Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
6 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,I
A Chicago divine was recently discussing the subject of baptism, and, after summing up all the arguments in its favour he said to his opponent, "I am not surprised that youTbject to iramersion, 8ir, for that was the way Satan on an his pork." IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT, I In the House of Lords on Feb. 16, Lord Granville read a report from Mr. Simonds, the Government Inspector, res- pecting Mr. Wornis's treatment of diseased cows at Ment- more, in which he questioned the existence of the real cattle plague in any of the animals that had been so treated ^Lord^RusselTannounced that the Lord-Lieutenant of Ire- land had expressed to the Government his opinion t temporary suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in that I country was necessary. A Bill with that object would be introduced into the House of Commons on ie it was desirable that it should at once P o'clock staees their Lordships would be invited to meet at 4 o CIOCK. Lord Derby said the proposal indicated a very serious state of tWn-s but if the Government should succeed in satisfying the other House that such a step was necessary he, for one, would not be disposed to object to the suspension of the St*LodrdlAllfmesbury then drew attention to the subject of lifeboats on the coast, and complained that the prevision of such valuable means of saving life should be left to private benevolence, unaided by Government contribution. There were many places where lifeboats were much needed, and, well as the Lifeboat Institution was performing its work, it was unable to meet all demands. The Duke of Somerset admitted the valuable efforts of the National Lifeboat Institution, and believed that Government interference would he rather injurious than beneficial. The Coastguard also rendered good service in the saving of lives and property. After a few remarks from Lord Malmesbury in reply, and from Lord Stanley of Adderley, the subject dropped. After a brief conversation upon various points arising out of the Cattle Plague, the House adjourned. In the House of Commons, Sir G. Grey announced that the House would sit on Feb. 17, when he would move for leave to bring in a bill to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. In answer to a question from Mr. Hunt, Sir George Grey said that the Government would acquiesce in the decision of the House on the previous night, and the mode in which they proposed to carry it out was by embodying in one bill the provisions as to compulsory slaughter, compensation, and the rates to be levied for that purpose, and Mr. Hunt s amend- ment absolutely prohibiting the removal of cattle by railway. This would leave the movement of cattle by road and the ex- ceptions to be dealt with in a separate bill. He acquiesced in the committal of Mr. Hunt's bill pro forma. The House then went into committee on Sir G. Grey s bill Several clauses relating to collateral matters connected with the movement of cattle were negatived, and on clause 31, which specifies the manner in which the compensation shall be provided. Mr Carnegie argued that as the consumer was as deeply interested in the checking of the plague as the produoer some proportion of the compensation ought to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund. Mr. Ayrton took objection to the proposal to raise one- third of the compensation by a cattle-rate, and showed the hardship whieh it would inflict on the owners of diseased cattle. He preferred that the whole sum should be raised from the local rates. Mr. J. S. Mill contended that farmers, in the long run, would suffer only in their capacity as consumers, and in consequence of the rise in prices would suffer no more than any other class of consumers. He argued, therefore, that it would be a great hardship on the consumers it they were called on to pay a rate to compensate the producers for a loss which would ultimately be made good by the natural course of trade. He maintained that the producers would not suffer as a class, but only as individuals by the unequal manner in which the loss fell upon them consequently, the only part of the clause which he approved was the rate on cattle. The Chancellor of the Exchequer characterised the pro posal to lay the Consolidated Fund under contribution as novel, inexpedient, and entirely unasked for by the agricul- turists, and reminded the Houseof. t e forcible argument used by Mr. Lowe, that to secure the great advantages of a local administration it was necessary that some portion of the funds should be raised from local sources. As to the proposal to levy the whole by a general cattle rate, he said that the Government, in the particular proposal they his made, had acted on the principle that no persons were more interested in checking the disease than stockowners in the neighbourhood of infected districts, and they further be- lieved that it would have the effect of preventing any kind of contest between town and country. Mr. Lowe pointed out to the House that Mr. J. S. Mill's argument as to the ultimate incidence of the loss on the con- sumer was based on the fallacy that this was a bill to indemnify for losses, whereas the object of this part of it was simply to hold out an inducement to the farmer to disclose the existence of disease among his cattle..He asked Mr. Mill to mention a case in which producers had been in- demnified for a great calamity of this kind by a rise in price, and reminded him that English cattle growers had very for- midable competitors in foreign importers. But, admitting that Mr. Mill's argument was sound, he contended that the con- sumers were not absolved from making every effort to avert a great national emergency. He showed the difficulty of levying a cattle rate on a temporary emergency, and urged the advantage of using the existing machinery of the county rate. Sir G. Grey intimated that the Government, seeing the feeling of the House, would give up their proposal of a cattle rate. The clause was amended to this effect. On clause 50, which gives a legislative sanction to the Orders in Council issued on this subject, Lord R. Montagu asked what the intentions of the Govern- ment were in regard to'retrospective compensation. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the Government had not abandoned the principle of retrospective compensation, but desired to reconsider the manner in which it could be carried out. Several clauses rendered unnecessary by the alterations in the Bill were omitted, and the remainder were agreed to after a long discussion. A clause was added, enabling the Queen in Council to sus- pend at any time the operation of the Act as regards the slaughter of animals. The Bill was ordered to be reported, and the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer intimated that he should ask the House to read it a third time. Mr. Hunt's Bill was committed pro forma, and the House adjourned. In the House of Lords on Feb. 17, a Bill for the suspen- sion of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland having been reed a first time, Lord Russell moved the suspension of the stand- ing order that the Bill might pass through all its stages at that sitting. In doing so Lord Russell expressed the regret which the Government felt at having to propose to Parlia- ment a temporary suspension of the constitution in Ireland hut the necessity, he said, was great, and the step had been recommended by the experienced wisdom of the Irish Exe- cutive. The Fenian conspiracy, which had rendered this measure necessary, was notoriously directed to the over- throw of the Queen's authori y, to the forcible transfer of property from its present possessors, and to the sub- version of all religion. The conspiracy had been fo- mented and furnished with funds from the United States, where large numbers of persons of Irish birth and des- cent were settled, and the conclusion of the civil war in that country had set free a large number of restless and active men, many of whom were now in Ireland as emissaries from the Fenian Brotherhood in America. The ordinary processes of law had been put in force by the Irish Government against a number of persons, and judges and juries had alike discharged their duties, but it had been found that other measures were required. The Lord- -Lieutenant had deferred as long as possible any recom- mendation to depart from the constitution, but it had been found that the conspiracy was stll spreading, that fresh emissaries from America were continually arriving, and that large sums of money were being sent over for the purpose of exciting rebellion, and, therefore, Lord Wodehouse had been compelled to acquaint the Government that with- out greater powers than he ordinarily possessed he could not be responsible for the peace of Ireland. The Government could not hesitate for a moment to act upon this declaration, and therefore, although with regret, they had now to ask the House to assent to this Bill, which would for a time sus- pend the operation of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, but which would enable the Lord-Lieutenant to arrest the foreign agents who were now industriously engaged in seeking to mislead the Irish people, and to seduce the Irish soldiers from their allegiance. Objections might be taken that the Bill was simply a coercive measure, and was unaccompanied by any remedial measure, but the maintenance of law and order, and the restoration of peace, was essentially a remedial measure, and other measures in that direction would be considered when a more fitting time presented itself. The standing orders were then suspended, and, upon the motion for reading the bill a second time. Lord Derby admitted that this was not a time to enter upon a general discussion of Ireland. That country, it was well known, was at the present moment in a most perilous position, and it was not the time to ask the Government to enter upon a special vindication of the step which they had now taken, although he could not forbear to notice that the language of the Government, at the opening of Parliament a few days since, had been such as to convey the belief that, in their opinion, the ordinary process of law would be found sufficient for the occasion. If the bill were necessary, then it was also necessary that it should pass through all its stages without delay, and, therefore, he gave his cordial consent to the measure, at the same time abstaining from entering upon any consideration of the causes which have led to the pre- sent condition of Ireland. He could not, however, admit that the Fenian conspiracy was entirely due to the closing of the American war, because he knew that in 1859 the Phoenix conspiracy prevailed in Ireland, and had numerous branches in America. But the Government, upon their re- sponsibility, having proposed this measure, and the House of Commons having passed it with a very significant minority of dissentients, he hoped their lordships would not hesitate to give ifcfkeir unanimous support. The bill was then read a second time, and subsequently passed through all its stages. Lord Stanley of Alderley laid on the table a bill to enable the Irish Government to take possession of the telegraph lines in that country. The sitting was then suspended until the Royal assent could be procured to the Habeas Corpus Suspension (Ireland) BilL Upon the House resuming at 11 o'clock, the Cattle Dis- eases Bill was read a first time, and notice was given that on Monday the suspension of the standing orders would be moved, In order to pass the bill on that day. At 25 minutes to 1 o'clock the Royal assent was given by Commission to the Habeas Corpus Suspension (Ireland) Act, and the House adjourned. The House of Commons sat on Saturday at 12 o'clock, when Sir George Grey, pursuant to notice, asked leave to bring in a Bill to suspend for a limited period the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. He allowed that this was a strong and extraordinary measure, but assured the House that it would not have been asked for had not the ordinary powers of the law been found insufficient to check the wicked and the widespread Fenian conspiracy. Sir George traced the history of Fenianism in Ireland up to the cessation of the American war, when it assumed a more active form, owing to the stimulus which it received from the American organization. He read extracts from articles in the Irish People, and from documents seized by the police, to show that the object was to wrest Ireland from the British Crown, and that men, arms, and money were to be supplied from America for this purpose. The Government had hoped that the recent trials would have broken up the conspiracy, but the escape of Stephens had given fresh energy to it. He read reports from the Irish Executive stating that depots and manufactures of arms had been discovered in various parts, and that a large number of Irish-American emissaries were known to be dispersed throughout the country swearing In members, endeavouring to seduce the troops from their allegiance, and holding oat false hopes of material assistance from the United States' Government. Though in a few individual cases soldiers had been led astray, the Government had the fullest confi- dence In the loyalty of the-army as a whole, and with regard to the American Government, this conspiracy had not received the slightest shadow of support from them. Many of these emissaries had been arrested from time to time, but they were sufficiently wary not to carry evidence about with them which would justify the authorities in putting them on their trial. He described the steps which had been taken by the Government in despatching rein- forcements and spreading detachments throughout the country, and read letters from the Lord-Lieutenant to show that he had for some weeks contemplated the necessity of this measure. It was only, however, on Thursday that Lord Wodehouse had called on the Cabinet to Introduce the Bill at once stating that he corld not be responsible for the safetv of Ireland without these extraordinary powers. He pvnlained that the duration of the Bill was limited to the i it of September of this year, and impressed on the House /hp necessity of passing the BUI without a day's delay. Disraeli after pointing out to the Government that thev had allowed a clause in the Act of the 50th George III. ™™»aled last year which would have enabled them to nnmmarilv with these emissaries, admitted that SirG. Sment was authentic, and that it justified the House hi assenting to this partial suspension of the Consti- S While reserving the right of inquiring at some future time how far the conduct of the Government had ^ntolbuted to bring about this critical 'e of £ Ireland, he gave a complete support to the introduction of thMr.llBright expressed the shame and humiliation which he felt at being called on for a. second time in a Prahamentary career of 22 years to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. He asserted that Ireland was in a state of chronic agitation, and that the numerical majority of the Irish people were in favour of a complete separation from England. The causes of this he traced to the unjust legislation of the Imperial Parliament, which, since the Union, had passed many Coercion Bills, but only three really good measures for Ireland—the Catholic Emancipation Act. under the danger of civil- war; the Poor Relief Act; and the Encumbered Estates Act, under the pressure of a terrible famine. That there might have been Improved administration he admitted, but he denied that there had been any statemanship shown in dealing with the Irish question, and he doubted whether any of the Ministers in his time had comprehended it. Reattributed this in a great measure to the system of parties, and, in an eloquent passage, depicted»the happy results which might be secured if two great and trusted leaders like Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli, suspended their contests for office, would combine in an effort to ascertain the causes of Irish discon- combine in an effort to ascertain the causes of Irish discon- tent and to apply a remedy. He pointed out that the fact I of Fenianism hav ng to some extent a foreign origin aggra- vated the difficulty, and asked why Englishmen and Scotch- men. when they emigrated, did not, like Irishmen, carry with them an inveterate hatred to the Government and in- stitutions of the land ef their birth? He declared that it I was not in human nature to live content under such institu- tions as existed in Ireland, and when this insurrection was suppressed there would still remain the seeds of another crop of disaffection. He believed there was a mode of making Ireland loyal, and he threw the responsibility of dis- covering it on the Government and on the Imperial Parlia- crop of disaffection. He believed there was a mode of making Ireland loyal, and he threw the responsibility of dis- covering it on the Government and on the Imperial Parlia- ment. He did not oppose the bill, but hoped that the Go- vernment would give some assurance that before long mea- sures would be introduced which would tend to make Ire- land as contented as Great Britain. land as contented as Great Britain. Mr. Roebuck characterised Mr. Bright's speech as being meant for more mischief. He admitted that Ireland had been misgoverned in the past, but maintained that for the last 30 years every measure for her benefit had been carefully considered by Parliament, that Irishmen bad enjoyed the same personal liberty as Englishmen, and that they had no grievances to complain of which were not common to the rest of the Empire. Englishmen, he said, had to put up with an Established Church which was not the Church of the ma- jority, and with regard to tenant right, he asked why Irish and English proprietors should be put under a different law. He attributed much of the present discontent to the Roman Catholic priesthood, who for years had taught the people to hate English rule, but who now that they found themselves threatened by thi conspiracy had become wondrous loyal, and ridiculed the sentiment of nationality, showing that every great empire in the world's history had been made up of different nationalities. He called on Mr. Bright and those who thought with him, instead of vague declamations, to come forward with a programme of the measures which they thought ought to be carried. The O'Donoghue warned the House that this measure of coercion would create a panic in Ireland, augment disaffec- tion, and give an importance which it did not deserve. He asserted that the ordinary constitutional powers exercised with firmness and intelligence would have sufficed for the emergency; and in animadverting on the vacillation and weakness of the Irish Executive quoted from a speech of the Attorney-General to show that afew weeks ago they had not contemplated any such necessity. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, after replying to Mr. Disraeli's criticism on the the supineness of the Government in allowing the clause in the Act of George Ill. to be repealed, which he showed to be inapplicable to the present emergency, expressed the regret and pain with which he had listened to Mr. Bright's speech, many of the propositions In which were open to question, and most ill-tinfed. He protested against the fallacy involved in treating this question as if it were application of force to Ireland by an English Parliament, maintaining that the British Parliament was the Parliament of Ireland as well as of England and Scotland. He declined to recognize the voice of Ireland except as conveyed through the mouths of her legally elected representatives, and con- gratulated the House on the general unanimity with which Irish members had acquiesced in the Bill, contrasting it with the scene which took place in the House 18 years ago, when a similar proposal was made. The Government, he said, would be ready at the fitting time to consider any mea- sures which might be proposed for the benefit of Ireland, but he impressed upon the House that their single duty to-day was to strengthen the hands of the Executive for the pre- servation of law and order. On a division, leave was given to introduoe the Bill by 364 to 6 votes, and it subsequently passed through all its stages without further discussion. The report of amendments on the Cattle Diseases Bill was brought up and agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Hunt's Bill was committed pro forma. The House then adjourned, and at 25 minutes to 1 o'clock went to the House of Lords to hear the Royal assent given to the Bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus in Irelai; and, on its return, adjourned. It may not be without interest to add that the ei-v members (including tellers) of the House of Commons w » voted on Saturday against the suspension of the Habeas ( r- pus Act in Ireland were: Mr. J. A. Blake, Waterford Rowland Blennerhassett, Galway; Sir George Bowyer, Dun- dalk; Dr. Brady, Leitrim; Mr. J. B. Dillon, Tipperary; Mr. J. F. Maguire, Cork city The O'Donoghue, Tralee; and >'• r. D. J. Rearden, Athlone. It is worthy of note that on u- last occasion-in July, 1848—when the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended, the bill was likewise opposed by eight repre- sentatives of Irish constituencies. The minority was then ten, including tellers, but two Irishmen returned for English boroughs-Mr. Shannon Crawford and Mr. Feargus O'Connor -made up the number. It is also to be remarked that one of the members for Cork city was a teller on each occasion, Mr. Fagan having discharged the duty in 1848, and Mr. Maguire on Saturday last. In the House of Lords on Feb. 19, on the motion of Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, the object of which is to extend to the government of Ireland the power possessed by the executive in England to take possession of the telegraphs generally, was read a second time, and the standing orders having been suspended, it was passed through all its other stages. Earl Granville moved the second reading of the Government Cattle Diseases Bill, and stated its provisions, which have been so recently discussed in the House or Commons, and the standing orders having been suspended, the House went into committee on the bill. The various clauses were fully discussed, and eventually the bill passed through this stage, was then read a third time, and passed, and the he use adjourned. In the House of Commons, in answer to Mr. Hankey, Mr. M. Gibson said that a measure was in preparation forgiving to the public security that the statutory debentures ifsued by railway companies should not exceed the limit of their power under their acts. In answer to Lord Courtenay, the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer said that Mr. Boxall, R.A., had been appointed di- rector of the National Gallery, and his relations with the Treasury were the same as those of his predecessors. The only desire of the government was to appoint the most effi- cient man; and no precedent would be established for the selection of a painter or artist. In answer to Mr. Gregory, the Attorney-General for Ire- land said a bill relating to the cattle plague as regarded Ire- land had been prepared and was under consideration by the authorities of that country. Mr. Mainwaring asked why, when moments were so pre- cious, her Majesty was not in London to give the royal assent to the bill for Suspending the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that it was only on Friday that the cabinet.considered and decided on suspend- ing the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, and her Majesty hap- pening to be at Osborne, it was necessary to send the bill thither to receive the royal assent. In answer to Mr. Darby Griffith, Sir G. Grey said that there was no law, parliamentary or otherwise, which pre- vented the House sitting on a Sunday if any emergency re- quired it. The House then went into committee on the Cattle Plague (Mr. W. Hunt's) Bill. Mr. Hunt st&ted the object of his bill, which is to prevent all movement of cattle till the 25th of March, except from field to field for 209 yards, from a port to a slaughter-house 500 yards, and from a farm to a slaughter-house two miles, besides other minute exceptions. A number of the earlier clauses were struck out or post- poned. After a lengthy discussion, at nearly half-past 12 a motion to report progress was, on a division, negatived by 117 to 25, and the clauses were proceeded with. The National Debt Reduction Bill, and the Savings Bank and Post-office Savings Banks Bill were passed through com- mittee. The other business was gone through, and the House ad- journed.
MALT versus BARLEY. --
MALT versus BARLEY. A further report has been published of the results of experiments undertaken by order of Government to ascertain the value of malt for the purpose of feeding cattle. The general conclusions of the report, which is signed by Mr. John Bennett Lawes, and dated August last, are the following :— The general conclusion from the results of the direct exf periments with cows, oxen, sheep, and pigs, is, that a given weight of barley is more productive, both of the milk of cows, and the increase in live-weight of fattening animals, than the amount of malt and malt-dust that would be pro- duced from it. The results of these new experiments, as here stated, are consistent with those obtained in an official Inquiry conducted in 1845-6 by the Drs. Thomas and Robert Dundas Thompson, with cows and with oxen. They are consistent with the results of experiments made at Rotham- sted, in 1848 and 1849, with sheep; and also with those of others made in 1854 with pigs, in which some were fed on sugar. Wherever weights have been taken as a measure of the effects produced, experience hitherto has failed to show any advantage in malt over the amount of barley from which it would be produced, as a staple food for healthy milking cows or fattening animals and, if no advantage, there must, in point of economy, be a loss, on account of the cost of the malting process. Irrespectively of economy, malt is undoubtedly a very good food for stock; and common experience seems to show that a certain amount of it is beneficial when given in admixture, and in change, with other food, to young or weakly animals, or in making up" or finishing" for exhibition or sale that is, when the object is to produce a particular result irrespective of the economy required in ordinary feeding."
EXHIBITION of BRITISH and…
EXHIBITION of BRITISH and FOREIGN BIRDS at the CRYSTAL PALACE. The annual exhibition of British and foreign birds commenced on Saturday in the tropical department of the Crystal Palace, the temperature of which is par- ticularly suited to the purpose. The collection, which comprises British and foreign cage-birds, game birds, singing and talking birds, presents many interesting features. The greatest attention, however, is attracted by the varieties of breed in the canary classes, and also by the large number of birds exhibited. There are nearly 900 entries as against 600 last year. The variety of the birds may be inferred from the fact that there are thirty-two classes of foreign birds, twenty-four classes of canaries, twelve classes of British singing birds, eight of migratory birds, with two classes of gold, silver, and other pheasants. The clear yellow Norwich" canary class comprised as many as fiftv- six birds, and the judges found considerable difficulty in arranging the distribution of prizes among the beautiful specimens contributed to this class. The British birds are classed separately, and are placed in a department by themselves. These, for the most part, tiny creatures, possess.a certain peculiar interest derived from being our familiar friends, and, indeed, though their plumage is less brilliant than that of many of their feathered companions, they make ample amends by the melodious sweetness of their song. In this class we find linnets, skylarks, wood- larks, robins, blackbirds, songthrushes, chaffinches, goldfinches, bullfinches-among which is exhibited a rara avis, a black specimen-and a cuckoo, a bird well known by its familiar call, but seldom seen. Some magpies and jackdaws are also included in this depart- ment, some specimens of the bird of passage, the black- cap, the nightingale, with one gerfalcon, certainly the most stately and dignified bird in the collection. The foreign classes are numerous, and comprise many valuable and interesting specimens. Among the cockatoos there are some beautifully coloured birds, the first being the lemon or orange- crested. One veteran in this class attracts special at- tention. He is aged twenty three years, and if his testimonials to character and ability be true, he possesses a vocabulary of about eighty words, with which he frequently announces his predilection for "brandy and water," and proclaims his loyalty by demanding "Three cheers for the Queen." One of the gray parrots sings the well-known street air, Would I were a bird," while several of the others of this class who are not credited with more than ordinary ability indulge in the accomplishments of whistling, laughing, barking, and dancing. On the whole, it is a very inter- esting exhibition.
glkcUmitmis |utcl%n«,
glkcUmitmis |utcl%n«, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A BYGONE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.—It is thirty-six years since that the opening day of the Ses- sion of Parliament took place early in February, within a day of the opening this year. There was this difference, that in 1830 the day was so gloomy, that it was with the greatest difficulty King William IV. could read the Royal Speech. Most patiently did he struggle with the task; often hesitating, sometimes mistaking, and at other times correcting himself. On one occasion, the Sailor King stuck altogether; and after two or three ineffectual efforts to make out the word, he was obliged to give it up when turning to Lord Melbourne, who stood on his right hand, and looking him most si gnificantly in the face, he said in a tone sufficiently loud to be audible in all parts of the House, "Eh! what is it?" Lord Melbourne having whispered the obstructing word, the King procerded to toil through the speech but by the time he got to about the middle, the librarian brought him two wax lights, on which he suddenly paused; then raising his head, and looking at the Lords and Commons, he addressed them on the spur of the moment, in a perfectly distinct voice, and with- out the least embarrassment, or the mistake of a single word, in these terms: -"My Lords and Gentlemen, 1 have hitherto not been able, from want of light, to read this speech in the way its importance deserves but as lights are now brought me, I will read it again from the commencement, and in a way which, I trust, will command your attention." The King then again, though evidently fatigued by the difficulty of reading in the first instance, began at the beginning and read through the speech in a manner which would have done credit to any professor of elocution. I AN ANGRY COACHMAN AT THE CARNIVAL.—A correspondent, writing from Rome on the 9th, says up to that time no serious accident had tak-n place except a disaster which happened to an Irish lady's maid in the Via Condotti, near the Corso, on the previous Wednesday afternoon. It appears that while she was looking out of the window and pelting passers-by with lime confetti, into which stupid and dusty diversion the original witticisms of the Carnival have unfortunately degenerated, a coachman in the service of Sir Henry Pottinger, who was standing before his horses opposite the house, attracted her at- tention, and she, in a luckless moment, pelted him also. It is not known what irritated the man so much, but he certainly lost his temper, and running upstairs rang at the door, which was opened by the maid her- self. What exactly took place is not yet known, for she is in such a dangerous condition that it is not safe to agitate her as yet by questions on the subject; but it is certain that she was desperately wounded* on the back of the head, and the surgeon, Mazzoni, who was sent for without delay, had great difficulty in tying the artery which had been divided. The coachman was immediately arrested, although he protested his total innocence. He is unfortunately a married man, with a large family, and has hitherto borne a good character. AN AMERICAN MURDERESS.—A woman named Martha Grinder was recently executed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who seems to have practised murder as systematically as Charlotte Winsor; not for any gain, however, but as one of the fine arts. Six or seven lodgers at her house were poisoned, and her closet was discovered to be a complete toxicological magazine. She was in fearful agony on hearing the death warrant, but became more cheerful afterwards. On^e .morn- ing of the execution, whilst in conversatio|iwifcl^,the clergyman, she had her hair oiled and plsBeq, afifl seemed extremely anxious to appear w^ll; on ,the scaffold. She then sang hymns until the fa|Ur of ex- ecution. She left a brief confession, signaMlw^ her cross mark, that she had poisoned two ladi<-fcL" gad as I ha1 she says, I feel that God, for Christ's sake, hw • orgi v"n me, and through His mercy I hope to find • ( entrance into Heaven. I die without any hard fe"tinge to any one, forgiving all as I hope to be forgive; If," she says in conclusion, I had been faithful to my church duties it would have been T h jyith m". now. But I am thankful that God "o.sfoa d ,%s to return to me now that I do try to come „ ck t( Tiirn,^ Two clergymen sign their names as cs tQ document. 0", Has LSIA MANNERS.—A species of entertain- as a substitute for the ordinary balls, is creeli),fix into fashion in Paris (says a writer in the Pall Mail Gazette). It consists of a sort ,f promenade concert, an assembly of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen who are supposed to find suffi- cient amusement in meeting one another and listening, if they J.aiik proper, to the strains of Strauss's band. An innovation introduced last year by Princess Met- ternich is to be repeated this year by the Countess Walewski. The ladies are required to appear in masks and dominoes, the gentlemen being undisguised, merely wearing the Venetian mantle over their ordinary dress. The. consequence and, indeed, the object of this ar- rangement, which so detracts from the brilliancy of an assembly, is to afford increased freedom of inter- course and a wider scope for intrigue. What the French term esprit in conversation is not always res- pectable. It is thought the height of gallantry and wit to address to a lady remarks with a double mean- ing, the one bearing indecorous allusions to a forbid- den subject; the other preparing a retreat in case of offence. It is easy to imagine how the mask offers facilities for this style of conversation. As the gentle- man is not supposed to know to whom he is speaking, the lady can listen without her dignity being compro- mised, while he, on the other hand, surveys the black impassible visage, undisturbed by the fear of a frown or a blush. And, further, as the initiative of the con- versation must necessarily be taken by the lady, the very act of addressing the cavalier is considered as a kind of challenge, to which a Frenchman is not slow to put a flattering interpretation. THE GOVENMENT AND CATTLE INSURANCE COM- PANIES.—At a general meeting of the County Cattle Insurance Company, held at Hertford on Saturday, under the presidency of the Marquis of Salisbury, a question arose as to the liability of the company to compensate insurers for cattle slaughtered under the provisions of the Government bill. Mr. Chesshyre, one of the directors, said the company was only liable for losses, and that cattle compulsorily slaughtered could not be regarded as included in the losses for which the com- pany had undertaken to make compensation. If it were so, their whole capital might be swept away by the act of the authorities. Mr. Brandram, a farmer, urged that as the Government bill only provided com- pensation to the extent of one-half the value of diseased cattle ordered to be slaughtered, it was but fair that the company (which was liable to pay three- fourths of the value of cattle dying of disease), should add one-fourth to the amount allowed by the Govern- ment, which would thus be raised to the sum for which it was itself liable. The Marquis of Salisbury was of opinion that the company could not do this, as it had no control over the slaughter of animals. Mr. Brand- ram rejoined that, in that case, he should be unwilling to allow an inspector to come on his premises to order the slaughter of his cattle, and that he should attempt to cure, failing in which he should expect the company to compensate him for those which died. Several farmers present complained of what they called the unfairness of allowing only half the value of cattle compulsorily slaughtered. SPOILING A WEDDING !—In Chicago, recently, the only daughter of a wealthy man fell in love with a young man beneath her only in a worldly point of view. The father heard of it, was furious, and refused the young man permission to visit the house. The lovers meanwhile found means to correspond. After an interval Mr. B., wealthy and good-looking, visited at the house, and the father hinted that he desired his daughter to receive him favourably. She did so, and in due course he was accepted, and the wedding, a very magnificent one, was appointed. Arriving at the church, the party were about entering, when a strange young man stepped forward, and hastily thrusting a package into the hands of the bridegroom, disappeared as quickly as possible. Wondering what such an un- usual occurrence could mean, Mr. B- looked at the package, and saw written thereon the words, Open this and read-your future happiness depends on it." More astonished than ever, he excused himself for a moment, and opened the package. One look satisfied him. He found a number of letters written in the hand- writing of his blushing bride, and addressed to a person of whom he had never heard. The match was, of course, broken off and, to prevent scandal, the father consented to an immediate marriage with the first lover, The best of tht story is that the handing of the letters to B. at the church was a trick concocted by Arabella and the young man of poverty, for the special purpose of producing the result it did. THE ABERDEENSHIRE RINDERPEST ASSOCIATION. —Mr. Barclay, hon. secretary to this association, pub- lishes a detailed account of the mode in which the cattle plague has been so successfully dealt with in Aberdeenshire. He says:— The disease was extirpated In the end of December, and the county remained free of disease up to the 19th of January, on which day it appeared simultaneously at two new centres; on the 23rd at a third, and on the 1st of February at a fourth, each at least seven miles distant from any of the others, and from any previous seat of disease. The following were the principal restrictions on cattle traffic in this county: 1. All fairs and markets have been prohibited since September. 2. Since the 1st of December no cattle or sheep (one lot of the latter only excepted) have been admitted into the county and watchers have been stationed day and night at all accessible points along the southern boundary of the county to make the prohibitions effective 3. All movement of cattle, sheep, or other articles named in the orders in council within one mile of any diseased animal has been prohibited. There are various other minor restrictions, but these are the principal ones relied OIL Mr. Barclay comes to the conclusion that we have in our midst a disease so virulent that the germs retain their vitatity after being carried by the wind 30 or 40 miles, and so penetrating that it finds its way, unaided save by the wind, to the most se- cluded hamlets, and into the very sheds where our animals are housed and it must be clearly evident that if we allow it to increase in any locality unchecked we have no means of preventing its communication to an indefinite extent in every direction. We are more than ever convinced that the only way in which we can cope with this gigantic evil is to stamp it out" wherever it occurs and at any cost. Were this done, were all infected places isolated all affected animals killed at once, and all tainted articles disinfected, we might then allow a moderate degree of liberty in regard to the movement of cattle, and thus while doing all that can be done to obliterate infectious centres, relieve the agricultural interest of the country from some oegree of that restriction which will, if continued, be felt by-and-bye to a ruinous extent. As soon as our cattle are put out to graze, we may expect the disease to increase a hundredfold if infected districts are allowed to harbour the plague, and to become a constant source of pestilence to every farm and every animal for many miles around. BISHOP GOLENSO AND MISS BURDETT COUTTS. —A letter from Miss Burdett Coutts to the Colonial Bishoprics Fund, in which she expresses her dissatis- faction at the existing state of things, has been pub- lished in the colony. She complains that the conditions on which she undertook and had performed her guarantee in endowing the see of Capetown had "not been ful- filled by the letters patent, and she finds with most painful surprise that the bishop nominated to the see of Capetown is declared to in the report of the Privy Council, not to have any effective ecclesiastical juris- diction." She is informed that under these circum- stances the funds provided by her for the endow- ment of the respective colonial sees may possibly revert to her or to her representatives." Hence Miss Coutts requests that steps may be taken to give legal effect, if practicable, "to the arragements which her Majesty's letters were intended to sanction," but which are found now to be of no effect at all.—John Bull. COMPENSATION TO FARMERS.—The Economist" points out the danger of diminishing the interest of the farmer in saving his cattle. The Government Bi-1, as it stands, almost gives a motive for extensive slaughter, and for throwing all precautionary or reme- dial measures out of consideration—certainly it pro- vides no check against such wholesale slaughter. Then so far as it bears upon the discovery of remedies and proper treatment for the disease when once developed, it simply and absolutely prevents the possibility of trying any treatment or any remedies. It leaves ab- solutely no room for experiments on the disease. Under special-and no doubt they ought to be most stringent—arrangements, authority should be given for tne attempt at cure; nay, it would be desirable even for Government to.esfobliah at least a few hoSpi- tals for beasts under the disease, where the most ex- perienced men might have authority -to try medical experiments on its treatment. The Economist thinks the proposition as to compensation should be reversed, and not more than one-third of the compensation money raised from county rates, and the other two- thirds from the class for whose benefit chiefly this measure is proposed-the stock-owners. It is of all things most desirable that agricultural interest should feel strongly and constantly the cost of the slaughter which they are to authorise for remedial purpses. THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH AND THERESA. —General Fleury gave a concert at his splendid apart- ments in the Louvre, at Paris, to his Royal Highness Prince and Princess Hohenzollern and the elite of the Court circle. Theresa was the singer selected by the general for the entertainment of the King of Portugal's young sister. On the conclusion of her first song the Prince, her husband, said that bad he been aware of her style of performance he would never have sanctioned the presence of his young wife, and further added that he blushed for the men who could take pleasure in such an exhibition. As to the ladies preeent, as they could not possibly understand her gro-s language, they sim- ply laughed at her grotesque genre without compre- hending her corrupt insinuations. The Evenment in- forms us that the Emperor twice applauded this can- tatrice, and General Fleury went up to express his thanks in the ^following words You have had, mademoiselle, a rare success. The Emperor has laughed more in one hour while listening to you than I have known him to do in one year." SAD ACCOUNTS FROM THE IONIAN ISLANDS.— A correspondent writes from Cephalonia on the 1st., giving the following gloomy report of the state of things in that island:- We have had here until recently rather a mild season, but a few days since the winter set in with much severity, and a great deal of snow has fallen. This year is rather miserable for the inhabitants; our currant crop was poor, and sold low in price; the oil is entirely lost, cereals are scarce, and the people suffer. We have lost also English money, which used to be spent unsparingly. Now the people begin to discover the great mistake they have made in severing con- nection with Old England," and there is general discon- tent and disorganisation in all the islands, particularly in Corfu. Never a night passes without a burglary; the pub- lic offices are broken into and ransacked for money; the post-office has lately been twice entered at night by false keys. We fear mare serious disasters, now that the people perceive the weakness of the government. We have here a garrison of about 100 soldiers, the half of them officers; what can they do ? what protection can they afford us amongst a malcontent population of 80000 souls? An ill- feeling subsists between soldiers and civilians, quarrels take place daily, and bloodshed often ensues. At Corfu, also, great disorders take place, as well as in Zante, and even Santa Maura. Politically and socially we are treated by the Greek parliament, not as a confederate nationality, but as a conquered people. They have diminished the stipends of all the Ionian employees, and every day they appoint Greeks of the continent to the public offices. We deserve all this We had a very good protection under English rule, but always resisted it, invariably seeking and clamouring for the union. We have now the union, and we must suffer its consequences. THE LATE DUKE DE MORNY'S PAINTINGS.—The civil tribunal of Paris has just given judgment in a suit instituted by M. Castiglione, a Neapolitan painter, against the Duchess of Morny, to recover the value of two paintings-one representing the Salon d'Apollon" at the Louvre, sold to the late duke for 20,000fr. and duly delivered; the other, Reading after Dinner," which was painted for the duke, who was to give 10,000fr. for it. As to the first painting, the duchess acknowledged that she was aware of the purchase, but not of the price agreed on, and she therefore demanded that the tribunal should appoint experts to value it. With regard to the Reading after Dinner," she knew nothing of it, and refused to receive it, but if the plaintiff could prove the order to the satisfaction of the tribunal, she wished that painting to be valued also. The tribunal, after hearing the plaintiff's witnesses, de- cided that the second painting had been ordered by the late duke, and appointed MM. Perignon, Dauzats, and Bida, to value both. GOING IT !—Masked balls are all the rage in Philadelphia, the "Quaker city." The German Mannerchor lately gave one, which was opened with the "Fair scene" from" Martha." During the ball an egg, vast as that seen by Sinbad, was introduced. Suddenly, out of it jumped, says the correspondent of the New York Round Table, almost as great a variety of beasts and birds as voyaged with Noah in the Ark. Each gave the peculiar utterance of its kind, and an animal Babel was thus created as they formed a pro- cession, headed by a giant, and joined by a number of Indiani mounted on Shetland ponies. At another ball, called "La Coteria Carnaval" (at the supper of which 35,000 oysters were served !), the scene of St. Mark's, Venice, was s*t at the extremity of the stage, with gondolas passing and repassing on real water. A GOOD AND KINDLY SUGGESTION, — Lord Lyttelton summoned a meeting of the guardians of Poor Law Unions in Worcestershire last week at Worcester, to confer with them on a proposal made by Mr. Baker, of Hardwicke-court, Gloucestershire (who is well known as the originator of reformatories), for relieving workmen out of employment in their travels in search of work. Mr. Baker's plan, his lord- ship explained, was that every master of a workhouse on sending forth a traveller should give him a ticket containing his name and description, and stating the places wbence he. c.me and whither he was going. This ticket the traveller would present at the next workhouse at which he applied for relief, and if it ap- peared that he had travelled from twenty to thirty miles he would have his supper, bed, and breakfast free, and be permitted to resume his journey without being required to do any work. But if he had not travelled the distance or had no ticket, then four hours' work should be required for the food and lodging. A relaxation to be made in the case of crippled or weak persons. Thus honest persons really desirous of find- ing work would be enabled to move from one place to another without interruption or expense, and there would be no excuse for begging. The report which has been published does not state how the proposition was received. THE GRAIN OF WHEAT IN A BUSHELL OF CHAFF -The fJpectator writes:- Dean Ramsay, the well-known Scotch humourist, has been lecturing in Edinburgh on "Preachers and Preaching," en- riching his discourse with stories such as only he can tell. He was very severe on the threatening style" of preaching so general with Calvinists, and adduced Robert Hall as on the whole the best examplar for marrowy yet eloquent preaching. The statement, however, which seems to have attracted most general attention is one about the number of sermons preached in Great Britain in the year. There are in all about 37,520 places of worship in the island, and in the majority of these two sermons are preached every week, in a large minority three, and in a small number four, the fourth being known as the "week-day lecture." Taking, however, only two as an average, 3,902,080 sermons are preached every year. It is lamentable to think that a power so tremendous and so diffused should be wasted by mis- management, till the four million sermons have not a sixtieth of the practical effect of a song by Tennyson or a speech from Mr Gladstone. They lecture like human beings. THE RAILWAYS AND THE CATTLE PLAGUE.—The Railway News is of opinion that the Cattle Plague Bill, as amended by Mr. Ward Hunt, will serve the interests of railway shareholders. The companies will find it more profitable to carry the dead meat than the live cattle. The conveyance of cattle requires an undue proportion of rolling stock, and adds very largely to the dead weight of a train. Six head of fat cattle are as many as can be carried in one truck, while a truck of the same weight could carry probably as much dead meat as a score of bullocks would give when killed. And inasmuch as one effect of the regulation will be, that all the markets of the country must now be supplied by railway with dead meat, far from exercising any prejudicial effect on the railway interest, the new ar- rangement will give a larger quantity of more remu- nerative traffic. A LUNATIC LOVER.—A. few days ago a young man named Shevlin embarked on the Earl of Erne steamer at Dundalk, for Liverpool; on board the vessel was a young married woman, whom he had courted. His proceedings were symptomatic of lunacy as he persecuted her with attentions on board. At length Shevlin frantically exclaimed, I have but one hour to live, and you, and you alone, can save me but the young woman, heedless of his entreaties, left him to himself. Her husband did not seem inclined to take part in what was going on, but looked on in silence. "I have but an hour to live," again cried Shevlin, and kneeling down on deck began to pray with fervour. Presently one of the crew (M'Court,) who was on night-watch, saw Shevlin quickly traversing the bulwarks, with his coat off, and holding in his hand a prayer-book. Shevlin had now reached the rails, and stood gazing for an instant into the sea, and lifting up his arms made a spring forward but before his feet had left the side of the steamer,"he suitor, by a tremendous effort, grasped him by toe sleeve of the shirt. The strength of both was strained to the utmost. M'Court tried to seize him by the hair ,but Shevlin stooping low, with one powerful jerk dived headlong in the deep, leaving behind the fragment of the shirt which M'Court still retained in his hand. A man- overboard" was now the cry, and Captain Farrell ordered the steamer to be turned, and to try all means to save the life of the unfortunate man. Nothing could be done for him, for after a few moments he sank. AN ILL-USED YOUNG MAN !—At a London police- court a young man applied for a summons against two sisters, under the following circumstance-. The appli- cant stated that, hortly before Christmas he met the two sisters in question at a concert, introduced himself to their notice, and at his request was allowed to see them home. He made an appointment with one to walk out with him on the following Sunday, and that being kept he became her accepted lover, and as such he considered himself. A few days since he saw his young woman out with a young man, and, feeling annoyed, he asked her what she meant by it, when she laughed in his face and said that she had him (applicant) for a "walking- stick. She meant that she only had him to walk out with when she could get no one else. On Wednesday last he received two valentines, of a most annoying character, and feeling certain that they had been sent to him by the young women in question, he endeavuured to see them, and on Friday he met them in the street. He no sooner began to accuse them than they assaulted him with their umbrellas, broke his hat, scratched his face, and had he not run away would have otherwi-e maltreated him. He spoke to a constable about the matter, but he refused to take the young ladies into custody, and in consequence he had reported the man to his superior officer, and he would be punished. He hoped the magistrates would grant him summ-.nses, as he wished to show the young ladies that they could not do as they pieced witn him. The magistrate said the applicant could have the summonses, but he thought he had better leave the matter alone or else consult some mutual friend. THE HOMELESS Boys OF LONDON.—A letter from Mr. Williams, Secretary to the Casual Boys' Refuge, in the London Times, of Monday morning says that the rep .rt of the casual supper has done good' and that the supper was intended to have a practical result. Two important projects had been started- one to get a training ship from the Admiralty for the boys who are willing to go to sea; the other, to fit up a house with about fifty acres of land for training those boys who are not fitted for sea to agricultural pursuits. These schemes require considerable funds to start them, but one gentleman has promised 100Z. to help in starting the country home, and the contributions received by the secretary amount to about 1751. We believe that if public attention is once called to this great want, there will be no lack of funds. There is no doubt that the want is great and pressing, and it may best be met by beginning with the boys before they harden into I full-grown c&au&la, Take u& the foxes, the little foxes," unless we are to have them growing up to that 1 maturity in evil which is almost irremediable, and which at best can lead to nothing but compliments from a full court for dexterity in the use of a crowbar. A CORRECT JUDGMENT.—Mr. Wilson, late shipbuilder, of Liverpool, stafed, at the inquiry into the loss of the London steamship, that; he went to see her in consequence of Ms son being about to Australia, and a friend having recommended him to take his berth in the ship. He went and saw her fore and aft, and she appeared to be an unusually strong iron vessel, quite equal to anything of her class that he had previously seen; but, nevertheless, he had an objection to the ship, which was that her length and depth were too great for her beam; and he came to the conclusion that if she should be heavily laden thHe would be very great danger in going to sea with her. She was also very much over-sparred. He left her, and would not allow his son to proceed on board. Sir Daniel Hooper also stated that he made a trip to Australia in the London in 1864, and that he made up his mind he never would go on board her again. She was very slow before the wind, aud did not steer well under sail, even with the screw down. She was not fit to carry a cargo of any extent, and she made bad weather. She was intended for short voyages, and ought not to have had a heavy cargo. PROPOSED DAY OF HUMILIATION.—The Bishod of Oxford has made the following commuaication to the archdeacons of his diocese: London, February 13. My dear Archdeacon,-Will you I convey to the clergy of your archdeaconry my request that they move their several parishes, in the course of this Lent, to observe a day of humiliation before God for our sins, and of special prayer and deprecation of His righteous judgments, particulariy that of the present cattle plague, humbly beseeching Him to be entreated for the land ? On the day which they and their parishioners select for the purpose I appoint the use of the Litany and Communication Service in church; the other necessary arrangements I leave to their own discretion. 1 trust that the employers of labour will allow as many of their labourers as possible to attend the services of the church, but I do not advise that the day should lie made one of entire abstinence from labour-an abstinence which suits rather with festival than with a fast. I pray God to give all the true spirit of penitence, and mercifully to accept our devotions for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.- I am your faithful friend and brother, S. OXoN. A BARBERS' QUARREL.—Two Parisian barbers appeared in court recently, and created roars of hila- rity. The complaint was, by the first barber, that he had had a,sign of a man, artistically painted, hanging to a tree by his long hair, which had caught in the boughs. Under the picture were words of similar im- port to these in French, difficult to understand from its patois: Passenger, here you may behold The fate of Absalom the bold: If he had wisely worn a wig, He'd not have hung upon this twig." The rival barber and poet thereupon had a sign painted of a man drowning, and another man seeking to rescue him, but in vain, as he had clutched hair which proved to be a wig, and away the drowning floated. Under- neath is this verse, in the same patois If you are even paid for it, Do not put a wig on your pate: My friends, be quite assured of it, To false hair this gent owes his fate." The judge and the audience laughed heartily, and to the discomfiture of the possessor of the first sign, the judge declared he could not see any wrong done, and dismissed the case. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN FRANCE.-Ten per cent. of the men who married in Scotland and 20.35 per cent. of the women bad to sign the marriage register by making their mark in the year 1862, for which detailed returns have just been issued. In England, in the same year 23.7 per cent. of the men who married and 32.2 per cent. of the women were obliged to sign by mark. But England is steadily re- ducing its disadvantage, and diminishing very much faster than Scotland the proportion of population signing by mark. To a great extent it is the Irish element in Scotland which causes her proportion of persons unable to write their names to he even so high as it is. In these towns and counties where the num- ber of the Irish is great the proportion of men and women signing by mark is great. Scotland was able to show in 1862 one county (Kinross), in which, indeed, there were only thirty-two marriages, but in every instance both parties wrote their names on the register; and in another county (Peebles), in which there were sixty marriages, every one of the sixty men and all but one of the sixty women wrote their names. THE SUNDAY LEAGUE AND THE LORD'S DAY OBSERVANCE SOCIETY. -The point in dispute between the Sunday League and the Lord's Day Observance Society has not been settled. It will he remembered that the Lord's Day Society denied having threatened an action, declaring that it worked only by moral persuasion and not by appeals to the law. But the Sunday League now publishes a statement to the effect that notice" was given by the Sabbatarians, and that "it was clearly understood that Mr. Baxter, re- presenting the Lord's Day Observance Society, would raise no vexatious difficulties, but bring the matters to trial without delay." On this "clear understanding" the lectures were suspended, and Mr. Baxter, having gained his object, repudiates the arrangement. That is to say, the Lord's Day Observance Society begins threatening certain steps, which of course are in- terpreted to mean legal steps, and having carried its point by the threat, turns round and says that the steps were purely moral. However, as the Sunday evenings are to be resumed, though not at St. Martin's Hall, we have a chance of learning which statement is correct. PORTRAIT OF THE MARQUIS DE BOISSY.-The Marquis de Boissy is a little old man, very thin, and with a bilious-looking face. From his childhood up- wards his quarrelsome temper and independent cha- racter have continually got him into scrapes. A t school his masters found it impossible to control him, and he passed his time in playing or fighting with his com- rades. He was afterwards sent by his father to the army; but he soon left it, after having had more than twenty duels with the officers of his regiment. He then entered the diplomatic career, under the protec- tion of M. de Chateaubriand.
EPITOME OF NEWS.
EPITOME OF NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN. A few days ago, at Glasgow, a man swallowed a quantity of oil of almonds in mistake for whiskey, and died. The Duke of Devonshire has written a letter to the Roman Catholic clergymen of Lismore, County Waterford, expressing his gratification that not one of his tenants, in town or country, has been implicated in crimes affecting the peace and good order of society. The Prince of Wales, who takes much interest in the fire brigade, is furnished every morning, when in London, with a copy of Captain Shaw's report of the fires that occur in the metropolis. The five young lions, whose birth in the circus at Paris at such an untimely period n.ade such a sensation, and caused the terrible fight, have, it is said, all been sold to ladies. Doubtless keeping a young lion on the hearthrug will be quite a fashionable thing in Paris in the boudoirs The Archbishop of Paris notifies that he "will per- mit" the use of eggs during Lent, but that he will only allow meat to be eaten three days in the week. The approaching marriage of a Russian Prince and the daughter of a sempstress, is spoken of in Paris as to be shortly celebrated. Two young Russian women are at present studying medicine at the University of Zurich, and show, it is stated much aptitude for that profession. Two farmers in Illinois disagreed about a balance of accounts, one claiming 7 dollars 11 cents, the other 15 dollars 50 cents. The former sued: R«sult—forty witnesses and ar- ray of counsel. Verdict for plaintiff, 3 dollars 27 cents whole expenses about 1,000 dollars. Mrs. Ward is engaged on a picture representing the last great trial of Palissy the Potter, i.e., when he had broken the imperfect specimens of his skill, notwithstanding the ob- jurgations of his wife, the woful distress of his children and the threatening importunities of his creditors. All these personages appear in the picture. The Spectator holds that the Government should not have promised a Reform Bill at all, without a sincere and almost imperious conviction en the subject. The weak tentative attitude which they are now taking injures them seriously as a Government with the country, and holds out no hope of a special success with regard to the particular measure. In a life of Tom Sayers, "Champion of England" just appeared, the author concludes by grandly saying- ''Such was the end of the pugilistic career of ove to whom the shades of Ajax, Entelles, Milo, Dares Ervx Gvas Gerontes, and the deified twins Castor and Pollux mav well give the hand of Friendship may Mrs. Elizabeth C. Greene, a daughter of John Singleton Copley, the artist, and a sister of the late Lord Lyndhurst, died in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 1st of February, at _the age of 95. Lord Lyndhurst and two sisters were among those who sailed from Marblehead, in Massa- chusetts, for England, in the last ship that left America while it remained under the British flag in 1775. One of the passengers, Mis- Copley, now aged 93, "ue survives. She hres with Lady Lyndhurst, and Is still in good health cheerful, and in possession of her intellect. The exact value of the personal property left bv the late Mr. Richard Thornton, is 2,592,995/ and the legacy duty paid upon it amounts to no less than 150,269l. 17s. This sum will more than account for the increase of 106 OOOi in the stamp duties shown upon the last three months by the returns. The real estate was inconsiderable. The Pall Mall Gazette says we have reason to be- lieve that the amount of the surplus which the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have to announce has been very much over-estimated. It cannot, even under the most favourable circumstances, come within a million of the amount which has been named. The Courrier de Vienne, published at Poitiers, states that on Sunday last the public crier proclaimed at every corner of that town that M. HasiroR, banker, was summoned to surrender and take his trial at the approaching assizes to be held at Vienwe, on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy M. Hasiron was mayor of Poitiers, but resigned on the 31st of July, 1865. There was a considerable emigration from Havre last month, but the great majority of emigrants from that port choose the United States* notwithstanding the a,tva i- tages offered to them in the new Empire of Mexico Of 770 emigrants who quitted Havre last January G3fi saiio t New York, 105 for New Orleans, 35 for La P i ,°r Mexico. f0rlU° Janler°' aDd UOne f°rthe *'re^h colonies or Mexico. the Metropolitan Police, gave orders th»i- 9o missl,oner of geant should be posted at the Mod J1 P. 0 Bf,e\and„i SER" aid in guarding the Fpni»» r>i Prison, PentonvLle, to Do ice were first r° ft-t i Vv, pHsoners> confined there. The mencinB at six n'ttl \¥re on Saturday, the duty com- in the morninc ?' "? evening and terminating at six Irish shall ho 1 j 0* order has been Issued that no Irish shall be employed in this special duty. On Monday morning the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, with the members of the Common Council and the principal officers of the Corporation of London, went by special train from the London-bridge terminus of the South Eastern Rail- way to Stone, near Dartford, to pay a visit of inspection to the new Lunatic Asylum for the city of London which has been erected there by the Corporation, at a cost of between 60,000l, and 70.000Z. The building is pleasantly situated upon an elevated piece of ground overlooking the Thames and commanding views of the surrounding country for miles It is capable of accommodating 250 inmates, and is fitted un with all the modern appliances for the recreation and em- ployment of persons afflicted with insanityjn its various forms. Clarke, the man assassinated so brutally in Dublin was not only a Fenian, but one of those regularly drilled in the armoury, as it has been appropriately called in Loftus- lane. He was under pay from the Fenians, and became sus- pected by them in consequence of having suddenly showed signs in his clothes and otherwise of improved circum- stances. The money which he had received came from relatives in America, but his associates fancied he had ob- tained it for informing. He is reported to have said to those around him when dying: I have never told the police any- thing, and I will give you no information now." No one of the party who committed the murder has been taken The American papers bring intelligence loss of the American steamer Narciums, wit and crew—thirty-two persons in all. The receipts at the bal masque at the on Shrove Tuesday amounted to 14,117 francs, were present. It is stated that Government is likely t< Hit during the sefsion to assimilate the Englis ruptcy to that of Scotland. The British League Bible Classes of Ed Leith have forwarded to Garibaldi an Italian parts, and bound in purple morocco. A letter from Copenhagen states that i of the Princess Dagmar and the new hereditar of Russia will take place in the month of Apri day of King Christian. There are reports that during the sun year General Grant will pay a visit to Europe. The New York papers publish desp Toronto which assert that a Fenian attack o towns was hourly expected. No doubt tl sensational and without a word of truth. The Gazette of Bavaria announce fortifications of Augsburg are about to be ra: negotiations with that object have comm the military authorities and the municipality Among the patents last week is one f ments in coffins." The Court Journal says:—"The re Thumb's visit to Bath has been to take aw: from that intelligent city, which let Charles his wife play to empty benches." We believe it has not been mentioned 1 which the railway company claimed of Nlr. J. who fought the railway company so manfull ciple of findings keepings, actually upon exs tained one penny This was sworn to b1 and state of the purse at the time it was fou way carriage. Reports have reached New York froi the Mormons contemplate the abandonment < and a wholesale emigration to the Sandwich I said that Brigham Young had purchased < refusal of two of the Sandwich Islands forfuti by the Mormons. The motive for emigration the growing popular and official opposition t polygamy. Three respectably-dressed women v discovered clipping the curtains in the Exec at Washington for touvenin, and sent to the Such larcenies have become so frequent o officer has been appointed to remain on guar House. It is understood that upwards of 300, (X privately subscribed for the Atlantic Telegi and an appeal will probably be made to thepu to complete the manufacture of new cables, another attempt at submerging them duri year. A husbandman in the neighbourhood at this time growing on the same plant, and ( the same degree of ripeness, black grapes, peaches, and apricots. The Dissenting authorities say that in twenty years, if Spurgeon increases his influe sent rapid rate, and continues to isolate hi sect, the greatest Dissenting sect of the worl geonites. At a recent sale in Berlin, an autog] Marie Antoinette was sold for the extraordins An old gentleman has just died in P during eighteen years 6,670 francs in water i cafe of Paris. He used to come daily for his and-water, for which he paid 50 centimes, an the sugar and drank the water. The Sunday Gazette says it is not exp naval and military estimates will show ai diminution. Notwithstanding the reductio the saving in the estimates will amount quarter of a million. This is attributed to t provisions, for which the soldier pays a fixed how high the market rate may be. According to the Sunday Gazette, t that a peerage has been offered to, and a Charles Wood are somewhat premature: 1J is more than probable that the distinctio: to the right honourable baronet, though it is will accept it. The Senate of Hamburg has prohi portation of hay and straw from Great Brita The milliners and dressmakers of L benevolent and provident institution whic an example worthy of imitation by their p] At the eighteenth annual meeting, held on was reported that the present assets amount twenty-five members have claimed relief si was established, and the amount thus expen A bachelor and young lady bought fill partnership in a lottery at the recent Saniti waukee, and agreed to divide the proceeds t drew a double bedstead, a baby crib, and lu the question is, how to divide them, or wh not use them jointly. At a meeting of working men, held Friday evening in last week, it was resolvei sociation, to be called "The London Worki ciation," for the purpose of procuring tl of a lodger clause in the proposed Gove Bill. America, according to the latest inf( the latest promises, is going to do wonders al hibition, and thinks the space allotted to significant. Perhaps some of our readers ] mind the boast and fulfilment at the first Engli which resulted in a vast vacant place, with th an American gig, a few chaises, and a canoe. Monsieur de Siouville, a Frenchman, h: that he has at length succeeded in making mal By a recent Admiralty order the mod tering corporal punishment to boys in the R been altered. It has been hitherto the cua punishment with the same weapon which is grown men-the "cat," but with this diffei punishment has been in the case of boys app tocks instead of the backs. The Admiralty 1 wisely and humanely in ordering that for the shall be treated like schoolboys, on the hand, with a btrchrod. The Spectator publishes two replies to bury written by labourers in Dorsetshire, a they wrote them. "We have .heir names, that they are common day-labourers, in no n from those around them." The substance of is that Lord Shaftesbury knows little or not own people, that he has understated the hour overstated its profits by one-half. rlca The Americans are expecting the Mar eldest son of the Duke of Argyll, to make an through their country, accompanied by two noblemen. The party is now in Jamaica. King Louis I., of Bavaria, is now 1 is an assiduous frequenter of the numei dances which are the chief occupation of the ball at the Hotel des Anglais one of the ladiei of a general, lost her shoe, upon which the o it up and presented it to her with a gallant s A story is current, which probably ha tion in fact, that during a recent visit of a hig noble duke, a conversation arose at dinne certain individual who had been spilt" di run, and who was described as a little squ: agentleman well-known at Melton, thoughtle tneremark, "somewhat like your Royal Hii an indecorous allusion needed reproof, and is time for you to leave the room. Sir by the offender, who immediately retired. One of the most distinguished persona) an Amsterdam lady, who has been travellin; yacht with black and white attendants. Sh, vating, it is said, and a woman of spirit; i the Nile, where she has been crocodiling, board the vessel, and makes incursions into day. It is remarked that the late Chief Robert Peel, and Mr. Robert Lowe, the ex-Vi the Council on Education, sit on the same be gallery to the right of the Speaker, and hold tions during the debates. A joke is going tli House to the effect that mischief must be"br< Bobbies" put their heads together. The Independance Beige complains th dramatic performance at Brussels for an ] which was attended by a mixed audience Belgians our countrymen insisted on allstanc while < God save the Queen was being pla put on their hats and hurried out noisily struck up La Brabanconne," the national a At what is mysteriously called in Tiger Ball" the most remarkable costume was lady. The dress was of a soft brown plush, sti skin with luminous yellow bands it was i clasps in the form of tigers' claws fasten enough for dancing. The lady's hair, whic tawny stripes, hung in uncombed waves to her only ornament was a collar of plain 1 neck. The Queen will on Tuesday, the 27th a Court at Buckingham Palace, at which H receive the Corps Diplomatique, the me Majesty s Cabinet, and other official perso families, to whom notifications of her Ma intention will be sent by the Lord Chamber] The great Irish will case of Sir Edwa by which he left his estates away from his widow first, and afterwards to a half coi was settled on Saturday, when the jury ret that the will was invalid on the ground of undue influence. The estates, therefore, Augustine Fitzgerald, the brother, who succeeded to the baronetcy. The daughter of the keeper of an old in Paris has just lost her leg from a smgulai was displaying a dagger to an amateur of weapon fell from the scabbard and slightly which began to swell immediately. The doct the weapon, and found that the point had ( one of those dire poisons against which there On Friday evening the Hon. Mrs. Yt her first public appearance as a reader c Music-hall, Edinburgh. She was enthusias by a large audience, and in a variety of Tennyson and Longfellow she called forth th hearty plaudits. Her graceful elocution gra had gone, not for the purpose of entertainn to see the heroine of the Yelverton case. S to appear in several other towns. Jh,e engineers of Hull—upwards of ber-have struck for an advance of wages. p^ ou^s Blahc, in a recent letter ac Pans femps, and dated from London, stat tnone on England whenever Queen Victoi ptnuic. The Gazette de France comes to the M, Lorna Blanc is a convert to Royalist prin somewhat rash conclusion the old Legitin joices and expresses its intense gratification. In theatrical parlance the "ghost c at the English Opera Mouse in London on last—more plainly, there was no money with which to pay the salaries. A meetin) all the artists and others employed in th and it was resolved to close the theatre. Th will be paid, but the closing of the theatre d the pantomime will prove a great hardship employes. The Paris Figaro some time ago an tention of presenting every subscriber oranges! Another Parisian journal rece sweetmeats to its subscribers The Gazt, however, has outdone both, and offers, for francs, first of all itself for a whole year; at graph of the subscriber and thirdly, 500 n situated ten kilometres from Bordeaux, and station. An odd fashion at the fancy balls of ] the shape of the leg, and showing that th that struts along is only an imitation, is to t into it with a very sharp point; of course the is not touched. If a mistake w;re made it w for the sticker. The Poet Laureate's first effort in tho was a volume entitled Poems by Two Broth Simpkin & Marshall in 1827. This work he with his brother Charles, and the authors wer at Louth Grammar School. It would be cii to re-issue it, It was not until 1829 that gained the prize for English verse at Cambr: ject of Timbuctoo. A" Scotchman," writing to the Momi the attack made upon the farmers by Mr. L, on the Cattle Diseases Bill, wherein he sale had not some inducement held out to hin the presence of the disease he would con4 and in order To get rid of his cattle would si tainted condition to market, where incalci be done;" i.e, to get the farmer to do j bribed. A more unworthy estimate, says never made of honourable men, and the attl was in the same spirit-unjust in criticisn purpose.
(jgnr Jnnbnn Cormpmiml.
(jgnr Jnnbnn Cormpmiml. fWe deem it right to state that we do not at all times identify ourselves with our correspondent's opinions.] It has been evident for some time past that Fenianism is possessed of a vitality which is as remarkable as it is awkward to deal with. It is a hydra-headed monster which, apparently defeated, bursts out into new life. unexpectedly; the snake has been scotched, not killed More arrests, further discoveries of arms, more districts proclaimed—this ha 3 been the tale for weeks, and the Government Special Commission, with all its elaborate machinery, has only shown how inadequate have been the means adopted to put down this dangerous con- spiracy. What wonder, then, that Parliament should be called together for a Saturday sitting early in the session, specially to entertain the Government project of proclaiming martial law in Ireland ? There may be some who think this ought to have been done before but, as Sir George Grey put it on Saturday, I do not think the House of Commons will censure any govern- ment for waiting till they saw every constitutional means exhausted, every power of the ordinary law ineffective, before the conviction was forced upon them that extraordinary power must be put into requisition to effect the object in view." Fenian- ism is in one respect like the cattle plague; Government is blamed for allowing both to get too much ahead, but the fact is that no one seems to have thought, some time since, that either would turn out so serious. We can all remember how in our several circles people used to laugh at the Fenians and prophesy that the stupid wretched conspiracy would soon die out. But it has now turned out very different to this, and now journals of totally opposite politics have united in supporting the Government in asking the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act. This act, says Blackstone, is "the subjects' writ of right, passed for the security and liberty of individuals, May 27, 1679 So long as the statute remains in force no subject of England can be detained in prison, except in cases wherein the detention can be shown to be justified bylaw. The Habeas Corpus Act can alone be suspended by the authority of Parliament, and then for a short time only, and when the emergency is extreme. Suspected persons may then be arrested without cause or purpose being assigned." That the emergency is now extreme is only denied by extreme partisans r" who allow their strong political opinions to blind their judgment. Hence it was that when Sir George Grey rose to propose the suspension of this clause in the charter of our liberties, he evidently felt that he would be supported not only by the sanction of Parliament, but by that of the nation generally; and so it has proved. It is understood that, added to this measure will be a proposal for Government to have control of the telegraph lines in Ireland, which indeed they would already have but for an accidental omission from the General Telegraph Bill. Government and Parliament have now assumed a bold attitude, and it is to be hoped that the Fenians will see that their wicked conspiracy is also very stupid, because utterly impracticable. In 1848 the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act led to the immediate outbreak of the insur- rection, and what that led to we all know. Perhaps it would be best for England and Ireland if the same result were now to follow. The Cattle Plague is still one of the most prominent topics of the day, and much as Parliament and public would equally like to ignore it, it cannot be done. It forces itsolf upon us whether we will or no. In the Commons the Government measure has been received and discussed in a very fair spirit, and no attempt has been made to turn it into a party question. In truth the sub- ject is too serious, and the necessity for endeavouring to meet the evil too pressing for that. The views of Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Hunt, and Mr. Bright, as ex- pressed in committee, all have their supporters in and out of the House; and the result of Mr. Hunt's amend- ment, proposing more decided restrictions on the re- moval of cattle than the Government had done, is remarkable as showing the opinion of the majority of the House on the necessity of at once opposing a bold front to the advance of this terrible malady. His amendment was carried by 264 to 181; but, as I have said, it was not a party movement. In fact, there were no less than 52 Liberals who voted with Mr. Hunt, who is a staunch Con- servative, while 10 members of his own party voted against him. This result is especially remarkable, as Mr. Hunt's amendment was but the first of a series, with the object of totally prohibiting the removal of cattle, except under certain conditions. Whether even extreme measures will have the effect of eradicating the disease is doubted by many and it is a very dis- couraging fact that while Parliament has been earnestly discussing the best means of stopping it, the disease has actually been advancing. I fancy that if we cannot supply the rigid test of laborious students of history to the performances of such gentry as Jack Sheppard, Dick Turpin, and Claude Duval, we should find the heroism that has at- tached itself to their names is undeserved, and that many of their reported exploits are fabulous. But there is no fable about the operations of Mr. Thomas Caseley, professor of burglary, now of Milbank Prison. A more extraordinary narrative I do not re- member to hare read. Mr. Caseley, it seems-he really deserves the prefix-in a very clever way got into the premises at Cornhill, with two companions; opened Sir C. Crossly's safe cut holes in the ceilings to get into a tailor's shop, and then into Mr. Walker's valuable depository; opened his safe and took property to the amount of jB6,000, though the safe on which they operated was in view of any one who chose to look through a hole in the shutter, and in view of a policeman whose duty it was to look through that aperture every nine minutes. The whole narra- tive, as given in evidence by this clever scoundrel, is quite startling, and it ought not to be without its lessons. I do not place much faith in the common remark that "the same amount of talent employed in an honest way," &c. Caseley's talent was in the matter of burglary, and he could not have displayed this in an honest way; besides which he showed a great want of talent in securing what he did not bargain for-14 years' penal servitude. But shopkeepers may learn that it is unsafe to have their shops untenanted at night, despite the assumed pro- tection of any safe whatever, for Mr. Caseley assures us that he could open any safe in existence, and there may be others outside of Milbank Prison who are equally as clever; and the Commissioners of Police may learn how inefficient is the protection of the police when their beats are known to a minute. Messrs. Milner, by the way, must congratulate themselves on the testimonial they have received from the burglar-convict, who said that he would not have made the entry into the premises had he known it was a Milner safe, which the professor of the art of housebreaking evidently holds in high esteem. The safe-makers are now more on the qui vive than ever, and I hope that they may succeed in entirely defeat- ing the schemes of Mr. Caseley's successors. The growth of the Press in this country is an in. teresting study. I see, from Mitchell's Newspaper Press Directory," that there are now published in the United Kingdom no less than 1,257 newspapers. London has 226, the Provinces 707, Wales 43, Scot- land 139, Ireland 128, and the British Isles 14. It is certainly curious that London alone should have almost as many newspapers as Scotland and Ireland put to- gether but more curious is it to compare 1856 with 1866 for in the former year there were only 734 journals in the United Kingdom. These facts speak well for the improving taste of the age. A very great deal of this increase is of course owing to the removal of Government restrictions on the Press during the last ten years, but to what is that owing ? Why, to the force of public opinion. Especially has there'been an increase of late years in the Cheap Press —the People's Press. In these busy and hurried days the newspaper is the working-man's chief educator after his school-days, and nobly does it perform its mission. In connection with the growth of a cheap, moral, and instructive press-I cannot but notice the large and permanent sale of useful books, as dis- tinguished from novels, however highly praised may be the latter. Works of fiction have their little day, and disappear, while handy books of reference have an enormous sale. Instance, as a specimen of this, that Enquire Within" has reached its 300th thousand. Such a fact as this, taken in connection with the rapid extension of the People's Press, speaks well for the increased cultivation of the middle and working classes. Some three or four sessions ago a curious little pub- lication made its appearance, badly printed, and consisting of only four quarto pages, and its price was 6d. There is a tendency in the minds of some people I to consider anything that is high-priced as necessarily good, and partly for this reason the Owl gained a circulation in Clubland and among members of Parlia- ment. It was evidently started also with no particu- lar anxiety to make it pay, and this again gave it some little notoriety; but perhaps that which attracted most attention to it was, strange to say, its non-ex- istence. At the close of the session it disappeared, announcing that it would re-appear at the commence- ment of the following session. This erratic course the Owl has followed since. It has proved itself what the owl was not supposed to be—a bird of pas- sage, and now, after having hidden itself in some ancestral castle or ivy-mantled tower, it re-appears. It has obtained some fame through a few exclusive semi-official announcements. Whether this fame is to be increased or diminished remains to be seen.