Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

l THE RUGELEY POISONINGS. The inquest on the exhumed body of Anne Palmer, the wife of William Palmer, began on Friday, at Ruge- ley. The witnesses examined were Ann Rowley and Mrs. Bradshaw, attendants on Mrs. Palmer; Eliza Tharme, house servant; Sarah Palmer and George Palmer, sister and brother of the suspected Mr. Barn- ford, an aged surgeon, and Dr. Knight, a physician, medical attendants on Mrs. Palmer; Mr. Bergen, su- perintendent of police, Mr. W. H. Tindall, assistant actuary of the Atlas Insurance Company. The evidence chiefly bore upon the state of Mrs. Palmer's health and the symptoms attending her death. Some excitement was caused by a declaration from the brother of the accused that Mr. Hawldns, one of the jurymen, said to have assisted in furnishing evidence for the prosecu- tion, would never leave the jury-box without returning a verdict of guilty against William Palmer. The evi- dence of Mrs. Palmer's medical and other attendants, especially that of Dr. Knight, of Stafford, was favour- able to the accused, the impression being, that she died jfrom the effects of English cholera. me inquest was resumed on Saturday, ana orougtit to an adverse cocclusion, the jury finding the verdict that Anne Palmer died from the administration of tartarlsed antimony, and that it was designedly admin- istered to her by her hushaud, William Palmer."—The Coroner That is a verdict of wilful murder, gentle- men." The foreman:—" 'Wc mean it so." The verdict, it is said, appeared to give great satis- faction to the court, and as soon as the foreman had delivered the verdict there were manifestations of ap- plause, which the policemen were unable to suppress. The witnesses examined during the day were Mr. Thurlby, who made up Dr. Knight's prescriptions, Dr. Monckton, ofRugeley, who made a post mortem exa- mination, and dinered from Dr. Knight as to the oiuse of death, and Mr. Crisp, inspector of police at Rugeley. The nrst witness was Dr. Alfred Taylor, who, having analysed the viscera, deposed that the stomach, when examined with a magnifying glass, presented the ap- pearance of mineral matter—such an appearance as be had never seen during 25 years' experience, except when mineral poison was in the stomach. He deposed that he and Dr. Rees discovered antimony and arsenic, but no other poison. Their conclusions were, that all parts of the body examined contained antimony; that she waa passing antimony bv purging when she died that a preparation of antimony must have been taken by the deceased within a few hours of her death; that the antimonial compound, if not taken by the deceased as the result of a series of accidents—not one accident, but a series-was improperly adminis- tered to her, eithar through ignorance or by design; that the antimony found in the body had not been the result of one large dose, but of several doses taken at intervals, some days before her death, and until within a few hours of her death that the antimonial prepara- tion taken was tartar emetic; and that this may or may not have acted as a poison, according to circum- stances—may or may not have been the cause of dc- ceased's death but in the event of the existence of any natural cause for illness, may have accelerated death, by producing great depression and exhaustion though in the examination of the stomach, bowels, and other organs, they could not detect any changes as the result of natural disease. There was nothing in the shape of disease to account for death. Dr. Reea corroborated the evidence of his learned colleague. Dr. Knight was recalled, and stated that since hearing the evidence of Dr. Taylor and Dr. R 's his opinion as to the cause of death was much mo- dined and altered, and he now believed that the trut: Muse of death was that assigned by Drs. Taylor and Rees. (Partial applause, which was, however, immediately sup- pressed.) Mr. B. MiHer, surgeon, of Rugeley, was. exa- mined as to the certificates he had gives of Mrs. Palmer's state of health for the satisfaction of various insurance omces. Mr. Deane then handed in a list of the various omces to which Palmer had proposed to insure his wife's life, with the amounts :— Scottish Equitable .65,000—accepted. Sun 5,000—accepted. Norwich Uuion 3,000—accepted. The Rock 5,000—dedined. Scottish Amicable 3,000—decHaed. C accepted for ?300, New Equitable 3,000 ? but declined fur ( ?3,000. At!as 5,000—declined. Legal, Medica!, & General 5,000 —declined. Total .634,000 Mr. MiHer, re examined, said he never knew or heard of a case of slow poisoning by antimony except tha&which he heard then. From the symptoms, the post mortem examination, and analysis, he should say she died from smal) doses of antimony. Mr. H. T. Lomax, surgeon, residing at Stanbrd, stated that he knew the deceased, and examined her several times for various insurance otBces. Mr. Henry Wakley, barrister, manager of the New Equi. table Life OCSce, received f< om Mr. Lomax a proposal for assuring the life of Mrs. Palmer for J&300. The proposal was accepted on the 19th of January, 1854. After the proposal was accepted, but before auy policy was issued, the office received another proposal for E3,000, on the ground that the first was filled up through error. The proposal was declined, although at urst accepted. It was declined in consequence of information obtained from the secretary of another omce, and because they heard that it had been onered to several other omces. Other evidence of a like kind was given by Mr. John Goddard, actuary to the Rock Life Assurance Company Mr. Thomas M. Sawbridge, manager of the National Provincial Bank of England in Rnxcley; Mr. Atfred Bi- shop Butterneld, clerk to the Snn Life Assurance Com- pany Mr. J. E. C. Koch, Secretary to the Scottish Ami- cabte Life Society. Mr. Smith asked Dr. Taylor whether he did not believe this was the nrst case of slow poisoning by antimony 0:1 record in this or in any other country ?—Dr. Taylor It is the first case I ever knew of in this country or in any other. Mr. Deane said he had no further evidence to offer on the part of the Crown. Dr. Taylor then asked that his evidence might be taken with respect to the ana- lysis in the case of Walter Palmer. Mr. Smith said he had no objection, especially as he understood that Dr. Tay)or had not been able to find any mineral or vegetable poison in the body of Walter Palmer. Dr. Taylor That is so. But Mr. Deaue said It would be impossible tc take the evidence of Dr. Taylor without nrst calling the evidence of those who had attended Walter Palmer during his last illness. The jury intimated that, in their opinion, there was no necessity for troubling Mr. Smith to oner any observations. The coroner tbeu proceeded to address the jury, after which they gave their verdict as already stated. INQUEST ON THE BODY OF WALTER I PALMER. The inquest on the body of the late Walter Palmer, brother of William Palmer, who died at Castle-terrace St-inbrd, on the IGth of August last, was opened on Monday morning, at Rugeley, before the same coroner and jury which was empannellcd to investigate the death of Anne Palmer. The proceedings continued to excite the deepest in- terest in the neighbourhood, and the jury room was crowded during the day by persons who knew the de- ceased. Mr. Henry Augustus Deane, solicitor, of Gray's-inn, appeared for the Crown and Mr. Johu Smith, solicitor, of Birmingham, for William Palmer, against whom two verdicts of wilful murder have already been recorded. Mr. Day, surgeon, Stafford proved that he attended Walter Palmer for six weeks previous to his death he prescribed for him, but did not make up any medicines; in his opinion apoplexy was the cause of his death. Mr and Mrs Waikendcn, who reside at Stan'ord, gave evidence as to deceased's very intemperate habits, and the former stated that Walter Palmer frequently snCered from àdiriltm ti-eitions. TUESDAY. I The inquiry was resumed at half past nine on Tuesday moruiug. The witnesses examined during the nrst three hours were principally medical attendants, all agreeing in the opinion that Walter Palmar died from apoplexy brought on by excessive drinking. George Whyman, assistant to Mander, Weaver, and Co chemists, Wolverhamptua, said that on Tuesday in Aug- ust, he sold to William Palmer one onnce of powdered jalop,oneo)tnce ofPrussic Acid (Hydrocyanic), and a third article which he could not remember; knew that William Palmer was a surgeon or he should not have sold him the Prusoic acid, the bottle containing the Pmasic acid was labeUed, and the dose marked or it. Thomas Myatt, boots at the Grand Junction Hotel, Stanford, deposed to William Pa)mer giviig to him two bottles (one a small ph;a)) to keep a short time before the death of Walter Palmer, and after the death of the latter William Palmer asked witness if anybody had made in- quiries about the bottles. Mr Thomas Lloyd, landlord of the above hotel, said at the time referred to by last witness he saw William Pal- mer pour something out of a large bottle into a smaller one, drop by drop. The colour of the liquid in the smal- ler bottle was white and clear like water. This terminated the examination of witnesses as to the cause of death.

FURTHER AND LATEST PARTICULARS. ) .RLIGPLEY, Wednesday, j The fact of the inquest on the body of Walter Palmer having been further adjourned to Wednesday next, for the purpose of hearing further evidence from Professor Tay!or and other witnesses, and also to procure the attendance of Mr. Pratt, of London, respecting the iu- surance transactions with William Palmer, has given an additional excitement and interest to this most cx- ti a'lrdinary case, audit is now very gencraUy believed that the result, of the inquest will be accomplished by the cri- minal implication of other parties besides William Palmer, should even the latter be acquitted of the charge of the murder of his brother. Captain Hatton, the superintendent of the county po- lice, who has been in London for the last few days, mak- ing inquiries into the circumstances connected with the case ot Mr. John Parsons Cook, arrived at Stafford very sbortty after it was known that the Inquest had been fur- ther adjourned, and soon after his arrival, he waited upon Mr. Deane, the solicitor, who is conducting the case on behalf of the insurance companies, and stated to him that he had obtained highly important information connected with the case now under investigation, and that he was very glad that the case had been turther adjourned. It is understood that Captain Hatton has had an interview with Mr. Pratt, during bis stay in London, and has ob- tained from that person several most important admissions respecting his insurance transactions with Palmer, which will be laid betore the jury at the adjourned inquest, and which, it is believed, will unravel a vast number of cir- cumstances connected with these extraordinary transac- tions. It is now very generally believed that before the case terminates, investigations will certainly take place with regard to the other persons who have suddenly died. Dur- ing the present week the wife and brother of Mr. Bladen, who died at Palmer's house under rather mysterious cir- cumstances, and waa burled in Palmer's famiiy vault In Ruxelcy churchyard, have been in Rugeley, prosecuting Inquiries respecting the circumstances connected with his dfath, and have also been In communication with Sir George G:-cy, the Home Secretary, and we believe it may be confidently relied upou.that an ordt'r for the exhuma- tion of the body, and an inquest, will be at once issued. A scene may be expected at Stafford, on Monday next. for a writ of habeas corpus has been issued for the pro- duction of Palmer at one of the law courts In London, on Tuesday next, at a trial respecting one of the forged bills for L- 1,000. The case is that of Mr. Padwick of London, to whom Palmer gave the bill. It was drawn by Palmer, and purported to be accepted by Ins mother. The bill was paid, and subsequently an action was commenced against Palmer for the amount, bince his imprisonment. his mother has been sued by Mr. Padwick as the accep- tor of the bill, and she is defending the action on the grnuad that she never accepted the bili, and Palmer is going to London for the purpose, as is understood, of ad- mitting the forgery. With regard to the hiat, it seems to I, now the pre- vailing opinion, that the appiication which will be made for the prisoner's removal to another county, on the strong feeling existing against him here, ill be success- t ful, and that the trial will most probably take place in I London. The various statements which have, from time to time, been made re,opeetiug the counsel engaged for the pro- secution and the defence respectively, arc more or Icsa erroneous. We can state upon the authority of the res- pective solicitors engaged, that In the case of Mr. John Parsons Cook, the counsed at present engaged on behalf of the prosecution are Mr. Muddiest on and Mr. Scotland, one of the leaders of the Oxfoi d circuit; and it is expected that In addition the crown will direct the Attorney-gene- ral to lead in the case. For the defence no counsel h-ts at present been retained; and it is untrue, as stated, that Sir Frederick Theslger and Mr. Edwin James have both been named, along with Mr. Sergeant WIIkIus. The great probability, however, is that the latter gentleman will be retained, along with Mr. Kenealy, of Birmingham. The case against the postmaster for opening a letter from Dr. Taylor to Mr. Gardener, and conveying its con- tents to the prisoner, was resumed on Tuesday, when the coroner is supcenaed to attend. This inquiry a'so is ex- citiug the most intense interest. PALMER IN PRISON. I The following particulars of the prison habits of Pal- mer may be relied upon:—Palmer is watched day and night, one turnkey being always with him. This is to prevent any attempt on his life. The room he is con- nncd in is matted, and there is a nreplace therein. He tikes his meals regularly, and seems to enjoy them. AU that he has is made upon the premises, so as to prevent any foul play. He is not now reserved, but converses freely, and is jocular with the turnkeys. He sees h{s brother (who is a solicitor, residing at Rugeley) most days, in the presence of the deputy-governor, but at present nothing hag transpired between them relative to Cook. The conversation related to thc!r family affairs, which are in some confusion. No other person have ) him seen except solicitors or their clerks, who call to serve him with writs, several of which he has had since his Incarceration. He walks daily in the yard, accom- panied by one of the turnkeys, and attends chapel every morning, and twice on Sunday, accompanied by his companion; and unless parties knew who he was, it would be thought he was a visitor, or connected with the gaol. He converses freely going to and returning from chape!, and has a smile upon his countenance he is dressed in black, and always carries a Bible and Prayer-book in his hand. At the chapel he and the turnkey use the psw appropriated for convicts, at the end is a table like a. Communion table, whereat both sit.l1ell's Z//C.

YouxG MASSEY.—A notice "gated at Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, announces the fact of a subscription list being opened to present a sword of honour to Mr. Mas- acV) 19th Regiment, as a testimony of the appreciation in which his gallantry in the attack on the Redan is held hy his friends and fellow students in the college. The Rev. Dr. Carson and Dr. Ingham, have consented to receive subscriptions. DAILY ROUTINE OP THE RoYAL FAMILY.—The education of the royal children being a matter In which all must feel interested, a few details of the manner in which the day of the royal scholars is divided may per- haps be entertaining to our readers. A primary regard Is paid to moral and religious duties. They rise early, breakfast at eight, and dine at two. Their various oc- cupations arc allotted out with almost military exact- ness. One hour finds them engaged in the study of the ancient, another of modern authors, their acquain- tanceship with language being nrst founded on a tho- rough knowledge of their gtammatical construction, and afterwards familiarised and perfected by conversation. Next they are trained in those military exercises which give dignity and bearing. Another hour is agreeably filled up with the lighter accomplishments of music and dancing. Again the happy little party assemble in the riding school, whore they may be seen deeply inter- ested in the various evolutions of the iitcizaqo. Thence, while drawing and the further exercise of music and the lighter accomplishments call off the attention c.f their sisters, the younger princes proceed to busily en- gage themselves in a carpenter's shop, fitted up ex- pressly for them at the wish of the Royal Consort, with a turning lathe and other tools essential to a perfect knowledge of the craft. Thus they early become, not only theoretically, but practically acquainted with the useful arts of life. A small laboratory is occasionally brought into requisition, at the instance also of the royal father, and the mind; of the children are thus led up from a contemplation of the curiosities of chemical science and the wonders of nature, to an inquiry into their causes. This done, the young carpenters and students throw down their saws and axes, unbuckle their philosophy, and shoulder their miniature percus- sion guns—which they handle with the dexterity of practised sportsmen-for a shooting stroll through the royal gardens. Thelevenin- meal, the preparation for the morning's lessons, and brief religious instruction, close the day.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. Sir W. W. WvNx's HouxDS will meet on- Saturday, Jan 19th Gresford Tuesday. 22d Twemlowes Wednesday, 23rd Chirk Castle Friday, 2o'th New Bridge Saturday, 26th Pealey Hall Each day at half-past 10. The CHESHIRE HouxDS will meet on- Saturday, Jan. 19th Tablcy House Monday, 21st Mmshull 'Wednesday, 23rd. Capcsthorne Thursday, 21th. Appleton Hall Saturday, 25th Delemere House Each day at half-past 10. COURSING FIXTURES FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. Eccleston. Cheshire —————— Jan. 23 Combcrmere (Open) Ditto —————— Feb. 12 Sundurne (Spring) Salop ———— —14, 15 Hordlcy DUto Mr.WaiwickFeb.20 Hawkstonc (Open) Ditto Mr. J. rhtt not nxed IMPORTANCE OF A NEWSPAPER.—" My son, beware of the vonrncn as reads no Newspapers. Your fathc-r mat'nud a woman what read noHc, an' you're the sad con- scquius. You're as hignoraut as an 'orse." 0

MINING INTELLIGENCE. I THE IROS TRADE. 1 BiRMix&HAM, Jan. 12.—At the concluding meeting of ironmasters, held at Dudley this evening, the prices nxed at the previous assemblages of the trade were fully connrmed and will doubtless be enforced by the principal houses of the district during the ensuing quarter. As usual, after the tone of the market has been unmistakeably ascertained, orders have been more freely given than when prices were in a state of uncer- tainty, and the demand for nail rods and bar iron has greatly increased within the last few days. It has been remarked, however, that these requirements have been chiefly intrusted to the nrst makers, who have already an abundance of contracts on hand. And this prefer- ence is scarcely to be wondered at, seeing the immense quantity of interior, if not absolutely bad, iron now produced by many cf the smaller firms in South Staf- fordshire. The introduction of Ironstone from a dis- tance unsuited to the make of nrst-class iron, even al- though mixed with native stone, is the cause to which this deterioration in the quality of a large portion of the South Stanbrdahire iron is attributed. The gredt nrms, however, avoid the use of pig3 made of question- able stone. It was stated to-day that the demand for boiler plates and sheets is not so great as it was two or three weeks ago, but still they are in considerable de- mand for marine purposes. The prices for manufac- ed iron now stand as follows:—Bars, .-69; hoops, JS10 and sheets, jBll per ton. These arc unquestionably high rates, but according to the account of an ironmas- ter, he has known times when prices were much lower and pronts much greater. So long, indeed, as best cold blast pigs are at jE.5 12s. 6d., and hot air pigs at .64 los. (Lord Ward's prices), no great reduction, if any can be expected in the price of malleable iron. The meeting at Stourbridge yesterday was well at- tended, and the prices of stone and coal were firmly upheld. Good ironstone is fetching zEl per ton. The threatened increase in the freightages on railways was here, as at previous meetings, freely discussed, although it cannot be concealed that the mineral proprietors of this neighbourhood would be rather benefited than otherwise by the exaction. The increase would be a serious drawback upon ore brought from a distance, and a proportionate advantage to that obtained upon the spot. Judging, however, from the tcnour of Mr. Roebuck's note to the iron and coal masters of the dis- trict, there is reason to hope, if not to believe, that the London and North- Western Company will carry out the project they originally entertained. In the course of a few days the matter will be determined. There is less doing in some of the heavy iron foun- dries of the district than a few weeks ago, and, were it not for the requirements of the war, business in many establishments would be decidedly slack. One large es- tablishment in the neighbourhood of Dudley has been compelled to reduce the number of men employed, aud in others the men in the foundries are not fully em- ployed. Some short time since, railway contracts for iron and general hardware gave a lift to some estab- lishments, but at present there are few heavy railway orders on hand and the few schemes projected and likely to engage tbo attention of Parliament at the commencement of the ensuing session, afford but a mea- gre prospect of any important demand upon the labour and ingenuity of our local machinists. Great public works throughout the kingdom, which give employ- ment when in progress to our best workpeople in heavy iron founding, appear to be well nigh at a stand- still.

COAL FIELDS. The following general arrangements of the coalnelds in England and Wales seems to be as good and natural an arrangement as can be adopted :—1. The Great Northern District, including all the coalnelds north of the Trent. 2. The Central Districts, including Lei- cester, Warwick, Stafford, and Shropshire. 3. The Western Districts, which may he sub-divided into North-Westcrn, in<-t iding North Wales, and South- western, including South Wales, Gloucestershire, and Somersetshire. Co:lis f und in these Holds in strata of various thicknesses. :tnd alternating with slate, clay, and sand- stone the alternations being frequently and indefinite- ly The coalbeds. which are of various quali- ties. 't\- principally distinguished by the proportion of bitn:u''n in the coal. Three species are enumerated, in each of which the quantity of bitumen has been as- certained:—1. The Citing Coal, likewise distinguish- ed by mmy other provincial names, yields about forty per cent. of bitumen this is the prevailing kind Ii the Northumberland and Durham mines. 2. The Cannel Coal, called parrot coal in Scotland, contains about twenty per cent. of bitumen this coal occurs in Lan- cashire also. 3. The Stone Coal, likewise known un- der many other names, contains little or no bitumen; this is the ordinary coal of the Staffordshire and Scotch collieries. The coal seams, together with their alternating stra- ta, called the coal measures, usual'y llcon beds ofmIF- stonc grit and shale (hard coarse-grained sandstone and slate clay), which sometimes exceeds 12) fathoms in thickness. Under this species is the mountain or car- boniferous limestone, an assemblage ofcah'areous stra- ta, of various thickness, sometimes exceeding 900 feet. This limestone is frequently characterised by caverns and nssurcs. The carboniferous limestone rests rn a bed of old red sandstone, varying in thickness from 200 to 2,000 feet. These four dinereut series of strata are usually comprehended under the term coal forma- tion." Though in general the coal measures lie above the three beds just enumerated, these beds do not form an essential part of the coal formation for sometimes the coal measures occur without these intermediate se- ries, and repose immediately on the transition rock. Such is the case in the coalnelds of Coalbrook Dale and of Dudley. A general resemblance in structure appears in all the English coalnclds, but still with considerable local va- rieties. The phenomena, by which the dykes or faults are produced have sometimes uplifted the strata, on one side of the dyke many fathoms above those on the other side, and occasioned irregularities extremely perplexing to the miner. These dykes are iissurcs which traverse the strata, often extending several miles, and penetra- ting generally to an unknown depth. These assures are usually nlled with clay, with portions of the dislo- cated strata, or sometimes by basaltic rocks. Anthracite Coal is found in considerable quantities in South Wales. This coal contains no bitumen, nor gives out gas or smoke, but requires a uniform tempe- rature to prevent explosion. It does not need the use of a poker, but will smother for hours with intense heat. For generating steam it is invaluable. I ROYALTIES, RENTS, ETC. Very few of the English coal mines arc worked by the owners. In the majority of instances they arc let to one or more persons on leases of from 21 to 40 years. The proprietor of the soil receives a rent to which the name of royalty has been given, and which is determi- ned on the following principle :-The probable profit is calculated as accurately as possible. This pront is re- garded as a sum resulting from the accumulation of capital and its interest during the period of the lease They then calculate the annuity which it ought to pay to completely reimburse this capital and interest at the end of a term a little shorter than that to which the lease extends, 19 or 20 years, for instance, if the lease is 21 yeaps. This annuity constitutes the rent which the prop.ietary ought to receive. The royalty is not a fixed sum it varies with the products of the mine. With icgard to coals, it is now nxed at so much a ton worked, varying from ad. to 18d. per Newcastle chal- dron of 2 tons 13 cwt. The mean royalties on the Tyne, 'Wear, and Tees, arc 5d. or Gd. per ton. I RELATIVE PRODUCE OB COAL. Tons. Great Britain, annual production 31,500,000 Belgium 4,960,077 France 4,141,617 States of America, anthracite 3,650,000 „ bituminous 1,750,000 Prussia 3,500,000 Austria. 700,000 I RELATIVE PRODUCE OF IROX. Tons. Great Britain, annual production "3,000,000 Francs 750,000 United States 750,009 Prussia. 300,000 Austria 250,000 Belgium 200,000 Russia 200,000 Sweden 150,000 Smaller German States 100,000 Other countries 300,000 CoAL.—If not the single element of our mercantile and political superiority, coal is at least absolutely es- sential and could we suppose such an event as the ex haustion of our beds, it would be the nnal and utter catastrophe of our greatness. England would imme- diately sink into a third-rate power. Her population would have to ay from her empty pits, her drowned mines, her frozen furnaces, her lifeless railways, her paralysed manufactures, with the sinic wild despair that drives the starving Irish pc:smtry from their blighted food.

AGRICULTURE. I REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE, DURING THE FAST WEFFt.-(Fi-oiii (1wiVark- Lane E.,cpress.) While the weather has of late undergone extreme changes, corn prices have constantly been tending downward., but the past week indicates that the lowest point for wheat has at length been reached, I he ettccts of the holidays, pacinc rumours, large arrivals now wearing away, with a prospect that on the present re- appearance of frost samples will come to hand in better condition, millers being reduced in work will be likely to make a more ready clearance of the market sup- plies. France still keeps dull; but Holland already shows improvement, and the Baltic being closed by the season, and higher relative values, the expected Ame- rican aud Mediterranean shipments are not likely to produce a renewed depression, as a good portion of the stock of fine old granary wheat has been gra- dually going oS, for admixture with the damp new English; and American nour has been in extensive demand. PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE I!f IRELAND.—A cor- respondent of the Times, in commenting upon the pro- gress of Irish agriculture, states that during the past fourteen years the value of farm stock in Ireland has increased from £22,000,000 to X35 000,000 sterling; and that the number of horned cattle has risen from 2,030,000 to 3,2.50,000, while the quality has corres- pondingly improved. Still, however, of the 20,000.000 acres which Ireland comprises, only about one-fourth is under direct tillage, and fully one-third in pas- ture.

FRAUDS O"S THE BANK OF FRAXCE.-The cashier of the Bank of France, on making up his accounts for the day on the 30th ult., missed 172 notes of i.OOOf. each which had been brought to him in the course of the day, and which, after counting, he had placed with other piles of notes on a shelf near him. Search was made everywhere, but without result, and information. was immediately given to the police. From the inqui- ries which were made, their suspicions pointed to one of the clerks in the cashier's omee, and orders were given that he should be strictly watched. New Year's Day being a holyday at the Bank, the man left Paris in the evening of the 31st ult, to visit his friends in a village in Picardy, and the chief of the police and some active agents followed him there. Early the next moriiin- they learnt that he had gone into a wood on a pretext of shooting, and they went towards the wood. They did not hear any report of nrearms, and after a while the man returned without any game. This na turally increased the suspicions against him. In the evening of the 1st he camo back to Paris, the police still accompanying him, and the following days they watched him so closely and with such skill that they saw all he did, and almost heard all he said. At last it was deemed advisable to arrest hun, but he cnfrge- tically denied his guilt, and on his lodgings being searched nothing calculated to inculpate him could be discovered. The omeer accordingly determined on gJ- ing down to Picardy to examine the wood in which the man had been but, though he inspected every tree, he could nnd no marks on any ono, and though he caused the earth to be dug up wherever it appeared to have been recently moved, he discovered nothing. The day before yesterday he determined to try the ef- feet which the sudden revelation that he had been constantly followed, from the very moment of disco- vering the robbery, would produce on the man and he began by stating that on the 31st of December he had followed him to the wood in question. The man started, and when the officer proceeded to relate to him all that be had dune on the following days, hour by hour, be seemed astounded. At last he confessed he was the thief, and he stated that he had buried the notes beneath a particular tree In'thc wood in question. In consequence the omccr again visited the wood, and found the notes at the place mentioned. The clerk is to be brought to trial. SUDDENDE.Ttl OF A MAGISTRATE.—We loam with deep regret that a much respected and excellent gen- tleman, Mr. Boresford Boate, J.P., of Dungarvan, dropped dead in that town on Wednesday last, while attending the monthly iair, and in the very act of transacting business. He fell in the street, and when raised up it was found that life had departed. The fa- tal event is attributed to a rupture of a blood vessel within the pericardium. Mr. Boatc, though 65 years of age, was a hale strong man, of active habits of body and mind. In his intercourse with the Inhabitants of the town his manner was ever kind and conciliatory and while his political opinions were strongly Conser vative, he was tolerant of the opinions of others, and never forgot that he was an Irishman. EXTRAORDINARY SuiciDE.—On the 23rd ult. a man in the prime of life, but whose appearance betokened poverty and misery, entered a public house in Leeds, and having called for a pipe, sat down moodily by the nrc. Two or three persons were sitting in the room, but the stranger was not heard to speak a word. Af- ter sitting thus for ten minutes, the man put a poker into the nrc', and when It had become red-hot, took it out, and knocked it against the noor to remove any excrescence from it, and then deliberately put the red- hot end of the poker down his throat. The persons present caught hold of him, and having removed the poker from his possession, bathed his mouth with warm water. In answer to inquiries as to the cause of the rash act, he only replied that it was a very foolish one, and he did not know what he was doing. Although every attention was paid to him, he died on Friday last. TESTIMONIAL TO LORD CARDIGAN.—A YCry hand- some silver-gilt sword, richly chased, of the value of about 250 guineas, has been purchased by public sub- scription in Yorkshire, as a testimonial of admiration to Lord Cardigan for the gallantry with which he led on the cavalry in October, 18.i4; ani a meeting of the subscribers was held at the Leeds Court House on Sa- turday, at noon to determine as to the best mode of presenting the testimonial. Sir G. Goodman, M.P., was called to the chair, and there was a numerous and Innuential body of the subscribers present. In the course of the proceedings it was explained that no sub- scriber was allowed to give more than a guinea, and that amongst the subscribers (all Yorkshiremen) there were 4 dukes, 22 peers of England, 18 members of par- liament, and 8 baronets. A strong wish was expressed that the sword should be presented to the noble earl publicly, in Yorkshire; but it was resolved to consult his lordship as to his convenience, and a sub-committee was appointed to finally settle as to the place and time for the presentation. PERSIAN CRUELTY. —It appears, from a letter in the Titiies, that during the stay of the ambassador from Persia at the court of Russia, that during his stay in Moscow a fire of charcoal was lighted by his servant in a stove of the room where his son and the servant slept, which caused the death of the former by sunbca- tion, while the latter narrowly escaped with his life. The ambassador, in order to avenge the death of his son, commanded his servant, to whose carelessness the accident was attributed, to be flayed alive. The Rus- sian police, however, interfered, alleging that such a punishment could not be permitted in their country. Accordingly his Excellency ordered a box to be made with airhotcs in it, for the purpose of transporting his unfortunate servant to Persia, there to suffer the fear- ful death which even Russian civilization would not permit. A PARSEE PRAYER AGAINST THE Rt-g.SIAXS.—A singular circumstance attended the thanksgiving at Bombay desired by the Governor-General for our suc- cesses in the Crimea. On the 2nd of December, the day nxed upon, the Parsecs, of their own accord, met in the Town Hall to listen to a lecture on the freedom and blessings of the British government, contrasted with the tyranny and oppression of Russia, drawn up and delivered by one of their countrymen—Dossabhoy Framjec. The lecture being concluded, the service of the day was concluded by the following prayer, not only remarkable for its own excellence and appropri- ateness, but doubly so as one of the nrst ever delivered by a layman in public, and in the ordinary conversa- tional language of the hearers, the Parsee wciship be- ing conducted, and their sacred books being written wholly in an unknown tongue, unintelligible to the worshippers, and very imperfectly understood by the great body of the priesthood themsel ves :—" 0 Almigh- ty God, let Thy shadow always fall wherever the Bri- tish rule exists Grant it, 0 God, success in all its un- dertakings. Vanquish by the aid -of Thy powerful hands all its enemies, and grant that its greatness may still rise an d Its moral effects be spread over a still greater portion of the world. Receive our humble ac- knowledgements, 0 Lord, for having placed us under such a beneficent rule, and we pray Thee to preserve us under it. Grant, 0 Heaven, that the Government over our head oe actuated in ruling over us with still greater kindness and its effects be spread still wider. 0 Aimighty Protector, preserve for ever and secure our hvcs and properties as they now arc-and grant that the sccuruy may bo sti!l more strengthened. Bestow OLord, a still more merciful heart to the Queen who reigns over us. We pray thee, 0 Almighty God, to bl I ..h J n J Mess her armies with success in the great war in which they are now engaged, and bring to a speedy end the great strife, by granting victory to those who have gone to shed their blood in the right cause. Grant, 0 Gn- dous God, that we may continue to live as we now do with perfect security to ourselves, under the Govern ment in which we now are, and that we may ever be impressed with a grateful sense of the advantages which we enjoy under this benign reign. Amen

POETRY. THE BLIND BOY. It was a Messed Summer s day, The flowers bloomed, the air was nuhi, The little b'rds pour'd forth their lay, And everything in nature smiled In pleasing thought I wander'd on Beneatli the greenwood's amp!c shade, Till suddenly I came upon Two children who had thither stray J. Just at an aged beech tree's foot A little boy and girl reclined. His hand in licr's she gently put. And the!! I saw—the boy was binid. The children knew not I was near, A tree conceded 'no from their view, But all they said I well could hear, And I coutd see all they might do. ''Dear Mary!" said the poor blind boy, That tilth- bird sinus very long, Say do you sec him in his joy, And is he pretty as his sons? Yes," Edward, Yes," replied the maid, I see the bird on yonder tree: The poor boy si.h'd, ami gently said, Sister I wisn that I conid see. The nowors you My are very fair, And bright green leaves are on the trees, And pretty birds are How beautiful for one who sees Yet, I the fragrant now'rs can smeH. And I can feel the green leaf's shade And i c:m hear the notes that swetl From those dear bn'ds that God has made- So Sister, God to ma is kind, Though sight, alM! ho has not giveii, But tell me arc there any blind Among the children up in heaven P No, Dearest Edward, there all see- But why ask me a tiling so odd'.r" Oh Mary he is good to me, I thought I'd libc to look at God, Ere long, disease his hand had laid, On that dear boy, so meek and :iald, His widow'd mother wept and pray'd That God would spare her sightless child, He teit her warm tears on his face, And said "Oh never weep for me I'm going to a bright bright place, Where Mary says, I God shall SCO And you'll eonie there, dear Mary too; But mother, dear. when you come there Tell Hdward, .Mother, that tis you— You know I never saw you hei-eq He spok, no more, but sweetly smiled, Until the hnal blow was given, When God took up that poor blind child, And open'd hrst his eyea—in heaven. Wr,xlia,.n. E VA..

LITERARY GrLEANIN&S. The most difficult thing in conversation is, to talk non- sense. Xo person can do it but one of nrst-rate ability The nonsense of a man of genius is oftentimes preferable to the sense of other Ttie love of fame is a powerful and valuable faculty of the soul. It assumes various appC;lrancc. and goes under var- ious names. It is cn.'Ied emulatioti, prtde, vanity, vain- gtory, a love of notonety, a thirst for dtstinction, atld by several other epithets, depending upon the original strength of the faculty, and the various objects to which it is dir. ected. It is atways of itself a noble passion or feelinr, though it may bo. and often is indeed, prostituted to ignoble pursuits and habit- NATlOAL CHAHACTKB.ISTICS OF VESSELS. Fog is a great conductor of sound, and frequently strange voices are borne far along the waters, from unseen. vessels at anchor or drifting in the ca.l:n. A Germa.n vessel may be known by the bcautit'ut national metodtea whieh the crew sing in harmony; a. Dutchman, by the clatter of wooden shoes; a Frenchiian, by vociferous chatteration and a ship that sails fro:u our own dear native land may be recog'Yised by our nation! curses and bad language in general.—Kc&UEs'a Two Sc-amEit CRUIsES. PRESCOTT, THE HISTORIAN. I was shown up into a drawing room exquisitely furnish- ed and surrounded with bookc scs, t!io walls between which we: ornamented with choice prints. In a, few minutes a door behind one of the bookcases opened, and a most pleasing gentlemanly looking man, of slight Jig-ure stepped forth, and, cordially holding out his hand, led me to a sofa, and we at once entered into an animated conversation on various topics of interest. Most people in England are under the impression that Mr. Preseott is blind, Such is not the case. Although from an ihjury received at college his eyesight became so weak that ho is afraid to exert it, and thcrefo"G writes with tin; ma. chine used by the blind, lie can see with porfect.'y anf- nclent ckarncss to distinguish people and to enjoy society to the utmost; indeed, no detect in his ,iigiil. is discover. able to the ordinary observer.—Ktyosiox's \j[:smRsr WAXDEHIXGS. DIPLOMACY OF WOHEX. 'lucre is n. traLt in the lives of great of which it is just possible souc oae or other of my rcajert may not have heard, which is, that none of thorn have ever attained to any eminence without a.u attachment— we can find no better word for it-to some woman of superior understandins, wh) li-,is united within herself great talents Jor society with a hi;rh and sou-ing ambi- tion. They who ouJy recoguisa in tho world of polities the dry details of pn.rliatnonta.y business, poor-law, ques- tions, sanitary rules, railway biUa, and colonial gMnta, can form but a scanty notion of the excitement derived from the high interests of p--trty, and the great; ga-ne played by about twenty mightly ga-nblers, with the whole world for the table, and kindoms for cOuntaM. In this p-and role women perform no ignoble part; nay, it were not too much to say that theirs is the very motive-power of the whole vast machinery.—DoDLiN UflvERsrT!- MAc AZIXE. THE LADIES LAW OF LEAP YEAR. It m&y, perhaps, be iuterestms; to a.11 youna; ladies who arc not already aware of the important fact, that leap year empowers them to do something more th-m pop the ques- tion." I am informed by a fan- friend. that, if in the coarse oftho year ofl836-whieh is leap year—she should so far forset herself as to suggest a utiion between herse-fand a. bachelor Mquai.itanec, who shoutd be uncivil enough to decline her prGposal, she could, thereupon, demand from him the gilt of a new silk dress, But, to clailll this dress with propriety, she must, at the time of asking, be the wearer of a scarlet petticoat; which, or the lower part of which, she must exhibit to the gentleman, who by the law of leap year. is compeued t. present to the la fy the dress that shall cover the petticoat, and assuage her disl),,OLstire at the rejection of her proposals. This item of feminine folk Ior.3 may prove exceedinxly useful to our mUo riders in puttias them upon their guard during the forthcoming K-ap year; for it is not, probably, without a determined Mgmticaucy that the wearing of scarlet petticoats is mado one of the chief novels m ladies' dresses for this winter season. Indeed, it may be reasonable inferred tha.t the ladies' law of lenp year is about to be indicted upon the gentlemen in its most expensive silk-dress form; and that the assumption of these scarlet petticoats is merely the in- itiatory step to a sterner process.—NOTES ANU QcERIEa. THE AUTHOR OF THE" OLDEY TIME" Let us take a general author not one who keeps pok- ing aud poking into a particular subject, but an omnium horarum homo," who goes at anything and everything without boggnng, yet who, if the choice be left to him- self (whicb it never is), would prefer elegant literature- the tiling he hat-s to hear people call light literature It is he who is generally described as a light horseman' because he rides 1 ke Mazeppa, unencumbered, not like John Gilpin. carrying weight. He had never time for deep study and if ho had, the accumulation of knowledge would have been a useless burden: what he ha. is thought observation, and falicy,acceor(ling to his decree, witll a sutlicicncy, of information, spread tinn over a targe surfaco. In his boyliood and hobbledehoy hood, he read everything that came in his way, and everything lie could get in the way of, his instinct blindiy foreseeing whtt was to be his fate in the world. Ilo has thus a tolerably good idea of wliat has been achieved by false p.-etcncos to originality, ite began his literary .ife in a little personal discomfort, no doubt, from the paucity and uncertainty of the ways and means; but he was proud of his profession, and proud of Inmscif for being called thereto; and in the midst Of all Ija!iiier of anxieties there was constantly a golden sky in the distance, as you might sec by tho illumiu&tion it threw upon)As pale fair face. He gave up dancing at t !.ree or four anu. twenty, because he thought it inconsistent with the gravity of his calling; and he always dressed in black, considering it a professional and solemn colour-to which, by the way, he owed the seedy look ho had ior nine months in the year. black taking very unkind- ly the lingering of time and the rubs of the world. And lie had some excuse, poor fellow, for these smad vanities for we remembered being invited specially to meet' hi;n when his name was getting a little up. In those davl,, we have seen young ladies gather eagerly round a knot of tin.' cr four of them, to listen with greedy ears and tu-i-'ht eyes to their conversation. The young ladie" the trouble now. They sit lislks'3 and alJsll':ln to see; and good reason wh., r too, are Arca.Uans-they have published, every m. daughter of the We remember, too, that wlic.; group of young authors were talking, one of them wua.- drop'a French word accidentally, when the whole would ,-lide innocently into the language.as it unconscious of r- J change; till they were obliged to stop abruptly, each flild- ing that his compauions spoko a dialect of French he had never leari,.c a.-ciiiuB- us, is JocRXAL.