The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

T-OVVN TALK. BT OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Our readers wiU understand that we do not hold, owrsclves report' sible,for our able Correspondent's opinions. -+-- THERE is just a faint murmur of talk stirring now -amurmuf which will get stronger daily, in all probability, about the coming contest in America for the Presidential chair. It will soon become the chief topic, and naturally so for the issues hidden in that election are important enough to engross the attention of the whole of Europe, and especially of this, the greatest commercial city in the world. Of the three candidates—President Lincoln, General Fremont, the representative of the extreme republican party, and General M'Clellan, who is to be put forward by the demo- cratic section-I hear, from a private letter, that the present President is the favourite; "not," says my correspondent, that he is most popular, but because he is the most powerful—necessarily, in the present disorganised state of things, having the game, to a certain extent, in his own hands. Hence, lovers of constitutionalism fear that the President is resolved, should events render such a course requisite, to risk his all upon the hazard of the die, even if it be to throw a coup d'état upon the political table. At all events it is certain that a tremendous crisis is at hand and it behoves England to "pray that the olive branch may be found in its result, and that some settle- ment of the present dreadful fratricidal struggle may be arrived at." A week or so since I hinted that the Prince and Princess of Wales ^intended to extend their northern tour to St. Petersburg. Well, during the past week I have heard it asserted by certain political pundits that his Royal Highness is charged with a diplomatic mission to the Court of the great Bear of the North that the Prince, in fact, beneath the shadow of his illustrious rank, is to feel the way" for a stricter and closer alliance with Russia, so that in the event (wildly stated as probable) of a loosening of the bonds of friendship between England and France we shall still remain on terms of the closest amity with at least one mighty Power.' Of course, I do not believe one word of this. Odd, isn't it, that our good Prince and Princess, albeit travelling incognito as Baron and Baroness Renfrew, cannot visit their Royal relatives and friends, by way of a mere autumnal holiday, without having its object imputed to cl diplomacy ? The one chief and exciting topic just now is, of course, the capture of Muller. His name is on every tongue, and public opinion as to his guilt runs in one current. If innocent, he is the most unfortunate of living men if guilty, he is a psychological study, for surely such cold-blooded villany was never before allied to such utter im- becility. At present, however, it would be wise, and more according to our English notions of fair play, and the legal maxim that every man is presumed to be innocent until he is found guilty, if people would suspend their judgment till the time of trial. I have heard working men talking earnestly and nervously, too, lately, respecting the com- parative safety of the different Provident Societies, and with reason, for that there is a screw loose in the system which Mr. Tidd Pratt is presumed to direct, recent proceedings at the Lambeth and Thames Police-courts sufficiently testify. At the first a man sixty years of age, and a subscriber since 1849, was compelled to apply to get himself replaced on the rolls of a society, from which he had been most arbitrarily removed when sick and in want. The magistrate's decision was very pro- perly against the directors of the society, whom he ordered to reinstate the applicant, or in default to pay him E7 10s. The case at the Thames police-court was of a similar kind, the only dif- ference being that it was a society composed of females. Now the excuse in both cases was tantamount to a want of funds surely, then, the societies should have been wound up, for want of confidence in these institutions must be a great drawback to the growth of provident habits. Into the real cause, however, of the insolvency of many of them, I think we may get an insight by a glance at the police courts, during even the past week. The fact that, in that short period, no less than four officials of provident or friendly societies have been either sentenced to imprisonment or com- mitted for trial for defalcations, is sufficient to prove that there is something radically wrong in their system. Has Mr. Tidd Pratt no power to interfere in the behalf of provident working men? I'll tell you what, sir," said a carpenter to me the other day, these societies—and mind, you I say nothing agin the Foresters and Odd Fellows- may be all very well when the managers are honest, but of that you have to take your chance; but the Post-office Savings Banks, and Gladstone's Assurance for the Working Men, are, to say nothing of not having to go to a public to pay your subscription and spend your money, a deal better; for if so be the clerks employed take the money, it'll come out of the Government's pocket and not from poor men like me, who pinch them- selves above a bit to save a litrle for sickness, old age, or, may be, for the missus and children." A few probably well-meaning people are en- deavouring to raise by small subscriptions the sum of Y-2,400, for a monument to the memory of Shakespeare. Why not a monument to the memory of Homer ? It is quite as necessary for those who can forget him, or the truth that the real monuments of such men are to be found in their works, which will last with the world. Why will not these gentlemen of the committee, like other reasonable people, learn by experience ? Do they forget that it is but a few months since the people of England practically testified that to raise a monument of mere plastic art to the world's poet was but to paint the lily and to gild refined gold." If their memories are so short, let me remind them that the audit of the accounts of the great Shakespearean festival shows a positive deficit of £ 3,308 8s. 3d. Surely, this statement should be sufficient to make enthusiasts^ suppress their hopes of ever having their humble 1 names carved upon the base of any such monu- ment. Apropos of monuments, Mr. Weeks' bust of Sir G. Cornewall Lewis, which has just been placed in Westminster Abbey, is a work that is likely to enhance that sculptor's reputation. The price paid for the work was 215 guineas, and at the sum no person complams; but people will ask why the Dean and Chapter should have demanded and taken such heavy fees for their permission to give a place to the memoria of a man who, like Sir George, shed so'much lustre on the literature, philosophy, and practical statesmanship of his country. Assaults in railway carriages are still in vogue, nor are they likely to be decreased by such stipendiary Solons as Mr. Woolrych, who, the other day, fined a "gentleman" 40s. for grossly—most grossly—insulting a lady on the Greenwich line. Such a decision is a grim farce, illustrative of the fact that, at least in police- courts, there is one law for the rich and another for the poor. For instance, bad this fellow been a labourer he would have suffered the alternative of not paying the fine—namely, one month's im- prisonment, his wife and family at the same time, in all probability, suffering starvation. Obviously, while nothing but fines are imposed in any case of such assaults, no respectable female will be safe in a railway carriage, if unattended by a male friend. Apropos of railway carriages, I am told by en- gineers that a Mr. Booth's patent plan of com- munication along a train while travelling is likely to be accepted speedily. It consists simply of a narrow platform and a breast-high hand-rail on the side of the carriages. Such a plan, if prac- ticable, will certainly be a preventive measure against the dangers at present so disagreeably notorious. While on the subject of improvements in railway travelling, we may say that the ex- periment of the Pneumatic Railway at the Crystal Palace, the other day, was a success, and it is believed by engineers that propulsion and suction by air will be ultimately adopted—in short, that we shall be literally puffed from station to station the advantage being that passengers will r, 4:1 have fresh air, less noise, no dampness from dis- charge of steam, no chance of fire, no collisions, no running off the rails, nor the possibility of being dragged off a. bridge by an exploding loco- motive. Verily, the millennium of railway travel- ling is at hand. Well, schemes that at one time were apparently impossible have come to pass, so why not this ? Among medical friends, both civil and military, I hear much rejoicing. Being of the genus irritable in all that concerns their profession, they are pleased at the new order from the Horse Guards, under which it is no longer necessary for them to be present at the branding of a deserter, or other misbehaving soldier. This duty has long been regarded by the Medicoes of the army as infra dig.-little less so, indeed, than that of shaving the men, which they were at one time compelled to do. It is not, however, generally known that, by the new order, army surgeons are no longer required to attend their (regimental patients in uniform; and this they regard as a great boon, inasmuch as they can perform their, in many instances, arduous duties far better in mufti" than in military buckram. Of metropolitan improvements-changes, per- haps, would be the better term-I may record that that time-honoured but never-paying place of amusement and instruction, the Colosseum, in Regent's-park, is about to give place to a hand- some crescent; and that next season a new Rotten-row" will be at the service of eques- trians desirous of change, or who find the "Row" in Hyde-park insufficient for their pur- pose. The new ride and drive will extend from Storey's-gate to Buckingham Palace-i.e., the whole length of Birdcage-walk. At the clubs, it is affectedly stated to be intended for the exclusive use of the aristocracy, which, by the way, I take to mean people who keep horses for pleasure, and know how to behave themselves. Z.

to tell a story of one clergyman, whom he had reproved for certain irregularities of conduct which ha.d been brought to his notice by his parishioners, and who had replied, "Your lordship, as a classical scholar, knows that lying goes by districts; the Cretans were liars, the Cappadocians were liars, and I can assure you that the inhabitants of —— are liars too." In- toxication was the most frequent charge against the clergy. One was so drunk while waiting for a funeral tnat he fell into the grave; another was conveyed away from a visitation dinner in a helpless state by the bishop's own servants. A third, when rebuked for drunkenness, replied," Bat, my lord, I never was drunk on duty." On duty! exclaimed the bishop, "when is a clergyman not on duty ? True," said the other, I never thought of that." ShroM »nd nnaatnral neglect is manifested by many rxrjocf who pay little attention to the preservation af their health Good health >» the greatest blessing we can enjoy, which faot is often die- Covered when too In te 1 To insure freedom from sickness of any sort, ivery family in the kingdom should keep a supply of Pack WoodoooE1! Wind Pills.* Th.-usands can testify they lire invaluable tat fcien, Wind in the Stomach, Biliousness, &a Sold everywhtr«, £ n !*► fct Is. ltd.. 2s. 9d.. and 4*. &t Horniman's lea, is choice SM& strong, mode/rate in price, j and. wholesome to use. These advantages haw secured for this 1 Tea a general preference. It is sold m pa ckete by 2,280 Agent? i

A DANISH POEM IN HONOUR OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. The special correspondent of the Star thus trans- lates a pretty poetical effusion addressed to the Princess Alexandra, on her arrival in Denmark, by Hans Christian Andersen, a writer whose principal works are well known in England :— Amid a time of utter bitterness A ray of light over the darkness gleams; For thou, whom Denmark suckled at her breast, Sailest again into our native seas— To look upon your mother while she mourns, And on her need! Welcome to Fatherland, Whose birch trees cast their shadows on the shore Changed—ah, how changed!—is Denmark from the days When thou from us received thy bridal dower The fangs of a rapacious monster meet In Denmark's mighty heart! In deepest need All have forsaken us! All, all, have changed! Again thou lookest on thy Fatherland. Abused, down-trodden, almost crushed to death. Bat one, we know, is still unchanged and true, True now as when the sunshine lit the land- 'Tis thou And therefore here in love we wait To greet thee True as thou has Denmark been True as thy heart has been her love for thee, Her prayer that Joy and Peace be ever thine Therefore, thou hear'st the hearts of Denmark throb, While the glad birchen-shadow'd streams of home Open their watery arms to welcome thee."

EXAMINATION AND SURRENDER OF MULLER. The excitement in the Court-room at New York on the re-examination of Muller on the 27th ult. was intense. The prisoner, on entering, accompanied by his counsel, appeared totally indifferent to the charge against him. Amidst profound silence, Mr. Blankman said the questions arising in the case were intricate, and required careful attention, and asked for an ad- journment for a week, with the view of preparing his case. As a precedent he referred to the case of Anderson, who fled to Canada, after committing murder in the United States. This case was adjudi- cated upon in England, and resulted in the release of Anderson on the ground that he was a slave, and that the deed was committed in making his escape. He also referred to a murder committed on an American vessel by pirates and murderers who escaped to Liver- pool, and the case was adjourned from month to month, and the British Government declined to give up the prisoners. Another feature in the present case was that no finding of a coroner's inquest had been produced, but if the documents showed that a case of murder had been made out his honour's duty was clear; but if the case was one of manslaughter it did not fall within the treaty of 1842. His client asserted his innocence of the charge, and he thought the Court ought to grant a postponement. Mr. Marbury said it was not his honour's duty to try the guilt or innocence of the prisoner; but to ascertain if there was sufficient evidence to justify the committal of the prisoner. He did not wish to say anything harsh against the unfortunate man, but the case seemed so plain that the Court could not refuse to send the prisoner back to England, where he would have a fair trial according to the law of the land. Mr. Blankman maintained that the question was one of guilt-that was a preliminary question. Was it probable that the prisoner was guilty ? He was a German, and his fellow-citizens of America were in- terested in justice being done to him. It was not a question whether Mr. Seward should touch his bell and issue orders that the accused be spirited away secretly and without the forms of law; but the rights of the prisoner were to be guarded,. and hence his demand for postponement. His Honour did not think the interest of the prisoner would suffer if he refused the application. Mr. Schaffer then moved for prisoner's discharge, arguing that there were insuperable objections to his detention. The law must deem him innocent, and if he declared his intention of becoming a citizen the shield of the country would be thrown over him, and there was, in his opinion, a sublimity in the sudden awakening of England to revenge the blood of one of its citizens. He considered the treaty to be a viola- tion of the constitution. An amendment provided that no man should be put in peril of his life without indictment by the grand jury. The treaty of 1842 provided that fugitives should be rendered up on cer- tain conditions, and if the prisoner was rendered up he would be convicted before he was indicted. It was a principle of national law that a state of war nullified all treaties. True, it might be said, that there was no war between the two countries in their sovereign capacity, but there was between the people of the two countries. There were three sorts of war-private, public, and mixed war. Mixed war could only be carried on between a nation on one side and indi- viduals of a nation on the other, which was divided into solemn and unsolemn war. Englishmen who were committing depredations upon our commerce must be restrained by their Government, or they would be in a state of war with America, and to say that such a state of war did not exist with Great Britain, would be to forget the events of the past three years with England, which fact did away with the operation of treaties. He then reviewed the evi- dence against the prisoner, and contended that the accused was not one of the two men who entered the railway carriage with Mr. Briggs, and that there was no evidence to detain him. Mr. Blankman called Inspector Tanner, who de- posed I have seen Franz Muller. I should judge him to be five feet six inches. He has no beard. I should think he never had any. I do not call him a tall thin man, nor a thickset man. He has no whiskers nor any signs of having ever had any. This closed the case for the defence. Mr. Marbury said it was never a question for the courts to decide whether a treaty be in force or not; that was the prerogative of the executive. The ques- tion was whether the evidence was sufficient to justify his honour, as committing magistrate, in holding prisoner for trial. The evidence went to show that Mr. Briggs entered the railway carriage, and a few minutes afterwards was found moaning on the track suffering from wounds in the head, from which he died on that same night. Muller was absent from his usual lodgings. In the compartment of the railway car was found a hat known and proved to have belonged to Muller. Mr. Briggs's hat was gone, and when the prisoner was arrested a hat similar to Mr. Briggs's was found in his possession. A watch and chain be- longing to Mr. Briggs were missing, and two days after the murder Muller went to Mr. Death's and exchanged a chain answering the description of Mr. Briggs's, and Mr. Death positively identified the pri- soner as the man who exchanged the chain. He was also fully identified by Matthews. In regard to Mr. Lee's testimony concerning the two men seen in the same compartmert with'Mr. Briggs, there was nothing to show that the same two men remained there or in the train after it started. There seemed on the whole to be abundance of proof that Muller was the mur- derer. Mr. Marbury concluded by saying the chain of evidence was complete, not a link wanting to con- nect the prisoner with the commission of the crime with which he was charged, and called upon the commissioner to grant the necessary certificate of extradition in order that the case might undergo in- vestigation in England. Commissioner Newton then delivered his decision. He said—My simple duty in this case is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to enable me to remand the prisoner that be may have an opportunity of being tried where the crime was committed, and there prove his innoeence, or if guilty be punished. It is not necessary for me to determine absolutely his guilt. The question to determine is, has a crime been committed ? If so, is there a probable cause from the evidence to show that the party accused is the one who committed the crime? My duty is simple and plain. I do not desire to sit in judgment over this man; far be it from me. I wish it were in my power to discover a trace of innocence to justify me in withholding the certificate of extradiction, but I am free to say all the circumstances point fatally to the prisoner as the guilty man. So clear and distinct is the question of probable cause, that I cannot for one moment have a doubt as to the proper course to be pursued. Under these circumstances I am con- strained to grant the certificate, and the prisoner, therefore, stands committed. This decision was received by some of those present with evident astonishment, but Muller himself, whose demeanour throughout was more that of a spectator than a criminal, was not in the least moved. The prisoner was then handed over to the custody of the British officers, and will probably arrive in England on the 15th inst.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. AMERICA Capture of Fort Morgan. NEW YORK, AUG. 30. On Thursday the Confederates attacked Hancock at the south of Reames Station, on the Weldon Railroad. A severe engagement ensued, in which the Federals were forced to relinquish four miles of the railroad. Their loss is estimated at 2,000 men and nine guns, while that of the Confederates is said to be 5,000 men. Atlanta papers announce that Fort Morgan and the garrison, including General Palge, with all the guns and ammunition, had surrendered to Farragut. Farragut has obtained the services of the men who- were engaged by the Confederates in setting the torpedoes, and is now occupied in raising them. Sherman is moving his army to a position on the Macon (Georgia) Railroad, in the rear of Hood's forces. It is reported that General Sherman has occupied Hood's lines of supplies. Colonel Kilpatrick has destroyed fourteen miles of the Macon Railroad. General Early has withdrawn from Sheridan's front, retreating towards Richmond. General Sheridan is in pursuit. NEW YORK, SEPT. 1. The Chicago Convention has nominated General M'Clellan for the Presidency, and Pendleton, of Ohio, for the Vice-Presidency, on the Union and peace plat- form. NEW YORK, SEPT. 3. Secretary Stanton reports that a corps of General Sherman's army had occupied Atlanta. Sherman's main army had a severe engagement on the Macon Road, in which he is reported to have been successful.

THE CATHOLIC CONGRESS AT MALINES. A letter from Malines of the 1st gives the following details respecting the third sitting of the Catholic Congress held on that day:—" The great event of this sitting was the speech of the Bishop of Orleans, who treated the question of popular education with more than his wonted eloquence, and held his 4,000 hearers captive for full three hours. He discussed the ques- tion in all its bearings, and adduced arguments to refute the attacks directed against the education im- parted by religious bodies. The reverend prelate was frequently interrupted by the applause of the audience, and was saluted with enthusiastic cheering when he sat down. The fifth section has been occupied in dis- cussing the best means of creating a healthy public opinion in a Catholic sense. M. Digard, an advocate of the Paris bar, proposed the establishment of three international journals-one of them political, another purely religious, and a third satirical, a kind of Punch or Charivari, but devoted to Catholic interests. M. Di. gard's motion was supported by M. H. Lasserre and M. Dechamps, but the section did not think proper to esta- blish new international journals, and contented itself with recommending the journals published in Brussels to assume an international character by devoting their columns less exclusively to the affairs of Belgium. The Abbe Huybrechts insisted on the necessity of moralising the popular songs, which he thought could not fail to have a beneficial result. The section of fine arts came to the conclusion that it was not advisable strictly to forbid to artists the study of the naked figures of ancient art, and the section of Christian economy adopted a resolution entreating manufactu- rers, in the name of the Gospel and of their own interests, not to allow women and children to be over- Ir worked in their establishments. In the section of the central committee a general resolution was proposed, energetically repelling the accusation that the Catholics are anxious to re-establish, for the benefit of the reli- gious orders, either mortmain or any other system derogating from the common law; but it was rejected after a long debate. Another resolution in the same sense, but limited to Belgium, was carried. It would appear from these votes that the section considers the privilege of mortmain worth retaining wherever the laws allow it, but that it must be dispensed with in countries where it is forbidden."

SEVERAL DISTRESSING ACCIDENTS FROM THE COMMON LUCIFER MATCH. A very terrible accident occurred a week or two ago at Marseilles to a young br^de only eighteen years of age. She had only been married in the morning, and in the evening, with the high spirits befitting the occasion, she was tripping about with new friends at their country house, when her foot came in contact with a common lucifer match. Soon her muslin dress was in flames, and the unfortunate young lady was so dreadfully burned that she afterwards died. Another melancholy occurrence took place at Aisne Asylum in France, by which six lives were sacrificed through using lucifer matches. A few months ago some little children stole a box of lucifer matches from a shepherd's hut, and amused themselves by setting fire to a stack of barley at the Sounds Farm, occupied by Mr. Philip Kent, of Chippenham, Newmarket. The buildings were quickly levelled to the ground, and 400 combs of corn and a great many valuable implements were destroyed. Again, the terrible effect produced by the poisonous nature of the compounds in the common lucifer match was exhibited in the case of two children of Mrs. Staller, Ely-place, Stepney, who died from the effects of phosphorus taken into the system. It appears that the children, who were six years and nine months old, got possession of some lucifer matches in the absence of their mother and sucked the phosphorus off the ends. On the return of the mother they were at once put under medical treatment, but as already mentioned without effect. Houses, warehouses, and buildings of all kinds are constantly being consumed by the negligent use of com- mon matches, all of which might have been avoided by using Messrs. Bryant and May's Safety Matches," which contain neither phosphorus nor sulphur, and ignite only on the prepared surface of the box, thus affording to life and property the most effectual pro- tection from fire; at the same time they emit no un- pleasant odour, and have no poisonous compounds connected with them. The public owe a considerable amount of gratitude to Messrs. Bryant and May for the introduction of these useful matches and it is hoped that every in- dividual who values his life or his property will pay due attention to the risks of the common matches over those of the patent safety." Messrs. Bryant and May have brought out latterly an additional improvement in the shape of a patent "match holder," to be used in bed-rooms, kitchens nurseries, &c. &c. This little box contains a supply of prepared friction surface sufficient to last two years -the price being very inconsiderable. «

Mysterious Death.-The body of a young man named John Fern, son of a horsebreaker living near Billesley Common, was found in the well in the middle of the Moseley tunnel, on the Midland line of railway, about midday on Saturday. The last time Fern was seen alive was on the Saturday night previous, when he was at a late hour drinking at the Bull's Head Inn, Moseley, with a eompanion named Weston. The two left the house together, and Weston states that he left Fern all right when they reached the point where their respective roads parted. As Fern was missing the next day, a search was made, but it was unavailing till Saturday morning, when, as we have before said, his body was found in the well. How he got into the well is a mystery. He must have trespassed on the line to get into the tunnel at all, and even when he got there we are informed the well is so constructed, that he could hardly have fallen into it by accident. Captain Semmes Again.-On Friday the following was received at Lloyd's, from an agent attached to the Salvage Association, who had just arrived from Bremorhavon :—" Friday, Sept. 9.—A large steamer is reported to have put into Nieudiep, on Saturday, with French colours flying, for a pilot. A boat put out and put one on board. The steamer then came out under Prussian colours, and on reaching Bremerhaven again changed colours, and hoisted the Confederate flag. The pilot who took her to Bremer- haven believes she still remains there. She steamed ten knots at half speed, and is reported to be under the command of Captain Semmes (late of the Alabama) with 300 men on board, and the frigate is pierced for forty guns. She is said to have been built at Bordeaux, where there are three similar in the course of building." The agent of Lloyd's Association adds that the above information was volunteered by the pilot who took her to Bremerhaven, John and Co.'i Cherry Tooth Paste, price Is. 8d. Decidedly the best preparation for cleansing and preserving the teeth. Sold by all perfumers and chemists.—i2,Th we King-ct., Iiombejd-#fc.*E.C