The Aberdare Times

olio wing letter, communicated by Mr. J. M. B.D., British Consular Chaplain at Batavia, fitly- the sequel to the above. Mr. Arnold dates ie ship Tagal," Neiuwe Diep, Holland, yl:- 5 a seven weeks' detention in this harbour, waiting r wind for Batavia, many painful incidents of peril, 'e, and rescue from the late violent gales have reached the following account of the hair-breadth escape of sh captain, for the truth of which I can vouch is worth Last evening T was told that the Ida Elizabeth," a essel, Captain Doren, from Java, just come into this il onboard an English captain, whom she had picked e l,st stage of exhaustion at sea. Hastening on saw the rescued man lying on a couch, his face pale i, hands and feet bandaged, but with a calm and countenance he related the following facts as well weakened state would permit:—He, Captain John raa the commander of the "Jane Lowden," owner ion. The vessel, with 17 men and a cargo of wood, seeding from Quebec to Falmouth, and encountered than four heavy gales, the last on December lat. 4C deg, long. 33 deg. W., which com- lisiibleil her, the fearful seas mourning loft. high, Ile had never seen before, carrying oft' everything on d every soul on board was washed out of her. Nine :rew were thus lost, but the captain and the rest of managed to regain the ship, notwithstanding it was ing 6 o'clock p.m. They all took refuge in the main- ich measured Mt. by 4ft. While there the vessel immersing them in the waves, but they held on, soon righted herself, the cargo being only of wood sel. was gradually driven to 17 deg. W. longitude, which time the poor sufferers, having endured the hunger, and now tormented with a ragiug thirst, agony of peeing ten vessels in the distance succes- tm on their course. Death from three causes stared the face first from the vessel breaking up, as she was hourly going to pieces; then from the chance of colli- sion during the dark tempestuous nights; and, lastly, from starvation. In spite of the captain's prohibition, some or the men stole down while he was asleep during a temporary lull to try and slake their maddening thirst with the sea water, but this only increased their torment and brought on delirium. Two men became violent, and the captain was obliged to strap them down, in which state they ex- pired One poor lad (William Thomas) of 19 died on the 12th the day after the vessel v a5 struck, n a quiet delirium; calling repeatedly on his mother to give him a drink and to shut the door to keep out the cold, and# extending his hand to shake that of imagined near friends, he sank peacefully to sleep. Another, Hugh Rice, died about the II th day from exposure and the effects of drinking salt water. It may be well to give the names of the rest of the crew. Edwin llabley, chief mate, leaves a destitute family at 24, Green-street, Plymouth. Samuel Bird, second mate, address not remembered, leaves a wife and children in England. John Abrey, aged 8t>, cook, leaves a wife only. Henry Pope, address unknown, 17 years of age, was the main support of his widowed mother, and the eldest of six children. Evan Davies, washed overboard, leaves a family at Pembroke- i locks, Milford. Francis Martin, aged 25 or so, married, died after 15 days' exposure and starvation; before becoming de- lirions he proposed eating the dead body of one of the crew, which the captain forbad. Alfred Bolton, who had run away from Liverpool, aged 16 or 17, died delirious, after drinking salt water. John Pugh, who married a fortnight before sail- ing, was drowned. James Griffins, James Conolly, of Glasgow, Thomas Geak, all young lads, were drowned. William Maitland, of Plymouth, young and unmarried, died after 14 days of exposure and starvation. Thomas Bowen, mar- ried, died after 15 days. The last of the crew who died by the captain's side was James Beatt, the carpenter; he was hopeful till almost the last, talking within an hour of his death, which did not take place till the 18th day. As the poor fellows sank one after another, all dying ap- parently in their sleep, their bodies were dropped off the maintop on to the deck, but the last body the captain kept 20 hours by his side. The temptation to open a vein and drink the dead man's blood was strong upon him, but he firmly resisted it, and lingered on for 10 more long, long days, sustaining life by drinking as much rain as he could collect by tying his cravat round the mast, and when it became drenched sucking it. The tar thus absorbed with the rain he justly thinks helped to preserve him from utter exhaustion. The fact, too, of his being better clothed than his crew, he thinks, may also account, humanly speak- ing, for his marvellous preservation. He wore three woollen shirts, two pairs of stockings, two pairs of trousers and sea-boots, three coats, one of which was waterproof, a cap, and waterproof hat. On the 28th night he laid himself flat on the maintop, as he expressed it, resigning himself to his doom, whatever it might be, perfectly conscious of his critical position, yet not losing all hope, or his reason, though his brain became so weak that he often heard voices calling, sometimes in most piteous accents, Captain Captain On one occasion, he said, he distinctly heard a voice say. "Captain, your forecastle is blown away." So distinct and clear was it that he exclaimed, Who are you ?" and then, I can't help it." He said he still felt that the God who had extended His mercy to him so long could still save his life, and he again prayed that a vessel might come to his rescue. The following morning, the 18th of January, his patient hope was realized, for the Ida Elizabeth," unknown to him, had neared the wreck the previous night with the intention of destroying next morning so dangerous an object. Captain Casey, having now for the first time sighted the ship, raised his feeble -arm to display his colours. Captain Doren, on seeing this unexpected sign of life, had the exhausted man carefully conveyed on board the Ida Elizabeth, where, according to his prayer, a doctor was ready to receive him, who, with the captain and crew, showed him the sympathy and attention of brothers rather than strangers. In nine days they reached Nieuwe Diep. During the passage the doctor kindly wrote to Mrs. Casey, who is living at Padstow, Cornwall, and has a young'famil/. The day after the arrival of the "Ida Elisabeth" Captain Casey was removed to the Marine Hospital here and placed in a most comfortable apartment, one assigned to naval officers. He is under the skilful treatment of Dr. Sachs and Dr. De Kander, who, with the attendants, show him every possible kindness and consideration. It is hoped that in a fortnight or three weeks he may be able to return to his home, and that his blackened, frost bitten fingers and toes may be cured without amputation. It may be thought incredible by some that Captain Casey should have remembered the time of his protracted suffer- ing, but he assured me he only endeavoured to impress on his mind the date of the last destructive gale, which washed them all overboard, only counting the dying days of the men, knowing that if he were picked up the whole time of his remaining on the maintop could be easily made out. I may, perhaps, be permitted to add that the Dutch feel much aggrieved that the English press, in detailing the cir- cumstances of the loss of the London," state that "the Dutch sailors refused to work." All the names having been given, they positively assert there is not a Dutch name among them. In alluding to this awful calamity it may be well to mention that an opinion prevails in this country that tne captains of British vessels are often compelled against their judgment to proceed on their voyages by the respective owners, who, regarding the great expense of remaining in harbour more than the lives which freight their well insured vessels, make no scruple of sacrificing the precious cargo ra- ther than risk a pecuniary loss. This is considered to have been the case with regard to the disastrous loss of the London." In this harbour alone there are no less than S7 vessels waiting for favourable weather to go through the Channel, some as long as two months, with soldiers, others with a large number of passengers, and provisions are as dear here as in England. lam informed on the best authority that the mercantile captains of Holland are left perfectly uncontrolled by the proprietors of the vessels. No ship stirs out of harbour till the captain thinks it prudent and safe to do so. In a postscript Mr. Arnold says:—"I have just paid a third visit to Captain Casey. He is progressing favourably, but he is still very weak, and he says he feels his strength coming back as slowly as it left him during his 28 days of exposure and utter privation."

A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION FOR A REFORM BILL. Under the heading of "A Reform Eirenikon" a gentleman has sent the following letter to the Times Let the United Kingdom be divided into about 108 electoral districts, each district returning six members to Parliament. Let three of these members be elected by all the voters in any district, who have a qualification equal to that which is about to be proposed for boroHghs in the coming Reform Bill Let the three remaining members be chosen subsequently by such electors in the said district as have a qualification equal to that which is about to be pro- posed for counties, in either election the voter casting but one vote. It would seem that the wishes of all parties might be satisfied oy some such plan as this, in which no violent change or anything foreign to our practice is proposed, for even the bugbear of "plural voting" is already a prominent feature in our system. Thosé who are so anxious fer the redress of the inequality and injustice of the present distribution of seats should be satisfied, for all would be placed on an equality, while none would be required to com- mit the happy despatch. Those who sigh for the representation of minorities would find that the return of three members at each election would secure their laudable aspirations. Those who are so ardent for an infusion of the working classes into our representative system would be gratified to their hearts' content; while those who dread being thus swamped by numbers could preserve the boat's trim by means of the members elected under the higher qualification. Your space is too valuable to permit the statement of the collateral advantages of some such a plan as the above, but they will at once occur to all who have thought on the sub- ject. A bold and unbalanced measure, such as rumour tells us is looming in the distance, can satisfy none. To com- mence tinkering at the qualification, when the basis of our system needs adjusting and consolidating by a comprehen- sive measure, is surely begining at the wrong end.

PLANS FOR OBTAINING A DINNER ALL THE WEEK! The following is a curious trait of Parisian life :— A young man of respectable family and heir to a considerable fortune fell into bad company, and with their help squande7ed in a very short time 500,000f. Hellad to be placed under legal restraint by his mother, who was his only surviving parent. The Court allowed him 500f. a month for his subsistence, but this was considered by the spendthrift as poverty itself, and he applied for loans to tKree or four of his associates who h"d impelled him on the road to ruin. The mother of the young man spends the greater part of the year at a country house not very distant from Paris, and only two or three moifths in her apartments situated in the quarter of the Madeline. A few days ago she came in from the country and found that during her absence a robbery had been committed. Jewels, plate, bronzes, pictures.-everything of value,—had been taken away. She at once gave information to the Commissary of Police. The Commissary set his agents at work, and in a few days the three friends of her son and the son himself were arrested on a charge of housebreaking and robbery. One of them is a man over 45 years of age, who had not long ago held a fair position in the financial world, but who has latterly lived by bis wits. Among other articles found in his possession when ar- rested was a memorandum-book, containing entries headed Plan for getting a dinner." The entries are as follows:— Monday.-To call upon the Marquis de V.; my old school- fellow. He is a Legitimist, and the worst news are always the most agreeable to him. Not to forget to address him by his title every time I speak to him. His hobby is aEuropean coalition for the invasion of France. His dinners are capi- tal. To withdraw precisely at 7, and announce my return for Monday. Tuesday.—To call on G. G. is a regular old fogy; a fana- tical Imperialist. Mem.—To make him recount his cam- paigns over again, and not to forget to ask him for news of his son, the lieutenant, lo talk to him of the great poli- tical talents of the Emperor; and to convince him that His Majesty will end by destroying England. He dines at 5 to a minute. m Wednesday.—To call on B., my old partner. To pay court to his fool of a wife. To offer her now and then a ticket for the play. The dinner is but so so, but the wines are delicious.. Thursday.-To see P., a fantastical man of letters, weak, and eaten up by conceit. To persuade him that he has immense talent, wonderful imagination; and that If he condescended to take pains he would be a hundred times more famous than Feval, Ponson J U Terrail, and others. Mem —The surest way of finding: him is to go to the Cafe de Suede, or the brewery of the Faubourg Montmartre, be- tween 4 and 5. Friday To catch C. at his coffee. Not to forget that he is a furiou" Democrat. To address him always as "citizen." To play at dominoes with him for absinthe, and to be sure to lose. To contradict at first, but allow myself to be con- vinced at the eud. He dines at an eating-house. Saturday —To the cordial shop from 5 to 7. There is sure to be an assemblage of engravers, painters, and sculp- tors there at that hour, as it is pay day. To chat with them, and tell them scandalous stones. An invitation to dinner is sure. Sunday.-To the Abbe Q. Mem.—To be neatly dressed and well shaved. The Abba dines at 5. It seems it was by the agency of this person and two others that the stolen articles were sold or pawned at the Mont de Piete. They declared, however, they did not know that the property was stolen, but the commissary decided they should be committed for trial.

THE SPEAKERSHIP OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Lower House has always deemed it essential that the Speaker should be independent of the Execu- tive (says the Pall Itfall Gazette). The appointment is determined by the votes of members, and though the majority is usually on the government side, the direct nomination by the government of a candidate for the chair has been resented by the House, it being held invidious that he should appear as the friend of the Ministers rather than as the choice of House." The Crown, however, has successfully main- tained its right to place a veto on the selection of the Commons. According to Mr. May, the royal con- firmation of the Speaker has been constantly observed in this country, except during the interregnum of the Civil war and the Common wealth, and on three occa- sions when circumstances rendered it necessary to dispense with it-when Charles II. was not recognised by the Convention Parliament, when James II. had taken flight, and when George III. was out of his mind. Indeed, so important was this sanction deemed. that in 1647, when the King was a captive with the Scotch army, the House of Commons sent its Speaker elect to the Lords, to obtain their recognition, as in some measure representing the Crown. According to ancient etiquette, still observed, the Speaker is required, after his election, to present him- self at the bar of "he House of Lords, and there sub- mit himself with all humility to the Sovereign's gra- cious approbation." It was once the habit to add that if the monarch did not approve the choice, the house would willingly select another member for the offiee. This was a phrase, however, which galled the self-re- spect of some of the more independent and high- spirited Speakers. I am come hither," said Mr. Seymour, in 1671, "for your Majesty's approbation, which, if your Majesty pleases to grant, I shall do the Commons and you the best service I can and no fur- ther submission would he make. Whereupon the Lord Chancellor, on behalf of the king, refused to ratify the election. Speakers now-a-days can afford to be humble in their speech, having the assurance that the words have lost their old meaning, and that the approbation of the Sovereign will be given as a matter of course. Possibly one reason why the royal sanction is necessary to confirm the appointment, is that tne election in the House of Commons is necessarily informal. At the time when the election is made the House of Commons has, in fact, not yet been consti- tuted. The members have not yet taken the oaths, and possess, strictly speaking, no authority of their own. The chief clerk indicates, by pointing with his pen or finger, the members who are to speak, and if necessary puts the question to the house.

PERILOUS AND FATAL ADVENTURE ON THE NIAGARA. The Buffalo Express of the 16th of January contains a narrative of an extraordinary adventure on the river Nia- gara, by which one man lost his life, and two others only escaped after fearful and prolonged sufferings. The story was taken down from the statement of one of the survivors, Mr. William Thompson, vice-president of the new.Erie and Niagara Railway:— On Saturday afternoon the. quantity of ice passing down the river from the lake caused the ferry boat plying between Black Rock and Fort Erie to suspend her trips. Mr. Thompson, who was on the other side, and desired to cross to this, accepted the offer of a coloured boy named Wm. Bartlett to row him across in a small boat, not realising at the moment the diffi- culty of the passage occasioned by the movement of the ice. Subsequently he was joined for the trip by a man named Warren, foreman under the contractors of the Erie and Niagara Railroad, who was very anxious to'reach this side in time to take the six p.m. train to Suspension Bridge, going home to his family at Prescott, C. W. On reaching the river side, Mr. T. saw the hazards of the attempt at crossing, and would have receded, but Mr. Warren pressed him to go on, and he was prevailed upon by his companion's anxieties. About half-past five o'clock the three pushed out into the stream. They found much difficulty in making their way through the ice, which ran close to shore, and again Mr. Thompson advised a return. But presently getting through the shore pack of ice, they found clear water, and went forward confidently, meeting no obstacles until they again neared the shore on the American side, near the Erie Mills, when the ice pressed about them thicker than in the first instance. Mr. Thompson then gave an imperative order to the boy to back aw-ty and return, but it was too late. They had entered so far that return was impossible. They were caught by the the ice, wedged fast between its grinding cakes, and could go neither forward nor back. Another moment and it had crushed the sides of their boat, so that it began to fill rapidly and sink. The three immediately leaped, out upon a cake of ice nearest at hand, which proved to be but a small one, scarcely larger th an a door, and drew the boat partly upon it after them. Their hope was in being able to turn the craft bottom up and mount its keel, in which posi- tion they might be floated by it but the mass was not large enough to permit such an operation. Mr. Thompson then attempted to bail out the boat om with his cap; but while doing so the boy Bartlett cried out the ice was upon them again, and they had barely time to throw themselves into the half-filled boat, when the piece upon which they had stood was crushed by another mass coming down upon it. An instant more and the boat was also struck, turning bottom upwards, and Mr. Thomp;on and Mr. Warren plunged into the water. The negro boy succeeded in leaping upon an ice cake. Mr. Thompson sank once and came up, when he clutched the boat, made his way to the stern and climbed upon the keel. Here he saw his companion Warren sinking for the last time, a short distance away, and drowning before his eyes, while he was utterly powerless to help. He had scarcely witnessed this when death rushed upon him again. The boat was once more struck and rolled over. Ag*in he sank, and again, on rising, he clutched the boat which a ain had righted itself. Climbing into its stern, which sank with his weight two or three feet below the surface, he sank for a time with the water to his chin. By this time it hacT long grown dark. He could see but little about him. Presently a cake of ice drifting down upon him, he put out his hand to ward it away, and, feeling it to be several inches thick, and apparently of some size, he con- cluded it best to escape, if possible from the boat to the ice. He very nearly failed in doing so, barely getting his breast upon the edge of the cake when he sprang from the boat, and finding it impossible to lift his body above that position. Providentially, however, the boat in rising just touched his foot and gave him a slight push forward, after which he was enabled, by long and exhausting efforts, to crawl upon the cake. Here he stood upright, and not knowing the size of the ice raft, dared not move. Hailing the boy Bartlett, he found him still afloat upon his bit of ice, a hundred or two yards away, loudly engaged in almost frantic prayer.. And now began the wonderful voyage of the river, through the darkness and the storm of freezing sleet which fell upon their frail raf s of ice. Those who were out on Saturday evening will remember what a bitter night it was. A fine rain, driven by keen north winds, s'ung the face of the traveller and cased everything exposed with a quick mail of ice. Through all this peiting storm, these wet and ex- hausted castaways, drifted along the cold currents of the Niagara, with the horrid dread of imminent death to freeze their hearts within them, were exposed for three mortal hours. Mr. Thompson had lost both cap and gloves. His clothing was frozen into the rigidity of iron armour, and be became incapable of motion, except as he slightly moved his arms so at to keep them flexible. All that he could do for himself was to shout and cry for help, which he did steadily, and with the whole strength of his lungs for hours. Fortunately, possessed of a magnificent" physique" in every respect, his voice was capable of the exertion. Once, some- where in the vicinity of Lower Black Rock, he received a response from shore, but to his appeal for rescue the voice, out of the darkness, replied that it had no oars and could do nothing. The miserable fool, or worse, who heard and hailed him seems to have made no effort to rouse his neighbourhood and set its energies to work for the rescue of the periled men who appealed to him. And so they drifted on beyond Black Rock, beyond Strawberry Island, past the head of Grand Island, and steadily on towards those currents of the great cataract where no hand could save them. Steadily the cry for "help" rang out across the water and through the black night, and no ear heard and no tongue answered. Three hours had passed-seven miles of the river traversed-it was nine o'clock of the night. Hope began to die in the heart of Mr. Thompson, stout and strong as it was. He called to his companion, the negro boy, and gave him a mes- sage for his wife and children, if it should be his lot to escape. His thoughts, as he describes them, were very quaint and curious. They were too busy to give an opportunity for fear, and death was faced calmly and coolly. And so they drifted steadily down, be- tween Grand Island and the American shore, until Tonawanda was passed, and the last houses upon either shore from which help could come before help should be too late, were going by. But there, at Jast, by the good providence of God, help did come. The shouts were heard on the Grand Is'and shore. Lights began to move from house to house. The neighbours were running together. Presentiy the gleam of a lantern moved upon the river; and they knew that boats were coming out. Mr. Thompson, when reached, had to pe rolled into the boat like a log. He was taken off by Mr. Charles Poplar and M. George Glide. Another boat, manned by Mr. Wi liam W. Blackney and Mr. John A. Bacon, rescued the boy Bartlett. The boy, being thinly clad, had nearly perished when taken off; but Mr. Thompson, a man of large robust frame and great vitality, felt himself capable of en- during an hour or two more of the bitter trial. Asto- nishing to say, neither were seriously frozen, and Mr. Thompson, whom we saw yesterday, appears little bhe woise for his extraordinary experience.

THE SOLE REMEDY. Mr. John Algernon Clarke, of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, [n a letter in the Times, furnishes the following facts regard- ing the plague, which is now raging with such terrible force in our. herds of cattle. He also makes some valuable sugges- tions, but, as we insert his letter in extenso, the full force of his observations will be best appreciated by their perusal:- I would lift up my voice against an infatuation which at the present moment seems to possess the British public, and to misdirect the measures of the Government." Because 107,000 cattle attacked are but U per cent. of the estimated number in the country, and because a wholesale slaughtering of lean and young beasts is maintaining the meat supply through a time of panic, the plague is calmly disposed of by our city populations as an affair of the agricultural classes. But it is known that this disease once de- stroyed in Italy between three and four millions of cattle within three years that in the last century it swept off no fewer than 10,000,000 head in France that Russia owns having lost by it, in the present centuryv more than a million of animals within the short space of a twelvemonth; and the speed with which the dread contagion is leaping from farm to farm and leavening our homesteads with death, should excite the profoundest alarm. The statistics will fluc- tuate, of course, from week to week; but grouping into tri-weeklv periods, the 15 weeks of which "re- turns have been published the figures read as follows During the three weeks ending October 28, 4,656 animals were attacked during the next three weeks 7 014 animals during the next 12,794 during the next 20 003 and during the three weeks ending January 20 there were 28,404 fresh cases, revealing a steady rate of progression that, if continued, would obliterate all the herds of Great Britain before the close of the present year. Our horned stock is sup-- rosed to number seven or eight million head, and there are no facts upon which we can build a hope of es- caping a loss of millions—of one-third or one-half, it may be 1 larger proportion -in the absence of a mira- culous specific, or a quarantine able to smother the disease. Now, as our annual production of beeves and veal calves has been estimated at two million head probably worth some 30,000,000 £ with cheese and butter reckoned at 10,000,000^. more, an annihi- lation of half our cattle would at once diramish our yearly production to the extent of 20 millions sterling. But it is a miserable fallacy to suppose that the agri- cultural interest would suffer so much loss of cash, and there be an end of it. In reality, there would be an unredeemed waste of nearly half the present animal subsistence of the nation-a loss, not of ordinary capital, but of beef, veal, and dairy provisions that for years to come could not be replaced. And this view of the case, I think, has escaped certain of our politicians. Even if the plague should content itself with one year's desolation, and not linger long or return again and again before finally sparing a remnant of our stock, several seasons must pass before we could recover our normal meat-producing capability. And increased importation cannot materially compensate for a failure of half our home supply. For the present imports of cattle, sheep, and swine, large as they are, furnish only about a fourth of metropolitan require- ments alone, constituting a mere fractional part of the animal food eaten by the whole community; and is it to be expected that our imports of flesh, living or dead, can be augmented ten times, or even doublet, within a single year ? Not for the farmer's sake, then, but for the interests of the consumers," about which so much has been said, may it npt be worth the nation's while to grapple in earnest with the swift disstminator of ruin, for the salvation of the whole people from scarcity, for averting a possible (I fear inevitalle) meat famine, that may in a few months' time doible the present prices in the shambles ? Now, all authorities on the subject urge,ipon us that, unless instant destruction be decreed ;0 every infected beast, we are but deceived and mccked by manifold limitations of cattle traffic to such and such distances and for such and such purposes, by our licensing the removal of fodder and litter, and by in- numerable and variable regulations zealously itsued in print, but with only a sprinkling of policemen to inter- cept night-travelling droves and detect the smuggling of un-disinfected hides. For vaccination has yet to be established as a panacea; and, while we lack -,ourage to put in action the only proved and decisive renedy,- that of cancelling the germinating units of con- tagion,-what in effect are we doing but mutely surrendering our herd3 to the pestilence. Has the world known a more pitiful example of unvitting innocence than our application of so much fuss and fright, in orders, notices, meetings, deputations, to the end of efficiently sparing the poison at its fountain-head, carefully avoiding to strike where the foe is vulnerable, and even nursing the viper that we feel to be destroying us ? Why, Sir, in common 0 practice throughout the country we are dealing with the plague in this way-When an animal exhibits the fatal symptoms of rejection of food, water spurting from the eyes, the nose assuming a dry, leathery ap- pearance, followed by muscular twitchings, and the arrival of distinctive marks upon lips and gums, we professedly isolate" it (but generally with such loose safeguards as to persons, clothing, fodder, feeding tools, and utensils that the quarantine is worthless) then we allow the animal to grow dangerous with deadly discharges while awaiting the professional visit of an inspector; and then (on the faintest chance of effecting a cure) we proceed to test how the poor victim will last out under some sort of treatment. If we do venture to pronounce sharp sentence on a sick- ening beast, promptly dispatching it by the gun and burying it deep in quick-lime and earth, it is when we have been enlightened considering the mighty power of contagion, when we have some thought of the risk to our neighbours' cattle, or when we voluntarily obey a rule of our Insurance Association. But no man can compel us to de viate from the usual course. Virtually. we are accomplishing this result,-lest our own herd should escape with a few cases, lest our district should be lightly visited with calamity, we determine that each miserable animal before it is reduced to corrup- tion shall guarantee as many millions as possible of the horrible forties that, when once in existence, we know can defy our powers of observation and arrest. And thus, in nearly all the myriad centres where the plague has fallen, with wanton recklessness we are enabling it to propagate through this haple?s kingdom amazing stores of the seed which is assuredly being broadcast to reappear again and again (when and where we may least expect) in dire harvests of death. Except in a scientific sanatorium, and with all the in- genious precautions of a careful experiment, the nursing and physicing of plague patients is the wildest and most hazardous of ventures. While winds blow and birds fly, and a thousand unthought-of carriers of infection are at work, in vain may farmstfads be guarded against the stealthy approach of the pest, if this infernal manufacture is to be deliberately pursued in loosely protected sheds or roughly-built field hospitals through thelength and breadth of our country. Yet all the time that the truism is standing plainly before us that by burying all smitten animals before they become dangerous the spread of the contagion must necessarily increase. And wherefore this suicidal playing with destruc- tion, this criminal rejecting of the known means of deliverance which, by the experience of all countries, Providence has placed in our hands? The plague is ravaging unopposed by the measures that have actually crushed it in certain districts of the kingdom, because we have not settled who shall bear the charge of a two-months' crusade against infection. But, sir, the occasion is urgent; we are pressed by a death-rate frightfully increasing; and if the whole community will not invest one, or it miy be a couple of millions sterling to purchase from the cruel appetite of the enemy perhaps ten or more millions worth of food in one year, with a prospect of a similar redemption for years to come-if the landed interest must bear alone the cost entailed by the culpable mismanage- ment of those who undertook to defend us-money enough would be forthcoming from a light rate, pay- able with an equitable division of the burden, by owners and occupi-rs alike. We cannot rely upon a voluntary ratillz, which all the mean and needy might refuse to honour; and if, therefore, Parliamentary sanction be indispensable, there is no help for it but to wait, with losses of ten or more thousand cattle per week, until an Act is obtained. But, for pity's sake, do not let perish htrd after herd of a lifetime's loving care and patient creation until each separate province in the kinsdom has been prevailed upon, by a tedious process of agitation, to follow the lead of Aberdeen. Let us have no more futile fighting with one head of hydra at a time, so that new jaws of venom may shoot up from each piecemeal excision but let a uniform, simultaneous, and swift wielding of our weapons destroy, as at one stroke, the egregrieus vitality of the monster.

A MODERN HERMIT. About a year ago a paragraph appeared describing the self-imprisonment of a man named James Wylie (formerly a manufacturer) in an old building at the corner of Library-street, in Preston. At the time Wylie had been in voluntary confinement for the pur- pose of defying his landlord, about three years. He had previously carried on business in the building, which is three storeys high, and proportionately long, as a weaver of cotton cloth. He employed several hands, was well respected, visited the principal Lan- cashire markets along with other manufacturers, and occupied, as was then understood, a very prosperous and creditable position. He had been well educated -once he was a Sunday-school teacher-and had worked his way up in the world by steadiness and in- dustry. About four years ago, however, his prospects darkened; the markets fluctuated; business got worse; and, not being able to pay his rent at the appointed time, his goods were seized and sold, and he was reduced to comparative beggary. He, however, held his establishment on a lease, and as the term would not expire for about two and a half or three years, he determined to retain possession until the very last moment, and longer if possible. Accordingly he made the building in which he had formerly carried on his trade his "home," and, empty as it was, he derived in his isolation a certain pleasure from the fact that if he was doing no good to himself he was keeping the land- lord-a gentleman in London—out of the building, and out of any rent he might have made had he been in possession of it. Efforts were many a time made to get Wylie out of the place, which was gradually going to decay; but he always had the doors fast, always kept the key in his pocket, and always dodged off those who wanted to oust him. How he lived nobody knew; and the only thing outsiders were aware of for a certainty was that every now and then curious noises were made in the old manufactory, and that occasionally a grim ragged figure, resembling a man, was seen peering through the windows, in place of the young gentlemanly- dressed person who formerly. paraded the place and gave instructions to his operatives. A few weeks ago, the terms of the lease having some time previously expired, a summons of ejectment was issued against Wylie but as he could not be seen, the summons was nailed against one of the doors of the establishment he still occupied. The ca-e, however, could not be heard against him through the insufficiency of the delivery, and subsequently another summons was got out against him, and, like the former, it had to be nailed to the door. Soon afterwards it was ascertained that Wylie had seen the summons. The case was then heard, judg- ment was given against him, and two days ago the bailiffs went to the old manufactury to take possession. They knocked, got no answer, then broke a -door in, and, just after they had entered, Wylie, who had been out, made his appearance; but he was too late. A. most extraordinary spectacle presented itself to the bailiffs on entering the place. Every room was dark, abominably filthy, and dilapidated beyond conception, and how any one could have lived in such a place was a perfect mystery. The cellar of the building, which was decended into by a straight ladder, broken at the bottom, was strewed with dirt, bricks, broken pots, feathers, &c. and in one corner there was a sort of subterranean passage, which, on being entered, led to two dark chambers, smelling abominably, and bearing evidence at one end as if some one had been turning up the earth with a spade and digging for something. In the rooms above the floors were strewed with dirt, bricks, &c. the petitions had been torn down, and evidently burnt, and every particle of wood work which could be conveniently got at had been destroyed. The room used as the office," when the manufactory was working, had been laid bare (the partition having been torn down) to the other places, and the floor w as strewed with feathers. On entering the second storey above the ground floor (the side rails of the steps leading to which had been pulled to pieces), all the rooms were found to be equally dirty. Old boots, rags, bricks, pots, and mould were lying about the floors in every direction. The side shelving had been torn down and burnt, and every- thing was in a state of wreck. In a room above, still greater traces of destruction were visible. The entire ceiling had been pulled down for the sake of the laths, which had been burnt, and the floor was covered with plaster, straw, &c. On the floor at one side of this apartment the bailiffs found a crust of bread, and near it, written in chalk, the words For the robin." The officers afterwards learnt that Wylie had been visited regularly by two or three redbreasts, that he had tamed them, and fed the little birds with his hands while they perched on his shoulder. In another room the floor was covered with dirt, old papers, and broken pots. Passing through a hole in the wall, the officers came to another series of rooms. The first one wai covered with ashes. At the right of it there was a small apartment, in which Wylie had evidently kept rabbits. He appears also to have bred them here for in one corner there was a rabbit's nest. Two or three rooms below were empty, and filled with dirt; in one of them the floor was covered with ashes to the depth of five or six inches. A bed on which Wylie slept during his confinement adjoined. It was made of rags, cotton flock, &c., and was a most wretched lair of filth, Nearly the whole of the woodwork—shelves, cupboards, &c.-was torn down in these rooms, and bad been burnt. In one room—the kitchen-Wylie had kept hens in a cupboard, and in another he appeared to have done his cooking. The floor was thickly strewed with feathers, ashes, and burnt pieces of timber. Altogether, the place presented one of the most dingy, wretched, and miserable aspects that any hu- man being ever saw, apart from living in. Half of the windows were broken; the roof had fallen in, in several places, and it will cost far more to renovate the building than to pull it down and erect a new one in its place. How Wylie has lived is a wonder. He appears, up to a recent period, to have had one or two "dandy looms in the place, and on these he has woven scarfs, &c. At night time he used to leave his miserable abode, sell them, and with the proceeds buy food. He has had no light at night, except what he got from his fire. Wylie is a good scholar, has a superior address, and although isolated from the world for between three or four years seems to have got a full knowledge of "passing events," and to be able to con- verse upon anything. He was wretchedly dirty when ejected, and his clothes were tattered and torn to pieces. His face was covered with dirt, and in regard to his shirt one of the bailiffs remarked, when ques- tioned about it, "Why, it hasn't been washed for a year." Those who knew Wylie when he was a well- dressed member of society would be shocked if they now saw him. And, yet, when questioned about his appearance he throws the matter off by saying that everybody must mind their own business and he will look after his.

CATTLE FROM URUGUAY. Mr. Robert K. Barbour, (styling himself an Old Reader of the London Times), and dating from Estancia Ombre, Campo San Jose, by Concepcion del Uruguay, Entre Rios, South America, Dec. 9, 1865, has sent the following interesting letter to the Times for publication :— Having observed in the Tunes and other newspapers I regularly receive from England that the cattle plague has visited Great Britain, and is doing so much injury to the cattle and sheep there, that a want of beef is apprehended, pardon me, therefore, as an old reader of the Times, if I should intrude upon your oolumns with what I have got to say, and it shall be as short as possible. Where I am now we have the best grass-fed animals all the year round to eat at a cost of from 11. 10s. to 21. a head. This is the price of the animal alive. The supply is unli- mitted, and the meat is of the very best description, and free from all disease, cattle plague here being unknown. I have killed on my own estancia here stots of four years old, giving of grease and tallow alone 501b., and these were all grass fed. Here artificial feeding is unknown, and would not pay at present. Why, therefore, should England ever want beef when it can easily be got from this province dead or alive as cared for. and to any extent, within the space of 27 days by steamer from here to England at very little cost ? Here the best beef is only Id. per lb. in the market. I see many joint-stock limited liability companies formed in England for various purposes, but as yet I have seen none for introducing beef into England from this country. I think if one such was formed it would do well for the share- holders, and at the same time confer a great boon to the general public. Such a company might confine themselves to buying the animals here and killing them here, sending the beef cured in the most approved method to England; also the bones, hides, and tallow; or, with a steamer ex- pressly fitted up for the trade, the cattle might easily and safely be conveyed alive to England in good condition. Be- tides" the steamer er steamers coming from England might bring out a considerabla general cargo and passengers with them for Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. There are various matters which would require to be considered, for example, whether or not it would be best to send always from England with each steamer Sufficient dry hay compressed to serve for the animals' eating on the passage home, or buying it here and compressing it here, though in this country hay and alfalfa, a species of clover, are very dear on account of the scarcity of labour. Or a company such as I have indicated, might find it very profitable to buy camp here, and rear their own arimals. Splendid graizing camp can be had here very cheap-viz., 1,00i I. to 2,000Z. the square league, according to quality and locality, and already clear of trees to sny con- siderable extent, some of it en'irely so; though I prefer camp with wooding on it for shelter to the animals in times of bad weather. I could enlarge much on this subject, but my intention at present is simply to call the attention of my countrymen to a land where there is no lack of the best de- scription of grass-fed beef, and from which an unlimited supply can be obtained if desired. I have only spoken of beef, but sheep are as easily to be had. Fancy a good-sized fat "wedder" for 6s. 8d., with from 12 to 241bs. of fat in it when killed. Mr. Barbour concludes his letter by saying that if any one should desire more information on the matter of a supply of beef from Uruguay, or in regard to the country itself generally and its resources, he will be delighted to give it so far as lays in his power.

DEPUTATION TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. The Archbishop of Canterbury received on Saturday a deputation to present, a memorial signed by 40,000 persons, of whom about 3,000 were clergymen, against any alteration in the rubric or liturgy. The movement was originated and carried out by the English Church Union, and the memorial professed to represent no particular section of the Church, but all who are favourable to the liberty of the clergy to dress as they please while in the exercise of their functions, so long as they do not contravene the letter of the law. The published names, however, are nearly all of leading members of the extreme Anglican party. Among the ecclesiastics who have taken port are Dr. Pusey, Mr. Keble, Archdeacons Denison, Randall, and Freeman, Dr Hook, &c. The Earl of Carnarvon introduced the deputation, and in his speech dilated on the comprehensive character of the movement, which represented, he said, not only the ritualists, but those who were strongly op- posed to them. The noble earl classed himself among the latter, believing that the present forms of worship were sufficiently elastic, and having learned to associate them for many years with the services of the Church of England. Archdeacon Denison was of opinion that no more dangerous step could be taken than to touch in any way the Prayer Book of the Church of England. The revision of 1662 ought to be considered, as what it was commonly called, the last revision, and if there were any intention or notion of calling that revision in question, it was almost impossible to understand how such revision could be attempted, unless the necessity was so patent to all men as to be called for by what might be termed the unanimous expression of the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Church of England. Nothing short of that unanimous expression could possibly justify any attempt to deal with the Prayer Book at all, and nothing could be more disastrous in its consequences than any such attempt at the present moment or any future time. Tne Archbishop's reply was, almost from beginning to end, a rebuke of the ritualists. I have already," he said, "publicly declared my determination never to consent to any alteration in any part of the Book of Common Prayer without the full concurrence of Con- vocation. The wording, however, of the address would certainly have led me to suppose that those who sup- ported it were rrady to countenance the extreme ritualism that has been. adopted in some few churches. In such a view I certainly could foot have concurred, for I cannot but feel that those who have violated a compromise and settlement, which has existed for 300 years, and are introducing vestments and ceremonies of very doubtful legality, are really, though I am sure quite unconsciously, doing the work of the worst enemies of the Church. The settlement has been acquiesced in, as far as the vestments of the paro- chial clergy are concerned, by all the seven hundred prelates who have presided over the dio- ceses of England and Wales, from the early part of the reign of Elizabeth to this day. It is a settle- ment which such wise and holy men as Bishop Andrews, Richard Hooker, and their contemporaries were well content to leave untouched -a settlement which such a high ritualist as Bishop Cosin, not only did not see reasons to disturb, but even enforced upon the parochial clergy of his diocese by the tenour of his visitation in- inquiries, and that in the face of the rubric then re- cently enacted, as it stands in our present Prayer Book. From this the natural inference seems to be that he held the advertisements in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and the canons of 1603 to be, nevertheless, binding upon him. I confess I have witnessed with feelings of great sorrow the tone of defiance which the recently introduced practices have in some instances been supported. I fear that such advocates know not what spirits they are of, and I would fain hope that they may still learn to adopt something more of Christian moderation and Christian humility to act with St. Paul, they may be ready to acknow- ledge that there are many things which may be law- ful and not yet expedient, and that they may be more ready to lend a willing ear to the practical and pater- nal counsels of those who are set over them in the Lord. Let it not be supposed that I have any sym- pathy with those who would mutilate the services of our Church, or slight its plain directions. My anxiety is to see that uniformity prevail in our public worship which it has been the especial object of the reformed Church of England to secure. But, hopeless, indeed, must be every prospect of uniformity if each clergy- man is at liberty to reproduce, according to his indi- vidual caprice, the use of Salisbury, Hereford, Bangor, York, or Lincoln, which diversity is expressly depre- cated in the preface to our Book of Common Prayer as is also that excessive multitude of ceremonies so great, and many of them so dark, that they did more confound and darken than declare and set forth Christ's benefit unto us.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE. The Saturday Review feels assured that the new Parliament will bring the subject of the Cattle Plague very quickly to an issue. If the Government cannot give satisfactory explanations of the past, or assur- ances for the future, there will no doubt be found those who can appreciate the duties of a Government, and who are not unwilling to take upon themselves its responsibilities. The impending ruin of the country by this awful pestilence will admit of no delay. The operation of the remedy must, it is said, be completed before the end of April, when it will become abso- lutely necessary to provide for the movement of store cattle. The regulations must be plain they may be very brief. No head of cattle shall leave its farm alive; if there be no exception there will be little difficulty. To treat the disease with a prospect of cure is hopeless, for no remedy seems to have the slightest curative influence. Whilst the sick animals live they are prolific sources of infection. The wiser and more humane course is to destroy all animals suffering from the disease in a virulent form. If a farmer's cattle are to be slaughtered when he reports them sick, he will risk the chance of some of them being saved, and will conceal the fact of their being ill. He may be required, under penalties, to report their illness, but still there will be evasion. If, on the other hand, the farmer is to receive even a portion of the value of his stock, he will be ready to secure this, and will hasten to obtain the presence of the inspector. If the healthy stock are slaughtered for the benefit, not alone of the farmer, but of his neighbour and of the country, then he has an indisputable claim on his neigh- bour or the country to share in his loss. The mode in which compensation might be best provided is a question of detail. Then there is the question of obliterating the infection itself, which adheres to everything that has beep in relation with infected animals. On this point the simplest and most explicit directions should be issued by the Government. Further, on landlords, on clergymen, on medical men, on each and every leading man in every parish will devolve the duty of assisting in this important work. In all probability le s incon- venience will be felt from these measures than is now feared from the temporary suspension of the movement of cattle. The butcher will soon find his way to the bullock, the cattle-jobber will become a carcase dealer, a better system than is now used for packing meat will be adopted, and railways will find suitable means and times for its conveyance; the public will enjoy more wholesome food not necessarily dearer; whilst live cattle markets and cattle tortures in travelling will be reduced to a minimum, if not altogether extin- guished. These results will be further promoted by markets, slaughter-houses, and lairs being provided for foreign stock at the ports of debarkation.

The following letters on this momentous subject are from the London Times and other papers From a Gentleman at Oxford.. I had three Alderney cows, and they had not been outside my grounds, which are surrounded by a high wall, for mWishing to take every precaution in the event of this dire disease breaking out in this neighbourhood, I had them vaccinated with smallpox matter last Saturday fortnight, the !3th ult. It appeared to take on two of them, and I felt hopeful of at least preserving these two. On the following Friday, the 19th, the cow on which the vaccine did not take suddenly refused her food, her milk also suddenly ceased, and she died on the following Monday, the 22nd ult. One of the two remaining cows which had been by itself for several weekswas seized on Wednesday, the 24th ult (11 days after vaccination), and died on Tuesday, the 30th, while the remaining cow, which had been re-vaccinated as an experi- ment with lymph direct from the arm of a child on the 27th, was taken ill on the 23th (or 15 days after the first vaccina- tion), and died on the 31st ult. „ As all the three cows evidently died from had the two last examined, with the following results. Their stomachs appeared to be healthy, andJhe seat.of the disease appeared to be entirely 1*1 the throat' animal there was a substance whieh the man d m a piece of liver or fungus which impeded the r?8P™"U the poor animals suddenly dropped down, and died almost illAsthi^ appears to be a new phase in t hatMi thought it right to make it known, in the hope that if general, some remedy may yet be discovered to combat, inis most subtle and deadly malady. or,_ I shall be happy to give any further particulars to any anxious to seek further into the nature of this fatal disease.

I Front Mr. John Walker, Maryfield House Brcssay, Shetland. Permit me to draw yodr attention to a great injustice done to these and all other islands belonging to Great Britain by the present Cattle Plague Orders. We, here, do not complain of the restricting of the move- ment of stock-indeed, we think, with you, that long ago the Government should have taken the responsibility of a general and uniform restriction but we do complain, and we think justly, of the fact that while no justice can stop the landing at any port and sending through the country of any number of foreign cattle, the authorized officials can and do prevent stock coming from such districts as these from being landed at any port for transfer to any other part of the country.

Front the Rev. H. P. Gurney, Vicar of Uffington. It would be a great relief to me if you would publish the following case of "hard measure." I have been summoned for unlawfully removing, on the 9th day of January last, two cows and one heifer from a field to a cowshed, both being in my occupation, across a public road a distance of about 40 yards. The evidence against me was that the policeman had read the orders to my lad, and had told him to tell me not to move the cows. I admit this, and state that I had been deceived as to the day on which these new orders came into force. The Times I paper had copied that mistake and circulated it in the neigh- bourhood by means of an especial supplement. I had never been undeceived, and when I received the lad's message I thought it referred to the orders that were to come into force on the 16th, and ordered him at once to bring the cows to the shed. For this I am fined 71, a cow, or 21i and 11. costs. I declared positively that I was not aware I was in- fringing any existing law, that I had no object in removing the cows, that I did not do it secretly but I am told, in answer, it is a very grevlous offence, and I am dealt very leniently with. It was the first case brought before the magistrates under these new orders, and there is no disease in the cattle, I be- lieve, within a distance of 20 miles.

From a Barrister in London. Unless we can find out what the cattle plague is we shall never find a remedy for it. If it be not the plague of Athens it certainly has many things in common with it. In order that medical men may reflect upon this suggestion I send you the account of it, as given by Thucydides, who, as heinforms us, was sick of it himself," and now many others are afflicted with it:— "The Peloponesians (says he) and their allies, who had made an incursion into Attica, with two-thirds of their forces, had not been many days there before a sickness began first to appear amongst the Athenians such as was reported to have raged before this in other parts, as about Lemnos and other places. Yet a plague so great as this and so dreadful a mortality in human memory could not be paralleled. The physicians at first could administer no relief, through utter ignorance; nay, they died the fastest, the closer thei- attendance on the sick, and all human art was totally unavailing. Whatever supplications were offered in the temples, whatever recourse to oracles and religious rites, all were insignificant; at last expedients of this nature they totally relinquished, overpowered by calamity. It broke out first, as it is said, in that part of JEthiopia which borders upon Egypt; it afterwards spread into Egypt and Lybia, and at length on a sudden fell on the city of the Athenians. The contagion showed itself first in Piraeus, which occasioned a report that the Pelopon- nesians had caused poison to be thrown into the wells, for as yet there were no fountains there. After this it spread into the upper city, and then the mortality very much in- creased. Let every one, physician or not, freely declare his own sentiments about it; let him assign any credible account of its rise, or the causes strong enough in his opinion to intro- duce so terrible a scene. I shall onty relate what it actually was; and as, from an information on all its symptoms, none may be quite at a loss about it, if ever it should happen again, I shall give an exact detail of them; having been sick Oi it myself, and seen many others afflicted with it. This very year (B.C. 4.3u), as is universally allowed, h ad been more than any other remarkably free from common dis- orders or, whatever diseases had already seized the body, they ended at length in this. But those who enjoyed the most perfect health were suddenly, without any apparent cause, seized at first with headaches, extremely violent, with inflammations and fiery redness in the eyes. Within, the tongue and throat began instantly to be red as blood the breate was drawn with difficulty, and had a noisome smell The symptoms that succeeded these were sneezing and hoarseness and not long after the malady descended to the breast, with a violent cough but when once settled in the stomach it excited vomitings, in which was thrown up all that matter physicians call discharges of bile, at- tended with excessive torture. A great part of the in- fected were subject to such violent hiccups, without any discharge, as brought upon them a strong convulsion, to some but of a short, to others, of a very long continuance. The body, to the outward touch, was neither exceedingly hot nor of a pallid hue, but reddish, livid, marked all over with little pustules and sores; yet, inwardly, it was scorched with such excessive heat that it would not bear the slightest covering or the finest linen upon it, but must be left quite naked. They longed for nothing so much as to be plunging into cold water, and many of those who were not pro- perly attended threw themselves into wells, hurried by a thirst not to be extinguished, and whether they drank much or little their torment still continued the same. The restlessness of their bodies, and an utter inability of composing themselves by sleep, never abated for a moment and the body, so long as the dis- temper continued in its height, had no visible waste, but withstood its rage to a miracle, so that most of them perished within nine or seven days, by the heat that scorched their vitals, though their strength was not ex- hausted; or if they continued longer the distemper fell into the belly, causing violent ulcerations in the bowels, ac- companied with an incessant flux, by which many, reduced to an excessive weakness, were carried off. For the malady, beginning in the head, and settling first there, sunk afterwards gradually down the whole body; anti whoever got safe through all its most dangerous stages, yet the extremities of their bodies still retained the marks of its violence. For it shot down into their privy members, into their fingers and toes, by losing which they escaped with life Some there were who lost their eyes, and some who, being quite recovered had, at once, totally lost all memory and quite forgot, not only their most intimate friends, but even their own selves. For as this dis- temper was in general virulent beyond expression, and its every part more grievous than yet had fallen to the lot of human nature, so, in one particular instance, it appeared to be none of the natural infirmities of man, since the birds and beasts that pray on human flesh either never approached the dead bodies, of which many lay about uninterred, or cer- tainly perished if they ever tasted. One proof of this is the total disappearance then of such birds, for not one was to be seen, either in any other place or about any of ttie carcasses. But the dogs, because of their constant familiarity with man, afforded a more notorious proof of this event." Have we not here the typhus bovilis, and what is erro- neously called the small-pox ?

From Afr. Gregory. Having lately returned from Queensland, in which colony I have a considerable number of cattle, allow me througn the medium of your paper to suggest inoculation as a pre- ventative of the cattle plague. In the eastern colonies of Australia there is a disease known as plura pneumonia (which I take to be the same as the ca.tle plague), from which at one time it appeared impossible to stop its ravages until inoculation was adopted, and was found to be so suc- cessful that whole herds (in some cases many thousands) were inoculated, and I have never heard of a single animal having died from the effects or having taken the disease afterwards The mode of performing the operation is to kill a diseased beast and obtain the matter from the lungs by scraping them with a spoon, which can then be kept in a well-corked bottle for some days. The cattle are then driven into a narrow laue just wide enough for two to stand in. The operator then takes hold of an animal's tail and thrusts a narrow sharp-pointed knife through it just above the long hair, and then with a seton needle draws through a piece of cotton, dipped in the matter, and ties the end together. In some cases the end of the tail drops off, but with us this is not objected to, as it shows that the animal has been inoculated. 1 am told that in South Africa the disease is well known, and that a bullock without a tail is considered most valuable.

THE COURT DRESS QUESTION. At the opening of the present Parliament Mr. Bright took advantage of the Speaker's election to protest against a grievance. All members whor accept the Speaker's invitations to dinner are required to present themselves either in uniform or the strange costume which-is now worn only by footmen and courtiers, and is probably the ugliest dress uswl throughout the world. He thought the costume un- worthy the elected head of a free representative body, and mentioned that Mr. Cobden had for twenty-five years been precluded from accepting the Speaker's invitations by his reluctance to appear in decorated apparel," and that a Colonel had .complained that it cost him fifty guineas to buy a suitable dress for the Speaker's table. That story requires a little explana- tion, remarks the Spectator, as a colonel is usually in possession of a uniform, and uniform is always en regie, but in the general argument Mr. Bright was substantially in the right. Robes of office help among an uncivilised people like the English to keep up the respect due to office, but robes of office are not required at dinner, and the Speaker does not invite members strictly to a ceremonial. It is convenient to make a royal levee expensive, uncomfortable, and short, for the Sovereigns of the House of Brunswick have been as unlike the Stuarts in the stately charm of their manners as in their tyranny, but there is no conceiv- able reason for turning a pleasant reception into a masquerade. If members like to blaze as Deputy- Lieutenants let them, but if they prefer that as- tounding" costume, a black swallow-tailed coat, why should that harmless fancy be interfered with ? It makes all men ugly and insignificant, but surely that is a point for them, not for their entertainer.

The Examiner, in discussing this question, makes the fol- lowing remarks:— Expatiating on the privileges of the beggar, the. happiness and natural dignity of his state, Charles Lamb mouLts to the climax in these words, ite not wear Court mourning." Exemption from Court mourning is undoubtedly a fine thing, but wh grievance of Court mourning compared w Court dress? In Court dress every ^an looks hke^a footman unaccustomed to his livery, b PP ance is the least part of the evil-the wearer i« to the highest possible degree is ananachron- guiity the ugliest period of costume, nearly two juries agaMi^lUsn«>t to fe*lsitihe5lhrou\htSnotto feel it, and not where he le f t un0n him with uneasiness. It makes «<! -St*, H. wishes for some decent covering. And then his legs, St has he done that they should be brought to pub- lic shame in silk stockings for be sure they are either like mill posts or trap sticks ? The wretch envies the paupers who tear their clothes in workhouses. It is a liberty of indigence denied him. He must fret his wretched hour cabined, cribbed, confined. It is a remnant of torture for the punishment of pride. You would be a member of Parliament, and eligible for the Speaker's dinners, and see what comes of it. How much more preferable a quiet hour in some re- tired stocks. How much more ease in the wooden doublet, as it used to be called. How much more consistent with seif-esteem, for can a gentleman value himself in livery, knowing that it does not beeome him nor he it? The servant behind his chair has a thousand times & better air, for he is to the maimer born, and what he wears, ugly as it may be, is his every-day wear, in which he is at home not the un- easy lodger for an hour. And now we come to the secret of the becoming. Why are costumes becoming, simply because they are worn daily, and without a thought of how they look ? Does it consist with th e rule of one good turn deserving another that the Speaker, in return for being voted into the chair, shall cruelly thrust members into Court dresse3 for his receptions ? And surely, it should pain his feelings to see his guests, because they are his guests, and for no other reason, look such guys, like Noodle and Doodle in "Tom Thumb." Mr. Bright says that Hume and Cobden would not accept the Speaker's hcspitality saddled with the condition of the obsolete dress, and if the example be followed, the Speaker may regret to see the range of his hospitality re- stricted by the requirement of the most unsuitable and uncomfortable of all known attire, past or present. And is emancipation hopeless? We think not. Relief has been given to Ministers, and with a differ- ence, as Ophelia says, to civil servents of staff rank, in a uniform which, though suggesting the idea of the efflorescence of the police, is yet incomparably better than the Court dress and as the Court has gone so far, why not complete the change by the introduction of a uniform which may for ever banish Noodle and Doodle s grotesque gear to Monmouth-street. Inven- tion and fancy" ould not be much taxed to devise improvement upon the present abominations, the production of the very worst taste of the last century.

The PallllIall Gazette makes the following pertinent ob. servations in reference to the habit of weaving Court dresses Fifty years ago all the bishops wore wigs. We can- not remember which was the first episcopal head that ventured to present itself to the world unadorned by the traditional horse-hair and powder; but it was cer- tainly about the time of the Reform Bill that Liberal principles began to be associated with the display of natural bair on the prelatical brow. The John Bull newspaper was then under the guidance of Theodore Hook, who considered it a witty remark to observe that the really serious danger to the Church was to be detected not so much in the desertion of the bishops I by the Whigs as in the desertion of their wigs by the bishops. Within thirty years a wig-wearing prelate becomes a rarity. A similar though less general con- sternation was created by Lord Lyndhurst when he as- tonished the officials of the House of Lords by con. tinuing to wear his accustomed white trousers after he was made Chancellor all his predecessors having adopted the clerical black costume on their eleva- tion to the Woolsack. Since then the free and easy ways of judges in general, when not sitting in court, have increased to an extent that would have shocked the nerves of our ances- tors, and suggested the approach of the end of all things. We have known a distinguished living judge walk down the High-street of a country town, where he was holding the assizes, at 7 o'clock in the morning, swinging a towel in his hind, on his way to the river, wherein to take a good dip," preparatory to the labours of the day. And while all this has been going on among the bishops and the laity, the clergy in general have been going backwards in adopting a more intensely clerical style of dress; though at last there are signs of resipiscence to be detected even among them, and the adoption of a kind of sober-hued sporting dress is coming to be taken as a sort of pro- test against both Ritualism and Evangelicalism. Remembering and observing all these small signs of the times, one is set wondering how long it will be before Mr. Bright's plaintive prayer to be allowed to dine with the Speaker without putting on the dress of a footman, or of a soldierrcivilian, will be kindly granted. He should, however, be reminded that another distinguished Quaker, the great chemist Dalton, consented to be wrapped in the academic robe at Oxford when the university bestowed on him her honorary degree.

# The Post thinks that Mr. Bright is altogether in the right in his attack on modern Court dress. The moment has really arrived when we must protest against such farces. Let soldiers go to Court like sold ers, and sailors, officials, and clergymen in the dress of their profession but do allow a gentleman to appear simply in the full dress of the day in which he lives. One respects the wig of the Speaker and the robes of the Lords, and, if it had been a custom for the Commons to go to the Speaker's in some sort, of to^a one would respect tradition and argue for the toga • but the true tradition is simply to wear the full dress of the day, and one therefore wishes to see the full dress of our day supersede the absurdity of being compelled to assume the costume of ninety years ago or to rig oneself out in the warlike habiliments which neither belung to a man's profession nor appearance. Human gravity cannot stand it anv longer. If Court ceremonies, already the merest forms, are not sunk t > something in which inherent absurdity will invite neglect, one must look to see the anstocracy of England invited to a place worthy of the name, with room to move in and space to approach the royal person gentlemen presenting themselves, as do the ladies, in the dress of the time and opportunity given for the interchange of those social amenities without which a crowd at a royal residence exhibits, like other crowds, its worst characteristics, and becomes but a pushing rude mob, not the more respectable from being atired in comically inappropriate clothing.

AN AFFAIR OF HONOUR! Another general subject of conversati on is the so- called "affair of honour" which took place a few days ago between two rival editors, M. Botto, of the Gazzetta di Torino, aDd M. Bottsro, of the Gazzetta del Popolo, also of Turin, and a member of the Italiaa Parl ament (-ays the Florence correspondent of contemporary). Why should these knights of the quill have thirsted for each other's blood ? Say, Muse, what cause the baleful feud provok'd! Nothing less than the tremendous question of the expediency of the measures adopted by the National Bank with re- gard to the advances made on the securit;es of the Italian Government. Duelling is prohibited by law in Italy, as in most civil sed countries. But "quid leges sine moribus vanae proficiunt ? Two vulgar fellows quarrel over their cups at a wine shop in the Camaldoli di San Lorenzo, and in the full heat of passion fall upon one another with their knives; both may be sent to prison, and if one is killed the victor will probably have a taste of the galleys, if not for life, at least for a term of years, because the code cf honour is not considered to apply to "the vulgar herd." But officers and journalists and statesmen--we have seen ministers on the duelling-ground- have entire liberty to take away each other's lives in oold blood, albeit the sun has gone down upon their wrath not once only, but half a. dozen times. And yet we are told that the 1 *ws are equal for all! "Le legge e uguale per tutti" is the proud boast inscribed on the Siccardi column in Turin. There was a cross-challenge, but as M. Botto was out when M. Bottero's seconds went in search of him, whereas M. Botto's seconds found M. Bottero at home, the latter was regarded as the cballengee, and therefore had the privilege of choosing his weapon. He is what is called a dead shot" with the pistol, snuffing his candle with the greatest ease at I forget how many paces, and M. Botto, who is over six feet in stature, was a good mark at thirty-five. M. Bottero's seconds tried to persuade their principal to make use of a less perilous weapon, but he was inflexible on this point. The first exchange of shots was attended with no result. The pistols were then reloaded, and M. Bottero, having the right to the first fire, stiuck his adversary in the right side under the seventh rib. M. Botto is now lying in a desperate condition. The moral of the story is that M. Botto, who by many impartial per- sons who had followed the controversy is considered to have been less in the wrong than his antagonist, is either dying or maimed, and perhaps ruined for life, while the question remains where it did before. Should our worst previsions be verified, there will be some consolation iu the thought that the terrible spectacle of a young and vigorous life sacrificed to the despotic exigences of an absurd social convention may lead to a powerful repulsion of public feeling on the question of the duel. The defect of irritability, formerly predicated of the servants of Apollo, is in our day almost monopolised by 1 he followers of Mercury. To their credit be it said, the journalists of Naples lately set the example of instituting a "jury of honour," whose verdicts were to supersede the practice of manslaughter as a mode of untying difficult questions arising among members of the fraternity. And yet it was but the other day that we had the news of a duel between the editor of a newspaper and an officer in the army. In their case the question was of course a more complicated one, as there is not a military man in all Italy who would have moral courage to refuse a duel. He would be scouted not only by his own comrades, but also by the public at large. And as the army now insensibly rives the tone to Italian society, the whole question is condemned to move within the limits of a vicious circle.

THE MARKETS. MARK-LANE.—MOND A Y. Fresh up to our market to-day the arrivals of English wheat were very moderate. The condition of the samples was mest unsatisfactory, and the trade, in consequence, was in a very inactive state. Dry samples, however, were dis- posed of at the full prices of Monday last; but damp produce was very dull, and changed hands at irregular quotations. The whole of the supply had not been disposed of at the close of business. There was a fair supply of foreign wheat on the stands. For most descriptions there was a steady, but by no means active demand, and prices ruled firm. Floating cargoes of grain were in but moderate request, at late rates. The supply of barley on sale was moderate. For good and fine malting qualities there was a fair demand, at full currencies. Inferior malting barley was a dull inquiry, on former terms. Grinding and distilling barley was in moderate request, at late rates. Malt changed hands slowly. In prices no change took place. The supply of oats on sale was but moderate. There was no activity, however, in the demand nevertheless, previous quotations were supported. The supply of beans on sale was tolerably large. The trade for nearly all qualities ruled quiet, at late rates. Peas were in but moderate supply, yet the demand for them ruled in- active, on former terms. There was a moderate demand for flour, at last Monday's currency. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—MONDAY. The arrivals of beasts fresh up from our own grazing dis- tricts were on the increase, and in fair average condition The supply from Scotland was good, and of prime quality. From Ireland the receipts were again limited. Compared with Monday l ist, the beef trade was inactive, at a decline in the quotations or 2d per 81b, A very few superior Scots and crosses sold at 5s 2d but the general top figure was 58 per 81b. Beasts can now be forwarded in Surrey and Middle- sex only within the radius of four miles from Charing-cross. A few inferior beasts were left unsold at the close of busi- ness. Although the supply of sheep was very moderate, the deni md 'or all breeds was quiet, at prices barely equnl to this days sc'inught. Prime Downs and half-breds sold at from Cs 4d to Gs 8d per 81b. There were very few lambs on offer they realised 8s per 81b. The few calves on sale were readily disposed of at high rates-viz., from 5s 6d to 6s 6d per BIb. Prime small pigs were quite as-dear as last week but lar_ hogs were much neglected. HOPS. Thp oiinnlv of hops on sale is but moderate. For all quali- ties the t?ade i Arm, and late rates are well supported, ties tne traae » » g from £ >im]arkj 20 from Boulome, 5 from Bremen, 29 from Antwerp, 95 from Har- imgen 5 from Rotterdam, and 3 bags from Hamburgh. S^w Hid and Bast Kent*, 80s. to 190s new NV eald of Kents 70s. to 126s. new Sussex, 608. to 1125. Yearlings, 100s. to 140s.

A FREE AND EASY WAY OF-DOING BUSINESS .The Washington correspondent of the London Times Srtes a curious picture of the mode of debating which pre- vails in the American House of Representatives,—the free and easy style in vogue there of conducting the affairs of the nation, presenting a marked contrast to the aedateness of House of Commons. The correspondent says:— Nothing, indeed, can be less favourable to the pro- {p"6ss of an important debate than the mode of con- ducting business in the House ;—the latitude allowed to members, the little restraint exercised by the Speaker, tie numerous interruptions which the House not °njy lanctions, but encourages, are all opposed to orderly and intelligible discussion. The desk which is Pfacei before each member is fatal to good debating, in a time of extraordinary excitement, fer few could Svpeak with spirit to an audience which is j>»silT engaged in writing letters and reading news- P^pers, and lounging and chatting. Members of Con- as a rule, make the House of Representatives »heii' Office, and conduct the whole of their business nd correspondence there. Anyone who has suffered the unspeakable vileness and discomfort of the Washington hotels, and who knows how inadequate is accommodation they oan afford, will understand once why it is that Congressmen who have no pfcrmanent residences in the city should be glad to sit p a large and clean hall, before a comfortable desk, "jstead of being stuffed into a dirty bedroom and obliged to write on a washhand-stand or a trunk. ,Ahere are other inducements for turning the House Jhto an Office. The member has only to clap his hands id half-a-dozen messenger-boys race towards him, eady to do anything he commands. They bring him 18 letters by post and send away his answers. This j^hstant clapping of hands sounds like applause to the ^experienced ear, and one would suppose that it must r*fiously distract the attention of a speaker from an j^Wicate argument which happened to be backed up y numerous statistics. But such a speaker has a of other difficulties to contend with. The Bsengers run past him and round him, and perhaps a 02en membei» get up to badger him with questions in the of his remarks. It is optional with him whether Will hear them, but he is interrupted just the iai? .wkether he accedes or refuses, for the Speaker v« °pHged to appeal to him to decide whether he will d Yleld the floor or not." "Mr. Speaker," cries a voiceg at once, and. singling one member out of e throng, the Speaker asks the unfortunate repre- «,e5JatiT« who is already in possession of the House, j^oes the member for Onio yield to the gentleman Maine T' In nine cases out of ten he does, from ,J'^rained sense of politeness; and, of course, he loses thread of his argument, and goes off in a dis- "^ive ramble in quest of it, until the hammer falls n announces that his hour is up. Some members ^submit themselves to these interruptions without fuffering the continuity of their remarks to be broken; &ut those who cannot, and who have really something tatlonal to say, are wise enough to refuse to hear the 'lotions interposed, and in that case the Speaker t always protect them. In general, however, the ? u t speaker is interrupted the most, and the estab- bores" are permitted to prose through their unmolested. e are still greater liberties allowed to the ntatives of the people. They often bring their i with them into the House, and, as there is n'o spacious playground open to the juveniles hington, they improve the opportunity with all ickness of the youthful mind. While some r is labouring painfully through his ill-written n reconstruction, the younger generation is king between his legs, or keeping up an sd game of hide-and-seek among the desks form an unrivalled hunting-ground. There me days which seem to be almost given he children, like morning performances of imes. Then there are always restless gentle- ndering up and down with their hands in their immediately in front of the Speaker- e is no restriction upon them in this respect- stroll to eachother's chairs, plant their fert on is (these are generally western members) and fee use of the spittoon which is placed by of every seat. The galleries meanwhile are I with strangers, who do not fear to applaud lything is said which takes their fancy. It hat the Speaker instantly calls order" and big hammer, but the applause is renewed ?r another hit is made. Yesterday, for in- :u: Rogers, one of the New Jersey mem- M making a somewhat noisy and excited fAen he happened to allude to Mexico, led upon the South as well as the North to tke Imperial despot out of Montezuma's ft. people in the galleries at once clapped n&M if they had been in a theatre. The f Urta license is that more than one member My speeks to the galleries rather than to the Of late two-thirds of the strangers present sn negroes or discharged soldiers, now with- lpation in Washington, and therefore able to in legislative studies. The general aspect of House is always one of disorder. When the has left the chair it bears some resemblance :e bar room, minus the "drinks." Members :ars and seat themselves at their desks for a able talk. They have "got through" with seches, and now prepare for a splendid time heir way of describing this happy period of the erhaps in the evening the hall is occupied by il meeting or an assembly of Primitive Metho- ho make the galleries reverberate with their s against the desperate wickedness of the race, especially on your side the Atlantic, enate is at all times a more orderly body than ise of Representatives. Fewer members com- and they take a certain pride in c nducting oceedings with proper decorum. There are le speakers in the Senate, but generally the essay is employed on all great occasions. A addressing the Senate is scarcely ever sub- ) the interruptions which are allowable at the d of the Capitol. And when yesterday the 8 in the gallery ventured to applaud, the Pre- :opped the speaker and announced that if the vas repeated he would at once order the gal- be cleared.