more appropriate than it is at present. LILIAN'S INHERIT ASM—A Novel: by Mrs William Murray. London: T. Cantley Newby, 33, Wellbeck- street, Cavendish-square. This is a tale of the late Mexican war, or rather it is a tale of an English family resident in the city of Mexico a little previous to and during the brief rule of the un- fortunate Maximilliau, and as a matter of course, it abounds in thrilling incidents, hair-breadth escapes, rob- beries, which are only every day occurrences in Mexican life. Mr Trevanion, a rich English gentleman, had two children, 31aurice and Kate—the first in delicate health, and the little girl—a sweet beautiful creature—being a cripple from her infancy. The doctor advised a warmer and more genial climate; aud as Mr Trevaiiion was a large proprietor of silver mines in Mtieo, Undecided to take up a residence in that country. He so and so charmed was he with the oriental (or occidental) beauty of the gorgeous scenery, that he sold Iris- English estate, and settled down in one of the suburbs of the city of Mexico. At this crisis, Mrs Murray commences her tale, and a well-told and a very interesting one it certainly is. Maurice, in the fiery thoughtlessness of youth, marries a beautiful Mexican girl whom lie chanced to meet with at a carnival although lie knew nothing of her family, only that she was an orphan, and that the family with whom she was staying vouched for her respectability. This beautiful wild-flower of Mexico caused all the trouble and sorrows which afterwards fell upon this loving and happy family. Though beautiful as an houri, she was cunning, deceitful and vindictive, and hated her husband's sister, Kate, simply because her husband loved her with a brotherly love. In process of time, a child was Isoru, a little girl named Lilian, aud she exhibited all the faults and fiery and untamable disposition of her mother. The latter became so wild that she had to be fastened up as it was discovered she was labouring under insanity, and her daughter, according to the tale, was outrageous and wild enough for any amount of insanity. Miss .Maud Slingsby, a beautiful, modest, liigh-souled, English girl, daughter of the Rector of the parish in which Mr Trevanion's English estate was situated, but had become "reduced," was intro- duced as a governess to Lilian, and under the circum- stances it is not greatly to be wondered at, that Maurice Trevanion fell inlove with Maud Sliugsby, and of course was extremely miserable in consequence. These are the chief points of the novel, and in their working out Mrs Murray has displayed much literary power, skill, and taste. The style is light, easy, and graceful, and the incidents succeed each other so rapidly that the interest of the reader never for a moment is allowed to flag. Poor Carlotta dies, but not before she recovers from her terrible disease, and is humble and repentant; and even little Lilian's wild impulsive heart is at length tamed by the kindness aud careful training of Miss Slingsby, who is much more a lady than a governess. After this, matters proceed somewhat more agreeably; and in the end Maurice Trevanion and Maud Slingsby are married and live happily and lovingly together for the rest of their lives. We repeat that this is an exceed- ingly pleasant two-volume novel, and no doubt but it will become a favourite with the reading world. THE ELIXIR OF YOUTH, &e. -London: Longman, Green, and Company. This is a volume of poems possessing much originality and freshness, the auther, Mr J. L. Elerton, being a well- known contributor to literature generally, ana 1118 pro- ductions are highly prized and admired. Besides the Elixir of Youth," there are a number of smaller poems in this volume, and generally they are much above the ordinary class of modern poetic effusions, as they con- tain noble sentiments expressed in sweet and beautiful language, and are very far removed from mere sing-song rhymes. Eraline and Agnes are the two chief charac- ters depicted, and theirs is a pathetic and sweet narra. tive which must enlist the sympathy of all readers—the style being easy, flowing, and attractive. The smaller poems ara distinguished by happy thoughts and a rich poetical diction, and stamp ,the author as a genuine poet. We have much pleasure in calling the attention of the reading public to this volume of poems, which contains beauties of no ordinary character. BELGRAVIA.-Conducted by Miss Braddon. This, the November number of this brilliant monthly magazine, is one of the very best parts which has yet been issued, and of itself stamps Helgravia" as a first- » */»?. !•».i 1. _L_.n- 1.n_ i CMSS magazine, ivi iss oraiuioii cymuiueu uer new uuvei, Dead-sea Fruit, of which fourteen chapters are concluded. The;" Cant of Modern Criticism" is one of the smartest and soundest articles, which we have met with for a long time past, aud gives us a higher opinion of Mr Sala than we ever before entertained of him. It is a withering and caustic reply to an article which appeared in the September number of lilackwood's Magazine," upon the subject of modern novels, and in which the critic is criticised with blistering severity. Mr Sala tells the plain truth in reference to the noval status of the works of some of our present popular writers, such as Lord Lytton, Mr Harrison Ainsworth and others, and the Ic caution" they receive is well calculated to take the rise" out of them. There are a great number of ar- ticles upon a great variety of subjects, all, or nearly all, of which are written in a style so as to blend instruction with amusement. We extract the following lines upon that household occupation- NETTING. I Alice, my own one, even yet I That evening I can well remember, When round the fir. we three vere met- I That evening in the dark December- We'throe-your aunt, youtself, and t, I lingered still, though late \wo» getting;— Must I be gone ? Well, by and by 4- And you, my Alice, you were Wetting. "Your Aunt—duenna kind -sat there, With head on book discreetly bended; To writer's words oould reader ne'er So very closely have attended. And you aud I seemed all alone, Her very presence then forgetting A thousand themes I chatted on, W bile, Alice darling, you were netting. "I think I asked you what poor prey, What bird while bent upon an airing, Would be a pris'ner some fine day, In that same net you were preparing. And then you blushed I smiled, and though On the event I might have betted, I started, foi I thought and lo I found—'twas I who thus was netted. I yielded to my destined fate; Your loving heart, your tender graces, Your sunny smiles-these were the bait- The sweetest face of all sweet faces! Well, Alice, well; though years have gone Since then, those hours I've ne'er regretted, Nor thought, save thankfully, upon The way in which I then was netted. TINSLEY'S MAGAZINE for November. I As we predicted this new venture in periodical litera" ture, of which the editor and conductor is the iuox- haustible Mr Edmund Yates, has proved a great success and now ranks amongst the best and most popubr of the monthlies," whether high priced or not. The ad- ventures of Dr Brady by Dr Russell is continued, and the Doctor promises to win laurels in his field of litera- ture equally as he did as a newspaper special." Save me from my Friends," is a racy, well-written article; 118 is also 11 Aunt Anastatia on Heroes." The Rock Ahead" by the editor, reaches the seventh chapter; and "Shoot- ing" is a seasonable subject. The particular attraction for the la(liea- Paris Fashions, occupies a dozen pages or so, and the chief plate is a very pretty picture indeed. Bonnets have nearly disappeared, caps and ribbon strings having taken their place Frocks, too, have likewise been eclipsed by petticoats The ladies when fashion- ably dressed will ere long dispense with both these com mon articles of attire!

A LETTER FROM ABYSSINIA. I From a letter from one of the Abyssinian captives, dated Magdala, the 7th of September, we make the fol- lowing extracts "The only news of interest I have to communicate is the gradual downfall of the Emperor. He has been going down hill very rapidly during the last two months, and should the same state of things continue much longer we may never see his face again, as he will hardly venture so far with his disaffected soldiery. For the last four months he has only been able to communicate three times with the garrison here, and even then had to em- ploy a servant of one of the native prisoners confined in this fort, fearing that one of his own people might be waylaid and murdered. There is now nothing but death between the peasantry and their late ruler. If any of the former fall into the hands of the latter, they are in- stantly burnt alive or barbarously mutilated and then left to die a lingering death. On the other hand, whenever any of the royalists fall into the hands of the peasants, they are forthwith hacked to pieces. I have managed to communicate twice with Mr Flad at Debra Tabor, but on each occasion my messenger was stripped naked on the road. Mr Flad gives me a sad account of the state of affairs in the royal camp. Nothing but de- struction of life is going on there from morning till night. The whole count) y between Debra Tabor and the Lakes, which formerly was thickly populated, has been laid waste, and all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, who could not effect their escape have been ruthlessly murdered. The garrison at Debra Tabor has been surrounded with a hedge, and if a soldier attempts to desert, his wife, children, and any other relations he may have are instantly butchered. A body of 2,500 men who attempted to decamp last month were slaughtered like so many sheep, and 295 chiefs were left to die of starvation, after suffering the mutilation of their hands and feet. Ladies, too, of noble families, after being stripped to nudity, and exposed to the gaze of the soldiery, were tortured and then executed. The most revolting cruelties, such as I must refrain from describing, are perpetrated on helpless women, who are held accountable for the desertion of their relatives. In addition to 400 confined in this fort, the Emperor has with him at Debra Tabor no less than 200 native cap- tives, who, a few months ago, were accounted among his most trusty adherents. Besides myself and seven other fellow-prinoners here, six of the Europeans at Debra Tabor are in chains, five for an abortive attempt to escape, and the sixth because he was alleged to have meddled in matter which did not concern him. There is some talk of the Emperor coming here at the end of this month, which I do not believe but if he should come, I fear" e shall have a miserable time of it, unless he puts on once more the gaib of friendship, in order to ward off from himself any impending calamity. It is very extraordinary that he still manifests great friendli- ness towards me. No messenger arrives from the royal court without bringing me some polite message from his Majesty, and an injunction to the authorities to pay me every attention. This is the more extraordinary as he is dreadfully indignant with Colonel Merewether for hav- ing sent him a telescope, threatening to chain him as soon as he gets him into his clutches. The reason for thinking himself insulted by the gift I take to be this. In his correspondence with me he generally uses the Abyssinian phrase, I am blind,' to describe his ignor- ance of many things known to Europeans. When the telescope arrived he took it to mean that as he had com- plained of being blind, nothing would suit him as well as that instrument to cure his blindness. Mr Flad has told the Emperor plainly that England would be forced to fight him unless be released the captives and sent them to the coast. To which he replied, 'Let them come by the power of God I will meet them, and you may call me a woman if I do not beat them.' His last letter to me was very friendly. After courteously de- clining a small present which I bad sent him, he goes on to say, What I require of my friend the Queen, and of you, my brother, is your friendship. Not that I am rich in worldly goods, but what I desire most is that you should open my eyes, for I am a blind donkey.' That letter was written on the 10th of April, and the mes- senger who carried my reply has been unable as yet to make his way back through the rebels who infest the roads. Mr Flad informs me that as recently as last month, when the Emperor had ordered some swords to be presented to different officers for bravery in the field, he caught sight of one which he had given me before my incarceration, and forthwith directed it to be taken care of, adding, I intend shortly to bring him and them (the other Europeans) together, and will then restore him his property.' This I doubt very much unless he is constrained to release us by pressure from without. You will be surprised to learn that unless supplies reach us very soon from Massowah we shall all be in danger of starvation. Despite my instructions to the contrary, everything has been sent via Matammah, and the con- sequence is they never reach us, and we are nearly desti- tute of the means of Bubsistence. As regards the mea- sures to be adopted for obtaining our release, I have re- peatedly and distinctly given my opinion in the proper quarters, and unless the officer commanding the force follows my advice I fear our lives will be in danger, and the troops will be greatly harassed. We have no lack of friends in the royal camp and elsewhere, but unfor- tunately they tremble at the very name of Theodore, and have not the pluck to move a finger on our behalf. P.S.We are afraid that Magdala will soon be besieged by the warlike Walloo Gallas, in which case no messenger would be able to leave or to approach it. A party of 400 men of this garrison very recently made a night attack upon one of their villages about twenty miles from hence, and after killing the chief and a num- ber of his followers carried the remainder of the inhabi- tants into captivity, and plundered everything they could lay hands on. The reason for this attack was, because two men of secondary note had decamped into the Galla country. I fear we shall have a troublesome time of it for the next two or three months. In addition to other causes of anxiety, there is much sickness just now on this mountain, and upwards of 100 native prisoners have died of what appears to be typhus fever during the last three months. Thank God, the epidemic has not yet reached our quarter. I hear that from forty to fifty persons are dying daily in the royal camp at Debra labor from different diseases."

Cure of Coughs, Colds, and Hoarseness by Dr. Locock's Pulmonic itafei-s.-From Mr. A. Whittaker, Bookseller, I.Fargate, Sheffield.—" Numberless parties in and around Sheffield have found the greatest benefit from Dr. Locock's Pulmonic Wafers. Among the rest, a gentle- man, who has been a leading actor on the Sheffiield stage upwards of twenty years, assured me that he always kept by him a box of Locock's Wafers, whether at home or when travelling to distant towns, as being the best and readiest remedy he can get for colds and hoarseness, so peculiarly troublesome in his profession. They give instant relief to asthma, consumption, coughs, and all disorders of the breath and lungs. To singers and public speakers they are invaluable for the voice, and have a pleasant taste. Price Is id., and 2s 9d per box. Sold by ull Chemists. Few Surgical Inventions of the present day have so readily obtained and speedily secured an enduring re- putation than White's Moc-Main Patent Lever Truss. And in truth we are scarcely surprised at this acquisition of celebrity, when we are reminded of the worth and great merits possessed by the Invention ;skiU and science in its conformation, comfort in its wear, and moderation in its price. The thousands who are suffer- ing from Rupture and its kindred maladies, have indeed reason to bless the day upon which Mr. White produced his Moc-Main Truss,

THE WORKHOUSE HOSPITAL. I SIR, I perceive from your report of the last meeting I of the Board of Guardians that the Workhouse Hospital was again brought upon the tapis in reference to the loan, and that Mr Luck took the opportunity of again l protesting against it, ns, in his opinion, the building of it will be to incur a large and useless expense. I do not agree with Mr Luck in this matter, but I think he might have been indulged with the privilege of quietly stating his views, though certainly it was somewhat late in the day. The Chairman, however, was inexorably correct, and objected very curtly to having his nice little hobby found fault with, and particularly when the speaker was strictly out of order." Of course we all know that "order is Heaven's first law;" but it is quite possible to be inordinately orderly, and I for one think Mr Bicknell was so on tms occasion. But if Mr Luck was somewhat unlucky in his remarks, Mr John Roberts hit a very important nail in his, and right plump on the head. I quite agree with him; and he argues with the majority of the Board that a Hos- pital connected with the Workhouse would be highly useful and beneficial, and ultimately it may even effect a saving of expense, to say nothing of human suffering but at the same time I fully endorse what Mr Roberts stated that it would be quite practical to have a Hospital erected as large and as commodious as the one proposed for a less sum than £ 1,200. This is a very large sum for such a purpose, and your readers will perceive it when they reflect that the Workhouse to be built at Llanerchymedd will not cost above £ 1,800. Good com- fortable rooms are wanted for the sick, but expensive and costly decorations are neither required nor are they at all suitable. I feel convinced that a good useful build- ing of the size and kind really wanted as a hospital for infectious diseases could be erected for X800, or one- third less than the sum proposed to be spent. The dearest materials are not always the best, and in some respects bricks are better as well as cheaper man $to bicknell seems to think that all knowledge as we paI authority is centred in the Poor Law Hoard, but this notion is a mistaken one. The P.L. Board care but little about expense, and if the Guardians are satis- fied on that point, they are contentto be so. What they look to is that the building be internally adapted for the object for which it is proposed to build it, and that is why they look so sharply after the plans. As to the material, that is a matter of secondary or of no con- sideration at all with them, and it is in this that a great saving can be effected. It is highly desirable that a hos- pital for infectious diseases for poor people should be built; but there exists no reason why it should be made like a palace, or a London club-house, not even when it has been "approved of by the Poor Law Bonrd." As for those powerful gentlemen, they would "approve" of a Hospital being built of Carrara marble if the Guardians wished it, so that it was suitable in other respects. Here then is a chance for practising a little economy, instead ef talking pompously and self-gloriously about it agthe Chairman of the Board does sometimes when pressed hard by refractory Guardians from 'tother si. the water." Every builder can tell us that a building can be erected to accommodate a dozen sick persons for less than XI,200, and they ought in justice to speak out and say so. This is not a time for spending one farthing of the ratepayers' money which can possibly be avoided. The police-rate is double what it formerly was, and from no cause which any one yet has been able to clearly state, for the police force itself has not been increased and the county rate, too, is very high, and it will be higher still. We understand the county rate; we know that we cannot build county halls, lunatic asylums, and new gaols, without money—and these the Government compel us to erect—and this money must be found by the county at large. The expenditure of the Union itself, too, has vastly increased of late years, gradually and imperceptibly, until it is almost double what it was twelve or fifteen years ago. This, there- fore, is surely not the time to recklessly build up costly erections even though some kind of building be con- sidered necessary and as a Hospital is required, and as the majority of the ratepayers of the Union have ex- pressed themselves in favour of it, we think it is the bounden duty of the Guardians to see that its cost be reduced to a minimum even though it is a fact, so con- clusively brought forward by the Chairman, that the plans have been approved by the Poor Law Hoard. Mr Guardian John Roberts must look further into this matter and bring forward two or three respectable builders to back him. If he does so, he will justly be entitled to be considered the Joseph Hume of the Bangor Board of Guardians. Yours truly, I Oct. 28th, 1867. VILLAGE HAMPDEN. Oct. 28th, 1867.

I WATER AND GAS SUPPLY FOR BANGOR. SIR,—I think I may venture to assert that ninety- nine out of every hundred of the inhabitants of Bangor •frill entirely approve of the proposal which the members of-the Board of Health, at their adjourned meeting on Monday last, have agreed to make to the directors of the Water Company, in order to ascertain, if possible, the exact quantity of water that comes daily to town through their pipes. The proposal is simply this, that the Water Company empty their reservoir on the top of the mountain, above Bangor, at a certain time, to be fixed by both boards, then turn every drop of the water that comes down through their pipes to it, and send Mr White for the Water Company, and Mr Hardie for the Board of Health, aud as many of the members of each board, and of the inhabitants of Bangor, as may wish to go, to see in how mauy hours it will be filled. This being done and its dimensions taken, it will be a sum of so simple a nature that nearly all the school-boys of the town will be able to tell us at once the exact quantity of water that comes to Bangor every day. This test is perfectly simple and can be made without incurring any expense by either party and it is to be hoped that the directors of the Water Company will at once agree to make it, in order to put an end to the long disputed and vexed question of water supply for this town. I the result of this test will prove that the Watar Com pany do really bring daily to town the immense quantity- of water they assert they do, namely, 750,000 gallons,* or about 93 gallons per head per day, for every man, woman, and child in Bangor, it will be high time to do all we possibly can to put a stop to the waste that must be going on. But if, on the other hand, the test will show that we do not get a proper supply, there will be noth- ing to be dona but take steps to compel the company to fulfil, their contract with the town by giving ample and constant supply, or leave them to their fate and go to Parliament for powers to form another Water and Gas Company. The whole concern is, I am told, a very pro- fitable investment, and ought in all fairness to belong to the ratepayers, and not to few individuals, most of whom reside from Bangor, and have no other connection with the town than coming here periodically to receive and carry away large dividends that should circulate amongst those who pay them. It was stated at the last board, and on, I believe, a verj good authority, that our Water and Gas Company may, and probably do manufacture their gas for about 2s 4d per thousaud cubic feet, and that they charge for lighting the public lamps at the rate—the exorbitant rate of 8s 4d per thousand cubic feet! This sounds in- credible, but the gentleman who made the statement has taken much pains to ascertain the price of gas in a great number of towns in England and Wales, and for how much it can be produced under different circum- stances and in different places, and it might be well worth the serious consideration of the inhabitants of Bangor to see whether the time has not arrived when they may justly expect from the Gas Company a very I considerable reduction in its price. I am, sir, Yours respectfully, MORGAN RICHARDS. Oct. 24,1867. *See Mr Loam's report on the water works, in the Chronicle of the oth instant, where he says thus—" The capacity of the pipes will deliver 750,000 gallons of water per diem, which quantity can be readily delivered into the summit reservoir for distribution to the town. Such of the members of the Board of Health as were at our meeting on Monday will please take particular notice of the words I have put in italics in the above quotation. 11 does away entirely with the only possible objection that some of us thought might be made to the test we ask the Water Company to make. IM. R. I

HOW WATER IS NOT SUPPLIED TO CERTAIN HOUSES IN BANGOR. SIR,-As a good many of your country readers fiU" t know to their disgust there have been for months past a terrible amount of talk and writing respecting the waste of water in Bangor on one side, and a sad defi- ciency of it on the other side, and your paper is rendered almost unreadable to outsiders" by the wordy and interminable disputes. The Local Board of Health and the Water and Gas Company are nearly always at logger- heads, but nothing seems to come of it of a practical character—excepting "resolutions" which Mr Hardie duly records in the minute book of the board. On his part Mr White, the Manager of the Water Company, is busily engaged in cutting off water pipes and in sum- moning refractory or negligent water consumers before the magistrates, and in upholding the solemn right of the company he represents to have their "pound of Sesh" iu the shape of valved cisterns. Everybody is abusing him just at present, and even the Bench of Magistrates will not see things precisely as he would wish them to do, and he can hardly procure a convic- tion when the case is as clear as noonday—to him! Now, I have a few words to aay-a sort of charge to make against, not Mr White indeed, but against Mr White's management of the water supply; and I shall be curious to see how Mr W. "explains" this charge of mine away, although I have often admired his skill in fencing, and the ability be often diaphye m the art of forensic self-defence. The facM are aafoHuwe—f live in one of a block of four houses in Caelleppa, Nos. 39, 41, 43, and 45, and not one in this lot has ever been charged with wasting water, or with being behind with the water rate. On the night of Saturday, the 19th ultimo, we went to our beds as usual rejoicing in the thought that this water nuisance did not bother or trouble us, and we could look with the most perfect philosophic equanimity upon the sufferings and wants of others. Our bread and our water were sure But, alas, on Sunday morning, the plague of no-water had visited us likewise, and there was not a drop to be had for money The four houses were all similarly afflicted, 'I I _J. and we had to catch water in pans ana aisnes m urici to perform our Sunday ablutions so as to make a de- cent appearance in church! The heavens were more propitious than Mr White and the Water Company, for we were treated to a fine shower of raiu just at the critical time-and for which we paid nothing. Still no water was in the pipes, nor was there any during the whole of Sunday. Monday came aud went, but still no water; ditto, Tuesday; but, on Wednesday evening to our great astonishment, and may I add, to our delight, we discovered water in the pipe, like Hagar did a well in the desert. Now, these are facts which Mr White cannot deny, although he may attempt to excuse or account for them. It was a mis- take," I dare say—some pipe or pipes were wrong" somewhere or other; but what I wish particularly to know is, are we to pay for water which we never re- ceived, and that through the fault of the company, or their servants—certainly not through ours—" that is the question ?" Yours, &c., Oct. 25th, 1867. DRY-AS-DUST. Oct. 25th, 1867.

——— MR. BEAMISH SAUL AND THE BANGOR WATER COMPANY. Slrt,A,s everything affecting the rights of individu- als is of importance to the whole community, I trust you will allow me to make public my grievances, through the medium of your valuable paper. I am a ratepayer of this city, and on last Tuesday, for the first time in my life, was summoned before the magistrates, at the in- stance of the Bangor Water Company, on the charge of wilfully permitting a stop-cock, on my premises, to be open for a long and unreasonable time, so as to waste the water of the Company. It seems that this Company employ a man, with the unconstitutional power of legally trespassing on the pro- perty of ratepayers, to spy out if any water is running; and woe betide the unhappy househulder who leaves his back door open, and thus exposes himself to the espion- age of this employe. I have been living in Upper Bangor for nearly twelve months, and during all that time I have have been left daily for hours without any supply of water; and, as a natural consequence, the closet in my back premises became stopped up, there being gene- rally no water when the closet is most used. It had been in this state for about a week, when on the second of September, the waterman found the valve open, one of my boys probably, having either left it open when there was no water in the pipe, or hoping to free the closet by a flush of water. N ow, the water could not have been running on for a long time, as, in consequence of the stoppage it would have overflowed the pan, and such was not the case. The fact that I had to get the closet twice cleared between the second and twenty- fourth of September, is a clear proof that the supply of water was deficient, and tliat there was no habitual waste. On the latter date the water was again found running, according to the evidence of the waterman; but he could specify lio definite time during which he found it 6o, merely stating that it was running for a long time. All this was said in Welsh, and is correctly given, as far as I could ascertain. He afterwards vol un- teered the information in English, that oil another oc- casion the water was running for 40 minutes; but he only heard it, as the gate was locked. Now, sir, on this evidence alone the Magistrates cendemned me for via- fully permitting the water to be wasted, without even the shadow of a proof that the long time" of the in- former, and "the long and unreasonable time" of "the act" agreed with one another. The" wilflllly" (an important word) was got over by the flippant remark, that I was responsible for every thing that occurred on my premises. As I pay 19s per annum water rate, I have a clear right to the use of a bath room. Xow, to fill a bath five feet long, two and a half feet broad, and two feet deep, out of the principal water tap in my house, would require over forty minutes at high, and above eight hours at low pressure. If, in accordance with this my undoubted right, I were filling such a bath, and an informer saw or even heard the water run- ning during this necessary time, it seems that I must be fined according to law, as laid down in the Bangor Jus- tice-Room. It was never once asked, was it at all likely that I would deliberately and illegally allow the water to be waste^ neither did the Magistrates care to know whether thfc closet required flushing or not. The Company are bound under their Act to give me a constant supply of water they have failed to do so ou more than 300 occasions, and have thus committed more than 300 actionable offences against me; and therefore, in justice, ought to have been more forbearing in the case of my first supposed offence. But 110; they may do, it seems, what they please, and like O'Connell, drive a coach and four through an Act of Parliament. Now the question to be decided is this Is the allowing of a stop-cock to be open occasionally, even for forty minutes, to filisli a closet, which is only at intervals sup- plied with water, an illegal act ? I say no. And I be- lieve, if 1 had the advantage of a jury (the twelve good and lawful men who have been the best guardians of English liberty), I should have nothing to complain of now. If I had had the least idea that matters would have turned out as they have done, I should have un- doubtedly obtained legal assistance but I thought that English gentlemen would give me a careful hearing, and endeavour to ascertain the full truth of the case, and not merely whether I could be convicted by a little straining of the Act. Vain trust! I rejected the advice of friends, who told me that there was no justice to be obtained in water cases," as some of the Magistrates were large shareholders in the Bangor Water Company. TIIOS. BEAMISH SAUL. (Mr Saul is mistaken in his last remark. The gentle men who adjudicated on these cases have no interest whatever in the Water Compally.-Ev. N.W.C.)

THE MEETING OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. Sitt,-Caii you or some of your enlightened readers inform me why does this society that professes to be an unsectarian affair, hold their meetings in chapels of different sects, particularly the Calvinistic Methodists in towns where other public buildings are to be had, much to the anuoyance of those who have scruples to enter meeting houses. If I am properly informed, the nineteen-twentieths of the funds of this society come from churchmen's pockets, and still wherever they can in Wales, the meet- ings are held in chapels, and handled altogether by sec- tariaus, who are found, as a rule, to be selected as com- mittee, collectors, aud other officers; and, moreover, I am told that it is the fundamental r¡¡J.e of the society to advise the clergyman of the parish where the meetings are to be held but in very few instances this is done. Why, churchmen ought to protest against such manage- ment; and in my opinion they ought to come forward with their own society, the S.P.K.G., which is second in nought to the British aud Foreign Society. What will the secretary, Air Phillips, say to this ? Yours, &c., A PROTESTANT.

THE OVER-CROWDED COURTS OF CAR- NARVON. SIH,—May I claim permission to trespass on your valuable space while I make a few remarks on the pre- sent state of things in Carnarvon. For some time past the unhealthy state of the town has been the Table talk" of the country at large. Its bad water, bad air, dirty narrow streets, filthy over-crowded courts and back lanes, nasty taupits, and stinking chandlers work- shops, and many other existing evils have cast a moral, social and religious blight ou the whole place. No doubt, Government interference and the pressure of public opinion, have compelled those in authority to look to the improvement of the town, and consequently something has been doue to remedy the evil; but it has been done in such a way as to make the inhabitants of Carnarvon smart uuaer tne neavy iisii 01 rates allU taxes-the full weight of which will ten 1, by and bye, to crush to the earth the honest and industrious house- holder. But what I mean to direct attention to ill this letter is a statement made by the mayor at a meeting of the Carnarvon Auxiliary Bible Society, recently held in this town. He is reported to have said, that there are over-crowded courts" in this town and in another part of his speech he refers to the fearful over-crowding of those dens Is it a fact that such polluted places are allowed to exist ? Is it possible that with fever doing its deadly work amongst us that this fearful over- crowding" is permitted ? Does the worthy Mayor believe his own statementIf so, why not take immediate steps to do away with this fearful" state of things ? Over-crowding" produces disease, immorality, and poverty, and proves a curse to the place where it gains a footing. Yet the Mayor of Carnarvon, knows all this, believes this, yea, at a public meeting he stands up and tell his audience that there are fearful over- crowding" in those Carnarvon dens, and never tries to remove the evil he so much deplores But this is not all. He tells us that the Bible has not been "effectually introduced into those over- crowded courts." Hence it follows that they are desti. tute of God's Word, know not the inspired record and consequently are ignorant of the way of salvation' Good people of Carnarvon, is this true ? The Mayor says it is, and he seems to know all about it. Can this be true iu a land of Bibles, amongst Bible reading chris- tians-in a town which has a Bible depot-in a town where there are Christian ministers—in a place where w h ere large sums are annually collected for the Foreign Missions? I repeat it on the authority of the Mayor's own statement that there are over-crowded dens in this very town, and in which the inhabitants of those polluted spots are without the Word of eternal life Now, I respectfully ask the Mayor in particular, and the good people of this town in general, why not begin at home ? Why not take a few pounds of the cash collected yearly, and pay two or three pious men for devoting their time and attention to the visiting those over-crowded courts ? Men who will read to and pray with those godless families, and thus try, under the Divine blessing, to turn them from darkness to light. And as regards the condition of those poor people who are caged up in those back lanes and courts, why not try to get some persons of influence to bring the matter under the notice of gentlemen of property, and try to get them to build some neat little cottages in or near the town, and by that means enhance the value of their land, rescue the poor artisan and labourer from those filthy places, and thus bring down a blessing on their own heads and the locality in which they live ? Yours, Ac., I J. T. S.

I THE LATE LICENSING CONTEST AT BLAE. NAU FESriNIOG. SIR,-Perhar)s you will allow me, through the medium of your valuable paper, to draw public attention to the above discreditable contest. One class of the peti- tioners want us to believe that their objections arose from principle, that the morality of the neighbourhood demanded their utmost exertions in this direction. We will readily admit all this. But how came they to pitch on one house more than another ? It is true that the Rev. Mr Jones made a faint oppo- sition to the granting of a license to the Queen's Hotel, and another aspirant fur pulpit honours opposed the Wynn's Arms, but it would be well for this gentleman to remember that example is better than precept. The following fact will suffice to show this gentleman's and his friend's earnestness of principle." Mr H. E. J ones built P. large house here suitable for a first-elass hotel, and he intended to get a license for the same, but understanding that the executive committee here determined to oppose him, he got the nece.-sary form for an excise license, and got it signed by six respectable ratepayers and the overseer of the oarish. Mr J. R. Jones, of the Offeren Vaults, did the same; but the overseer for some cause or other refused to sign his, who, by the bye, is a member of the Jicv. Mr Jones's connection, and a near relative of the said Mr H. E. Jones. Out of the nine public houses that we are blessed with, the three named were only objected to by the reverend gentleman and his friends "upon I)riiiell,le." In a future letter I intend to call attention to some of these 'houses and their accommodation, and title to a spirit license. I am, sir, Yours truly, CAUSTIC. Festiniog, October 25, 1867. (We struck out the allusion to the Paraffin oil" and its tendency to make a man a drunkard. Such personalities never help any cause, and besides they show bad taste, to say nothing of their being libellous. Of course, in such matters, there should be no favouritism, and for ourselves we believe the magis- trates in the Festiniog district are much too fair and upright to show any.—ED. N. IV. C.)

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES. SIR,-Ill this age when education is attracting so much attention throughout the kingdom, and, in fact, in. all the countries of Europe, it is only natural we should "Xpcct a corresponding feeling to prevail in the Principality stimulating us to accompany in this march of intellectual progress. In taking a retrospect of what has been done in the course of the last twenty years to improve our educa- tional system we find that vast changes havf been wrought. The old village schoolmaster on the one hand has been dethroned in favour of a new dynasty of certificated masters, who have taken possession of almost every corner in the country. On the other hand, Oxford and Cambridge have of late years been well stocked with a sudden wealth of open scholarships, and have been more or less opened for other religious de- nominations than the Established Church. Ireland also in the face of many difficulties has triumphantly suc- ceeded in securing for her sons institutions to supply the long-felt want "of an improved academical education equally accessible to all classes of the community with- out religious distinction." There is no one who will doubt that Wales also stands in need of a similar nursery of education, and in our endeavours to establish such, we must expect to en- counter some dififculties, but none, I venture to say, in- surmountable. In fact what has already been done, should, in my humble opinion, be an incentive to all to resume the good work with redoubled energy. While the subject of education is so generally discussed in all quarters, this is the opportune moment for us to resusci- tate this good cause in the Principality and adopting the old Welsh adage for our guide-" Undeb sydd north," I have no doubt our efforts would be crowned with success. A magnificent building at Aberystwith, affording ample accommodation and commanding from its situa- tion the joint support of North and South Wales, has, by the reverses which have lately wrecked so many building speculations, been fortunately secured on e.isy terms. At this stage, the important undertaking stauds greatly in need of funds to discharge the balance of the purchase money, and to defray the cost of completing the building. It is earnestly hoped that all classes will, in the interest of their country and the cause of educa- tion, aid in accomplishing this praiseworthy object, and thereby enable our country to boast of a seat of learn- ing worthy to stand beside the time-honoured institu- tijiii of England and Scotland. May I, Mr Editor, entreat the favour of your power- ful advocacy of this good work. 1 am, sir, Yours obediently, MERVINIAN.

I LLANIDLOES. NEW DOCTOR. About the beginning of the last month, J. Lloyd Jones, Esq., M.R.C.S., L.S.A., of Treborth, near Bangor, commenced practice in this town. A great desire had been expressed for some time past for another doctor in this town. SWALLOWS.—On Wednesday, the 16th ultimo, which was a very fine and warm day, there were many of these handsome summer birds flying about the town. Pro- bably they were too young and weak to depart with the great number which migrated a month ago. NATIONAL SCHOOL.—On Thursday, the 17th ultimo, the Rev. Shadrach t'ryce, M.A., of Yspytty Ifan, one of H r Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, examined the classes of the National School in this town, and he ex- pressed very great satisfaction at the advanced state of the school, and also with the pupil teachers, who were examined. THE CHURCH.—On Sunday, the 20th ultimo, sermons were preached in the parish church, on the subject of "Home Mission," by the Rev. H. Harries Jones, M.A., (Quellyn), vicar, to large congregations. Collections were made at the close of the services iu aid of the Additional Curate's Society and home mission. HARVEST HOME SERVICEs.-On Wednesday, the 23rd ultimo, thanksgiving meetings were held in the parish church, morning and evening, for the abundant harvest. In the morning, after the service was read, a very edifying and appropriate discourse was delivered by the Rev. W. G. Abbott, B.A., London. In the evening, after the service was read, a most suitable and impres- sive sermon was preached by the Rev. Shadrach Pryce.. Yspytty Ifan, to a thronged audience. NATIONAL SCHOOLROOM.—On Thursday, the 24th ultimo, at this place, the Hev. U. G. Abbott, B.A., London, delivered a very able lecture, to a large assembly on the theme, A day and a night at the East end of Loudon." Collection was made in favour and on behalf of the Pastoral Curate's Society, and the Church Home Mission.