The Aberdare Times

A NIGS QOBSXION.—A stormy meeting of the ^Bristol haipdresssffc tas held a few day sago, for the purpose of considering the Sunday shaving question. In the course of the discussion, a Mr*. Davidge ex- claimed •" If it is wicked to shave or be shaved on a Sundayu laay churchmen are guilty of wickedness. I have nhavt tht; Bishop 0/ Bath and Wells 011 a Sunday looming, a P,1 do you think I will be dictated to by you?

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Lords on Thursday, April 18, the royal assent 'vag given by commission to several bills. The Earl of Shaftesbury asked if the papers just laid on the tibia relating to the recent affair at Honn, contained all the correspondence on the subject; or whether any furthtr papers might be expected. Lord Wodt:house said the cor- respondence relating to Captain Macdonald's case was en- tirely concluded. The Earl of Shaftesbury said that he believed her Majesty's Government had done all that they were called upon to do to assert the honour of this country. At the same time he could not refrain from expressing his opinion that tin proceedings of the Prussian officials were most vexatious, melancholy, and inhospitable, and that such a transaction would be found on the records of no other Lord' Ly'.telton moved that the subdivision of Dioc6eses Bill be referred to a select committee. The Bishop of Carlisle expressed strong disapproval of the bill, ant! advised their lordships to be very careful as to the constitution of the committee to wh'.ch they referred it. He objected to inerea»ing the number of bishops. The (iUicussion was continued by Earl Granville, Lord Chelmsford, the Lord Chancellor, the h'shoi>s of Carlisle, London and Oxford, Lords Granville, Kbcry, Pwdesuale, LTtteltoV and the Duke of Marlborough took part, when the motu'n was agreed to, and their lordships adiourned. In the House of Commons, after the royal assent had bf-en cdven to several bills, and various questions had been asked and answered, Mr. Fitzgerad asked her Majesty's Govern- ment whether they could inform the House of the amount claimed by the British mercantile community at Canton as indemnity for property destroyed, and whether it vus pro- posed that the indemnity of two millions of taels fixed by the treaty of Pekin should be paid out of the money first re- ceived by the Chinese Government. Lord John Russell said the amount received was 450,0002., or two millions of fa-is. Sir 8 Northcote Asked the ChanceHor of the Exchequer what proportion of the vote of credit (3.800,0001.) taken for the expense of the China war had been actually expended and paid out of the Exchequer; what pro. portion is estimated to be still payable out of the balances in the Exchequer in respect of expenditure charge- able to that vate whether it is intended to surrender the right of drawing from the Exchequer any, and if any, what portion of the sum so voted before applying to Parliament for a further vote of credit; and whether he can explain to the Honae why a further vote of credit, to tti- amount of 1 000 COOi., is likely to be required, when there is an unex- pended surplus, approaching 800,0001., on the vote taken last year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he should give an answer to the last part oi the question without enteiing into a discussion upon the whole question of votes of credit. With regard to the second part of the question, he conceived that he had answered it on Monday, and that it was more fully answered in the balance of income and expenditure, which was laid on the table this morning. As to what portions were still payable, he might state that the whole remaining portion of that vote was still payable out of the balances of the Exchequer. On the motion for going into committee of supply on the army estimates, Sir F. Smith asked the Under Stcretary for State for War the state of progress of the works of forticatior.s authorised to be undertaken in consequence of the recom- mendation of the Defence Commissioners, and for which Parliament granted in August last the sum ofl.MO.OOM., whether it has been determined not to proeesd with some of 11:0 works then stated to be ceccs-sary and if 6.0 which of those works it has been determined to post- pone or not to construct; while it is the intention to lay on the tasde of the House a detailed estimate, according to the usual practice, < f the probable cost of each work in- tended to be constructed and while the projects ani plans for these works, or any, or which of them, have been de- finitively scttled and approved, and what contracts, if any, have been entered into for thpir execution. Colonel Dickson proposed as an amendment that their consideration be deferred with a view to their revision. He did so upon the ground that, although the nominal amount of the estimates was stated at 14,000,0002, in reality it was upwards of 10,000,0002. He then proceeded to criticise several of the larger items, pGintad out various discrepancies, and in tome instances suggested that considerable diminu- tion might bo made. „ Mr. T. G. Baring observed that the matters referred to by Colonel Dickson could be discussed in the Committee, and confined his reply to a few salient points. Colonel Dunne called attention to the necessity of further returns as to the expenditure of stores, and of further in- formation regarding other items. Mr. Oab(.rne complained of the money expended at Alder- shott, which had been wasted, he said, upon a gigantic job— an indifferent preparatory school for forming indifferent generals, which was at once useless and demoralising. Ho complained, too, that no satisfactory account had been given of the txpenditure hastily voted last year for fortifications, and called upon the Housa to take warning by Aldershott, and to pause before it went on with that questionable gCli61H0. t • Colonel North, General Lindsay, and Colonel Gilpin bore testimony fwith certain qualifications) to the utility of the camp at Aldershott. Mr. Monsell, comparing our War Estimates with those ot France, coasidered that we were incurring a wild expenditure that would, if persevered in, cause a reaction in the country, and the amount would be forced down below what it ought t0General Peel pointed out some misapprehensions on the part of Colonel Dickson, and expressed an opinion that the Government had not taken money enough for the number of men U« y proposed. Lord Palmerston observed that the course taken of discussing all the details of the different heads of the estimates when the Under-Secretary for War, having >V)Oken once, could not reply, was most inconvenient. With reference to Aldershott, and to tha remarks cf Mr. Osborne who, he said, had always :<n ample vocabulary of strong words at command,—he contended that there never was a wiser application of the public money. The object wag to provide a place To learn combined movements, and he appealed to every military man whether the scheme had not been suc- cessful. The land might be sold at any time for more than its original purcbase-money. After some observations by Captain Jtrvis, the amendment was negHived. After some further discussion, the Housa went into a Committee of supply upon the Army Estimates, when various votes were agreed to after much debate. The Qiieen'3 Prison, &c., Bill, and other bills, passed through Committee. The Volunteers (rolls Exemption) Bill was withdrawn. The Charitable Uses Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Select Committee on Public Accounts was nominated, and the Hour-) adjourned. The whole sitting of the House of Lords on Friday, April 19th, was occupied in a discussion on the present position of affairs in the Papal territory. The subject was introduced in a very able speech by the Ertrl of EUenborough, and flowed up by Lord Wodehouse, the Earl of Derby, and other nol le lords. «,« Ait. ver-' important discussion on the subject of the ass Unbared in the Indigo districts of Lower Bengal took place in the House of Commons. Mr. Layard made a statement, founded upon official documents, which revealed a horrible state of things. It appears that under the contract system which is maintained in Bengal, th e ryots are reduced almost to tho condition of slaves that they are the victims of personal outrages of the most aggravated kind, flogging and imprisonment being common forms of the punishment which is administered. Mr. Vansittart made a brief reply to Mr. Layard, and in the course of the discussion which ensued Sir Cnarles Wood deliverni a speech in which he admitted the literal truth of Mr. I.ayard's allegations. Sir Charles Wood pointed out that the demand for excep- tional legislation made by the planters was identical with tho argument of the old West Indians, that if slavery was abolished the free negroes would refuse to work. He also paid a tribute to the patience of the people, and selid that we had escaped a great danger. life was informed," he said, by Lord Canning that never had he been in such a state of alarm since the siege of Delhi." He expressed his great regret that a bill for the enforcement of indigo contracts had been introduced into the Legislative Council by the Indian Government, and stated that he had sent out instructions for the withdrawal of the measure. An amusing passage of arms took place between General Peel and Lord Palmerston with reference to the part which the Volunteers took in the late election at Tiverton, upon which occasion they accompanied his lordship in going to and returning from the hustings. It appears from Lord Palmeraton's explanation that the Secretary of War is about to issue a circular stating that it is Dot desirable that Volun- teers should appear in any way at elections. A brief but important dissuasion on New Zealand afl'aus was raised by Mr. G. W. Hope, who asked the Under-Secre- tary for the Colonies whether it was the intention of the Government to establish tribunals for the settlement of na- tive land disputes. He recommended that these tribunals should be composed of members elected by the natives, as well a? of nominees of the Crown. Mr. Fortescuc expressed himself favourable to the appoint- ment of such a court, but seemed disposed to leave the question to the Colonial Legislature. He repeated the old story that William King made no claim to the land which is the cairse of the present war, and that he had aspired to exercise sovereign authority but Lord R. Cecil reminded tho House that in the debate which took place Mr. Selwyn read four different claims which the chief had made, and said that the vice of the present system was that the governor was plaintiff, judge, and jury-all in one. Sir K Peel again brought the subject of the religious per- secutions in Spain before the House and the question of Irish evictions also occasioned some discussion. Lord J. lUssell gave explanations upon several points. The circumstances which led the Consul-General in Japan (Mr /Ucock) to abandon Jeddo, were, he said, the system of intimidation which had been pursued towards the foreign Anr.Her?, and the refusal of the Japanese Government to give them any effectual protection. With refer- ence to what bad fallen from Sir R. Peel, he stated what were the allegations of the Spanisji Minis''ers on the subject of the imprisonment of the two Protestants—that they were not charged with any Domical offence, but that the discovery of the existence of secret societies in Spain, with revolutionary objects, had interposed an obstacle to their liberation. Upon the subject "ei cr ly he suggested reasons why, whatever were his opinions resarding religious liberty, it was inexpedient that e should interfere actively in these cases. tn Other questions were raised and discussed, relating to Captain Crofton's system for the discipline and reform of conviots the alleged injustice and injury suffered by a British subject, with the sanction of the Spanish authorities of Port Mahon; the reduction of the wages of dockyard labourers; the evictions from the lands of Derryveagh, in the county of Donegal; and the conviction of a man at Bridpanorth, while absent under a sentence of imprison- ment at Shrewsbury, of killing a partridge without a licence, and his being flaed 202. 0 Mr. Slaney obtained leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the I nmt or sale of small portions of entailed lands near great, towns as sites for dwellings for the working classes, and for other purposes of a like beneficial or charitable na- ture. His object was to remedy a great practical difficulty in getting sites. Leave was given to Mr. Kinnaird to bring in a bill to provide additional means for the establishment of reformatory schools in Scotland. Certain bills were then forwarded a stage, and the House adjourned. In the House of Lords on Monday, Apiil 22, Lord Kings- down, on moving the IIP-cond readlllg of the Wilis of Per- sonal ty by British Subjects Kill, explained at some length that the object of the measure was to amend the present, law in reference to lha wills of British subjects abroad. Lord WeusleydaJe was understood to oppose the bill, hut th3 Lord Chancellor supported it: wmie liora oi. u ioxiai-ua assented to the principle that a will should be valid if made In accordance with the general law of England, but dissented from the proposal that the will should be valid if executed only according to the laws of the country in which the tes- tator was domiciled. Lord Crauworth osviog supported the second reading of the bill, and Lord Kingsdown having briefly replied to ob- jections. the bill was read a second time. Lord Stanley of Alderley, in moving the second reading of the Post-office Savings-bank Bill, enumerated some of the inconveniences of the present system of savine.s-banks, and pointed out how they were to be removed by the proposed scheme. Lord Colchester questioned the applicability of the Post- office to such a system. Lord Monteagle defended the present system of savings- banks, and raised the constitutional objection, that the measure would give the Chancellor of the Exchequer the loan of forty millions of money without Parliamentsry sanction. The Marquis of Clanricarde condemned the measure as adding to the expense of the Post-office department. Lord Redesdale apprehended that great confusion would arise from the scheme, and Lord Stanley of Alderley having replied, the bill was read a second time. The Lunacy Regulation Bill having been read a third time and passed, their lordships adjourned. THE BUDGET—THE PAPER DUTY. In the House of Uommonp, the Chancellor of the Exche- quer moved that the House go into Committee of Ways and Means, with a view to a consideration of the provisions of the Budget. Mr. T. Baringaaid he was happy to know that they lived in days when a Budget might be withdrawn or modified without involving a change of Ministry. With regard to the French treaty, it was now aiil accomplished fact, and he would only say that lie trusted It might come up to the right honourable gentleman's anticipations. The honourable member contended that it was not desirable to abolish a system of taxation which could never be re-imposed if once removed. He thought that the proposition to take off the Paper Duty was neither wise nor safe, and he en- treated her Majesty's Government to consider whether they should sweep off such a source of revenue. Lord R. Montagu, after adverting to the alleged failure of Mr. Gladstone's anticipations last year, proceeded to discuss the Bud' et-applying to it the test of Mr. Gladstone s own principles-and the policy of a 9d. income-tax and the re- tention of the tea and sugar duties, in conjunction with the repeal of the paper duty; contending that the remission of the war duties on tea and sugar, or of another Id. of the income-tax, would afford most relief, and would be only ful- filling the pledges of the Government. In the existing state ofournoances and of European and American politics, he doubted the safety of abandoning the the paper duty. Mr. B xter, in reply to Mr. Baring, defended the Budget, which, lie maintained, was based upon moderate and reason- able calculations indeed, competent persons, lie said, were of opinion that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had under- estimated the revenue for 1861-62. He thought, however, that til" expenditure ought to be greatly, though gradually, diminislud.^o^ sai(j jie opposed that part of the Budget which remitted taxation, because he did net see that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had any surplus at all, a real surplus bctMtha balance between the expenditure and the revenue derived from taxation already existing. He con- feud; d that the resolution of the House in 1858 only con- demned tho paper duty as a permanent tax, but did not plfd-'eit to take off the duty by continuing the war duties on tea and suaar, which it was now asked to do. He stroDgly condemned the system of finance pursued by the Govern- on tea and sugar, which it was now asked to do. lie strongly condemn; d the system of finance pursued by the Govern- Mr. Dodson.said he was not inclined to quarrel with the repeal of the paper duty, which would be of great benefit, but the question was one for the consideration in the com- m Alr^B'iVkburn examined some of the calculations upon which th" Bridget rested, and urged the expediency of having a surplus actually in existence before taxes were €Mr.1 Poll ird-Urquhart supported the proposition for the repeal of the paper duty, which would, he said, be a great boon to Ireland. j x.- Mr. Baillie objected to the repeal of the paper duty, which would not benefit the community, which the great body of manufacturers did not want, and which would be an advan- tags only to one small but powerful class—the proprietors of°the penny newspapers. Mr W Ewart approved the repeal of the paper duty, observing that when Excise duties were taken off the aggre- gate amount of that branch of the revenue increased. He insisted that it wculd be a commercial benefit and a literary benefit, and that it would heal the dissensions between the two House* of Parliament. The Budget was, m his opinion, a wise and sensible one. Mr. Loiigfield argued that the available surplus of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was imaginary that there was in truth a deficiency of revenue. He blamed the Government for relinquishing the paper duty, and gave an amusing his- tory of the manufacture in Ireland. The cry of taxes upon knowledge" he denounced as cant, substituted for argu- ment. The Budget was, in his view, objectionable in temper and in its details, and it was likely to prove deceptive. Mr Norris denied that the paper-makers were indifferent to the repeal of the Excise duty on their manufacture, and he explained their feelings upon the subject. Mr. R. Long condemned, and Mr. Black and Mr. Warner supported the repeal of the paper duty. Mr. Bentinck made a running commentary upon the financial speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whom he accustd of carrying the principles of Free Trade to an extravagant length. Sir J. Paxton insisted that the repeai of the paper duty would be a very great boon to the consumers of paper, though he admittedithat he believed the papermakers, as a whole, were against the repeal because it would interfere with their monopoly. After some remarks from Sir Stafford Northcote, On the motion of Mr. S. Fitzgerald, atter a few observa- tions upon the course of proceeding by Lord Palmerston, Mr. Disraeli, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the debate w, s adjourned. Mr. Du ilop obtained leave to bring in a bill to mako pro- vision for the dissolution of combinations of par'sbes in Scotland RS to the management of the poor, and the House adjourned. In the House of Lords on Tuesday, April 23, the Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the Marriage Law Amendmtnt Bill. He explained the existing state of the law, and traced the gradual changes which had taken place of late years. The bill is for the purpose of remedying the evils at present arising out of the uncertainty as to the validity of mixed marriages that is, marriages between a Protestant and a Catholic. Loid Monteagle expressed his approval of the bill. The Ea- 1 of Derby objected to the wording of some clauses in the bill. After some discussion the bill was read a second time. In the House of Commons Sir Joseph Paxton asked the First Commissioner of Works if there was any truth in the report ths.t the lioysl Agricultural Society were about to hold a cattle show In nyde Park and if so, to explain the reason why the Government have consented thereto. Mr. Co vper said that the Royal Agricultural Society had been intending for some time past to make their exhibition of implements in the great building te be erected for the International Exhibition of 1862, and the promoters had thought that it would be desirable to exhibit their animals in some r,art of the metropolis, in order that foreigners and others who would visit London on that occasion might have an opportunity of seeing them. All that had been done at present was to state that in 1862 the Royal Agricultural Society should be at liberty to exhibit their animals in one of the metropolitan parks. Mr. Grant Duff asked the Secretary of State for the Home Deparim nt whether it was the intention of the Government to grant an inquiry into the state, discipline, studies, and revenues of the schools commonly called public schools, as well as cf those endowed schools in which the Latin and Greek languhges are taught; and whether Jia would object to state generally what steps the Government means to take in the matter. Sir G. C. Lewis said there had been commissions with re- gard to Oxford and Cambridge and legislation upon the sub- ject. He thought that the public schools of England were fitting objects of public inquiry, and he wished to commiint- c-ste with the heads of those establishments in order that any inquiry that might be instituted might be conducted in an amicable manner. Mr. H. Berkeley moved for leave to bring in a bill for the protection of electors in voting for members to serve In Par- liament. He said that when he saw reforms of all kinds in- troduced, he did not see why electoral reform was to be ta- booed in that House. The present, he considered, was a most opportune time for introducing' a measure of reform, for there was no agitation in the country, and the question could be calmly considered. He would not enter into details, for the question had been fully argued but he must not leave any position unguarded, for he saw opposite the noble lord fresh from his triumphs at Tiverton, having drawn the unfortunate Rowclifle at his chariot whee!s. The noble lord was the greatest wrestler in the house, and he (Mr. Berkeley) knew what he had to expect if he did not guard himself. If any member leCe; himself at the mercy of the noble lord (Palmerston) he would soon find himselt on his back, with the Parliamentary knees of the noble lord well into the pit of his political stomach (langhter). The hon. mem- ber quoted largely from the evidence given before the com- mittee appointed to inquire into the best mode of preventing corrupt practices at elections last year. Why after that evidence the ballot did not form part of the committee s re- port it was not for him to say. He next proceeded to review the present state of the electoral system of the country, pointing out msny abuses in connection with many con- stituencies, and the nature of the undue influence of land- lords in coercing their tenants. He had been told that he was mad to bring forward this question while the hearts of the people were sympathising with struggles for liberty abroad, but he thought that while the English people sympathised with the Attempts to secure liberty abroad they were quite alive to the necessity of reform at home. He appealed to the House on their behalf, although he knew he might as well appeal to the floor of the house on which he was standing. Sir G. Douglas seconded the motion.

A CHANCE FOR VOLUNTEER MARKSMEN! A document has just been issued which will be studied with peculiar interest by all Riflemen, and es- pecially by our Rifle Volunteers. It is the programme of the intended proceedings at the next Wimbledon Meeting, on Monday, the 1st of July, and it puts the public in possession of all the principal conditions by which the shooting on that occasion will be regulated. The prospectus is certainly inviting enough. The prizes will exceed 2,000J. in value, and opportunities seem to have been reserved for aU competitors, all weapons, and all classes of proficients. Foremost, of course, figure the prizes offered to Volunteers. The whole business of the meeting will be divided into great branches, one concerned with the snecial, and the other with the general object of the National Rifle Association. Tne special object is the encouragement of rifle shooting among the members of our Volunteer Corps; and this condition, therefore, receives attention first. Volunteers, then, who are desirous of competing for distinction on this occasion will beginbyBhootingat three ranges, of 200, 500, aud 600 yards respectively. At the first of these ranges they must shoot from the shoulder; at the second and third either from the shoulder or from the knee, according to th" definition of that pesition at Hythe. The weapon I to If used in this contest is the long KnfielH of I8r><5, havintf a minimum pull of Gib.; but, as spme Volunteer Cor < are armed with a different description of rifle, the N atioual Association undertakes to provide timely supplies of long Enfields to any competitors selected from such battalions. The first trial of skill, there- fore, will be between Volunteers only, armed with the long Enfield, and firing at targets from 200 to 600 yards distant. The pri7.es at stake will be considerable. To the twenty best shots will be awarded as many Whitworth rifles, value 25 guineas each, and to the best of these shots the Silver Medal of the Association also. This, however, is not the whole of the matter. To these twenty winners will be added the twenty next best shots, and these forty alone will be privileged to compete for the grand prizes of the meeting-the Queen's Cup, value 250/ and the Gold Medal of the Association to accompany it. Here the firing will be with Whitworth rifles, supplied by the Association, and at three ranges, of 800, 900, and 1,000 yards respectively. The best Volunteer marksman, therefore, may possibly carry off her Majesty's Cup, both medals of the Association, and a prize rifle, besides other supplementary chances. The shooting will first be at the 200, 500, and 600 yards' ranges, and the twenty best shots will be rewarded, though with money prizes instead of rifles. Six prizes of 201. each will be allotted to the first of the I three ranges, seven of 35/. each to the second, and seven of 501. to the third. To the twenty best men, again, will be added the twenty next best, as in the caae of the Volunteers, and to these forty exclusively will be limited the competition for a cup given by the Prince Consort, value 1001. The Prince of Wales offers to Volunteers a cup of the value of 1001. for further encouragement of rifle- shooting. The competitors, however, will be picked I men. Before they can try for the Prince's Cap they must have already earned some distinction. They must have won prizes at county meetings or at Hythe, or in their respective regiments—such prizes in the latter case being either of the first or second class. The Duke of Cambridge then offers & Cup, value 50l., to all comers but here there is a limitation as to the weapon. Competitors must shoot with the breech- loading rifle only, which is not to exceed 101b. in weight, and, as might be expected, the ranges are long-OOO and 1,000 yards only; whereas for the Prince's prize the ranges are 8hort-200, 500, and COO yards. The Association itself comes forward with a prize open to its own members-I), 501. Cup, to be shot for at 200 yards, with any kind of rifle under 101b. in weight. A few words may be added as to the regulations affect- ing the contests generally. The targets will be of the size prescribed in the Army Musketry Regulations. No artificial rests, hair triggers, or magnifying sights will be allowed, though it is considerately intimated that neither in the case of Volunteers nor of all comers will anv objection be made to spectacles. No entrance fees will be exacted from Volunteers, but all-comers will have to pay ll. for admission to the three first ranges, and the same sum at each additional range in the competition for the twenty money prizes. The winners of the cups, including even her Majesty's, may take their rewards in money if they prefer it while the winners of money may receive their prizes in articles of value if they so choose. Silversmiths, watchmakers, and gunsmiths will be in- vited to send in choice specimens of workmanship, so that equivalents may be selected at leisure from the show. We had almost forgotten one announcement,—" The whole to conclude," as playbills have it, with a grand "Rifle Derby," open to everybody, with its natural conditions of entrance money, forfeits, nominations, &c. The subscriptions received on this account are to be divided into three prizes the first coBsisting of half the sum total, the second of three-fifths of the residue, and the third of the balance remaining.

BARBAROUS MURDER AT PLYMOUTH. A deliberate murder, attended with circumstances of great ferocity, took place at Plymo ith, late on Saturday night, the parties to the shocking affair all being Irish seamen. The following are the particulars:- The Curle Steam Ship Company's vessel Prussian Eagle wa; laying in the Great Western Docks, and on Saturday afternoon three of her seamen, John Hart, Cornelius Moyina, and Daniel Harrington, bad been on shore drinking, returning to the vessel in the evening in a semi-intoxicated state. Shortly after they returned, some wor. 's and a wrangling took place between Harring- ton and Moyina, subsequently a violent quarrel and a fight ensued, and they fought for some time. Moyina then sat down on a seat and leaned against a bulk-head, the whole affair taking place in the ship's forecastle. While hn was in that position, Hart, without ap- parently any further provocation, rushed at him and struck him three violent blows on the nose and threw his body on him. While Moyina was thus lying bank struggling under Hart in a half stupefied state, Hart put his hand in his own pocket, drew forth a clasp- knife, which he unclasped, drove it into Moyina's body, and then coolly wiping it on the back part of his own trousers, replaced it in his pocket. The knife took effect in Moyina's heart, killing him instantly. The in irder was committed between eleven and twelve o'clock, but the fatal nature of the affray was not discovered until about three o'clock the following morning. On Sunday morning Hart was taken into custody by the Plymouth police on a charge of murder, and Har) ington apprehended, charged with assaulting the deceased. Hart in 25 years of age, and has a wife and child at Cork; Harrington was 23; the deceased waa also a young m'.n, and has also left a wife and child at Cork.

AUSTRIAN PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. A letter from Mantua of the 14th inst. says The measures taken in the town and fortress of Man- tua are such as precede a formidable war. In the for- tifications rifled cannon.have been substituted for the old pieces, and the posts have been doubled. Soldiers have been placed in the houses and farms in the suburbs, all the barracks have been hastily put in repair. More than 200 carpenters are employed in making and re- pairing outer and inner gates, as well as windows. It is said that the garrison is to be raised to more than 20,000 men; it already consists of nine battalions of six companies, of 196 men each, besklea artillery-men, a field battery, and troops of other arms in proportion. The whoioof the Raineri regiment is expected, composed of Germans from Saltzburg. Provisions arrive every day is M said that orders have been given for the pur- chase of three thousand oxen. Nobody doubts here that the Austrians will begin the war the only question is whether the attack will be made on the Po or the Mincio, or both at once. The distribution of the Austrian foroea is still from Mantua to Pescbiera, from Pastrengo to Riva, and further back bet .veen Bassano, Vicenza, Montebello, and Ve. rona. J i1 a few days the Austrians could concentrate all their forces on the Po. Twelve thousand cannon balls for field batteries have been taken out of the arse- nals at W antua, and placed on board two large vessels, which it is said are destined for Santa Maria, opposite the bridge of Lagoscuro. The great entrenched camp which the Austrians are forming between Rovigo and Boara will be considerably enlarged. All the prepara- tions point to a war close at hand. It is sought to dis- guise the real point of attack, in order to ensnare us, but I hope the Auatrians will find what they don't expect.

GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE!" In the very same district and the same parish in London in which stands Mr. Spurgeon's Great Tabernacle, recently erected by voluntary subscriptions for Nonconformist pur- poses, is the episcopal church of St. Paul's, Lorrlmore-square, Walworth, the incumbent, the Rev. John Going, a very excellent preacher, and whose zeal for the spiritual welfare of his congregation has gained him universal esteem. There Is, however, a trifling drawback to the happiness of this community in the form of a church debt, a portion of which was a legacy to Mr. Going on his appointment, and the remainder has since been incurred for repairs and im- provements, the whole amounting to about 150Z. The non- payment of this small sum has so disturbed the mind of the minister—his constant appeals meeting only a feeble response -that, like his Nonconformist neighbour, he has determined his church shall be free from debt, and announces his mag- nanimous resolution in a letter to his congregation, of which the following is a condensed account On the 22nd of last November I addressed a circular to you, in the hope of raising the sum of 2ool., for the double purpose of paying off some old debts on the or- gan and gas-fittings of our church, and carrying out some improvements absolutely necessary for your com- fort. I doubt not that you will acknowledge that the improvements were real and efficacious; for never since the church was built has there been 80 severe a winter as the last, yet in no previous winter has the building been so warm and free from draughts. Now, the improvements referred to have cost 78/. 13s. 3d., and the sum I have received through my appeal amounts to 711. 2s. 10d., so that, not only are none of the old debts cleared off, but I am 71. 10s. 5d. out of pocket by the transaction. It is true that these old debts were all incurred previous to my appoint- ment, and I am not personally or legally liable for them, but I feel their weight morally as much as if I were. I am most anxious that St. Paul's Church should have an honourable reputation during my in- cumbency, and this it cannot have while there are heavy debts to tradesmen, now nearly five years owing, on ac- count of the church. I have, therefore, made arrangements to devote the whole of my portion of the offertory of this church at all our services from next Midsummer-day to the pay- ment cf these old debts, together with some arrears of church expenses, and a small debt on the Sunday- school, amounting in all to about 1501, The figures at the conclusion of this letter will show you that my por- tion of the offertory for the last year amounted to 2207. (h. 10d., equal to about four guineas a-week. This portion of my income I propose to relinquish as long as may be required to free the church from debt, and I appeal to your liberality to diminish as much as possible the period during which I must submit to this sacrifice of income; in proportion as you increase your ofiV.ritigs at every service you will diminish the period duiinj; which 1 must be deprived of this income, and by commencing that increase from the present time you will enable me the better to meet the loss of this part of my income when Midsummer comes. My friends, I have often exhorted you to deny your- selves for God, to prefer His honour and His worship in this land to your own personal comfort and self- indulgence, or outward show and appearance and worldly pomp and when I give up 41. 41. a week out of my small income to free our church from these hu- miliating debts I think I am entitled to ask you to exercise some real self-denial in order to help me. That is not real self-denial which diminishes no comfort and deprives of no luxury. My self-denial in the matter will be real, I assure you, for I shall have to deny my- self and my family many comforts in order to carry out this arrangement. And pray do not think that my personal loss in the matter will be made up to me from any source external to this district). indeed. it is only by exercising the severest economy and self-denial in domestic matters during the present year that I shall be able to submit to the sacrifice of so large a portion of my income. But I am ashamed to have these debts so long unpaid, and I cannot make any further appeals to the congregation individually respecting them; such appeals interfere with the various charities that belong, or ought to belong, to the church, and I believe that even t.ie offertory itself suffers by them. This h the determination of a Otmrch of lingland minister In a matter for which he is not personally liable, and it ap- pears scarcely possible that he will bo allowed to sacrifice himself and family in such a mannnr. A 51. note for each thousand subscribed for the great Noncomformist building would relieve the difficulty, and it remains to be seen whether the Church has zeal enough to prevent such an un- usual aeo of abnegation, for it cannot possibly be a ques- tion of wealth. y i

THE LATE CONSPIRACY AT NAPLES. The special correspondent of the Morning Post writing from Naples, aives some interesting particulars of tJie recent Bourbonlat conspiracy Since commencing the present letter, I have been able to procure still more exact details respecting the character and extent of the Bourbonist conspiracy. It appears to have had its ramifications stretching from Cape Misenum to Baia and Pozzuoli—that is to say, all round the Bay of Naples, and for at least fourteen milee in the rural districts behind the capital itself. A certain priest, of the name of Manzi, was to head the reactionaries. The first gathering places were to be Casoria and Cisterna, whence the bands would march to Nola, where General Bosco was to take the com- mand. From Nola, the Bourbonists designed to march straight on Naplee, expecting that the way would be prepared for them by the incendiaries, whose task was to throw the whole city into confusion, and the thieves and murderers, and galley-slaves, who were to be let loose from the prisons of the Vinaria, Castel Capuano, the Santa Maria Apparente, or Castel Nuovo. In the event of the reactionary movement in the capital not proving successful, the conspirators meant to disperse themselves through the country, and thus swell their ranks with fresh recruits, hoping before long to repeat their attempt on the capital. General Bosco travelled all these districts a few days ago, having disembarked at Castellamare from a vessel sailing under the French flag. He visited the several depots of the disbanded Bourbon army at Caserta, Capua, Santa Maria, and Aversa, conversing with the different officers, and indicating the points whither they must repair in order to .take up arms. Everything, in short, had been admirably oombined for a general massacre: At Castel Nuovo, in the city, a mine was to have been fired only a few minutes before the breaking out of the insurrection, in order that the confusion caused by the fires there might be increased by the con- sternation from the exploded mine. The mine had been discovered some time back. The men who worked at it were some Bourbon soldiers, who had professed their adherence to the new order of things, and were enabled, in consequence, to obtain admission in inferior capa- cities into the castle. They had made some progress when they were discovered by the Sardinian soldiers, who, however, feigned ignorance of what was going on, and allowed the conspirators to continue their labours. When the work had almost reached com- pletion—at the very moment that the men were actively engaged in it, the Sardinians pounced upon them; they denounced the comrades who had induced them to enter into such a plot, and the comrades in their turn gave up the names of the Bourbonist officers at the bottom of the mischief. Another incident contributed to reveal the designs of the conspirators A certain Pipoli—a rude son of the people, somewhat given to brawling and blustering, but considered not a bad fellow, after the Neapolitan standard of good fellowship—had been kicked and cuffed by a sbirro in the days of Francis II. He was obliged to digest it then as he best could, but resolved to bide his time. The time at length came with the entry of Garibaldi; be sought out and killed his enemy. For this crime he was arrested, and sent to await his trial for murder in the prison of Vicaria. Whilst in that prison, the head gaoler, an accomplice of the reactionary plot, who, from the fact of the man being sent to prison under the Garibaldi regime, was led to con- ceive the idea of his being an adherent of the Bourbons, thought that he would be a fitting character to assist in carrying out one part of the programme—the irrup- tion of the thieves, and murderers, and galley slaves into the capital on the outbreak of the movement. He accordingly proposed to Pipoli to head a troop of the reactionary conspirators. Pipoli accepted the offer- first from the fear of being Mlled should he refuse, and then because the head gaoler held out to him the promise of getting out of prison to further the purposes of the plot. The permission to do so was actually accorded to him chiefly with the view of his procuring the uniform of a National Guard, in which character he was to appear; but no sooner had he crossed the threshold of the prison than he went straight to the police and informed them of all that the conspirators intended. The police had likewise received another warning, as follows The mother of a young fellow of the poorest class was unable to make out how her son suddenly came to be so well stocked with cash he who had soarcely ever had such a thing as a carlino in his possession. She and her husband questioned him closely on tho subject, and he then confessed that a priest named Luciani had given him the money because he had consented to have given him the money because he had consented to have his name enrolled on the list of those whom he was re- cruiting for the service of King Francis. The mother being an enthusiastic partisan of Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi, at once divined the whole affair, and gave lntorlnation to the police. The police made a perquisition in the priest's house, and seiaed his papers, when it was found that this unworthy servant of Christ fti re"u^ar recruiting sergeant for the Bourbons, and that he allowed to each of his recruits tne sum of four carlini a-day. The police, learning in the priest's house the exact hour at which the leaders of this de- tachment came to receive their instructions and their pay, kept watch, and succeeded in securing them on their arrival. The priest's two concubines, who re- sided with him (and who were both far advanced in pregnancy), had acted as instruments with many of the lower classes. Two bishops are likewise reported to be arrested. Yesterday there were found, behind the principal post-office of Naples, 25 oases of muskets, and a num- ber of National Guard uniforms. Amongst the prison- ers brought in last night from the country were ten Enests. I saw them arrive, followed by a great crowd, issing and hooting, and in some cases, singing the Garibaldi hymn to spite the priests. The soldiers of the ex-Bourbon force all wore, as a token of recogni- tion, an iron ring on the finger, and were each armed with a dagger and a pistol. Along the shore of the Bay of Naples there is now stationed a corps of 14,000 men as a regular coast guard. What the authorities here at present are most perplexed about is to discover the depots of arms and ammunition which are known to have been smuggled into the country for the re- action, to which reference is made in the correspon- dence recently discovered, but the precise whereabouts of which has not yet been ascertained.

DIABOLIC ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ROBBERY IN LONDON. On Sunday evening a frightful outrage was perpe- trated in a house in Chapel-street, Islington, London, which, according to present appearances, may be ex- pected to terminate fatally. From the state- ment of Mary Ann Redkison, whose deposition was taken at the hospital, it appeared that the family had gone out, leaving her in charge of the house, when she was visited by a young man named Frederick Strugnell, a butcher, and formerly ae in her master's employment. Suspecting some- thing wrong, she wished to call in the police, but was prevented by the fellow attacking her with a knife or chopper, and inflicting such injury that she imme- diately became insensible. Subsequently the door was forced open by the neighbours, and search being made, it was discovered that a considerable sum of money and other property had been stolen. Strugnell was brought before Mr. Barker at Clerkenwell Police-court on Monday, and underwent an examination. The unfortunate female gave her evidence with great clearness and precision. The only portion of her face visible was her mouth, the other portion being enveloped in surgical bandages. Having been sworn she stated as follows My name is Mary Ann Kedkison. I am wounded, but I do not know what it was done with. I only saw the knife that Fred had in his hand. Magistrate's Clerk: 1'red 1 Witness I mean that young lad who used to live with us. He lived with us just before Christmas. Be came to me last night a little before eight; but I am not quite certain. He came to me and said, Might I come in 1" I said, Yes, there is no one at home; but I expect mistress's mother home immediately from church." He said, We will come into the kitchen and sit down a minute or so." When we had been there a short time he said be was thirsty, and he would fetch something, a ud I got up for the purpose of get- ting him the beer. He said he did not want say beer—ho wanted some gin, and then I gave him the pint jug. So he went out to get it, and I shut the door after him. up to the door just as he turned the corner of tt I let him in, shut the door, put the choppsr agains! always do. We went into the kitchen, and he n gin with some water. A little while after thai hi would go into the parlour and see the time. I did anything of it, for I had no suspicion. I forget whs said it was. He brought down some of Cassell' and when he had been there a moment or so, some boy calling out, and I said, The street doo some one must have opened it and got in." I candle and went up stairs to my master's bedroom the knife from the shop and came up after me. W up-stairs I fancied I saw master's chest was open, place turned foosy-tiirv^y. I "I will run < fetch ti e polico," lI",j he cut after me, and J to the door Fred got before ni-, hut- he shut it, and me wit'i a knife. 1 said, "Oh, Fred, it is Mary d< me." I do not know any more. I am almost 8U f h a! not got my senses aftor that until I was put au; ;tken to some hospital, but I do not know whicl wetr. to the door to answer the knock, Fred was on tb" opposite side of the street, lie crossed ov stared, and said, "L)r, Frsd, who would have t seeing^ ou ?" He told me he had knocked atthf other Sanday night, but could not s«d rn Q. I toill out that night. I had not told him to oall. In the course of the proceedings at the po: the prisoner, who treated the matter with tht indifference, said I shall make a statement. About three weeks this youag woman, and the asktd me to coaie ac some Sunday. Well, I went eveuing to sen stayed tliero some time talking to her iu the bacl I then went and fetched a drop of gin. We stay in the back kitchen after this for about half an b she said 11116 heard some one talking in the street ar the street door must be open. We went t< the door was wide open. She said some one v house. We went upstairs to see, and we oould ] that some one had been there. We then came d< and she said she was going for a policeman B03' to the bottom of the stairs, some one cawieiunr That person was a man. That man struck her, out of tha house frightened. That is all I have to The prisoner was then remanded. The JX; .■'as tbrnnged hy thousands of people anxioui B .ght of the prisonei,

THE LONDON BUILDERS' STRl So completely is the strike in the buildir in London now at an end, and so satisfied men with the new arrangement made by Kelk and Messrs. Lucas of hour payment and day half-holiday gratis, that more are anxioi ticipate in its benefits than they can find r Thus Messrs. Lucas have not only all their hi nearly a hundred additional, and they are daii to refuse applications for work. Tt is almost with Mehsrs. Kelk. In other establishments wish has been expressed that th.e hour systei ment and half-holiday should be adopted, mand is natural enough, and was expected b) ployers. On Friday, therefore, in order to pu to the question and take all cause of grieva the men, a meeting of all the leading met builders was held, at which it was determin large a majority that it might almost* be said animous, that it was expedient that the syste' ment by the hour should be adopted forthw employtM. and that each employer should It his men whether to take the half-holiday or i new system will therefore be forthwith ii throughout all London. It is not improbab] this decision, when carried out, will strike for ever from the hands of Messrs. Potter s last effort may be made by the trades' unions their old despotic influence. But, in the fa recent display of common sense on the part o in putting an end to the late strike, and theii fiance of the trades' unions in insisting on 1 terms offered them, there is but a small p success for the agitators. We earnestly hot lieve, therefore, that we have done with strikes for good and all. This gratifying re most entirely due to the good sense, moderj i.lity displayed by Messrs. Lucas and r.iv

"COMPARISONS ARE ODOROU The London Review has the following on Mr. motion for a V>1. franchise Mr. C. Mattews, in one of his amusing comedies morning call, finds a diamond necklace on the t being aeentlemanof fidgetty habits, and much ai trying things on, puts the diamonds round bis o The necklace unluckily drops down somewhere b collar, and can by no mean3 be recovered. It ti( scratches him, makes him twitch and wince in tli company, and pursues its downward course until in his boot. He has then but one absorbing desire- a boot-jack and be delivered from his torment. I is one of vslue, and, in its proper place, of great but it is not his. The ingenuity with which he g it and offers excused for appropriating it is more mired than the meddlesomeness which led him to on it and fasten it round his owu neck. On Wedm petite comedy was enacted in St. Stepben's--tb- v- C..Mathews' hero being filled by Mr. Baines, M.P. Calling on Lord John one mornixig early this Sessio the diamond necklace of the fi I. franchise lying on He snatches at it, thiDkshowlovely it would look c person, and tries it on. A cold, sharp, and unco sensation in the nape of his neck soon proclaims th that has befallen him. lie goes to Leeds, marcht down demands help and a boot-jack, and on Wed his infinite relief, draws ott" his boot in a lull Hot finally relieved from his shining mischief. The a then restored to its proper owners, who are re( take more care of it in future, and not to leave it a appropriated by every inqllisltiveand dishonest Vi

EXECUTION OF THE TALGAE MURDERER. The final sentence of the law was carried ii in the front of the county gaol at Brecon, at 8 o' Tuesday morning, upon William Williams, convicted at the Brecon Assizes, in Marc'j wilful murder of his aunt on the 19th of Oefot The culprit had lived in the service of an. un farm about seven miles from the horxge v aunt resided at Fawydden, Talgarth, 'About from Hereford. Williams slept at b ex hous night of the 18th October, and seemed on go with his relative. He brought with him a gr t he usually carried about his unr.le's farra shooting. The next day in the afternoon ] went into an adjacent field for some hay., tab her a little boy, an illegitimate son of tl Williams was at this time in the fold. yard, victim was in the house, sitting in a b4 h-bac by the fire, picking wool. Just as thf; siste: turning, she heard the report of firearn is, ane forward met her brother comiaft out of the h( exclaimed that his aunt had shot h'a -self. < ing the room the body of the murd/ered wu found in the chair, in a sitting postur e, and t of the gun had been placed so closo to her; flame from the powder had absolutely set he: fire. The slugs, with which the gar. had bee passed completely through the bojy of the woman, entering at her back, and passing th heart out of the body. When tafoen into cui prisoner said the gun had gone off by accid he was passing through the door, but he sub told the superintendent of the. police and his also the chief constable of the- county, that he poor woman, his words being, "I did it; I di all my heart to get possession of her property, no home." It will be remembered that the testimony the sister, a young woman more than twent; age, exhibited a lamentable degree of ignora1 was not aware of the nature of an oath, and in a future state was merely to the extent tha there was one. She did, however, believe in ence of a God, and his power to punish her 5 wrong. The moral character oi the murder was very much tainted. Since the culprit's sentence, which was acei by a recommendation to mercy, but which M: Byles warned him could harrily be expected his doom, the miserable yout.h (for he was onlj of age), for the first time subsequent to t] appeared to realise his awful situation. He attended with the most, sedulous earnestnes Rev. David Price, B.D., chaplain to the cou and his ministrations awakened the unhappy sense of his atrocious crime. He has .constant most fervently for pardon of his sins, and sensible that all hope for him in this world i He has been visited by his relatives, the fini with whom was one of the most agonising de At the last hour his fortitude quite forsook he burst into a bitter and passionate flood which the exhortations of the Rev. Mr. Pi not allay. The process of pinioning having through with much diSicahty, the culprit little, and shook hands affectionately with the thanking him for his great kindness, and all" of the officers of the prison. He acknow' justice of his sentence, but expressed hims i tence and hope of a belief that he wo, x pardon for his crime. The procession having arrived at the d? .'01 knot was quickly adjusted, and while moal joining in the Burial Service, as read by th< the bolt was withdrawn, and after :.10 II struggle the wretched youth ceased to. exi was a vast number of persons present, and a commiseration pervaded them, from tlle extr of the culprit and his lamemtable st'tte of After hanging the uBiial time the bo*iy v/as and in the course of the day was buried, 'in th of the gaol.

At the execution of a murderer at N guillotine, generally so mathematically- exact, its duty completely, and a very hond 116 srei consequence. When the knife lel1,. ifc was fOl head was not completely severed. TO e lower jaw, elongated by a coavulsivo baekw? rdmove body, attached the head to the trunk, and in or the separation, one of the executioner s leant ut: while another dragged the body till V cle flesh ai gavo w.'iy. The patient gave no siver of life du seconds that this sad spectacle la&nttf