The Aberdare Times

THE HARVEST ON THE CONTINENT A correspondent of The Times, writing from Ger- many, says :— It may be of service to many of your readers to Iearn t1y,t the corn crops of the nonh of F. ance, i^lgium, the Rhino countries, Holiand, and Westphulia. present a 111(': t aspect, although it seems to be certain that the yiei'i not be abundant. The hay crop has been a failure, and the meadows are everywhere so Oriad up that the farmers aie selling their stocks for any price they can get for them The roots are in an equally poor condition, and there will be a scarcity of food for emtio and of the raw material of sugar. I heard in French and Beljjiao fanders that the culti?a>ors of fhix were everywhere complaining, but the hops ware excellent. The vine in tneae parts is said to promise well \g a set-off agaicet thefanuraofthecereatcropsinthe middle and routh of France, I am toiu t harvest iu Hungary aud the south of Russia is mo-1 aba^la^t. and that preparations are being made on a vast scala lor the transport of o.Mi and compressed hay i'roro these countries to France and England. I hear alao that the United States will be able, as regards hay and corn, to supply wy deficiency that may exist in You may think this, perhaps, worth publishing, as what I bave said I have either myself okseiy*. rr credible wit- nesses have told me.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN. At the Worship-street police court, in London, David Broum, a young roan, emplojed at the Peerless Saw Mill?, was charged on a summons with having unlawfully converted to his own use a number of bendit cirda, entrusted to him by Charles Cripps, to be sold for bis use and benefit. The complainant said that he was a retired licensed victualler, and in March last be had what is known as a ticket benefit at the Standard Tneitre. The defendant wanted to perform on the stage by riding a bicycle, and in consideration of being allowed to do so he would ssll five pounds' worth of tickets for him. complainant. At first witness did not give his consent because he did not know if Mr. Douglass, the proprie- tor of the theatre, would allow it, but eventually the matter was agreed on, and the defendant had the tickets. Afterwards, when applied to for the money produced by the tickets, witness was put off by various excuses, and finding that he C3uld not get it, he brought an action in the Shoreditch County Court. There the defendant pleaded infancy and a set off, alleging that he had been put to expenses in selling the tickets, and in oiber mat'ers. The verdict went for the defendant on his first plea, and these proceedings were taken. III cross-examination complainant said that his benefit which occupied two nights, was a compliment- ary one. The bill produced was one of those he had posted. Mr. Cooke (for the defendant) And in i", I see these words, Mr. Cripps begs to announce that he has engaged, at great expense, the world-renowned Mons. Vernon Dividas, two nights only."—That refers to this young man (the defendant), does it not ?— Com- plainant Yes, sir. Aud did he perform ?—I was cot Ihere the second night, sir hut be did the fir-t night, and fell over. The Magistrate: Was that advertised? — Com- plainant No, sir (laughter). Mr. Cook One of the pieces, you performed was the play of Formosa, was it not ?—Complainant: Yes, sir. And was he not put to some expense in getting a dress for riding in ?—No it was lent to him by Mr. Douglass, and the property-m*n is here to prove it. Well, then, it was one of the dresses—white trouser-i jicket, aiid 8traw bat-worn hy one of the Oxford crew in Formosa, eh?—No. The dress he wore wai used in last year's pantomime. I would not at first give him permission to ride, because I did not know what he could do until I saw him practise behind the saw-mill. The Magistrate: Was he better there than he was behind the curtain.—Complainant Yes, sir. Mr. Cdoke: But did he perform the second night?— Complainant: You ought to know, sir, I was not there. He fell over the first night. The Mngistrate: Then the "great expense" came topmash ? Mr. Abbott (for the plaintiff) That, of course, was all puff, sir, hut it has turned out true for my client. He could not fight the case on its merits. The Magistrate You take these proceedings under the Fraudulent Trustees Act, and by the section I see tha: after civil proceeoinss have been taken to recover money it is nscesfary, before instituting a criminal pro- secution, tha.t the consent of her Majesty's Attorney or Solicitor General, and also that of the judge who tried the civil cause, should be obtained. Has that been done? Mr. Abbott: I was not engaged in the action, sir but my client tells me that the judge of the county court told him to come here. The Magistrate That will not do. To the defen- dant Don't you go riding a bicycle again. Go away now. The summons was then dismissed. Mr. Cooke applied for costs, which were refused.

A TEETOTAL DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON. On Saturday night a gathering of teetotallers from all parts of London and the suburb* to agitate in favoarof Mr. Ry lands' proposed restrictive legislation respecting the sale of alcoholic drinks on Sunday, took place in Trafa!gar-Fquare. The place occupied by the demnstraitors was that which was formerly the scene of the Reform meetings, at the foot of the N ehon columu and facing the National Gallery, and the people who made up the gathering were nearly all Sons of the Phoenix," "Sons of Temperance," and members of other temperance societies, but rot wholly so, as the proceedings not allowed to proceed altogether without opposition. The various societies marched into the square with bands and banners, and many present wore tinsel ornamcnt3, cross-belts and sashes, in '1 the ancient order style. The position of chair- man was taken on the base of the column by a Mr. Hillman, and the following conclusions were sought to be enforced :— "That extended restrictions on tho Sunday sale of intoxi- cating liquors would result in sensible public benefits, including a diminution in drunkenness anà crime, and an improved condtÜon of the homes of the people more directly efid.tedbythem; that to real'z*. these benefits no corresponding drawbacks would be incurred, and no serious inconvenience occasioned to the sober and respectable of all clashes; that tha restrictious required to obtaln these results would be ill accordance with public sentiment; and, therefore, that nothing in the way of popular reaction may reasonably be feared." The chairman urged that where the public-houses were closed on Sunday vice, crime, and pauperism were diminished, as in Scotland, and he urged the working classes not to hug their claims even if th¡.o upper did keep their clubhouse rights of drinking and so of dissipation. The motion of Mr. Corrigan was to support a petition to Parliament ia favour of Mr. Ryiands' bill, and arguments in favour of the enforced tobl abstinence were urged with some weight, and many homely illustrations were used. Mr. Cltufcf-rbuck, a working man, seconded the motion, and it was supported by Mr. Lester, who described the pubiicans as a class who kept the work- ing class of this country in a state of degraded poverty, and he told his hearers that the money tbe working classes spent in unnecessary dr-nk, if put to legitim90te use, would lessen the need for charitable institutions, for workhouses, and prisons. The motion was carried, though not unanimously as was another thanking Mr. Rylands for the bill. The meeting then broke up into a number of dif- ferent gatherings, and the display of teetotal eloquence was kept up in several parts of the square for some time.

THE BABY-FARMING CASE AT BRIXTON. On Monday afternoon Mr. W. Carter, the East Surrey Coroner, held three inquests at the Lambeth Workhouse upon the bodies of three infants who had expired from the effects of alleged neglect and starva- tion at No. 4, Frederick's-terrace, Brixton. The Coroner stated tint two sisters, both widows, had been arrested by the police on a charge connected with the death of the infants, and, therefore, he should not at the first sitting of the Court take the medical evidence, for fear of prejudicing the case against the accused persons, who are now in prison under remand. The jury were then sworn in to inquire into the deaths of two male children and one female infant. Trie first ca=e taken up WAS that of the illegitimate child of Ali-s Jeanette Carey Cowan, aged sixteen. Mrs. Castle, 164, Camberwsll-road, the wife of a blind- maker and china-shop keep&r, said t hat she was in the habit of receiving women about to e confiued. On the 1st of May Aii's Cowan was brought to her by Mr. CowHn, her father. At 12 o'clock on the 14th of Hay she was confined of a male child. On the 1 nh, between nine and ten o'clock at night. the child was taken away by a lady named Guerra. The child then weighed 12,b., and could eat well. Witness next saw the child at ths police-station on the 13th of June, and it was then horribly emaciated. Mrs. Mary Guerra, 1, Langholme-villas, Brixton, said she had a lodger named Mr. Robert Cowan. His wife was not living with him. He had a daughter. She left home last Marca twelvemonth. Last Christmas she returned home Witnes3 was aitHwards present when she gave birth to a child at the hou-e of the last witness. On the 17th of May witness recsivtd the child fNm the last witness. The child was taken to the Walwcr h-road railway station of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. Witness there met a woman lepreienting herself as Mrs. Willis. On the previous day Mrs. Willis had callel at witness's house, and sald [he wished for a haby to bring up en:i:ely as her own that the had been 13 yeara married, and had no c01ldren and that her huibmcl was passionately fond of the33. She said she would take the biby for £ 4. She was handed £2 and she pu-hed it away from her three times saying that sha did net care about money. All that she wanted was the baby. She eventually took the £2 and it was agreed that sbe should ca1l back for £ 2 in a few days. She never went back for the £2. Witness should know Mrs Willis again, Sh" said she was in good circumstances, and did not w mt money. The baby was given up to her at the railway station. Afterwards rfergeunt Relfe called upm witness and eh-? went with him to 4, Frederick's terrace. He asked a woman (the sister of Mrs. Wills) for Miss Cowan's child, and she said, It does not live here." Eventually the cti'.d was brought up by Mrs. Willw. It was much emaciated, and witness said, Willis JOU have been starvirg this child to death." Mrs. Wills replied, "No I have not. I have done everything I could for the child. It has been suffering from the thrush and diarrheal. I did all ill my power to save the child." Witness thell came away, and Mr. Cowan ellgaged a nurse and took the child away. It was then taken to a house in Cimberwell. and given into the enroot Mrs. Eollia, a nurse. It died on Friday night. After the child was taken from Mrs. Willis it was at first thought that its life could be saved. When tak n from her it was lying back without the power to cry. Witness saw other babies at Mrs. Willis's, and said to her, What is your object in taking children to starve them to death}" and nhe replied, "J am passionately fond of children. The other babies are nurse children, and I want one to bring up as my own." In answer to the Coroner, the witness said that she should not have known the child but for its peculiar hair and nails, it was so dreadfully emaciated. Mr. Robert Cowan said he was a musician, and that the mother of the deceased was his youngest daughter. When the child was born he at first intended to hwe it brought up by a wet nurse. While he was negotiating with one be saw Mrs. Willis's advertisement in Newspaper. He received a reply, signed Mary Willis." In conse- of that letter he went to the Camber well Hew-road station of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, and Wa, ed an hour. He than left. The next morning he re- ceived a lfct:er signed Mary Wil'j' stating that she had arrived at the station just after he had left, and she made another appointment at the Brixton railway station for that evening. He went to the B.ixton siation, and he t j!d the ticket collector tlv-a he was waiting to see n liJy. After waiting to see Mrs Wihis for thre3 quarters of an hour be- jond tne ppointed time, a la^y stepped out of the city train and spoke to the ticifet collector. He pointed towards witness, and she crime up to him, and holding a letter said, "I am the writer of that letter. My name is not Willie, but I have given that name so that the child shall not be taken from m^. My husband is the representative of a large shipbuilding firm in the city, and we have been married for twenty years. We have no children, but are passsion- ately fond of them, and want to adopt one to briLg up as our own." Believing her statement, witness gsye her his name and address, and said, I do not wish you to adopt an ilIegltimate child without you knowing it." It was then agreed that she should can on witness, and she asked when the could have the child. Ho money was spoken of, but that appeared from the adver- ii.su.icr. and it was fixed at £4 for the adoption. Wit- ness aske her To give him a list of what clothes she required for the child, and she replied, ".None." Witness asked her if fh3 woulu not allow him to mske a present to the child, an,1 she said "ifo. He then handed her £2 and she pushed i: back to mm three titcec, saying, "You have been at a great deal of expense, and I will Dot take it." The witness then put the money in her hand and said, "Spend it on ths child She received the child that evening. She promised to call upon him again and bring the child with her, but she did not do 8v. A few days afterwards he was going into the Camberwell l* ew-road railway station when he saw Mrs. Willis talking to bergeant Relte. Being struck with her appearance he hid himself behind a cabstand to watch her. lie afterw a^tis went with Sergeant Relfe to 4, Frederick's-terrace, where he saw the child, but it was so altered in appearance that he did not know it. The Coroner said that he now thought he conld dispense with tha evidence of l\1i,s Cowan, as it was .r le..rly proved that the child was herg; ice wrnf-s-i requested tne uor- ner inac in justice to his daughter, a girl between sixteen and seventeen years of age, he should be allowed to make a statement as to how she got into the unfortunate condition which afterwards led to the birth of the child. The Coroner at first objected to bear him, and ad- vised the witness not to m4ke a statement, as it might prejudice the interests of his daughter. The witness entreated the Coroner to allow him to make a statement, for all that he desired was that it should be published. The Coroner then gave his consent, and witness then read a statement declaring that the husband of a lady in Wales, with whom his daughter was on a visit, had committed an outrage upon his daughter which re- sulted in the birth of the child. Six months after the occurrence her family became aware of the fact that she was enceinte, and witness then applied to the ma- gistrate at Bow-street, who advised the arrest of the person who had committed the offence. He then com- municated with tbe county constabulary, but owing to the illness of his daughter she was not able to go down and prosecute the offender. Mrs. Mary Rollin, N">>. 14, Alma-terrace, CMnberwelI, de- posed that the chikl was brought to her by Mr. Cowan's orders. It wa=) dying, and in a mq;t neglected state. The bones were comii g through its skin, and its stomach was fiat. It conld not CTY fmm weakness, and it was suffering frem English cholera. Witness glive it the breast, and it rallied slightly, but it died on Friday night. The Coroner stid he ."houid now adjourn the inquest upon Miss Co van's child, and then take formal evi- dence with regard to the deaths of the other two infants. Sergeant Richard Relfe staced that In consequence of instructions he had received from his superintendent he went bto tho Lam "eth distiict for tho purpose of malring inquiries. 0;1 the 5th of March he saw an advertlscment in Lloyd's Newspaper, 1>1';(1 he answered it. He received a reply on tbe 8ch of March, signed by a woman, who pave the name of O iver, miking all appointment to meet him at the Camberwell-road station. lie was to wear a gold ch.iin ailll a 1101d ring, eo that she might know him. He met her <-11 the 10th of June at the station, and he then dodged hfr bome tv Nn, 4, Brixton. On S-.iurd.jy the 11:11 of June, he knocked at the door of the huu. e and he sa.r the woman who halt representerl herself as Airs. Oliver. He Sild to her, "Does Mrs. Willis live here?" and she replisd "No." He then said, "Do you adopt children ?" and she answered, "No what pat that into your head ? He then a^ked for Miss Cowan's child; and, after soms further conversation, a woman called out, Margaret!" and '.1. s Wil is then came np. Witness shortly afterwar-s siw Vii s Cowan's child. It was dying. Upon going into the kitchen of tho hoiiBs he found 1) jng on the fofi, under some clothes, five babies, all about a month old. Tncy weieall dirty, neglected, and starving, and appeared to he in a state of I!!up;r, Iu another pare of the house he found five more children In the garden he found a child of about t.o years old. He removed ten of the eleven chil- dren in cábllo the L .inbsfn Wozkhouse, and he then arrested tbe two women \110 w;;re in the hoase, Ehzibeth Curixy, vr< ikhouse lurs", proved that the female child died Cll Thur: ay mora in g. She was very ill when brought into the \YOI khollSid. S:18 appeared to be a month old. Carolina Miller, p.vd mme, deposed that the deceased was suffering from lh USf¡ when brought ill. II"r eyes looked glassy, and her Hody WáS thin. She weighfd 4(1), loz Mrs. Caroline Ilewstt, muse said that the male child was about a month old. He died on Sundsy. He had every care while in the workhouse. Mrs. Cistle, 164, Camber well-road, the witness in the case of Miss Cowan's child, identified the bodies of the male and female ùhildren as baing two of the 11 children found by the police at the house of Mrs. Willis, ou the 11th of June. The Coronor said he should now adjourn the inquest until Friday.

HOW ABOUT POST-CARDS ? Will one be allowed to write whatever one likes on the new post-cards ?" asks the Pall Mall Gazette, and thus continues :— A trick, recently played by a tailor in Paris on a customer, who, though rich, persisted in not paying his "little ac- couut" sngge5t8 this query. The creditor, tired of writing and calling for his money, took t,) writing on the outside cf his letters, At least, you might pay me so mush a month; you owe me 3,00i f .xc. As aJl letttct's pass through tho handi of a porter in Pari?, the whole h' u!e soon knew of the tabor's unpaid bill, and for very shame's sake tho debtor was ohligtd to settle ¡t. Now it bas, we believe, been decided thatone has no right to put anything which may offend the recipient on the outside of an envelope. But how about post-cards? Fancy a trave country squire finding the fol- lowit-g on his breakfast-table: — »• Dear D:ek, Hope you had net a headache after all that had champagne at Ejsoin. Thanks for the tenner I won of you on King- cratt." Pleasant, very, for a man who had Been called to town on "business" juat before the Derhy-duy, but had de- clared to his wife and daughters that nothing could induce him to 12:0 near a racecourse. Wewillnot even discuss the cage of such a missive, we had almost written a missile, being in female hand the consequences are too awful even to think of. Again, young gentlemen, during the long vacation, or home on leave, may find it very unpleasant to have importu- nale and unreasousbJe creditors dnnnillg them on post cardp, not without an arriire pensie (not to say a hope) that the card may meet the eye of Paterfamilias. Altogether, we think EOmethtng ought to be explained about the responsi- bility of indiscreet and econoullcal correspondents.

DEATH OF LORD CLARENDON. One of the most popular and one of the most dis- tinguished of the hereditary peers of England passed away on Monday morning at twenty minutes past six o'clock. The death of Lord Clarendon will make a sensible void in Eoglish society. Trusted by all ranks, from the Sovereign whose friendship he had for many years eojoyed, be was one of the few men who held the respect ot all classes of her Majesty's subjects. He was a genuine Liberal, with strong popular instinct1, tempered by the influence of his rank and position. Of the deceased Foreign Minister it may he said, th<it he was Kever unfaithful to tbe cause of the people, and never unmindful of hi" obligations as a noble. Otficiallv, he kept himself very mach to the work upon which ha was best informed, and in which, tor the last fifty years, it may be said he was constantly en<,a^ed. He was the last great representative of the old diplomatic school. He bad, indeed, a European reputation from his long connection with the Foreign Office and abroad, as well as here, he will be greatly regretted by a very large number of private friends. Politically, his death has happened at a most unfortunate moment for the public service, owing to the present state of many im- portant questions connected with our foreign policy. His constitutor!, impaired by frequent attacks of gout, by age, and by the unceasing duties of his high office, t roved unable to resist the weakening effects of an attack of diarrhcev which he incautiously neglected for thrte days. Lord Clarendon leaves three sons and three daughters, who were devoted in their affection for their father. The eldest daughter is married to the biother of Lord Derby, the second to Lord Skelmers- dale, ar.d the youngest to Mr. Odo Russell, the Engliah hargi, d'affa ires at Rome. The R ybt Honourable George William Frederick Villitr, K.G., G.o. B., was born almost with the present centurv. on Januarv 12. 1800. His father, the Hon. George Villiers, was brother of the second Earl, and te himself succeeded to the title in 1838. Earl Clarendon was all bis life a diplomatist. He entered the fervice very early, and in 1833 was appointed British Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid. Seven years Jater he was made a Privy Councillor. Under Lord Melbourne he held the office of Lord Privy Scal and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1839 to 1841. In 1846 he became Pre- sident of the Board of TI ade, and a year afterwards was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, at which post he remained till 1852. In February, 1853, he took the post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs. At this time the Eastern question was engaging the serious attention of politicians, and the aggressive policy of Russia shortly after- wards committed this country to a share in the Crimean war. Upon the fall of Lord Aberdeen's Ministry, Lord Derby, who attempted to form a Ministry, invited Lord Clarendon to retain his position and when, upcn Lord Derby's failure to collects Cabinet, Lord Palmerston succeeded to power, the Cabinet, Lord Palmerston succeeded to power, the same arrangement was made, and the Earl held the seals of office until 1858. In 1864 he axainheldofnce und-r Lord Palmerston, this time as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which post he exchanged for that of Foreign Secretary late in 1865, retiring with the Liberal Ministry during the following year. He refused the invitation of Lord Derby to join the Con- servative Reform Ministry, and upon the accession of Mr. Gladstone to power, at the end of 1868, he re- sumed his former position, which he held till hisdeath. The chief affair with which he had to deal in his latter tenure of office was the difficult and delicate matter of the Greek brigandage, which can hardly yet be considered as terminated. He managed this affair in a manner which maintained the dignity of the Crown without pushing the claims of Great Britain to aa unwarrantable extent against a weak and distracted Power, and his conduct was such as to elicit the com" mendations of all parties. His sudden death habtrans- ferred the final adjustment of the difficulty to other hands. Like his former chief, L)rd Palmerston, he died in harness. The deceased Earl was descended from the brother of thp. Viliiers wHo was high in the favour of James the First. Amongst the many honours and dignities of which he was the recipient, the late Earl was created a Knight of the Garter in 1819, and he was also Chan- cellor of the Queen's University in Ireland. He will be succeeded in his title by his son, Lord Hyde, whose removal from the House of Commons to the House of Peers will create a vacancy in the repre- sentation of Brecon. The Timss has the following leader on the death of Lord Clarendon :— Only last week Lord Clarendon, though yielding somewhat to the infirmities of age, was before the world, an able, ac- tIve, and vigorous Minister, aDd to-day men will be discus- sing his acts as those of an historical character. He has passed away suddenly, with the reigns of oifice in his hands, with his laculties undecayed aud his reputation un- diminished. It is better to end so—to be a political per- sonage up to the hour of di.3solu'ion, and not one whose deeds have to he gathered from Annual Registers or the con- versation r f older men. To a quick and proud genius there is something unutterably paitifnl in the reflection that some day it may be said 0 him," Superfluous lags the veteran on tha stage." Lord Clarendon probably thought as little of fame as is possible with a mm who knows that his name must be long lJdüre the world. But, if we may venture to divine hh sentiments, he would have wished to die, as he has died, in harness, and to be to the last a Minister of England. Lord Clarendon had reached the term which iu ancient da; a was assigned as the limit of man's active and UMful life. But many a man in our generation keeps his health and his faculties to those fourscore years which were Shld of old to be but labour and sorrow, and when we hear that a states. man or a lawyer is seventy years of age we do not at aU figure to our minds a decrepit body or a failing mind. This I was eminently exemplified in Lord Clarendon. He was born iu the year 180\1, an epoch distinguished by the birth of a band of gifted men, of whom some have passed away, while others, whose names will readily occur to our readers, remain behind to add to the dignity and reputation of Parliament. But from his despatches, his con- versation, or his method of conducing business, no one would have supposed that he had exceeded the age at which all mentitl functions most powerful. As a general rule, the sphere or a man's activity is fixed by th*. timebe is forty. Barely does it happen that the mos,t (Herpetic spirit enters on an entirely new career wheu once mi idle life is attained. But in tlig path which has or,ce b^en chosen a man works more energetically, more systematically, and more success- fully in late middle age thm in any former period of life. This is the age in which a really able man acquires a love of work, which overmasters every other sense of enjoyment. The passions are passing atvay pleasure, in the sense of amusement and diatraction, ceases to attract; curiosity has been satisfied, and the concentrated energies of the SJul are thrown iiit'^ the employment which has become the luling passion. Experience and acutsness derived from tha pi't unite with this obstinate assiduity in enabling the woiktr to master bis business with a quickness that seems like intuition, and thus it continually occurs that we find old men who, by the number of hours they work lilld tne results they attain, shame their youngtr col- leagues?. Lord Palmerstou h ld this devotion to work, and so hsd Lord Clarendon To the last he was as large in principles, &3 aecurate in details, as prompt in action, as if le had been fifty instead of seventy. Talie, for instance, the matter of the Greek Brigands. I. is well known that Lord Clarendon felt aClltely the murder of our country- men. He was anxious lest it should be thought he had left any means unemployed to save thtm Hut, if there were any misgivings, they must have heen dispelled by the papers published on the subject. Whoever else was apathetic, there W3S one who was zeal incarnate, aud that was Lord Clarendon. Whoever else might endeavour to evade action, Lord Clarendon was urging despatch and tearing to shreds the excuses put forth for leaving things alone. Lord Clarendon was a man such as the highest type of official life in England produces. He was one who was trained in public employment", not one of those who rise irregularly to greatness by success in Parliament. He was never in the House of Commons, and it is impossible to deny that this was a disadvantage to him. But he received an education which in its own line was not inferior to that of Parliament. He was bred to diplomacy, and while qaite a boy was an attacM at St. Petersburg. On his return we find him at work in the Excise, then, as uow, an important part of our financial system. III neither of these departments could the young Mr. Viliiers make much show, but in either he could obtain appreciation. The merits of a young and attentive diplomatist are not widely rumoured, but they may ba discovered by those whose good word 13 fortune. Mr, Viliiers wa3 contenG to he kno Wll aJ an able puolic servant ill his owu sphere, and he does nut appear to have eruiht Parliamentary life. The Whig Cabinet understood his merits and, at the early age of 38, he w-.s feLt to Spain as Mir ister Plenipotentiary. From that time he was sufficiently before the country to be as- sociated "ith the ciiief political names of lhe day; his advance in employment and in fame wa3 steady, ai d without retrogression. 0;ie of hi3 greatest achieve- ments was the government of Ireland at the time of tin trouoies of 1848. At that coi jui c'ure there may not have been more danger than during the late Feniaa conspiracy, but there was undoubtedly more alarm. This was c.iused by the cnsh of thrones all over the Continent, the outburst of Socialist passion in t he great cities of Europe, and also by the attitude of our own English democracy, which was then very, hitler, viciom, aud destructive. It was imagined by many who were by no means alarmists that the State would have at once two hostile classes on its hands, one in each island, and that these would be supported by foreign sympathy, if not by something more. Lord Clarendon never lost his head in Ireland. He was never frightened, and consequently he was never cruel He brought tho oilendsrs one after another to justice, and amid all the menaces of the tisae the uries duly convicted them, and ihey were removed from the place wh'.re they were dangerous. In the Ru sian War, again, he worthily supported the honour and interests of this country, and though the chief State papers of the time proceeded from the lucid pen of M. Thouvenel, he sat ia the Congress which ciosel the war as tho chief British representative, and may thus be said to have reached the height of his own political fortunes. ShiCe that time-that is, during the last twelve years—he has been the ruling mind in our relations with fore gn Power?. Since Lord Aberdeen no Minister had been intimate with so many S iverei^ns, allll thus he was more than once enabled to smooth ovtr dissensions which were tending to become dangerous. A notable instance of this oecllned of late, when he acted as intermediary bet-reen the King of Prussia and the Emperor .Napoleon, and was enabled to convey per- sonil assurances which assuaged the jealousy of the French and the corresponding suspicion of the Prussians. In fact, he had become, if not the Nestor of diplomacy, at any rate one oVI enough and respected enough to take a high personal position in dealing with men both at home and abroad. An ordinary man ould never have attained this position, nor could even a mere politician, however clever. There is a clas3 of mell who will get liD any subject, and who probably might know the geography of Europe or Ash 1Je:ter thqn aU the school of Pa.lUH,rlit,on and Clarendon But, without the brilliancy, the geniality, the working power which such men as he we now lameiit i os- sessed, these attainments are useless, and the world soon perceives how feeble is the devourer of Blue, books in com- parison with large-hearted and truly statesmenlike men.

"DUST AND ASHES." Mr. W. D. Pritchett, Bishop Stortford, writes to The Timcs Returning lately Ironl the eastern tide of the Jordan, I was detained for a time on board ship at Alexandria, and while watching nil that went on iu that vast harbour, my attention was attracted by a number of lighters plying back- wards and forwards hetween some merchant vessels anc1 the shore. Everyone who had visited that port will remember the group of windmills and the long ridge of rock running out from them seawards, for a distance ûf several miles. The empty lighters went to a pointin this ridge of rocks, and re- turned with a cargo of brown dust, which was carried up the ships' sides in baskets, and thrown down into the hoJds, The captain with whom I sailed informed me that thiiiwastuano— buman guano—the "dust aud Mhes" of the dead collected from the many ancient stpulchres a d catacombs whichpsrfo- rate thid rid¡:;e of rocks ill every direction, litee rabbit-holes in a warren, and even IUIIS underground as far as Pompey's pillar. He aho ttfed that tliis trade had been going on for abcut nine months, an I th tt the "guano" brought £ 8 lfis. per ton in Eoglish ports. a price which would give the manure manufacturers a very large proflt for mixing it out with the guano of Peiu. An English m9rchant., for eight ye ¡fS resilient in E^ypt, afterward! came on hoard, and, when I had an opportunity of speaKing to him alor,e, he gave me the same account; and he further told me that he had visited the spot where this was goiug oa, and he had seen pieces of human bune, as weU aa smull earthenware lamps, and tfar-botllea cf glass, among the dust. I also met with a missionary who confirmed I h3 tale. 'Ihe lower elass of Egyptians are among the most de- graded people in tbe world, yet it would be hard to believe that even they wnu1d 81:11 their fathers' bones for manure, did we not wen know that fur a century past they have sold the mummies in such numbers that they are to be found in almost every provincial m'ueum in Europe and America. If they would s-ll the mummies which still retaia the human shape, mu h more would thty sell the dust into which the dead have crumbled down. Supposing these statements to be correct, myriads of Egyptians have been drilled or sown broadcast on Eoglish fields; and myriads more are on the way, S) that we whg eat the bread and beef thus raised have a good chance of becoming chips of the old block" by rather anaw and startling process. The ancient Egyptians, too, attaining thus an eailier resurrection, may walk through the world, and even revUit their OWI1 rifled sepulchres in English form. Thin ends my strange story," not g ven on my own authority, but on that of several credible witnesses on the spot. Perhaps the publication of these facts may conduce towards the suppression 01 this loathsome trade. There is some real reason to this, because the Egyptian Govern- ment has already been shamed into stopping the sale of mummies.

ON A REEF FOR FIFTY-ONE DAYS. The ship Sdvercraif, which arrived at Liverpool last week, had on board six of the crew of the iron ship Mtreurius, Captain Cuthbertson, which was totally wrecked on the Roccas Reef, lying in the South Atlantic. The Mercurius left San Francisco for Liverpool on the 15th of January, and all went well until the 25th of March, when she was driven on to the Roccas Reef, and became a total wreck. Although all the boats managed to leave the ship, only one succeeded in reachit-g the Bhore, and then in a very damaged state. The rocks at high water sre completely covered, and the only dry spot is a raised sand-bank. The six sur- vivors, on reaching terra firm)" at once surveyed their position, and found the reef abounding with wreckage, amongst which they discovered four water tanks) be- lorging to the London and Australian clipper Duncan Dunbar, which was lost, with eighty passengers, on the same reef, about two years ago. In one of the tanks they found some fresh water, which, with a copious faU of rain at intervals, answered all their culinary requirements Nothing in the shape of provisions was saved from the wreck, and for 51 days these six castaways supported themselves by turtle, what fish they could catch by the aid of a bent nail and a piece of cord, birds' eggs, and young birds. For sbelser agninst the inclemency of the weather and their exposed position they erected a hut from the wreck (f the Duncan Dunbar—a portion of which was still visible—and other vessels whose names will probably be for ever a mystery. To this wooden structure they fastened a pole, and attached to it an old sbirt, as a signal of distress to any vessels that might happen to pass within sight of the Roccas Reef. They remained on this desolate spot for 51 days, when the Silvercraig happened to pass within sight of the reef, and observed the signal. The vessel was at once hove to, and Captain Cobu and bia officers and crew took the castaways on board, supplied them with food and clothing, aud, as already stated, brought them to Liverpool. This is the second time Captain Cohu has had the happiness of rendering such humane services. In 1865 he picked up in the Southern Ojean the crew of the American ship A 1, of Providence, Rhode Island, and was for this service presented with a gold chronometer watch by the United States' Government. The Mercvrius wss a fine new iron clipper ship, of 839 tons, built in G!asgow in 1869, for Mr. James M. Wood, jun., of Liverpool, and had made a very rapid passage from the Clvde to Sydney, whence she was re- turning, via San Francisco, on her maiden voyage, under the command of Captain Cuthbertson, an ex- periecced navigator, well known and much respec ed in shipping circles. She left San Francisco on the 5th of January, and was wrecked on Roccas Reef, a dangerous reef lying io la+:. ;) 52 S., long. 83 20 W., in early morning on the 25 .h of March. It was dark and rakiing heavily. About five minutes before the ship struck breakers were ob'erved ahead, and the csptain was called. He immediately altered thu course of the ship, but although the helm was put hard over it was too late. The side of the ship grazed the sharp edge of the coral below tbe water, and then she struck heavily twice afterwards, being at this time apparently over a ledge of the rock. She soon began to till, and prepara- tions were made for launching the long-boat. Suddenly the ship lurched outwards, fell over the edge of the rocky shelf into deep water, and went down in about eight fathoms. Her yards had previously been braced to bring her off the raef before she struck, and when she fell over the sails, which were thus lying sideways to the masts, carried down, it ia supposed, most of the crew. Those who regained the surface were swimming about in the darkness for two hours or more, until at length, as the tide fell, they felt they had gained a footing on the ledge and when day broke they were able to move to the unwashed parts of the reef. At this time it was supposed there were only five sur- vivors out of 22 who had been aboard the ship. The carpenter, Henry Murray, was seen alive near the reef, but a large wave came and washed him into one of the holes or small caverns which the sea has worn in the coral, and he was not seen again. In the course of the day another survivor was discovered on another part of the reef. One of the men, Charles Lance, had been badly crushed between one of the upper and lower topsails, and it was some time before he ¡,:ot round. The ship struck about three o'clock in the morning, and when day broke all that was seen of the Mercurius were the tops of her fore and main mast, in the deep water alongside the reef. Afterwards-she partly broke up, andsomeof the wreckage washed ashore, butnopro- visions or cargo, which consisted of grain. The Bur- vivors had a dreary prospect before them. The Roccas Reef consists of two corri islands, in extent about IS acres each. They are separated at high water, but the space between them can be walked over at low water. They both lie very low, and have patches of white sand in the centre, but little or no grass. Some few years ago the British Consul at Pernambuco had them planted with cocoanut trees, that the reef might be more visible to ships approaching, but only one or two of these have grown. Toe reet is of a very dan- gerous character, being ri-ht in the had, of ves- sels to and from the coast of Brazil or the C,tpe Horn rout". Many a noble vessel has been wrecked there, a;-d a lighthouse is imperatively demanded. The rr.o^t notable loss of late years was that of the London clipper Duncan Dunbar, wrecked on the reef about two years ago, on her passage to Australia, with a rich cargo and numerous passengers. Portions of her wreck are 8t.iH visible, and also remains of many other vessels. These sad relics were of the greatest use to the six survivors of the Mercurius. They found two iron water tanks, with a capacity of 400 gallons each, aLd having iron covers, deposited in convenient posi- tions, and filled with water, having been placed the: 9 t from the wreck of the Duncan Dunbar in the early pare of 1869. From the wreckage strewei about they built themselves a log hut, as comfortable a pkee as could be expected even under more favourable circumstances, and with the aid of a broken sheath knife, a hammer 2i z. weight, and a large copper bolt, they contrived out of pieces of planking to build two small boats, the nails with which they were put together having first to be drawn out of the old wrecked timber strewn about. For food they had plenty of birds' eggs, young birds, and shell fish, and occasionally managed to catch fish and turtle. Fire was procured in the Indian mode by rubbing two dry sticks together; but tbis was, a weary ) process, two hours' rubbing being required to produce a light, and the fire once obtained was watched day and night as jealousy as the sacred flame of classical times. It was kept burning near the hut at night time to attract the attention of passing vessels. Two or three times during the sojourn on the reef the fire went out, and had to be re-kindled in the manner de- scribed. The timber of former wrecks—calling up sad thoughts !—served for fuel, for on the island there was naturally none. The men suffered severely from the rays of the fierce tropical sun- -they were in latitude 3 south of the Equator—for they had little or no elothes on when they reached the reef, only one of them having been on deck, the rest in their berths, when the ship struck. The reef swarmed with ants, very much like the English ant in size and appearance, but of a most venomous nature, and the men suffert d great pain from continual bites. A fortunato addition to their stock of fresh water was a cask of that precious liquid washed ashore some time after they had been on the reef, most probably from the wreck of the Mercurius but there wer« no marks by which it could be recognized as belonging to that vessel. To protect their heads from the sun the men knittei hats or cocoanut fibre from the only tree they could find on the reef, aud sewed them together with the same material, threaded in a needle ingeniously made out uf a piece of btaqg found on the islaad. These bats they have brought to Liverpool as precious mementoes of their castaway life. Little did the survivors forsee, when they found themselves on the barren rock, the weary sojourn they would have to pass on 1 hsct ocean solitude. The names of the survivor.* are John Cole- man, D. M'Call, Middy Baptise, Joachim King Dilombo, Charles Lance, and Francis Edsvard Gray.

'A BRIGAND'S LAST LETTER. The following is a translatioh of a letter written by a brigand, lately executed in Greece, to his brother, and published in the Phos :— "Brother Nicolaki, I salute you. My brother I enjoin you to give fifty drachmas to the church of St. Paraskevi, in the village cf Limogarthi; also to St John of Paleochor'i thirty drachmas; give a gallon of oil to the church of Neochori, and a pallon o! oil to S*. Nicholas of Divri. Give a gallon of oil to the Virgin of Xeriotbea; and when you return to our native place give to the poor ail ) Oil cho" se for the salvation of my soul. My brother, I leave you my bless- ing but my curse if, instead of returning to our own village, you remain on this spot. Write first to our mother, and tell her that I die but do not tell her that I die this ignomiuous death. D < notleave my baby in this place, but wrap him up and carry him to our mother. Take care Dot to give him up to anyone efse aiid if my wtfeis determined not to marry again, take her al; 0 to our home, and treat her as your sister, because I cherish tbe sweet hope that she will not marry again but should she desire to do so, do not take away the silver ornaments that I gave her, or anything else, but only the wedding ring which bears my name. & "Make a garland, write my name upon it, and with it crowu the heao of St. Nicholas III our church. Do not quarrel on account of the disputed cattle with Yannaki Founta or else his curse will follow me, but take for settlement whatever he chooses to give you. Do whit you like with the cows that I have at DlvIL If my wife wishes to marry, give her what you like. Do not be such a madman as to quarrel with our enemies, or you would ruin altogether our father's name. On the contrary, whenever you meet them bow to them graciously, because I forgave them, and God alone will judge them. Whuu I was a lad I robbed from the Church the holy books of Father and he cursed me-therefore you must find a priest, and bring him to my grave to bless it, otherwise I am afraid my body will not be changed. When you return to our village, Rive a banquet to all my mates to celebrate my marriago, as they were not present at it: and if ever it passes through your mind to injure any of those who tried me, I leave you my curse, that you may come to the lame shameful end as myself. It yon do not intend to return to our birthplace, take care of my child, and treat him as your own and execute faithfully all that I command you hero, e; Try if you can take possession of mybidy, and bury it near that of our master at Zimogarthi, but if you cannot obtain my body, at least try to take my head. If you suc- ceed in getting my body, and you bury it as I or,1er you, pla-e a tombstone with my name over it, and it you remain two or three years ill our native place, take my boues Into your house. When you meet ragged beggars, receive them, and assist them as much as you can, otherwise God will not permit the salvation of my 50111- Ask my god-mother, also Miss Yasilikg, and all the ser- vants, to forgive me, from their hearts, and a:-k Father A^hanasi to come personally to my grave, and pronounce a long benediction over it; and, besides, ask all the peasants of L'.mogarthi to forgive me also, from the bottom of their hearts. I left my watch with Mr. Rizo-Manoli. Go to him. and give twenty-eight drachmas. Sell your own, and take mine as a keepsake. "Write to the mother of Costa, and also to Athauasi Millio, whom I injured, to forgive me. I left in the house of our master two muskets. Take them, sell them and give the proceeds to the poor, for the salvation of my s(Jut I salute you sweetly and as a brother, and I remain yonr dead brother, IHOJIAS IOANNOU."

A GOOD SUGGESTION. Undtr the heading "How not to do it," a corre- spondent of The l'imes writes:— Ueing desirous of having an agreement stamped, I attended at Somerset-hou,e and in vain looked for the Solicitor's omce to have the document examined and m irked with the value of stamp necessary, in order to make It admissible In law. After considerable delay I was directed to an office at the counter of which were seated three clerks, and to one I handed the document and requested to be informed of the value of the stamp required by the Act in order to make it of legal effect. I was most pol tely informed that it was no part of his duty to do so, but that I could have any value of stamp affixed, provided I first entered the amount on the corner. Somewhat surprised. I marked 61., and then had the presumption to again tender the document, feeling assured if the amount was not sufficient he would correct it, but so far from doing so, he in the most languid manner possible scrlbbltd a few lines (doubtless his name) on the face of the sgreemerit, and returned it to me. Encouraged by my late success, I nervously Irqmred if it was the right amount; the polite official informed me that it wa.s not, and replying to further inquiries, stated that I could ascertain the correct amount on reference to the Stamp Act, but itr consequence of not being provided with a copy of the Act, I was reluctantly compelled to return home without being able to accomplish my errand, but with a strong con- viction that it would be a public convenience if the Com- missioners of Inland Revenue would Instruct the young men who are intrusted with the marking of deúda as to the value of stamp required, as doubtless there are many who, like my- self, have not considered it necessary to learn the Stamp Act by heart.

INTERNATIONAL PIGEON SHOOTING. The sixth and last international contest took place on Saturday in the Hurlingham enclosure, when 75sports- men tritd their skill in a handicap at six birds each. The entrance fee was £.5 each two mispej out. The first prize was JE225 and a double-barrelled gun, of Grant's manufacture, which wai g'venby the club the second was £ 100 and the third £ 50. At the close of the sixth round ths following competitors tied by killing all their birds Captain J. Hope-Johnstone, Captain A. Steuart, Mr. Walter O. Duncombe. M de Dorlodot, Viscount 0«car Hallez, Mr. Hope Barton, and Major P. Peploe. In shooting off their ties, bird for bird, Captam J. Hope-Jobcstone was proclaimed the winner of the first prize, after scoring 15 birds in succession Captain A Steuart took the second, by kiil'ng 8 tie birds out of 9, his total score beirg 14 out of 15 and the third prize fell to Mr. Walter O. Dun- combe, who scored9 out of 12, including the tits. M. de Dorlodot, who tied with him, being beaten by one bird, whilst Viscount Oscar Hallez shot well up. Mr. Hope Barton failed to score his second tie, and Major Peploe s first fell outside well struck. The following killed their first five birds hut missed the sixth -bir Hugh Campbell, Bart., Viscount An- dover, Mr. bpencer Lucy, Duke of Hamilton, and ColortlJJudley Carleton, whilst these who missed in the fifth round were—Marquis du Lin, Mr. C. J Monk, M.P., Mr. Reynolds Peyton, Mr. J. Maund, Captain Francis Gist, Mr. E. Cunliffe, and Mr. F. Milbank, M.P. Those who killed three out of four were-—Mr. Berkeley Lucy, Mr. H. Cbolmondley Pen- nell, Hon. H. C. Hill, Major Easkerville, Sir Charles Legard, Bart., Mr. E. R. G. Hougood, Mr. George T> PRY»R» Mr. Hussey Vivian, M.P., Baron Barracco, Princ.j Poniatowski, Mr. W. S. Salting, Mr. M, D. Treherne, Captain Maxwell Ljt?, Mr. H. Rae Reid, Captain Savile, Lord deL'Isle and Dudley, Mr. C. F. ILtyne, M. Gourdier, Captain Hervey Talbot, Mr. J. Tnyme, Captain Wil- kinson, Major Temple Godman, Captain Rowley Conway, Mr. H. T.dlemaohe, Mr. L, Young, Colonel J. O. Knox, Viscount lloyston, M.P., and Mr. Arthur P. Vivian, M.P. Those who killed two out of four were—Sir Frederick Johnstone, Bart., Mr. T. G. Simpson, Mr. Reginald Herbert, Mr. F. Norris, Prince Sapieha, Viscount Holmesdale, M.P., Mr. Gee, V.C. and C.B., Major Lon^ley, Mr. E. C. Coningham, Comte O. de Monte.quion, Mr. L. L. Dillwyn, M.P., Captain E. C. Nevile, and Mr. W. Finnie, M.P. The following killed one out of three Sir William Milner, Bart., Marquis de Castelbajac, Mr. Malise Graham, Mr. R. Heunepsy, Mr. Charles Hammersley. Mr. Nicholas Wood, Mr. Walter Far- quhar, and Captain W. Peareth. Mr. David Hope- Johnstone, Comte de Croix, M. Doublat, Captain J. H. Anderson, and the Marquis of Huntley, having missed their two first birds w^re not called up again. The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards played a choice selection cf music at intervals, and the whole proceedings were of » most enjoyable character.

II;: neons Jiitflligfnxe, HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL. A HORRIBLE CONFINEMENT.—A correspondent sends the Pioneer the following sad and interesting particulars with regard to an incident of Cashmere rule :— "Several years ago," h3 rays, a conspiracy was formed by some of his tubjecls, mostly, I believe, men of rank and influence, against the rule of the Maharajah. The plot was discovered and the ringleaders either executed or imprisoned for life. In a hatred waodwa cage in the guardroom of ths small fort at Kargil, a place situated on the road running nearly east and west between Sriniiggur and Lt h, the chief town of Ladak, may be seen one of these poHtical prisoners. Ilia unfortunate man has passed eleven years ot captivi y in this cr.iel caga, which meaturea abou; feet square, and is so diaoolioalfy contrived that he can neither str, nor stand, mr lie at ease. He lias never, sues his incarceration, b;en *h ywn the smallest mercy 11 o respire from his painful cn- il'i'ment h w been granted him s sun, the fresh air, the s'ghr. of the coram 111 objects i t nature has been denied iiim tli; f sur mud walis of h s t rmn room ars 1.18 lsor 4m the tep y wh> irom lime to tuv4e 1 yuigs hlrn hfs temty meals luiiii:l(ia his oni, oonneo-tng Utile with the Lv.'n^; world." SHCCtCltia OcOPRBKKCfl IN LoisD017.—Or, Satur- day afternoon, a horrible outra-e was committed in Chancery-lane by a cpaa named Jermyn, aged 50, who is believed to be insane. It appears that for soma years past Jermyn has been employed as a fireman at the Patent-oibce,_ Chancery Jane. On Saturday after- noon a Mr. lomiinson was in his office on the third floor of the building, and asked Jermyn to get him some luncheon, and gave him a sovereign for that purpose. Jermyn returned to Mr. Tomlinson a few minutes before two o'clock, and, after placing the luncheon upon the table, handed him the change of the sovereign. He then, without uttering a woid, took a special constable's staff out of his pocket and struck Mr. Tomlinson about the head with it several times. Immediately after he threw the staff into a times. Immediately after he threw the staff into a corner of the room and then rushed towards the win- dow which was open. Jumping upon the sill he leaped out, but before he reached the ground caught hold of the rain-water pipe and slid down. He then ran into a water closet, where he was discovered by a porter and a policeman in the act of cutting his throat with a penknife. They instantly caught hold of him and carried him to King's College Hospital, where it was ascertained that he had inflicted a wound upon his throat so severe that the jugular vein was separated, and that there was no chance of saving his life. Ou Friday night his wife called at the hospital, and stated that two years ago her husband fell down a flight of stairs aud injured his head. Since that time he had frequently shown signs of insanity. He never had any ill-leeling towards or misunderstanding with Mr. Tomlinson. The police state that shortly after the attempt made by the Fenians to blow up the House of Detention at Clerkenwell, it was deemed advisable to swear in all persons in the employ of the Govern- ment as special constables, and upon Jermyn being sworn in he was given the staff with which he attacked Mr. Tomlinson. AN ENGLISH LADY AND HER FRENCH Hus- BAND.—It will be remembered that some time ago a Miss Perkins, of the great brewery family, made a very romantic marriage with a M. Scholl, a French journalist. Like most of such unions, the marriage turned out unhappy, and Madame Scholl sued in the French court for separation on the usual grornda of cruelty. The court after having taken a long time for consideration, has now nonsuited the complainant, and condemned her in all the costs. M. Scholl created some amusement in court by lusting his counsel several times fin both cheeks as a mark of his eatishction-on which it was remarked that it would have been much h, Her had he performed the same operation on his wife. PROFESSOR AoAK z —The fiieccta of Professor Agnssiz have already learnt that be has had an attack cf illnt ss which will prevent Lis pursuing his scientific studies for some months to come. Tbe singular fact is now related of him that, at the conclusion of his la?t protracted effort in the way of study, he suddenly be- came vt-ry drowsy, and slept a number of days almost without any cessation, which his phvsicians looked upon as an unfavourable symptom. His labours dur- ing the just winter were unusually severe, and perfect quiet both of body and mind is now a necessity. TIIH: G RKAT SALT LAKF.—American papers re- port that a subterranean outlet to the Great Salt; Lake has heen founo. orpesite Corinne, and between Fremont and Kimball Islands. Itisetated that the schooner Punter, Captain Hannah, while sailing in that vicinity on the 5th d June was drawn into an opening, whteh is an immense maelstrom, or whirlpool, and the des- cent and circular motion of the water were so rapid and violent that, t.t e vessel was made to spin around in it wilh frightful velocity, aud it was only in consequence of a bitrh wind pravailing nt the time that sbe was ella- bled to s.r beyond the itfluence of the awful Ciasm. A pariy of scientific men was about to leave Corinne to examine the supposed outlet A PHOTOGRAPHIC INCIDENT.—A farmer went to Paris, recently, accompanied by his two sons, to get their photographs taken. To make the youngsters neat and trim for the pose, papa asked the artist to give them some water to wash off the dust of travelling. The photographer, being very busy, simply told them they would find a lavatory in the adjoining room, and the lads retired to polish up their faces. Scarcely, how- ever, were the negatives taken, when the countenances of the lads were observed to be gradually becoming of a dusky hue and, finally, to the horror of their father, they became as black as crows. The photographer then divined the truth. They had plunged their heated faces into one of the chemical baths used for photo- graphs. The wrath was grea.t of their fond mamma. when two niggers were brought back to her the same evening. ARCHIEPIS^OPAL FATIGUKS.—A Country Vicar writes to The Times v— It was announced at Archdeacon Churton's visitation that we weie not to expect any more charges" from the Arch- bhhop of YOlk, the fatieua and monotony of the delivery of the same wnrds in nine different places befug too much for his Grace. Will you allow me toatk if in thisatntement of his own case, the Archbishop has thought of the contrasts which it brings to view of the daily work of many of his own clerey in large towns. and the fatigue and monotony." almost without a brenk, of their iivea I feel sure that the heart? 0' these true men will be made sad by the thought that thtir captain, in the full tide of his strength aad prosperity, has so little of the spirit of self-denial in him, To them these nine visits to new places to meet welcoming and respectful brethren appear more like a pleasant JlOlyday "nd summer excursion than" a monotony and fatigue." May I be per- mitted to add, in conclusion, that Wd not only want the advice of our Archbishop in the shape of "a triennal charge," bus we want to see his face ? We do not sufficiently realize the grace and power of his presence by polite letters written by his secretary, and signed W. Enor," We want to feel that we really have A Commander-in-Chief." PROSPECTS OF TRADE.—It is many years since trade was conducted on its present large scale so noise- lessly (remarks the Bullioniit). For whatever reason, manufacturers do more work and borrow less than th,LY did. So general is this that in the leading dis- count circles in London it is sometimes asked if it is true that a good trade is doing. The traffic returns of the leading railways, thfClearing-housa figures, the Board oc Trade return?, all show that it is indisputably ro. The reason is, perhaps, that weak manufacturers have been used up, and that business is more than ever in the hand" of men of capital ami energy. Th<-i Clear- ing-house return of this week affords substant:al evi- dence of the larger business now doing. It is exclu- sively a cornmncial clewing, and we will compare it with former returns of a like character. The total is £747;")5.000. In the corresponding week nf last vear the total was £61,017,ono in 1868 it W81 jS53 018 000 and in 1867 it was £54,787,000. A HINT ABOUT STRAWBERRIES.—A. correspon- dent of the Gardener's Magazine writes:- Of course you know how to eat them, and have known for a long time past, and therefore feel disposed to treat this note as useless What are teeth for? "quoth the wolf in the story, and Little Red Hiding Hood made an answer with her lite. But do allow me to record, as the result of obser- vation tha'very few fruits, however well grown and how- ever perfectly ripened, are so good if catan instantly upon being gathered as they are when kept in a cool dark place for 24 hours or more. Strawberries pluced when the sun shines fiercely are simply unfit to eat, for they are warm diito peachcg, and all else. To obtain the full, true, delicious flavour of a strawberry or a peach, gather the truit one day in n<1vl\uce and shut it up cJ08ely In the lnlit- roam, and it will then be fit for the de?sert and a credit to the cultivator. A second, class fruit prepared by this courso of procedure will surpass a first-class fruit eafen freshly gathered. Yet the current notion is that sdt fruits cannot be too fresh and that the keeping of them deterior- ates their flavour. MARRIED LIFE.—A iemale fiiend of OllrJ (we are quoting from the Pall Mall Gazette) a spinster aud an observant moralist -— whose opinion we value highly, used to say that it was quite a mistake to sup- pose, as people do generally, that children are a b md of union between husband and wife. They are oiilv links between those who are already united by conjugal love, and consequently require no other bond. In other cases they are a source of dissension, and, above all, a source of poverty, which in its turn is fruitfnl of quarrels. A husband, too. can better afford t) sulk with his wife when he has the children to talk to, and a wife can do better without her husband's af- fection when she has her maternal love to fall back upon. Childless couples agree best-tbis wise woman was accustomed to say—for the very obvious reason that the more dependent people are upon one àno! her the more disposed they are to bear with each- other. There may be some truth in this. It is very certMu, for instance, that but for the circumstance of the desert island Robinson Crusoe would not nave tolerated for one day the company of Friday, notwithstanding all his virtues and his docility. 0 THE LABOUR MARKET IN AUSTRALIA.—The following extract, relating to the state of the labour- market, is from the Melbourne Argus'- — "Tile long continued drought having now fairly broken up, farminc; operations have been resumed with great activity throughout the country, and thcrj has been a corresponding demand created for farm labourers. All descriptions of tradesmen are able to obtain full work at the current rate of wage3. In many parts of the country the rates rule higher than those quoted. On one Government contract the brick- lajors employed were receiving 12s. per d.iy, aud an attempt was made to extort 14s. per day by means of a strike. For domestic servants ttie demand is as great and as badly supplied as ever. Since last mnil the immigrant sbip Percy has arrived with 366 passengers, but, owing to sickness on board, the vessel has been detained at the quarantine ground As most of these passengers will go to their friends the market wili be but slightly relieved." A "CUSTOM OF- THE COUNTRY."—A curious custom of the country" was brought under the notice of the county magistrates at Kirkby Lmsdale, fin Westmoreland, the other day. Two farmers' sons were charged with assaulting John A.tkinson the younger, on Sunday evening the 19th instant. The complaiuant said he was walking with a young woman when the defendants ran behind him, and while one of them held him round the waist the other threw a Sitek over his head. On the complainant trying to get away, one of the defendants struck him on the fuce and gitve him a black eye. The complainant on being cross-examined by the defendants' attorney admitted that he was out upon a courting expedition," and that it was a custom prevalent around Kirkby Lons- dale, that if a young man want out of his own towmhip to court a girl in another, he was expected to "pay his footing" or be sacked. He had refused to pav a shiliing for his footing," and had been sacked" by the defendants, ihe defence wai that there had been no hoatile intention, and that the complainant had struck farst. Ihe magistrates, after consulting, sug- gested that the information should be withdrawn £ pi,ing the That was agreed to. A GOOD SUGGESTION.—The treatment of jury- co^rt3 °f law is one of the scandals of our 11 h! s-vsteffl. It is monstrous that it should require j, that they should have decent accom- modation in or near the Courts durijig their unem- ployed moments. A correspondent of The Times pro- poses that out of thirty-six jurymen summoned for each Court, twelve should be sworn and put in the box forthwith twelve more should then be sworn and put in a decent room with nam*, ink, and paper, where they might read and write letters or transact any business they may ha.ve; the third twelve ha would dismiss out of hand. The twenty-four sworn men would thus have the satisfaction of knowing that t^gy would not have to waste their time in waiting (U, jn kicking and squeezing and struggling jyhjor.^ adirtv mob in a crowded court. As saon as "the first twelve retired to consider their verdict, the second t?* J would step int j the box wilhout keeping tk v? waiting ot>e icinute, J Uit AMERICAN INDIANS rAccordi t th of the Indians in the y .rted States, taken last year by Oomni s/iOHcyPaykt-r, their total number is 378 5('7, o wnom TfOOOue,nhahitanta of Alaska, 31,290 of Qali- fornia, 4,991 of New\ ork, Deducting these items the total Indian population of the Mississippi and Western plains is not much more than 277.000. Of the tribes nj°,r? f cagaged in hostilities against the United ^3to«, the Coinaches number 2,538, the Arra- 2^n<vf' tJle CWennes, 1,500; the Sioux, ^5,J A); and Arches, 8.000—making a tofeal of 41,310 ot whom probably one in eight is an able-bodied ^non01"' fe'lylng available force of a little more than 5,000 men in all, but which would not represent the emciencyof that body of men in a regular campaign because its numbera are never concentrated, DEATfi OF PRoziLSsort. SIME. — Mr. Syme, late Professor of Clinical Surgery in the Univeri-ity ot Edinburgh, died on Sunday evening at his re.-idence, Millbank, near Edinburgh. In April last j ear Mr. Syme was seized with paralysis, but he so far iccovered from the attack as to be able to perform scrr.e profes- sional work. About a month ago he was again laid prostrate by another attack, under which he has suc- cumbed. Mr. S} ma was aopointed to the Chair of Cliniosl Surgery ia 1833 He was for a short time Professor of Surgery in University College, Len lofl afcer the death ot Mr. Liston, but he subsequently re turned to Edinburgh, and resumed the position he bad formerly held. He was compelled by the state of bis health to resign in the course of last year. Mr. Syme was surgeon to the Queen in Scotland, and bad a large number of honours conferred on him by various bodies t in Great Britain and on the Continent. THE CONTAGIOUS DiSiAsxs ACT.The indus- J trious opponents of the Contagious Diseases Acts, when recently declaiming against the tyranny of these j Acte at a public meeting in Plymouth, were challenged j to prove a single instance. This challenge wss accepted j by Mr. Baxter Limlsy, a member of the Heforin League, and hia frieiuis whereon three referees were f appointed by the contending parties to hear the evi- dence on each side and declare their judgment thereon. A day was appointed for hearing, and the following r was the verdict given :— f "After prolonged and careful hearing of tho evidence as adduced 011 both sidles, we, the referees, havo arrived at the following conclusion, namely,—thaf. from the evidence ad- duced we do not consider that an abu*e of th? Acts has been proved. Signed, Alfred Broker, Alexander Hubbard, J. N. .Bennett. The referees went on to state that, having regard to th's evidence of good conduct of the person alleged to v have befn wrongfully brought under the Actn, they have not arrived at the above conclusion without he-i- tation. DISGUSTING FEROCITS-.—At Liverpool, a. German tailor, named Schmidt, was brought up on t 11. charge of unlawfully wounding George Ht-nvy Williams, a coloured seaman, who came before the court with his head encircled by a bandage, and minus his right ear. It appeared that the prisoner entered the house where the complainant lodged, and without the slightest provocation caught hold of Williams and threw him upon a fire which was blazing in the grate. Next he hurled the poor darkey upon the floor, and, throwing himself upon him, bit off his right ear. Schmirit was quite sobei* at the time. A police-constable said when he spirehendel the prisoner the mouth of the latter was covered with blood. A woman named Mary Hand, who was present when the disgusting affair occurred, said she saw Schmidt chawing the severed ear in his mou'h, from which blood was running. The sight had so affected her that she had not broken her fast," nor been well since. It was the nwfullest thing" she had ever seen. The only defence the cannibal-like prisoner had to make was that some one struck him when he entered the house. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. WORRIED TO DEATH.—The sitting magistrates at Gosport haveinveatigated acharge preferred against two boys, named Edward Wiikins, 17, and Wiilian: James Lodge, 18, of killing and slaving George Hughes, agei 70, formerly a quartermaster in the navy. It appeared tiat the old man, who was healthy for his age, left his home in G< sport on Monday to sell some brass, when be was assailed by the prisoners, who pushed his hat off and knocked him down. They afterwards threw cabbage leaves and other missiles at him, and he was obliged to take refuge in the store of a general dealer. He was in a very excited state and fell on the floor, death following almost instantaneously. The sur^e >n who made a post-mortem examination of the body found fatty degeneration of the heart, and was of opinion that death was caused by excitement, con- sequent on the treatment the deceased received. The magistrates committed the prisoners for trial. BRIG AS DS IN TORKKY.—Tne Levant Herald states that according to telegraphic advices from Yanina good results have ensued from tie energetic measures taken by the Ottoman authorities 8gainst the Greek brigands who cross the border. These latter find it no longer safe to seek refuge on Turkish. territory. Two more of their number have been cap- tured, one named Dimitri Mandola, in the neighbour- hood of Arta, and another known as Aia Vassil, in the district of Parga. The villagers are ea'd to assist the authorities in every way. They give notica when the brigands pass the frontier, and these cut-throats being hotly pursued, almost invariably fall into the hands of the troops, living or dead. CONVENTUAL AND MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS.— It appears from Mr. Cuddon's evidence before the committee, that a few days ago the number of priests in Great Britain wos 476, engaged in the ten colleges and also in the 121 parishes. The number of young men being {reparod for religious offices was 300. The number of mezi called lay brothers, or gentlemen's ser- vants engaged in the college, was 200. They performed the duties of servants. In regard to the acreage of; the monastries, he stated that the total, if calculated' according to statute measure, would be 2,432 alto- gether. The principal land held was in Lancashire] The total rental of 1,600 acres belonging to relvji<o''jg bodies, but not held by colleges, wa< £ 3,400 Sey^.ir so that the total income would be £10,350 from jKWjo'nal estate, and £3,400 a-year from land. He cij&iir^d hi=» information to the communities of men. A POLITICAL SCRUPLE. — Anior^g upon whom the dignity of Chevalier '.4 the Legion of Honour has been recently conferMa waa a celebrated French landscape pa'nter, M. Gourmet, who, however. has written to the iVlimster oes jB<?aux Arts to decline the proffered honour, which his republican principles forbade bim to accept, and in his letter he Hays that, after his deatb, he wishes to be spoken of as "lone who belonged to no school, to no Chut/ch, to no institution, to no academy, and above all, ta no regime that is not the regime of liberty." A SLAVE" MEETING IN TRAFALGAR-SQUARE. In London, on Monday night, at eight o'clock, a con- siderable number of people assembled in rrafalgar- square, attracted by th« following advertisement, which had appeared in some of the Loudon papers last week: Slavery in England.—A public meeting of oiaves will be held in TrA^arli^ar-^piiiire, at eight o'clock, on Monday evening, June 27 (to be continued weekly), when a Poor Slave' will take the chair, and explain the means by which slavery mr,y be abolished in England." A* 110 one appeared t.» t-*ke the chair, tlioie assembled b^gan to louk UFOIl the proposed meet" ing as a hoax and gradually to dup-rse. At nine- o'clock only a few stragglers were lea in the s.piaif.- J ust about that time a person who is connected vtithi the Democratic League meeting in Clerkenwell, enteredl the square, accompanied by two or two three friantfe* one carrying a large buncle of papers under his twin, hiotn their demeanour it was evidfnt that they promoters of the movement, but after taking UT, a position at the foot of the monument and corUr^jQC together for a few minutes, they weM evidm>'Jv (11' concerted at the small numbtr present, walked away from the fquare, apparently much (p oIlppointed appeal D° S° slaves had respor ded to their A PROBLEM FOR THE LEARN? D._ A circum- stance has occurred in India v^ich r< miirJ* ihe explanation of the learned. he cIJI t I/T, Ti ties states that a strange yhene menoa h?s k;>lv'r r ».„«dit,«lf in th, Chrnd. cfetric ES v fe d Warrora. On the 23rd of February last, wh n madHt0 ewi,Ty a reservoir con- nected with a tank at that place by operant tha drainage-pipe, u was found that tbe water would not iiow. lo ascertain the cause or ob*traction, the reservoir was pumped dry, and it was discovered that a solid mass of ice, some three feet in length, had beon formed, completely choking the mouth of the pipe. When removed it appeared opaque, somewhat similir tr> maohine-made ice. The Inspector of Policy Mr Lima was present, and saw the block oi ice cut. out and the Deputy Commissioner, Major Lucie Su.itb! arrived some two or three hours afterwards, but in time to see some of the uumelted fragments still re- maining. Ihe soil under which this phenomenon occurred is the common black loam of the TWr'^ (cotton .oil) th. piping ordia ™ cemented at the joints with a composition of Smev linseed oil, and cotton, pounded up together, aad tii/ proteetingmasonry of the iudigenous sind-stono 1V a mortar. The water in the reservoir and pip. had re- mamed perfectly still for about six months previa Islv the pipe having been closed during that period Tr scarcely necessary to say that the temped ,lr.' Warrora never at any time even approached! fr(J,,r point. nee-aui;, SHOE-BLACKS IN RUSSIA.—A new; sicm Gf v™ gress has manifested itself at gfc. Pet*rsbure A shoe- biack froin somewhere m Austria (probably from svr- pathetic Prague), has established himself on 'tV„ Nevsky Prospect, and ia said to V>a ? on tL" business, though hitherto tb» a 8°n<] goloshes in Russia has mad' such^f, Peneral u-o of a superfluous one. Howe ;n u.paa'^n -s million inhabitant tvT™? country of sev^ty wnrlr fr\« i, 'jPre will doubtless bo enough uersom <31° r> e6 5 aud probably number* of p rsjns in &t. Petersburg, finding they can have tneir ooota cleaned at short notice, will give'up the wearin" of goloshes winch nas be^n adopted as a safeguard against dust m summer aad mud in winter. The name ° sh,ne-b'ack wh°. alone and armed only with a blacking brush, has tak^n upon himself to invade TuMsia is Dzsndzelovsky. He has enlisted a certain number of recruits, and intends, it is said, to form a. shoe-black brigade. SAVED M A (COMPANY !—The Roman amphi- theatre lately discovered at the left bank of tbe Seine is, it appears, iu danger of destruction, and M. Poulon d Amecourt, President of the Numismatic Archfeologic bociety of France, appeais, with some of his colleagu tor ileip from tbe antiquarian world Thev counted, as it is a mistake al^avs to do in F- on the Government to purchase the srround the discovery was made from ils present r U0,1 the Omnibus Company, bllt a G to not, and l.aves the m„U=r to prir^.f j"5 .umof 600 00«i. 1 > "a pany has been formed with a view -A-com- teed'ortheShsaiV3 ?! *ach' and inS ieea on the secunty of the land iW *'ttal ?uaran- whxch is certih to increase, <> value of I!W- To Do If — JH noti' • b the Housesof iJarliameat. recent fire marks :— "^ame-it, ohe Pall Mall Gazette re- In when Big Ben tbv> J br^ly cracked, it was feav*Q tha™ 1?' rscert'aiuc<1 to inleht break and brinjr ok,ck-wr^i ° e ,daY V1 K;riki"g pell-null together to te e bottom of «i c,ock-weights h'1 new Houses of Parliament- Simv, clock tower of thu forty tons—falling from aheiehi- f ? D\a's of roetal—about of course, shako tha tou ulat'oiif « 7i° hu,lrired feet- would, centre. As the ir.ent ltt"1 lnw«r to the'r Vt ry '->11 !*oiu accident, p f m>p 01 thsf"selves IsCt, as to tho best r'f i L:l?1'y w*8 consulted iu cUiigep, Uis renly w«»# » hori 'Af against the under tho weigh; This abr^ut teu leet deep by the lioan, oi Work,' Ti13' however, rejected "cushion" oi mixed uec » scientific of theiio combustible maU,lng,,a hi,h !,i!e clcwe proximity to a'fl ia Ahn accordingly raised in in the afternoon this ?. s/-v<;a >'ears a-o, at three been expected and A 118 might have alarm. Still, in snite of twftJ;arlaSe^a,'d CH,,9ed '"ore allowed to remain On wa"dng, the cushiou''waa Wrlm tana?us combustion, but are pwø¡>otually in dan;er from the of hçated tlu,e.