The Aberdare Times

DEATH OF SIR F. SLADE. A heavy gloom has been thrown over the Western circuit in consequence of a special messenger having arrived in Wells on Sunday with intelligence that bir F. Slade had died in his bed. The learned counsel had conducted a case in the Nisi Prius Court on Friday with his usual vigour and ability, and apparently in robust health. Having concluded his day's work, he retired to his country seat at Maunsel, near Bridgewater; in the evening he complained of fatigue, and on Saturday morning he called in a medical friend, but there was not much the matter. He went to bed rather early on Saturday night, and about 11 o'clock Lady Slade, who was by his side, discovered that he had ceased to exist. His death was caused by apoplexy. Sir Frederick had been on the Weston Circuit between 30 and 40 years. He went through the usual gradations of the profession, and became a most suc- cessful defender of prisoners. As time rolled on he emerged from the criminal into the civil court, and then was called within the bar as a Q. C. His peculiar style was that of great honesty and openness, ac- companied by great humour, which soon gained him a considerable practice. He was a most zealous and untiring advocate, and greatly incensed when he dis- covered anything dishonest or disreputable, and sparing not the highest in his remarks in the discharge of his duties. His sincerity, good nature, and jocu- larity had gained for him the love and regard of his compeers, and no man stood higher at the Bar in the esteem and respect of those who occupied the bench, many of whom had in their time laboured with him. His career has now ended, but,his memory will be held in kind remembrance by every man who knew him. The deceased baronet was 60 years of age, and leaves a numerous family to lament his loss, all of whom, with the exception of Lady Slade and his youngest son, were absent. His eldest son, Captain Frederick Slade, on whom the title devolves, arrived just too late to see his lamented father.

THE AMERICAN HATRED TU NAPOLEON. The announcement of the offer of the Mexican Throne to the Archduke Maximilian has created great excitement in America, which has been Mr. Seward, who has issued a circular letter to the American Lega- tions abroad, in which he clearly states that America decidedly objects to the proceedings of Napoleon, and further, says :— We must not be understood as predicting on this occasion the course of events which may ensue both in America and in Europe, from the steps which are contemplated. It is enough to say that in the opinion of the President the eman- cipation of the American continent from the control of Europe has been the principal characteristic of the past half century It is not probable that a revolution in the opposite direction can succeed in the age which immediately follows this period, and while the population of America increases so rapidly while its resources develope in the same proportion, and while society forms itself uniformly according to the principles of the American Democratic Government. Manhattan," of course, could not let such an oc- casion go by without giving his opinion of it—which he I does in the following words, which probably may express Dublic opinion in America We have ceased to wonder on this side at the supineness of England, when such a mighty cool game is being played. We do not understand it. Ever since the war with Russia on one side, and France and England on the other, France seems to loom out the moon of European nations, and ^nS~ land revolves as a sort of planet, of no more account than Prussia, Spain, Austria, and the other nations that sneeze when Napoleon takes snuff. When Italy was born a nation, Napoleon acted as midwife, and during all the doubts of the period as to whether the midw.fe would strangle the infant, poison it or let it live, England seemed to have no word or power. Then came a relief. England seemed for a few months to have regained her old supremacy, that made her for ages the wonder and dread of the world, when the British Lion refused to be led by the nose by the monkey joker of France, or to recognise the Southern Confederacy again this stupendous national affair has occurred in Mexico An empire is created, a French empire, and England again performs the part of second fiddler, or rather is out of the orchestra altogether. It don't matter what the French Emperor intends, whether to place one of his cousins, or tne Pope of Rome at the head of the new empire, it astonishes this western continent to see England, all-powerful England, look on calmly, and acquiesce by her silence. It seems to us a dream. We really do not know what to say or what to do. There is but one feeling upon the subject in the minds of all thinking men. It is one of deadly hostility to the whole ar rangement. A war is not dreaded with France. In fact it has got to come. Mr. Slidell has made an arrangement with Napo- leon that the South should acquiesce, and aid him in keeping Mexico as a part of the French Empire, and also that slavery shall be modified in the Southern states, so as to meet the wishes of all European nations opposed to slavery. On the other hand Napoleon agrees to recognise the Southern Con- deracy, and to raise the blockade, and, if it causes war between France and the United States, agrees never to give up or make peace until the Southern States are let go by the Union. This arrangement had to be sent to President Davis at Richmond and the Southern leaders. It was received when they were doubtful whether Lee would escape. It has been joyfully accepted. A bearer of despatches from the South went out in the last steamer, and he carries all these con- firmations. He is well known in London. There is still another report that I think is true—That if Napoleon com. plies with all these engagements Slidell is authorised to agree that Texas shall be restored to Mexico.

THE TEST OF LOVE! The Court Journal has again treated its readers with one of those extraordinary stories which its correspondent has evidently a great talent for collecting and putting into an attractive and readable shape. After complaining that life is now very "dead" at Pans, and all the world and his wife are at the Waters," the writer says As you all know, the greatest personages at Baden never belono- to the class from which emanate the greatest personages elsewhere. There is a certain set peculiar to the place, high born perhaps, but not of necessity so, belonging to the Jockey Club, well up in horses, knowing all the celebrities of the turf (those who ride, those who run, and those who remain to look on, seated in basket carriages drawn up in line, in the shadow of the Grand Stand), and disposed at all times to play or nag at the tapis vert. Of such was the hero of the mystification which has served to enliven the circles of Baden and give food for gossip, where already plethora rather than starvation had become the order of the place. The gentleman, who is as well known in the London clubs as on the asphalte of Paris, is re- markable for his immense wealth, and the strict obser- vance he has ever maintained of the habits and cus- toms, the physical appearance, the language and the slang of an English groom, deeming the same to be the very type of elegance and distinction in England. This gentleman is the owner of one of the most beau- tiful villas in Baden, and last year the habitation was renowned as the most frequented by all the great lions of the demi-monde, the most public, the most noisy, and consequently the most agreeable (according to the ideas of this class) in tne whole of Baden. The Count had left Baden last autumn somewhat abruptly. The reason of his departure was always oiven between two loud bursts of laughter. Ihat is, perhaps, why it was never thoroughly understood, .But it was always supposed to have had its origin in a love affair, which began under the best auspices, according to the theory of gentlemen of his style and manner of thinking, and had ended in disappointment, by reason of the preference given by the lady to an English baronet with whom she always appeared more free and less constrained than with any other member of the company frequenting the villa. # The Count, who had been beguiled into an expression of an intention of one day placing her, by marriage, at the head of his stud and his household, in consequence of the grace she displayed both in driving his Americaine and drinking his champagne, had grown some- what chilled by the preference the lady had exhibited for the Englishman but, warned in time, she had managed to regain both his con- fidence and his promise before the Baden season had terminated. Now came the test of love which the Count—artful and suspicious, like all men who have much to do with horses-had evidently prepared for some time. At the moment of breaking up his estab- lishment at Baden, he frankly explained to the fair denizen of the villa that, with the idea of Sir VV llham ever before his eyes, he should hesitate at fulfilling his intention of making her his wife until he had some good proof of her unalterable love for him, and this he proposed to realise by her sojourn at Baden during the Paris season, remaining at the villa while he returned to his old haunts and old occupations on the turf, with the full understanding that, if sheremained quiet during that time, following the instruction of the masters he was willing to pay, she should become Madame la Comtesse in reality, instead of being compelled to borrow the title in fiction, as she was now doing. The lady pouted at the condition; Dut ner moaner, well acquainted with the company wherein her daughter had figured, counselled her to accept any proposition on the part of her admirer, as there were certain accommodations to be made in these cases which would considerably lighten the ennui of her captivity. and that, indeed, she well knew that no ennui need ever be felt by those who opposed it firmly. The bargain was struck. The lady remained; masters were engaged; the accomplishments were reported to be increasing with each hour. Nothing could be more exemplary than the conduct of the lady, who, accom- panied by her mother, never went beyond the precincts of the -valla, save but to follow the Duke's hunt, where, as always, she soon became the admired of all admirers, and the winter passed away in most jolly style and after the winter was over, and the hunting too, so great was the attraction which the depths of the'forest afforded to the fair Amazon, that (always accompanied by her mother) she continued to spend whole days in its green shade, seeking refuge from the heat of summer where she had sought relief from the cold of winter, and apparently finding it, as she seldom returned to the villa until nightfall. Nothing could be more satisfactory than tne ac- counts which reached Paris. The Count was per- fectly satisfied. At last the Derby, the Chantilly, the Loncrchamps, the Ascot, and at length the Goodwood being over, he was at leisure to return to fulfil his engagement, and looked forward to the prospect of having at last some one on whom he could rely to sit at the head of his table and receive his guests with as much pleasure as could be exacted. The Count is responsible to no man for his conduct; he had but to claim his papers, as the French call it, for the execution of the marriage and, provided with them, in due course he arrived at Baden last Sunday morning. It seems that he had written in a jocose tone the day before, declaring that he was about to brin" a surprise to the villa," meaning the diamond necldace, heirloom in his family, with which she was to be adorned on the day of the marriage. She had answered that, however great the surprise he had in reserve for her, she had one for him which would surpass it by far. This of course he had created as a little harmless feminine joke, and started for the villa, defiant of the power to outshine him. He arrived at the villa towards sunset, and so great had been his haste, that he had scarcely noticed the ^roups of people gathered together in knots, and talking with earnest mystery along the road. By degrees he became aware, however, that some event ha.d happened in the place, by the pre-occupation visible on every countenance, and the air of inquiry which every one assumed. At the porter's gate, which stands at the entrance of the little park, and defends 's Folly from the vulgar gaze, he found, with the hearty welcome of his old servant, a note from the bride elect. It was thick and ill-folded; a curious presentiment seized upon him as he opened it and read, as the only words in the lady's handwriting, "Mý surprise." From within the folded paper fell the printed certificate, duly signed and witnessed, of her marriage with the reigning duke of one of the German States nearest to Baden- the richest at all events, if not the most powerful or most esteemed of all the petty Sove- reigns of Germany. The bridegroom is powerful and enormously wealthy j he is his own master, and, in the present state of poli- tics, much might be lost by exhibiting displeasure at a step for which he is accountable to no one but him- self. It is thought at Baden that all these considera- tions will induce the family to countenance the mar- riage and as for the bride, why even the Count de- clares that she has done, in this instance, both wisely and too well.

MASSACRED FOR SALT! The Memphis Bulletin gives a long account of some out- races in East Tennessee, from which we make the follow- ing extracts. It seems that in January, 1SS3, at Laurel, North Carolina, near the Tennessee border, all the salt was seized for distribution by Confederate commissioners. Salt was selling at $75 to $100 a sack. The commissioners declared thatthe'Tories funion men] should have none, and positively refused to give Union men their portion of the quantity to be distributed in that vicinity." This palpable injustice roused the Union men they assembled together and determined to seize their proportion of the salt by force. They did so, taking what they deemed to be their just share. Imme- diately afterwards the 65th North Carolina Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Keith, was ordered to Laurel to arrest the offenders. Having secured those SUI- pected- P Nearly all of them declared they were innocent, and had taken no part in appropriating the salt (says the Memphis Bulletin). They begged for a trial, asserting that they could prove their innocence. Colonel Allen, who was with his troops, but not in command, told them they should have a trial, but they would be taken to Tennessee for that purpose. They bid farewell to their wives, daughters, and sisters, directing them to procure the witnesses and bring them to lennessee, where they supposed their trial would take place. The poor fellows had proceeded but a few miles, when they were turned from the road into a gorge in the mountain, and halted. Without any warning of what was to be done with them, five of them were ordered to kneel down. Ten paces in front of these five, were a file of soldiers placed with loaded muskets. The terrible reality flashed upon the minds of the doomed patriots. The old man Wood (sixty years of age) cried, For God's sake, men, you are not going to shoot us? If you are going to murder us, give us at least time to pray. Colonel Allen was reminded of his promise to give them a trial. They were informed that Allen had no authority that Keith was in command; and that there was no time for praying. The order was given to fare, the old men and boys put their hands to their faces and rent the air with agonising cries of despair the soldiers wavered and hesitated to obey the command. Keith said, if they did not fire instantly, he would make them change places with the prisoners. The soldiers raised their guns, and the victims shuddered convul- sively the word was given to fire, and the five men fell pierced with rebel bullets. The old men Wood and Shelton were shot in the head^ their brams scattered upon the ground, and they died without a struggle. The other three lived only a few minutes. Five others were ordered to kneel, among them httle Billy Shelton, a mere child, only twelve years old. He implored the men not to shoot him in the face. You have killed my father and brothers, said he you have shot my father in the face; do not shoot me in the face." He covered his face with his hands. The soldiers received the order to fire, and five more fell. Poor little Billy was wounded in both arms. He ran to an officer, clasped him around the legs, and besought him to spare his life. You have killed my father and my three brothers you have shot me in both arms I forgive you all this I can get well; let me go home to my mother and sisters." What a heart of adamant the man must have who could disregard such an appeal. The little boy was dragged back to the place of execu- tion again the terrible word "fire" was given, and he fell dead, eight balls having entered his body. The remaining three were murdered in the same manner. Those in whom life was not entirely extinct the heartless officers despatched with their pistols. Captain Moorley, in charge of a cavalry force, and CoL Thomas, in command of a number of Indians, accompanied Keith's men. These proceeded to Ten- nessee Keith's men returned to Laurel, and were instructed to say that the cavalry had taken the pri- soners with them to be tried, in accordance with the pledge of Col. Allen. In their progress through the country, many Union men were known to have been killed and scalped by the Indians. Upon the return of Keith and his men to Laurel; they began syste- matically to torture the women of loyal men, to force them to tell where their fathers and husbands were, and what part each had taken in the salt raid. The women refused to divulge anything. They were then whipped with hickory switches- many of them till thft blood coursed in streams down their persons to the ground; and the men who did this were called soldiers Mrs. Sarah Shelton, wife of Esau Shelton, who escaped from the town, and Mrs. Mary Shelton, wife of Lifus Shelton, were whipped and hung by the neck until they were almost dead, but would give no information. Martha White, an idiotic girl, was beaten and tied by the neck all day to a tree. Old Mrs. Unis Riddle, aged 8a years, was whipped, hung, and robbed of a considerable amount of money. Many others were treated with the same barbarity. And the men who did this were called soldiers! The daughters of William Shelton, a man of wealth and highly respectable, were requested by some of the officers to sing and play for them. They played and sang a few national airs. Keith learned of it, and ordered that the ladies be placed under arrest and sent to the guard-house, where they remained all night. Old Mrs. Sallie Moore, 70 years of age, was whipped with hickory rods till the blood ran in streams down her back to the ground; and the perpetrators of this were clothed in the habiliments of rebellion, and bore the name of soldiers. One woman, who had an infant five or six weeks old, was tied in the snow to a tree, her child placed in the doorway in her sight, and she was informed that if she did not 'tell all she knew about the seizure of the salt, both herself and the child would be allowed to perish. Sergeant N. B. D. Jay, of Captain Reynolds's company, and Lieutenant R. M. Deevtr, assisted their men in the execution of these hellish outrages. Houses were burned and torn down. All kinds of property were destroyed or carried off.

Later in the season we have the following statement:— In April last, two rebel soldiers, named Wood and Ingole, went to the house of Mrs. Ruth Ann Rhea, living on the waters of Lick Creek, Greene County, to conscript her son. The old lady was partially de- ranged she commanded the soldiers to leave her house, and raised a stick to strike one of them. He told her, if she struck him, he would run her through with his bayonet; she gave the blow, and he shot her through the breast. In the same month, Jesse Price, an old man of 60 years of age, two sons, and two nephews, were arrested in Johnson's County, Tennes- see, bordering on Virginia, by Colonel Fouke's cavalry, composed of Tennessee and North Carolina men. They were taken to Ash County, to be tried for dis- loyalty to Jefferson Davis and Co. The old man had been previously arrested, taken to Knoxville, tried, and acquitted. When the five prisoners arrived in Ash County, a groggery-keeper proposed to treat Fouke's men to eight gallons of brandy if they would hang the old man, his sons, and nephews without a trial. The bargain was struck, and the five unfortunate men were hanged without further ceremony. The brandy was furnished, and some of it drank before the tragedy, the rest afterwards.

THE SOP IN THE PAN! The Times has an excellent leader on the offer of the Mexican throne to the Austrian archduke, in which it says A paragraph in the France newspaper says that the Arch- duke Maximilian has thanked their Majesties for the congratulations on his election to the Mexican throne. It may, therefore, be presumed that the Archduke has accepted the position which has been won for him by French arms, and that Mexico is now duly constituted an empire, with a ruler chosen from the most ancient and illustrious of Imperial Houses. There is something romantic and hardly in accordance with modern history in this event. It seems to belong rather to days before America itself was known, when kingdoms and duchies were the prize of strong-handed adven- turers, and the vulgar herd of mankind were transferred by conquest as much as the cattle or the swine they tended.. Universal suffrage and wars for an idea have carried us back to the early Middle Ages. Garibaldi dethrones the Bourbons with the crews of two little steamers, and now one of the most noble countries of the earth, inhabited by a people which has made revolutions and wars, and founded one of the great republics of the New World is disposed of by an expeditionary corps from across the ocean, which has landed and fought its way like a company of Normam. In Europe this event can hardly fail to bring closer together the French and Austrian Courts. Napoleon III., who appears to aim at reproducing the essence of his uncle's policy under new forms, now makes his formal offer of alliance to Vienna. The uncle's tenderness to Austria in the hour of victory, followed by his solicitation of an Austrian Princess's hand, have made a tradition which the present Emperor keeps in mind. If Solferino answers to Austerlitz or Wagram, the offer of a throne to the Archduke Maximilian answers to the match with Marie Louise. The first Napoleon always said he required one good Continental ally, and the best was Austria. His successor is probably of the same opinion. An European prince on an American throne under the protection of French bayonets is an event the importance of which will become more and more conspicuous. Other mat- ters which fill at present a larger space in the world's sight are but temporary; they will be settled, or will settle them- selves, in no very long time. But the Austrian throne and the French army of occupation will be permaneut elements in the politics of both hemispheres. The effect on inter- national relations both on the continent of Europe and in America is likely to be remarkable. It may be summed up in a few words,-a tendency to union between France and Austria, and to division between France and the Federal Government of America.

GOLD AND THE PRICE OF FOOD. The correspondent of the Times, writing from British Columbia gives, amongst other matters, the following interesting items :— During the winter mining was confined almost entirely to Williams's Creek, the richest locality yet discovered. On the creek a town was built by the miners and traders last year, to which they gave the name of Richfield, in compli- ment to its productiveness. A gentleman from Victoria, writing from the spot on the 25th of March, reports that the above claims and Cameron's were all that were at work at that time on Williams's Creek. Work on all of them was prosecuted with much vigour. Cameron's claim yielded 3,000 dols. in 24 hours. "Hard Curry's on Sunday week yielded 11,000 dols. to three men's work, washing' for eight honrs." There were then 300 men on the creek. This report was confirmed by Mr. Hardy, who arrived in Victoria on the 14th of April from the place. He saw 873 ounces of gold washed from the Hard Curry claim in 24 hours, and 551b. of gold in one day. To show the richness of the mine, the number of buckets of pay dirt" washed was counted. Each bucketful yielded on the average 12 dols. 37 c. (2l. 10s. 9d.) per bucket." The bucket is a common water-pail. Lodgings may be considered to be included in the 35 dols. a week, as the boarder, when he does not occupy his own cabin, is allowed the privilege of the floor of the hotel" on which to stretch himself in his own blanket, an article always carried. One humane Boniface, taking compassion upon his customers, acquired both fame and custom by supplying them with straw last year. The enormous charge of H. a day for three meals of very ordinary food appears something more than extravagant. It sounds preposterous, but that anomaly is explained by the prices of provisions in Cariboo; for instance, flour costs Idol. and lidols. a pound; beans, Idol. bacon, 1 idols, and lidols.; beef, 50c.: mutton, 75c. (or say 2s. and 3s.); and cn«ap at these prices; the lowness of the price being due to the fact that the cattle and sheep are driven in, and can be fed on good grass near the place of consumption. Tea, 3dols. (or 12s. 6d. per lb.), rather salt" tea. Coffee half the price of tea, except when stocks are low, when it rises to 9s. 4d. sugar, 7s. 3id. rice. Idol.; salt, IdoL, and some- times 2dols. dried apples, Idol. 50c.; butter, 13s. 6Jd. when scarce, and 14s. 7d. when very scarce.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSAULT ON FORT WAGNER. The friends of the Confederates have right to sing a psean upon this last news, inasmuch as they have repulsed with great slaughter the attempt to storm Fort Wagner, one of the important outer defences of Charleston (remarks the Times in a leader.) We must nevertheless wait some time before we celebrate the good fortune of General Beauregard. He has buried eight hundred of the besiegers, he has driven back over the battlements an assaulting force which had already planted the Federal flag upon the walls, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he is keeping the land force of his enemy in a position so unhealthy that one-third of them are already prostrated by disease. The end, however, is not yet. The authorities, at Washington have set their hearts upon gaming possession of Charleston,, and they threaten to send army upon army and fleet upon fleet against it until it shall be subdued. What care they at Washington or New York how many graves are dug around Fort Wagner, or how many regiments of Irish and German emigrants monthly disappear? What care they for j the deaths even of American citizens who cannot afford to pav three hundred dollars for their exemp- tion ? So long as it is possible to hope for ultimate success, worthless lives and valueless paper will be sacrificed willingly and prodigally before Charleston. At present, however, Charleston holds bravely out, and it does not appear that any serious impression has been made upon the outlying defences.

The following account of the assault on Fort Wagner is taken from the Charleston Mercury of the 20th ult. :— Saturday last was a day which will be for ever me- morable in the history of Charleston. The heavy raing had moderated the excessive heat of the preceding fortnight; the morning sky was cloudless, and the light breeze scarcely ruffled the placid waters of the harbour. About eight o'clock the desultory cannonade with which the experience of a week had made our commu- nity familiar, was again heard. For nearly three hours the enemy's fire was maintained with the usual deliberation, but about 11 o'clock it was noticed that the reports came in far more rapid succession. By noon it became well understood that the foe was resolved to subject our position to an ordeal much more severe than any which, up to that time, it had encountered. At that hour, as we learn by accounts from Morris Island, the converging fire of the enemy against the battery had become truly fearful. Five Monitors, the frigate Ironsides, seven wooden gunboats, with the land batteries which the Yankees had thrown up on the lower part of the island, kept up a constant rain of shot and shell into our works. No less than 65 heavy guns and eight mortars are known to have been in play against us. At one time, so rapid was the fire, that the reports averaged 27 per minute. One of the Monitors lay north-east of Battery Wagner, and two to the south-east, while the others, with the Ironsides, kept a position nearly opposite the sea face of the battery. The wooden gunboats manoeuvred at some distance outside the line of turreted monsters, relying chiefly upon their long-ranged rifled siege-guns. There were two Yankee batteries on Morris Island -one consisting of two guns and a mortar was located at Craig's-hill, within about 600 yards of our battery the other was beyond Graham's house, and had an armament of eight rifled shell guns. It is estimated that during the day no less than 9,000 shells were fired at the battery. The bombardment, as viewed from the city, was a Fgrand, terrible sight. The horizon, from Fort Moultrie to Vinegar-hill, was crowned with the shifting masses of the smoke of the conflict. Each moment the enemy's shells, sometimes singly, some- times in clusters, could be seen bursting just above the sight of Battery Wagner but when, at intervals, the clouds of white smoke lifted for a time from the scene, the flag of the brave garrison could be seen still waving defiantly in the breeze, while with grim regularity and deliberation our guns kept replying to the foe. For eleven consecutive hours the bombardment raged with more or less violence. About dusk the fire, which during the afternoon had been incessant, probably with the design of demo- ralising our men and unfitting them for the expected night's work, began to slacken considerably, and at dark ceased almost entirely. The results thus far had been of a character to give us good cause for encourage- ment and congratulation. The damage to our battery was insignificant, and of a kind easily and speedily reparable. The bombproofs had afforded efficient protection to a large portion of the garrison, and our casualties at seven o'clock p.m. were but four killed and fourteen wounded. Of the enemy's losses from our fire, if any, we have, of course, no trustworthy ac- I count. Fort Sumter, which bore a part in the action, sent several shells into the Craig's-hill batteries, and also into the camp of the enemy, about three miles and a quarter distant, it is believed with good effect. At a few minutes before 8 o'clock our pickets gavo notice that the enemy in.heavy force was moving to the assault. The attack was not unexpected, and our men, though much jaded by the fatigues and exposure of the day, sprang to their places with zeal and alacrity. The enemy advanced in. two columns of about 3,000 men each, the whole under command of Brigadier- General Strong. The column which attacked our right was composed partially of negro troops, who were put in the advance. On our left the other column ad- vanced with spirit under a severe fire from the dahl- gren guns and columbiads from Fort Sumter. As the column advanced at the double quick the guns of Battery Wagner also opened. When the enemy had reached a point about 60 yards distant, our infantry, posted behind the parapet, pouring a galling lire into the moving masses; the Yankees, nevertheless, in considerable force succeeded in gaining the trench, and betran to clamber up the sides of the battery. At this moment Lieutenant Waties, of xJlake s Dattery, wuu was in charge of two brass howitzers (belonging to a detachment of artillery under Captain de Pass, of White's battalion), opened a raking fire which swept the trench, playing terrific havoc in the ranks of the assailants. The howitzers had been assigned to this position, which they occupied so advantageously torus, at the instance of Col. Harris, of the Engineers, all the horses belonging to the section having been put hors de combat during the day. Twice the enemy was driven back at this part of our works (the left), and the trench, filled with the enemy's dead, attests the severity of the conflict there. On the right the negro troops were met with a terrible cross fare ot musKetry. Here were posted, among other troops, the Charleston battalion, and these gallant men behaved in a manner worthy the fame their organisation had so dearly won at SecessionviHe. The second assault was still more desperate than the first; but it was met and repelled in the same gallant style by the brave troops-Georgians, North Carolinians, and sons of our own city, who stood shoulder to shoalder in the fight. In the centre of our lines a small body of the enemy succeeded in gaining a lodgment in a salient, the gun of which had been disabled. Here they maintained their poaition for more than an hour. A gallant but unsuccessful attempt was made to dislodge them, m which Captain Ryan fell, and it was not until a small force of Geor- gians had ascended the magazine, and thus gained a position to command the salient, that the audacious Yankees surrendered. At the time that this occurred the firing elsewhere had ceased, and the Georgiani accomplished their purpose without firing a gun. The movement by which this was effected was undertaken at the suggestion of Colonel Harris. The fight lasted from 8 until IIL.p.UL, and was of a desperate character throughout. The enemy's losses were very heavy. His killed and wounded must have been at least 1,500. The number of his dead left on the field, and buried by us yesterday, exceeded 600. We captured over 200 prisoners, including a few of the negro troops. Our own losses were comparatively light. It is estimated that our killed and wounded will not exceed 100.

"OUR OWN REPORTERS" AT HALIFAX! Many of the criticisms passed by the journals, and the reports of their correspondents sent from this town (says the Halifax Courier) during the past week, were meant to be funny and were so, with only the rather important difference that the laugh was at the writers instead of with them. The blunders they made, the carelessness they have shown, and the occasional wilful perversion of fact of which they have been guilty, are not perhaps surprising, but are certainly not creditable. Take a few samples :— The Times will have it that the schools in the Piece Hall were composed "of, for the most part, grown adults. He also contrives to make Mr. Akroyd into the founder of a large block of almshouses in the centre of the town. Per- haps however, the most conspicuous instance of faistncation is ?o be found in the action that the arch at the entrance to Princess-street bears the flaring inscription, Vivat Princess," and that the first two words of the town motto are made into "Nisi dominoes." Now, inasmuch as the Times reporter can write, it is to be presumed that he can also read and the above statement can only be attributed to a disregard for truth which is not usually among tne charac- teristics of a gentleman. As is the Jupiter, so also is the Jupiter jmnor, namely the Daily Telegraph. The young man sent down by this journal observes that it seems customary in Haafax, on a Saturday evening, for ten or a dozen factory bands to bray out as many different tunes in a space which might be covered by a flock of sheep, and he ingenuously adds that the effect is rather remarkable. He is likewise of opinion that the yeo- manry do not know how to ride, and we gather that he is desirous of quitting his present employment and of filling the, post of riding-master to the regiment. Heis surprised that the police paid no attention on the Monday to the red cards, which were only meant to be used on the Tuesday. He is disgusted that the published programme of the arrangements, meant, of course, for the guidance of the general public, said no- thing whatever respecting the private visits to be paid by the Prince to seveial manufactories. He repeats the asser- tion made by the Times reporter, that a large proportion of the assembled Sunday scholars were themselves old enough to be the parents of other Sunday scholars, and not content with merely noting this extraordinary circumstance, he gravely proceeds to explain that, there are many adult pupils who form separate classes in and around Halifax. It is thus these wonderful people deal and in the matter of figures their statements fete evefl. still more wide of the mark. Probably, l^iwevar, J the reader has had enough to convince him that "our own, is prone to fall into a style of writing which :is rather calculated to mislead the reader, and thatl tippn the whole one should be cautious in putting tr^fr^ wjiat he says.

THE GAER WILL ROBBERY. At Monmouth Edwin Truscott Gill, aged 17, has been charged with burglary at the house of Mrs. Ann Powell, and stealing therefrom the original will of Thomas Powell, deceased, and a certain marriage set- tlement made between Mr. and Mrs. James Hassell, certain scrip certificates of the Monmouthshire Rail- way and Canal Company, certain scrip certificates of the Newport and Pilgwelly Waterworks Company, a red morocco pocket-book, certain letters, a pair of boots, and a diaper towel, on the 16th of May last; and he was also charged with receiving the same articles knowing them to have been stolen. This was what was called "The Gaer Will Robbery," and which created much excitement in Monmouthshire at the time. The particulars of the robbery will be fresh in the recol- lection of our readers. A reward was put out by Mrs. Powell, on the 18th of May, offering 5M. for the restora- tion of the documents, and 101. for the conviction of the thief, and subsequently another was offered of 100J. for the restoration of the property, and 100Z. for the conviction.' On the 30th of June Mrs. Powell re- ceived the following letter, which was proved to be in the handwriting of the prisoner.:— Rendezvous-Mon, June 29,1863. Respected Madam,—We perhaps merit the utmost pos- sible contempt you or the world may throw upon us, but we trust you will overcome your repugnance sufficient to peruse and comply to the ensuing, "our only possible stipulation," for the restoration of the late Mr. Powell's original will and other documents of more or less Intrinsic value. It is this Should you think fit to negotiate with'us, we will restore to you the above-mentioned documents for the sum of 1251, in gold If you concur to this, you may let us know by inserting in the Star of Gwent for July A the following advertisement >r. "John Anderson may apply to his late-employers." Should this appear, you will soon after hear from us, and will please hold the money in readiness. We remain, madam, yours respectfully, THB BROTHER LAVERNA. P.S. You must understand that we consider this private Therefore you will please hold no commtmica- tion with the police, for were you to do so, the civil authori- tatives as a right would take it in hand and endeavour to bring us to light, both for the benefit of their reputation and pocket heedless of the risk they would cause you, for should they fail (which most assuredly they would), it is you who will suffer not they. For this reason, beware that you attempt no treachery. If the advertisement. appears, we shall look upon it as your word of honour, as much as if you said, "Upon my honour as a woman and a ,lady J; hereby cede to your proposal," &c. We will not hold out other arguments whv you should be straightforward with us, thoughThe following will be the results of the different proceedings as far as human brain can prognosticate First if you agree to our proposal and pay the sum we haveJmentioned, as true as we hope to live and enjoy the fruits and beauties of the earth and experience leniency hereafter so truly shall you receive in exchange the whote of the parchments and papers which were removed from your house on the 16th of May. But, should you allow treachery to be attempted, so surely you will never more see or hear telt of the missing documents and if blood he spilt, it will be upon your head, ever to wither and make wretched the woman Who caused untimely death to a Laverna or a civilian. Mrs. Powell consulted her attorney, Mr. Fox, and subsequently an advertisement was inserted in the Star of Gwent, in accordance with the directions con- tained in the letter. On the 10th of July Mrs. Powell received the following letter Rendezvous-Mon, July 9,1863. Respected Madam,—We thank you for your kind and