The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

ASCOT RACES. Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales. A bright May morning ushered in a warm and lovely day for the meeting, which proved to be one of the largest ana moat-aristocratic assemblages ever known at Ascot. The arrivals of visitors at Windsor, and at the many elegant country seats and villas round feanmngdale, Virginia Water, and Ascot were very numerous; and during the morning these found their way to the course m defcaohments, gradually filling the grand and other stands, and lining the course in every direction From an early hour in the morniiag the stream of traffic from Waterloo station was something astonishing. ° Towards eleven o'clock the police arrangements for the protection of the publie were completed under the superintendence of Colonel Blandy, the chief constable of Berks, and Mr. Inspector Reeøe, of the county con- stabulary, and Mr. Superintendent Walker, of the A division of the metropolitan police, whose force con- sisted of 250: officers of all ranks.. Sir Thomas Henry, the chief magistrate, and Mr. W. D. Burnaby, chief clerk at Bow-street, were in attendance at the Ascot police-station. By one o'clock the course was thronged by thou- sands of visitors, vehicles of every description lining the narrow-strips of greensward on which the horses were to run. The grand stand and other centres were a, sea of faces, while the light and tasteful toilettes of the ladies shone to great advantage. Carriages, omni- h_ -3 -'1- 11 ltuhoo, auu ooaones, Drougb.t numerous visitors, who reached the heath from Windsor, having travelled to the Boyal-borough by the Great Western Railway, by which-company special^ trains were run from Padding- ton and other partsi s Their Royal aighnessea the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Denmark, and Prince Teck, attended by Major Tees- dale apd suite, drove from Titneas-park, the seat of Lord Annaly, in several of the Queen's carriages, to the Royal, standj: which at once became the centre of attraction. In the race for the Prince of Walea's stakes of ^850 order ad<3e^5 the horsea °^mQ in in the following ^"stic 11 Sealskin 4 LordLyou 2 f Maori Chief colt 5 Robin Efeod. 3 f Chibtea 6 Sealskinj with Robin Hood in olo30 company, made play, followed by the favourite and Rustic side by side, waited upon by Maori Chief and Chibisa to the lime-kilns. Here Robin Hood gave. way, and the Maori Chief, having run past* his horses, came on with a clear lead to the road, where Lord Lyon came up on the inside, and as they entered the straight he took a clear lead, waited upon, by Rustic and Robin Hood to half-way up the hill, when the Dake's, colt drew forward, and, waiting until they reached the en- closure, Rustks then made his effort, and getting up at the Stand, won cleverly by half a length; a bad third. The others were pulliag up as they past the post. One well-known face was missed from the circle in the Royal enclosure, and the cause of its absence a subject of much regret. The Earl- of Chesterfield was seized with paralysis on Saturday morning last, and lies in a state which justifies the worst fears of his numerous friends.

DISGRACEFUL SHARE TRANSACTIONS. A resolution is to be proposed in the Liverpool ahare-macket that aIL transactions in banks are to be for cash. Should it be adopted, a similar measure will probably be tried in London. It may be doubted, however, whether any a pecial restrictions are advisable. A great outcry is made against the parties who sell shares with the view of profiting by the present panic, but it isjust as fair for a man to sell as to buy upon speculation; A good suggestion has been made that the friends of the various companies attacked should combine to take all the shares that are offered by the more speculators and force them to deliver them at the appointed day. The sellers would then be foiled by an adroit turning of their own methods against themselves, and instead of hearing idle denunciations of their policy, they would simply find to their cost that their policy is fairly open to all, and is capable of being practised in one way as well as another. If the promoters, directors, and shareholders of the various companies, after hay- ing for two or three years past exhibited a sanguine faith which no remonstrances could check, have not now the sense or courage to defend their property, it is in vain for them to protege against the conse- iquenoes. The only cases where speculators can be charged with moral delinquency is where they resort either individually or by conspiracy, to the fabrication. of rumours or statements tp serve their ends. But here, again, the parties interested have 6hown lament- able imbecility. The law affords every protection, that can possibly be grafted against such practices, and there is no branch of crime with which, in this com- mercial coanto the courts are disposed to deal more rigorously. Yet, although the praotice of this class of offenders have been during the past. two or three weeks recklessly open., not a single step has been taken to bring them to punishment. Circulars h$r€ been sent to all parts of the country with the words With- draw your deposits from bank," the name of the bank inserted being that of any speeial esfcabliajiment j to be attacked on a particular day. Papers with a similar inscription have been freely scattered in the j Btreets and public places, letters with forged signatures streets and public places, letters with forged signatures have been addressed to brokers ordering them to sell 500 shares of such and such a company, and every other device has been used that could be suggested by the ingenuity of the financial scum of a great city. The employment of a. few detectives and the !offer of large rewards could hardly have failed to work a cure, yet, instead of the exhibitions of even that limited amount of vigour, we have nothing bat a. resort to wild expletives about the wickedness of such proceedings.. At the same time, while people are ex- pressing indignation at the wretched practices in ques- jtion, it would be well for them to look to higher iquarters. Is it not notorious that during the meat I critical. hours of the, panic leading brokers were found to recommend to every client they met to sell the I shares of such and suoh a bank or company, accom- panying the recommendation with an assurance that ¡ they were sure to go down." that an attack was to I be made upon them, &b, P- And is thera an instance known or any one of the parties thus addressed having had the moral courage to expose those who for a paltry oommiiition of X,5 or lO were thus willing to I ibeceme active agents towards the ruin of famiJiea r- i Times. City Artidk

r— im 1 A SUCCESSFUL INSURANCE COMPANY. I In these days of commercial panic it is something to I point to a really successful undertaking, wherd over speculation is not practised, bat, with a prudent re- I gard to the interests of shareholders, the money is safely invested andaremunerativedividend obtained, j Last week the 27«h annual general meeting of the I proprietors of the Ganeral Life and Fire Ingaranoe Company was held at their central office, 02, King William-street, London, and the report of the buainese done during the past year was highly satisfactory to the shareholders. Tha fire premiums of 1865, after deducting the sum paid for guarantee, were < £ 59,788 18s 7d. while the ¡ losses of the year amounted to = £ 51,148 14-3. 9d. The proportion of losses to premium was aocoutited large, but this was less than last year, and the directors are sanguine that fatare returns will be more favourable, The life premiams for tile past year, after. making a like diidaetion for guarantees, were .£38, 454s.1Od., while the claims admitted were 17,730. Six hundred and seventy-two new policies were issued, in 1865 assuring £ 190,965* and producing an annual income of X5,714 la. 9d. Both the amount assured and the premiums obtained exceed those of any previous year. The report further states that thb income of the company has continued steadily to increase, and has now reached XLI,0,824 4a. 8d.; while the assets, according to the auditor's report, were on the 31st December last, £ 313,007 12s. 8d. For this amount an average interest of £ 4 12s. percent. has been obtained, which might have been increased had not the directors had special regard to the security of their invqetmento. For the present year a dividend of 6 per cent, was declared upon all shares without deduction of in- oome-tax. The- chairman, in referring to the latter faqt, said, "Tile long continued dividend of 6 per cent. on the shares must be considered highly satisfactory, and the steady progress of the business must be most, gratify- ing to our all friends, notwithstanding that the fire losses amounted to the large sum of 451,000; If we can reduce the number of fires which occur, manv of I which happen through negligence, there will be larger profits. If there were generally moro care with lucifor matches, with gas, and on the part of smokers, there would be fA wer losses, and a larger margin for bonuses to shareholders." One of the shareholders said, at the recent meeting, in proposing a vote of thanks to the Board of Directors, "I, for one, am most pleased with the manner in which the business of the company has been conducted. Looking cat the fact of the extreme competition of the day, in both fire and life business, I conclude that the directors have done well. I know that some companies have secured more business; but as in the navy there are large ships and small ships, and both are alike useful in their way, so there are larger apd smaller offices, and both are alike useful. I look baek on the company's pro- gress with satisfaction, andone thing is especially grati- fying. I never heard, throughout the company's ex- tended career, a breath of suspicion as to the manner in which its business is conducted or its position. Living in the times we do, this to me seems highly gratifying. Itaink the course the directors have taken has been wise, and think the course they a,ra now taking for clearly developing the company's business is a wise course; This company, whose chief office is in ,King Williamt., street, London, has branches in Edinburgh, an chester, Birmingham, and Glasgow; and the saoeess it has met with, both in London and the provinces, is highly gratifying.

PRINCE ALFRED IN EDINBURGH. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred arrived in Edin- burgh from London on Saturday morning, at seve^ o'clock, and was met at the railway station by the municipal authorities and severalgentlemen-connooted with the University. In the forenoon thaPrince visited the University, where he was presented with an ad. dress from the Senate, and the honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on his Royal Highness by Sir David Brewster. PtinoeAlfred, in acknowledging the compliment, said "Sir D md Brewster and Professors.—It is with pride and,plea.sure that I accept the honorary degree which has just been so graciously conferred on me by this University—an institution with which I am already connected by- many intimate and cherished associations. Of these associations, some are derived from recollections of the circumstance to which you have adverted in your address — namely, t.hat my lamented father held, and highly valued, the degree with' which you have to-day been pleased to honour me. Others are the results of my own experience at this University, and of the many -happy-may I vesture to say, I trust, profitable -days, which I passed while studying within these walls. To the expression of these personal feeii-jga I must add the gratification which I experience in finding the University so intimately connoted with, the Ir £ dust rial Museum we are about to open, by the contri- butions of your collections of natural history to that institution. I will only observe, in conclusion, that I trust I may have frequent opportunities of evincing my interest in this seat of learning, and of cultivating the acquaintance of the eminent men who preside over it" (applause)* Immediately afterwards the Prince proceeded to inaugurate the Industrial Museum. Here his Royal Highness was presented by the Town Council with an address, and had conferred on him the freedom of the City of Edinburgh. In recognition of this honour, Prince Alfred said: My Lord Provost, magistrate^ and gentlemen,—Accept my sincere thanks for the hearty welcome wnich I have this day received in Edinburgh, an expression o? which you have ao warmly given in your address. The loyalty of this city and its inhabitants is well-known and highly-valued by the Queen; and I shall not fail to bring under the notice of her Majesty the feelings of attachment to her person, crown, and family expressed by you in behalf of the community of whioh, I am now proud to as-vi I form a part, by having just received at your hands bho freedom of this ancient city. The occasion which has now called me amongst you, and the work of which* I have now been deputed to announce the completion, naturally cause a feeling of mournful regret that my father coald not have been spared, to finish Cle, work which he began, and in which he took so wa/m an interest. The opportunity which has been afforded me of taking a part in this important ceremony emboldens me to express my strong desire tq follow the footsteps of the Prince Consort, however feebly, in promoting those peaceful arts-and sciences so, necessary to the welfare of the nation, and so intimately associated with his name. This museum* including as it does collections of natural hjatory and geology, and passing onwards to other applica- tions of industry, and having illustrations also of the means of adorning them by art, has thug, a com- prehensiveness I am not aware of any other museum possessing." His Royal Highness having inspected the museum declared it open, an announcement which was heralded by a flourish of trumpets and a royal salute from the guns planted on the Half-Moon Battery of the ,Castle.

ii iijjtt tlie House .of Lords, on Monday, the. Ecclesiastical 1*2*68' (Isle of Man) Bill'was read a seeond time^ as-was 0 r)? the Htip Trade Bill. a Atio.iand Drainage Supplemental Bill and the Cattle ^SUranceiBill were read a third time and passed, i" JU answer to the Marquis of Clanricarde, LOrd"Stauley. of Alderley said. that a bill wasin^pretMira- ^hole question of? oyster, fisheries in t^La^ °f licences to possess and cultivata beds fcl would,beincluded in it. then adjourned.' House of Commons,, in*answer to Mr. D. Griffith, OpjJ*; aywd said the great Powers in Conference being of to?rOB that the election of Prince Charles of' Hohenzoilern aot;, Hospodar of Roumania- was illegal, it could hot:be 0°%%ei]. i11*"0 committee on the Eeprfisentfttipn- of the ) £ j^leJ8ill and the Redistribution of Seats Bill, moved that the bills be referred to the same an<^ an i^ksfcr.uotienv to the committee ^ave Power consolidatp th% bjlls into one> ^°^vas agreed to. Klilghtley, movelcl tbitt it be an instruction to the that they have power feci make provision for the Tv?on bribery andicotfuptioa at elections.; Chancellor oi the Exciieqner objec-ted t» the motion, that it had not been usual-to group the sub- ^iatrik br*bery and corruption, with thoae -of franchise or U^^m°n, of seats, that .course hejng, inconvenient, and lUteKto lead ratll^r to disadvantage than benefit. The 'lue was doubtless in an-unsiafefactory state, and on and inquiry it ought to be daalfc with. some observations in favour of Sir R. Knightley's Sit by Mr, Bi. Osborne, Mr- Newdegate, Mr; Otayyand PtRht <Jri».y said that the question was not whe|thep, all means should be taken to check bribery -and t u*' whether the oon.-ideration of that matter dealt with in^the present billsi It would be most 8ftm,T?antageous to encumber the present bills with any r'llistdaction. f Ctons urged that nothing conld' be discovered by opgj.frlwwes. which were, abou,t to take place, that could 3^r z^'OBe way or the other on the necessity of legislating xibe 4P bribery atid corruption, even,- -^i^an said that he had a .motion for-the following ^ous if carried would act as an.instruction to the ob-'ecfc °f whioh was. that;any one,bribing or at ^be;should be for,ever disqualified from voting Hot °in:, He thought that ther,preseii.t bills oughS to be overlaid with the subject of bribery. Wen^^S wA m- Barr0W h £ rvin^ ^^afHn^Theynn<^t?ral a.r«ued against the practicability of ^t that sub e?t0f- c« Wion in the Reform Bills, S £ «SS £ SS5 SS"1"bert w«««» "J «-« oou,tttoy would be gratifled at the ^ridTico^oou,tttoy would be gratifled at the .^SssSd^SSiaS: ta a04AUk(i ais, was tompedothe igaaagip,$, f the;G(rvern. ^il^midated into shrinking from, tha,t whio^. it conceived duty. The side ef-the House on whi«di he sat could charged; with being the promoters of comtpyhn and oth M'was ill! tbe annals of the boroughs, represented bv h!*j5 than*Conservative members that, the recprds of RO/ "Ption and bribery would be found. In the admittedly tn Pt condition of the electoral system the House ou„>1'I' -^pcede to the motion. (ibson poixited out that.Mir. Gladsfcone m Ultroduc- fcoSii subject of Parliamentary Reform, had included elec- Qn C0Truptiun as part of the whole questi-on with whioh -JS^Mnent meant to deal, but not ie thfe same billa which eS ^th otherparts of the auto'iet. No Government had' o 2?'* PT»rsu,ad that course; and the motion was iu fact an j^pt to.obatruct the measured Government^ a,division the motion was carried by 248 to 238, ths ^Jernmant being thus defeated by a majority of ten, ittfe Chancellor otthe Exchequer said that the Govern- should wait for the clauses which no doubt Sir R. iOh»l ley would 3Dubtless be prepared with. Some time Jwoeojaswilj elapse before tijoseclauses could be brought ttn'ht- "^e ^on' gentleman wa^ able to deal with an ad-- 4DP • eT^ 'the Government would give him ev.ery assist- I>1» 111 their power but the division which had just taken "-Weuldnot move the Government from their purpose of p^on; the. essential parts, of the mea.sures they, had OQ.ptain Hayter moved that ttie House, although desirojis, olf tae subjects of the franchise aud of the redistribution, ats s^ouid be consideredi^gether, is of opinion that tbp of grouPinS proposed in- the Redistribution Bill is convenient nor equitable, and that the scheme of fQ '■"Kijesty's Government is inot su^ciently matured to nn*. tl^e^asis of a ^atiBfd.<jbory measure The kon. gentler jL-j^Viii detail, examined the grouping of tborpughs in the • pointing out what be considered incongruities and want Vl a i-i tation in the-scbetne. deb-.i«o was continued by Major Anson, Mr. Bagnall, ^-Baraert, MEr.: SclatarfBooth, ftiie' Solieitor-General. and A?r ^0B> det'tJqr" T4rmis having MPYecl, the adjournment of the "te lie bh^nqellor of the Excflequer, hoped.thlil-tit might be Juowed tQ go on next dly. -c Mr. Disraeli; said Utat., from, theifm^g^nent-^iry maniior in "amhi tMs aubject hiwi beaubrought forward. t here had been of reform watitBow, andiaa matters sU»d.ijo not«te. ha,d been taken On the part of the Government} Of. tll looking to th%e,videubumPrOPwredness f of the suppprtera of the bill to cliscusp tha matteit -at present;, it wouid be better to adjourn the debate until Thursday After an animated discussion, iif which' Sir Gi Grey, Sir i H. Cairns, Mr. Card well, Mr. H. Vidian, My. B. "Coehrane, and Mr. Earle took part, TheAebat-o was, «Kijourned to Thursday; The Customs-awd lnlanfl. Eevenue Bill passed through, committee. The other business was disposed- of, and' the House adjourned one o'plocki

In the Housecofs'Lordsj onTuesday, the,Eaxl of -CIarendoc movedjthe second reading of the Publie SchOQls-Bill,-which he stated to be based on the report of the Royal Commission and a select flonpnittee, of their lordships' House. The bill was approved generally by-Earl Stahopeand the Earl ofrDerby,-and some suggestions having been made-by the latter no We earl, and accepted, the biii was Jead a secoad time. Earl Russell, moved the House* to- eoncuc with the Com- pons in the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire ihto,corrupt practices at Lanc^st^r.. Earl Gtey moved as an amendment -a series of resolutions, the effect o £ which was thai. ,all previous inquiries; of this kind having ended 4a nothing, the House should, not assent to the address proposed,: but would be ready to." concur in onei praying for a general inquiry, oii the subject of bribery by means of a commission- Aftejc some discussion, in which, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord IJT vedcn, and Earl Forteseue took pa.rt,. The EarLoffDerbysaidvthat the House was; plat)ed in a position of some delicacy and [difficulty, as they must either BEo w<that,theyrwere not,much, interested in tha matter, or agree to a resolutioifcwhiQh they,felt to bo useless. He sugr gested att adjournment of the discussion, With a view to consider -whether some practical proceedings could not be adopted. Earl Russellassented to, the-ouggestioa, and the debate was adjourned tokThursdayi,. The House then adjourned* In the House-, of Commons, the Chancellor of, the Ex- chequer, in answer,, tq Mr. Akyoyd,, referring to the great difference between the rates of interest charged by .the,Bank of JFi'a.nee-a.nd''the BMtk of Bttgland, said that at this m omeut, it was niot. desirable to iagtioijte e>n inquiry into the condition of the currency Mr.. Haijdcasfcle, in answer to Mr. Neate, said that. he shoudd poptgong his Chj.ireh.Satea- Abolition Bill to the 4tfc of July, The Chancellor of the Exchequer postponed his bi^ on the same subiectito Wfednesday, the ISth of June^' Mr. H. Vivian moved^ that-any. person found by. a Royal cømmisslofi to hfere been guilty of offering, or, giving a shrike to any elector tq induce him to vote or abstain from, votings or ,on-iiccount of having-voted or abstained from voting for any candidate at any election, should thenceforth and for ever be disqualified from1 exercising t4e electoral franchise or fronj sitting in Parliament; that any,voter found by any Royal commission to, hoe received, a bribe for voting or abstaining, from voting should be disqualified in like manner. Mi. Buxton moved, as an,addition, that in every case where any voter is reported by any election committee as having Received a>ribq lor voting or abstaiiiing from voting, the Attorney-General shall be required to examine the evi- dence, and to prosecute the person who has offered or given tj&e bri be, should the evidence .in;his opinion besufficient, to render aconviction probable. Mr. Powell, as a member of, the GaLway Eleqtioa Com- mitteee, sppke to the ex,treme,corruption which prevailed in that borough, apd. diiscribedf tile modi in which'it was con- dneted. Mr;, B. Osborne feared that the proposition now made wousld not be effectjial." He described the mode in which the managers of party on each side aided ca,pitalista to gain seats, according to thei* readiness to expend money on elections, and dwelt on the indirect 4rag of members in subscriptions tQ charities and dinners, without which they would have no chance of being retvirned, and argued that there-coul,d,Aoti,and would not, be any great ardour on the part:of members really to suppress bribery. The only remedy was the abolition of the present tribunals, the com.- mittees of the, House,, which now tried election questions, and the creation of a standing commission to try such questions, and to try them on the spot where elections had taten placet He would make it,, penal to canvass before or aftfer<the issue; of a writ. If he met with any encouragement i from the Houses-he> would iatredu.ee a, bill contaiijini^sueh <: provi-ions. JVLr. Mull opposecl the motion. The Attorney-General said the resolution was defective, inasmuch: as it made the- comm,issions. 01:" inquiry the tribunals to decide. on the disqualification of bribers or bribed;, and those tribunals as at present constituted were not, competmt,adeciFaAely to deal with the subject. In regard to tbe proposition,that bribers and bribed should be prosecuted, there were soma difficulties in carrying, it out but. any order of the House he-would, s; Attorney-General,, do his. best to carry out. Mr- Se^urfield. expressed an opinion in favour of dis- franchisement rather than prosecution. procluimed that the only remedy for wha<t people called bribery was.th« ballot. The discussion was continued by Mr. Smollett, Mr. Pollard-Urquhart, Colonel Sykes, and Mt. Newd^gate." Mr. H. Vivi tn said that, after the acceptance of its^ prini-, cipje by-the? Government he should not press his resolution. Mr. Otway having spoken, Sir G. Grey said that the reason the resolution was with- • drawn wasihat in its present shape it could-not be embodied i in a biH. He believed the true-remedy for bribery, was to be found. net in personal, but corporate disfranchisement. Mr: Whit»side,entirely agreed in that opinion. After observations fromMri Hadfield, Sir G. Bowyer, and Mr. U'Lar the motion°was withdrawn. Mr, M. Gibson obtained. leave, to bring in a bill to facili- tate, the establishment* improvement, and maintenance of oyster beds. Also a bill to amend the law with respept to the carriage and deposit, of dangerous goods. The House •wassshortly after conijited out,, at, ten minutes past eight.o'clock.

I GREAT DEBTS, UCTION OF PROPERTY BY-FIEE, Seldom has the western part'of the metropolis bean s^p/ili^minated'as was the case on Wednesday morning at a quarter to, thr<ee; At the above hour Police- constable 129' E -discovered a fire to be raging in the- I wn ?remiee8 e-' Mr, .Morrall, eoaobbuilcler, situate in J Wells-street, Oxford-street; Before the engines of tha I brigade arrived at the spot the whole premises.were in a. blazø. A great many vehicles in an unfinished state were brought out from, the manufactory, but those who were the meanfi of saving the property suffered muph from the dense smoke. The greatest consternation prevailed, for the flames made fearful progress,, igniting., the premises of Mr. Cuff, carxying on-the business of a carman in Union-mews, Union- street, and the expensive premises of Mr. Wm. Jordan, tmplate worker, 42 and 43, Wells-street. Also the premises of Mr. James Davis, baker; Mr, P. Guy, cabinetmaker, 46, Wella-street; Mr. Miiltod, chair- makef; Mr. Poax, precious metalchaser; Mr, Harden, 4r, Wblls-street and Mssgrs. Mipoggipt and Xetzel! manufacturing jewellers, 13, Charles-street. Great exoitement prevailed irA the neighbourhood, for no one could tell where the fire would end. Wells-street was literally strewed with furniture.which had been thrown from the houses, which were on firs. The exertions of the, firemen were chiefly directed. to tha- surrounding property on .all sides, there being every fear of the fire destroyif) g the whole block. of buildings between Charles-streefc and Union-street. In addition to the premises, we have mentioned, .the extensive manufac- tory,of Mr. Greea, carver and gilder,) 14, Charles- street, burnt furiously, and before the flames could be extinguished nearly the whole of the building was destroyed. Almost every steamer of the Metropolitan Brigade went to,,work, atd it was six o'clock before the-fire was extinguished, The amount, of property destroyed must .be irmaanso, but no reliable informa- tion could be,obtaineci'as to its origin. There were 10 engines of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the power- ful' engine of-the Birompton Volunteer. Fire Brigade, r jo es. and six. fire-escapes. The. light of the fire brought thousands-of people to the spot, but tliev were Dre- ventefl fi'om<encFOMhing on the apaca required by the firemen. A great amount of property from Mr. .,s Green's premises-was saved by the members of the salva.g-,p,oorps,, under Mr. Swanton.

SHOCKING MURDER AND SUICIDE '> EilB LIVERPOOL. A feeling of, surprise and horror was created in Liverpool, and the neighbourhood on Friday by the announcement, in the Liverpool Mereivry, of the murder of a. young woman namad Train, under particu- larly brutal circumstances, and the subsequent saicide of the; murderer. Mrs., Ann Train, who was twenty- five years of age, and; described as a woman of con- siderable personal attractions, was the wife of a purser on board the steamer Delaware. The deceased lived in Wood grove,01dS was, about three miles from Liverpool. She was attended by a female servant, and in the same house also lodged the murderer, John Thomas Moss, a oousin, of, the deceased. They came to Wood. [grove about a month ago, Mr. Train himself being ¡then at sea.. When he returned, about a fortnight Isince, he expressed his dissatisfaction at Mosa living in the same house with his wife, Moss being without employment, and a feeling of jealousy being enter- tained against him by Train. Before he left, there- fore, in the Delaware he insisted upon his wife and her. fServaot leaving the house and taking another at New Brighton in Cheshire. She was preparing to carry out ■this wish on Thursday, and was occupied during the iday in packing her e-totbe, &e. BJoas, Assisted her, I, |but it was noticed: that he appeared at times much fwff f one time, taking up a knife, he threatened to, destroy himself. Train called the servant TiT a^ 1?*<> room, and. at this time ,aPP0ared to be struggling r«^er_in play than in anger, and Gold- ing:hrd Mosaasa.^ra. Train to give him her mother's weddiag^ring, which the deceased wore over her own. Stt^am Ji6,1 fe- wglve up fche rin»» and Moss, than dofn« f,Mca*Traiu>bnt.she prevented him doing so.. Moss then want to another part of the room, sat down, upon a box, and Mrs. Train pro- ceeded with -her, packing. Soon afterwards Golding wa sent by her misteess into another room:to fetch a dress,, but she had- not been absent more than a 9 heaBd an agonising cry from Wt Margaret !< Margaret! She rushed back, to ,the room, and was, horrified to find Moss «awfv!g f °f H head wifc]l1 the axe- She saw three blows struck, and afraid to interfere she ran off for assistance. In a fewminutes, having procured the ajid of police^ffi^ers, she: returned; They found ^ars. Train lying upon the floor covered with, blood; her head having beenlitarally smashed in. There were in the skull, one of the eyes was knocked outy and the birains, of the poor creature were scattered about, It is believed that the first, blow was given from bahind, and that this callsed almost, immediate death, although in his brutal f ran ay Moss appears to, have kept on atnibing until the head was shattered in the way described. On sea-rohing for the murderer the police found him, in the sculiei-y with his throat cut and quite de" lb appears that Moss had, been an old lovrofl Mrs. Train's, and that he had been absent, for some time in Australia. When he returned he found that she had married Train, and from, that ticae a fearful jealousy appears to have haimted mm. His oeuupatioa was that of a clerk, but he had bean for sooiie time out of employment, and is described; as an^ and rather dissipated man. It. was mainly on this account, our, oocrespondent is in,. formed, that Train; objected to his • remaining in the houaa and being near Mrs. Train.

¡ itrlitlAL PARLIAMENT. *TKfe House of Commons met on Tlitirsday, the,24th, after, »»3untide recess. JW-ChM.odl°r of the ,Excbecmer, itt reply, to a question .^taxMiv. Disraeli, said, that, the Government—-with earnest 'eaires.but no very sanguis: a.h»p,e asryet—had.accepted the JJWatipn to a Congress, thinking it their duty not to pass r^ .tfejLs chance of prersaitiri-g calamities which but for this would impend over a: great part of Europe.- The *tecise terms, however, of the basis oa whicb the invitation, to he addressed to the Powers pf Europe-.were jiot yet listed, though he did n_ofe- apprehend much difficulty in adjustment but the etittemeirt quoted by Mr. Disraeli jWt oandition^of -'agreement;were to*beivsougbt in-terri» compensations)—did not accuratelytdescribe what had *$pjace.,t bpn the second reading of the Customs and Inland Eevenue i.fetHubbard moved-as an amendmoot this resolution:-— it is inexpedient to, retain, as part of the inland j7etlV,e for the service of the year, the present duti s on marine insurances, which, are unjust in their mci- onjproperty and injurious to the national industry. seconded the motion,- which, was negatived without -a divisiony ana tne, but was a second time.. JJ.e Chancellor of the Exchequer, m moving the second of the: Terminable Anniiitieft-'BiIlf.entered into a ajna elaborate exptaMitiott'-of- its provisions,; obsew- timi.he had neves comidered" ,the policy of reducing the Jrtl°nai debt'by means of terminable annuities at large, ber SSe he had deemed that to be a faxed principle of our j.-JtioiBl(system: and. what he proposed was a very partial w^fttof-carry out ttot, principle. Ha admitted thg^-tte at its pre'pe&t' amount was relatively ookipg to our increased, wealth and-' popnla- 2™^ t^tan wheir it stood at- three -hundred! v?' it must he remembered that this country r1.8 ORly extricating itself,. from, the, incidental, difi- arising. out of the war, which increased, our national Wot Ao eight or nine hundred millions.- The bill proposed 'plac^ to eonv-ert twenty-four million^ of-savings deposits- into terminable annuities at;a chftrge»_ of .4000 Any balances which might arise"wouJ.à! PE! in Jsted irifrovernmen' securities; and any stock bo acquired be subject to the second operation of the measure, oifijh wpuld- be the conveys ion of such stock into another annuities terminable m 1905; The maximum in- of charge of the nrst'opera.Mon would: be. 4M20/)00) j "'1:WJ1ia.r on the' second operation would be £ 1,295,000, | added to the £ 420.000 on the firiit operation-would iy,i,;?-a sum of £ 1,715,000. But, in, 1885 there would: be a gg^Wt'oiertwo millions- by.the-Iapse of btheu terminable inffies, which would be> pla^edr against the charge, of Ijo W^OO- The»amount, of consols cancelled in 1885, would millions-and a half. Tiio cucoess. of-the pro. tuiawf -depended-on a thorough understanding of 'the jitioiikof ttoe State as bankers and inviestors of tfcife sums from the savings banks; ..and the bearing of the the assets, not the liabilities, of tbe State- On og,hole it was proposed to adhere to the policy of paying debt by weana,of terminable: annuities cleaned of their "I ann Cal inconveniences and, losse?, and avoiding the objec- of being borrowers and payers of. debt .in the same Y%r. discussion ensued, carried -on by Mr. Hubbard, Mr. U, Sir F. KeMy, who objected to the hill on the ground tj0" it would for 40 years prevent any remission of taxa- J>3 and especially.on tea, sugar, coffee,and malt; Mr. ^r" Chiliere,. Mr. Henley,' Mr. Samuelson, Mr. tWe^i and Mr. Hussey Vivian, who wished discussion on (J*9pal,qvestion to be postponed till a motion of his came cordially supported the proppsition of the Govern- ^%a^d only wished it was concurred in on a much larger bill-was.then read a seoond time,. C&wcper, in movipg the second reading of tha Com- (Metropolis) Bill, repeated the explanation he gave of ej.W'jvisions when,he, introduced it—these being -mainly to tW^pt all commons within 15 miles of the metropolis from gFJiJciediction of the Enclosure Commissioners, and to thercu under thefgeneral management of. a commission H^r^ing of the First Conjmissipner of1 Works. the Chair- tuT.°tthe Metropolitan Board, one.of the Enctesure Com- ^^oiUns, and two other persons.. a .discussion-in which Mr. Ayrton, Sir W. Jolliffe, Locke took part, the bill was rea,d a second time, ifi).Qwper- undertaking to refer it to a Select Committee, it j? instruction to consider tjie expediency of ^xten,dii>g jii country at large. temaining orders of Iha day, were disposed of, and»the adjourned.

^Ilt4dayrBjfcf()ur<i)'clock,en ttietHjjpsebeingcounted, tihere 39 members x>resent, -and the. rad- Monday..

DREADFUL FIRE- NEm EXETWR, Upwards of 150 Honsea Burnt Down. On Friday afternoon; about half-past twelve o'clock, one of tiio mQst awful conlfagrations whioh it has been our lot to record occurred at Ofctery, a village distant about 12 miles from Exeten It appears that on. Fri- day morning four children who attended the public school there were detained either for bad condnci: or for being. unable to say their lessons. Between the hours of twelve and one they were- confined in a room by themselves, where they amused themselves by light- ing pieces of paper and then letting them fly "up the chimney., This, it appears, caused the chimney, which was rather foul at the time, to catch and the result was that the sparks from the top fell on to the adjoining houses, which in a short time commenced to burn. The fire spread, and within a few minutes three or four of the adjoining houses commenced burning. The various engines-at Exeter, Honiton. and all the neighbouring places at whioh it was known engines were kept were sent or telegraphed for. The engines from Exeter- we beuem three in number—arrived soon after one 01-clock, and, commenced playing on the devouring element. ihe engines from Honiton arrived at about the same time, and were soon in action. There was a scarcity of water-, and a rather high wind blowing at the time caused the flames to extend to the houses adjoining the Red Lion Hotel, which we believe was the. first to. ignite* and within three-quarters of an hour a whole stree*r_was in flames. In this street —which was named ronder-street—a large number of persons were residing, and the scene which took place was a, most exciting one. The fire continued to spread, and, eventaallyreachecl,, Topp, and another street, which we believe suffered the same fate as Yonder-street. At the time the mail cart passed through the village—seven o'clock—the fire .was still raging, as it also was at. the time our parcel waa despunched- A public meeting was held in the town at which the principal tradesmen were present, to see what could be ctone in the matter, and, in accordance with a resolution passed at that meeting, the town osier was sent over the town with information to the I effect that: those whorequired it could got relief at the Town-hall.- A4arge number availed themselves of this opportunity, and the sight was a most distressing one. We may state that a large, number of the houses ;■ wpstroyed belong to parties in Exeter, and are insured. Wfe&terw Daily Mereur>

■' —♦* J oS6; Abysainian Captives; — The Foreign^ Sfantnnave 18sne^ tl10 following notice" Colonel \;fiftterda-tfefi?r!'8^roiD' exai:1^r^a a telegram dated rlatfid TTmlcii. i letierS'ohad arsivad from Mr. Rassam !lce aad that later in telli- ^rhiph Mr T?a a re0eive<i Massowah, acoordinef to ,i b« SK"1,0"- th9 lal«> 'o »»k«'»«» ?! the lftte Prisoners had gone on to Gorgora, a^the north ena of the lake, where Mr? !i Bassam would^jom_ them, and the whole party would than procead to Metemma—Foreiffa Office Ma\z 2^ A Ciergy man a. Son KuSI taTpteht -A fekiug I*™ £ taS2r^ CUthwoe last Friday mght by which the son of the1 R. Uoora; incumbent Of Sabden, was so severely inj«red,that he med the same-night.. It. appeared tht the deceased, a lad aged nine, had been playing at cricket with some other boys, and. when returning homQ he qaarrelled with a boy- two yWra older than, I, himself. Ptom words -they got to blows, and Moore's r antagonist being stouter and stronger, the little fellow 1 was soon seen to get the worst of the fight. and ulti- I- mately received a, severe blow, whiph felled him to the ground. It was then found that he wa» aknogt in- f sensible,. aijd he was taken up and conveyed home, f .^ediqal aid was called in, bat the little sufferer waa so ssrioualy hurt that he died aoon affcerwasdsw ||

TBE- WIGHT FOE TSB CHAMPIONSHIP. of fight between James MEaoe and JaaephGtOsa for the champion's belt and £ 200 a side took; place on Thursday mornin., near Farningham- bridge, in Kent.: The result, was declared to be eminently unsatisfac-tory by those present, for the so- called Sght ,resolved iljself into an hour and a quarter's harmiesa posture-making, aff.er whioh the men skook hands, while the seconds proolaimed" a draw." Of course^ under theso oircumstancea all beta are void, and neither man carries effeit,her'thechampion's,b$lt or,his opponent's stakes. Load was the disappoint- ment and fierce the denunciations of those assembled round the ring as quarter of an hour after. quarter of an hour sl'P.Pedi aw-Ay, without either man "strikiag a blow, and when at, length they were seen to smilingly shake hands, the shouts and: yells waxed louder, and thejderiaion culminated ia still more frightful, oaths. The ringside, frequenters crave for blood* and that neither Maoe nor Goss should have returned>to town battered to pieces, is held to bo a serious grievance against both, if not an ineffaceable stain on their pro- fessional reputation. Thera was no pretence a., dis- guising the disappointment and disgustof the spectators, who were: of all classes-of Society, and who had reached the battlei-Sdd in perfecfe comfort, the Daj-tv Drooeed- iBg by. meaaia of tickets at X2.; each, by the London, Obatham, and Dover Railway^ An efficient Fitaff: of policemen, guards, porters, and superior: officials was in attendance, and each batch of illegal travellers-was seated in one or other of two trains, which were subsequently made into one, and punc- taally at half past-five a party some six hundred strong, and composed of guardsmen, dandies, pugilists, publicans, tradesmen, asrricul- turililts, and turfites, started on their journey. Kb one knew exactly where the place of fighting would be. The tickets wae iusp.,pot-o-d bath before and during the journey, and no precaution was wanting to limit the day's pleasure to those able and willing to pay. Soon after half-paat six the. train stopped by the side of a grassy field some three miles beyond Farningham- bridge, and its occupants, speedily hurried down the embankment to make bets, exchange experiences, and keenly criticise the turf. The first spot pitched upon was declared to be too flinty, but the grass a few. yards further was pronounced beautifully fit." This was not until after it had been patted and felt and scrutinised by ruffianly, harsh-voiced scoundrels, with as mufih; tender consideration, as if they were prudent housewives purchasing a costly dress. Then the stakes and ropes were fixed and the ring formed. Then came further claims-npoii the purse. Oatside the fiyst enclosure, in which are the "-corners" and the combatants, runs a second rope, and for the privilege of standiag in the space between these twain, "inner ring" tickets were sold at 5s. a head. This done, as the grass was damp with the daw of one of the brightest May mornings of the year, camp-stools and kitchen-chairs were offered to be lent out at half-a-guinea each. By the time these all-important preliminaries were over, and it was seen that all likely purchasers or hirers were supplied,. Gbss threw in, his cap, and immediately afterwards was in his corner, supported by his second g. Goss is a powerfully-built young fellow, whose sturdy limbs and muscular development speak forcibly of strength and power. His neck is short and thick, his shoulders broad and wall-set, while the innate savagery of his face is heightened by lips which turn out- wards. and upwards in true animal fashion when he-speaks or smiles. He had been heard to speak con- fidently of his own fitness," but wore an anxious look, as if fully impressed with the responsibility of facing so redoubtable a champion as Mace. The latter has a rather handsome face, while the predominant expression is rather stern and determined than brutal. or cruel. Bets of. three to one on the latter were loudly proffered; but with, few takers, though a few bets were booked at two to one. It was within a few minutes of seven a.m. when what is irony to call the fight" commenced; and from that time until ten minutes past eight, Mace and Goss danced about, squared, feinted, countered, and shuffled, without fighting a round, almost without giving a blow. The people about, "patrons," pugilists, and the rest, were first remonstrative, and finally furious, while the four seconds perpetually transgressed the laws of the ring by mock fighting, and by leaving their corners to dance round and yell derisively at the two half-naked figures in the hope of exciting them with what is called "business." The one bit of, consolation was that a second fight would take place on the same day, which would certainly be "pretty;" and "pretty" it eertainly was, if much hard hitting and freely flowing blood give a title to that word. Two young pugilists (Ught weights) had been matched to fight, and were speedily at work in the ring. Their conduct was precisely the reverse of those preceding them. Both were praised delightedly as, "regùlar little gluttons for punishment," and were rapidly be- coming black and crimson from bruises and bleeding, when the police broke into the ring and the hateful proceedings terminated, by one of the intruders being knocked down by half a dozen ruffians, and afterwards out and kicked about the face and head until he, lay, weltering in blood.