Flintshire Observer Mining Journal and General Advertiser for the Counties of Flint Denbigh

(i)ur foitbim Cfltmponkni TWe deem it right to state that we do not at all times identifr '•ireelves with our correspondent's opinion" ] If there be in the "lowest deep" of political gloom a "lower still, we have sunk into the latter but we are by no means gloomy, nevertheless. The truth is, that nothing political stirs the public mind just now, foreign questions are voted a bore; and as to home questions, there are none of any political significancy. Cabinet Ministers are away from town enjoying their Christmas holidays. They will return here to their official haunts in about a fortnight, and there will then be a Privy Council, when the day for the meeting of Parliament will be fixed. Under ordinary circumstances, the 9th would be a very likely day for the Houses to meet, this being the second Tuesday in February but as this happens to be Shrove Tuesday, and the House usually adjourns on Ash Wednesday, I think it probable that Tuesday, the 2nd of February, will be the occasion when Lord Palmerston will virtually exclaim, Uprouse ye then, my merry, merry men; it is our opening day." A joke is current that Cobden, who was formerly very successful in the Manchester trade, has now especially succeeded in muzzlin' Delaine I Not a bad joke, if it were wholly true but it is the best thing I have heard throughout this dreary controversy. Happily no one now pays any great attention to it, and posterity, I think, would not care to have it appended to a new edition of the elder Disraeli's "Quarrels of Authors." I am glad to see that at last the magistracy are setting their faces against prize-fighting. King and Heenan will have to appear at the sessions to answer the charge of "breaking the peace," and a day or two ago, two other prize-fighters-Goes and Baker-were summoned to- appear before the Guildford magistrates. On of these fellowB "missed the train," but the feel- ing of the magistrates was clearly shown in the matter y binding over the other to keep the peace for six months and to pay the cost. m--N k!i,%l other cases of a similar kind have recently transpired, and it is to be hoped that the prize-fighting fraternity will take warning by the result. But in my opinion the penalty ought to be made more severe. Pugilism lowers the tone of public morality; it promotes betting, swearing, and drinking it facilitates highway robbery; it opens the door to all sorts of chicanery in connecti. with the fight itself while there is positively not one good thing to set off against these and many other evils. The sooner the law on the subject is altered the better for our public morals. The proposed railways, which are mapped out as if the sole intention of their projectors were to mar and ruin the metropolis, are not, I am happy to hear, to be allowed to be hustled anyhow through the com- mittee-rooms of the House of Commons. An organised plan of placing the public in possession of the facts, fairly stated, and of opposing such as will be detrimental to the public interest, has been agreed on; or, at least, is under contemplation. I hope the plan may not fall through. Every district throughout the country should have its watch committee on this important subject. I am glad to find that steps are being taken here to form an association for the closing of public-houses on Sunday. I am glad of this, I say; not that I necessarily agree with the proposal to its full extent, but because I think the subj ect demands more atten- tion than it has yet received. There are, of course, two opinions on the matter at least, if not twenty; but it is undoubtedly the fact that public-houses are now open on the Sunday far longer than is necessary for the convenience of the public. Whether they ought to be closed altogether is another question. I will merely add that I wish the gentlemen who take up this subject on the affirmative side of the question would add to their programme the closing of public- houses at 11 o'clock on Saturday-nay, on every night. I am persuaded that an immense amount ef evil is done by keeping these places open till midnight or later, and that there is not an iota of good to set off against it. A- — nndlheToUo^^P in one P*8 appears that Signori-j.. From a bankruptcy report it of their profession invest™' others • • _L i .,i. '•easily-won fortunes in a joint-stock Court millinery estate T, "hment in Regent- Ktreet. It used to be imagined that tht..„ earned their wealth with sufficient ease them to spend it freely amongst the people who paf them so well. But, no; they turn it over, I and take a double profit out of their fine voices. What will the ladies think of you now, El vino, Assur ? Va superbot" —And why not, may I ask ? There is nothing dis- honourable in it, and it is far better than hoarding up wealth, as so many of our celebrated artistes have done, who have made large fortunes here, lived economically, and carried it all away to some obscure chateau in Italy, France, or Germany. But what Tambarini, Gardoni, &c., do is done by others whose names would strike the public ear with more surprise were those names known. It is not considered socially the correct thing for a nobleman to invest his money in trade. Pecunia non old when it comes from landed property, but in the refined upper classes—the cream of the cream of society—money derived from trade has, we all know, anything but a savoury odour. And yet I am assured that in many of our large trading establishments noblemen are virtually partners. They lend their money, and take shares in the profit and loss. How largely the aristocracy are connected with limited liability companies as directors is well known; and when noblemen can, without any loss of dignity, receive pay as directors, take shares in a mine or an hotel company, I do not see why they should not also —if so it please them-have a share in a wholesale grocer's, a clothier's, yea, and even a cheesemonger's. It is scarcely, perhaps, in accordance with our notions of the age of chivalry and our old nobility," but it at least serves one good purpose-it tends to the com- mingling of classes without arriving at their amalga- mation. English literature has lost one of its chief ornaments, and the clubs and literary ooteries of the metropolis one of their most admired members in William Makepeace Thackeray. So full are the biographies which have appeared that I will not attempt to supplement them, but I cannot refrain from laying my poor immortelle upon his grave. I personally knew him to be a man of kindly and genial nature, and I mention thin because the tone of many of his writings gave him a reputation which he may partially have deserved as a novelist, but which he certainly had not earned as a man. Many a young and straggling author owed much to Mr. Thackeray's kindness of heart. The hackneyed phrase he dies deeply lamented by a large circle of friends" was never more true than in his case and in the literary world he leaves a gap which will not easily be filled. .buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, where so many literary brethren meet to do him honour, and where some deep under the cold turf, Thackeray can scarcely be said to have gone. He is ever present with us by his writings. For myself (like all who personally knew him well), I shall not soon forget his tall and manly figure, his massive head, with its white hair and its genial countenance. There was a sly, dry humour about his mouth and his eyes which made you fear him, but the whole expression of the face made you love him. Had it not been that when he was a boy at the Charterhouse some juvenile Sayers left his permanent mark on Mr. Thackeray's nose (for noticing which peculiarity Mr. Edmund Yates years ago incurred the great satirist's displeasure and ultimately had to retire from the Garrick Club), his face would have been handsome; as it was it was kindly, and I, for one, shall never forget it. By the way, what suffering to an acute mind must Thackeray's broken nose have caused him (we can speak of it now he has gone). Jerrold, who "never said a foolish thing, and never "—but I will not continue the quotation-was once in company with Thackeray and others, when the conversation turned on some attempts to pervert" Mr. Thackeray during a visit to Rome. Eh!" said Jerrold, trying to make a Roman of you, have they ? They should have begun with your nose." Doubtless the great natiristsoonhad his revengo on bin brother wit. Thackeray successively paid a graceful tribute to those men of somewhat similar genius, though manifesting itself in different ways-Jerrold, Albert Smith, and Angus Reach. For the widow of the latter the great novelist gave readings and gained a consider- able amount. Literature, as I have said, sustains a very severe loss in William Makepeace Thackeray. Such a man ought to be buried, not in Kensal Green Cemetery, but in St. Paul's or Westminster Abbey. We have now fairly sot over the holidays, and are hard at work again. We have had, on the whole, I think, a merry Christmas. Trade has been lively, and so have the people. The rich have been giving parties at a bountiful old rate," and the poor have not been forgotten. The miserable debtors in our prisons, and the still more miserable poor in our workouses, the children in orphan schools, and the poor generally have been regaled, somehow or another, with at least one good dinner in the year, and hearty and genial wishes have in numerous instances been followed by some- thing more substantial May the present year be to all my readers a happy new year."

Utiscelbttous IWedigcHtt, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. SOUR GRAPES !—M. Miani, the Italian who tried to discover the sources of the Nile before Cap- tains Speke and Grant, and failed, is now at Cairo, preparing another expedition with the aid of the Emperor of Austria. He denies that the true source has been found, or that Captains Speke and Grant set the right way to work to find it. RATHER TOO BAD !-Speaking of the tendency of temperance orators to set forward themselves as previous examples of the blighting effects of drink, a correspondent of the Inverness Advertiser says:- This predilection was smartly satirised the other evening at a temperance meeting. A person in the hall got up and said, My friends three mouthw ngo I signed the pledge. 'Clapping of hands and approviug cheers In a month afterwards, my friends, I had a sovereign ill my pocket, a thii.2 f never had before. Clapping and loud cheers.) In another month, my friends, I had a good coat on my back, a tiling ) never had before. Cheers and clapping much louder A fortnight after that, my friends, I bought a coffin." The audience was going to cheer hero, but stopped and looked KCTIIII "You wonder/' continued the orator, why I bought a cotlin-well, my friends, I bought the comn because I felt pretty certain that if I kept the pledge another fortnight I should want one." A MONITOR FOUNDERED.—The Weehawken has foundered in Charleston Bay. There was a heavy sea running, and precautions having been neglected, she shipped a considerable quantity of water through her hatches, and went down suddenly. There were men in irons between decks, and the sergeant-at-arms rushed frantically away to release them. Poor fellows, they all went down! There were in the sick bay, and to their relief the surgeon sent his steward, who never returned. There were firemen at the furnaces, to whom vain shrieks for a helping hand at the pumps were made. A few of the confident were rushing to their quarters to save their effects, jostling the timid on their way to the deck to sav e themselves. It was in the midst of scenes like these that the Weehawken went down. Four assistant-engineers and twenty-six of the crew were lost. AN OLD GRUDGE SATISFIED !-For two days this city (writes a gentleman from New York) has been all alive with the news of the capture of the steamer Chesapeake by rebel passengers. She is or was at one time an old north river boat. Of late years she has carried large freights and few passengers, between this port and Portland (Maine). The passengers, 16 in number, who captured her, were obliged to use fire- arms, and thereby killed the engineer, and injured others. The cargo thus captured was valued at nearly 200,000 dols. There was an old grudge due by the rebels to the Chesapeake. She captured Captain Reid and his sailors, when they attempted to run away from Portland with the revenue cutter Cushing. There is no doubt but that it is a party of Reid's men that have retaliated. There is news in town to-day that the rebels have burned the Chesapeake. The capture is talked of by every one. Some call it the most gallant thing done of late others say it is piracy, and that those engaged in it will be hung. Very likely, but it will be necessary to catch them. H. B. Cromwell, who owns the Chesapeake, has made a great amount out of the Federal Government by his steamers. [We learn by telegram that the Chesapeake was recaptured at Sambro, Nova Scotia, on Thursday, by the prize steamer Ella and Annie. No resistance was offered by the crew, all of whom excepting three escaped to the shore. The authorities in Nova Scotia had £0"" bidden the furnishing of coils to the Chesap»°-k<;by the people cf that province; they had ordf>«d her detention wherever she appeared. and gave the information to the Federals which led to her capture.] A SINGULAR AFFAIR.—The following has ap- peared in the advertising columns of the London Times Reward of One Thousand Marks I Hamburg currency). The engineer Rotherham, born in Norwich, was missed in St. Pauly (suburb of Hamburg), December the 15th, 1867, and his supposed body found on April 27th, 1858, in the Elbe, n £ ar Hamburg. The undersigned, whose house the above brougShwas in the habit of frequenting, was on suspicion the body\vtJ.!t, as his abode could not be found out, and was looked n-W, found four months later in the Elbe this trial has not estaS.?!111? hissing one. The result of proved that the body found was Urn. v.ø ]:>" (V .oned .oiaed Rotherham. As it is, therefore, not improbable that the above-named engineer, Rotherham, is still alive, and in this case it will be of great importance for me to ascertain this, I promise to everybody, being able to give me satisfactory explanation respecting the stay or abode of Rotherham, or of the body found, the above-named reward of 1,000 marks. The same will be given even to the relations of Rotherham who may be able to give me the required proof respecting the actual residence of Rotherham, by testimonies of ma- gistrates or credible gentlemen.—T. H. C. Brandes, 16 and 17, David-street, Hamburg, December, 1863. SEEKING THE BUBBLE REPUTATION !—During the Confederate assault on Fort Sanders, Knoxville, the most desperate—and a gallant band they were- remained fast by their officers, who valiantly kept the lead to the very fort itself, and following them as they jumped into the ditch, attempted to scale the glacis, each to receive his death-wound as his head ap- peared above the parapet. A captain, in words which would sound oddly at so thrilling a moment, and in language more forcible than polite, demanded the sur- render of the garrison as he pushed his body through one of the embrasures, and faced the very muzzle of the cannon. His answer was the discharge of the piece, when, rent limb from limb, his mangled corpse, or what was left of it, was hurled outward into the air. DISTRESS IN HUNGARY.—Hungary is said to be suffering under one of the most severe of national visitations. The facts leak out very slowly, but it is stated that no rain has fallen there for two years, the crops are gone, the stock is perishing, and the people have commenced a great emigration. The Reichsrath has voted 2,000,0001. for the relief of the sufferers, and there are reports of serious agrarian risings. The country is nearly roadless, and the greatest difficulty of the Government will be to convey the food to the people which the loan enables them to purchase. WOMEN SMUGGLERS !-Some women were re- cently arrested as they were endeavouring to get into the Confederate States. They were searched. One wore a bale of fine linen as a bustle. Her corset was filled with gold coin, quilted in, to the amount of 1,200 dols. Another had her form rounded out with padding made of dress silks. Her hose were found to conceal a. quantity of gentlemen's cravats, which were swathed carefully about her legs. The third lady's ample bust was filled out by a museum of articles, con- sistmg mainly of jewellery, silk thread, needles, and medicines. IN A PLEASANT PREDICAMENT !-The situation of the King of Denmark has become one of extreme difficulty. On the one hand, pressed by England and Russia, and it is even said by Sweden, to withdraw the common constitution, and on the other deserted by his ministers for his proposed compliance with the demand. If the king refuse to follow the advice of England and Russia, those Powers leave him at the mercy of the German Confederation; if he bends to their importunities, he alienates the affections of his faithful Danish subjects. So what he will do, time only will solve. MR. TRAIN WITH THE STEAM oN — We have received from Mr. Train the Daily Nebraska Re- publican, of Dec. 4, containing a report of the In- auguration celebration of the Great Union Pacific Railway," in which Mr. Train took a prominent part, making a speech, in which he abused England and glorified America. The Republican, speaking of Mr. Train's appearance, says:— By special request of the ladies, Mr. T. mounted a buggy, threw off his overcoat, laid down his hat, rolled up his sleeves, and in another moment the steam was on, and he was under full headway. THE CRAWLEY TRIAL.—The trial of Colonel Crawley has ended, as the public expected (remarks the Spectator), in a full and honourable acquittal on both counts of the charge. The original offence, the illegal arrest, was not made ground of accusation, and there was no evidence to prove that the colonel either designed or desired Lilley's death, still less that he wished to torture Mrs. Lilley. The only point really proved, the delay in releasing the serjeant-major after the court-martial had ended, was introduced too late, and for the rest, all the trial can be held to have shown was that the colonel, a hot-tempered disci- plinarian, did not, under very trying circumstances, show so much self-command as he might and ought to have done. The immense fine inflicted on him by the proceedings is more than sufficient penalty for harsh language, and though he is not precisely a martyr, a subscription would, for the sake of rigid justice, not be out of place. Of course, the trial will now. be con- demned as ab initio a mistake, but that is a mere result of reaction. Had no trial been held recruiting, would have been almost impossible. Had it been held in India, nobody would have believed in the verdict. As it is, there has been a thorough and visible effort to secure justice, and the conviction among ali soldiers that justice will always be done is worth much more than the very large sum expended. It is said that several officers will have to exchange from the Innis- killings into other regiments. SMUGGLING BY MEANS OF CRINOLINE !-Two German women who were going out in the New York steamer from Southampton on Wednesday last, were detected in endeavouring to smuggle 22 Ibs. of cigars into tbat town from the steamer which lay in the dock, and which had just come from Brsnien. The cigars were in the ordinary boxes, each containing lib. weight. Each of the women had eleven boxes struncr round her person inside her dress, and fastened to her crinoline. Although the women walked very carefully, the boxes rattled one against the other, and a custom-house officer hearing a strange noise as the women passed him, suspected that it had a contraband origin. The women had got outside the dock gate before they were detected. THE CONDEMNED MURDERER TOWNLEY.—The Rev. Cosmo R. Gordon, who was sent for by the friends of Townley to administer to his spiritual con- solation, says, in a letter sent for publication: The conclusion to which I have come concerning him, and that, too, after interviews before his trial and after con- demnation, is that the young man is not a responsible agent. He has no regard for his cwn life, and has frequently ex- pressed delight that it Is to be sacrificed. His manner at times is decidedly maniacal: he rolls his eyes, his counte- nance flushes unusually, and he talks incoherently. At other periods he is as gentle as a child, and appreciates kindness. When sitting with him in his cell last week his manner quite alarmed me, and even with the presence of another, I had serious thoughts of calling in his two warders as a further protection. He justifies murder without giving a reason he contradicts his statements repeatedly, and acknowledges at one time what he denies at another. It is a useless endeavour to instruct him in religion, for he has no mental capacity to receive it. In his calm moments I have aslied hUn nuw -ia. could ever have brought himself to commit such a horrid deed, I and he answers that he has not the slightest recollection of doing it, and that some time before it was done everything grew dark before his eyes. Not the slightest hope has ever been held out to him that his life would be spared, or that efforts were being made in that direction, and, therefore, it is impossible that he could feign madness. EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMITTEE."—It is much harder to*obtain information than some people may think the most don't know anything, and those who do don't say what they know (says a writer in the Cornhill Magazine). Here is a real episode from the history of an inquiry, which took place four or five years ago, into the desirability of making a new line of railway on the Border. A witness was giving what is called traffic evidence," in justification of the alleged need of the railway, and this is what oc- curred Mr. Brown (the cross-examining counsel for the opponents of the new line): Do you mean to tell the committee that you ever saw an inhabited house in that valley?—Witness: Yes, I do.—Mr. Brown: Did you ever see a vehicle there in all your life?—Witness: Yes, I did. -Mr. Brown: Very good. Some other questions were put, which led to nothing particular; but just as the witness, a Scotch- man, was leaving the box, the learned gentleman put one more question :—Q.: I am instructed to ask you if the vehicle you saw was not the hearse of the last inhabitant ?—Answer It was. TAX ON COTTON.—The Federal Commissioner of Inland Revenue, among other recommendations to increase the revenue, says :— Among those annual products of the soil which appear to be proper subjects of tax, and which, being needed in large measure by the manufacturing nations of Europe for the support of their industry, may be loaded with heavier duties without serious detriment to our own countrymen, is cotton. That product is now subjected to a duty of one half of one cent per pound. Quadrupled, the tax will not, in my opinion, be excessive. So insignificant a sum can be added to the price in the foreign market without affecting the demand or exciting dangerous competition. [The cotton must first be obtained ] FLATTERING TO ENGLAND !—We were all glad to get the glorious news that England had refused to contribute to the fuss and humbug of the Emperor of France, and to be used as his catspaw in the coming Congress of Sovereigns (writes a correspondent). There is something solid in this refusal. The world has almost come to believe-owing to the events of late years—that there was no longer a first-class, Imperial England, but that she had become a second-rate power, that dreaded her old enemies the much, that she had no except for the purpose £ out the purposes of the Emperor Mapoleon. Peace is all very well in its way, but not when peace is obtained as a consequence of inferiority. Better far your jolly fighting kings, that carried armies on to French soil, and gave them a turn now and then, than to have peace because Knglish Ministers are willing to give in, and knock under to everything proposed by Napoleon. True, war has its evils, but it also has its greenbacks. THE DICTATOR'S" MISSION !—This great iron- clad steamer, Dictator (named after President Lincoln}, is not yet launched (writes Manhattan^'V ou« ? on the 28th, if it is possible to. do. A ssistant Secretary of the Nav~ TVT, IS with her, watching her every dav. J* 1 Jl/.my» when finished, will be Hiiirope. It is -^ially believed that she will not only knock It is cally believed that she will not only knock -.J cocked bats any 50 war-steamers and iron-clads of her Britannic Majesty, but will also be able to destroy in addition 500 or 600 more of Louis Napo- leon's iron-clads. The Dictator will be able to enter any port in England when the water is deep enough. Her destination will be up the Thames. She personally represents Mr. Lincoln, her name being the real office he now holds, and intends to hold for some years. Punch has annoyed the American dictator more with with its ugly cuts, and its poetry about Holding a Candle to the Devil," than the rebel steamers have done in capturing 20 millions of merchandise in the American ships. The Dictator, after burning the vessels and things in the Thames, will have orders to send its best iron boat and demand Mr. Punch from 85, Fleet-street. When secured on board, the Dictator will cross the Atlantic without doing any more damage, Punch?s editor will be sent to the White House, where, if justice is meted out, Punch will be roasted alive for the amusement of Mrs. L. and the children, as he has roasted Mr. Lincoln many a time. If this is not what the monster Dictator is going to do, I cannot imagine its mission to Europe. PETRIFACTION.—The "Rocky Mountain Jour- nal," giving an account of a journey to Colorado city, says Descending into a subordinate depression of the divide to give our horses their noon feed, we came to a most singular tract of petrifaction. Richardon, the owner of the place (with true new-country aptness or nomenclature, called it Pretty Woman's Ranch," in compliment to the charms of the fair enchantress), shows us whole trunks of pine and cotton-wood which had been turned into jasper and agate as they stood, beautifully preserving every line of their woody tissue, through the Infiltration of silica from the earth in which they were roe ted. Not a mile from the house is a broad bench" or terrace, where the stumps of a whole forest stand bewitched into stone that might have furnished all the sons of men with handsome watch seals. Some specimens of silica, in its various phases, which I saw here were unsurpassed in colour and lustre by anything I have found heretofore in jewel shops or cabinets. Any on who has seen the singular trick which rain, water, and wind have played with the banks of the Upper Mississippi or the Yellowstone, will easily credit the bewildering accuracy of the imitations t hus described. SHOCKING CASE OF NEGLECT OF A CHILD.— Last week (says the Morning Journal) a case of human wretchedness and inhuman neglect was brought to light in Glasgow, which, it is to be hoped, has few parallels. !From information lodged at the police- office as to the ill-treatment of a female child by her stepfather, a coal dealer, named Gillespie, Dr. M'GIU, the district surgeon, accompanied by some officials connected with the office, were sent to investigate the case. The place where Gillespie and child resided, or rather burrowed, is in one of those dismal and dingy closes with which the Gallowgate abounds. Exter- nally the place appeared to be unfit for the shelter of the lower animals, but the outside was only an imper- fect index of the interior. On entering the wretched domicile, a scene was presented to their view which almost baffles the power of description. The house was dark and cheerless in the extreme-without fire or furniture-and, indeed, so desolate did it appear, that no one could scarcely reconcile his mind to the fact that it was inhabited at all. Of all the pic. tures of wretchedness," says Dr. M'Gill, "that have ever come under my cognisance, I have never seen anything so utterly wretched." On the middle of the floor, on a little straw, lay the ill-fated child, huddled together in rags and the veriest filth, with hundreds of little worms crawling on its body. Being decrepit, hunchbacked, and the body "gathered" together, with the terrible circumstances in which she was in at the time, I could scarcely believe," says the doctor, "that the object before me was really a human being." Steps were immediately taken for the removal of the girl, who, it is said, is about ten or eleven years of age. A cab was procured, in which she was placed by two neighbour women, who went along with her to the Town's Hospital, where she now remains under medical treatment. THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S FUND.-It is intended shortly after the commencement of the new year to make a vigorous effort to strengthen this fund, which was set on foot some time ago with a view to raise a million sterling during the next ten years for the pur- pose of meeting the spiritual destitution which exists m London and its vicinity. The population of the diocese is now nearly .3,000,000, and it fs increasing annually by 44,000. There are in the metropolis three parishes each with a population of 31,000 and only one church; 11 with a population of between 20,000 and 30,000; 14 with a population of between 14,000 and 20,000; and 54 with a population of between 10,000 and 15,000. There are 28 large parishes with an aggregate population of 600,000, and with only one clergyman to 6,000 souls. During the last seven years 300,000 souls have been added to the population. The bishop considers that ten churches are required every year to meet the wants of the growing population. The appeal which was made in June last has already produced the large sum of nearly 100,0001. of which 28,900?. has been actually paid. The bishop states that he wants 106 additional clergymen, and 100 additional Scripture readers to work in the most destitute parts of the metropolis, and of these -lie has obtained 25 additional clergymen and 15 additional Scripture readers. Many liberal subscrip- tions have already been promised, among them being those of the Duke of Bedford, 10,0001. the Marquis of Westminster, 10 0001 Mr. Charles Morrison, 5,000?. the Bishop of London, 2,000?. tlte Earl of Derby, 1,000l. Lord Ebury, 1,0001.; Mr. B. B. Cab- bell, 1,0001,. the Duke of Devonshire, 1,0001. Mr. R. Benyon, M.P., 1,0001. Messrs. Bariog and Co., 1,0001. Messrs. Truman, Hanbury, and Buxton, 1,0001. the Marquis of Bristol, 1,0001. the Earl of Eldon, 1,0001. the Earl Howe, 5001. the Earl of Harrowby, 5001. Messrs. Coutts, GOOl.; Messrs. Gosling, 5WI. Messrs. Copestake, Moore, and Co., 5001. REMEMBERING HIM WITH GRATITUDE.—The following anecdote, which does much honour to the parties named in it, is recounted in a French daily paper:— At the conclusion of the war in the Peninsula, under Napoleon I., an English colonel was captured by a French patrol, commanded by a sergeant. The soldiers, who pre- tended to have been ill-treated in England, when prisoners of war, proposed to shoot the colonel. The sergeant re- fused, and, covering the prisoner with his body, he ex- claimed, on seeing the soldiers prepare their arms, You must shoot us both." The soldiers relented, and on the colonel being sent to head-quarters he asked the name of the sergeant, and inscribed it in his pocket-book. Many years passed over, and the English colonel, who had risen to a high rank in his profession, being on his death-bed, called his eldest son and told him that he greatly regretted never having had an opportunity to reward his preserver, and made his son promise to do so. The sen came to Paris and made inquiries at the War-office for Sergeant Frangois Lefebvre, but no trace could be found of him. The English- man, not discouraged, continued his inquiries, and finally discovered Francois Lefebvre in the Customs' (Iflnartment on the Belgian frontier. Tne gallant old sergeanFWcerVeu a gratuity sufficient to place himself and his family in com- fortable circumstances for the remainder of their lives. AN AMBUSCADE.—During the retreat of the Confederates from Lookout Mountain they were closely pressed by the Federals. The Confederate commander, Cleburne, concealed his forces, and when the Federals got within a few paces of his guns they poured grape and canister into them with the most destructive effect. The road was filled with their dead and wounded. The Confederate infantry then sprung forward from their covert on either side of the road, and literally mowed them down by their well- directed shot. The Federals fled in confusion, leaving 250 prisoners and three flags (the latter taken by the artillerists) in Confederate hands, and from 1,000 to 1,500 killed and wounded in the road. A FRENCH SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH.— The Military Tribunal of Paris on Thursday in last week tried a private in the Empress's regiment of dragoons, named Presse, in garrison at St. Germain, on a charge of having attempted to murder his superior offieer. In the evening of the 13th ult. the prisoner, slightly intoxicated and with his uniform in disorder, left the barracks and went into the street, contrary to the regulations, of which he had been duly apprised by the quartermaster on duty. Brigadier Terrier was sent to bring him back and place him under arrest. On seeing the brigadier approach, the prisoner ran some distance, but at last stopped, and told the brigadier that if he came any nearer it should be the worse for him. Terrier, taking no notice of his threat, ran up to and seized the prisoner, who at the same instant stabbed him in the breast with a poniard- knife, and with such force that the blade passed through Terrier's buff belt and penetrated the flesh to the depth of half an inch. Several other dragoons then came up and secured the prisoner, who was taken to the lock-up, vowing vengeance as he went, and declaring that he had another knife and would find an opportunity to use it, if the wound he had already inflicted did not prove fatal. When before the court, the prisoner, in his defence, stated that he was so intoxicated at the time that he had not the slightest recollection of what he had done. The tribunal, after a short deliberation, declared the charge fully proved, and condemned the prisoner to death. CATS AT SEA.—Considering how much the cat -UUu1"5 cola water, •> readers must often have wondered why seafaring men fond of taking the animal with them on a voyage (says a writer in Week). This is explained by two circumstances. Marine insurance does not cover damage done to cargo by the depredations of rats but if the owner of the damaged goods can prove that the ship was sent to sea unfurnished with a cat, he can recover damages from the shipmaster. Again, a ship found at Bea with no living creature on board is considered a derelict, and is forfeited to the Admiralty, the finders, or the Queen. It has often happened that, after a ship has been abandoned, some domestic animal-a dog, a canary- wird, or most frequently a cat, from its hatred of facing the waves- has saved the vessel from being condemned as a derelict. A WINDSOR MAYOR.—Under the guidance of the town clerk, corporate magistrates generally in former times got through their business decently. Sometimes they made little slips. Late in the evening an offender was brought before one of our mayors,. having been detected in stealing a smock-frock. Look in 'Burn's Justice, said his worship to his son; "look in the index for smock-frock."—"Can't find it, father, not there."—"What! no law against stealing smock-frocks? Thank your stars youag fellow, but you've had a lucky escape." NEGRO SERMON.—"There are," said a sable orator, addressing his brethren, "two roads tro dis world—the one am broad and narrow road, that leads to perdition; and the oder a narrow and a broad road, that leads to destruction."—"What i' dat?" said one hearer; "say it again."—"I say, my brethren, there are two roads tro dis world-the one am a broad and a narrow road, that leads to perdition; the oder a narrow and broad road, that leads to destruction. If dat am the case," said his sable questioner, dis elluded individual takes to de woods A S ELF-MADE MAN A BAD DRIVER. -Com- modore Vanderbilt, as he is ealled, ran his fast horses against an omnibus last week (writes Manhattan" from New York), he was flung from his own waggon and nearly killed. As he is really supposed to be worth eight millions of dollars, he has anxious parties around his residence just now waiting the result of his accident. He is an extraordinary man. Originally a smart boatman at White Hall, he afterwards became a steamboat hand, and finally a captain. He has had a great success. His accident was the result of trying to drive himself when a coachman would have been much safer. A KISSING GENERAL-During the Kentucky campaign last year General Hardee was in the habit of availing himself of the privilege of his rank and years, and insisted upon kissing the wives and daughters of all the Kentuckian farmers. And although he is supposed to have converted many of the ladles to the Southern cause, yet in many instances their male relatives remained either neutral or un- decided. On one occasion General Hardee had con- ferred the accolade" upon a pretty Kentuckian, to their mutual satisfaction, when, to his intense disgust, the proprietor produced two veiy ugly old females, saying, "Now, then, general, if you kiss any, you must kiss them all round, which the discomfited general was forced to do, to the great amusement of his officers, who often allude to this contretemps. An- other rebuff which he received, and about which he is often plagued by General Polk, was, when an old lady told him he ought really to leave off fighting at his age."—" Indeed, madam," replied Hardee," and how old do you take me for !"—"Why, about the same age as myself-seventy-five." The chagrin of the stalwart and gallant general, at having twenty years added to his age, may be imagined. A PUGILIST "AT HOME."—A good story is current respecting King, the pugilist, and the "host" of Hassocks'-gate Inn, where he resided during his training. It appears that a day or two previous to the encounter with Heenan, King, during his play- hours "from training—the "ruling passion" being strong in him—induced mine nost" to have a set-to in the parlour, the host to do all the hitting, the great pugilist stipulating not to return it, but only to parry the blows. Warming at his work, mine host" let fall his blows both fast and furious. "Now." said King, who was standing with his back close to the wall of the room, "hit me full in the face." Quick as thought the request was responded to, and with equal quickness did King avoid the blow by shifting his head, when the knuckles of the worthy host went with such tremendous force against the wall that the sponge was immediately thrown up. Indeed, so serious was the injury sustained, that mine host was compelled to seek snrgical aid in Brighton, and there is every probability of his retaining a lasting memento of the visit of the great pugilist to his house. COST OF A MAYORALTY ELECTION.—I have come into possession of some very curious statistical facts regarding the late mayoralty election (writes Manhattan," from New York). There were three can- didates. Mr. Boole was poor. He was City Inspector, and his chances were regarded as almost certain. Consequently, he found persons who loaned him 25,000 dollars to pay his "assessments." His com- mittee assuredhim 14,000 dols. Mr. Bluut was as- sessed 13,000 aols., which he paid in one cheque. His other expenses are about 12,000 dols., making 25,000 dols. The suocessful man, Mr. Charles Godfrey Gunther, did not pay one cent. His father, Christian Godfrey Gunther, said to a friend of mine-he is an old Dutchman—"I vishes to see mein son Sharles mayor, and I vill pay votever it costs." A clerk of his son Charles sent a memorandum to the old gen- tleman at his house in Fourt-eenth-street for the sum total, and the old gentleman drew his cheque for 106,220 dollars 75 cents over 100,000 dol- lars. Still, it is cheap for the family. It is not every one who can afford to be mayor. The Teutons voted as.a race for Gunther. Poor Boole He had all his own way until those terrible handbills covered the walls-" Irishmen, shall your votes elect an Englishman to be mayor ?" That settled the business, for when Mr. Boole was asked to deny the faet that he was a born subject of her Majesty, he refused to do it, even if it lost him every Irish vote. DISTANT COMFORT FROM NEW YORK.—News will go forward by this steamer (writes a well-known correspondent at New York) that jvill horrify the miser- able sovereigns of Germanv and the Powers that are trying to rob sacred old Denmark of her jewel of Holstein. If it looks warlike in that latitude, so it is in this. There was a meeting last night attended by 3.000 Scandinavians, all rich as Astor or George Law. There were Saxons, Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes. The meeting was held in their lofty Scandinavian hall in Brooklyn, one of the side cities or precincts of New York. Funds were raised or proposed to be raised to the extent of 250 millions of dollars. Mr. Christian, one of the firm of Belmont and Co., is a Dane, I believe. The house is agent of the Rothschilds. They will probably raise the tin" needed. 250,000 soldiers will be equipped at once. They will either be real born Scandinavians or descendants from that happy race. They will be sent on to Europe by different vessels as soon as possible. The Scandinavian com- mittee will probably arrange with General George B. M'Cl^llan, who claims to be Scandinavian or Irish, to take the command of this small army. Denmark may rest perfectly safe in her integrity, and the new king need not feel at all alarmed at his prospects. MARITIME DISASTERS.—A Havre paper says that the maritime world was astonished at its signa- lising the number of 1,160 disasters at sea during the first half of the month of November; that is, 230 total losses of vessels, and 930 accidents, more or less serious. It is now no longer astonishment, but stupe- faction and constemai-iou. which we announcing tnat for the first TortmgBt in December of this same year, 1863, we have to enumerate 1,158 accidents of different kinds, including the wrecks of vessels more or less susceptible of recovery; 230 vessels irrevocably lost; 27 missing with all hands, their fate being unknown, and 13 fishing boats com- pletely wrecked or a total of 1,428 maritime disasters of all kinds. MAKE IT OUT !-Over the fireplace in a quaint old mansion, erected nearly two hundred years ago in Mamaroneck (says an American paper) tne following inscription is carved in stone If the B mt put: If the B putting: The present occupant of the mansion, Hans Van Ham- burg, was for a long time at a loss to decipher its meaning. The matter was brought before a number of antiquaries, and finally referred to the Tautog Club, when the following and probably correct, solution was given by the CEdipus of that famous fraternity — If the grate be empty, put coal on [:] If the grate be full, stop [.] putting coal on [:] VERY FRENCH !-A Parisian, growing tired of his wife, contracted a criminal intimacy with a girl, of whom he also got tired. He invited his wife to visit them at an hotel. She accepted the invitation, but as she was about to keep it she received the following note from her faithless husband :—"Before you receive this note I shall have ceased to exist." The wife hastened to the police, and then to the house. The door was closed, and a paper wafered on it said, Out for the day." The door was at once broken open, and there, in an attitude of calm repose, were found the two unhappy victims. The girl had left the following letter on the table, which Btood close to the fatal brazier where charcoal was still burning:—"Each has his destiny in this world; I cannot escape from mine. I must go to join the Supreme Being. Last year I tried and failed; this time I hope to be more fortunate. I die with the only being who truly loves me. Mother, pardon my faults, and the grief t shall cause. You will find enclosed the cross and the medals you gave me." AN OPINION ON-PRESIDENT DAVIS'S SPEECH. —"Manhattan" writes "To-day we have the message of the clever President of the Southern Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, delivered to his congress at Richmond. Those who have an idea that peace is possible, should read his closing lines: — Tuo ullL'lHJ iIn c i11-* between us. The only hope for peace now is in the vigour of our resistance. This message will take millions of Northern men. women, and children by surprise. They had gathered from the Northern papers that Mr. Davis and his leading friends were in prison, used up, or at the tail of General Grant's army, with halters about their necks, waiting anxiously to be hung, or for an op- portunity to be pardoned by the late act of President Lincoln, or to use his late greased cartridge policy. Your folks once tried to make the Hindoos use your cartridges composed of stuff they abhorred. The South abhors equally the being robbed of their property. It is worse than greased cartridges. Yet Mr. Lincoln proposes the wholesale abandonment of their great system of labour. There are thousands North who see the fatal effect of the proposed (and, as Mr. Lincoln says, unalterable) measures. They regard the future with despair. They are our profound thinkers, who see far ahead over the vulgar clamorous crew, who think this civil war ended because President Lincoln offers a proclamation pardoning the rebels, and they say he is not such a fool as to offer pardon when there is no need of it, and when no one asks for it."