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

L Holywell Special Sessions. I THESE Sessions were held on Monday last, before ALEXR. COPE, Esq., (chairman), and U: SANKEY, Esq. Charge of Copper Stealing. Joseph Amos was brought up in custody charged with st( a'ns a copper pan, belonging to Messrs. William Keates, Samuel Newton, and George Ounslow Newton, his employers. The flrst witness called was George O'Neil, who said he was a hawker, and lived at Penvmaes that he knew the prisoner Amos, as he had lived next door to him that about five or six weeks ago he bought some copper from Amos, who had pressed him to buy it; that it was a piece of old copper, and weighed about 6lbs.; he had told prisoner that he should not buy it until he had first seen Mr. Jukes; that he took the copper to Mr. Jukes, who gave him 3s. for it; Amos had previously asked for 15d. or lOd. for it, so when witness bad sold it he gave prisoner lOd. for it, as he did not demand any more Amos asked him if he could get him an old axe to chop "iip s'jjre timber, so that he (witness) might swop with him for the copper, when witness told him that if he could do anything to oblige him he would do so when I got the copper (continued witness) he told me there was no harm for taking it, as it was good for nothing; the copper is not in the same state as it was when I bought it from the prisoner, as it was folded up and flattened a little when I bad it; it was thin sheet cop- per, something like that produced, only that it was crushed; prisoner said it was an old pan, and of no use. The prisoner cross-examined the witness, and stated that when he was paid for the copper witness had in- formed him that there was only 2|lbs., and ,-t was at the rate of 4d. per pound that he was paid. This statement was wholly denied by O'Neil. Edward Jukes was then examined, who said—he was a marine store dealer that on the 10th November last, somewhere between 9 and 10 o'clock in the morning, George O'Neil had brought him a piece of eopper to be sold; it was thin sheet copper doubled up and flattened asked O'Neil where he got it from, and he said from a person living in the neighbourhood, but he did not know Lis name, though he bad known him by sight for several years told O'Neil that I could not buy it without the name of the person whom he had it from, whereupon O'Neil left the shop with the cop- per, which he placed in his bag; he returned in r. few minutes, and saiJ I had nothing to fear in buying it from him, as he knew it was the man's own property I then told him that if he choose to leave it till the evening he would ascertain whether it was safe to buy it or not; O' ell consented to these conditions, and 1 ft the shop; in the evening Se, ge int Hughes came iuto ihe shop, and he saw the. copper, which was ex- amined by both of us, when we came to the conclusion that it was an old copper coal pan; in the evening O'Neil came, and I paid him for the copper at the rate of 6d. per pound, as it was not worth more, because it was very dirty, it seemed as if it had been buried afterwards I placed it aside in my shop under the count or, as I would anything else I might buy; in a day or two after this I gave up the copper to Sergeant Hughes and Mr. Thomas Hughes, of the copper mills; it weighed Gibs, good, with ihe dirt that was on it. Sergeant Hughes sworn, Jeposed—on the 12th of November I accompanied Mr. Hughes to Mr. Jukes' shop Yv-as present when Mr. Jukes gave up the piece of copper to Mr. Hughes, which he handed over to me in the shop; in about haif-an-hour afterwards I took it to the cop; v works, a id gave it Mr. Hughes at the office; it wu, a piece of thin sheet copper flattened up; was present at the office when Amos anl O'Neil were called up; O'Neil there said that Amos had told him to say that h.: had the copper in a sewer, but not to tell it was from him hat he got it, which statement Amos there and then denied; on Saturday night last I apprehended the prisoner upon the charge. ftThomas Hughes said that he was manager cf Messrs. Newton, Keates and Co.'s copper mills, at Greenfield; Joseph Amos was in their employ as a washer of metal; had been so for the last 2 years on the 12th of November he was discharged in his occu- pation they generally use seives, though occasionally thev used copper pans to carry the metals prisoner had a partner who worked with him; the pans occa- sionally used are such as those which I now produce; on the 12th November 1 accompanied the Officer Hughes to Mr. Jukes' shop, when the copper was handed over to me; it was a piece of thin sheet copper folded np and beaten flat; I handed it over to the last witness (Hughes) who again delivered it to me in -.about half-an-hour afterwards, and it has been in my custody ever since; it was opened and formed into its present shape in my presence; it must have been forged into that form as it was impossible to be done in any other way the pans are made at our mills for our express use from enquiries which I made in the metal washing department I found that there were two of these pans missing; I produce two other pans which exactly correspond with the stolen one, got from Mr. Jukes, and which weighs about 6tbs, and of the value of 5s.; I am prepared to swear that it is the property of Samuel Newton, George Ounslow Newton, and William Keates; O'Neil stated at the office that the prisoner told him he had got the copper from a sailor, which however, the prisoner denied. This was the case for the prosecution, whereupon the prisoner addressed the bench on his own behalf. He denied ever having stolen a pound of copper from his employers, and as to Mr. Hughes' identifying the cop- per he had himself said that he (prisoner) might be very proud that he (Mr. H.) could not identify the copper or it would be worse for him. He (Mr. H.) had also said he would identify the copper at a future time, but he failed to do so up to that day. Mr. Hughes admitted that he had said so, but the copper he immediately identified after it had been opened to its original form. The prisoner-It was opened when you had it in the office for two hours inspecting it. After tbo charge had been read over to him he pleaded Not Guilty," adding We never used copper pans in washing, it is open seives that we had." The prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the next Flintshire Quarter Sessions, to be held in the forthcoming week. Stealing Provisions, &c. John Williams and Joseph Smith, both of Penyball- Holywell, were brought up in custody, charged with stealing various articles of provisions, &c., on the pre- vious Thursday night, the property of John Roberts, Bron Eirion, Yseeifiog. Jane Roberts, wife of the prosecutor, said-that on Thursday last she went to Holywell with some geese, which she sold she afterwards made several purchases in the way of groceries, which she placed in a sack on a donkey's back this was about 8 o'clock at night; she then went to the Crown for her husband, leaving a little girl with the donkey at the door; after being there some 15 minutes, the girl came in to them, but went back again, rud immediately afterwards ran in saying the sack had been stolen; the articles produced are a part of what were stolen. Witness' daughter (the little girl above referred to) corroborated her mother's statement. John Roberts stated to his having ran out of the Crown when the little girl cried out that the sack had been stolen away, and he saw the prisoner John Williams standing in the corner by Mr. Garner's shop; went up to him and asked him his name, which he re- fused at first to give, and threatened to knock his (complainant's) brains out; after I got his name I gave information to the police the sack produced together with the articles are a part of what were stolen. P.S. John Hughes said tbtit on the previous Saturday night he was locking for the prisoner Amos; he called at the M:ners' Arms, and there saw a person named Peter Stephenson, who asked him if he was looking for theives, when the officer said Yes, and I wont be lor g before I catch some too the prisoner Jol.n Williams was there, and he got up and said that he had found a sack, two pairs of stockings, some linen and a basket on Friday morning last in a field near his house, but the stockings he had given to Smith; went to the houses of both parties last night, and had all the articles I produce from Williams, excepting the stock- ings, which I had from Smith took them into custody. This closed the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner Williams made a long speech in his behalf,— alleging that he had not stolen the property, as he had not seen a donkey near the Crown that night, and stating as his reasons for detaining his name that the man John Roberts came to him in such a hasty manner, and without saying what he wanted his name for the things produced he had found in a«*i.;id by his house on Friday morning last; he did not tell the officer that he had given the stockings to Smith; the officer must have mistaken his statement. Smith stated that he know nothing at all about the things being stolen, as he had not been to the Crown that evening; the stockings were brought to him by his little boy, who had found them in the field. The magistrates committed the prisoner Williams to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions, and remanded the other prisoner till next Tuesday.

HOLYWELL LOCAL BOARD. The Meeting of this Board which was to be h&id on Monday last, waa again adjourned.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE. THE Christmas tree has became a prevailing fashion In England at this season, and is by most persons supposed to be derived from Germany. Such, however, is not the fact. The Christmas tree is from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period long antecedent to the Christian era. The palm tree is known to put forth a shoot every month, and a spray of this tree, with twelve shoots upon it, was used in Egypt, at the time of the winter solstice, as a symbol of the year com- pleted. It is probable, however, that to Germany we are indebted for the introduction of the tree into this country. Egyptian associations of a very early date still mingle with the traditions and customs of the Christmas tree. There are as many pyramids as trees used in Germany in the celebration of Christmas by those whose means do not admit of their purchasing trees and the concomi- tant tapers. These pyramids consist of slight erections of slips of wood, arranged like a pyramidal epergne, covered with groen paper, and decorated with festoons of paper chain-work, which flutter in the wind and constitute a make-believe foliage. This latter, how- ever, is an innovation of modern days. The palm tree spray of Egypt, on reaching Italy, became a branch of any other tree, the tip of the fir (spruce) being found most suitable from its pyramidal or conical shape, and was decorated with burning tapers lighted in honour of Saturn, whose saturnalia was celebrated from the 17th to the 21st December, the period of the winter solstice. The lighted tapers, the saturnalia, or presents given, and the entertainment of the domestics on a footing of equality, date from this age. After the saturnalia came the days called sigillaria, when presents were made of impressions stamped on wax, which still form part of the furniture of a Christmas tree. To- the sigillaria succeeded one day called the juvenalia, on which every person, even adults, indulged in childish sports, and hence the romping close of our Christmas festivities. Almost all the nations of the ancient world had t'.eir peculiar feast of mid-winter, but the Juel-fese of the northern mythology is that which seems to have left the most discernible traces in our country. The circling year was represented as a wheel, the word itself being derived from jtzel; closing only to com- mence again. The yule-log was headed on the fire, and the boar, an animal obnoxious to the God, of the Sun, was roasted whole in the open air. The nvst pleasing part connected wi: h this observance of the mid-winter festival was the custom of concealing the presents in as many wrappers as possible, and throwing them in at the windows, t e practice being emblemati- cal of the hidden blessings in store for the coming yea; It was not till several cont-uries after tho birth of our Saviour that the Church appointed the nativity to be a high day and a holiday and. not having specific in- formation as to the exact period of our "Lord's birth, December 25 was fixed upon, as being more likdy than any other to be the correct day. With the Germans the greatest festival is our Christmas Eve, which has the more propriety, as whatever d"nht attaches to the date of His birth, it is certain our Lord was born in the night-time. As Christmas Eve always falls on the evening of Adam and Eve's day, an orthodox Christmas tree will have the figures of our first parents at its foot, and the serpent twining itself round the Et-m. By a-bold stretch of theological fancy, the tree, with its branches and tapers, is with the ahove-inertioued accessories understood to typify the genealogy of our Lord, closing in the most luminous apex, the sun of light and life-" the seed of the woman should crush the serpent's head." The Romans had already affix ,] on the summit o j their trees a representation of a radiant sun in honour of Phoebus Apollo, to whom the three last days of December were dedicated. In con- nection with this god, sheep were sometimes exhibited pasturing under the tree, or Apollo himself took charge of the herd, or taught the shepherd the use of the pipe. The sigillaria of the Romans were impressed with the images of saints and holy persons; the lighted tapers, also, borrowed from the Saturnalia, were re- tained here, as elsewhere, as portions of the religious ceremony. The giving of presents, another portion of the saturnalia, was understood to be expressive of Christian brotherly love; while the apples, nuts, and gingerbread, equally unmistakeabie remnants of the northern heathen mythology, have been retained in the service of the Christmas festival as accessories that sufficiently recommend themselves without typifying anything holy. A volume might be filled-anl pleasant reading it would be-of the customs of different ages and nations, and how they raised these decorations. It was a beautiful, old, almost holy, superstition that caused our simple forefathers to believe good spirits entered the churches at Christmas, and concealed themselves among the evergreens with which they had decorated it. Mankind was never made worse through having the productions of nature before their eyes, whether in doors or out, at church or at home. Turning from the heathen, it might begin at the time Nehemiah ordered "The courts of the house of God" to be decorated with "branches of thick trees," carried on to the strewing of the streets of Jerusalem at our Saviour's entry, and so be brought down in many a picturesque record to our own time. Let us not do away with our Christmas decorations, for we have but few things left to bring back the memory of the green old poetical days when our forefathers found happiness under arbours of their own erecting, and watched their children dance beneath the flowery garlands of their own making; when their pleasures were harmless, and their hearts pure, and there was less empty and showy pride than there is at the present time. Who that has ever sat alone by a deserted hearth at Christmas, in a room where old festivals have been held, has not reflected on the changes that have their taken place. What scenes memory brings before us as we sit and watch the yule-log blaze, and send its bright sparks up the dark- mouthed chimney. All that was dear once congre- gated there, and now where are they gone ? The ivy on the vvails of the old house rustles in the Decem- ber wind like the house itself, it is so old that all remembrance of when the one was first built and the other first planted has passed away. Many a time have its leaves been gathered to decorate those dark wainscoted rooms at Christmas, and the old country church, which is well worth seeing, for it is an old custom, without any harm in it, and one we are sure that is unlikely to awaken any but good thoughts, and be linked only to solemn associations. The morning sun shines on it, and night falls darker where it grows than it does in other places yet it never seems to change, though many generations have passed away since it first climbed those old walls, and eawreathed thos" twisted chimneys, and peeped in at those diamond- shaped latices, where beauty slept and manly vigour reposed, and where childhood uttered its plaintive cries, and deaf old age had to be shouted at. And from those windows we can see the grey old church, with its green church-yard, in which centuries of generations have worshipped, and where peace dwells with humble pove'ty in the lowliest cottages by which they are surrounded, seeming as if guarded by their dead. It is Only the actions of the just That smell sweet and blossom in the dust." We have sat and looked on such a scene, then turned to the pictures of the dead still hanging on the walls, who in the years that are gone kept many a merry Christmas. These are thy works, thou source of good, HOlv d mly seen, how family understood." —Scottish Farmer.

We cznnot hold ourselves responsible for the opiniolls of our Correspondents. HOLYWELL IMPROVEMENTS! To the Editor of the Flintshire Observer." SIR,—On Sunday evening last. I left my home for Holywell Church on my way up as far as the Top Factory the road was well lighted with gas, from thence to the Church I had to feel my way through the dark, as not one of the Holywell lamps was lighted This was rather severely commented upon, and many asked if the non-lighting was one of the Holywell Improvements. If it is, sooner the better the Local Board is reformed. Does not the Local Board by this system of not lighting the lamps on certain nights,— leaving the streets in total darkness at a time when every person is supposed to have left his home for his place of worship,—expose those houses to be entered into by burglars ? It is, I fear, a lead to temptation," and if Holywell be so unfortunate as to have any burglars, I hope their first visit will be to one of the Commissioners' houses, to teach them that public requirements are more desirable to party bickerings! I am, Sir, yours obediently, Greenfield, 30th Dec., 1863. A. HOlyWeH.-WESLEYAN TEA PAKTF.—This annual gathering was held on Christmas day, at the large room of the Eing|s Arms Hotel. In the evening n concert wes given in the.chapel by the choir, con- d ctrd by Mr. Wiiliamp (Ab Alaw). Mr. Bandies pre- sided at the Harmonium. The proceeds were devoted to the Sunday School Clothing Club.

HOLYWELL BOARD OF GUARDIANS, Thursday, Dec. 24th, 1863. Guardians present :-Mr. Edward Jones, chair- man,) Holywell—Mr. Owens and Mr. Chesters; Mold -Mr. Catherall; Flint-Mr. Parry and Mr. Davies Ysceífiog-Mr. E. Lloyd; Llanasa—Mr. Thomas Hughes; Caerwys—Mr. J. S. Williams. The following cheques were signed for the Relieving Officers:- Mr. William Hughes £180 Mr. John Roberts. 160 Mr. J. F. Hooson 130 Alice Dykins, and 3 children, natives of Salford, Manchester, applied for out-relief, her husbapd who was chargeable to this Union, having died. She was desirous of returning to Salford, where she could live with her father and mother. An order for 5s. weekly was granted; and the clerk to apply to the Salford Union whether they would relieve the pauper on behalf of this Union. Isaac Hughes, Gadlys lane, Bagillt, applied for out- relief, being confined to his bed, and the means he had of maintaining himself were insufficient. He kept a cow and a pig, and paid X12 rent. The guardians stated their regret at not being able to grant any relief, as it was wholly out of their power to assist him under the existing circumstancos. Several bills from assistant Overseers for attending ugon and assisting the Assessment Committee were read, all of which, with one or two exceptions, were greatly decreased in amount. In answer to Mr. J. S. Williams, the clerk stated that each parish would have to bear the expences in- curred, provided the valuation exceeded one-sixth of the rateable value, but if under the one-sixth part of the rateable value, then the expences would be defray- ed out of the Common Fund of the Union. Mr. Thomas Owens enquired whether those parishes which had to pay their own expences would also have to contribute towards defraying the expences of those parishes which would -be paid out of the Common Fund. The clerk said that it was so. Mr. Owens then said that he thought it was very unfair that one parish should pay its own expences and that also of another palish. AN J N CO H ill GI It L E PAUPER. Ann Foulkes, well known to our readers, was brought before the board. It appears that she bad been in no less than eight situations, all of which she had left through her evil conduct. The Chairman and Mr. Thomas Owens severely reprimanded her, and it was ordered that she should not enjoy the Christmas treat given to the paupers, and that as little rations as the Lw allows should only be placed at her disposal. A letter from the Prescot Union was then read, applying for further orders from the board, with refer- ence to the case of Elizabeth St. Asar, a pauper belong- ing to this Union, in receipt of 2s. weekly. She her- self earned 6s. weekly, and her son 7s. Further relief was refused. Applications from Anglesea and Conway Unions were read, applying for further orders to relieve paupers,-whic were granted. A similar application from the Bangor and Beaumaris Union was granted. The Guardians gave their support to a petition from the Hexham Union, having reference to the Assess- ment Act, and allowing the Assessment Committee power to support their decisions against any appeals that may be made. MOLD NEW VALUATION*. A communication from the Poor Law Board with reference to this matterwas read, stating, that inasmuch as it had been represented to that board by the parish officers of Mold parish that a new valuation was desiiable, the Poor Law Board had granted an order for the same, but applied for the transmission of the draft contract to the Poor Law Board. Master's Book.—Number of inmates in the house last board-day, 162; admitted since, 6 discharged, 1; births, 1; and deaths 1; present number, 162. Vagrants admitted, 36. The contracts for supplying the house with provisi- ons, &c., for the ensuing quarter were granted as followsbutchers' meat 6H <W lb. bone ld.Mr. John Jones, High Street; bread 13s. V lOOtfes.,—Mr Thomas Wynne, High Street; candles 5d. W tô, coffee Is. 2d. ditto, mustard Is. ditto, pepper Is. 2d. ditto, blue Is. ditto, starch 6d. ditto, vinegar 3d. ej), quart, rice 2d. W tb,-Mr. John Powell, High street; flour 27s. 6d. cij1 2401fos., oatmeal 28s. ditto, salt 2s. 4d. ctf. cwt., tea 3s. 4Y lb,—Mrs. Mary Jones & Son, Whitford street; cheese 6|d. tb, soap 4 £ d., sugar 5fd.,—Mrs. Anne Jones, High street; skimmed milk 2d. per qt.,—Mr. Owen Owens, Brynford hall; coals 12s. lid. W ton, slack 9s. 7d.Mr. Richard Jones; men's clogs 3s. 3d. W pair, youths' and womcns' 2s 7d. boys' and girls' 2s. Id., middle size Is. 9d., children Is. 4d.Mr. Peter Suthard, Bagillt street; men's shoes 6s. 9d., women's 4s., children' (smallsire) 2s 3d. ditto (middle sizes) 4s. 6d., ditto (large size) 5s.—Mr. Edward Lewis Denbigh.

Holywell,—Our Christmas Market this year was a very excellent one, and a better show of meat could not have been witnessed in any town in the Principality. The displays of Mr. John Jones, Mr. Thomas Price, Mr. John Thomas, and Mr. Denton were exceedingly fine, and very creditable. The Messrs. Hodgkinson and Redfern, Flint, and Thomas Davies, Tremeirchion, and other neighbouring butchers also exhibited very superior meat, and the show in this respect far exceeded any previous year. The Welsh weathers from Tremeirchion were exceedingly prime, and could not be surpassed. They were fed by Capt Pennant. Presentation to G. H. Bond, Esq., Mostyn. —A large and influential meeting of the coalmasters of East Worcestershire took place on Monday week, at the Dudley Arms Hotel, Dudley, the object being the presentation of a set of silver plate to G. H. Bond, Esq., late of the Kingswinford Tiled House and South Staffordshire, (now principal of the firm of Bond and Son, ruining engineers, of Nottingham,) who has for the past twenty-seven years held the position of Secretary to the East Worcestershire Coal Trade. Mr. Bond has recently left the district, and consequently the leading members of the trade resolved to present him with a substantial token of their satisfaction at the manner he had performed the duties of his office. A considerable sum was speedily raised, and it was decided to apply it as above stated. The plate con- sisted of a beautifully chased and massive tea and coffee service, tea urn, centrepiece, salver, cake basket, and four sauce kdles, the total value being X220, The centrepiece bore the following inscription :—" Present- ed to G. II. Boni, Esq., in recognition of his valuable services as secretary to the East Worcestershire coal trade, during a period of twenty-seven years." There was a large attendanc3 of subscribers, and Mr. J. E. Swindell, in presenting the testimonial, reterred to the essential service rendered to the trade by Mr. Bond, and the loss they would feel by his removal from their miJL-Mr. Bond responded in appropriate terms, and the meeting was brought to a conclusion. Holywell.— Christmas Tree.—Our readers will notice by advertisement that a Christmas Tree will be exhibited at St. Wenefred's chapel on Tuesday and Wednesday next, the proceeds of which to form an Harmonium Fund. The tree, we believe, will be par- ticularly atti ac!ive, and as it is the first ever exhibited in our town, we would respectfully urge our fellow parishioners to go and have a peep at the tree, and take home with them a good supply of its miscellaneous "fruit." Tickets to be had of Messrs. James Davies and Son or at the door on the day fixed. Holywell.—On Sunday week the Holywell or 4th Flintshire Company of Volunteers attended divine service in the Parish Church. They were accompanied by their band, who played on their march to and from church several appropriate pieces. The National Anthem was beautifully played on the organ at the conclusion of the service by Mr Field. T,he Talacra Harriers,—On Christmas Eve this lively pack, accompanied by its worthy and respected owner Sir Pyers Mostyn, met at the Traveller's Inn, and had one of the best day's sport of the season. The attendance in the field was unusually large, the runs were exceedingly long, quick, and good, one of which, unchecked, lasted forty mtnutes, and a better cross-country gallop was never witnessed, which contributed, as our readers may well imagine, much pleasure to the numerons sportsmen, but to none more so than Sir Pyers, who upon all occasions is delighted when he affords good sport to his friends and neigh- bours. Holywell.-GRAND CONCERT.—We beg to call the attention of our readers to the forthcoming Concert of Mr. Field, our organist, which takes place cn the 14 h inst. The programme contains an admira- ble selection, and the performances of the Blackburn Orpheus Union, being so well known and highly ap- preciated, any remarks of ours are therefore unnecessa- ry. We hope Mr. Field will be well supported, and that his Concert of the 14th will be a forerunner of many others.

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. Our usual Supplement will be found printed on the back of the Almanack.

THE PAST YEAR. As we write the year of 1863 is fast ebbing away, and will, ere many hours, be chronicled with events that have passed. Taking a retrospect of the past twelve months, its history, it will be found, has not been particularly remarkable so far as England is concerned, save that the year has been one which has continued to our happy isle unbroken peace, and undiminished prosperity; and while we have thus reason to rejoice, there is scarcely another country besides our own that has not been visited for many years past with civil wars and discord. And as each succeeding year rolls on, England's greatness and England's glory increases, while the horizon of other countries becomes more heavily overcast. The principal event of the year in our domestic annals is that of the marriage of our Prince, and the universal jejoicings that i took place on that auspicious occasion unmistakeably proved that the nation looked upon it, as an event of the greatest national importance. The relation of political parties has re- mained unchanged, and Respire We dirrerences in opinion of Hon. Members of St. Stephen, our Prime Minister is the most popular I PremieL. that has ruled over any Cabinet, Whig or Tory, for many years. The economical and financial history of the country during the last twelve months does not afford many points of interest. The com- parative ease with which we still support the strain of the cotton famine continues to surprise- the most sanguine, though the crisis is far from its termination. < he money sub- scribed last year is rapidly being spent, and we fear that a second effort is not likely to take place on so large a scale. The supplies of Cotton from other places than America, are still lamentably short, and though a con- tinuance of the present high prices may secure a supply, it is greatly doubted, by competent judges, whether the demand will continue for cotton goods on these terms. Parliamentary speakers, both inside and outside the house, have been unusually quiet, and, save the Rochdale speeches recently delivered, our M.P.'s have not given us much to talk about. Perhaps it would have been well had there been no exceptions, and a universal quiet had taken place, for the Rochdale speeches were not calculated to increase the nation's happiness or the nation's welfare,—Extremes in Politics, as in every- thing else, are dangerous. Alas! for the once flglorious republic of America." The desolating struggle there waging is no nearer its termination than it was this time twelve months, and it is fearful to contemplate what further bloody conflicts will take place in the year 1864. Death during the past year has removed from amongst us men of rank and fame. of whom we may name-Lord Lansdown, Lord Lynd- hurst, Lord Clyde, Archbishop Whately, Sir George Cornwall Lewis, Lord Elgin, and last of all, the novelist Mr. Thackeray. Denmark lost its King; and we may add that no country or army ever deplored the death of a patriot and a general, more than the Confederate States, when Stonewall Jackson departed this life. WE have above briefly commented upon the events in general of the last year, we would now proceed to dwell for a few moments on home transactions, for great indeed would be our shortcomings did we not jot down a few observations upon men and things in our own immediate neighbour- hood. In the first place we may safely say that Holywell, during the past year has faithfully maintained its orig- inal character so far as Town Improvements are concerned; notwithstanding the continued advocacy of improvements for many years past, still we are'in the same position, although we have now what we formerly had not,—a Legislative Assembly! It can- not be said of the hon. Members who compose our Local Government, as of other Hon. M.P's. that they have been quiet.—No: speeches loud and long have been made in our senate house, which by the bye has lately undergone a process of ventilation, and thereby, probably, the flowery harangues and harmo- nious (?) discourses have re-echoed and reverberated again and again, through valley and glen, that the sayings and doings of our Town Commissioners have become familiar to all. But after all we are no better off, and all that we can saj of our Board of Commis- sioners is that they have talked a great deal but have worked very little! We do hope they will reverse the order of things in the coming year, and that instead of speech-making we may be gratified with something more profitable. At present we regret that circumstances do not look very promising, but still we will hope, and that too, for the best. In now entering on the tenth year of our pub- lication we beg to tender our grateful thanks for the encouragement we have received, and we most cordially wish to our readers, friends and all, a happy and pros- perous New Year.

RESPITE (,F ToWNLFY. At half past 7 OJ) Tuesday last, a special messenger arrived at Derby Gaol with a letter from Sir G. Grey, addressed to the under sheriff, desiring him not to carry the execution of Townley into effect, as he was lespited until the further commands of her Majesty were known. Southdown Sheep.—In our last we stated that Mr. John Jones of our town, had for his Christ- mas market, some Shropshire down sheep purchased from Ll. F. Lloyd, Esq., we should have stated South- down, as Mr. LloyJ justly prides himself upon the purity'of his breed of tho latter, which are second to none in England.

Births. 25th ult., the wife of Mr. Joseph W. Lloyd, draper, Holywell, of a son. Marriages. 21st ult., at Holywell Parish Church, Mr. Robert, Davies to Miss Aune Jones, both of Holywell. Deaths. 28th ult., Mr- Edward Price, Glan'rafon, Llanasa much and deservedly respected. Ticketing for Ores at

THE KING'S READ HOTEL, HOLYWELL, December 24th. 1863. Tons Price per ton. Westminster 36 14 4 0 Maesysafn 80 14 0 0 Hendre Ucha 9 14 8 6 Bryngwyn 15 14 11 0 Ditto 6 14 14 6 North Henblas 20 12 16 6 Roman Gravels 22 14 0 6 Llanerchyraur 21 14 6 6 Dyfngwm 17 14 2 6 HOLYWELL.—On the evenings of the 29th and 30th ult., the interesting drama of Who is to Inherit" was performed by the children of St. Wine- fred's Roman Catholic Schools. A charade and tableau also followed, and the amateur performance was very creditably gone through. Seasonable Munificence. — On Christmas Eve, Wm. Keates, Esq., caused a large quantity of coal to be distributed among the poor inhabitants of Greenfield, and the poor widows were also presented with tea, sugar, and bread on Christmas Day by Mrs. Keates. 1